MOUNTAINEERING BOOT

Abstract

A mountaineering boot having: a vamp designed to accommodate the user's foot and ankle, roughly up to calf height; a sole unmovably fixed to the bottom of the vamp to cover the underside of the user's foot; a substantially sock-shaped outer gaiter which completely covers the vamp grazing the outer surface of the vamp up to the top of the bootleg of the vamp; and a zipper which extends along the gaiter to allow the user to open the gaiter for access to the vamp underneath, following a substantially spiral-shaped, curved path which begins behind the front portion of the gaiter, and ends at the upper mouth of the bootleg of the gaiter, after following, in the end stretch, a substantially helical trajectory about the axis of the bootleg that crosses the rear part of the bootleg of the gaiter.

Description

The present invention relates to a mountaineering boot.

More in detail, the present invention relates to a high-altitude mountaineering boot, to which the following description will make explicit reference without this implying any loss of generality.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As is known, mountaineering boots substantially comprise a leather and/or synthetic fabric vamp which is designed to accommodate the user's foot and ankle roughly up to calf height, and is lined on the inside with thermal-insulating material; and an sole made of rubber or other non-slip elastomeric material and which has indented profile and is unmovably attached to the bottom part of the vamp by stitching and/or gluing, to completely cover the underside of the user's foot.

High-altitude mountaineering boots also have an outer gaiter made of waterproof fabric, and which is normally attached directly to the peripheral edge of the sole by stitching and/or gluing, and is shaped to substantially graze the outer surface of the vamp up to the top of the bootleg, where it tightens around the user's calf above the top edge of the bootleg, to cover the whole of the vamp.

To enable the user to easily put on and fastened the boot, the outer gaiter has a watertight zipper extending along the front of the gaiter, roughly from the tarso-phalangeal area of the instep to the top of the gaiter, while remaining locally substantially coplanar with the vertical midplane of the boot.

Unfortunately if the watertight zipper is located at the front of the vamp have, when walking the part of the zipper located at the ankle is repeatedly subjected to bents and stretchings that, in the long term, may cause structural damages to the zipper, thus allowing the water to penetrate inside the footwear with all the problems this poses for the user.

Mountaineer, in fact, is often used to act where the air is so cold as to freeze water in the space of a few seconds, even inside boots, and ice formation inside boots may cause hypothermia and/or even frostbite to the feet.

To obviate this drawback, some high-altitude mountaineering boot manufacturers decided to use a watertight zipper which extends along the gaiter following a curved path that begins roughly at the tarso-phalangeal area of the instep, continues along the outer side of the vamp up to the bootleg, i.e. roughly up to the height of the astragalus, and finally curves upwards to the top of the gaiter while remaining substantially parallel to the vertical axis of the boot-leg, i.e. parallel to the tibia.

However this new arrangement of the watertight zipper has made the boot much more harder to put on and fasten, because certain parts of the vamp are hard to reach for the user when the gaiter is open.

Moreover, the particular conformation of the watertight zipper makes it difficult to run the slider along the portion located at the malleolus, where the radius of curvature of the zipper is smaller, thus resulting in irregular local wear of the zipper body. Local wear that, in a short time, may impair the structural integrity of the zipper, with all the problems this entails.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Aim of the present invention is to provide a mountaineering boot designed to prevent the wear of the watertight zipper of the outer gaiter, without making put on and fasting of the boot more complicated.

In compliance with the above aims, according to the present invention, there is provided a mountaineering boot as claimed in claim 1 and preferably, though not necessarily, in any one of the Claims dependent on claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

FIGS. 1 and 2 are two perspective views of a high-altitude mountaineering boot realized in accordance with the teachings of the present invention, with parts removed for clarity and in the closed configuration; whereas

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the FIG. 1 mountaineering boot in the open configuration.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, number 1 indicates as a whole a mountaineering boot, which may be advantageously used to play mountaineering at heights of over 4000-5000 metres.

Mountaineering boot 1 basically comprises an upper vamp 2 which is preferably made of leather and/or synthetic fabric and/or other flexible, preferably also waterproof, sheet material, is designed to accommodate the foot and ankle of the user roughly up to the height of the calf, and is preferably lined on the inside with thermal-insulating material; and a lower sole 3 which is made of rubber or other non-slip elastomeric material, preferably has an indented profile, and is unmovably fixed, preferably by stitching and/or gluing, to the bottom of vamp 2 to completely cover the underside of the user's foot.

With reference to FIG. 3, in the example shown, in particular, the vamp 2 preferably has a longitudinal slit 4 which extends along the front part of vamp 2, roughly from the tarso-phalangeal area of the instep up to the upper mouth 5 of bootleg 6 of vamp 2 preferably while remaining substantially coplanar with the vertical midplane of the boot (not shown), and is designed to allow a widening of vamp 2 sufficient to permit/facilitate the introduction of the user's foot inside vamp 2; and a closing tongue 7 which is fixed to the front part of vamp 2 preferably in a loosely manner, and extends inside vamp 2 grazing the longitudinal slit 4 preferably along substantially the whole length of longitudinal slit 4, to completely close the slit 4 up to the top of bootleg 6.

Alike the rest of vamp 2, also cover tongue 7 is preferably made of leather and/or synthetic fabric and/or other flexible sheet material, preferably also of waterproof type.

Moreover, in the example shown, vamp 2 is preferably, though not necessarily, designed so that the top end of bootleg 6 is located above the bottom of the calf and below the mid-portion of the calf.

Furthermore mountaineering boot 1 preferably also comprises a substantially sock-shaped, inner liner 8 which is preferably made of thermal-insulating material, is inserted removable manner inside the vamp 2 substantially up to the top of bootleg 6, and is designed to cover and protect both the foot and the lower part of the user's leg. Moreover inner liner 8 preferably has a semirigid structure, and is preferably lined with soft and/or breathable material.

In the example shown, in particular, inner liner 8 is preferably made at least partly of a low-density polymeric material foam.

Still with reference to FIG. 3, mountaineering boot 1 is also provided with a manually-operated fastening system which is structured so as to be able to selectively close/tighten the front slit 4 of vamp 2 to immobilize the user's leg firmly inside vamp 2, or rather inside liner 8.

In the example shown, in particular, the vamp fastening system preferably comprises a number of lace-guide members, that is to say a number of loops and/or eyelets and/or rings and/or hooks, appropriately arranged along the two edges of vamp 2 laterally bounding longitudinal slit 4, at least in the area above the instep; and a lace 9 of given length, which engages in pass-through manner and is succession the various lace-guide members, preferably alternating from one side to the other of longitudinal slit 4, so to selectively draw towards/against each other the two edges of vamp 2 laterally bounding slit 4, thus to tighten and secure vamp 2 to the user's foot.

In other words, lace 9 is appropriately attached to vamp 2 to tighten the vamp 2 and secure the user's foot inside mountaineering boot 1.

Furthermore in the example shown the vamp fastening system preferably also comprises an adjustable Velcro-fastened strap 10 which wraps about bootleg 6 and is designed to draw towards/against each other and reciprocally fasten the two edges of bootleg 6 laterally bounding the end of slit 4, thus to tighten bootleg 6 to the user's calf.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, furthermore mountaineering boot 1 is also provided with a waterproof outer gaiter 11 which completely covers the vamp 2 substantially grazing the outer surface of vamp 2 up to the top of bootleg 6; and with a substantially watertight zipper 12 which extends along gaiter 11 so to allow the user to open the gaiter 11 for access to vamp 2 underneath.

More in detail, outer gaiter 11 is substantially sock-shaped so as to graze the outer surface of vamp 2 up to the top of bootleg 6, preferably then extending beyond the top edge of bootleg 6 along the user's leg, and is preferably unmovably fixed in watertight manner directly to the perimetrical edge of sole 3 and/or to the bottom part of vamp 2, preferably without interruption and preferably by stitching and/or gluing.

Gaiter 11 therefore has a front portion 13 covering the tip of vamp 2; a rear portion 14 covering the rear part of vamp 2; an outer side 15 covering the outer side of vamp 2, i.e. the side of vamp 2 adjacent to the outer longitudinal arch of the foot; an inner side 16 covering the inner side of vamp 2, i.e. the side of vamp 2 adjacent to the medial longitudinal arch of the foot; and finally a substantially cylindrical, tubular bootleg 17 which covers the whole of bootleg 6 of vamp 2, and preferably extends beyond the top edge of bootleg 6 along the user's leg.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, in the example shown, in particular, gaiter 11 is preferably made of waterproof synthetic fabric and/or other waterproof flexible sheet material, preferably also of ballistic, cut-proof type.

Preferably, though not necessarily, gaiter 11 moreover has, roughly at the upper part of the instep and/or at the front part of bootleg 17, an elasticized front insert 18 made of waterproof elastic fabric and/or other waterproof elastic sheet material. In other words, the elasticized front insert 18 of gaiter 11 extends roughly from the top of the instep to the top of bootleg 17.

Additionally gaiter 11 is preferably also provided with a front patch 19 made of cured rubber or other elastomeric material, which is arranged to cover and protect the front portion 13 of gaiter 11; and a rear patch 20 made of cured rubber or other elastomeric material, which is arranged to cover and protect the rear portion 14 of gaiter 11. Patches 19 and 20 serve to prevent gaiter 11 from tearing on projecting ice or rock, and at the same time to protect the user's foot against impact on ice or rock.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, zipper 12 instead extends along gaiter 11 following a substantially spiral-shaped, curved path which begins behind the front portion 13 of gaiter 11, roughly at the part of gaiter 11 vertically aligned to the tarso-phalangeal area of the foot, and ends at the upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17 after following, in the end stretch, a substantially helical trajectory about the vertical axis A of bootleg 17 that preferably also crosses the rear part of bootleg 17, i.e. the part of bootleg 17 vertically aligned with rear portion 14 of gaiter 11.

Preferably zipper 12 moreover reaches the rear part of bootleg 17 of gaiter 11 substantially at the top edge of bootleg 6 of vamp 2.

In the example shown, in particular, zipper 12 extends along gaiter 11 following a substantially spiral-shaped, curved path which preferably ends at the front part of bootleg 17, preferably after skirting elasticized insert 18, and which runs in succession across the rear part and the inner side of bootleg 17 before reaching the edge of upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17.

More in detail, with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, zipper 12 preferably extends along gaiter 11 following a substantially spiral-shaped, curved path which begins near the front portion 13 of gaiter 11; runs across the outer side 15 of gaiter 11, preferably while remaining above the malleolus, up to reach the rear part of bootleg 17 preferably substantially at the high of the top edge of bootleg 6 of vamp 2; and then winds around bootleg 17 up to the upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17 following a substantially helical trajectory that, in succession, runs across the rear pat of bootleg 17, the inner side of bootleg 17, and finally the front part of bootleg 17, and ends at the edge of upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17 at the front part of bootleg 17, preferably skirting elasticized insert 18.

With reference to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, gaiter 11 is preferably also provided with an elastic band 22 which surrounds the upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17 and is designed to keep the top end of bootleg 17 firmly tight against the user's leg to prevent infiltration of water and/or snow and/or ice.

Preferably, though not necessarily, gaiter 11 is also provided with a projecting plate-like pad 23, which is made of soft material and is fixed to bootleg 17 near the point where the zipper 12 reaches the mouth 21 of bootleg 17, so as to interpose itself between the slider 24 of zipper 12 and the leg of the user.

Operation of mountaineering boot 1 can be deduced easily from the above description, with no further explanation required.

The advantages resulting from the particular arrangement of zipper 12 are large in number. Firstly, tests show that the substantially spiral-shaped path of watertight zipper 12 along gaiter 11 allows to keep the value of the radius of curvature of watertight zipper 12 within limits that ensure normal, even wear along the whole length of watertight zipper 12, thus maximizing the working life of watertight zipper 12.

Furthermore, the particular arrangement of zipper 12 on gaiter 11 allows the user full and easy access to vamp 2, thus enabling the user to put on and fastened the mountaineering boot 1 faster than currently marketed mountaineering boots, with all the advantages this affords when the user operates in severe environmental conditions.

Clearly, changes may be made to mountaineering boot 1 as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the present invention.

For example, in a different embodiment, zipper 12 extends along gaiter 11 following a curved, substantially spiral-shaped path, which begins near the front portion 13 of gaiter 11; runs across the outer side 15 of gaiter 11, preferably while remaining above the malleolus, up to reach the rear part of bootleg 17, preferably substantially at the high of the top edge of bootleg 6 of vamp 2; and then winds around bootleg 17 up to the upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17 following a substantially spiral-shaped path which, in succession, runs across the rear part of bootleg 17 and the inner side of bootleg 17, and ends on the edge of upper mouth 21 of bootleg 17 at the inner side of bootleg 17.

Furthermore, in a different embodiment, inner liner 8 may be integral with vamp 2 and therefore unmovable.

Moreover, in a different embodiment, vamp 2 may be designed so that the top end of bootleg 6 is located roughly at the bottom of the calf.

Claims

1. Mountaineering boot comprising: a vamp which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot and the ankle of the user roughly to the height of the calf; a sole which is unmovably fixed onto the lower part of the vamp so as to cover the underside of the foot of the user; a substantially sock-shaped, outer gaiter which completely covers the vamp while substantially grazing the outer surface of the vamp up to the top of the bootleg of the vamp; and a zipper which extends along the gaiter so as to allow the user to open the gaiter to reach the beneath-located vamp;

the mountaineering boot being characterized in that the zipper extends along the gaiter following a substantially spiral-shaped, curved path which begins near the front portion of the gaiter and ends at the upper mouth of the bootleg of the gaiter, after following, in the end stretch, a substantially helical trajectory about the axis of the bootleg.

2. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the zipper extends along the gaiter following a substantially spiral-shaped, curved path which begins behind the front portion of the gaiter and ends at the upper mouth of the bootleg of the gaiter, after having followed, in the end stretch, a substantially helical trajectory about the axis of the bootleg that crosses the rear part of the bootleg of the gaiter.

3. Mountaineering boot according to claim 2, characterized in that the zipper winds around the bootleg of the gaiter up to the upper mouth of the bootleg, following a substantially helical trajectory that crosses, in succession, the rear part of the bootleg and the inner side of the bootleg.

4. Mountaineering boot according to claim 3, characterized in that the zipper winds around the bootleg of the gaiter up to the upper mouth of the bootleg, following a substantially helical trajectory that crosses, in succession, the rear part of the bootleg, the inner side of the bootleg and finally the front part of the bootleg, and ends at the edge of the upper mouth of the bootleg on the front part of the bootleg.

5. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the zipper reaches the rear part of the bootleg of the gaiter substantially at the height of the upper edge of the bootleg of the vamp.

6. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaiter is waterproof.

7. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the zipper is a watertight zipper.

8. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the bootleg of the gaiter extends beyond the top edge of the bootleg of the vamp along the user's leg.

9. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaiter is provided with a front elasticized insert which is arranged at the upper part of the instep and/or at the front part of the bootleg of the gaiter.

10. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaiter is unmovably and watertight fixed on the perimetrical edge of the sole and/or on the lower part of the vamp.

11. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the gaiter is also provided with a plate-like projecting pad made of soft material and which is fixed to the bootleg of the gaiter near the point where the zipper reaches the upper mouth of the bootleg, so as to interpose itself between the slider of the zipper and the leg of the user.

12. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized in that the vamp is provided with a longitudinal slit extending along the front part of the vamp, roughly from the tarso-phalangeal area of the foot up to the upper mouth of the bootleg of the vamp; the mountaineering boot being moreover provided with a manually-operated upper fastening system which is structured so as to be able to selectively close/tighten the slit of the vamp to immobilize the leg of the user inside the vamp.

13. Mountaineering boot according to claim 12, characterized in that the upper fastening system comprises a lace which engages in succession a number of lace-guiding members arranged along the two edges of the vamp laterally delimiting the longitudinal slit.

14. Mountaineering boot according to claim 1, characterized by also comprising a substantially sock-shaped, inner liner which is made of a thermal-insulating material and is inserted in removable manner inside the vamp substantially up to the top of the bootleg of the vamp.

15. Mountaineering boot according to claim 14, characterized in that the inner liner has a semi-rigid structure.