BOOT AND TONGUE CLOSURE

Abstract

An article of footwear including a shell, a liner and laces. A shell upper extends from the shell sole and defines a shell opening. The liner can be received into the shell through the shell opening. A liner upper extends from the inner sole and defines a liner opening. A tongue includes a first portion connected to the liner proximate the liner opening, and a second portion that can extend through the shell opening. At least part of the second portion can be connected to the shell exterior surface proximate the shell opening while the liner is positioned within the shell. The laces are connected to the shell proximate the shell opening and extend across a portion of the shell opening. The laces contact the second portion of the tongue to press the second portion of the tongue against the shell exterior surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/245,096 filed Sep. 16, 2021, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present disclosure relates to a boot and tongue closure.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides an article of footwear including a shell and a liner. The shell has a shell sole including a toe portion, a heel portion, and a bottom surface. The shell sole includes an elastomeric material. A shell upper portion extends from the shell sole and forms a shell opening. The liner is received into the shell and includes a liner sole including a toe portion, a heel portion and a liner bottom surface, a liner upper portion extending from the liner sole and forming a liner opening. A tongue includes a main body, a first lateral wing and a second lateral wing. The main body includes a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion. The first portion is coupled to the liner proximate the liner opening. The second portion is moveable with respect to the first portion. The first lateral wing extends from a first side of the second portion. The second lateral wing extends from a second side of the second portion. The first side is opposite the second side. The second portion, the first lateral wing and the second lateral wing can extend through the shell opening. The first lateral wing and the second lateral wing can be connected to the shell exterior surface proximate the shell opening while the liner is positioned within the shell.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides an article of footwear including a shell, a liner and laces. The shell includes a shell sole having a toe portion, a heel portion and a bottom surface. The shell sole includes an elastomeric material. A shell upper extends from the shell sole and defines a shell opening. The liner can be received into the shell through the shell opening. The liner includes a liner sole having a toe portion, a heel portion and a liner bottom surface. A liner upper extends from the inner sole and defines a liner opening. A tongue includes a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is connected to the liner proximate the liner opening. The second portion can extend through the shell opening. At least part of the second portion can be connected to the shell exterior surface proximate the shell opening while the liner is positioned within the shell. The laces are connected to the shell proximate the shell opening and extend across a portion of the shell opening. The laces contact the second portion of the tongue to press the second portion of the tongue against the shell exterior surface.

In some embodiments, the disclosure provides a method of assembling an article of footwear includes inserting a liner into a shell, grasping a tongue, and pulling a second portion out of the shell opening. The method further includes deforming the laces with the tongue and aligning the laces with grooves on the tongue. The method further includes pressing the first lateral wing against a first portion of the shell exterior surface adjacent the shell opening, and pressing the second lateral wing against a second portion of the shell exterior surface adjacent the shell opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a pair of boots.

FIG. 2 is a left side view of one of the boots.

FIG. 3 is a right side view of the boot of FIG. 2 showing a portion of the tongue deformed to permit a user's foot to be inserted into the boot.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the boot of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a top view of the boot showing a liner separated from a shell.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the boot of FIG. 2.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the liner without the shell.

FIG. 8 is a right side exploded view showing the liner and laces exploded from the shell.

FIG. 9 is left side exploded view showing the liner and laces exploded from the shell.

FIG. 10 is bottom view of the liner separate from the shell.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before any embodiments are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The disclosure is capable of supporting other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. Terms of degree, such as “substantially,” “about,” “approximately,” etc. are understood by those of ordinary skill to refer to reasonable ranges outside of the given value, for example, general tolerances associated with manufacturing, assembly, and use of the described embodiments.

FIG. 1 illustrates a pair of boots including a right boot 10 and a left boot 10a. The left boot 10a is a mirror image of the right boot 10. The description and remaining figures focus on the right boot 10, but equally apply to the left boot 10a. The right boot 10 has a shell 14, a liner 18 arranged in the shell 14, and a tongue 22 arranged on the shell 14. The liner 18 and the tongue 22 are selectively removable from the shell 14. The left boot 10a has a shell 14a, a liner 18a arranged in the shell 14a, and a tongue 22a arranged on the shell 14a. The boots 10, 10a are water-resistant, or waterproof, and impede water from entering an interior of the boots 10, 10a from an exterior environment outside of the boots 10, 10a.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, the shell 14 defines a sole 26 of the boot 10 and an upper portion 30 of the boot 10. In some constructions, the sole 26 and the upper portion 30 are integrally formed as one-piece. In the illustrated construction, the sole 26 and the upper portion 30 are formed as separate pieces and are coupled together.

As shown in FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the sole 26 and the upper portion 30 define an interior surface 34 of the shell 14 and an exterior surface 38 opposite the interior surface 34. In the illustrated embodiment, the shell 14 is formed from ethylene-vinyl acetate (“EVA”). In some embodiments, the shell 14 is formed from an elastomeric polymer. In some embodiments, the shell 14 can be formed from plastic. The shell 14 is elastically deformable and is waterproof.

The sole 26 defines a toe 42, a heel 46 and an outsole 50 of the boot 10. As shown most clearly in FIG. 6, the outsole 50 of the sole 26 includes a plurality of lugs 54 and grooves 58. The lugs 54 and grooves 58 are configured to provide traction for the outsole 50.

With continued reference to FIGS. 5, 8 and 9, the upper portion 30 extends from the shell sole 26 and forms a shell opening 62 sized to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper portion 30 defines a plurality of apertures 66 positioned proximate the shell opening 62. The illustrated embodiment includes three apertures 66 on a left side of the shell opening 62 and three apertures 66 on a right side of the shell opening 62. In other embodiments, other quantities and arrangements of apertures 66 are included.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the upper portion 30 includes a first fastener 70a positioned on the exterior surface 38 of the shell 14 proximate the shell opening 62 and a second fastener 70b positioned on the exterior surface 38 of the shell 14 proximate the shell opening 62 and opposite the first fastener 70a. In some embodiments, the first and second fasteners 70a, 70b are hook and loop fasteners. In other embodiments, other suitable fasteners are utilized in addition to or in lieu of hook and loop fasteners.

The liner 18 is configured to be received into the shell 14 and is configured to receive the foot of a wearer. The liner 18 is formed from a water-resistant material, such as a foam-backed textile. With reference to FIGS. 5 and 7-10, the liner 18 includes a liner sole 74 and a liner upper portion 78, and defines an exterior surface 82. The liner sole 74 includes a toe portion 86, a heel portion 90 and a liner bottom surface 94. While the liner 18 is positioned within the shell 14, the toe portion 86 is positioned adjacent the shell interior surface 34 adjacent the toe 42, and the heel portion 90 is positioned adjacent the shell interior 34 adjacent the heel 46. While the liner 18 is positioned within the shell 14, the liner bottom surface 94 is positioned adjacent the shell interior 34 proximate the shell sole 26. The bottom surface 94 includes a textured element 96, such as silicone pads, that increase friction between the bottom surface 94 and a ground surface.

The liner upper portion 78 extends from the liner sole 74 and forms a liner opening 98. The liner opening 98 is configured to receive a foot of a wearer. The liner opening 98 is substantially aligned with the shell opening 62 while the liner 18 is positioned within the shell 14. The liner opening 98 is smaller than the shell opening 62. The liner upper portion 78 includes a third fastener 100a positioned on the exterior surface 82 of the liner 18 proximate the liner opening 98 and a fourth fastener 100b positioned on the exterior surface 82 of the liner 18 proximate the liner opening 98 and opposite the third fastener 100a. In some embodiments, the third and fourth fasteners 100a, 100b are hook and loop fasteners. In other embodiments, other suitable fasteners are utilized in addition to or in lieu of hook and loop fasteners. A first pull tab 102 is coupled to the liner upper portion 78 proximate the heel portion 90 and the liner opening 98. The first pull tab 102 is graspable by a wearer to properly position the liner 18 within the shell 14 and to remove the liner 18 from the shell 14.

With reference to FIGS. 7-9, the tongue 22 includes a main body 106, a first lateral wing 110, and a second lateral wing 114. The main body 106 including a first portion 118 and a second portion 122. The first portion 118 is coupled to the liner 18 proximate the liner opening 98. The first portion 118 is directly coupled to the liner 18 via stitching or other suitable coupling mechanism. The first portion 118 includes an elastomeric strip 126 proximate the location at which the first portion 118 is directly coupled to the liner 18. The illustrated strip 126 extends around a majority of the perimeter of the first portion 118 in a U-shape. The elastomeric strip 126 includes at least one of polyurethane and silicone. In some embodiments polyurethane is utilized to increase the rigidity of the location at which the tongue 22 is joined to the liner 18. The first portion 118 includes one rib 130 and two channels 134 on opposite sides of the rib 130. The rib 130 and the channels 134 extend across the first portion 118 generally between opposite sides of the strip 126.

The second portion 122 is coupled to the first portion 118 at a first end and has a free end that is moveable with respect to the liner 18. The first and second portion 118, 122 define first and second notches 138, 142 at opposite edges of the tongue 22. The first and second notches 138, 142 permit the second portion 122 to pivot and bend relative to the liner 18 and with respect to the first portion 118. The second portion 122 includes a second pull tab 146 engageable by a user to permit the user to move the second portion 122 with respect to the liner 18 and the first portion 118. The second pull tab 146 is positioned on an exterior surface of the tongue 22. The second portion 122 defines one rib 130 and one channel 134. The rib 130 abuts one of the channels 134 on the first portion 118.

The first lateral wing 110 extends outward from a first side of the second portion 122. The first lateral wing 110 includes a fifth fastener 150a on an interior surface of the tongue 22. The second lateral wing 114 is a substantial mirror image of the first lateral wing 110. The second lateral wing 114 extends outward from a second side of the second portion 122. The second side of the second portion 122 is opposite the first side of the second portion 122. The second lateral wing 114 includes a sixth fastener 150b on the interior surface of the tongue 22. In some embodiments, the fifth and sixth fasteners 150a, 150b include hook and loop fasteners.

In the illustrated embodiment, three elastomeric laces 154a, 154b, 154c are coupled to the shell 14 and extend across a portion of the shell opening 62. The elastomeric laces 154a, 154b, 154c each include tabs 158 on opposite ends. Each of the tabs 158 can be inserted into a respective opening 66 on the shell 14. The tabs 158 retain the elastomeric laces 154a, 154b, 154c on the shell 14. The elastomeric laces 154a, 154b, 154c can stretch to permit a wearer to insert a foot into the shell 14 without needing to detach the elastomeric laces 154a, 154b, 154c.

In order to wear the boot 10, a wearer pulls the second pull tab 146 to move the second portion 122 of the tongue 22 out of the shell opening 62 and deform the upper lace 154c as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Then, the wearer inserts a foot into the boot 10. The wearer adjusts the position of the tongue 22 with the second pull tab 146 to position the laces 154a, 154b, 154c within the respective channels 134 and between the ribs 130 on the tongue 22. Then, the wearer secures the fifth fastener 150a of the first lateral wing 110 to the first fastener 70a on the shell exterior surface 38, and secures the sixth fastener 150b of the second lateral wing 114 to the second fastener 70b on the shell exterior surface 38. The tongue 22 is an overlayer tongue and not an underlayer tongue.

The laces 154a, 154b, 154c and the wearer's foot press the first portion 118 of the tongue 22 against the interior surface 34 shell 14, and press the second portion 122 of the tongue 22 against the exterior surface 38 of the shell 14. In some embodiments, the strip 126 includes silicone to form a seal between the liner 18 and the interior surface 34 of the shell 14. The laces 154a, 154b, 154c cooperate with the ribs 130 and channels 134 of the tongue 22 and the strip 126 to inhibit water from entering the boot 10 in the area of the tongue 22.

The liner 18 can be worn separately or with the shell 14. In order to wear the liner 18 separate from the shell 14, the wearer pulls on the first pull tab 102 to remove the liner 18 from the shell 14. Either before or after removing the liner 18 from the shell 14, the wearer positions a foot in the liner 18. The wearer then secures the fifth fastener 150a of the first lateral wing 110 to the third fastener 100a on the liner exterior surface 82, and secures the sixth fastener 150b of the second lateral wing 114 to the fourth fastener 100b on the liner exterior surface 82. The textured element 96 enhances the friction between the liner sole 74 of the liner 18 and the ground surface.

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising:

a shell including a shell sole including a toe portion, a heel portion and a bottom surface, the shell sole including an elastomeric material, a shell upper portion extending from the shell sole and forming a shell opening; and

a liner configured to be received into the shell, the liner including a liner sole including a toe portion, a heel portion and a liner bottom surface, a liner upper portion extending from the liner sole and forming a liner opening, and a tongue including a main body, a first lateral wing and a second lateral wing, the main body including a first portion and a second portion opposite the first portion, the first portion being coupled to the liner proximate the liner opening, the second portion being moveable with respect to the first portion, the first lateral wing extending from a first side of the second portion, the second lateral wing extending from a second side of the second portion, the first side being opposite the second side, wherein the second portion, the first lateral wing and the second lateral wing are configured to extend through the shell opening, and the first lateral wing and the second lateral wing are both configured to be coupled to the shell exterior surface proximate the shell opening while the liner is positioned within the shell.

2. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral wings are configured to be coupled to a liner exterior surface while the liner is separate from the shell.

3. The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the bottom surface of the shell includes a plurality of lugs configured to grip a surface, and wherein the liner bottom surface includes a plurality of silicone pads configured to grip the surface.

4. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the shell includes a waterproof material, and the liner tongue includes a water-resistant material, such that water is inhibited from entering the article of footwear while the first and second lateral wings are coupled to the shell exterior surface.

5. The article of footwear of claim 4, further comprising a strip on a portion of the tongue, the strip includes silicone and is configured to form a seal with the shell while the first and second lateral wings are coupled to the shell exterior surface.

6. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the tongue includes a flexible material to permit deformation of the tongue to thereby permit a user to insert a foot into the liner.

7. The article of footwear of claim 1, further comprising laces coupled to the shell proximate the shell opening and extending across a portion of the shell opening, wherein the laces are elastomeric and configured to stretch to permit a user to insert a foot into the article of footwear without detaching the laces, and wherein the laces are configured to contact the second portion of the tongue to press the second portion of the tongue against the shell exterior surface.

8. The article of footwear of claim 7, further comprising a first set of apertures defined in the shell adjacent a first side of the shell opening and a second set of apertures defined in the shell adjacent a second side of the shell opening, the laces each comprising a first end having a first tab and a second end having a second tab, each first tab configured to be inserted into a respective first aperture and each second tab configured to be inserted into a respective second aperture, the first and second tabs configured to retain the respective laces in the respective apertures.

9. The article of footwear of claim 7, wherein the tongue further includes a plurality of ribs and channels, the channels are sized to receive the laces and the ribs are configured to be positioned between the laces while the liner is positioned within the shell.

10. The article of footwear of claim 9, wherein the ribs, the channels and the laces are configured to retain the tongue against the shell to inhibit debris and water from entering the shell while a user's foot is positioned within the article of footwear.

11. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the liner further includes a first pull tab on the liner upper and the tongue further includes a second pull tab on the second portion of the tongue, the first pull tab configured to assist a user while removing the liner from the shell, the second pull tab configured to assist a user while positioning the tongue on an exterior surface of the shell.

12. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the shell includes a first shell fastener positioned on an exterior surface of the shell on a first side of the shell opening, and a second shell fastener positioned on the exterior surface of the shell on a second side of the shell opening, opposite the first side,

wherein the first lateral wing includes a first wing fastener positioned on an interior surface of the liner, and the second lateral wing includes a second wing fastener positioned on the interior surface of the liner, and

wherein the first wing fastener is configured to be coupled to the first shell fastener and the second wing fastener is configured to be coupled to the second shell fastener while the liner is positioned within the shell.

13. The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the first and second lateral wings are configured to be coupled to the shell exterior surface via hook and loop fasteners.

14. An article of footwear comprising:

a shell including a shell sole including a toe portion, a heel portion and a bottom surface, the shell sole including an elastomeric material, and a shell upper extending from the shell sole and defining a shell opening;

a liner configured to be received into the shell through the shell opening, the liner including a liner sole including a toe portion, a heel portion and a liner bottom surface, a liner upper extending from the liner sole and defining a liner opening, and a tongue including a first portion and a second portion, the first portion being coupled to the liner proximate the liner opening, the second portion configured to extend through the shell opening, and at least part of the second portion configured to be coupled to an exterior surface of the shell proximate the shell opening while the liner is positioned within the shell; and

laces coupled to the shell proximate the shell opening and extending across a portion of the shell opening, the laces contacting the second portion of the tongue to press the second portion of the tongue against the shell exterior surface.

15. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the at least part of the second portion being configured to be coupled to a liner exterior surface while the liner is separate from the shell such that the liner is wearable by a user without the shell.

16. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the at least part of the second portion is configured to be coupled to the shell exterior surface via a hook and loop fastener while the liner is positioned within the shell, and wherein the at least part of the second portion is configured to be coupled to a liner exterior surface via a hook and loop fastener while the liner is separate from the shell such that the liner is wearable by a user without the shell.

17. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the shell includes a waterproof material, and the liner tongue includes a water-resistant material, such that water is inhibited from entering the article of footwear while the part of the second portion is coupled to the shell exterior surface.

18. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the tongue includes a flexible material to permit deformation of the tongue to thereby permit a user to insert a foot into the liner,

wherein the tongue further includes a plurality of ribs and channels, the channels are sized to receive the laces and the ribs are configured to be positioned between the laces while the liner is positioned within the shell, and

wherein the ribs, the channels and the laces are configured to retain the tongue against the shell to inhibit debris and water from entering the shell while a user's foot is positioned within the article of footwear.

19. The article of footwear of claim 14, wherein the liner further includes a first pull tab on the liner upper and the tongue further includes a second pull tab on the second portion of the tongue, the first pull tab configured to assist a user while removing the liner from the shell, the second pull tab configured to assist a user while positioning the tongue on the shell exterior surface.

20. The article of footwear of claim 14, further comprising a first set of apertures defined in the shell adjacent a first side of the shell opening and a second set of apertures defined in the shell adjacent a second side of the shell opening, the laces each comprising a first end having a first tab and a second end having a second tab, each first tab configured to be inserted into a respective first aperture and each second tab configured to be inserted into a respective second aperture, the first and second tabs configured to retain the respective laces in the respective apertures.