Abstract: Described are uppers for a sports shoe with flat weft-knitted knitwear. The flat weft-knitted knitwear forms a top portion and a bottom portion of the upper. The top portion is formed as tube weft-knitted knitwear such that it is configured to surround a part of a shank of a wearer of the sports shoe when worn. The bottom portion is configured to cover at least a part of a foot of the wearer of the sports shoe when worn.

Abstract: A shoe comprises a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a top member having an outer surface and an inner surface and mounted on the sole. The top member and sole to together define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member further comprises an opening. A fastener is provided in the top member and extends from the opening and continues over the top member such that a portion of the top member is movable between a first position in which the space is substantially closed and a second position in which a portion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide access to the space.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to a footwear assembly and method of manufacturing said footwear assembly. The footwear assembly includes an outsole and an upper connected to the outsole, where the upper includes a neoprene sock, a vulcanized rubber layer, and an injection molded layer. The neoprene sock is a full-foot neoprene sock having a foot portion that is configured to receive a wearer's foot. The vulcanized rubber layer fully covers a vamp portion, heel portion, toe portion, and ankle portion of the neoprene sock while only covering some of an underfoot portion. The injection molded layer is formed over a portion of the vulcanized rubber layer and completely covers the underfoot portion of the neoprene sock.

Abstract: A shoe comprises a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a top member having an outer surface and an inner surface and mounted on the sole. The top member and sole to together define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member further comprises an opening. A fastener is provided in the top member and extends from the opening and continues over the top member such that a portion of the top member is movable between a first position in which the space is substantially closed and a second position in which a portion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide access to the space.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to an article of footwear in relation to a pedicure. The article of footwear includes: a body which is defined as a leg portion, ankle portion, and foot portion—covering the foot heel, sole, and top portion of the foot with an open forward-end leaving the toes exposed; a thin sole member; and a thick sole member.

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.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A system for providing a secure fit between feet and/or ankles of an individual and boot sections of wader pants may include wader pants including boot sections, and wader support pants configured to be positioned underneath or over the wader pants. The wader support pants may include inflatable membranes configured to be disposed within or on the boot sections of the wader pants, and a pump in fluid communication with the inflatable membranes. The pump is operable to inflate the membranes to provide a secure fit between the boot sections of the wader pants and the feet and/or ankles of the individual.

Abstract: An assembly is provided including a cleated shoe and a leg protective structure. The leg protective structure has a lower end which is fixed to the shoe through a flexible junction. The leg protective structure is configured as a sock and/or a shin guard. In various embodiments different opening and closure mechanisms are disclosed for the leg protective structure and different configurations for positioning of shin guard elements and flexible tubular layers. The leg protective structure can thus be worn upon a foot and leg without a sock or over a sock upon a foot and leg, and the leg protective structure provides the integrated function of a shin guard or to work along with a separately provided shin guard.

Abstract: Boots having an appearance indicative of a particular style or construction can be constructed with portions of the boot that have an appearance and characteristics directed toward functionality other than appearance or style. Portions of a boot that are not generally visible when worn, for example, with pants or coveralls, include the shaft or chimney of the upper portion of the boot. The shaft of such boots can be constructed of materials that are generally waterproof or fluid-resistant, making the boot easier to clean and mitigating against dirt, mud, or other soiling factors from adhering to such portions of the boot. In combination with a generally visible portion of the boot, such as the vamp and toe box, having an indicative appearance, such boots allow for a wearer to both present footwear having a particular style and fluid-resistant or waterproof characteristics.

Abstract: A cover for an orthotic device is provided. More specifically, a cover for an orthotic device is provided that provides one or more useful benefits to a wearer's skin. Such cover may also provide one or more aesthetic and/or functional benefits to a wearer when used.

Abstract: A method of proprioceptive training using an article of athletic equipment having an article of footwear, a knee coupling member, and a biasing member is disclosed. The method includes securing the article of footwear to a foot and securing the knee coupling member to a leg superiorly and inferiorly about a knee joint thereof. Moreover, the method includes biasing the article of footwear relative to the knee coupling member using the biasing member to bias the foot toward plantarflexion relative to the leg to increase proprioception of the foot relative to the leg.

Abstract: Footwear includes a shaft and a shell connected to the shaft. The shaft includes an expandable portion adapted to expand to facilitate ease of entry and exit of a heel of a foot into and out of the shell. The expandable portion is surrounded by a material forming the shaft.

Abstract: Systems and articles of manufacture are provided for a footwear system including a boot or other type of shoe comprising one or more insert sleeves configured to receive one or more decorative and/or exchangeable inserts. In one embodiment, an insert sleeve may encircle a calf portion of a boot to receive an insert overlapped in the insert sleeve to create a cylindrical shape.

Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.

Abstract: A boot for sealing out environmental elements is disclosed. In one example, the boot includes a drawstring seal between the boot and a leg of wearer. The boot can limit the intrusion of environmental elements to the interior of the boot at least during some conditions.

Abstract: A boot comprises a sole, an upper including a foot portion and a leg portion. The leg portion is moveable in use between a first position around a wearer's leg and a second position, in which the leg portion is reversed and passed over the foot portion and sole to enclose the foot portion and sole.

Abstract: The combination of a boot and an elongate decorative element extending from free end of the boot on the outside side of the boot, downwardly across the front of the upper portion of the boot, and upwardly to the pull tab on the inside side of the boot. The boot may be a cowboy boot of the type having pull tabs on the inside side and the outside side of the boot, as well as a cowboy boot or urban style boot without pull tabs.

Abstract: An article of footwear for barrel racing is disclosed. In one embodiment, the article of footwear has an upper pocket associated in the shin region with the upper of the article of footwear. The upper pocket is integrally connected to the upper and sized to receive a detachable shin guard, which shin guard is sized to fit in the upper pocket. The shin guard covers and protects the shin and knee of a barrel racer.

Abstract: A combination sock and shoe includes a shoe sole, an exterior sock that is secured to the shoe sole, an intermediate sock positioned inside the exterior sock, and an interior sock positioned inside the exterior sock and inside the intermediate sock. The intermediate sock is constructed as an anklet having an elastic ankle opening. The exterior and interior socks conceal the intermediate sock from view by sandwiching the intermediate sock between them. When a wearer's foot is inserted into the combination sock and shoe, the elastic ankle opening of the intermediate sock securely engages around the ankle of the wearer's foot and holds the wearer's foot to the shoe sole, thereby preventing the shoe sole from separating away from the heel of the wearer's foot during walking.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: An orthotic foot brace for a person wearing a footwear includes: a lower leg holder; a lower leg strut extending downwardly towards the footwear; a foot strut having a rear section secured to the vertical strut, at least one of a median section and a lateral section located on a respective side of the footwear and extending outwardly thereof, and a front section securable to an instep section of the footwear; and a brace retaining member secured to the foot strut juxtaposed to the footwear, and extending from the median side of the footwear to the lateral side of the footwear, outwardly thereof, and restraining a rearwardly pivotal movement of the brace.

Abstract: A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Abstract: A universal, readily interchangeable, and non-gaiter cover for wrapping around and decorating only the shaft of an any sized and mundane boot. The universal, readily interchangeable, and non-gaiter cover includes a decorative substrate, and apparatus for universally and readily interchangeably maintaining the decorative substrate around only the shaft of the any sized and mundane boot. The decorative substrate is for universally and readily interchangeably wrapping around only the shaft of the any sized and mundane boot and not the foot of the any sized and mundane boot so as to at least eliminate potential damage to the universal, readily interchangeable, and non-gaiter cover caused by normal flexure of the foot of the any sized and mundane boot, and in so doing, decorates only the shaft of the any sized and mundane boot.

Abstract: Articles of footwear that include a flexible or rigid sole portion with a shape and size as to correspond to a foot of a wearer, a sole portion having a periphery, a toe region in the front area of the sole portion, a heel region in the back area of the sole portion, and an instep region between the toe and heel regions. Also included is an upper portion connected to the sole portion to form a partially open enclosure for receiving and containing a part of the foot of the wearer and a flexible tubular sleeve which is attached to the sole portion's instep region. The flexible sleeve includes an attachment portion for attaching the flexible sleeve to the instep region of the sole portion, an outwardly opened toe portion for containing the front part of the foot and the toes of the wearer, an outwardly opened heel portion for containing the back part of the foot and the heel of the wearer, and an insertion portion for enveloping the ankle of the wearer.

Abstract: A boot bra for securing an upper portion of a boot while worn by a user can include an elastic band in the form of or configurable as a ring. The elastic band can be in the form of a continuous ring or can have a first wrap engagement member (e.g., hooks) mounted at a first end and a second wrap engagement member (e.g., loops into which the hooks can be latched) mounted at a second end of the elastic band and configured to securely engage the first wrap engagement member when the elastic band is wrapped around a human leg to form the ring. A first boot-to-band engagement member (e.g., snap member) is mounted to the elastic band; and a boot mount includes a second boot-to-band engagement member (e.g., snap member) configured for secure engagement with the engagement member on the elastic band.

Abstract: An article of footwear has an upper and a sole structure. The upper has a foot portion for receiving a foot and a leg portion for receiving at least a portion of a leg, and the sole structure is secured to a lower area of the foot portion. The footwear includes at least one of a plate system, a hinge system, and a sole structure formed from materials of different hardness, stiffness, or density. The plate system includes a plate that extends over a medial side of the footwear and may (a) be formed of materials of different hardness or (b) extend onto the sole structure and into an indentation in the sole structure. The hinge system includes a chassis secured to the foot portion and a beam secured to the leg portion, with a hinge rotatably-joining the chassis and beam.

Abstract: A shoe, in particular a ski boot for alpine skiing, has a substantially dimensionally stable sleeve extending from a fixing device on an upper into a calf region of a user. An insert part expands in wedge shape at least along some areas from the lower end of the insert part, the lower end being provided for arranging in the sleeve, to the upper end of the insert part, and which is provided for receiving in a calf section of the sleeve. The sleeve is formed with a material recess in the calf section which is provided for receiving the insert part. The wedge-shaped insert part is at least partly received in the material recess in a lower position. In an upper position, the insert part is arranged such that the material recess is bridged by the insert part to form a hollow chamber.

Abstract: An adjustable leg footwear item that is adjustable and cinchable relative to a leg of the wearer. The adjustable leg footwear item may include an outer sole made from a leather material, a rubber material, or a plastic material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a motorcycling boot 10, in particular a motocross boot. The boot 10 comprises a sole 40 and an upper 14 in turn comprising a bottom portion 15, suitable for surrounding the user's foot, and a leg-piece 16 suitable for surrounding the user's leg. A first protection means 20 is connected to said leg-piece 16 in the region of the shin, while a second protection means 30 is connected to said leg-piece 16 in the region of the calf. Said first protection means 20 comprises an element 24 suitable for sliding inside guiding means 25 formed in said first protection means 20, while said second protection means 30 comprises an element 34 suitable for sliding inside guiding means 35 formed in said second protection means. The movement of said elements 24, 34 allows variation, during use of the boot 10, of the configuration of the leg-piece 16.

Abstract: A boot for sealing out environmental elements is disclosed. In one example, the boot includes a drawstring seal between the boot and a leg of wearer. The boot can limit the intrusion of environmental elements to the interior of the boot at least during some conditions.

Abstract: A combination sock and shoe includes a shoe sole, an exterior sock that is secured to the shoe sole, an intermediate sock positioned inside the exterior sock, and an interior sock positioned inside the exterior sock and inside the intermediate sock. The intermediate sock is constructed as an anklet having an elastic ankle opening. The exterior and interior socks conceal the intermediate sock from view by sandwiching the intermediate sock between them. When a wearer's foot is inserted into the combination sock and shoe, the elastic ankle opening of the intermediate sock securely engages around the ankle of the wearer's foot and holds the wearer's foot to the shoe sole, thereby preventing the shoe sole from separating away from the heel of the wearer's foot during walking.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to reinforcement devices and methods to prevent or substantially prevent a thigh high boot from slouching. In one embodiment, the reinforcement device is comprised of an elongate stiffener sandwiched between an elongate sheet material and an adhesive film. According to one method, the reinforcement device may be placed on the inside surface of a thigh high boot so that that the boot stays rigid during wear.

Abstract: An article of footwear for riding is disclosed. The article includes a second portion of an upper having a second coefficient of friction that is greater than a first coefficient of friction associated with a first portion of an upper. The article further includes a detachable spur member configured to attach to a heel counter of the article.

Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.

Abstract: A novel shoe construction provides a unique aesthetically pleasing appearance to a shoe that can be easily, but significantly, changed. In the shoe construction, the shoe is provided with an upper ankle portion that has an elongate length that extends upwardly from the shoe sole. The length of the ankle portion allows a top part of the ankle portion to be folded downwardly over a bottom part of the ankle portion to produce a first appearance of the shoe. The top part of the ankle portion can be unfolded to extend upwardly from the bottom part of the ankle portion to produce the second appearance of the shoe.

Abstract: Protective footwear, such as a motorcycle or motocross boot, having a molded top gasket and/or a fold-over thermal barrier. The molded top gasket may be a substantially annular unitary piece or multi-piece construction of an elastomeric material, such as rubber, that snugly wraps around the wearer's lower leg or ankle when the footwear is worn. The fold-over thermal barrier is a piece of thermally resistant material on the outer surface of the footwear upper that extends over a portion of the rim and into the inside of the upper. One or more optional control pads also may be placed on the exterior surface of the thermal barrier.

Abstract: A novel shoe construction provides a unique aesthetically pleasing appearance to a shoe that can be easily, but significantly, changed. In the shoe construction, the shoe is provided with an upper ankle portion that has an elongate length that extends upwardly from the shoe sole. The length of the ankle portion allows a top part of the ankle portion to be folded downwardly over a bottom part of the ankle portion to produce a first appearance of the shoe. The top part of the ankle portion can be unfolded to extend upwardly from the bottom part of the ankle portion to produce the second appearance of the shoe.

Abstract: A footwear base (320) and a structurally designed footwear bracing system (340) including a footwear base is provided. The footwear bracing system reduces the likelihood of ankle injuries when incorporated in a variety of footwear. The footwear bracing system permits the production of a very high structurally designed footwear base (320) by coupling it to and working in unison with a simple articulated but structurally designed support system (340). Very large forces can exist with this footwear and moderate but very injurious forces can be experienced in many types of footwear and these forces cannot be controlled by the ankle alone. Using the principles of the present invention these forces can be transferred to and resisted by the lower leg. The support system controls the forces generated by the footwear height or ground unevenness and relieves the ankle of this task.

Abstract: Protective foot wear having a shoe body, an elastomeric inner body, which has a sock portion and a sleeve, the sock portion being position in and attached to said shoe body. The sleeve extends from said shoe body. A shield is attached to the sleeve and the shield is sized to releaseably enclose the sleeve.

Abstract: A water-resistant and floatable footwear including an outsole and insole, an upper member affixed to the sole, wherein the footwear is floatable in water. In particular, the insole of the footwear is constructed of the material “marine buoy;” that is, the insole has an inner structure and an outer coating, the inner structure being constructed of a thermoplastic resin and the outer coating being constructed of a vinyl polymer. The footwear is advantageously water-proof and provides buoyancy in water.

Abstract: The invention relates to a sports shoe, especially for downhill skiing, ski-touring, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, roller-skating or ice-skating. The inventive shoe essentially comprises a rigid underframe (11), which is located below the ankle of the wearer, two connecting links (30, 31) between the underframe and the leg of the wearer, and two casings (14, 15), which are arranged in such a way that they can firmly link the leg of the wearer to the connecting links. The underframe (11) comprises a front housing (18) and a rear housing (19). The housings are arranged in such a way that they can receive a soft inner boot (12). The underframe (11) also comprises shoulders (17, 17′), which enable the shoe (10) to be fixed in a conventional binding. The inner boot (12) is able to move inside the underframe.

Abstract: Structure, associated with a motorcycle boot, which is designed to restrict, in the event of accidental falls followed by contact at high speed with the ground, the movements of the leg-piece (12) of the boot with respect to the axis of a heel-piece (14). First hinging means (16) which are angularly movable in a substantially unlimited manner and axially movable between two stopping means and second hinging means (18) which are movable only angularly in a restricted manner. Alternatively, the first and second hinging means can be formed by elements (176, 178) made of elastomeric materials.

Abstract: A water-resistant and floatable footwear and method of manufacture therefor are provided, the footwear comprising a sole including an outsole and insole, an upper member affixed to the sole, wherein said footwear is floatable in water. In particular, the insole of the footwear is constructed of the material “marine buoy;” that is, the insole has an inner structure and an outer coating, the inner structure being constructed of a thermoplastic resin and the outer coating being constructed of a vinyl polymer. The footwear is advantageously water-proof and provides buoyancy in water. The upper members of the footwear may also be constructed of the marine buoy material and they may be configured as a continuous strap or flaps that are detachably attached to each other. The outsole of the footwear may be configured in close conformity with the insole, or it may include a peripheral border extending upwardly and around the insole.

Abstract: A water-resistant and floatable footwear and method of manufacture therefor are provided, the footwear comprising a sole including an outsole and insole, an upper member affixed to the sole, wherein said footwear is floatable in water. In particular, the insole of the footwear is constructed of the material “marine buoy;” that is, the insole has an inner structure and an outer coating, the inner structure being constructed of a thermoplastic resin and the outer coating being constructed of a vinyl polymer. The footwear is advantageously water-proof and provides buoyancy in water. The upper members of the footwear may also be constructed of the marine buoy material and they may be configured as a continuous strap or flaps that are detachably attached to each other. The outsole of the footwear may be configured in close conformity with the insole, or it may include a peripheral border extending upwardly and around the insole.

Abstract: A hinge system for pivotally coupling a skate lower portion to a skate upper cuff. The multi-hinge design incorporates a four link chain mechanism. The pivot axis defined by the four link chain can be designed to shift through a path of travel that generally coincides with the path of travel of the anatomical pivot axis defined by the user's foot and leg. The upper cuff and boot lower portion account for two of the four links of the four link mechanism. The other two links are either rigid bars with pin connections on both the upper cuff and the lower portion, or roller links with a pin connection to the upper and a slot sliding surface on the lower portion. A slider link can be substituted for the roller and a slide surface can be substituted for the slot.

Abstract: A flexible skate boot having lower and upper portions made of leather, synthetic leather or similar material is provided with a flexible ankle encircling cuff made of synthetic moldable plastic material capable flexing designed in amounts in the forward and aft and lateral directions to act as an energy storage and release device and without wrinkling so as to minimize discomfort and abrasion on the user's ankle and extend the useful life of the boot. The tongue portion of the boot has a similar molded synthetic flexible panel separating the upper and lower sections of the tongue, the tongue panel being aligned with the flexible ankle encircling cuff which separates the upper and lower parts of the boot from each other. The parts are designed to essentially lock the tongue in the desired frontal position to prevent tongue migration from the desired frontal position during skating.

Abstract: A sports boot adapted to be associated to a glide board for snowboarding, via a detachable binding device that includes a rear support spoiler that is relatively rigid. The boot includes an external sole overhung with a shell base that extends towards the lower part of the user's leg via a relatively flexible upper that is capable of cooperating with the rear support spoiler which is relatively rigid, and affixed to the board, during a rear edge setting, wherein the upper includes an arrangement for distributing the pressure exerted on the lower part of the user's leg when the upper takes support on the spoiler, such arrangement including a relatively rigid plate attached to a more flexible rear zone of upper and insulated from all the rigid parts of the boot in order to maintain the flexibility of the upper.

Abstract: An outerwear for a fisherman or hunter is formed of two leg portions and a hip-waist portion extending upward from the leg portions to the waist. The leg portions are made of a foam material having waterproof, nonbreathable, and thermal effects. The hip-waist portion is made of a waterproof and breathable material.

Abstract: A protective footwear and lower leg covering protects the shoes and lower trousers or legs of a wearer while using a mower, string trimmer, chain saw, or other equipment which may discharge objects at high speed. The covering also serves to protect the user's shoes and clothing during painting operations, and the complete closure from the sole of the shoe upward along the lower leg, also serves to protect the wearer from insect bites and stings. The device comprises a molded plastic, rubber, or other elastomer shoe or boot cover, which is sewn to an upper legging, spat or puttee configured to cover bare or trousered legs. A plurality of fastening straps secure the protective cover to a wearer's foot and lower leg. The shoe or boot cover has no sole, thus providing for easier donning by a wearer. The shoe or boot cover is secured to the shoe or boot by a strap which passes beneath the sole, or alternatively by a toe pocket or hold formed in the forward end of the cover.