FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of footwear and, more specifically to an improved boot having strap portions adapted to be easily cinched around the leg portion of the boot,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A snug fit around the leg of a user is essential in many footwear applications. This is particularly so with respect to boots which extend up the leg of a user well beyond ankle level. It is highly desirable in such instances to adjust the cross-sectional area (i.e., in a transverse plane of the leg portion of the boot) in order to achieve a snug fit around the leg of the user. Such a snug fit contributes not only to the comfort of the user, but also serves to resist entry of cold ambient air and foreign materials, such as snow, into the interior of the boot. As such, boot designs often require some means of cinching the leg portion of a boot around the leg of the user. Traditional means have included, for example, laces and straps. Laces are, of course, very well known in the art and require little further description. With more particular reference to straps, prior art designs have included a plurality of straps positioned at different locations on the boot in order to enable a user to snugly fit the boot to his or her leg via independent adjustment of each of the straps. It is desirable for a user to be able to quickly and easily adjust the fit of each of his or her boots around each of his or her legs, particularly in situations where the ambient temperature is below freezing temperature (i.e., below 0° C. or 32° F.) (hereinafter referenced in this specification and claims as “low-temperature environments”). Other means of achieving a tight fit, including the use of conventional hook and loop fasteners, often require the release of the fastening means prior to cinching and re-engagement of same in order to cinch the fastening means about the boot. Such additional steps are not only unnecessarily cumbersome, tedious and time consuming, but can be uncomfortable for the user when carried out in low-temperature environments.

Prior art boots including straps and laces, such as those mentioned hereinabove, also often require the use of both hands of the user (or the person altering the fit of the boot around the leg of a user) in order to effect changes in the fit of the boot, or require multiple adjustments using a single hand. Furthermore, a higher level of dexterity is often required than is possible while wearing gloves and/or mittens, as would be the case in low-temperature environments.

Accordingly, there exists an ongoing need for a boot providing a means of quickly and easily adjusting the fit of same about the leg of a user, particularly one which can be adjusted with the use of a single hand of the user while gloved.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Amongst other things, the present invention allows for the adjustment of the fit of a boot around the leg of a user in a novel and unobvious manner by providing a boot having strap portions adapted to be easily cinched around the perimeter of same.

Accordingly, the present invention provides, amongst other things, a boot comprising a foot portion for enclosing the foot of a user and a flexible leg portion for enclosing the leg or a user and having a substantially circular cross-section, with the leg portion extending upwardly from the foot portion. The boot further comprises a first strap portion having a first end and a second end, and being affixed adjacent its first end to one of the foot portion and the leg portion at a first point of origin, and extending more than 180° from the first point of origin around the perimeter of the leg portion in a first circumferential direction. The boot further comprises a second strap portion having a first end and a second end, and being affixed adjacent its first end to one of the foot portion and the leg portion at a second point of origin, and extending from the second point of origin around the perimeter of the leg portion in a second circumferential direction, substantially opposite to the first circumferential direction, to meet the first strap portion adjacent its second end. The boot further comprises a fastening means for releasably joining the first strap portion to the second strap portion in circumferentially adjustable relation to cinch the first and second strap portions around the perimeter of the leg portion in conjoined relation.

It is an object of this invention to obviate or mitigate at least one of the above mentioned disadvantages of the prior art. Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter of which is briefly described hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present invention, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which but a single embodiment of the invention will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only, and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the invention. In the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1A is a left side elevational view of a boot according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a view similar to FIG. 1A, with the strap portions cinched around the leg portion of the boot displayed therein;

FIG. 2 is an elevational perspective view, from the right rear, of the boot of FIGS. 1A and 1B, with the strap portions thereof un-joined;

FIG. 3A is a sectional view taken along sight line 3A-3A of FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along sight line 3B-3B of FIG. 1B;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the fastening means shown in the other Figures, with its pair of fastening portions detached from one another.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1A of the drawings, there will be seen a boot 10 according to but one embodiment of the present invention, and comprising a foot portion 12 for enclosing the foot (not shown) of a user (not shown). The foot portion 12 may be constructed in a known manner from any rigid or semi-rigid material capable of being formed into shapes such as, for example, that shown in the Figures, or ones of similar complexity. Such materials include, for example, synthetic leather, leather, moldable plastics, rubber, and the like. The foot portion 12 is preferably water-resistant and capable of withstanding long-term exposure to low-temperature environments. The boot 10 further comprises a flexible leg portion 14 having a substantially circular cross-section, as best seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, and extending upwardly from the foot portion 12, as seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2. In this specification and the appended claims, the term “substantially circular cross-section” means a cross-section or closed geometric outline, having a significant arcuate component such as, but not limited to, for example, a circular or ovoid outline that is of sufficient shape and dimension to enclose a lower leg portion of a human user. The foot portion 12 and the leg portion 14 may be stitched together as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, or may be joined in any other conventional manner. The leg portion 14 may comprise an outer skin 14 a, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, which skin 14 a may be composed of one or more flexible materials, such as, for example, leather, synthetic leather, nylon fabric, and the like. The outer skin 14 a shown is constructed of abrasion resistant nylon fabric. The leg portion 14 may also comprise an inner lining 14 b, as seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, preferably constructed from a fibrous insulating material, such as polyester and polyether foams and blends thereof, which insulating material is also necessarily flexible. Additionally, a removable liner (not shown) may optionally be included in some embodiments of the present invention, particularly those for use in very low-temperature environments, to further insulate the foot of the user. The foot 12 and leg 14 portions collectively define a leg cavity 15 within the boot 10, as best seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B.

The boot 10 further comprises a first strap portion 16 having a first end 16 a and a second end 16 b, which first strap portion 16 may be affixed adjacent its first end 16 a to one of ne foot portion 12 and the leg portion 14 at a first point of origin 18. As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, and 3B, the first strap portion 16 may preferably be affixed adjacent its first end 16 a to the base of the leg portion 14. As seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the first strap portion 16 extends more than 180° from the first point of origin 18 around the perimeter of the leg portion 14 in a first circumferential direction (as generally indicated by reference arrow “A” in FIGS. 3A and 3B). As will be appreciated from a consideration of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the path of the first strap portion 16 as it extends around the leg portion 14 need not necessarily be parallel to a transverse plane of the leg portion 14. As such, the first strap portion 16 extends more than 180° from the first point of origin 18 in that it extends so far around the perimeter of the leg portion 14 that its second end 16 b extends more than half-way around the perimeter of the leg portion 14 (the perimeter of which is substantially similarly shaped to its cross-section) from the first point of origin 18. The first point of origin 18 may preferably , but need not necessarily, be located on the leg portion 14, in an anterior position adjacent to the base of the leg portion 14, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B.

The boot 10 further comprises a second strap portion 20, shown FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B, and having a first end 20 a and a second end 20 b. The second strap portion 20 may be affixed adjacent its first end 20 a to one of the foot portion 12 and the leg portion 14 at a second point of origin 22. As seen in FIGS. 1A, and 1B, the second strap portion 20 may preferably be affixed adjacent its first end 20 a to the base of the leg portion 14. The second strap portion 20 extends from the second point of origin 22 around the perimeter of the leg portion 14 in a second circumferential direction (as generally indicated by reference arrow “B” in FIGS. 3A and 3B), which second circumferential direction is substantially opposite to the first circumferential direction, to meet the first strap portion 16 adjacent its second end 16 b. The second strap portion 20 may preferably, but need not necessarily, extend more than 180° (which value is determined in similar fashion as was described hereinabove with respect to the extension of the first strap portion 16 around the perimeter of the leg portion 14) around the perimeter of the leg portion 14 from the second point of origin 22 in the second circumferential direction, as shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B. As also shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the second point of origin 22 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be located on the leg portion 14 in an anterior position adjacent to the base of the leg portion 14. Further, the first point of origin 18 and the second point of origin 22 may preferably both be located at a common point of origin 23, which common point of origin 23 may preferably be anteriorly positioned in substantial alignment with a medial plane of the leg portion 14, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3B. The strap portions 16, 20 may each be stitched to the leg portion 14 as shown in FIGS. 1A, and 1B, and/or affixed thereto by any other suitable means of affixation. The strap portions 16 and 20 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be composed of, friction and cold-resistant materials such as, for example, braided or woven nylon and the like.

The boot 10 further comprises a fastening means 24 for releasably joining the first strap portion 16 to the second strap portion 20, when they meet as described hereinabove. The strap portions 16, 20 are so joined by the fastening means 24 in circumferentially adjustable relation, so as to allow for cinching of the conjoined strap portions 16, 20 around the perimeter of the leg portion 14. The effects of such cinching on the cross-sectional area of the leg cavity 15 will be apparent from a comparison of FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B. The fastening means 24 may comprise a side-release buckle having a pair of matable fastening portions 26, as shown in the Figures. A respective one of the pair of fastening portions 26 is mounted on each of the first strap portion 16 and the second strap portion 20, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, 3A and 3B, so as to place the strap portions 16 and 20 in releasably attachable relation to one another.

While the pair of matable fastening portions 26 are shown in the Figures to comprise a female buckle member 28 having two or more detent openings 32 formed therein and a male buckle member 30 having two or more spring detents 34 formed thereon for lockably mating with respective ones of the detent openings 32, one skilled in the art will readily recognize that various other fastening means could be employed with similar utility in embodiments of the present invention. For example, the pair of fastening portions 26 may comprise a simple loop mounted on one of the strap portions 16 and 20 with matable hook and loop portions (such as those marketed under the Velcro® trademark by Velcro U.S.A. Inc. of Manchester , N.H., U.S.A.) mounted on the other of the strap portions 16 and 20 in spaced relation adjacent its respective second end 16 b or 20 b. With such an optional arrangement, the second end with the hook and loop portions is slid through the aforesaid simple loop and folded back upon itself in adjustable relation (not shown). Returning to the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures, a commercially available fastening means 24 such as that shown is the World Side-release Buckle (available from ITW Nexus, of Des Plaines, Ill., U.S.A.). As best shown in FIG. 4, one or both of the pair of fastening portions 26 of the fastening means 24 further comprises one or more transversely extending cross members 36 mounted thereon. One of the strap portions 16 and 20, is frictionally engagable with the cross member 36 of one of the pair of fastening portions 26, in slidably adjustable relation therearound. The first strap portion 16 may preferably be frictionally engagable with the male buckle member 30 (more particularly, with the cross member 36 thereof) as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B. In embodiments displaying such a feature, the second strap portion 20 may, accordingly, be attached, preferably but not necessarily adjacent its second end 20 b, in non-adjustable relation to the female buckle member 28 (more particularly, to the cross member 36 thereof) , as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2. The attachment of the second strap portion 20 to the female buckle member 28 may, but need not necessarily, be by stitching as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, and may alternatively be by any suitable means of affixation. One skilled in the art will recognize that the respective ones of the pair of fastening portions 26 to which each of the strap portions 16, 20 are engagable and/or affixed, could be reversed from the arrangement described hereinabove, and shown in the Figures. That is to say, the second strap portion 20 may be engagable with the male buckle member 30, and the first strap portion 16 with the female buckle member 28.

The fastening means 24 further comprises a restrainment member 38 oriented, as shown in FIG. 4, in substantially parallel relation to each of the cross members 36 (when the male 30 and female 28 buckle members are attached to each other). The restrainment member 38 may preferably, but need not necessarily be, mounted on the male buckle member 30 as best shown in FIG. 4; it ma also be mounted on the female buckle member 28. In the exemplary embodiment, the first strap portion 16 is frictionally engagable with the restrainment member 38 in seriatim with the cross member 36. The second end 16 b of the first strap portion 16 is passed through a first slot 42 defined adjacent to the cross member 36 of the male buckle member 30, and wrapped around the cross member 36, and is thereafter passed through a second slot 44 defined between the cross member 36 and the restrainment member 38 of the male buckle member 30. As such, the strap portions 16, 20 may, when conjoined, be cinched around the perimeter of the leg portion 14 by pulling by the user on the second end 16 b of the first strap portion 16 in the direction of arrow “C” of FIG. 3A, which second end 16 b is free and clear of the male buckle member 30. As stated hereinabove, the effects of such cinching on the cross-sectional area of the leg cavity 15 will be apparent from a comparison of FIG. 3A to FIG. 3B; in short, it will be seen from the latter Figure that the flexible leg portion 14 has been tightened around what would be the lower leg of a user (not-shown).

As seen in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2, a gripping member 56 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be affixed to the first strap portion 16 adjacent its second end 16 b to facilitate its pulling, as aforesaid. As best shown in FIG. 4, the first slot 42 may preferably, but need not necessarily be proximal, and the second slot 44 distal, to the spring detents 34. One or more edges 40 of the restrainment member 38, best seen in FIG. 4, are preferably angled, with respect to the medial plane of the leg portion so as to still be substantially parallel to the cross member 36, thereby to grippingly engage the first strap portion 16. The restrainment member 38 thus essentially forms a blade angled to bite into the first strap portion 16 when force is applied to the fastening means 24 in substantially the first circumferential direction. This biting action provides additional resistance against uncinching of the first 16 and second 20 strap portions around the perimeter of the leg portion 14. The edge 40 of the restrainment member 38 may additionally be serrated and/or ribbed to aid in such biting actions. The restrainment member 38 may be further adapted to allow for uncinching of the strap portions 16, 20 when manually adjusted by the user to allow such uncinching by angling the fastening means 24 with respect to the medial plane of the leg portion 14, by moving the male buckle member 30 outwardly in the direction of arrown “D” of FIG. 3A away from the leg portion 14. While other materials may be used, the male and female buckle members 30, 26 may preferably be composed of molded plastic which may preferably be semi-resilient and resistant to low-temperature environments.

As seen in EIGS. 3A, and 3B, the pair of fastening portions 26 may preferably, but need not necessarily, engage one another at a location 54 on a portion of the perimeter adjacent to an outer half of the leg of the user. This location 54 may preferably, but need not necessarily, be less distant from the common point of origin 23 than from a guide loop 52, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 3A. The strap portions 16 and 20 are shown in the Figures to wrap around the leg portion 14 at a level substantially in alignment with the upper portion of the ankle of the user (not shown). One skilled in the art will recognize that the strap portions 16 and 20 may wrap around the leg portion 14 at any location whereat the boot 10 may be snugly fit around the lea of the user by cinching of the conjoined strap portions 16 and 20. Moreover, the strap portions 16 and 20 need not wrap aground the leg portion 14 in a substantially horizontal plane as shown in the Figures; rather, the plane of the strap portion 16 and 20 may be askew to a strictly horizontal plane passing through the leg portion 14.

The boot 10 further comprises one or more bands 50, best seen in FIG. 2, vertically mounted on the perimeter of the leg portion 14, so as to define one or more guide loops 52, as seen in FIGS. 1A and 1B for passage of one or more of the strap portions 16 and 20 between the bands 50 and the leg portion 14. Strap portions 16 and 20 passing through the guide loops 52 may be caused to slide on a consistent path between adjustments by the user. As best seen in FIG. 2, the guide loops 52 may preferably be substantially vertically oriented on the leg portion 14, and posteriorly positioned in substantial alignment with the media plane of same. The strap portions 16, 20 may preferably, but need not necessarily both pass through a common guide loop 52. The bands 50 may be composed of materials resistant to friction and capable of withstanding low-temperature environments. Such materials may include, for example, woven nylon strapping material and the like.

In use, a user may insert his or her foot into the leg cavity 15 of the boot 10. The pair of fastening portions 26 may be attached to one another (preferably within a dwelling or other warm environment where gloves or mittens are not needed) prior to insertion of the foot (as seen in FIG. 1A), or may be detached (as seen in FIG. 2) If attached prior to insertion, the conjoined strap portions 16 and 20 will be cinched a minimal amount (i.e., no more than would allow insertion of the foot of the user into the leg cavity 15 of the boot 10). If the pair of fastening portions 26 are not attached to one another prior to insertion, the user must so attach them after insertion. In the exemplary embodiment, attachment of the pair of fastening portions 26 to one another would comprise the step or inserting the male buckle member 30 into the female buckle member 28 (or sliding the female buckle member 28 over the male buckle member 30) until the spring detents 34 engage their counterpart detent openings 32.

Once the foot is inserted and the fastening portions 26 are engaged, the user may then cinch the strap portions 16 and 20 about the perimeter of the boot 10 by pulling on the second end 16 b of the first strap portion 16 in the direction of arrow “C” of FIG. 3A and as described hereinabove. The pair of fastening portions 26 will be adapted to stay conjoined even under application of tensile forces thereto by the user during cinching. The user may cinch the strap portions 16 and 20 by pulling (as described hereinabove) until a desired level of comfortable constriction about his or her foot is achieved.

To uncinch the strap portions 16 and 20, either for the purpose of removal of the boot, or merely to adjust the fit of same, the user may outwardly angle the fastening means 24 with relation to the medial plane of the leg portion 14. To achieve such a configuration (not shown), the male buckle member 30 would be pulled outwardly in the direction of arrow “D” of FIG. 3A away from the leg portion by the user, while substantially maintaining the position of the mated female buckle member 28 relative to the leg portion 14. The first strap portion 16 will then be free to slide through the second 44 and first 42 slots, thereby uncinching the leg portion 14. Accordingly, the leg portion 14 would then more closely resemble the configuration shown in FIGS. 1A and 3A, than that shown in FIG. 1B and 3B.

As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, in order to remove his or her foot from the boot 10, the user need not disengage the pair of fastening portions 26. He or she need only uncinch the strap portions 16, 20 to a point whereat he or she is able to remove his or her foot from the boot 10. In order to remove his or her foot from the boot 10, the user may alternatively disengage the fastening portions 26, if he or she so chooses, in addition to, or in place of, uncinching the strap portions 16, 20. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the Figures, such disengagement may be achieved by depressing both spring detents 34 toward one another, and then pulling apart the male 30 and female 28 buckle members. The tension in the conjoined strap portions 16 and 20 generated during the previous cinching operation may be sufficient to pull apart the fastening portions 26 (if they have not already been disengaged by the user) once the spring detents 34 are so depressed.

Other modifications and alterations may be utilized in the design and manufacture of other embodiments according to the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, which is limited only by the accompanying claims. For example, in embodiments of the present invention having leg portions which extend above the knee of the user, additional strap portions (and accompanying fastening means) may be included in configurations similar to that described herein with respect to the first and second strap portions. In such embodiments, more than two strap portions could meet at a single fastening means, or a bank comprising a plurality of same.

The boot 10 may alternatively be constructed as a unitary piece (not shown), rather than as having the separate foot 12 and leg portions 14 shown in the Figures.