Footwear with deployable crampons

• US 20070209236A1
• Filed: 03/08/2007
• Published: 09/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/08/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alec Andrew Ishak
• Original Assignee: Alec Andrew Ishak
• Inventors: Ishak, Alec Andrew
• Granted Patent: US 7,832,121 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/61
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 15/14 with outwardly-movable spikes

Abstract

An improved boot for use in ice and snow conditions that combines a flared snowshoe-like secondary sole with integral and selectively deployable crampons. The expanded secondary sole extends approximately ¼″ or more down from the primary sole of the boot and includes retractable crampons attached to the expanded sole to increase traction in snow or ice. The expanded sole functions to increase the surface area of the “footprint”, thereby reducing the overall depth of the footprint and making traversing in soft conditions (snow, mud, sand) less fatiguing to the wearer. The crampons may pivot outward from inside pockets in the secondary sole or, alternatively, may slide outward in a stiletto-fashion and/or unfold. The crampons may be individually deployable or simultaneously deployable by a central release button.

Claims

1. Footwear comprising:

a sole attached to an upper for wearing on the foot, said sole extending peripherally outward past said upper;

a plurality of selectively deployable crampons housed in the sole and extendable there from to increase traction in snow or ice.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons each comprise an outward strut bearing a downwardly extending tooth.

3. The footwear according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons are each pivotably attached to said sole and pivot thereby into channels in said sole to stow the crampons.

4. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons are each spring-biased inside said sole and are deployed stiletto-style outward through an aperture to deploy the crampons.

5. The footwear according to claim 4, further comprising a detent button corresponding to each of said plurality of selectively deployable crampons for individually deploying said crampons.

6. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein in a deployed position the crampons extend at least ¼

″

beneath a plane of the sole.

7. The footwear according to claim 3, wherein said crampons are stowed by pivoting inward and upward, and locking in a folded position.

8. A boot comprising:

a primary sole attached to an upper for wearing on the foot;

a secondary sole attached beneath said primary sole and extending peripherally outward past said primary sole;

a plurality of selectively deployable crampons housed in the secondary sole and extendable there from to increase traction in snow or ice.

9. The boot according to claim 8, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons each comprise an outward strut bearing a downwardly extending tooth.

10. The boot according to claim 9, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons are each pivotably attached to said secondary sole and pivot thereby into channels in said secondary sole to stow the crampons.

11. The boot according to claim 10, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons are each pivotably attached to said secondary sole by locking spring hinges.

12. The boot according to claim 10, wherein in a deployed position the strut extends at least ½

″

outward from the secondary sole and the downwardly extending tooth extends downward at least ¼

″

beneath a plane of the secondary sole.

13. The footwear according to claim 8, further comprising a detent button corresponding to each of said plurality of selectively deployable crampons for individually deploying said crampons.

14. The boot according to claim 10, wherein to stow the crampons they are pivoted inward and upward and are locked in a folded position with the horizontal strut seated in a lateral pocket in said secondary sole and the tooth protruding up into a deeper channel at the inner end of said pocket.

15. The boot according to claim 10, further comprising a lock release button for deploying all of said crampons at once.

16. A boot comprising:

a primary sole attached to an upper for wearing on the foot;

a secondary sole attached beneath said primary sole and extending peripherally outward past said primary sole;

a plurality of retractable stiletto-like crampons housed in the secondary sole and extendable there from to increase traction in snow or ice.

17. The boot according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons each comprise an outward strut pivotally attached to a downwardly extending tooth.

18. The boot according to claim 16, wherein said plurality of selectively deployable crampons are each slidably inserted into channels in said secondary sole to stow the crampons.

19. The boot according to claim 17, wherein said struts are pivotably attached to said teeth by locking spring hinges.

20. The boot according to claim 18, wherein in a deployed position the tooth extends downward by at least ¼

″

beneath a plane of the secondary sole.