BOOT AND BOOT FITTING SYSTEM

• US 20160192728A1
• Filed: 08/11/2014
• Published: 07/07/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Tera Boots Pty., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Tera Boots Pty., Ltd.
• Inventors: CRAWFORD, Penny, LISTON, Jonathan Lee
• Application Number:
  US14/911,305
• Publication Number:
  US 20160192728A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/06 Waterproof legs
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/0031 provided with a pocket, e.g. for keys or a card
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/12 Special watertight footwear overshoes A43B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/18 Joint supports, e.g. instep supports
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 11/12 Slide or glide fastenings

Abstract

A waterproof boot (10) is provided that has a waterproof upper (14), having a foot portion (16), a leg portion (20) and an ankle region (18) located between the foot portion (16) and the leg portion (20). A pocket (30) Is provided in the upper (14) at an anterior aspect of the ankle region (IS), An expansion mechanism (24) is provided In the upper (14) and is adapted to allow the upper (14) to expand in the ankle region (18). A selectively removable Insert (32) is also provided that Is adapted to snugly fit within the pocket (30).

Claims

1. A waterproof boot comprising:

a waterproof upper, having a foot portion, a leg portion and an ankle region located between the foot portion and the leg portion;

a pocket provided in the upper at an anterior aspect of the ankle region;

an expansion mechanism provided in the upper, the expansion mechanism being spaced from the pocket and adapted to allow the internal circumference of the upper to expand in the ankle region;

a selectively removable insert adapted to snugly fit within the pocket.

2. The waterproof boot of claim 1 wherein the expansion mechanism is a zip mechanism.

3. The waterproof boot of claim 1 wherein the expansion mechanism is a section of stretchable but resilient material.

4. The waterproof boot of claim 1 wherein the pocket has an aperture through an interior lining of the boot providing access for the insert to be inserted into, and removed from, the pocket.

5. The waterproof boot of claim 1 wherein the pocket is accessible via an external aperture in the upper, the aperture having a waterproof zip mechanism to allow opening and closing of the aperture.

6. The waterproof boot of claim 1, wherein the insert tapers away in cross-sectional profile to a thin edge at its extremities to provide a smooth transition between the insert and the upper when the insert is inserted in the pocket.

7. The waterproof boot of claim 1 further comprising an inner sleeve at an opening of the upper, the sleeve having an adjustable opening to allow it to be secured tightly around a wearer'"'"'s leg to substantially prevent water and other objects from entering the boot during use.

8. The waterproof boot of claim 1, wherein the translational friction between the insert and the pocket is sufficient to substantially prevent movement of the insert in the pocket during use.

9. The waterproof boot of claim 1, wherein the upper is a unitarily formed, moulded upper.

10. The waterproof boot of claim 1 wherein the insert is specifically tailored or selected based on a particular wearer'"'"'s ankle dimensions to provide an optimal fit of the boot to the particular wearer'"'"'s foot.

11. A boot fitting system comprising:

a boot according to claim 1; and

a plurality of said inserts, each insert being a different size, the inserts being interchangeable in the pocket to change the fit of the boot in the anterior aspect of the ankle region.

12. The boot fitting system of claim 11 wherein the plurality of inserts includes at least a large insert and a small insert, the large insert having a greater thickness than the small insert.

13. A method of fitting a waterproof boot to a boot wearer, said method comprising the following steps:

providing a boot as defined in claim 1 with a boot size corresponding to the boot wearer'"'"'s foot size;

inserting said insert into said pocket to snugly fit the wearer'"'"'s foot in the ankle region of the boot.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the boot is provided with multiple said inserts, each of a different size, and wherein the method further comprises trying multiple different sized inserts to determine the best fitting combination of boot and insert.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein the insert is specifically tailored or selected based on a particular wearer'"'"'s ankle dimensions to provide an optimal fit of the boot to the particular wearer'"'"'s foot in the ankle region.