Heat moldable boot liner

• US 6,230,423 B1
• Filed: 08/23/1999
• Issued: 05/15/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Peter Donnelly
• Original Assignee: Peter Donnelly
• Inventors: Donnelly, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Patterson, M. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MOHANDESI, JILA M
• Application Number:
  US09/379,124
• Time in Patent Office: 631 Days
• Field of Search: 361/176, 36/10, 36/55, 36/54, 36/9.R
• US Class Current: 36/117.6
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0405 Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots

Abstract

A heat moldable boot liner has an upper portion extending upwardly from a foot portion, which has a pair of flaps extending along the foot portion, the flaps being adjustable to bring one of the flaps into overlapping relationship relative to the other of the flaps over the wearer'"'"'s foot. A tongue extends upwardly from the other one of the flaps within the upper portion of the liner, which has another pair of flaps intended to be overlapped over the tongue at the lower portion of the wearer'"'"'s leg. The foot portion includes a heel portion shaped to fit snugly the user'"'"'s heel. The present liner can be heat-molded in a single-stage molding operation.

Claims

1. A boot liner, comprising:

a foot portion;

said foot portion including first and second flaps, which can be wrapped over a wearer'"'"'s foot with said first flap in overlapping relation to said second flap, and a fastener for securing said first flap in said overlapping relation to said second flap;

an upper portion formed in one piece with said foot portion;

a tongue extending upwardly from said second flap;

said upper portion including third and fourth flaps which can be wrapped in front of a lower leg portion of said wearer with said third and fourth flaps overlapping said tongue;

a pair of gaps extending downwardly and rearwardly between said first and third flaps and between said second and fourth flaps, respectively;

said foot portion, said upper portion and said tongue being made of a heat moldable material;

a sole formed separately from said foot portion and

a joint between said sole and said foot portion extending peripherally around said sole.

2. A boot liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tongue extends upwardly to the top of said upper portion.

3. A boot liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastener comprises patches of hook-and-loop fastener material secured to said first and second flaps.

4. A boot liner as claimed in claim 1, wherein said foot portion includes a vertically externally convexly curved heel portion.

5. A boot liner as claimed in claim 4, wherein said heel portion is formed by a V-shaped cut-out in said foot portion, said V-shaped cut-out having opposite edges joined together.