Boot construction with multipart vamp

Abstract

Disclosed is a boot construction utilizing both exotic and non-exotic leathers in a multi-part vamp. This construction provides increased durability, more efficient material utilization, and aesthetic appeal. More specifically, the vamp includes a forward toe portion constructed primarily from an exotic leather and a rearward saddle portion constructed from a non-exotic leather. The saddle portion further includes a cutout that exposes an underlying portion of another leather material.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] This invention relates to a boot construction, and more particularly pertains to a boot constructed with a multipart vamp.

[0003] 2. Description of the Background Art

[0004] A variety of different shoe constructions are used in the modern footwear industry, with each construction being particularly suited for a specific application. Some constructions are suited for every day use and are designed primarily for the comfort of the wearer's foot. Other constructions are more formal and employ elaborate and aesthetically appealing designs. Still yet other constructions are tailored for working environments and are designed for increased durability and foot protection. Although each of the above referenced constructions share similar components, they also each employ features unique to its intended purpose.

[0005] One example of footwear for a working environment is embodied in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,895 to McClelland. This construction generally includes an upper (12), a vamp (28), an insole (18), and an outsole shell (20). The construction additionally includes a filling material, such as a polyurethane foam, that is positioned within the outsole shell (20). The foam fills the chamber and bonds directly to the insole.

[0006] Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,862,606 to Siskind discloses a toe guard for footwear. The footwear of Siskind includes an upper (12), a vamp (16), and a bottom (14). An improved non-metallic toe guard (20) is incorporated into the toe (18) of the footwear (10). The toe guard has a chemical composition and mechanical configuration that maximizes flex modulus, compression strength, and impact strength.

[0007] Neither the McClelland nor Siskind constructions are designed for aesthetic appeal. Furthermore, these constructions are expensive, both in terms of materials and manufacturing processes. Thus, there exists a need in the art for durable and inexpensive shoe constructions that are aesthetically pleasing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] It is therefore one of the objectives of this invention to provide a less costly footwear construction that is made, in part, from exotic leathers.

[0009] It is also an object of this invention to highlight the use of exotic leathers to increase the aesthetic appeal of the resulting footwear.

[0010] It is also an object of this invention to provide a footwear construction that utilizes both exotic and non-exotic leathers in a manner that increases aesthetic appeal while maintaining the durability of the resulting construction.

[0011] Still another object of this invention is to provide an article of footwear constructed from a multipiece vamp, which reduces expense.

[0012] These and other objectives are accomplished by providing a western-style boot with an upper having a leg extent, a vamp, and foxing. The construction further includes a bottom that is secured to the upper with stitching. The bottom includes both an insole and an outsole as well as a heel. The vamp includes a forward toe portion constructed from an exotic leather and a rearward saddle portion constructed from a non-exotic leather. A cutout is formed within the saddle portion and exposes an underlying piece of the exotic leather. Stitching is secured about the periphery of the saddle and cutout.

[0013] The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the more pertinent and important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood so that the present contribution to the art can be more fully appreciated. Additional features of the invention will be described hereinafter which form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiment disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other structures for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of the invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0015] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the boot construction of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the multipart vamp of the present invention.

[0017] Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] The present invention relates to a boot construction utilizing both exotic and non-exotic leathers in a multi-part vamp. This construction provides aesthetic appeal at a lower cost. More specifically, the vamp includes a forward toe portion constructed primarily from an exotic leather and a rearward saddle portion constructed from a non-exotic leather. The saddle portion further includes a cutout that exposes an underlying portion of another leather material. The various features of the present invention, and the manner in which they interrelate, will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

[0019] FIG. 1 discloses a perspective view of the boot construction 10 of the present invention. The boot depicted is a “western-style” cowboy boot, however, the present invention finds application in a variety of footwear styles. In general terms, the boot 10 includes upper and bottom portions (20 and 22, respectively) that are secured to one another. The upper portion 20 comprises a leg portion 24, a vamp portion 26, and rear foxing 28. The bottom portion 22 comprises an insole 32 (or midsole), an outsole 34, and a heel 36. Alternatively, the bottom portion 22 can be constructed from a unit one-piece outsole/heel combination. The present invention relates to the construction and design of the vamp portion 26. Thus, the remaining components can be constructed from any of a variety of materials known in the art through conventional manufacturing techniques. Additionally, the vamp 26 of the present invention, along with the conventional components of the construction, can be utilized on a wide variety of shoe styles. For example, the present invention can be used in conjunction with dress shoes, work boots, or even high heeled shoes.

[0020] With continuing reference to FIG. 1, the vamp 26 of the present invention is described in greater detail. The vamp 26 is multi-part in that it includes two portions that are stitched together to achieve the shape depicted in FIG. 2. More specifically, vamp 26 includes a forward toe portion 38 stitched to a rearward saddle portion 42 along a stitch line 44, which is preferably contoured into a fanciful shape. The toe portion 38 comprises roughly half of the overall length of vamp 26 and, when secured to footwear 10, forms a rounded shape. In the preferred embodiment, forward toe portion 38 is constructed from an exotic leather. Exotic leathers include ostrich, lizard, shark, alligator, crocodile, caiman, elephant, or snake. The use of other valuable leathers is also within the scope of the present invention.

[0021] Saddle portion 42 extends from the rearward edge of toe portion 38 (at the stitch line) to the leg portion 24 of the upper 20. Saddle portion 42 includes side extents 46 and a center tab 48. Prior to it being fitted upon the boot 10, the vamp 26 forms a flat configuration (FIG. 2). However, once secured on a boot as noted in FIG. 1, toe portion 38 of vamp 26 takes a rounded or arched configuration about the foot of the wearer. Additionally, the forward extent of saddle portion 42 likewise forms a rounded shape along stitch line 44. The side extents 46, however, are positioned in generally vertical planes along the sides of the boot and are secured to the rear foxing 28. Likewise, center tab 48 is positioned in a vertical plane along the leg portion 24. Preferably the edge of tab 48 is formed into a decorative shape to increase aesthetic appeal.

[0022] In the preferred embodiment, the majority of the saddle portion 42 is formed from a non-exotic leather. Non-exotic leathers include cow or goat. The use of simulated leathers is also within the scope of the present invention. In one embodiment, both the saddle 42 and toe 38 portions are constructed from exotic leathers. For example, the saddle 42 can be constructed from a smooth ostrich material. However, in the preferred embodiment, the toe 38 is constructed from exotic leather and the saddle 42 is constructed from non-exotic leather. The primary difference between the exotic and non-exotic leathers is cost. That is, cost savings are achieved by using a less expensive material in saddle portion 42 as this area is generally less noticeable than the toe portion 38. Thus, the boot 10 can be constructed with less expensive materials without sacrificing visual appeal.

[0023] The central portion of the saddle 42 includes a cutout 52. Preferably this cutout 52 is made into a decorative shape (such as the depicted starburst pattern) that compliments the boot style. The cutout 52 is formed through the thickness of the saddle portion 42 and serves to expose an underlying piece 54 of an additional leather material. In the preferred embodiment, the underlying material 54 is the same exotic leather used for the toe portion 38 of the vamp 26. The use of other underlying materials, different from either the toe or saddle portions, is also within the scope of the present invention. Stitching 56 is used to define the periphery of cutout 52 and also secures the underlying material 54 to the saddle portion 42.

[0024] Thus, cutout 52 provides a construction that highlights use of visually appealing and expensive leathers. At the same time, the use of less expensive non-exotic leathers for the saddle portion 42 reduces the overall cost of the resulting footwear.

[0025] With reference now to FIG. 1, stitching is used to both define the periphery of the saddle portion 42 and secure the saddle portion 42 to the upper 20. That is, stitching secures the toe 38 and saddle portions 42 along the stitching line 44. Stitching 58 is also used to secure side extents 46 to the foxing 28 and stitching 62 is used to secure tab 48 to leg portion 24. Finally, stitching 64 is employed to secure the entire upper construction to the bottom componentry. The described stitching can be achieved as discrete segments or the stitching can be one continuous line of stitching.

[0026] The result is a less costly constructed boot formed from both exotic and non-exotic leathers that is durable and relatively inexpensive to make.

[0027] The present disclosure includes that contained in the appended claims, as well as that of the foregoing description. Although this invention has been described in its preferred form with a certain degree of particularity, it is understood that the present disclosure of the preferred form has been made only by way of example and that numerous changes in the details of construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

[0028] Now that the invention has been described,

Claims

1. A construction for a western style boot comprising: an upper including a leg extent, a vamp, and foxing; a bottom secured to the upper with stitching, the bottom including an insole and outsole; the vamp comprising a forward toe portion constructed from an exotic leather and a rearward saddle portion construction from a non-exotic leather, a cutout formed within the saddle portion with an exotic leather positioned beneath the cutout, stitching securing a periphery of the saddle portion to the adjacent portion of the upper, stitching formed about the periphery of the cutout.

2. A construction for a boot comprising: an upper including a leg extent, a vamp, and foxing; a bottom secured to the upper with stitching, the bottom including an insole and outsole; the vamp comprising a forward toe portion constructed from a first leather and a rearward saddle portion construction from a second leather that is different from the first leather.

3. The construction as described in claim 2 further comprising a cutout formed within the saddle portion.

4. The construction as described in claim 3 wherein a third leather material is positioned beneath the cutout.

5. The construction as described in claim 2 wherein the first leather material is an exotic leather and the second leather material is formed from a non-exotic leather material.

6. The construction as described in claim 4 wherein the third leather material is the same as the first leather material.

7. A construction for footwear having an upper and bottom secured to one another, with the bottom including an insole, an outsole and a heel, the footwear comprising: a vamp comprising a forward toe portion constructed from a first material and a rearward saddle portion construction from a second material that is different from the first material.

8. The construction as described in claim 7 wherein the first material is an exotic leather and the second material is a non-exotic leather.

9. The construction as described in claim 7 wherein the saddle portion includes a decorative cutout.

10. The construction as described in claim 9 wherein a third material underlies the cutout.