Patent Application
20070294919
In the following detailed description, for purposes of explanation and not limitation, example embodiments disclosing specific details are set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, it will be apparent to one having ordinary skill in the art, having had-the benefit of the present disclosure, that the present invention may be practiced in other embodiments that depart from the specific details disclosed herein. Moreover, descriptions of well-known devices, methods and materials may be omitted so as not to obscure the description of the present invention. Finally, wherever applicable, like reference numerals refer to like elements.
For clarity, terms such as right and left in referenced to a figure, unless otherwise noted, refer to the right or left side of the figure as looking at the drawing. Similarly, unless otherwise indicated, “facing” refers to the side of the figure on the visible, facing side of the drawing (out of the paper), while “back side” refers to the side of a figure which is not visible (i.e. into the paper). Wherever possible, dashed (i.e. phantom) lines are used to denote features which are located on a non-visible portion of the figure, but are nevertheless shown to provide guidance to the reader.
Shown in
Edge 15 of back portion 16, shown in
Tongue portion 14, best shown in
In the embodiment illustrated in
In a preferred embodiment, closure means 32 comprises hook and loop material, such as that marketed as Velcro®. As evidenced in
Sole 12, tongue portion 14, and back portion 16 (i.e. bootie 10) may be fabricated from any suitable material that provides flexibility and warmth. For example, bootie 10 may be made from supple leather (e.g. calf skin), denim, corduroy, faux leather, etc. Moreover, it is not necessary that each constituent component of bootie 10 be fabricated from the same material. In some cases, bootie 10 may be lined with a lining material to both protect an infant's foot from contact with the outer material, such as if the outer material is rough, and, more importantly, to keep the infant's foot and lower leg (to the extent the lower leg is covered by bootie 10) warm. For example, bootie 10 may have a fleece or fleece-like lining, although other lining materials may be used as desired. An insulating lining material, such as Thinsulate™, available from the 3M company may be included, for example.
Advantageously, the attachment of tongue portion 14 and back portion 16 to sole 12 such that tongue portion 14 and back portion 16 are connected to each other only along line segments 26a, 26b on the periphery of sole 12 makes it possible to fold back portion 16 substantially flat, i.e. down to sole 12, as illustrated in
To aid in securing bootie 10 to the wearer's foot, an optional elastic member 34 may be incorporated in back portion 16. Elastic member 34 may be elastic thread, an elastic strap, or other similar elastic member which may be used in the fabrication of clothing. Elastic member 34 is typically attached to or incorporated into back portion 16 by stretching elastic member 34 and stitching the stretched elastic member 34 into the material comprising back portion 16. When released, elastic member 34 contracts from its stretched or elongated condition, thereby forming a restricted opening about the wearer's ankle. Elastic member 34 is incorporated (e.g. stitched) into back portion 16 such that elastic member 34 substantially encircles the wearer's ankle when the boot is in a secured or closed condition. That is, when the upper and lower tab pairs are attached to one another, respectively. This is preferably facilitated by incorporating elastic member 34 at a level on back portion 16 that is just below lower tabs 28a, 28b. By substantially encircles what is meant is that when bootie 10 is placed on the wearer's foot and the tabs of the upper and lower tab pairs are attached one to the other, only a small gap exists in the elastic member over the upper area of the wearer's foot.
As described briefly above, tongue portion 14 extends from proximal end 22, attached to sole 12 to form a pocket for the wearer's foot, to distal end 24. When bootie 10 is closed about the wearer's foot, tongue 14 forms a soft shield between the overlap of the fastened areas of back portion 16 (e.g. lower and upper tab pairs 28, 30), and helps to encase the wearer's lower leg within the bootie. Preferably, both the tongue and the back portions extend upward to about equal heights from the wearer's foot.
In some embodiments, another optional, supplemental closure means 36 of securing bootie 10 to the wearer's foot may be utilized. As shown in
In some embodiments, upper and lower tab pairs of back portion 16 may be eliminated or more appropriately stated, upper and lower tab pairs 28, 30 may be merged such that the edges 42a, 42b of back portion 16 extend generally straight. Closure of bootie 10 of this present embodiment may be accomplished similar to the previous embodiment. For example, Velcro strips may be incorporated into each edge 42a, 42b of back portion 16. Alternatively, discrete fasteners, such as the aforementioned loop and button approach, for example, may be employed up the front of the bootie, or zippers or laces may be employed.
In other embodiments, back portion 16 may be shortened as illustrated in
It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present invention, particularly any “preferred” embodiments, are merely possible examples of implementations, merely set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the invention. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiments of the invention without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the invention. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and the present invention and protected by the following claims.
