Patent Application
20250009067
The present disclosure relates generally to footwear, and in particular to a reinforced and supportive boot to be worn during certain rodeo activities to protect the wearer's legs, ankles, and feet from injury.
A rodeo is a traditional Western-style event that showcases the skills and abilities of participants in various competitive events involving horses and livestock. Originating in the United States, rodeos have gained popularity worldwide and have become an integral part of Western culture. In a typical rodeo event, participants compete in a range of events that test their horsemanship, roping, athleticism, and physical prowess. These events often include bareback riding, saddle bronc riding, bull riding, steer wrestling, team roping, tie-down roping, goat tying, barrel racing, and breakaway roping.
Tie-down roping or calf roping is an activity based on the routine tasks of capturing calves performed by ranch hands as part of their job. The objective of the sport is to throw a rope with a loop around the head, horns or legs so that the calf is caught allowing the participant to quickly dismount from their horse to approach the roped animal on foot to flank it and tie three of the animal's legs to immobilize it. Goat tying is another event where participants ride their horse down the arena to a goat that is on a 10-foot lead rope that is staked into the ground. The participant dismounts the horse while it is running and proceeds to the goat where the objective is to catch the goat, flank the goat onto the ground, and tie three of its legs together to immobilize it. In events such as calf roping and goat tying where the participant must dismount from their horses quickly and complete the activity in the shortest time possible, injuries are commonplace.
The physical demands of rodeo activities such as tie-down roping can put significant strain on the muscles, tendons, and ligaments of the contestants' lower body. The quick dismount, sudden stop, and running can lead to sprained ankles, strained muscles, or twisted knees. The boot described herein provides added stabilizing reinforcement and support to the wearer's ankles and legs that would drastically reduce and minimize the risk of injury.
Referring to
The boot 100 also includes a toe box 106, which is the front part of the boot's upper 102, including the vamp portion of the upper 102 that covers the wearer's toes. Western-style rodeo boots often feature a rounded or square-shaped toe box. The shaft 108 of the boot 100 is the taller section of the boot's upper that covers the leg. The shaft 108 extends from the vamp to the top of the boot 100. The shaft 108 can vary in height, ranging from ankle-length to knee-high, depending on the boot style. The typical Western-style boot has a shaft height that is at least mid-calf. The boot heel 110 is a raised portion at the back of the boot's sole 104 to support the wearer's heel. Western-style boots often have a stacked heel, which is made by layering several pieces of leather or other materials. The heel 110 of a Western-style boot not only helps to provide stability, balance, and a slight elevation to the wearer, it also has the important function of securing the boot in the stirrup that helps to prevent the boot from slipping forward through the stirrup, reducing the risk of the rider's foot getting caught or stuck. The height of the heel 110 for the boot is preferably 0.5 inches. A lower heel allows for more athletic movement with a lower risk of injury.
The boot 100 of the inventive concept described herein further includes features that provide added support and reinforcement to the wearer's foot, ankle, and leg. The reinforcement features include a medial reinforcing strap 120 that is affixed at one end to an attachment point 122 proximate to the upper front center of the shaft 108 slightly lateral of the boot's center line. The free end of the medial strap 120 can be wrapped around the sole 104 of the boot to a medial anchor point 124 on the medial side of the shaft 108. The medial reinforcing strap 120 may be fabricated from a flexible and sturdy material that incorporates a plurality of hooks near the free end on one side that are designed to engage the plurality of loops at the medial anchor point 124. Alternatively, the free end of the reinforcing strap 120 may incorporate a plurality of loops designed to engage the medial anchor point 124 that includes a plurality of hooks. The medial strap 120 may be fabricated from a durable woven fabric, leather, hemp, polyester, nylon, cotton, or any suitable material.
On the lateral side of the right boot 100 is a lateral reinforcing strap 130 that is affixed at one end to an attachment point 132 proximate to the upper front center of the shaft 108 slightly medial of the center line. The free end of the lateral strap 130 can be wrapped around the sole 104 of the boot to a lateral anchor point 134 on the lateral side of the shaft 108. The lateral reinforcing strap 130 may be fabricated from a flexible and sturdy material that incorporates a plurality of hooks near the free end on one side that are designed to engage the plurality of loops at the lateral anchor point 134. Alternatively, the free end of the reinforcing strap 130 may incorporate a plurality of loops designed to engage the medial anchor point 134 that includes a plurality of hooks. The lateral strap 130 may be fabricated from a durable woven fabric, leather, hemp, polyester, nylon, cotton, or any suitable material.
A third reinforcing strap 140 is attached at one end to an attachment point proximate the upper center back of the shaft 108 with a free end that can be wrapped circumferentially around the top portion of the shaft 108 and engage an anchor point 142. When the third strap 140 is fastened properly, it wraps horizontally around boot shaft and the wearer's leg preferably at a location just below the calf and above the ankle. The strap 140 may be fabricated from a durable woven fabric, leather, hemp, polyester, nylon, cotton, or any suitable material.
In the fastened mode, the free end of the medial strap 120 is pulled downward around the sole 104 just in front of the heel 110 back up around to the medial side of the shaft 108 and secured to the medial anchor point 124. Similarly, the free end of the lateral strap 130 is pulled downward around the sole 104 just in front of the heel 110 back up around to the lateral side of the shaft 108 and secured to the lateral anchor point 134. Fastened in this manner, the medial and lateral straps cross over the laced front and tongue at the front of the boot. The medial and lateral straps 120 and 130 provide support to the wearer's ankle and help to limit unwanted lateral displacement. The third reinforcing strap 140 can then be wrapped around the boot shaft around the medial and lateral straps 120 and 130 to provide further reinforcement and support to the wearer's leg and ankle. Preferably the third reinforcing strap 140 is positioned around the wearer's leg just below the calf and above the ankle.
Outfitted with this boot, a rider's legs and ankle are better protected against torsional and impact forces that commonly lead to injuries. The boot described herein provides added stabilizing reinforcement and support to the wearer's ankles and legs drastically reduces and minimizes the wearer's risk of injury.
The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth below with particularity in the appended claims. However, modifications, variations, and changes to the exemplary embodiments of the reinforced boot described above will be apparent to those skilled in the art, and the described herein thus encompasses such modifications, variations, and changes and are not limited to the specific embodiments described herein.
