Patent Application
20060059722
This invention generally relates to footwear, and more particularly, to a suction alleviation system configured for footwear, particularly boots.
Hunters, soldiers and other persons (collectively referred to herein as pedestrians) frequently walk through marshes, swamps and terrain. With each step, a pedestrian's boots sink into the soft ground, becoming partially engulfed by mud. Taking another step requires the pedestrian to lift the boot from the mud by exerting enough upward force to overcome the weight of any accumulated mud as well as an appreciable suction force that resists separation of the sole of the boot from the mud.
The suction creates serious problems for the pedestrian. As the resistance attributable to the suction can be substantial, it makes walking a very strenuous activity that leads prematurely to exhaustion. Second, overcoming suction can create a discernable noise that can give away one's position or alarm a nearby animal.
Attempts to address these problems have resulted in various devices, none of which have gained widespread commercial acceptance by hunters. For example, buoyant and/or wide surface area platforms that may be attached to the bottom of hunting boots are known in the art, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,729,049; 4,447,969 and 2,430,466. However, these devices neither prevent suction nor noise emitted upon breaking the suction. Additionally, the devices tend to be bulky, awkward to use and tedious to attach to shoes.
Another attempt to address these problems involves adding pressure relief ports, as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,525,941 and 683,595. Unfortunately, however, the known prior art does not teach a mechanism to prevent clogging of the port. Each step into mud forces mud into the open port, quickly obstructing the port and degrading effectiveness in alleviating suction.
The invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
To solve one or more of the problems set forth above, in an exemplary implementation of the invention, a suction alleviation system for footwear is provided. The system includes a conduit having an entrance and an exit and a port disposed on the sole of the footwear. The conduit is fluidly coupled to the port. A valve (e.g., a flapper valve or spring actuated valve) is provided and adapted to cover or protect the port and open in response to a suction force. When open, the valve enables fluid (e.g., air or water) communication from the conduit to the port and to the valve. The communicated fluid alleviates suction. Thus, the system provides a valve-enabled path for controlled communication of fluid (e.g., air or water) to the sole of the footwear for alleviation of suction.
In one embodiment, the conduit includes a first section and a second section and the system further includes a junction adapted for coupling the first section to the second section. Thus, an external segment of the conduit may be removed, repaired and replaced if necessary.
In an embodiment, the system also including a support configured for securing the conduit against the footwear. A loop, stitching, bonding, hook and loop fasteners and the like may be used.
In an embodiment, the system may include a plurality of top ports, bottom ports and/or conduit. Thus, the system may provide multiple paths for communication of fluid (e.g., air or water) to the sole of the footwear for alleviation of suction.
The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages will be better understood from the following detailed description of an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which:
A suction release system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention generally includes a bottom port, a valve adapted to prevent mud and debris obstructing the bottom port when the valve is closed, a top port for allowing entry of fluid (e.g., air or water), and a conduit for communicating fluid (e.g., air or water) from the top port to the bottom port. A suction force causes the valve to open. Upon opening the valve, fluid (e.g., air or water) may be drawn from the top port through the conduit to the bottom port.
Referring now to
The exemplary boot 100 is described for illustrative purposes only, not to limit the invention. As the invention may be applied to any footwear capable of receiving a suction alleviation system according to the invention, the term boot as used herein is intended to encompass all such footwear. Examples include waders, and hip and knee boots. In a particular preferred embodiment, the footwear is intended for use in muddy or swampy environments which create considerable suction force. The geometry, style, composition and size of the footwear may vary widely. The invention may be applied to footwear with soles of various shapes and sizes. The sole 105 conceptually shown in
The exemplary suction alleviation system according to the invention includes one or more bottom ports 110 and 110A. While
The exemplary suction alleviation system also includes one or more top ports 120. While
A system according to the principles of the invention works with water and/or air as suction alleviation fluids. If the top port is positioned at a height above water level, the fluid used to alleviate suction will be air. However, if the top port is positioned at a height below water level, the fluid used to alleviate suction will be water. The top port may also be positioned inside the boot, such as inside the leg of a wader, so as to draw air from the inside of the boot to be use as a suction alleviation fluid.
The exemplary suction alleviation system also includes one or more conduits 115 (e.g., channels, hoses or tubes) to fluidly connect top ports 120 to bottom ports 110 and 110A. While
In one embodiment, the system may include a plurality of top ports, plurality of bottom ports and plurality of conduits. Thus, the system may provide multiple paths for communication of fluid (e.g., air or water) to the sole of the footwear for alleviation of suction.
The exemplary suction alleviation system may also include a junction 130 for removably attaching a first portion of a conduit 115 to a second portion of conduit. The junction 130 enables removal of a portion of the conduit 115 when it is not needed or for repair or replacement. Any junction device suitable for joining portions of the conduit 115 may be utilized. However, the junction is optional. Conduit 115 without a junction may be used without departing from the scope of the invention.
Optionally, a support 125 secures the conduit 115 against the boot. By way of example and not limitation, the support 125 may be comprised of a loop attached (e.g., sewn or bonded) to the boot, a releasable band comprised of mating hook and loop sections, stitching, bonding or any combination of any of the foregoing. In the case of a loop support 125, the conduit may be passed through the loop. In the case of a releasable band comprised of mating hook and loop sections, the band may be secured around the conduit 115.
A valve 112 and 112A at the bottom port 110 and 110A is configured to prevent mud and debris from entering the bottom port 110 and 110A when the valve is in a closed position. The default position for the valve 112 and 112A is closed. A downward force such as a suction force causes the valve 112 and 112A to open. The purpose of the valve is to prevent mud and debris from obstructing the bottom port, while allowing fluid (e.g., air or water) to pass through in response to a downward suction force. When open, the valve enables fluid (e.g., air or water) communication from the conduit to the port and to the valve. The communicated fluid alleviates suction. Thus, the system provides a valve-enabled path for controlled communication of fluid (e.g., air or water) to the sole of the footwear for alleviation of suction.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various types of valves may be utilized in accordance with the invention, so long as the valves open in response to suction and seal the bottom port from mud and debris when the suction is alleviated and the valve is closed. Within these parameters various valve configurations are possible and come within the scope of the invention.
By way of example and not limitation, a flapper valve may be used as conceptually illustrated in
As another example, a spring actuated valve as illustrated in
Additionally, suction alleviation air may be supplied from resilient chambers (e.g., compressible chambers) in the heel or sole of the shoes. In such a case, the footwear may include one or more chambers in the sole in fluid communication with the conduit 115 and the port 110.
A suction alleviation system according to the invention may be an integral part of footwear or a kit for retrofitting footwear. In the case of a kit, one or more channels may need to be formed in the footwear, particularly in the sole of the footwear to receive conduit, a bottom port, a valve and other components. The channel may be formed by drilling. A channel may have an entrance and an exit. The formed channel may serve as a portion of the conduit. An opening for the channel at the bottom of a sole may serve as a bottom port. An opening of the channel along a side or the back of the sole may serve as an entrance. A valve body may be inserted and secured (e.g., bonded) into the bottom port. A junction coupling may be inserted and secured (e.g., bonded) into the entrance. Conduit may be attached to the junction coupling. A top port and support, as discussed above, may also be provided.
While the invention has been described in terms of various embodiments and implementations, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.
