WATER RESISTANT FOOTWEAR

Abstract

The present invention describes an item of water resistant footwear (10) comprising an upper (16) resembling, and arranged to be worn as, a shoe. The footwear also comprises a water resistant inner (12) which is arranged to be extendable upward, and subsequently to be lowered. The footwear (10) may be worn similar to a known shoe when water resistance is not required, with the inner (12) lowered and held in place. When water resistance is required, the inner (12) may be extended upward to protect a greater portion of the wearer's leg.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to water resistant footwear.

BACKGROUND

Footwear is necessary, or at least desirable, in many and diverse situations. Footwear is able to provide comfort, protection, warmth as well as having many other characteristics. There are also many different types of known footwear which provide optimal qualities to a wearer in varied situations.

In a survival situation, for example, when in the wilderness, a wearer would desire footwear with specific characteristics. Known articles of footwear provide some of those desired characteristics. These may include insulation from extreme temperatures and a barrier to foreign objects.

Protection from moisture is also quite essential in this type of footwear. This is because moisture can easily cause numbness, blisters and sores, infection, trench foot and may eventually lead to severe complications.

Some known articles of footwear prevent moisture from entering the footwear, such as gumboots but are often unsuitable for a wearer, including, for example, in a survival situation.

The present invention attempts to overcome at least in part the aforementioned disadvantages of previous footwear.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention there is provided an item of water resistant footwear characterised by comprising an upper arranged to be worn as a shoe and a water resistant inner which is arranged to be extendable upward to reduce the instance of water reaching a leg and foot on which the footwear is worn, and subsequently to be lowered.

The water resistant inner may be arranged to be lowered by rolling.

The water resistant footwear may further comprise a fixing means for releasably holding the water resistant inner in a lowered position.

An end of the fixing means may be secured to the footwear.

The water resistant footwear may further comprise at least one attachment point arranged to releasably secure an end of the fixing means.

The water resistant footwear may comprise a plurality of attachments points arranged to releasably secure an end of the fixing means when the fixing means is holding the water resistant inner in a lowered position and/or when the fixing means is not in use.

The upper may comprise a foot covering portion and a leg covering portion.

The foot covering portion and leg covering portion may be separated.

A part of the water resistant inner may be disposed at the interior of the foot covering portion and another part of the water resistant inner may be disposed at the exterior of the leg covering portion when the inner is in an extended position.

The water resistant inner may be constructed of rubber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the water resistant inner of an article of water resistant footwear in a lowered arrangement, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the water resistant inner of FIG. 1 in an extended arrangement;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an article of water resistant footwear according to the present invention with the water resistant inner in a lowered arrangement;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the water resistant footwear of FIG. 3 with the water resistant inner in a slightly extended arrangement; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the water resistant footwear of FIG. 3 with the water resistant inner in an extended arrangement on a wearer.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, there is shown a water resistant footwear item 10, for example a boot, in accordance with one aspect of the present invention.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a water resistant inner 12 which is intended to fit inside and line the water resistant footwear item 10. The water resistant inner 12 comprises a sole 14. The water resistant inner 12 may be extended as shown in FIG. 2. Alternatively, the water resistant inner 12 may be lowered, for example, by rolling down, as shown in FIG. 1. The water resistant inner 12 may be made from flexible and elastic water resistant material including but not limited to rubber.

The water resistant footwear 10 comprises an upper 16 shown in FIGS. 3 to 5. The upper 16 is in connection with the sole 14 around a periphery of the sole 14.

The upper 16 comprises a foot covering portion 18. The foot covering portion 18 comprises an upper end 20 proximal to where an ankle of a wearer would be. The foot covering portion 18 extends between the sole 14 and the upper end 20. The foot covering portion 18 may be fixed to an outer periphery of the water resistant inner 12 at the upper end 20 of the foot covering portion 18. The fixing means at the upper end 20 of the foot covering portion 18 may utilise any convenient means such as stitching or adhesive.

The upper 16 further comprises a leg covering portion 22. The leg covering portion 22 comprises a lower end 24 proximal to where the ankle of the wearer would be. The leg covering portion 22 may extend between the lower end 24 and an upper edge 25 of the tipper 16 remote from the sole 14. The leg covering portion 22 may be fixed to an inside circumference of the water resistant inner 12 at the lower end 24 of the leg covering portion 22, by any convenient means such as stitching or adhesive.

The upper 16 further comprises a tightening means 26, for example, shoelaces, for tightly securing the footwear 10 onto the wearer. The upper 16 may also comprise a gripping means 28, for example, eyelets, by which the tightening means 26 may grip the upper 16. The gripping means 28 are preferably set in spaced apart pairs.

Additionally, a holding means, 30 may be provided on the upper 16. The holding means 30 may, in use, assist in holding the water resistant inner 12 in its lowered arrangement. The holding means 30 preferably comprises a strap 32 which is permanently attached to the leg covering portion 22 at point 31. The holding means 30 further comprises releasable attachment points 34a and 34b, which may be provided respectively on the leg covering portion 22 and foot covering portion 18. The releasable attachment point 34a preferably attaches the releasable end of the strap 32 when not in use. The releasable attachment point 34b preferably attaches the releasable end of the strap 32, and therefore holds the water resistant inner 12, when the strap 32 is in use.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the present invention, both the leg covering portion 22 and the foot covering portion 18 of the upper 16 may be constructed of one or more pieces. For example, the leg covering portion 22 may comprise a tongue 36 which is not integrally formed with the remainder of the leg covering portion 22.

In use, the water resistant inner 12 of the water resistant footwear 10 in accordance with the present invention may be arranged in its lowered position, for example as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3 in preparation for wear. The holding means 30 may be used to assist in holding the water resistant inner 12 in its towered position. In this way, the strap 32 may span the lowered water resistant inner 12 to the releasable attachment point 34b.

The water resistant footwear 10 may be loosened through providing a greater length of the tightening means 26 between each pair of opposed gripping means 28. As such, a wearer may be able to engage the water resistant footwear 10 with a foot and leg in the normal manner. The tightening means 26 may then be utilised to tighten the water resistant footwear 10 to the foot and the leg of the wearer to a desired level then tied off.

When it is desired to have further protection from moisture, for example if the wearer was about to enter a muddy or particularly wet environment, the water resistant inner 12 could be arranged into its extended position, as shown in FIG. 4. The strap 32 may be released from releasable attachment point 34b and attached to releasable attachment point 34a. Hence, the water resistant inner 12 may be extended up the leg of the wearer through unrolling, for example, or pulling.

If it is desired to subsequently lower the water resistant inner 12, it may then be pushed or rolled down, for example and again fixed into its lowered position though the use of the holding means 30. The strap 32 may be released from releasable attachment point 34a to again span the water resistant inner 12 and be attached to releasable attachment point 34b.

The inner 12, upper 16 and sole 14 may be provided in any number of desired designs in accordance with the primary use of the footwear 10. For example, the inner 12 may be provided as a boot design with a sturdy sole 14 design for water resistant footwear 10 intended for use in wilderness hiking. The upper 16 may be made from any footwear material appropriately suited to the purpose of the water resistant footwear 10. Examples of such material include but are not limited to canvas and leather. Additionally, while the Figures show the gripping means 28 as eyelets, they may also be provided as hooks, rings, webbed fabric loops or any other suitable gripping means. Similarly, the tightening means 26 are herein shown as shoelaces but it will be appreciated that other tightening means, for example hook and loop fabric straps, may be provided.

Modifications and variations as would be apparent to a skilled addressee are deemed to be within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A water resistant footwear comprising an upper arranged to be worn as a shoe and a water resistant inner which is arranged to be extendable upward to reduce the instance of water reaching a leg and foot on which the footwear is worn, and subsequently to be lowered, wherein the upper comprises a foot covering portion and a leg covering portion and the foot covering portion and leg covering portion are separated.

2. The water resistant footwear according to claim 1, wherein the water resistant inner is arranged to be lowered by rolling.

3. The water resistant footwear according to claim 1, further comprising a fixing means for releasably holding the water resistant inner in a lowered position.

4. The water resistant footwear according to claim 3, wherein an end of the fixing means is secured to the footwear.

5. The water resistant footwear according to claim 3, further comprising at least one attachment point arranged to releasably secure an end of the fixing means.

6. The water resistant footwear according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of attachments points arranged to releasably secure an end of the fixing means when the fixing means is holding the water resistant inner in a lowered position or when the fixing means is not in use.

7. (canceled)

8. (canceled)

9. The water resistant footwear according to claim 1, wherein a part of the water resistant inner is disposed at the interior of the foot covering portion and another part of the water resistant inner is disposed at the exterior of the leg covering portion when the inner is in an extended position.

10. The water resistant footwear according to claim 1, wherein the water resistant inner is constructed of rubber.