GB1567220A

GB1567220A - Riding boots

Info

Publication number: GB1567220A
Application number: GB358877A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Reddicliffe E A
Current assignee: Reddicliffe E A
Priority date: 1978-03-17
Filing date: 1978-03-17
Publication date: 1980-05-14

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN RIDING BOOTS (71) I, EDWARD ARNOLD REDDICLIFFE, a British subject, of Coxhill House, Boldre, Lymington, Hampshire, S04 8PS, do hereby declare the invention, for which I pray that a patent may be granted to me, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to riding boots of both the calf-length and Jodhpur types, and the aim of the invention is to incorporate in such boots a number of features which, in combination, provide the wearer of the boot with greater safety than can be achieved with existing boots.

To this end, according to this invention, such a riding boot comprises an upper having a foot portion and a leg portion which, in use, extends at least to above the ankle of the wearer, both the foot portion and at least the adjacent part of the leg portion having a smooth continuous outer surface, both the foot portion and the leg portion being free of fastenings or other projections, and the foot portion extending forwards from the leg portion to the toe with a continuous taper such that the cross sectional area of the foot portion at any position is smaller than the area of an ad jacent cross-section closer to the leg por tion, a sole and heel fixed to the upper, the sole being free of tread pattern or having a tread pattern which is not more than Imm deep ,and the heel having a forward edge surface substantially normal to the plane of the sole, and a reinforcing toe cap of metal or other rigid non-brittle material being included in the toe of the foot portion of the upper.

The smooth general contour of a boot constructed in this way prevents hitching of the boot to the saddle or stirrup leathers during mounting or dismounting of a horse.

The freedom of the sole from projections of more than lmm prevents the boot from inadvertently catching in the stirrup bar when mounting or dismounting. The con tinuous taper of the foot portion of the upper facilitates insertion of the boot into the stirrup and extraction of the boot from the stirrup and the forward edge surface of the heel which is substantially normal to the plane of the sole makes the heel well-defined and prevents the foot of the wearer from entering too far into the stirrup. Finally, the rigid toe cap provides sufficient strength to prevent damage to the foot of the wearer if accidentally trodden upon by a horse.

The reinforcement of the toe with the rigid toe cap provides a major contribution to safety as the incidence of foot damage to riders caused by their toes being trodden on by their horses is surprisingly high, especially with children.

With a boot of the Jodhpur type, the sides of the upper part of the leg portion are preferably provided with elasticated panels as is usual to enable the front and back parts of the top of the leg portion to be moved away from each other to facilitate putting on and removal of the boot. In the case of a calf-length boot, the leg portion of the upper is preferably formed so that it closely embraces the shin and calf of the leg of the wearer of the boot.

The upper of the boot may be of conventional leather construction and in this case the sole and heel may also be of leather or may be moulded from a polymer such as polyurethane. When the upper is of leather, it is preferably provided with a lining which is preferably of textile material, although it may also be of leather, and the toe cap is then built into the boot between the upper and the lining.

Alternatively the whole boot may be made from a polymer, for example polyurethane or polyvinyl chloride, in which case the upper may be made together with the sole and heel in a one-piece slush moulding which involves the formation of a skin of the polymer material on the inside of a female mould. Alternatively, the sole and heel may be added to the upper by an injection moulding process.

When the upper is moulded from a polymer, it may be provided with a lining consisting of one or more layers of textile material in the same way as an upper formed of leather. When the upper is lined, the rigid toe cap may be incorporated between the upper and the outermost layer of the lining, between two layers of the lining, or within the thickness of the wall of the moulding, If the upper, when formed by slush moulding, is not lined, it is preferably formed in two layers in two successive slush moulding operations and in this case the rigid toe cap is incorporated in the toe of the boot between the two moulded layers.

When the upper is made of a polymer by slush moulding and the sole and heel are made of a polymer by injection moulding, instead of adding the sole and heel to the upper by the injection moulding process, the upper, and the sole and heel may be made separately and then be bonded together either by welding or by means of an adhesive in a manner which is conventional in boot construction.

Two examples of riding boots in accordance with the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through one example; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the first example; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the second example; Figure 4 is a front view showing toe sections of both the first and second examples: and, Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of both examples.

Both of the examples comprise a sole 1, a heel 2 and an upper 3 which are formed together as a one-piece slush moulding of polyurethane.

In both examples, the upper is slushmoulded in two layers, that is an outer layer 3a and an inner layer 3b. Since the slush moulding takes place in a female mould. the outer layer 3a is moulded first and after this has been moulded together with the sole and heel 1 and 2, a metal reinforcing toe cap 4 is inserted into the upper so that it becomes incorporated in the upper between the outer and inner layers 3a and 3b.

In both examples the upper 3 comprises a foot portion 5 and a leg portion 6. In the first example the leg portion 6 is of calflength and in the second example the leg portion 6 extends to only just above the ankle of the wearer. In the second example, both sides of the leg portion 6 have cut-outs 7 in which elasticated panels 8 are fixed.

As is shown most clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the foot portion of each example has a continuous taper such that the crosssectional area of the foot portion at any position is smaller than the area of an adiacent cross-section closer to the leg portion. These cross-sections are shown in Figure 4 and the cross-sections T1 to T5 are as seen in the direction of the arrows on the lines T1 to T5 in Figure 5 of the drawings.

In the illustrated examples, the bottom surfaces of the sole 1 and of the heel 2 are both smooth, that is to say they are free of any tread pattern. If desired, though, the sole 1 may be provided with a tread pattern to increase its grip when the boot is worn for walking, but this pattern must be such that projections on the pattern project by no more than lmm beyond an adjacent portion of the sole.

As is shown most clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the heel 2 has a forward edge surface 9 which is flat and lies substantially normal to the plane of the sole, that is to the plane of the forward part of the sole rather than the arch of the sole immediately adjacent the heel.

Instead of providing a reinforcing toe cap 4 of metal, the cap may be of rigid and non-brittle plastics material and, instead of moulding the sole 1, the heel 2 and the upper 3 as a single one-piece slush moulding, the upper 3 may be formed as a slush moulding and the sole 1 and the heel 2 may be formed as an injection moulding.

In this case the sole and heel may be directly moulded on to the upper 3 or alternatively the sole and heel may be injection moulded separately from the upper 3 and the two mouldings may then be fixed to each other by welding or by means fo an adhesive.

Further, instead of forming the upper as a slush moulding in two layers 3a and 3b, the inner layer 3b may be replaced by a lining of textile or other material.

As a further alternative, the upper 3 may be made conventionally out of leather, but this adds greatly to the overall cost of the boot.

WHAT I CLAIM IS: 1. A riding boot comprising an upper having a foot portion and a leg portion which, in use, extends at least to above the ankle of the wearer, both the foot portion and at least the adjacent part of the leg portion having a smooth continuous outer surface, both the foot portion and the leg portion being free of fastenings or other projections, and the foot portion extending forwards from the legs portion to the toe with a continuous taper such that the crosssectional area of the foot portion at any position is smaller than the area of an adjacent cross-section closer to the leg portion, a sole and heel fixed to the upper, the sole being free of tread pattern or having a tread pattern which is not more than lmm deep, and the heel having a forward edge surface substantially normal to the plane of the sole, and a reinforcing toe cap of metal or other rigid non-brittle material being in

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. toe cap may be incorporated between the upper and the outermost layer of the lining, between two layers of the lining, or within the thickness of the wall of the moulding, If the upper, when formed by slush moulding, is not lined, it is preferably formed in two layers in two successive slush moulding operations and in this case the rigid toe cap is incorporated in the toe of the boot between the two moulded layers. When the upper is made of a polymer by slush moulding and the sole and heel are made of a polymer by injection moulding, instead of adding the sole and heel to the upper by the injection moulding process, the upper, and the sole and heel may be made separately and then be bonded together either by welding or by means of an adhesive in a manner which is conventional in boot construction. Two examples of riding boots in accordance with the invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through one example; Figure 2 is a front elevation of the first example; Figure 3 is a vertical section through the second example; Figure 4 is a front view showing toe sections of both the first and second examples: and, Figure 5 is an underneath plan view of both examples. Both of the examples comprise a sole 1, a heel 2 and an upper 3 which are formed together as a one-piece slush moulding of polyurethane. In both examples, the upper is slushmoulded in two layers, that is an outer layer 3a and an inner layer 3b. Since the slush moulding takes place in a female mould. the outer layer 3a is moulded first and after this has been moulded together with the sole and heel 1 and 2, a metal reinforcing toe cap 4 is inserted into the upper so that it becomes incorporated in the upper between the outer and inner layers 3a and 3b. In both examples the upper 3 comprises a foot portion 5 and a leg portion 6. In the first example the leg portion 6 is of calflength and in the second example the leg portion 6 extends to only just above the ankle of the wearer. In the second example, both sides of the leg portion 6 have cut-outs 7 in which elasticated panels 8 are fixed. As is shown most clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 4, the foot portion of each example has a continuous taper such that the crosssectional area of the foot portion at any position is smaller than the area of an adiacent cross-section closer to the leg portion. These cross-sections are shown in Figure 4 and the cross-sections T1 to T5 are as seen in the direction of the arrows on the lines T1 to T5 in Figure 5 of the drawings. In the illustrated examples, the bottom surfaces of the sole 1 and of the heel 2 are both smooth, that is to say they are free of any tread pattern. If desired, though, the sole 1 may be provided with a tread pattern to increase its grip when the boot is worn for walking, but this pattern must be such that projections on the pattern project by no more than lmm beyond an adjacent portion of the sole. As is shown most clearly in Figures 1, 3 and 5, the heel 2 has a forward edge surface 9 which is flat and lies substantially normal to the plane of the sole, that is to the plane of the forward part of the sole rather than the arch of the sole immediately adjacent the heel. Instead of providing a reinforcing toe cap 4 of metal, the cap may be of rigid and non-brittle plastics material and, instead of moulding the sole 1, the heel 2 and the upper 3 as a single one-piece slush moulding, the upper 3 may be formed as a slush moulding and the sole 1 and the heel 2 may be formed as an injection moulding. In this case the sole and heel may be directly moulded on to the upper 3 or alternatively the sole and heel may be injection moulded separately from the upper 3 and the two mouldings may then be fixed to each other by welding or by means fo an adhesive. Further, instead of forming the upper as a slush moulding in two layers 3a and 3b, the inner layer 3b may be replaced by a lining of textile or other material. As a further alternative, the upper 3 may be made conventionally out of leather, but this adds greatly to the overall cost of the boot. WHAT I CLAIM IS:

1. A riding boot comprising an upper having a foot portion and a leg portion which, in use, extends at least to above the ankle of the wearer, both the foot portion and at least the adjacent part of the leg portion having a smooth continuous outer surface, both the foot portion and the leg portion being free of fastenings or other projections, and the foot portion extending forwards from the legs portion to the toe with a continuous taper such that the crosssectional area of the foot portion at any position is smaller than the area of an adjacent cross-section closer to the leg portion, a sole and heel fixed to the upper, the sole being free of tread pattern or having a tread pattern which is not more than lmm deep, and the heel having a forward edge surface substantially normal to the plane of the sole, and a reinforcing toe cap of metal or other rigid non-brittle material being in

cluded in the toe of the foot portion of the upper.

2. A riding boot according to Claim 1, which is of the Jodhpur type and in which the sides of the upper part of the leg portion are provided with elasticated panels to enable the front and back parts of the top of the leg portion to be moved away from each other.

3. A riding boot according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, in which the sole and heel are of injection moulded synthetic polymer material.

4. A riding boot according to any one of the preceding Claims, in which the upper is of slush moulded polymer material.

5. A riding boot according to Claim 4, in which both the sole and heel and the upper are made of synthetic polymer material in a one-piece slush moulding.

6. A riding boot according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the upper is provided with a lining consisting of one or more layers of textile material.

7. A riding boot according to Claim 4 or Claim 5, in which the upper is slush moulded in two layers in two successive slush moulding operations and the rigid toe cap is incorporated in the toe of the boot between the two moulded layers.

8. A riding boot according to Claim 6, in which the rigid toe cap is incorporated between the upper and the outermost layer of the lining, or between two layers of the lining.

9. A riding boot according to Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2, 4 and 5, or Figures 3 to 5, of the accompanvinn drawings.