GB2433411A

GB2433411A - A lace fastening system for a boot

Info

Publication number: GB2433411A
Application number: GB0620481A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Brian Conolly
Original assignee: Zhik Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Zhik Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2005-10-17
Filing date: 2006-10-16
Publication date: 2007-06-27
Anticipated expiration: 2026-10-16
Also published as: GB2433411B; GB0620481D0

Abstract

A lace fastening system 2 for a boot 1 such as a water sport boot, comprising a lace that has one end attached to the toe of the boot, and other threaded through multiple loops on the boot, before being fastened at the top of the boot. The fastening system allows the boot to be tightened around the foot at multiple tensioning points. The end of the lace may have a Velcro (RTM) tab (6, 7, Fig 3) to fasten the end of the lace in position, the end of the lace may pass around the top of the boot before passing through a buckle 3at the top of the boot before folding back on itself and detachably fastening the lace to itself Alternatively the end of the lace may be secured with a knot. The fastening system provides tension at the top of the boot, to provide a watertight fit. Preferably the fastening system is on the side of the boot to prevent interference with the profiled gripping layer of raised diamond pattern on the top of the boot that grips to hiking straps lined with a similar gripping layer. Preferably the boot is made from neoprene and rubber with a nitrile gripping layer on the upper surface of the boot. The lace may be made from durable nylon.

Description

Watersport Boot

Field of the Invention

The invention generally relates to the field of sportswear products. More specifically, the invention relates to a novel support system with waterspout boots, to help reduce muscle fatigue in situations such as hiking from the gunnels of a sailing vessel

Background of the Invention

While hiking support systems have been applied to wetsuits for dinghy sailing fi)r some time, for hiking from a sailing dinghy like that shown in figure 1, there have been no advances in the mechanics in how the hiking strap and watersport boots interact.

Usually the waterspout boots arc basic neoprene diving boots, adapted slightly for sailing conditions, and with no special additions for working with the hiking strap, which is also a basic material such as a padded scat belt. Such systems provide no extra support to the hiking sailor, such as grip or boot support, that would allow the sailor to relax the foot, case the strain of hiking, and improve the sailors competitive endurance.

Summary of the Invention

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved watersports boot.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of ergonomically designed watersport boots designed to be light weight, high in sensitivity and durability, and have a novel Velcro Tab and Lace combination buckle system.

Preferably, the boots are ergonomically designed to provide improved support to the muscles in the foot that are under strain while hiking (for example) or other water sport activity.

* * In another embodiment, the watersport boots include rubber grip material, to the upper parts of S..

the boot per I in figure 2, in order for the boot to grip with hiking straps lined with a similar rubber grip underneath.

In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a watersports boot including: a Velcro strap and lace tying system, with the lace providing multiple foot tensioning points attached to the Velcro tab at the top portion of the boot which provides tensioning of the boot at top portion thereof.

Preferably, the Velcro tab and lace system tensions the whole circumference of the top portion of the boot. The tensioning of the top of the boot preferably provides a watertight fit. A front surface of the boot preferably can include a profited gripping layer. The lace tension points are preferably on the side of the boot. The boot can be a lower ankle cut. The boot can have textured rubber or nitrile type material on the top surface. The profiled gripping layer can comprise a raised diamond pattern.

Brief description of the drawings

Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred lbrms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig 1. illustrates a picture of a person hiking from a small sailing dinghy, held in position with boot under hiking strap.

Fig. 2 illustrates the watersport boot construction as one particular embodiment of the system; Fig. 3 illustrates the Velcro Tab and Lace; Fig. 4 illustrates the top view of an example texture grip pattern for the rubber under the strap and on top of the boot.

Fig 5. illustrates the side view of the example texture grip in fig 4.

Detailed description of the embodiments

Fig 2 illustrates an arrangement of the preferred embodiment watersports boot, having improved features. The boot design includes a Velcro tab and lace up system e.g. 2 that enables the boot to be designed without needing to tie a bow at the end of the lace that can get caught on " fixtures or untie itself. This Velcro Tab and lace up system also makes it possible to build a lightweight boot that has multiple tensioning points, plus a strapping at the top of the boot to :. help make it water tight. This boot provides good dexterity, sensitivity, is lightweight, and is supporting of the many muscle groups in the foot. This makes it particularly attractive for a *.. wide range of sailing styles, from windsurfing to hiking dinghy's, to dinghy's that use trapeze systems. It is also a good general purpose boot for other water sports, such as diving, surfing, fishing, canoeing and rowing. 3

In one preferred embodiment, the watersport boot can be constructed of neoprene and rubber. The Gip Rubber Upper part of the boot I, is made of rubber, typically 3mm or 2mm although optionally thicker, and is vulcanised to the Neoprene Boot Inner 4. This Grip Rubber Upper is optionally made of a harder wearing, more durable rubber compound, in order to protect the surface Grip texture pattern, which can be of a raised diamond type illustrated in figure 4. The sole 5 of the boot can be made of a thin and durable rubber, also with a texture for grip. The Grip Rubber Upper does not cover the upper part of the toe, in order to make the feet more sensitive to the outer feel, however can optionally be covered, or the neoprene inner can be laminated with a more durable abrasive resistant nylon in order to improve the durability of the boot.

The combination of thin (yet durable) rubber and neoprene materials provide for a total boot that is lightweight in order to provide good dexterity and sensitivity in the watersport.

In addition, it is also important to provide a system that allows the boot to be tightened around the foot at multiple tensioning points. A lace up and Velcro combination system 2 is advantageous because it is also lightweight and provides multiple tensioning points. Ideally, it is at the side of the boot in order fbr it to not interfere with the Grip Rubber Upper. It is best also if the lace does not have loose ends that could get caught on fixtures when in use, or become untied.

The novel Velcro Tab and Lace 2 and as shown schematically in figure 3, is advantageously provided. The lace 8 is connected to the Velcro Tab, made of Velcro loop 6 and Velcro hook sections. The Velcro Tab and Lace is effectively both a lace and a Velcro buckling system combined as one system. The Velcro Tab end to this Velcro Tab and Lace is optionally passed through a buckle 3 at the top of the boot, and folded back to tie down and provide no loose ends and a simple system of tightening the lace. This Velcro Tab part of the design can also wrap around the back of the boot, eflbctively strapping the top of the boot which helps to prevent water getting into the boot, and also tighten the top pail of the boot in order to provide further support to the smaller muscle groups of the foot (while hiking for example). The lace * end to the Velcro Tab and Lace is tied to the toe part of the boot, and threaded through multiple *,* loops to provide a system that will enable a wide variety of feet types to tighten the boot to a * wide range of prcfrrred settings and tensioning points. The end of the Lace can be fixed to the boot, or stopped with a knot, depending on whether the boot has a system that can replace the f Velcro Tab and Lace or not as a spare part. The Lace is optionally made of a durable nylon in order to promote longer lifr, or similar durable material.

In fIgure 4 an example texture for the rubber material is shown for the Grip Rubber Upper. This particular example is a raised diamond pattern. For this particular pattern, it is best that the ridges of the diamond peaks lay perpendicular to the main gripping direction. These ridges would line in parallel with the main length of the hiking strap which may be formed with a mating profile, in this example, to maximise grip, the pattern used for the boots would be the same rubber texture, with the dimensions of the diamonds the same. The diamonds are small, approximately 2mm in length. Experimenting with larger and smaller diamonds lead to variance in gripping quality depending on the depth of the raised section of the diamond. This example texture is a preferred embodiment of this invention, however other textures may also be adopted with varying degrees of grip, comfort and manufacturing cost.

EXAMPLES OF THE SYSTEM IN USE

Example I Small Boat Dinghy Sailing and Windsurfing The boot provides good dexterity, sensitivity, is lightweight, and is supporting of the many muscle groups in the foot. This makes it particularly attractive for a wide range of sailing styles, from windsurfing to hiking dinghy's, to dinghys that use trapeze systems.

Example 2 Yachting

It is possible to design versions of the same boot for yachting, in various weights and sole designs. This also inludes ankle cut sailing shoes using the same Vecro Tab and Lace system design.

*... Example 3 Other watersuorts The boot is also usefW for other watersports, such as diving, skiing, surfing, fishing, canoeing and rowing.

The foregoing provdes for preferred forms of the present invention.

*:.: Modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention. * 5'

Claims

The claims defining the Inventions are as follows: 1. A watersports

boot including: a Velcro tab and lace system, with the lace providing multiple foot tension points attached to the Velcro tab at the top portion of the boot which provides tensioning of the boot at top portion thereof.

2. A boot as claimed in claim I wherein the Velcro tab and lace system tensions the whole circumference of the top portion of the boot.

3. A boot as claimed in claim 2 wherein the tensioning of the top of the boot provides a watertight fit.

4. A boot as claimed in any previous claim wherein a front surface of the boot includes a profiled gripping layer.

5. A boot as claimed in any previous claim wherein the lace tension points are on the side of the boot.

6. A boot as claimed in any previous claim wherein the boot is a lower ankle cut.

7. A boot as claimed in claim 1 including textured rubber type material on the top surface.

8. A boot as claimed in claim I including flexible nitrile type material on the top surface.

9. A boot as claimed in claim 4 wherein the profiled gripping layer comprises a raised diamond pattern.

10. A boot system substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. S. *5 S * *

S *.* S. * * ** * *1 *5 S * S. * S.