GB2470907A

GB2470907A - A height adjustable boot

Info

Publication number: GB2470907A
Application number: GB0909839A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Steven Smith
Original assignee: Bacup Shoe Co Ltd
Current assignee: Bacup Shoe Co Ltd
Priority date: 2009-06-08
Filing date: 2009-06-08
Publication date: 2010-12-15
Also published as: GB0909839D0

Abstract

A height adjustable boot 200 comprises a sole portion 100, an upper portion for covering a wearer's foot 110, and an upwardly extending portion 120, which extends at least around a wearer's ankle and comprises at least one detachable sub-portion 140. Removal of each detachable sub-portion is effected by release of a fastening means 130, which is preferably a zip. The fastening means may extend substantially around a circumference of the upwardly extending portion, and may be located at a position of 60% to 70% of the total height of the boot, as measured from the bottom of the sole. The boot is optionally manufactured from a flexible fabric that can be folded to at least partially conceal the fastening means.

Description

INTELLECTUAL

. .... PROPERTY OFFICE Application No. GB0909839.3 RTM Date:16 September 2009 The following terms are registered trademarks and should be read as such wherever they occur in this document: Velcro Intellectual Property Office is an operating name of the Patent Office www.ipo.gov.uk

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ADJUSTABLE FOOTWEAR

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to adjustable footwear.

Background to the Invention

Many different kinds of footwear, both for males and females are well known in the art. Footwear types include, but are not limited to, trainers, walking boots, wellington boots, high heeled shoes, flat shoes, running shoes and fashion shoes. One specific genre is known as a fashion boot. Fashion boots can range from many different styles including boots in the style of snow boots, and leather heeled boots. A well known type of such boot in the art is that manufactured as the Ugg boot range.

The main features of a shoe generally comprise a sole assembly and a shoe upper portion in which the shoe upper portion comprises an opening in which a foot can be inserted. The opening of a shoe upper portion is generally located at the top of the shoe upper portion towards the rear of the shoe. * S **S.

* 20 A boot can be distinguished from a shoe by the extent to which the upper portion extends up the wearer's leg. When a boot is worn by a wearer, the upper portion will extend upwardly from the ankle and will end anywhere on a leg between the top of the ankle and the knee cap of the wearer so that upper most part of the boot upper portion is generally located higher up the wearers leg than with a shoe which in general leaves the wearer's ankle exposed. The upwardly extending portion of a boot generally provides a means for ankle or calf support, or for providing warmth or protection to the wearer from environmental conditions, or for fashion. Fashion boots tend to be sold direct to the public for fashionable wear, rather than for a specific industrial purpose such as a work boot, a hiking boot or a military boot, although fashion boots may still be hard wearing and relatively warm to wear.

Various proposed inventions have been disclosed in the art whereby shoes and boots can be altered or adjusted.

US 7059068 discloses a method for adjusting the height of a heeled shoe.

This is achieved via the addition and/or removal of detachable heel portions. US 7059068 discloses a flexible lady's court shoe, with a height adjustable heel, and a flexible sole, so that the shoe can be worn as a high heel, a mid heel (kitten heel), or a low heel. The shoe has an open upper end, a closed lower end, and a body portion there between. The open upper end is dimensioned for receiving a foot. A closed lower end has a toe portion and a back portion. The body portion comprises an adjustable elastomeric material. The heel comprises three portions.

The back portion has a first heel portion extended downwardly there from. A second heel portion is adapted for removably connecting with a first heel portion of the shoe upper portion. A third heel portion is adapted for removably connecting to a second heel portion. The first, second and third heel portions are of substantially equal heights to provide variation of the inclination of the shoe upper, and adjustment of the height of the heel. * S S

*::.. JP 2008 279210 discloses footwear of the boot type with a zip fastener, which is opened large enough to be easily put on and put off. The zip fastener is located substantially towards the rear of the boot and it extends parallel to the upwardly extending upper in order to increase the opening size in which a foot can be received therein. Many known boots have been disclosed with such an adjustable means in order to increase the size of the opening through which a foot can be received and which makes the boot easier to put on and take off.

Currently, with conventional boots, the side wall of the boot extends a fixed distance up a person's leg. If the person wants a boot with an upper side wall of a different length, extending to a different height up their leg, then they need to purchase an additional new pair of boots with a different side wall height. This incurs the extra cost of buying an extra pair of boots, as well as other ownership problems as storage and cleaning.

Further, if the person likes the particular style of boot which they already have, then it may be that they can not get the same style of boot in the same size and/or colour with a different side wall height.

The inventors have identified that a boot wearer may need a boot where the height of the upwardly extending upper portion can be adjusted for a number of reasons.

The first reason would be for style and fashion purposes. The wearer of a boot is likely to have a number of clothing outfits in which the style of the boot and the dimensions of the boot are important to how the overall look of the wearer will appear. However, as boots are generally manufactured with a particular height of in accordance with any one style, therein lies a problem wherein the dimensions of the boot may not suit or be correct for the person's outfit.

A second problem arises from seasonal and daily weather changes. The height of the upwardly extending upper portion of a boot can dictate which boot a person will wear on a certain day. For example, if the weather is cold or raining *...

on a particular day, a boot wearer is more likely to wear a boot with an upwardly extending leg covering portion which is relatively higher to that which they would wear on a hot or dry day. S... * S *

The inventors have identified that the need exists for a height adjustable boot whereby the upwardly extending upper portion can be adjusted with minimal ease, so as to suit environmental conditions as well as aesthetic requirements.

In view of the disadvantages inherent in current known types of footwear, more specifically with regards to boots comprising an upwardly extending upper portion, a new height adjustable boot is disclosed herein.

Summary of the Invention

According to one aspect there is provided a height adjustable boot comprising: a sole portion; an upper portion for covering a wearer's foot; an upwardly extending portion which in use extends at least around a wearer's ankle; and wherein said upwardly extending portion comprises at least one detachable sub-portion which can be removed from the boot by way of releasing at least one fastening means to provide for a variation on the overall height of said boot.

:::: Other aspects of the invention are as set out in the claims herein. * . *e..

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the invention and to show how the same may be carried into effect, there will now be described by way of example only, specific embodiments, methods and processes according to the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a boot having a detachable leg covering portion, in a fastened state; Figure 2 shows the preferred embodiment of figure 1, whereby the detachable leg covering portion is in an unfastened state; and Figure 3 shows the preferred embodiment of the present invention whereby the boot is in an unfastened state, with a lower leg covering portion rolled over to show a lining of the boot.

Detailed Description

There will now be described by way of example a specific mode contemplated by the inventors. In the following description numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding. It will be apparent however, to one skilled in the art, that the present invention may be io practiced without limitation to these specific details. In other instances, well known methods and structures have not been described in detail so as not to

unnecessarily obscure the description.

Referring to figure 1 herein, a height adjustable boot 200 comprises a sole assembly 100: and an upper 110, 120, 140 comprising a foot covering portion which covers the wearer's toes and bridge of the foot; and an upwardly extending leg covering portion 120 comprising a sidewall which extends upwardly and around a persons ankle, shin and calf muscle. S... * S *...

The sole assembly comprises an insole, a midsole, and an outsole although the inner sole and mid sole are inside the boot and not viewable when the boot is being worn. The sole assembly 100 may incorporate either a flat outsole or a heeled outsole. A boot upper is generically known in the footwear industry as the fabric connected to the sole assembly which is able to cover or partially cover the top of a wearers foot. The boot upper can be made of various fabrics including, but not limited to, suede, moleskin, canvas, plastics or rubber, meshing or leather.

The boot upper extends upwardly relatively perpendicular to the sole assembly to form a leg covering portion 120 which covers the wearer's ankle, their shin and calf muscle. Upwardly extending leg covering portion 120 provides for cover of a wearer's leg at a height which may be fixed anywhere between the ankle and the knee cap of the boot wearer. Located on upwardly extending leg covering portion 120, is situated a fastening means 130. The fastening means extends circumferentially around the upper leg covering portion 120, at a position which in use is between a person's ankle and a their knee. The fastening means connects an upper portion of the leg covering portion of the upper to a lower portion of the leg covering portion, such that the upper and lower leg covering portions can be completely detached from each other so as to effectively lower the height of the leg covering portion. Fastening means 130 may be in the form of a zip as shown in figures 1 and 2 in a preferred embodiment, however, other fastening means may be used for example, Velcro, laces, and button and eye means.

In a preferred embodiment, fastening means 130 is located at a position of between 60% and 70% of the overall height of the height adjustable boot measured from the bottom of the sole assembly to the top of the upper leg covering portion 120. However, in other embodiments, the fastening means may be located at various different heights on the upwardly extending leg covering *:::: portion 120. The location of fastening means 130 on upwardly extending leg covering portion 120 allows for the removal of the detachable upper side wall * *** section 140. * ** * . . S...

In other embodiments, the addition of a plurality of fastening means at different heights to any one height adjustable boot, may provide for multiple tubular leg covering sections 140, such that the leg covering part of the boot comprises a series of one or more ring like sections, each fastened to each other.

Located substantially at the most upward point of upwardly extending upper portion 120, when the height adjustable boot is in its fastened state (figure 1), is located an opening 150 in which a wearer can insert their foot in order to put on the boot 200.

Referring to figure 2 herein, the height of the height adjustable boot 200 can be adjusted by means of unfastening the fastening means 130 in order to detachably remove extension portion 140 and thereby reduce the height of the boot. By detachably removing the extension portion 140 via fastening means 130, height adjustment of the boot is provided (figures 2 and 3). When in its unfastened state (as shown in figure 2) the height adjusted boot 400 provides further a new opening 500 into which a wearer can insert their foot to put on the height adjusted boot 400.

Referring to figure 3 herein, there is illustrated schematically the boot of figures 1 and 2, with the upper leg covering portion 140 removed, and the top of the mid section 160 rolled over, so that a fake fur inner lining of the boot is exposed 170, as the mid section is rotted over and pulled down to a position over and above the wearer's ankle.

In a preferred embodiment, the height adjustable boot 200 may comprise an upwardly extending upper portion made of a flexible fabric such that upwardly extending upper portion 120 or fixed lower sub-portion 160 can be folded on to itself as to conceal or partially conceal the fastening means 130. The lower leg covering portion can be rolled down on itself when the upper leg covering portion :.:::. is disconnected. Similarly, where the upper leg covering portion is of a flexible material, the upper leg covering portion 140 can also be rolled down on itself to *:::: expose the inner lining.

It should be further noted that a similar procedure may be performed in embodiments of the height adjustable boot which incorporate multiple fastening means and multiple sub-portions. In a further embodiment, there may be provided a means for providing multiple sub-portions of varying heights which can be attachably fastened to said height adjustable boot 200.

The removable extension portion(s) 14 may be designed to be the size and shape which may be conveniently carried within a wearers handbag or pocket, such that a wearer can set out wearing the boots in extended form, and at some time during the day decides to detach the extension portion(s) 140 and wear the boots in a reduced height form, either as shown in the lower part of figure 2, or with the top of the shin portion rofled over as shown in figure 3.

By way of example, in a preferred embodiment, for a standard UK size 4 ladies boot, where the total height of the height adjustable boot was 31cm, the fastening means would lie at 21cm in height from the bottom of the sole portion, on the upwardly extending upper portion. The proportionality of the placement or the fastening means in alternative UK standard boot size would comprise the fastening means in alternative UK standard boot sizes would comprise the same ratio of height of fastening means in relation to the total height of the height adjustable boot in a preferred embodiment where only one fastening means and one sub-portion was present.

Although the above preferred embodiment has been disclosed by way of example, alternate fastening means may be used for example, but not restricted to, Velcro, button and eye fastening means and lace fastening means. * S *..

Further, the upper part of the leg covering portion may be supplied in different sizes, either in height and/ or in girth, so as to accommodate person's having for example, wider calf muscles, or longer shins for a given shoe size (foot *:::: size), which may give greater variation and flexibility at the point of sale to fit the boot to a wider range of customers, by having a range of calf portion fittings for the same base (short) boot.

Furthermore, the boot may be of various shapes, styles, colours are materials which are commonly used in the manufacture of boot footwear.

Claims

Claims 1. A height adjustable boot comprising: a sole portion; an upper portion for covering a wearer's foot; an upwardly extending portion which in use extends at least around a wearer's ankle; and wherein said upwardly extending portion comprises at least one detachable sub-portion which can be removed from the boot by way of releasing is at least one fastening means to provide for a variation on the overall height of said boot.
2. A height adjustable boot as claimed in claim I wherein said upwardly extending portion comprises a single said detachable sub-portion.
3. A height adjustable boot as claimed in either claim 1 or 2 wherein said upwardly extending portion comprises a plurality of said detachable sub-portions.
4. A height adjustable boot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastening means comprises a zip mechanism.
5. A height adjustable boot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastening means lies substantially at a position of 60% to 70% of the total height of said height adjustable boot as measured from the underside of said sole.
6. A height adjustable boot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said fastening means extends substantially around a circumference of said upwardly extending portion.
7. A height adjustable boot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein said upwardly extending portion is made of a flexible fabric such that it can be folded on to itself when either in a fastened or unfastened state so as to conceal or partially conceal said at least one fastening means.
8. A height adjustable boot as claimed in any one of the preceding claims comprising a fashion boot. * S S ** * S... * S * .5. S. * . . *5** S...S SS S. S