GB2516042A

GB2516042A - Improvements to Boot Uppers

Info

Publication number: GB2516042A
Application number: GB1312249.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Michelle E Girling
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2013-07-09
Filing date: 2013-07-09
Publication date: 2015-01-14
Also published as: GB201312249D0

Abstract

An upper 4 for a leisure boot 2, the upper comprising an elongate calf contacting portion 8 and an ankle covering portion 10, the calf-contacting portion comprises four quadrants, namely the forward saddleside quadrant 16, the forward open-side quadrant 18, the back saddle-side quadrant 20 and the back open-side quadrant 22, and wherein the back open-side quadrant only comprises an elongate elasticated portion, running longitudinally along the boot. The elasticated portion may be a continuous portion, having a tapered lower region, and an edge of the elasticated portion may have an inverted S shape. The upper may further comprise a zip 60, and may also comprise a strap 62 and associated fastener.

Description

Improvements to Boot Uppers

Field of the Invention

The invention is an improvement to the upper of a boot. The invention appLies particuLarLy to riding boots of the type worn when riding horses and other animaLs. The invention has generaL appLication in the fieLds of uppers for sporting and Leisure boots.

Prior Art and ProbLems to be SoLved

The riding boot is a traditionaLLy made garment manufactured for a very traditionaL industry. The uppers of riding boots tend to be made of Leather and often foLLow designs which are many decades oLd. A typicaL riding boot comprises an eLongate Leather upper with a cLosure at the top and an opposite end which might be fashioned into a Brogue or Derby style.

As with most footwear, the riding boot is offered in a variety of sizes, but those sizes pertain to shoe sizes -they therefore primarily govern the feet. Often assumptions are made by the boot-maker from the size of the foot as to the height of the person and therefore the appropriate height of the upper which runs up and protects the caLf.

In off-the-peg riding boots the uppers cater for a narrow spectrum of caLf widths. Those with significantLy wider or narrower caLves therefore have to endure an iLL-fitting boot, not wear riding boots at aLL or they have to have one made for them by a bespoke shoe-maker or the Like.

A subsidiary probLem pertains to the consistency of fit of a given boot during the Lifespan of a person. A caLf is a centre on the body for muscLe growth and fat storage and as such it changes in width considerabLy from year-to-year. Leather boots used in riding have no faciLity to accommodate these fLuctuations and as such has a reLativeLy high LikeLihood of not fitting at various points during a person's Life.

There is therefore a reaL need for a riding boot or the upper thereof to be of flexibLe size in order to accommodate those with unusuaLly sized or shaped caLves. There is aLso a need for a boot upper which fits cLoseLy to a rider's caLf and is adaptabLe to changes in size of that caLf. A third need is then identified that there is a requirement that such fitted uppers are nonethetess easy for the user to take on and off.

It is to these problems amongst others that the invention described herein seeks to address.

Summary of the Invention

AccordingLy, in a first independent aspect the invention comprises an upper for a Leisure boot, the upper comprising an eLongate, in use, caLf contacting portion and an, in use, ankLe covering portion, the boot having a top end, in use, nearest the wearer's knee, and a bottom end, in use, nearest the user's heeL, wherein the caLf-contacting portion comprises four quadrants, nameLy the forward saddLe-side quadrant, the forward open-side quadrant, the back saddLe-side quadrant and the back open-side quadrant, and wherein the back open-side quadrant onLy comprises an eLongate eLasticated portion, running LongitudinaLLy a Long the boot.

The configuration above provides a soLution to the aforementioned probLems. The provision of the eLongated eLasticated portion gives the boots the stretch which they need in order to provide a good fit to somebody with wider than usuaL caLves.

The position of the eLasticated portion is of paramount importance here in the fieLd of Leisure and particuLarLy riding boots, because the back open side quadrant is that which is both in contact with the calf of the wearer but also positioned away from contact with the saddle and the animal ridden -the tendencies for eLastic so positioned would be for it to become frayed and damaged due to repeated contact with the said saddLe and animaL.

A further advantage of placing the elasticated portion adjacent the calf of the user in this manner is that a cLose, styLish, aesthetically pleasing fit is provided.

PreferabLy, the elongate elasticated portion is a unitary, continuous portion.

Provision of a singLe portion allows for the elasticity to be targeted in one pLace for maximum effect. Provision of effectively two portions to the calf upper -an eLasticated portion and a generaL upper material portion provides also for maximum structural integrity and therefore durability in the upper.

PreferabLy, the elasticated portion extends along the calf contacting portion, but doesnt extend along the ankLe covering portion.

Focusing the elasticated portion onto the calf area onLy again provides targeted elasticity in an area where there can be a range of calf sizes.

It also ensures the ankle area retains stiffness during riding, when of course stiffness is desirabLe and further where there is Less of a spectrum of widths with which to contend.

PreferabLy, the etasticated portion comprises an upper region and a Lower region, and the lower region is tapered.

The tapering of the eLasticated portion in this way provides for a graduated degree of stretching of the calf region of the upper. This allows the boot to be stretched out using the shape which again serves to accommodate a broad spectrum of calf widths and narrows to the ankle such that a good fit is achieved.

Preferably, the lower region has an upper end and a lower end and wherein the angle of the taper increases from the upper end of the lower region to the Lower end of the Lower region.

Increasing the angle of the taper in this way provides the aforementioned funnel effect particularly effectiveLy.

PreferabLy, the elasticated portion comprises a double taper.

Provision of a double taper follows the shape of the caLf agreeabLy, allowing for a particuLarLy snug fit.

PreferabLy, the double taper comprises a first taper and a second taper and wherein the first and second tapers are separated by a flared portion.

By separating the tapers with the flared portion an even more agreeable fit is obtained.

PreferabLy, the edge of the elasticated portion nearest the forward open side quadrant is in the shape of an inverted S. An elasticated portion in this shape again provides for easy access to the boot for a person with a wider caLf; when it is on it provides a good, calf-following fit.

PreferabLy, the elasticated portion comprises a peripheral area which is attached to the upper and wherein the upper is bifurcated at the point of contact with the elasticated portion.

The provision of the bifurcated area provides protection for the point of contact so as to reinforce construction and increase durability of the boot.

PreferabLy, the bifurcated portion is arranged such that at least a portion of the peripheral area of the elasticated portion is overlaid by an unattached lip and the point of contact between the upper and the elasticated portion is obscured by the Lip.

The provision of the lip provides a moveable barrier against the fraying of the peripheral region and the point of contact; this of course also increases durabiLity.

PreferabLy, the Lip foLLows the outer surface perimeter of the etasticated portion and wherein the Lip comprises a width from the point of attachment, to the outer edge of the said Lip and wherein that width is substantiaLLy uniform around the entirety of the outer surface perimeter which the Lip foLLows.

The zip is in an optionaL position to be reached by the user. The side zip is aLso position forward of the eLasticated panel, such that it doesn't move backwards with the stretching of the eLasticated paneL.

PreferabLy, the boot further comprises a zip, said zip running from the top end to the bottom end and being situated at a joining point between the forward open-side quadrant and the back open-side quadrant and wherein the zip is movabLe from an open position to a closed position and vice versa.

The synergy between the paneL and zip, coLLocated as they are on the open side of the upper aLLows for a particuLarLy weLL fitting boot which is snug when on but equaLLy is very easy to take off and put on again. Situating the zip the side of the upper removes it from potentiaL positioning at sites where the boot is subject to particuLar stress and therefore is particuLarLy LikeLy to faiL: principalLy, the traditionaL sites of the zip at the front and back of the boot.

More preferabLy, the zip comprises a surround and wherein the surround comprises a fringe, which substantiaLLy overLays the zip, when the said zip is in a cLosed position.

The zip is protected by the fringe from ingress of dirt and from instances of damage.

More preferabLy, the upper further comprises a strap and a fastening wherein both strap and fastening are attached to the exterior of the upper and wherein the strap is sized and shaped such that it may be detachably fastened to the fastening, wherein said strap therefore has a fastened position and an unfastened position and wherein in the fastened position, the strap Lies LateraLLy over the zip.

The strap has the dueL effect of ensuring that the fringe overLays the zip, miLitating against movement. The strap and fastening aLso provide an extra Layer of protection due to the fact that they overLay both the fringe and the zip.

PreferabLy, the upper comprises a waLL, having an outer surface and an inner surface and wherein the etasticated portion is disposed such that a first side forms a part of the outer surface of the waLL and a second side forms a part of the inner surface of the said waLL.

Having a whoLLy etasticated paneL running through the entire thickness of the boot waLL provides that the eLasticity is not limited by further layers of materiaL.

PreferabLy, the top end of the forward open side quadrant of the upper comprises a peak.

The raised Lip provides a means of aLLowing the user purchase to puLL the boot on and push it off whiLe having to bend down Less in order to do it; as such that there is a synergistic effect between peak, etasticated portion and zip in that they have aLL aided in the removaL of the boot.

PreferabLy, the upper comprises a reinforcement strip, running LongitudinaLly from the top end of the upper to the bottom end of the upper, wherein the reinforcement strip LateraLLy bridges the back saddLe-side quadrant and the back open-side quadrant.

The reinforcement strip, pLaced as it is in the middLe of the back of the upper provides reinforcement means at a pLace which wouLd otherwise be a locus of particuLar stress on the upper.

PreferabLy, the ankLe covering portion is overLaid by a reinforcement Layer and said Layer is situated on the exterior of the upper.

The ankLe reinforcement provides for increased durabiLity and a key area of fLexion and torsion, thereby increasing the durabiLity of the upper.

PreferabLy, the reinforcement Layer comprises a trianguLar portion, and wherein said trianguLar portion compLeteLy overLays the baLL of the ankLe.

The reinforcement Layer and particuLarLy the triangular portion aLso serves to provide protection and support at an area -the balE of the ankle -which is both particularly vulnerable to injury and is also is often utilised in riding.

The invention also comprises an upper substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the text and/or drawings.

The invention also comprises a boot comprising an upper of the invention.

The invention also comprises a boot, substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the text and/or drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The preferred embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures of which: Figure 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a boot of the invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the upper of the boot of the invention; and Figure 3 is a side view of a boot of the invention.

Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments

At Figure 1 is there is shown a boot 2 of which the principal components are upper 4 and heel/sole configuration 6. Boot 2 is, in particularly preferred embodiments a riding boot for riding horses and potentiaLly other animals, but the boot 2 can equaLly well be used for other sporting, leisure and work purposes.

The boot has a top end 3 and the bottom end 5. The upper 4 is connected to the heel/sole configuration 6 by known means. The upper comprises an elongate calf contacting portion 8 and an ankle covering portion 10 as well as foot covering portion 12 and heel covering portion 14. The calf contacting portion 8 of the upper 4 is divided into four quadrants, nameLy forward saddle side quadrant 16, forward open side quadrant 18, back saddLe side quadrant 20 and back open side quadrant 22.

The upper 4 further comprises an elongate reinforcement portion 24 bridging the back saddle side quadrant 20 and the back open side quadrant 22. The reinforcement portion 24 runs between the upper edge 26 of the top 3 of the upper 4. The reinforcement portion 24 is stitched onto the upper 4 of the upper 4 advantageousLy with a double row of stitching, but can be joined to the upper 4 by other means.

The upper 4 of the boot 2 is preferably fashioned from nubuck leather and is even more preferably fashioned from nubuck leather that is water repeLlent. The boot may also be made of pLastics or textile materiaLs or a combination thereof or a combination of any known materials which couLd be put together to form a practicaL, flexible, usable and waterproof boot.

In preferred embodiments, the elasticated portion 28 is unitary -a single portion only.

The upper 4 further comprises elasticated portion 28. The elasticated portion may be fashioned from viscoetastic textile materials, an elastomeric polymer, a combination thereof or a combination thereof with non-elastic materials. Elastomeric materials which may be appropriate comprising various common types of saturated and unsaturated rubbers including siLicone rubber (SIQVMQ) and elastotefin. The elasticated portion 28 runs from top edge 26 along a Length of the upper 4. In this preferred embodiment the etasticated portion 28 runs from the top edge 26 along 50% to 90% of the upper 4. More preferabLy the etasticated portion 28 runs aLong 60% to 80% of the upper 4. The etasticated portion 28 comprises a part of the back open side quadrant 22. The back open side quadrant 22 has itself a forward portion 30 and a back portion 32 and the elasticated portion 28 comprises a part of the said back portion 32. In preferred embodiments as here the calf contacting portion 8 occupies 10% to 49% of the external surface area of the back saddle side quadrant 20. More preferably the elasticated portion 28 occupies Less than a third of the surface area of the back saddLe side quadrant 20. Of the back portion 32 the eLasticated portion 28 occupies 50% to 80% of the surface area of the said back portion 32.

In some embodiments the elasticated portion 28 comprises an elastic panel 34 which runs from the exterior 36 to the interior 38 of the boot 2.

In other embodiments the elasticated portion 28 may be augmented or covered by either the exterior 36 or the interior 38 of the boot 2. For example, the interior 38 of the boot 2 may be covered by a cambrelte Lining.

The elasticated portion 28 is shaped so as to follow the curvature of the wearers calf and as such is in preferred embodiments gentle curved to match the buLge of the boot 22 as it widens from ankle covering portion 10 along calf contacting portion 8 and narrows again at aperture 40 at the top end 3 of the boot 2.

In preferred embodiments both outer edge 42 and inner edge 44 curve sympathetically with the curvature of the upper 4. In some embodiments the curve of the outer edge 42 and the curve of the inner edge 44 foLlow each other such that from the top edge 26 of the upper 4 to substantiaLly haLf way down the calf contacting portion 8 of the boot 4, the inner edge 44 and outer edge 42 remain equidistant from one another until the inner edge 44 tapers at taper 46 with the taper becoming ever steeper until the taper 46 terminates at outer edge 42. The inner edge 44 therefore comprises taper 46 and second taper 48; a double taper. The taper 46 and second taper 48 are separated by flared portion 50.

Therefore the path of the inner edge 44 can be said to comprise an inverted S path.

The elasticated portion 28 is attached to the upper using, singularly or in combination, means such as stitching and adhesive to secure the etasticated portion 28 in place. At point of contact 52 along the perimeter of the elasticated portion 28, the upper 4 is bifurcated and the elasticated portion 28 sits within the crook of the bifurcated portion.

The elasticated portion 28 is stitched into both parts of the bifurcated portion such that a lip 54 is Left which serves to add extra protection to the point of contact 52 between upper 4 and elasticated portion 28. In particularly preferred embodiments the lip 54 of the upper 4 is of a continuous width as it runs around the peripheral area or perimeter of the eLasticated portion 28.

The upper 4 further comprises a zip 56 with said zip running from the top end 3 of the upper 4 to substantiaLLy the bottom end 5. The zip 56 may be made of pLastics or metaLs or a combination thereof and runs straight down the Length of the upper 4 such that the zip is opened the further the sLider 57 component of the zip 56 is moved towards the heeL/soLe configuration 6 and converseLy is brought together and fastened when the sLider 57 is moved towards the top end 3 of the boot 2.

The zip 56 is recessed within channeL 58 in upper 4. The upper 4 comprises the overLapping fringe 60 which serves to protect the zip. The overLapping fringe 60 comprises a fringe component on either side of the channeL. The sLider 57 is further protected when done fuLLy up such that it is at the top end 3 of the boot 2 by strap 62 which may be fastened onto stud 64 (shown at Figure 5) or may be fastened using other known means.

BeLow the reinforcement portion 24 is Located spur 25 which is preferabLy made of a hard pLastics materiaL and which is recessed in the upper 4.

The top end 3 of the boot 2 comprises a peak 66, the peak 66 is not in fact at its highest at the front of the boot but reaches its apex adjacent the zip 56 and channeL 58 in the forward open side quadrant 18. The top edge 26 can therefore be said to spiraL up to this highest point.

The ankLe covering portion 10 is reinforced about the front and back saddLe side quadrants 16, 20 via a trianguLar portion 68 which acts as a reinforcement to an area of the boot? which serves to reinforce an area of the boot 4 which often comes into contact with the horse during riding.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An upper for a Leisure boot, the upper comprising an eLongate, in use, caLf contacting portion and an, in use, ankLe covering portion, the boot having a top end, in use, nearest the wearer's knee, and a bottom end, in use, nearest the user's heeL, wherein the caLf-contacting portion comprises four quadrants, nameLy the forward saddLe-side quadrant, the forward open-side quadrant, the back saddLe-side quadrant and the back open-side quadrant, and wherein the back open-side quadrant onLy comprises an eLongate eLasticated portion, running LongitudinaLLy aLong the boot.
2. An upper for according to cLaim 1, wherein the eLongate eLasticated portion is a unitary, continuous portion.
3. An upper according to either cLaim 1 or cLaim 2, wherein the eLasticated portion extends aLong the caLf contacting portion, but doesn't extend aLong the ankLe covering portion.
4. An upper according to any of the preceding cLaims, wherein the eLasticated portion comprises an upper region and a Lower region, and the Lower region is tapered.
S. An upper according to any of the preceding cLaims, wherein the Lower region has an upper end and a Lower end and wherein the angLe of the taper increases from the upper end of the Lower region to the Lower end of the Lower region.
6. An upper according to any of the preceding cLaims, wherein the eLasticated portion comprises a doubLe taper.
7. An upper according to cLaim 6, wherein the doubLe taper comprises a first taper and a second taper and wherein the first and second tapers are separated by a fLared portion.
8. An upper according any of the preceding cLaims, wherein the edge of the eLasticated portion nearest the forward open side quadrant is in the shape of an inverted S.
9. An upper according to any of the preceding cLaims, wherein the elasticated portion comprises a peripheral area which is attached to the upper and wherein the upper is bifurcated at the point of contact with the elasticated portion.
10. An upper according to claim 9, wherein the bifurcated portion is arranged such that at least a portion of the peripheral area of the etasticated portion is overlaid by an unattached lip and the point of contact between the upper and the elasticated portion is obscured by the lip.
11. An upper according to claim 10, wherein the lip follows the outer surface perimeter of the elasticated portion and wherein the lip comprises a width from the point of attachment, to the outer edge of the said lip and wherein that width is substantially uniform around the entirety of the outer surface perimeter which the lip folLows.
12. An upper for a boot according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising a zip, said zip running from the top end to the bottom end and being situated at a joining point between the forward open-side quadrant and the back open-side quadrant and wherein the zip is movabLe from an open position to a closed position and vice versa.
13. An upper according to claim 12, wherein the zip comprises a surround and wherein the surround comprises a fringe, which substantially overLays the zip, when the said zip is in a closed position.
14. An upper according to claim 12 wherein the upper further comprises a strap and a fastening, wherein both strap and fastening are attached to the exterior of the upper and wherein the strap is sized and shaped such that it may be detachably fastened to the fastening, wherein said strap therefore has a fastened position and an unfastened position and wherein in the fastened position, the strap Lies lateralLy over the zip.
15. An upper according any of the preceding cLaims, wherein the upper comprises a wall, having an outer surface and an inner surface and wherein the eLasticated portion is disposed such that a first side forms a part of the outer surface of the wall and a second side forms a part of the inner surface of the said wall.
16. An upper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the top end of the forward open side quadrant of the upper comprises a peak.
17. An upper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper comprises a reinforcement strip, running Longitudinally from the top end of the upper to the bottom end of the upper, wherein the reinforcement strip laterally bridges the back saddle-side quadrant and the back open-side quadrant.
18. An upper according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the ankle covering portion is overlaid by a reinforcement layer and said layer is situated on the exterior of the upper.
19. An upper according to claim 18 wherein the reinforcement Layer comprises a triangular portion, and wherein said triangular portion completely overlays the ball of the ankle.
20. An upper substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the text and/or drawings.
21. A boot comprising an upper according to any of claims ito 19.
22. A boot, substantially as described herein, with reference to and as illustrated by any appropriate combination of the text and/or drawings.