NZ554998A - Footwear closure device - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for protecting the interior of footwear from the environment when the footwear is not in use, including a cover 5 and expansion means 10, the expansion means 10 including at least one resiliently biased member for releasable engagement with an interior wall of the footwear, whereby the engagement with an interior wall causes the footwear to adopt a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the footwear when in use, the cover 5 including a moisture impervious portion 20 and a sealing means 25 for forming a snug fit between the cover 5 and an exterior surface of the footwear.

Description

554998 1 FOOTWEAR CLOSURE DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a covering means for footwear. More 5 particularly, the present invention relates to a means for protecting the interior of footwear from entry of undesirable elements such as precipitation, debris, insects and the like whilst footwear is not in use.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Footwear when worn in inclement weather conditions can become wet and muddy. When this occurs the wearer typically leaves the footwear outdoors until such time as the footwear can be cleaned and dried for storage indoors. In other instances the footwear may be permanently stored outdoors leaving the footwear exposed to the elements. Footwear stored outdoors is necessarily exposed to the 15 elements and is prone to entry of moisture, debris, spiders and the like. Even if footwear is stored in a location protected from the weather, such as a garage or wardrobe, the interior of the footwear is still susceptible to invasion of insects and rodents seeking a protective environment to live.

When a user eventually wants to wear footwear that has been stored or left 20 outdoors, it can be difficult for the user to determine if the interior of the footwear has been invaded as the internal toe region of the footwear is usually difficult to inspect. This is particularly so with boots which have an extended leg portion.

It is therefore usually necessary for the user to insert a hand into the boot to determine if it is empty. Alternatively, the user places their foot inside the boot to 25 determine if an invasion has occurred. This can potentially lead to the user being bitten by a spider or the like that is nesting or has sought refuge within the boot.

In the past, attempts have been made to address this problem by covering the opening to the interior of the footwear such that debris, insects and the like can not enter. The problem with this solution is that the cover is not always of a 30 suitable shape and dimension to fit all sizes and shapes of footwear. Footwear with a poorly fitted cover that is not snug can in some instances still allow debris, insects and the like to enter the interior of the footwear. It can also be particularly difficult to fit a cover to footwear such as boots where the leg portion is insufficiently rigid to retain its shape when not worn. The extended leg portions of boots are usually 35 flexible for purposes of providing comfort to a wearer. However, fhis same flexibility 554998 WO 2006/079146 PCT/AU2005/001619 2 increases the difficulty for a cover to grasp the boot leg in a suitable manner to effectively seal the opening against the entry of spiders, insects or the like.

Accordingly, it is advantageous to provide a device that overcomes or ameliorates at least one of the problems of the prior art..

Any discussion of documents, devices, acts or knowledge in this specification is included to explain the context of the invention. It should not be taken as an admission that any of the material formed part of the prior art base or the common general knowledge in the relevant art on or before the priority date of the claims herein.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with one aspect of the invention there is provided a device for protecting the interior of footwear from the environment when the footwear is not in use, including a cover and expansion means, the expansion means including at 15 least one resiliently biased member for releasable engagement with an interior wall of the footwear, whereby the engagement with an interior wall causes the footwear to adopt a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the footwear when in use, the cover including a moisture impervious portion and a sealing means for forming a snug fit between the cover and an exterior surface of the footwear. 20 Preferably, the cover is securely attached to the expansion means to prevent separation of the cover and the expansion means.

The-cover and sealing means preferably form a unitary apparatus with the expansion means operable by hand without being impeded by the cover. In this embodiment, operation of the expansion means to place.same within the footwear 25 to adopt a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the footwear when in use thus enabling the footwear to present an exterior surface to the sealing means that is convenient for the sealing means to form a snug fit between the cover and the exterior surface of the footwear.

Preferably, the moisture impervious portion of the cover extends over the 30 opening of the footwear to prevent entry of moisture and is shaped to prevent moisture from gathering and being retained by the cover. In a particularly preferred embodiment the moisture impervious portion is substantially dome shaped so that moisture cannot collect on the cover. The cover preferably includes a resilient rim portion as the sealing means which forms a snug fit with the exterior surface of the 35 footwear and hence forms a seal between the cover and the exterior wall to prevent the entry of insects and other debris into the footwear.

WO 2006/079146 ao PCT/AU2005/001619 3 In an embodiment, the at least one resiliently biased member expansion means includes a first and second portion and a spring. The first portion includes a rounded end section and a first elongate section having a first diameter. The rounded end section of the first portion is adapted to abut the interior wall of the 5 footwear without causing damage to the interior wall. The second portion of the resiliently biased member includes a rounded end section and a second elongate section. The second elongate section being hollow with a diameter larger than said first diameter. The rounded end section of the second portion is also adapted to abut the interior wall of the footwear also without causing damage to the interior 10 wall. In this embodiment, the first elongate section of the first portion is located within the hollow of the second portion. The spring is located within the hollow to resiliently bias the rounded end sections into abutment with the interior wall and hence firmly engages the expansion means with the interior wall.

In another embodiment of the invention, the resiliently biased member is a 15 tube which includes one end of a smaller diameter than the other end. In use, the end of smaller diameter is inserted into the other end of the tube to form a circular configuration. The circular configuration being biased to expand such that the diameter of the configuration increases resulting in firm engagement of the outer surface of the tube with an interior wall of the footwear.

In preferred embodiments, the expansion means includes apertures or spaces for the insertion of fingers and/or thumbs of a user to assist operation of the expansion means. In one embodiment, insertion of a user's forefinger and thumb into respective apertures of an expansion means allows compression or reduction of the expansion means prior to insertion into a boot or shoe and subsequent 25 release.

In a particularly preferred form of the invention, the expansion means includes a relatively thin sheet of resilient material with a central portion from which extends a plurality of elongate arms or web portions. The resilience of the material . provides the resilience of the elongate web portions that preferably extend beyond 30 the internal dimensions of the footwear for which it is intended for insertion. The centra I portion preferably includes an aperture into which a connector may be inserted and retained as a results of a friction fit.

In this particularly preferred embodiment, the cover is firmly attached to the expansion means by placing a portion thereof between the connector and the 35 aperture and subsequently inserting the connector into the aperture thus trapping the portion of the cover therebetween. Even after firmly attaching the cover to the WO 2006/079146 554"8 PCT/AIJ 2005/001619 : 4 expansion means, the cover may be folded or bunched to one side to allow the operator to grasp the central portion and thrust the expansion means into the . opening of the footwear thus causing the web portions to releasably engage with the internal wall of the footwear and exert an outwardly directed force extending 5 from the central portion.

Once the expansion means has been operated and the footwear has adopted a shape substantially corresponding to the shape when worn, the cover is applied to the external opening of the footwear. The method by which the cover is sealed to the external surface of the footwear depends upon the type of sealing 10 means provided. When the sealing means is in the form of a resilient rim portion, the user expands the rim portion of the cover and ensures that the cover is suitably positioned to cover the opening. The rim portion is then released and engages the exterior surface of the footwear to substantially seal the opening of the footwear thus preventing the ingress/of dust and debris or the entry of insects or rodents. 15 In an alternative form, the sealing means includes a rope member which extends around the rim portion of the cover. Once the cover is suitably located over the opening, the end portions of the rope are pulled together such that the rim portion of the cover engages the exterior of the footwear and seals the opening. The two end portions of the rope member may then be securely fastened to each 20 other to retain the seal formed between the external wall and the cover.

In another embodiment, the cover is placed over the footwear opening and the sealing means engaged with the outer wall of the footwear prior to insertion of the expansion means. In this embodiment, the cover repositions with respect to the outer wall of the footwear as the expansion means is inserted and as such, the 25 cover is dimensioned to suit the likely repositioning that will occur.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the sealing means includes a collapsible or compressible material such that upon effecting a seal with the exterior surface of the footwear, any portions of that surface that are recessed as compared with the nominal circumference of the external surface in the region of 30 the seal will be substantially filled or occupied by the material. At all other portions of the external surface that are not recessed, the material will be compressed by the action of the sealing means.

Further benefits and advantages of a device according to the present invention will become apparent in the following description of a preferred 35 embodiment of the invention.

WO 2006/079146 PC I /All2005/001619 BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS A preferred embodiment of the invention will now be described. The preferred embodiment should not be considered as limiting any of the statements in the previous section. The preferred embodiment will be described with reference to 5 the following Figures in which: Figure 1 is a side view of a dome shaped cover according to an embodiment of the invention; Figure 2 is a bottom view of the dome shaped cover of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a sectioned side view of an expansion means according to one 10 embodiment of the invention; Figures 4A, 4B and 4C are perspective views of the second portion, the spring and the first portion, respectively of the expansion means depicted in Figure 3; Figure 5 illustrates a side view of a resilient connector used to secure the 15 cover to the expansion means in one embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 illustrates a footwear closure device according to an embodiment of the invention in operational use; Figures 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D and 7E illustrate alternative embodiments of the expansion means; Figure 8 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a cover according to the present invention; Figure 9 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the invention including a unitary expansion means, a separate cover and a connector; Figure 10 is a sectioned side view of the embodiment of Figure 9 installed in 25 the leg of a boot; Figure 11 is a perspective view of a preferred form of the expansion means detailing the inclusion of the connector as part of the expansion means as manufactured; Figure 12 is a perspective view of the expansion means of Figure 11 as 30 manufactured; Figure 13 is a perspective view of an alternative arrangement of the expansion means and cover detailed in Figure 9; and Figure 14 is a perspective view of the cover and expansion means arrangement of Figure 13 as installed in the leg of a boot.

WO 2006/079146 PC I /All2005/001619 6 DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the accompanying drawings there is shown a footwear closure device including a cover 5 which is connected to an expansion means 10 via a connector 15. The cover includes a moisture impervious portion 20 with a 5 sealing means 25 which can be formed from a resilient material such as elasticised tape. Alternatively, the sealing means could be formed with a string or rope arrangement wherein the rope is attached to the cover and may be tied around the . footwear. The sealing means could also include portions of material that are releasably engaged with each other to form a seal around the exterior surface of 10 the footwear, the releasable engagement being in the form of sections of hook and pile materia! of the type that is traded with the word VELCRO®. The moisture imperious portion 25 may be formed of a flexible or rigid plastic and is dome shaped, such that' the exterior surface of the cover 5 will not retain a significant amount of liquid on its exterior surface.

One end of the connector 15 is attached to the interior of the cover 5 at the apex via a plastic disc 30 which is glued to the cover 5. The other end of the connector 15 has a fastening means in the form of a circular loop 35 which attaches to the expansion means 10.

The expansion means 10 includes at least one resiliently biased member 20 10. In one embodiment, the resiliently biased member 10 includes a first portion 40, a second portion 45 and a spring 80. Each first and second portion 40, 45 being closed at one end by a rounded end section 50. The first portion 40 further includes a first elongate section 55 and a second closed end 65. The second portion 45 has an opening 90 at one end that leads to a hollow elongate section 60 25 which is of a diameter greater than the first elongate section 55 of the first portion 40. Adjacent to the opening 90 of the second portion 45 is an annular ridge 85 which interacts with a corresponding ridge 95 on the first elongate section 55 of the first portion 40 to prevent complete separation of the first and second portion. During assembly of the resiliently biased member 10, a spring 80 is inserted into 30 the hollow elongate section 60 and rests against the rounded end section 50 of the second portion 40. The closed end 65 of the first portion 45 is inserted into the hollow elongate section 60 of the second portion 45 and engages with an end of the spring 80. The first portion 40 is pushed further into the hollow elongate section 60 such that the annular ridge 85 of the second portion 45 engages with the 35 corresponding ridge 105 of the first portion 40 such that the two members can not then be separated.

WO 2006/079146 554"8 PCT/AU2005/001619 7 With reference to figure 6, the device is operated by the user pushing the two respective rounded end sections 50 of the resilient member 10 towards one another against the bias of the spring 80 and inserting the expansion means 10 into the opening of the boot 70. The first and second portions 40, 45 of the resilient 5 member 10 advantageously include finger engaging tabs which extend at right angles to a longitudinal axis of the resilient member 10. By placing a thumb and forefinger on the finger engaging tabs, the two respective rounded end sections 50 can be readily squeezed together during insertion and removal of each resilient member 10 with the boot 70. Alternatively, apertures 42 and 44 are provided into 10 which a user may insert a forefinger and thumb to squeeze the two ends together. When the resilient member 10 is released by the user after insertion into the boot 70, the first and second portions 40, 45 are forced away from each other due to the bias imposed by the spring 80. This causes the respective rounded end sections 50 of the first and second portions 40, 45 to abut with and firmly engage the interior 15 wall of the boot 70. This ensures that the boot leg opening adopts a shape substantially corresponding with the shape of the footwear when in use. In a further embodiment of the invention, the expansion means 10 includes a plurality of resilient members arranged such that each respective rounded end section 50 engages the interior wall of the boot 70 at an evenly space distance around the 20 circumference of the boot 70. This ensures that the boot leg opening remains open and substantially adopts the shape of the boot opening when in use. For footwear made of particularly malleable or flexible material, the boot leg will adopt a shape imposed by the expansion means which in preferred embodiments is substantially circular.

Once all the resilient members have been located inside the boot, the cover is applied to the boot leg opening. In one embodiment, the sealing means 25 of the cover 5 is stretched over the boot leg opening into engagement with the external wall of the boot leg. Due to the resilient members of the expansion means providing a fixed positioning of the boot leg, the tension applied to the boot leg by 30 the sealing means 25 does not result in any mis-shaping of the boot leg. Consequently, the cover remains sealed to the external wail of the boot leg. The cover is further forced into engagement with the boot leg by the downward force imparted by the connector 15 between the cover 5 and the expansion means 10 which is preferably resilient.

In Figure 7A there is shown an alternative embodiment of the resilient member 10 of the expansion means wherein the resilient member is arranged in a WO 2006/079146 PC I /All2005/001619 8 circular configuration and is biased to expand in diameter. In operation, one end of the resilient member is pushed into the other end of the resilient member such that the diameter of the configuration decreases. When the diameter of the configuration is less than the diameter of the boot leg opening the user inserts the 5 expansion means into the boot leg. Apertures 42 and 44 again assist a user to compress the expansion means by insertion of a forefinger and thumb and squeezing same together. The user then releases the expansion means such that the resilient member can increase in diameter until it engages with the interior wall of the boot leg.

As can be seen in the alternative embodiment shown in Figure 7B, the engagement means includes two resilient members 10 at right angles to each other. The circular loop 35 of the connector 15 is looped around both of the resilient members 10 to securely fasten them to the cover 5. Apertures 41, 42, 43 and 44 are provided for insertion of a user's fingers and thumb to assist 15 compression of the expansion means.

In Figure 7C there is shown a further alternative embodiment of the expansion means 10. The connector 15 is attached to a central portion 105 which has a series of resilient spokes 110 extending outwardly therefrom. Each spoke 110 is attached to a circular rubber ring 115 which is expandable. In use, the 20 rubber ring 115 is forced to expand by the force imparted by the resilient spokes 110. The rubber ring 115 can thereby firmly engage with the interior wall of a boot leg.

Figures 7D and 7E illustrate further alternative embodiments wherein the resilient member 10 has large rounded end sections 50 which are able to engage 25 with a greater portion of the interior wall of the boot leg.

With reference to Figure 8, an alternative embodiment of a cover is illustrated where the sealing means 25 includes a collapsible/compressible material 27 comprising a brush with individual spokes of semi-rigid but flexible material. In alternative embodiments, the material 27 could include collapsible foam. The 30 collapsible/compressible material acts to'fill recesses or voids that remain in the external surface of the footwear despite the insertion and release of an expansion means and improves the snug fit of the sealing means with the external surface. This is most useful when attempting to engage the sealing means over a portion of an external surface that includes a tongue and laces, Without a compressible 35 material included in the sealing means, a gap would remain in the region of the tongue enabling passage of insects such as ants, cockroaches or spiders. 554998 WO 2006/079146 PCT/AU2005/001619 9 However, with a collapsible material, such a gap would be filled with the material thus impeding the entry of insects at this portion of the external surface of the footwear.

With reference to Figure 9, there is shown a further embodiment of a 5 footwear closure device 900, including cover 902, expansion means 904 and a connector 906. Expansion means 904 includes elongate web portions 908a, 908b, . 908c, 908d and 908e, which form a unitary expansion means with the central portion 910 to allow for engagement of resilient web portions 908a, 908b, 908c, 908d and 908e with the interior wall of footwear (Figure 10).

Expansion means 904 is preferably configured to allow a user of footwear closure device 900 to grip by hand the central portion 910 of expansion means 904 and insert the closure device 900 into footwear. The web portions 908a, 908b, 908c, 908d and 908e preferably extend beyond the periphery of the internal dimensions of the footwear opening in their non biased stated. In this instance, 15 insertion of the expansion means into the opening of footwear causes the web portions 908a to 908e to flex and adopt a biased state wherein the web portions 908a to 908e releasably engage with the internal wall of the footwear and as a result of exerting an outwardly directed force from the central portion of the expansion means 910 against the internal wall of the footwear, the footwear adopts 20 a shape substantially according to its shape when in use. The central portion 910 further includes a centrally located aperture 912 to allow connector 906 to pass through and fasten both the expansion means 904 and cover 902 together to form a unitary apparatus to both substantially retain the "in use" shape of the footwear (1000 in Figure 10) and provide adequate coverage of the opening of the footwear 25 to prevent the entrance of insects and moisture in the footwear.

Cover 902 may be manufactured from a flexible moisture impervious material such as plastic and includes sealing means 916 to releasably engage with the outside of the footwear as seen in Figure 10. The .sealing means 916 may be manufactured from elastic or an alternative resilient material.

Figure 10 shows footwear closure device 900 inserted into footwear 1000.

Closure device 900 is inserted into the footwear 1000 by a user placing their fingers and thumb around the central portion 910 to place the expansion means 904 inside the footwear 1000. To allow easy insertion of the device 900, cover 902 (attached to expansion means 904 by connector 906) is moved to expose the gaps between 35 web portions 908a to 908e. Outer edges 918a to 918e of web portions 908a to 908e releasably engage with inner wall 1002 of footwear 1000 to both maintain the WO 2006/079146 PC I /All2005/001619 "in use" shape of footwear 1000 and to allow cover 902 to extend over the opening of footwear 1000. Once the cover 902 is placed over footwear 1000, sealing means 916 releasably engages with the outside of the footwear 1000 to prevent the entry of dust, debris and insects.

Figures 11 and 12 detail a preferred manufactured form of the expansion means 904.wherein the expansion means is punched from a sheet of polyethylene with a die that also allows for the simultaneous formation of the connector 906. The connector 906 is preferably configured such that the insertion of the lobe 906a into the aperture 912 causes a slight interference fit such that the placement of a 10 cover between the lobe 906a and the aperture 912 and subsequent insertion of the lobe 906a into the aperture 912 causes the cover 902 to become pinched between the interfering surfaces and hence firmly attached to the expansion means 904.

Figures 13 and 14 detail an alternative arrangement of the expansion means and cover of Figure 9. Whilst each of the component parts are the same as 15 those detailed in Figure 9, in Figures 13 and 14, the cover is disposed downwardly at the commencement of the installation process. In this instance, the cover is applied to the opening of the footwear and the expansion means is subsequently inserted into the opening such that the outer periphery of the resilient web portions releasably engage both the cover and the internal wall of the footwear. Of course, 20 in this arrangement, whilst inserting the expansion means the cover will be repositioned as compared with its initial location prior to insertion of the expansion means. Accordingly, for this particular arrangement the cover is dimensioned to suit the likely positioning that will occur as a result of insertion of the expansion means.

As the present invention may be embodied in several forms without departing from the essential characteristics of the invention, it should be understood that the above described embodiment should not be considered to limit the present invention but rather should be construed broadly within the spirit and scope of the invention. Various modifications and equivalent arrangements are 30 intended to be included within the spirit and scope of the invention. 554998 11

Claims (16)

Claims:

1. A device for protecting the interior of footwear from the environment when the footwear is not in use, including a cover and expansion means, the expansion 5 means including at least one resiliently biased member for releasable engagement with an interior wall of the footwear, whereby the engagement with an interior wall causes the footwear to adopt a shape substantially corresponding to the shape of the footwear when in use, the cover including a moisture impervious portion and a sealing means for forming a snug fit between the cover and an exterior surface of 10 the footwear.

2. A device according to claim 1 wherein the cover is securely attached to the expansion means to prevent separation therefrom. 15

3. A device according to either claim 1 or claim 2 wherein the cover and. sealing means preferably form a unitary device with the expansion means operable by hand without being impeded by the cover.

4. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the 20 expansion means is a relatively thin planar sheet of resilient material with a central portion from which extends a plurality of elongate web portions.

5. A device according to claim 4 wherein the outer periphery of the web portions preferably extend beyond the internal dimensions of the footwear for which 25 it is intended for insertion such that, upon insertion into the footwear; the resilient elongate web portions are caused to flex and releasably engage the internal wall of the footwear and exert an outwardly directed force extending from the centra! portion. 30

6. A device according to claim 5 wherein the central portion preferably includes an aperture into which a connector may be inserted and retained as a result of a friction fit.

7, A device according to claim 6 wherein the cover is firmly attached to the 35 expansion means by placing a portion thereof between the connector and the aperture and subsequently inserting the connector into the aperture thus trapping WO 2006/079146 ~4aao PCT/AU200S/001619 12 the portion of the cover between a surface of the connector and a surface of the aperture.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein the elongate web portions extending 5 from the central portion are spaced apart sufficiently to provide an operator sufficient access to grasp the central portion by hand for insertion of the expansion means into the opening of the footwear.

9. A device according to claim 4 wherein the central portion has at least two 10 elongate web portions extending therefrom.

10. A device according to claim 4 wherein the cover is firmly attached to the expansion means by use of adhesive. 15

11. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the cover sealing means is a resilient rim portion that the user expands during the attachment process and releases same to enable the resilient rim portion to engage the exterior surface of the footwear and substantially sear the opening of the footwear with the cover. 20

12. A device according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the expansion device is inserted into the footwear opening and the cover is subsequently placed over the opening. 25

13. A device according to any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the cover is placed over the footwear opening and the expansion means is subsequently inserted into the opening thus forcing the cover to extend into the footwear and the at least one resiliently biased member releasably engaging the cover and an interior wail of the footwear. 30

14. A device according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying Figures.

15. A device according to claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described with 35 reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11. WO 2006/079146 PC I /All2005/001619 13

16. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 9, 10 and 11.