Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Overshoes
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-12
2001-10-16
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Overshoes
C036S062000, C036S064000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06301804
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to a footwear adapter and in particular to an adjustable boot traction device.
2. Description of Related Art
Traction devices and adapters for other types of devices to be strapped onto boots are known in the prior art. Such adapters include add on devices such as gripping cleats, ice skates, snowshoes, climbing spikes, ski bindings. Typically, straps or other mechanisms are used to secure the adapters to the bottom of the footwear. As used herein the term “footwear” refers to outer footwear such as boots, shoes and the like which are worn on the exterior of the foot and do not include socks or the like which are normally worn beneath such footwear.
Problems encountered in prior art footwear adapters include the necessity to modify the adapter for different sizes of footwear. This presents a problem of requiring a relatively large inventory to account for different footwear lengths and widths, as well as adapting the footwear for the right or left foot. While many adapters are adjustable in size, most are rather unwieldy and still present complexities in manufacturing.
Bearing in mind the problems and deficiencies of the prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved footwear adapter for the various footwear devices described previously.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a footwear adapter which provides for simplified fitting to various sized footwear.
A further object of the invention is to provide a footwear adapter which is relatively easy to manufacture.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a footwear adapter which requires reduced inventory for different size and right/left footwear.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will in part be obvious and will in part be apparent from the specification.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The above and other objects, which will be apparent to those skilled in the art, are achieved in the present invention which relates to a footwear adapter having a sole plate with one or more openings in the plate for attachment of a strap connector, an adjustable strap connector with a first portion and a second portion. In the preferred embodiment, the sole plate opening has a dimension extending inward with respect to an edge of the sole plate. The first portion of the adjustable strap connector is received in the opening, and the second portion, which is distal the first portion, extends outward from the sole plate. The first portion is positionable within the sole plate opening in different rigid positions along the inwardly extending dimension. A strap is attached to the strap connector at the second portion to secure the sole plate to the footwear article.
In the preferred embodiment, the first portion of the strap connector is in the same plane as the opening in the sole plate. It is also preferred that the sole plate openings, which are preferably rectangular with a larger length along the inwardly extending dimension, and the strap connector first portion have complimentary teeth adapted to position the first portion of the strap connector within the sole plate opening in different positions.
The footwear adapter may also include gripping cleats on a lower surface of the sole plate. Threaded openings may be provided in the sole plate, preferably a lower surface of the sole plate, to receive the complimentary threaded portions of the gripping cleats.
It is also preferred that the sole plate be adapted to conform to the forward region of the footwear article and further include a heel plate adapted to conform to the rearward portion of the footwear article. In the preferred embodiment, the sole plate and heel plate are adjustably connected so that the distance between the sole plate and heel plate can be varied. Preferably, chain links are used to connect the sole and heel plates, with the chain links being adjustable for pitch and the number of links, in order to vary the distance between the plates.
The footwear adapter may also include one or more openings in the heel plate which receive the strap connector. The heel plate may have a dimension extending inward with respect to an edge of the heel plate. Preferably, a first portion of the adjustable strap connector is received within the heel plate opening and a second portion, which is distal from the first portion, extends outward from the heel plate. It is also preferred that the first portion of the strap connector is positionable in the heel plate opening in different rigid positions along the inwardly extending dimension, and a strap is attached to the strap connector at the second portion to secure the heel plate to the footwear.
In one aspect, the footwear adapter may also include openings on opposite edges of the heel plate, with a strap connector adjustably positioned within each of the heel plate openings. In the preferred embodiment, at least one strap is attached to each of the strap connectors at the second portion to secure the heel plate to the footwear.
The footwear adapted may also include openings on opposite edges of the sole plate and a strap connector adjustably positioned within each of the sole plate openings. It is preferred that at least one strap is attached to each strap connector at the second portion in order to secure the sole plate to the footwear. In the preferred embodiment, the strap connector first portion extends essentially in the plane of the sole plate conforming to the underside of the footwear article, with the strap connector second portion extending upward in a direction conforming to the side of the footwear article. It is also preferred that the sole plate openings, which are preferably rectangular, and the strap connector first portion have complimentary teeth, where the sole plate teeth extend along the inwardly extending dimension, are adapted to position the first portion of the strap connector within, and in the same plane as, the sole plate opening in different positions.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a sole plate, a heel plate, chain links connecting the sole and heel plates, strap connectors, and a strap to secure the sole and heel plate to the footwear article. In the preferred embodiment, the sole plate conforms to the underside of a forward region, and the heel plate conforms to the underside of a rearward portion, of the footwear article. The chain links are various size and pitch chain links, and are preferably adjustable for pitch and number of links to vary the distance between the sole and heel plates. The strap connectors are secured to the sole plate and extend outward, with the strap attached to the strap connector.
Preferably, the strap connector includes at least one tab extending outward adjacent to and above the first portion for contacting the sole plate adjacent the opening, and the strap connector first portion has a threaded opening therein. A threaded fastener having a width greater than the opening in the sole plate may be secured in the strap connector portion threaded opening from a side opposite the at least one tab. The threaded fastener and the at least one tab cooperate to secure the strap connector in the opening in the sole plate. Preferably, the threaded fastener comprises a gripping cleat.
In another aspect, the present invention is directed to a footwear adapter comprising a detachable sole plate conforming to the underside of a footwear article, one or more threaded openings in the sole plate to receive a gripping cleat, one or more gripping cleats having complimentary threaded portions received in the threaded openings on a lower surface therefrom, strap connectors secured to the sole plate and the heel plate and extending therefrom, and one or more straps attached to the strap connectors for securing the sole plate and heel plate to the footwear article. In the preferred embodiment, the strap connectors are secured in openings in the sole and heel plates and further include threaded openin
Arnold Troy
DeLio & Peterson LLC
Sewell Paul T.
LandOfFree
Boot traction device does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Boot traction device, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Boot traction device will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2565496