Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Convertible from one style or color to another
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2001-10-09
Kavanaugh, Ted (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Convertible from one style or color to another
C036S102000, C036S105000, C036S047000, C036S113000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06298583
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This disclosure relates generally to footwear, and more particularly to footwear for outdoor use. Specifically, this disclosure relates to a genre of shoes called “camp shoes.” Camp shoes are worn by backpackers once a suitable camp site is reached or established.
The extra pack-weight and irregular terrain of the outdoors require the use of relatively rigid and confining boots to help support the backpacker's foot and ankle during the daily hike. Backpack weight, rough terrain and the duration of the hike can contribute to foot discomfort. Thus, it is desirable to relieve the foot of the confines of a hiking boot as soon as practical after the hike has been completed and camp established.
Camp shoes should be collapsible and light-weight in order to minimize the size and weight of the backpack. Camp shoes should also provide adequate support and protection to help avoid foot injuries resulting from in-camp activities such as carrying water, gathering fire-wood, and taking short hikes to the latrine. It is also conceivable that camp shoes might be pressed into service to serve as emergency hiking boots in the event that the primary boots are lost or damaged or become otherwise un-wearable.
Sandals, tennis shoes, running shoes, house slippers and moccasins have all been used by backpackers as camp shoes. Taken alone, none of these types of footwear has features that provide the degree of packability, foot protection and support desirable in the optimum camp shoe.
It is one of the objectives of this disclosure to provide shoe features that allow a shoe upper to be both collapsible and supportive of the wearer's foot and ankle. Such features, when introduced into a light-weight shoe constructed for outdoor use, result in a superior shoe design for camp use by backpackers.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
An example of a shoe that does not address the question of packability but appears to be somewhat foldable, nonetheless, is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,90 which issued Nov. 15, 1988, to Van Doren et al. While the description of the shoe in that document does not employ standard shoe construction nomenclature, it is apparent that the shoe of that disclosure utilizes butt joints that function as hinges to permit portions of what are called “quarters” to fold downward in conjunction with what is called a “heel counter” so that what appears to be a regular shoe can be converted into a slipper.
While a shoe that can convert quickly into a slipper might be useful in some packing and camping venues, it does not have the construction features that are established and defined for the camp shoe described herein. The disclosed shoe is remarkable for its light weight, durability and support features as well as for its foldability and packing attributes. More specifically, the shoe according to the disclosed invention can be described as follows:
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Disclosed herein is a camp shoe that resembles a typical shoe with a heel and sole, a toe and upper with construction features that permit easy folding and packing in, for instance, a backpack. The unique construction features of the disclosed shoe comprise: a rigid heel counter to discourage lateral movement of a foot in said shoe; a heel support flexibly attached to said heel counter; a pair of lower ankle supports flexibly attached to said heel counter; and a pair of upper ankle supports flexibly attached to said heel support and said lower ankle supports. As a result of these construction features, the heel support, the lower ankle supports and the upper ankle supports can each be folded to lie upon and conform with the heel and sole to facilitate packing. More economical versions of the disclosed camp shoe can be constructed without the heel counter and heel support, and the shoe will fold and permit packing according to the disclosed invention, but the substance of the shoe and support offered to the wearer will be diminished.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3192651 (1965-07-01), Smith
patent: 4783909 (1988-11-01), Van Doren et al.
patent: 5127170 (1992-07-01), Messina
Kavanaugh Ted
Willmann Neal O.
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