Boots – shoes – and leggings – Antislipping devices – Detachable
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-13
2002-11-19
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Antislipping devices
Detachable
C036S015000, C036S007700, C036S007600, C036S05900D
Reexamination Certificate
active
06481121
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to footwear and associated accessories used in snow and ice. In particular, this invention relates to an integrated footwear design and a hardware accessory design that improves the ability to walk on level ground and to climb on steep snow and ice. The invention may be applied to all styles of mountaineering footwear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Mountaineering boots used to climb tall mountains where one encounters extreme cold temperatures, rock, snow and ice, have always had to compromise between hikeability and climbability. A boot that is ideal for hiking on level or slightly sloped ground where the surface is hard, such as a dirt trail, flexes comfortably at the ball of the foot in consort with the natural hinging of the foot. Such flexing at the metatarsal heads allows the foot to operate in a biomechanically advantageous position throughout the stride because the phalanges can maintain full contact during push-off and the flexor muscles can apply maximum leverage. This is what occurs during normal walking.
A boot that is ideal for climbing has a very rigid sole that does not flex appreciably at the ball of the foot. Rigid soles are important during climbing because they allow the use of rigid crampons with the boots, and because they allow the foot to remain in its most biomechanically advantageous position during climbing. Rigid crampons are generally mounted on the boots as an accessory and require a boot having a rigid sole so that the rigid crampon remains fixed to the boot via the attachment bails at the toe and the heel, and so that flexing of the boot does not put extreme force on the middle of the crampon, where it can be susceptible to breaking. A climber has a biomechanical advantage using a rigid boot having a crampon attached, because the point of contact of the crampon with the earth (ice, snow, or rock) is at the toe tip. A rigid boot allows the foot to apply the maximum force to the toe tip with the minimum muscles strain, thereby making the climber more efficient.
As a consequence of these conflicting performance criteria, high performance boots are suitable to only one type of activity, climbing or hiking. Since most mountains require a flat to moderately sloped approach on foot to the base of the steep and difficult route, climbers must carry two sets of footwear; one for the approach and one for the climb. This is a burdensome requirement in terms of weight and bulk, as well as an expensive one. Although some boots are designed with a medium flex so as to be marginally functional for both activities, professionals and highly skilled climbers cannot accept this compromise in footwear performance. The present invention eliminates the need for two sets of boots without compromising the performance in either hiking or climbing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is designed to allow footwear to flex comfortably to provide comfortable and efficient hiking performance, and then to be secured in a rigid position with the aid of a unique crampon design, to provide safe and efficient climbing performance. Thus, the same footwear may be used efficiently in the approach to a technical climbing region and, with the addition of an accessory, may be used efficiently and safely in technical climbing activities. The design marries an underfoot frame that provides the proper flex characteristics of the boot as well as the crampon attachment devices, an outsole that is contoured to fit precisely with the crampon, and a unique crampon that attaches to the boot in such a way as to create a rigid system The invention solves the problem of needing to carry two sets of footwear to a mountain and also eliminates the need to compromise the performance of the boots for either hiking or climbing.
The invention comprises three parts: a component that lies under the foot but above the outsole, called the frame, that is integral with the footwear; an outsole that attaches to the bottom of the frame having specialized features for mating with a crampon accessory; and a crampon accessory that can be secured at multiple points to the frame and outsole. The frame and the outsole, which are integral with the footwear, provide the desired flex characteristics for hiking. These characteristics include the ability to flex comfortably across the ball of the foot at the metatarsal heads, and to provide rigidity through the arch and heel, as well as to inhibit twisting of the sole. When the crampon accessory is mounted to the boot using any suitable means, such as a traditional heel lever device, the footwear and crampon accessory system, in combination, becomes rigid and prevents flexing of the footwear at the ball of the foot, even when tremendous force is applied at the toe of the boot. The rigidity of the system stems from the rigidity of the crampon accessory and its attachment at three points of secure contact between the crampon and the boot. When the crampon accessory is positively attached at the toe, heel and at a central location under the foot, preferably at a location between the forefoot and the heel, the crampon's rigidity prevents the boot from flexing. The rigidity of the footwear and crampon accessory combination is desirably enhanced when the footwear outsole and the crampon accessory additionally interface and, preferably, interlock, at least at one site in proximity to the forefoot.
The frame is preferably constructed as a molded component that extends for the bottom length of the foot and is mounted in a fixed position intermediate the footwear insole and the outsole. The frame provides attachment points for the crampon accessory. In one embodiment, the frame component has a toe lip and a heel lip that extend upwardly from the plane of the footwear sole and provide toe and heel attachment means for mounting a crampon accessory. In another embodiment, the frame component comprises a central attachment means that extends downwardly from the plane of the footwear sole and provides a central attachment means intermediate the toe and heel for mounting a crampon accessory.
The frame component is made from materials and has dimensions that give it the desired flex properties. Specifically, the frame component is preferably made of composite materials or plastics that are strong, yet maintain their physical properties over a wide range of temperatures typically encountered in the high mountains and lowlands of Earth The design and composition of the frame component, and its integration with the footwear, allows the integrated footwear and frame to flex at the ball of the foot when a force, equal to that typically exerted by the human foot during walking, is applied to the forefoot. The frame component is also designed and constructed to inhibit flexing in the arch area or heel due to the dimensions and composition, even when tremendous force is applied to any point of the boot.
The frame component is also equipped with at least two attachment points that cooperate with attachment mechanisms on the crampon accessory to rigidly mount the footwear and crampon accessory to one another. In a preferred embodiment, at least three attachment points are provided on each of the footwear and crampon accessory: one at the toe; one at the heel; and one intermediate the toe and the heel, preferably intermediate the forefoot and the heel, and most preferably in the area under the arch The toe and heel attachment points may be of any conventional design, and may be, for example, of a design similar to those typically found on high performance mountaineering boots. An exemplary toe attachment point on footwear facilitates attachment of a wire bail from the crampon and allows the wire bail from the crampon to wrap around the toe of the boot and to rest securely on top of a flat platform An exemplary heel attachment point on footwear facilitates adjustable attachment of the crampon and cooperates with a plastic or metal heel lever that wraps around the heel of the boot and rests on top of a flat platform.
The third attachment point,
Benado Lisa
Montrail, Inc.
Patterson M. D.
Sleath Janet
Speckman Ann W.
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