Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Overshoes
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-02
2001-03-20
Kavanaugh, Ted (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Overshoes
C036S113000, C036S00300B, C036S087000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06202324
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to footwear, and more particularly to odorless footwear for hunters, trappers and other outdoor enthusiasts.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is widely known that wild game and other animals have a keenly acute sense of smell, especially for odors that are not indigenous to their natural habitat. Such odors may emanate from humans while attempting to position themselves in close proximity to the game, and may include bodily secretions such as perspiration, oils, halitosis, etc. Many have attempted to mask these bodily odors through the use of artificial scents from deodorants, scented soaps, powders, colognes, perfumes, etc. Such scents do not naturally occur in the natural habitat of game animals and therefore serve to alert them to potential danger. Hunters and other outdoor enthusiasts have additionally resorted to spraying their clothing with naturally occurring aromatic scents, such as deer lure, in an attempt to mask their own odors. However, the wild game may sense both the natural scent and odors emanating from the person.
The feet are an especially vulnerable area for humans since the feet tend to be enveloped in protective layers of footwear, such as socks, shoes, boots, etc. In this environment, the feet may perspire and emanate strong odors that are sometimes even perceptible to humans. Foot perspiration and odor can be absorbed by footwear and transferred to the ground as the person walks, resulting in a human scent trail that is easily recognizable by animals. Portions of the footwear such as the sole or upper, are typically constructed of leather, porous plastics, fibrous material, etc. These types of materials are especially subject to the absorption and transfer of odors emanating from the feet.
In an attempt to prevent a human scent trail while walking or hiking, it is common to wear rubber boots in place of hiking or hunting boots. U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,008 issued to Maples recognizes that while rubber boots may be effective in trapping human odors, they can become uncomfortable to the wearer over time. This is especially true during long hikes over rough terrain. Maples proposes a solution to this problem by providing a rubber overshoe that fits over the sole of a hunting boot to thereby prevent mutual contact between the boot and ground. A scent dispenser is attached to the overshoe for dispensing scent to the ground as a hunter walks. Although this system may be effective for preventing human scent from transferring through the sole of a boot to the ground, the material of the boot upper, eyelets, and stitching apertures can still transfer odors. Moreover, and most importantly, the rubber material itself, whether it is formed into a boot, overshoe, or sole, has its own distinct odor. The present inventor as well as numerous hunters, trappers, guides, videographers, and photographers have observed that animals identify and relate human presence or danger to a scent trail left by footwear constructed at least in part of rubber. As with other scents foreign to their natural environment, the rubber scent serves to alert the animals to potential danger.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
These and other problems of the prior art are overcome by the provision of an article of footwear that utilizes an odorless material to substantially reduce or eliminate odors that are normally generated from prior art materials.
According to one embodiment of the invention, an article of footwear comprises an upper with a toe portion connected to a heel portion by a pair of opposed side portions, and a sole connected to the upper. The sole extends longitudinally between the toe and heel portions and laterally between the side portions to form an interior chamber together with the upper. At least the sole is constructed of an odorless, nonabsorbent material. With this arrangement, odor that is normally generated by prior art materials, such as rubber, leather, etc., is at least substantially eliminated to leave no detectable material odor trace on a ground surface. In addition, the transfer of scent, such as human scent, deodorant soap scent, etc., at least through the sole from the interior chamber to ground is at least substantially reduced or eliminated. In a preferred embodiment, the upper is also constructed of an odorless, nonabsorbent material.
A cavity may be integrally molded with the sole for receiving and holding a scent pad. The cavity can have a lower wall with openings extending therethrough for transferring scent from a scent pad to ground, when the scent pad is installed in the cavity.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, an odorless footwear system comprises an overshoe and a liner adapted for insertion into the overshoe. The overshoe has an upper with a toe portion connected to a heel portion by a pair of opposed side portions. A sole is connected to the upper and extends longitudinally between the toe and heel portions and laterally between the side portions to form an interior chamber together with the upper. The overshoe is constructed of an odorless, nonabsorbent material. The liner has a foot portion and a leg portion connected to the foot portion. The leg and foot portions are adapted to receive a person's leg and a shoe or boot, respectively. The liner is also constructed of an odorless, nonabsorbent material. With this arrangement, scent that may emanate from a person through the shoe or boot, and odor from the shoe or boot material itself are at least substantially enclosed in the liner. Additionally, the transfer of material odor to ground from the overshoe and liner is at least substantially reduced or prevented, when compared to the prior art materials.
Preferably, the leg portion of the liner has a length that completely covers the shoe or boot when the shoe or boot is installed in the liner. In one embodiment, the leg portion is knee length. In another embodiment, the leg portion is hip length. If the sole of the foot portion of the liner is made sufficiently thick and rugged, the overshoe may be eliminated.
It is to be understood that the term “odorless” as used herein refers to materials without odors or materials with inherent odors that are virtually undetectable by animals, such as deer, with an acute sense of smell. It is also to be understood that the term “overshoe” as used herein refers to a covering for any type of footwear, such as socks, boots, shoes, etc.
REFERENCES:
patent: Re. 34890 (1995-04-01), Sacre
patent: 3176416 (1965-04-01), Seegert
patent: 4120101 (1978-10-01), Drew
patent: 4186502 (1980-02-01), Foster
patent: 4304055 (1981-12-01), Hanson
patent: 4317296 (1982-03-01), Hanson
patent: 4722477 (1988-02-01), Floyd
patent: 5024008 (1991-06-01), Maples
patent: 5383236 (1995-01-01), Sesselmann
patent: 5461814 (1995-10-01), Reid et al.
patent: 5678241 (1997-10-01), Vickers
Cabela's Fall 98 Catalog, pp 134-135, 174, 178 1998.
Cabela's Catalog, p. 66 (date unknown).
Kavanaugh Ted
Shook Hardy & Bacon L.L.P.
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