U.S. patent number 3,664,043 [Application Number 05/080,573] was granted by the patent office on 1972-05-23 for accessory for footwear.
Invention is credited to Emile A. Polumbus, Jr..
United States Patent |
3,664,043 |
Polumbus, Jr. |
May 23, 1972 |
ACCESSORY FOR FOOTWEAR
Abstract
A tightening device for footwear includes an elongated air tight
inflatable pad enclosed in the footwear and means for injecting
compressed air into the pad so that it expands drawing the footwear
tightly to the foot. Valve means are also provided to release the
compressed air from the pad when it is to be deflated. An
arrangement wherein the inflatable pad can be removably secured to
the footwear is also disclosed.
Inventors: |
Polumbus, Jr.; Emile A.
(Englewood, CO) |
Family
ID: |
22158248 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/080,573 |
Filed: |
October 14, 1970 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/71; 36/54 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
23/029 (20130101); A43B 5/0407 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
5/04 (20060101); A61i 005/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/54,71 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Guest; Alfred R.
Claims
What I claim is:
1. An accessory for footwear comprising in combination an elongated
casing having a pocket portion along its longitudinal center,
elongated strip portions along the longitudinal edges of the casing
adjacent the side edges of the pocket portion, said elongated strip
portions including attachment means for releasably attaching the
casing to footwear, and an inflatable pad received in the pocket
having valve means through which the pad can be inflated.
2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said attachment means comprises
a plurality of longitudinally aligned openings through the strip
portions through which laces can be threaded to secure the casing
to the footwear.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention is generally concerned with a device for tightening
footwear but more particularly concerns an air inflatable tongue
for footwear such as ski boots, ice skates, and the like.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In certain sports such as skiing and ice skating it is important
that the footwear of the participant be fitted to feel like an
integral part of his body. It is desirable, therefore, that the
footwear form fit the participants foot and also that it be very
snug so as not to move relative to the foot.
The most common means for tightening and securing footwear to an
individuals foot is the shoe lace. By stringing the lace up the
front part of the footwear, the individual can draw the footwear
relatively tight onto his foot. However, he is very dependent on
strength and dexterity as it is difficult to obtain the desired
tightness throughout the length of the lace, particularly while
securing the ends of the lace to maintain the obtained
tightness.
It is important in both skiing and ice skating that the ankles of
the participant be firmly supported. To meet this end, ski boot and
ice skate manufacturers have for a long period made their
respective footwear with high tops, which extend up over a good
portion of the ankle. In some styles rear laces are provided up a
portion of the back of the footwear to provide means to increase
the ankle support by further tightening of the footwear in the
ankle region.
More recently, buckles have gained acceptance as a desirable form
of footwear tightener. Their acceptance is due partly to the ease
with which they can be manipulated but probably more importantly is
due to the fact that the tightness to which the footwear is drawn
to the foot can be varied from point to point up the front of the
boot and also around the ankle. In other words, one buckle may be
drawn very tightly while another is left relatively loose. By
appropriately manipulating the buckles, the comfort of the footwear
becomes manageable without sacrificing snuggness in the areas where
it is most important.
Buckles, however, are not completely without fault. Due to inherent
characteristics, they can only be set in one of possibly three or
four tightness settings, whereas it is desirable that an infinite
number of settings be available.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The tightening device of the present invention may be used in
conjunction with either lace or buckle footwear and consists
basically of an elongated air tight inflatable pad, preferably of
rubber, which is secured removably or otherwise, into the tongue of
the footwear, thereby defining an inflatable tongue. The inflatable
tongue is provided with a valve assembly through which air can be
compressed into the tongue and which also serves to retain the air
in the tongue until it is released by the same or additional valve
means. A small compact pneumatic pumping bulb is provided to
compress the air into the tongue and is disclosed as being either
of the type which is integral with the inflatable pad or
removable.
It is readily seen that if the footwear is laced or buckled over
the inflatable tongue, the tongue can be inflated with compressed
air to draw the boot tightly onto the wearer's foot. It will also
be apparent that by inflating the tongue of the footwear the foot
is urged rearwardly in the boot so that the heel of the
individual's foot is set firmly in the heel of the boot which is
necessary to get the full support of the boot. An important
attribute of the tightening device is that it alleviates the
frustrating problem which formerly accompanied fastening footwear
to the foot. In the case of lace footwear, the lace need not be
drawn very tightly prior to inflating the tongue. It is only
necessary that the lace be secured so that when the tongue is
inflated, the footwear will be drawn tightly to the foot. In the
case of buckle footwear, the buckles can be set prior to inflating
the tongue according to the tightness distribution desired for
comfort and support so that when the tongue is inflated the
footwear will be tight where needed for support yet will provide an
overall comfortable fit.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an
efficient and easily manageable means for tightening footwear.
It is another object of the invention to provide pneumatic means
for tightening footwear.
It is another object of the invention to provide an inflatable pad
for footwear that can easily be fitted into the lining of the
tongue of the footwear so that when inflated, will draw the
footwear tightly on the wearer's foot.
It is another object to provide a tightening device for footwear
that can easily be attached and removed from conventional types of
footwear.
It is still another object to provide a relatively inexpensive
means for tightening footwear which is adapted for use in
conjunction with conventional tightening means to provide a
desirable snug and comfortable fit.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a buckle type ski boot
incorporating the inflatable tongue of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the inflatable tongue in a deflated
state with parts of the tongue and the pad broken away for
clarity.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 2 with the tongue
inflated.
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of a tongue of a ski boot having
the inflatable pad of FIGS. 2 and 3 secured therein and having a
pumping bulb in operable engagement with the pad.
FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section of a tongue of a ski boot having
an alternative embodiment of the inflatable pad secured
therein.
FIG. 6 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the pumping bulb
shown in FIG. 5 showing the valve means used to compress air into
the pad and to release air previously compressed thereinto.
FIG. 7 is a still further enlarged section of the release valve of
FIG. 6.
FIG. 8 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the pumping bulb
shown in FIG. 4.
FIG. 9 is a perspective view with parts broken away of a ski boot
having still another embodiment of the invention wherein the
inflatable pad can be easily attached to or removed from the ski
boot.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
For purposes of illustration and with no intention of limiting the
scope of the invention, the tightening device of the present
invention is described in connection with a ski boot 10 having
buckle fasteners 11 as seen in FIG. 1. The tightening device
includes an hermetically sealed inflatable pad 12 which lies
arcuately up the front part of the boot and which is confined
within the lining of a tongue 13. The pad can be made of any
suitable material but is preferably made of a soft and flexible
rubber such as is used in the manufacture of inner tubes for
automobile tires.
The tightening device shown with the boot in FIG. 1 is seen removed
from the boot in FIGS. 2 and 3 being in a deflated and inflated
state respectively. The device includes an ordinary check valve 14
such as used on conventional automobile tires, with a valve stem 16
protruding normally away from the upper flat surface of the pad.
The pad 12 is made of two elongated pieces of flexible rubber 18
which have been heat sealed along their perimeter to define an air
tight enclosure. When air is compressed into the deflated pad
through check valve 14, the pad expands to take the configuration
shown in FIG. 3. Thus, when the pad is disposed within the tongue
13, between the buckles 11 and the participant's foot, it is
readily apparent that the boot will be drawn snuggly to the foot as
the pad is inflated.
An important part of the invention is the pneumatic pump utilized
in inflating the pad. As best seen in FIGS. 4 and 8, the pump 20 is
seen to comprise a small compressible rubber bulb 22 hermetically
attached to a hollow fitting 24 having an enlarged head portion 26
adapted to removably and operably connect the pump to the check
valve 14. The bulb is provided with a conventional check valve 28
hermetically sealed in its outer end to permit the ingress but
prevent the egress of air from the bulb. The check valve 28
includes a cylindrical casing 29 having annular rings 31 and 33,
with openings 41 and 43 respectively, secured internally at either
end so that small charges of air can pass longitudinally through
the casing. The internal side of ring 31 defines an annular
shoulder that seats a compression spring 35. The opposite end of
spring 35 engages a ball 37 which is biased by the spring into an
annular beveled seat 39 on the internal side of ring 33. When the
ball 37 is seated in the beveled seat 39, air is prevented from
passing out of the check valve through opening 43. However, when
the pressure within the bulb 22 drops, as when the bulb is allowed
to expand from a depressed condition, the higher atmospheric
pressure outside the bulb will cause a charge of air to be forced
through the opening 43 in ring 33 overcoming the bias exerted on
the ball by the spring 35. This air will pass through opening 41
and into the confines of the bulb. Thereafter, when the fitting 24
is held by the participant in operable contact with the valve 14
and the bulb 22 is squeezed, the air in the bulb will be compressed
through fitting 24 and valve 14 into the pad 12. When the bulb is
allowed to expand, air will be again drawn into the bulb through
check valve 28 as described above so that a subsequent squeezing of
the bulb will cause another charge of air to be compressed into the
pad. A small inflation of the pad will cause the boot to draw
snuggly onto the participant's foot, so it is not necessary that
the bulb 22 be large. In fact, the entire pumping unit is small
enough to fit conveniently in the coat or trouser pockets of the
participant. A valve depressing protrusion 30 is provided on the
back side of the fitting 24 so that when it is desired to deflate
the pad, it is only necessary that the protrusion be inserted into
the valve stem 16 of the valve 14 to release the compressed air
from the pad in a well known manner.
In an alternative embodiment of the tightening device (FIGS. 5 to
7), a compressible rubber bulb 32 is permanently linked to a
hermetically sealed pad 34 by a relatively stiff rubber conduit 36.
The rubber conduit is substantially L-shaped so that the bulb will
lie in close juxtaposition to the front part of the boot and due to
the stiffness of the conduit will not move excessively relative to
the boot when the participant is walking, skiing or the like.
The conduit 36 is air tight and has one end which opens into the
interior of the pad 34. The other end of the conduit is
hermetically connected to a release valve 38 to be explained in
detail later. The bulb 32 is hermetically connected to the opposite
end of the release valve. The bulb comprises a compressible and
hollow elongated rubber body 40 with conventional check valves 42
and 44 hermetically sealed in either end. The check valves 42 and
44 are identical to the previously described check valve 28, so a
detailed description of the valves is not deemed necessary. Check
valve 42 is disposed adjacent release valve 38 and is oriented so
that when the body of the bulb is compressed, air will be forced
through the valve and subsequently into the pad 34. Check valve 42
of course prevents the reverse flow of air and thus the ingress of
air into the bulb. Check valve 44 is oriented so that when the body
of the bulb is compressed, air is prevented from flowing out of the
bulb, but when the bulb is allowed to expand back to its normal
configuration, a charge of air will be drawn through the valve into
the bulb in the same manner as disclosed in regard to check valve
28. Thus, continuous acts of compressing the bulb and allowing it
to expand will cause individual charges of air to be compressed
into the pad.
The release valve 38 (FIGS. 6 and 7) is provided to allow the air
in the pad when desired to escape. The valve consists of a
thumbscrew 46 which is threaded into a cylindrical housing 48 and
has an L-shaped passageway 50 passing therethrough. An outer end 52
of the passageway opens through the head of the thumbscrew and is
exposed to the ambient atmosphere while an inner end 54 opens
through the threaded side of the thumbscrew. Thus, if the
thumbscrew is screwed inwardly into the cylindrical housing 48
until the inner end 54 of the passageway enters the hollow center
of the housing, which is in fluid communication with the interior
of the pad, the compressed air in the pad will be allowed to escape
from the confines of the pad through passageway 50 and into the
atmosphere. When it is desired to prevent air from escaping through
the release valve, it is only necessary to screw the thumbscrew
outwardly until the inner end 54 of the passageway is no longer in
fluid communication with the interior of the housing 48.
An arrangement whereby the pad can be easily attached to or removed
from lace type footwear is shown in FIG. 9 and can be seen to
include an elongated casing 60 having a plurality of eyelets 62 up
both sides so that the casing can be laced to the front part of the
footwear using the lace that is normally on the footwear. The
casing can be seen to comprise two rectangularly shaped pieces 64
and 66 of flexible but strong material sewn along their
longitudinal edges to provide an area wherein the eyelets 62 can be
placed. The lower end of the pieces 64 and 66 are also sewn
together to form a pocket between the pieces wherein an inflatable
pad 68 similar to that of FIGS. 2 and 3 can be retained. An
aperture is cut in the upper piece 64 to receive a valve stem 70 of
the pad. Once the casing is laced to the footwear it is readily
seen that the pad can be inflated, as with the pumping bulb shown
in FIGS. 4 and 8, thereby drawing the footwear tightly to the
individual's foot. The pad 68 of course could be of the type shown
in FIG. 5 with the pumping bulb permanently affixed thereto.
Even though the removable pad shown in FIG. 9 is adapted solely for
use with lace type footwear, it is apparent that a similar
arrangement could be made which could removably fit beneath the
buckles of buckle type footwear or in the case of zippered footwear
underneath the zipper.
A boot tightening device has herein been described which is simple
in construction, inexpensive to manufacture and which can
conveniently be incorporated into or onto a conventional ski boot,
ice skate, hiking boot, or the like, with minimum alteration. It
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications to
the herein described device can be made without departing from the
spirit of the invention. For example, it is contemplated that other
means for inflating the tongue could be utilized such as miniature
compressed air cylinders. Also various types of valves known to
those skilled in the art could be used in place of those
specifically described. Accordingly, applicant does not wish to be
limited to the specific embodiments described in detail herein.
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