U.S. patent number 3,906,645 [Application Number 05/437,029] was granted by the patent office on 1975-09-23 for motorcyclist's boots.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Fabrique Alsacienne de Chaussures Denu & Heckel, S.A.. Invention is credited to Etienne Heckel.
United States Patent |
3,906,645 |
Heckel |
September 23, 1975 |
Motorcyclist's boots
Abstract
The disclosure is of a motor-cyclist's boot comprising a strong
boot sole, a boot upper of stiff material secured to the sole, a
boot leg movably joined by a bellows-folded portion to the boot
upper, and an adjustable protective gaiter of very stiff material
movably joined by hinges at ankle level to the boot upper.
Inventors: |
Heckel; Etienne (La Walck,
FR) |
Assignee: |
Fabrique Alsacienne de Chaussures
Denu & Heckel, S.A. (La Walck, FR)
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Family
ID: |
9125841 |
Appl.
No.: |
05/437,029 |
Filed: |
January 28, 1974 |
Foreign Application Priority Data
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Sep 28, 1973 [FR] |
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73.35271 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/131 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B
5/145 (20130101); A43B 3/02 (20130101); A43B
1/0018 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
A43B
3/00 (20060101); A43B 5/14 (20060101); A43B
3/02 (20060101); A43B 5/00 (20060101); A43B
011/00 () |
Field of
Search: |
;36/2.5R,2,2.5AL,4,51 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Primary Examiner: Lawson; Patrick D.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Young & Thompson
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motorcyclist's boot, comprising an upper made of very stiff
material, a leg portion, a protective gaiter made of very stiff
material and overlying said leg portion, a plurality of fastening
buckles disposed on the gaiter for adjustment of the tightness
thereof, a boot sole secured to said boot upper, bellows-folded
flexible material disposed between and interconnecting said upper
and said leg portion and extending entirely about the boot, and a
pair of hinges each comprising a plate fixedly secured to the
gaiter and pivotally secured to the upper on opposite sides of the
boot, said hinges pivotally interconnecting the upper and the
gaiter at about ankle level.
2. A boot as claimed in claim 1, in which said boot sole has a
smooth lower profiled surface with a rounded tip portion.
3. A boot as claimed in claim 1, and pivot pins attaching said
hinges to said boot upper.
4. A boot as claimed in claim 3, said pivot pins being screwed into
said boot upper.
Description
INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to articles for wear on the
feet and legs, and refers more particularly to boots intended for
use during the practice of motor-cycling.
In order to ensure the necessary protection during this practice,
either while actually riding or when walking, the boots must be
sufficiently rigid whilst adapting themselves as far as possible to
the feet and to the legs of the wearer. For this purpose the boots
already known, generally made of leather or of a stiff material,
comprise closure means, for example with laces or with sliding
clasps. These closure means, however, exposed to the inclemencies
of the weather or to projections of oil from the engine, in the
long term function badly because of their soiling.
In order to alleviate these disadvantages the invention has as one
object to provide a boot, intended more particularly for use during
the practice of motor-cycling, which is characterised in that,
whilst being of an ideal rigidity, it can be drawn on and off very
easily, and that, in spite of its rigidity, it allows the moving of
the various control members by foot without any inconvenience, by
virtue of a joint provided at ankle level.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the invention the boot is comprised essentially
of a conventional boot leg jointed to a boot upper made of very
rigid material such as, for example, super-chlorinated polyvinyl
chloride, a protective gaiter likewise made of very rigid material,
articulated to the boot upper by hinges and comprising a plurality
of fastening buckles, and a boot sole with a smooth lower surface
of which the forward end is rounded.
The following description refers to a form of construction of the
boot which is the object of the invention, given by way of
non-limitative example and explained with reference to the
accompanying drawing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE VIEWS IN THE DRAWING
In the accompanying drawing:
FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the boot,
FIG. 2 is a view comparable to FIG. 1 but without the gaiter and
hinge, and
FIG. 3 is a side view of the sole of the boot in accordance with
the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT
In conformity with the invention, and as represented in FIGS. 1 and
2 of the accompanying drawing, the boot is comprised essentially of
a conventional boot leg 1 jointed to a boot upper 2 which is made
of a very stiff material, for example super-chlorinated polyvinyl
chloride, a protective gaiter 3, likewise made of very stiff
material, articulated to the boot upper 2 by hinges 4 and
comprising a plurality of fastening buckles 5 which make it
possible to regulate the tightness of the gaiter 3, and a boot sole
6 with a smooth profile.
As shown more particularly in FIG. 2, the boot leg 1 is provided,
preferably at the same side as the closure means of the gaiter 3,
with a panel 7 of elastic fabric which allows an adaptation of the
boot leg 1 to the leg of the wearer, and an improvement of the
comfort thereof in the boot leg 1.
At its upper part the boot leg 1 has a device 8 for the adjustment
of its opening, and at the front and at the rear are flaps 9 making
it possible to apply traction to the boot leg 1 whilst the boot is
being pulled on, which renders this operation very easy.
In conformity with one feature of the invention, the protective
gaiter 3 is articulated to the stiff boot upper 2 by means of
hinges 4. These hinges 4 are secured to the gaiter 3, for example
by means of rivets 11 or equivalent fastening means, and their
articulation to the boot upper 2 is effected by means of hinge pins
12. These latter may be fixed by screwing or by any other
equivalent releasable fastening means.
According to a further feature of the invention the joint between
the boot leg 1 and the boot upper 2, at the level of the
articulation of the gaiter 3 to the boot upper 2, is effected by
means of a bellows-folded portion 10, thus rendering the movements
of the ankle very easy.
In order to make it possible for the wearer, during the practice of
motor-cycling, to allow his feet to trail upon the ground without
thereby causing an abnormal wearing away of the boot sole 6, and to
slide without impediment, particularly for controlling his
equilibrium during straightforward riding, the boot sole 6 has a
smooth lower profile 13 and a rounded forward end portion 14.
By virtue of the various features provided, the boot which is the
subject of the present invention has a very large degree of
stiffness whilst permitting articulation, at ankle level, of the
stiff protective gaiter to the boot upper. This articulation of the
two parts of the boot, by means of the hinges, thus allows a good
position of the lower members upon the motor cycle and the moving
without inconvenience of the various control components.
It is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the
manner of construction described with reference to and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings. Various modifications are possible,
notably from the point of view of manufacture as well as from the
point of view of the structure and the formation of the boot sole,
which may, for example, be embossed in high relief without thereby
departing from the scope of protection of the invention.
* * * * *