Field of application of the invention

The present invention relates to the field of snow boots, i.e. boots made of waterproof and thermally insulating materials in order to allow a person wearing them to tread on a layer of snow while keeping their feet warm and dry.

More precisely, the present invention relates to so-called “high” or “high necked” snow boots, i.e. boots shaped so as to extend, when worn, above a person’s ankle. By way of example, high snow boots include so-called “apres-ski” boots, i.e. boots that allow people to walk easily on a layer of snow, even if it is relatively thick.

As is known, a high boot is generally composed of a sole, an upper and a leg. The present invention relates, in particular, to a high snow boot whose upper and leg are inflatable by gas-operated means integrated into the boot.

Overview of the background art

High snow boots generally comprise a rubber sole connected along the edge thereof to a leather or imitation leather upper which extends tubularly from the opposite side of the sole to form a leg made of the same material as the upper. The latter, and possibly also the leg, are usually covered internally with an insulating material, such as, for example, a natural or synthetic fur.

However, such snow boots are heavy and relatively expensive both because of the materials of which they are made, and because of the processes required for manufacturing them. To overcome these drawbacks, high snow boots have been designed, the upper and leg of which comprise a layer of polymer foam (generally polyamide and polyurethane) interposed between a pair of walls (an inner one and an outer one) made of a synthetic material fabric, such as, for example, polyamide. Snow boots of the latter type (including, by way of example, Moon Boot® boots) are lighter and cheaper than leather boots, but are just as bulky. This constitutes a clear problem in the time intervals during which the boots are not being worn.

To solve this problem, the Applicant devised a high snow boot which is the subject matter of Italian patent application for an industrial invention No. 102018000003565 including, both at the upper and at the leg, a first wall delimiting, together with the sole, a seat in which the foot of a person is housable. The boot also comprises a second wall opposing the first wall outside said seat, and hermetically connected to the first wall so as to delimit with the latter an airtight gap which extends both at the upper, and at the leg. The first and second wall are made of an airtight and plastically foldable material such as, for example polyvinylchloride, and are provided with at least one valve to allow the inflation and deflation of the boot. The latter is lighter than boots of the same type made of leather or imitation leather and is, at the same time, less bulky than the latter in the time intervals during which the boot is not being worn (as it can be deflated). However, the inflation of the boot described above requires a person to rest their lips on the aforesaid valve and to blow into the aforesaid gap. This is not only unhygienic, but can also be tiring for a person who, by way of example, suffers from a respiratory disease.

Objects of the invention

The object of the present invention is that of overcoming the aforesaid drawbacks by indicating a high snow boot the upper and leg of which are at least partially inflatable in a more hygienic and preferably also less tiring way with respect to the partially inflatable boot of the prior art mentioned above.

Summary and advantages of the invention

The subject matter of the present invention is a high snow boot comprising: a sole; • an upper connected to said sole at an edge of the latter;

• a leg joined to said upper on the opposite side with respect to said sole, said boot including, both at the upper and at the leg:

• a first (inner) wall delimiting, at least partially and together with the sole, a seat in which a foot of a person is houseable;

• a second (outer) wall connected to said first wall and opposing the latter outside said seat, said first and second wall being made, at least partially, of an airtight and plastically foldable material, said first and second wall being connected to each other hermetically so as to delimit an airtight gap interposed between them and extending, at least partially, both at the upper and at the leg, wherein, according to the invention, said boot further comprises:

• gas-operated means suitable, when operated, to introduce air into said gap, said gas-operated means, when not operated, being suitable to prevent the air from leaving said gap;

• said first flow adjustment means being suitable to allow air to escape from said gap, said first adjustment means being suitable to take on two configurations:

- a first, opening, configuration, at which said first adjustment means allow the air to leave said gap;

- a second, closing, configuration, at which said first adjustment means prevent the air from leaving said gap.

The boot according to the invention comprises an at least partially inflatable upper and leg. This implies a triple advantage. In the first place, when the boot is not being worn by a person, the upper and the leg can be at least partially deflated. In doing this the dimensions of the boot are notably reduced. In the second place, the air has thermal conductivity and a weight that are notably lower than those of the most common polymer materials, including polyurethane foam. Therefore, the insulation of the foot-housing seat by the boot according to the invention is better with respect to known boots. In the third place, the upper and the leg, when inflated, act as air shock absorbers suitable for protecting the foot, the ankle and the lower part of the leg from impacts.

In addition to what has been said, in the boot according to the invention, to introduce air into the aforementioned gap (i.e. to inflate the upper and the leg), it is sufficient to operate the air-operated means. Therefore, a person does not need to blow into the aforesaid gap (for example by resting their lips on a valve). This makes the boot according to the invention both inflatable more hy- gienically than known boots, but also, possibly, with less effort (with reference, by way of example, to the case in which the person who needs to inflate the boot is a person suffering from a respiratory disease).

Other innovative features of the present invention are disclosed in the following description and mentioned in the dependent claims.

According to an aspect of the invention, said gas-operated means and said first adjustment means communicate with said gap at said second wall.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the gas-operated means cause less discomfort to a person wearing the boot with respect to the case in which the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means communicate with the aforesaid gap at the first wall (i.e. at the inner wall) as, in this latter case, the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means must be at least partially housed in the previously mentioned seat. On the contrary, if, as according to this aspect of the invention, the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means communicate with the aforesaid gap at the second wall (i.e. at the outer wall), the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means can advantageously lie completely outside said seat.

According to another aspect of the invention, said gas-operated means and said first adjustment means are at said leg.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means are less of a hindrance to a person wearing the boot while he/she is walking in the snow, with respect to the case in which the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means are at the upper. According to another aspect of the invention, said leg delimits an opening opposite said sole to allow the insertion of a foot into said seat, said gas-operated means and said first adjustment means being more proximal to said opening than to said sole.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means being located at a relatively high level with respect to the sole, they are even less of a hindrance to a person wearing the boot while he/she is walking in the snow.

According to another aspect of the invention, said gas-operated means and said first adjustment means are at said opening.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the gas-operated means and the first adjustment means being located at the maximum distance from the sole, they are even less of a hindrance to a person wearing the boot while he/she is walking in the snow.

According to another aspect of the invention, said gap at said upper, extends for the entire upper with the exception of the portion of the latter commonly known as the “toe cap”.

Incidentally, the toe cap is the part of the upper of a shoe which covers the back (i.e. the upper surface) of the foot of a person at the metatarsus, when said person is wearing said shoe.

According to this aspect of the invention, in other words, regardless of how much it extends into the leg, the aforesaid gap is absent, in the upper, only at the toe cap.

Advantageously, as the toe cap of a boot opposes the sole of said boot, the boot according to this aspect of the invention is stronger at the toe cap with respect to a boot in which the gap extends for the entire upper, but it is however less bulky when deflated (as the toe cap can be superposed with the sole).

According to another aspect of the invention, said gap at said upper, extends for the entire upper with the exception of the toe cap of the latter and the portion of upper commonly known as the “tip”.

Incidentally, the tip is the part of the upper of a shoe which covers the upper surface of the toes of a person when said person is wearing said shoe. Incidentally, the toe cap and the tip, as a whole, cover the back of the foot of a person at the entire forefoot, when said person is wearing said shoe.

According to this aspect of the invention, in other words, regardless of how much it extends into the leg, the aforesaid gap is absent, in the upper, only at the toe cap and the tip.

Advantageously, the boot according to this aspect of the invention is stronger at the portion of the upper destined to get more worn during the use of the boot.

According to another aspect of the invention, said gas-operated means comprise a pump which is manually-operable and including:

• an elastically deformable casing enclosing a cavity;

• second flow adjustment means suitable to allow the inlet of air from the atmosphere into said cavity, said second adjustment means being suitable to take on two configurations:

- a first, opening, configuration, at which said second adjustment means allow the air to enter from the atmosphere into said cavity at a depression in said cavity with respect to the atmosphere;

- a second, closing, configuration, at which said second adjustment means prevent the air from leaving said cavity at an overpressure in said cavity with respect to the atmosphere;

• third flow adjustment means suitable to allow a flow of air from said cavity into said gap, possibly through at least one conduit, said third adjustment means being suitable to take on two configurations:

- a first, opening, configuration, at which said third adjustment means allow the air to exit from said cavity and to enter said gap at an overpressure in said cavity with respect to said gap;

- a second, closing, configuration, at which said third adjustment means prevent the air from exiting from said gap and entering said cavity at a depression in said cavity with respect to said gap, so that:

• a compression of said casing generating an overpressure in said cavity with respect to the atmosphere and to said gap, determines an inlet of air from said cavity into said gap and an expansion of said casing, following a compression thereof and due to the effect of the elastic return of said casing, generating a depression in said cav- ity with respect to the atmosphere and to said gap, determines an inlet of air from the atmosphere into said cavity.

According to this aspect of the invention, the gas-operated means comprise a pump usually called an “inflation bulb” or “inflator”. The latter is advantageously deformable substantially like the walls that delimit the aforesaid gap, and is advantageously suited to be incorporated into the boot, for example at the edge of the leg which delimits the opening for the insertion of a foot into the aforesaid seat.

According to another aspect of the invention, said gap is divided into two or more compartments hermetically isolated from the others, said boot comprising said gas-operated means and said first adjustment means for inflating or deflating each of said compartments.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, as the gap is divided into airtight compartments, should one of the walls that delimit the gap be accidentally perforated, only the compartment affected by the perforation would deflate and not the entire gap.

According to another aspect of the invention, said first and second wall are connected to each other (directly or through one or more intermediate walls) along one or more first lines arranged longitudinally at the leg and/or along one or more second lines arranged substantially parallel to the sole at the upper.

Advantageously, according to this aspect of the invention, the aforesaid first and second lines act as ribs that strengthen the boot.

Brief description of the drawings

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of exemplary embodiments thereof and from the accompanying drawings, merely given by way of non-limiting explanation, in which:

- figure 1 shows a side perspective view of a boot according to the present invention;

- figure 2 shows a front perspective view of a variant of the boot in figure 1 ;

- figure 3 shows an inflatable element deflated and lying on a flat surface, starting from which the boot in figure 2 can be made. Detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention

Hereinafter in the present description, a figure may be illustrated also with reference to elements not expressly indicated therein but indicated on other figures instead. The scale and proportions of the various illustrated elements do not necessarily correspond to the real values.

Figure 1 shows a boot 1 , according to the invention, of the “high” and “snow” type, comprising a sole 2 connected, along its edge 3, to an upper 4. The latter extends tubularly from the opposite side of the sole 2 to form a leg 5 which ends at the top in an edge 13 delimiting an opening 6 (for the insertion of a foot into the boot 1 ). The sole 2 and the leg 5 lie on mutually opposite sides with respect to the upper 4. More precisely, the upper 4 is connected to the sole 2 at a side portion 4a thereof, and is connected to the leg 5 both at the portion 4a (at the rear, on the opposite side with respect to the sole 2), and at an upper portion 4b thereof (corresponding to the portion of upper 4 commonly known as the “toe cap”).

The boot 1 comprises a first “perimeter” and internal wall 10 together with the sole 2 and at least partially a seat where a person’s foot is housable. The boot 2 further comprises a second wall 11 opposing the wall 10 external to said seat. The latter (i.e. the aforesaid seat where the foot of a person is houseable) is preferably completely delimited by the wall 11 and by the sole 2.

The walls 10 and 11 preferably extend from the sole 2 to the edge 13 (i.e. preferably for the entire upper 4 and for the entire leg 5) and are made, at least partially, of an airtight and plastically foldable material, preferably polymeric. The walls 10 and 11 are hermetically connected to each other preferably at the edges 3 and 13 so as to delimit an airtight gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11 ). Like the walls 10 and 11 , said gap also preferably extends from the sole 2 to the edge 13.

The boot 1 is different from known boots in that it comprises a pump 12 (falling within the category of the previously mentioned “gas-operated means”) suitable for introducing air into the aforesaid gap preferably taking it from the atmosphere. More precisely, when operated, the pump 12 introduces air into the aforesaid gap. When the pump 12 is resting, i.e. not being operated, it (said pump) prevents the air from leaving the gap. Incidentally, also when the pump 12 is being operated, it (said pump) prevents the air from leaving the above- mentioned gap.

The boot 1 further comprises a check valve 14 (previously indicated with the expression “first flow adjustment means”) through which it is possible to take air from the aforesaid gap. In particular, the valve 14 can take on two configurations: a first, opening, configuration at which it allows the air to leave said gap, and a second, closing, configuration, at which the valve 14 prevents the air from leaving the gap.

In light of the foregoing, through the pump 12 and the valve 14, the upper 4 and the leg 5 are reversibly inflatable (i.e. deflatable and re-inflatable, at least partially, an indefinite number of times). More precisely, the walls 10 and 11 are shaped so as to take on, together with the sole 2, the shape of a high shoe (such as, for example, a boot) when some air is introduced into the gap. Incidentally, the boot 1 is shown, in figure 1 , completely inflated.

The pump 12 and the valve 14 are preferably installed on said wall 11 and communicate with the aforementioned gap preferably at said wall 11 . The pump 12 and the valve 14 are preferably installed at the leg 5. More preferably, the pump 12 and the valve 14 are in proximity to the opening 6, i.e. they are more proximal to the opening 6 than to the sole 2. Even more preferably, the pump 12 and the valve 14 are at the opening 6.

The sole 2 is preferably made of rubber. The walls 10 and 11 , as mentioned above, are instead preferably made of polymeric material, more preferably tearproof, and even more preferably of polyvinyl chloride. The latter is a very common material whose processing technique is widely consolidated. It is easily suited to be shaped so that the walls 10 and 11 take on the shape of a high boot when some air is introduced into the gap interposed therebetween. Additionally to this, two sheets of polyvinyl chloride can be easily connected hermetically to each other through heat sealing.

The pump 12 is preferably a manual pump, more preferably of the type commonly known as an “inflation bulb” or “inflator”. More precisely, the pump 12 comprises an elastically deformable casing 15 enclosing a cavity. The casing 15 is preferably connected to the wall 11 and is preferably housed in the gap between the walls 10 and 11 . The cavity enclosed in the casing 15 communicates with the atmosphere through a second check valve 16 (preferably indicated with the expression “second flow adjustment means”) preferably installed in the casing 15. The valve 16 is suitable to allow the inlet of atmospheric air into the cavity enclosed by the casing 15. In particular, the valve 16 can take on two configurations: a first, opening, configuration, at which it allows the air to enter from the atmosphere into the aforesaid cavity when there is a depression in said cavity with respect to the atmosphere, and a second, closing, configuration at which the valve 16 prevents the air from leaving the aforesaid cavity (going into the atmosphere) when there is an overpressure in said cavity with respect to the atmosphere. The cavity closed into the casing 15 further communicates with the gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11 preferably through a third check valve 17 (previously indicated with the expression “third flow adjustment means”) also preferably installed in the casing 15 and preferably communicating with the aforesaid gap through a small conduit 18. The valve 17 is suitable to allow the air to flow from the cavity enclosed in the casing 15, into the aforesaid gap. In particular, like the valve 16, the valve 17 can take on two configurations: a first, opening, configuration, at which it allows the air to leave the aforesaid cavity and enter the aforesaid gap when there is an overpressure in said cavity with respect to said gap, and a second, closing, configuration at which the valve 17 prevents the air from entering the aforesaid cavity by leaving the aforesaid gap when there is a depression in said cavity with respect to said gap.

In light of the foregoing, to introduce air into the gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11 and therefore inflate the boot 1 it is necessary to simply compress the casing 15, for example with a hand, sufficiently to generate in the cavity enclosed in the casing 15 an overpressure with respect to the atmosphere and the aforesaid gap. Due to the effect of said overpressure the valve 16 is closed and the valve 17 is opened, thus allowing the air to flow (due to the effect of a pressure difference) from the cavity enclosed in the casing 15 into the gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11. By releasing the casing 15, the latter expands due to the elastic return effect. Said expansion generates a de- pression in the cavity enclosed in the casing 15 with respect to the atmosphere and to the aforesaid gap. Due to the effect of said depression the valve 16 is opened and the valve 17 is closed, thus allowing the air to flow (due to the effect of a pressure difference) from the atmosphere into the cavity enclosed in the casing 15. Inflators are substantially known. Therefore, no further details will be provided.

The valve 14, acting as a vent, is preferably but not necessarily installed at the conduit 18 and is openable as required for deflating the boot 1 .

By virtue of the presence of the pump 14, to introduce air into the gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11 it is not necessary for a person to blow into the aforesaid gap (e.g. by resting their lips on a valve).

According to one variant of the boot 1 , the gap comprised between the walls 10 and 11 is divided into two compartments hermetically isolated from each other. More precisely, according to this variant, the walls 10 and 11 are hermetically connected to each other not only preferably at the edges 3 and 13 but also, by way of example, along a joining line of the upper 4 to the leg 5. Due to the effect of said further hermetic connection, the gap comprised between the walls 10 and 11 is divided into two airtight compartments respectively corresponding to the upper 4 and the leg 5. To allow the inflation and deflation of the upper 4, the boot of the invention according to this variant comprises further gas-operated means, i.e. preferably a further pump equivalent to the pump 12, and further flow adjustment means, i.e. preferably a further check valve equivalent to the valve 14, at the compartment (of the aforesaid gap) present at the upper 4. More precisely, said further pump, when operated, introduces air into the aforesaid compartment present at the upper 4. When said further pump is resting, i.e. not being operated, it (said further pump) prevents the air from leaving the aforesaid compartment provided at the upper 4. Also when said further pump is being operated, it (said pump) prevents the air from leaving the aforesaid compartment provided at the upper 4. Said further check valve allows air to be taken from the aforesaid compartment provided at the upper 4. In particular, said further valve can take on two configurations: a first, opening, configuration at which it allows the air to leave said compartment provided at the upper 4, and a second, closing, configuration, at which said further valve prevents the air from leaving said compartment provided at the upper 4.

Incidentally, the gap comprised between the walls 10 and 11 , rather than comprising only two compartments, can be equivalently subdivided into multiple compartments hermetically isolated from the others and each provided with its own gas-operated means and its own flow adjustment means (i.e. its own pump and its own check valve) for the inflation and deflation of said compartment. By way of example, the walls 10 and 11 may be connected hermetically to each other, preferably as well as at the edges 3 and 13, also so as to divide the gap into three compartments, of which a first one at the portion 4a, a second one at the portion 4b and a third one at the leg 5.

Figure 2 shows a boot 20 that differs from the boot 1 in that the gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11 , at the upper 4, extends for the entire upper with the exception of the toe cap 4b. In other words, regardless of whether it extends completely or not into the leg 5, the aforesaid gap is only absent in the upper 4 at the toe cap 4b. By way of example, the latter is made of polymeric foam (generally polyamide and polyurethane) interposed between a pair of walls (one inner one and one outer one), made of a synthetic material fabric, such as, for example, a polyamide.

According to another variant of the boot 1 , the gap interposed between the walls 10 and 11 , at the upper 4, extends for the entire upper with the exception not only of the toe cap 4b, but also of the tip. In other words, regardless of how much it extends into the leg 5, the aforesaid gap is only absent in the upper 4 at the toe cap 4b and the tip. By way of example, the toe cap and the tip are made of polymeric foam interposed between a pair of walls made of a synthetic material fabric, such as, for example a polyamide.

Figure 3 shows an element 25 starting from which the boot 20 can be made. The element 25 comprises a pair of mutually opposing sheets made of airtight polymeric material hermetically connected to each other along respective edges, so as to form an airtight bag. The element 20 comprises both the pump 12 and the valve 14 (not shown in figure 3 for convenience purposes). The element 25 is inflatable by the pump 12 and is deflatable by the valve 14. In figure 3 the element 25 is shown deflated and lying on a flat surface. In this configuration, the element 25 is almost preferably shaped like an overturned “T”. The element 25 is presented as though it is comprised of two almost rectangular portions 25a and 25b joined to each other and respectively corresponding to two mutually orthogonal portions that compose the letter “T”. A short side of the portion 25a is partially joined to a long side 26 of the portion 25b, centrally with respect to said side 26. The aforesaid short side of the portion 25a is “partially”, i.e. not completely, joined to the side 26 of the portion 25b as, more precisely, said short side is opposing, but not joined, to the side 26 at two own mutually opposite end portions. The long sides 27 and 28 of the portion 25a are preferably arranged orthogonally to the long sides 26 and 29 of the portion 25b and parallel to the short sides 30 and 31 of the latter.

To make the boot 20, the portion 25a is folded onto itself so as to make the long sides 27 and 28 match each other. The portion 25a thus matches the leg 5. The portion 25b is folded onto itself on the same side as the portion 25a and so as to make the short sides 30 and 31 match each other. The portion 25b thus matches the side portion 4a of the upper 4. To complete the production of the boot 20 the long side 29 of the portion 25 needs to be connected to the edge 3 of the sole 2, and the long side 26 of the portion 25b need to be connected to the toe cap 4b.

The walls 10 and 11 of the boot 1 or 20 of one of the variants described above can be further connected to each other (directly or through one or more intermediate walls) along one or more first lines arranged longitudinally at the leg 5 and/or along one or more second lines arranged substantially parallel to the sole 2 at the upper 4. Said lines are shown, by way of example, in the element 25 and are distinguished respectively therein by the reference numbers 32 and 33. As can be noted in said figure, the lines 32 and 33 divide each compartment of the aforementioned gap into sub-compartments communicating with one another, and act as reinforcement ribs of the boot according to the invention.

Based on the provided description of a preferred embodiment, it is apparent that some changes may be introduced by those skilled in the art without however departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.