FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention generally relates to the field of sportswear products. More specifically, the invention relates to combining a novel hiking support strap system with watersport boots, to help reduce muscle fatigue in situations such as hiking from the gunnels of a sailing vessel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] While hiking support systems have been applied to wetsuits for dinghy sailing for some time, for hiking from a sailing dinghy like that shown in Fig. 1 , there have been no advances in the mechanics in how the hiking strap and watersport boots interact.

[0003] Currently the watersport boots are basic neoprene diving boots, adapted for sailing conditions, and with no special additions for working with the hiking strap, which is also a basic material such as a padded seat belt. Such systems provide no extra support to the hiking sailor, such as grip or boot support, that would allow the sailor to relax the foot, ease the strain of hiking, and improve the sailors competitive endurance.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved form of hiking system.

[0005] hi accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of improving the hiking capabilities of a sailer, the method including the step of: providing a watersports boot having a first profiled surface which mates with a second profiled surface on a hiking strap. [0006] The first profiled surface can comprise a grooved surface. The first profiled surface increases the coefficient of friction between the boot and strap. The watersports boot preferably can include a textured surface on top thereof and the hiking strap preferably can include a textured bottom surface. The surface can

comprise a flexible nitrile rubber underneath the hiking strap, and textured rubber on the top of the watersport boots. Alternatively, the surface can comprise an alternative synthetic material similar in characteristic to rubber underneath the hiking strap, and on the top of the watersport boots. The first profiled surface can be substantially a raised diamond pattern.

[0007] In accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a watersports boot having a first profiled surface along a top surface thereof, the profiled surface designed to engage with a corresponding surface on a boat so as to provide an increased level of frictional fit there between. [0008] hi accordance with a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided a hiking system comprising: at least one watersports boot having a first profiled surface along a top surface thereof; a hiking strap having a second profiled surface designed to mate with the first profiled surface so as to provide an increased level of frictional fit there between. The surfaces are preferably formed from a rubber like material. The first profiled surface can be substantially a raised diamond pattern.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] Notwithstanding any other forms which may fall within the scope of the present invention, preferred forms of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [0010] Fig. 1 illustrates a hiking sailer;

[0011] Fig. 2 illustrates the supporting areas for the watersport boots as one particular embodiment of the system;

[0012] Fig. 3 illustrates the main areas for the hiking strap as one particular embodiment of the system; [0013] Fig. 4 illustrates an example texture grip pattern for the rubber under the strap and on top of the boot;

[0014] Fig. 5 illustrates a further set of hiking boots; and

[0015] Fig. 6 illustrates the use of the hiking boots with a hiking strap.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0016] The preferred embodiments provided a pair of watersports boots and a hiking strap designed to work together to provide extra grip. There are a number of ways in which this can be accomplished, and the challenge is to provide the extra grip while not constraining the sailor into the boat too much for safety and mobility. One particular embodiment of the invention uses a textured rubber material under the hiking strap and a similar mating material used on the top of the watersport boots. The materials provide particularly good grip, even when wet, yet do not latch the boot to the hiking strap. [0017] The boots of the preferred embodiment are ergonomically designed to provide improved support to the muscles in the foot that are under strain while hiking. In another embodiment, the watersport boots include thick supporting material, such as rubber, to the upper parts of the boot as per Fig. 3.

[0018] Turning initially to Fig. 2, there is provided a watersport boot 10, constructed primarily of neoprene and rubber. The whole top part of the boot 4 can be made of neoprene, typically 3mm thick, and has a hard wearing, gripping, yet flexible sole 5. A Top Support Panel 1, is made of rubber, typically 2mm although optionally thicker, and is vulcanised to the neoprene, and is designed to go from the top of the toe (under the Toe Support and Grip Panel 2) and extend to the top of the boot, thus providing considerable support to the foot while stretched during hiking. The Toe Support and Grip Panel 2, is also vulcanised to the boot, over the Top Support Panel Iteml, and is made of a textured rubber, typically 2mm thick (however optionally thicker) designed to grip to the underside rubber of the hiking strap. This Toe Support and Grip Panel 2, also provides extra support to this part of the foot while hiking, and extra abrasion resistance to the boot. A Heel Support Pane 3 is also a rubber material vulcanised to the neoprene boot, also design to support the foot. Other variations of the construction and material of the boot are possible, providing similar hiking support and grip, with similar panel areas as in this preferred embodiment. Both the top support panel 1 and the toe support panel 2 can include a profiled surface for engaging the surface of a hiking strap.

[0019] In Fig. 3, the main areas of the hiking strap are shown. The Main Support Material 11, typically a seat belt material that is screwed or tied to the deck of the sailing vessel. A padding material 12 is provided and designed to give the foot some comfort, protect it from the stiff edges of the main supporting material, and provide additional width to the strap. A further grip material Grip Material 13 is also provided to provide grip with the watersport boot, hi a preferred embodiment of this invention, this 13 is a textured rubber material, vulcanised to the padding material 2.

[0020] hi Fig. 4, an example texture for the rubber material is shown 20. This particular example is a raised diamond pattern 21. For this particular pattern, it is best that the ridges of the diamond peaks lay perpendicular to the main gripping direction. These ridges would line in parallel with the main length of the hiking strap, hi this example, to maximise grip, the pattern used for the boots should be the same rubber texture, with the dimensions of the diamonds the same. The diamonds are small, approximately 2mm in length. Experimenting with larger and smaller diamonds lead to varience in gripping quality depending on the depth of the raised section of the diamond. Other textures may also be adopted with varying degrees of grip, comfort and manufacturing cost.

[0021] An alternative embodiment is illustrated in Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 with Fig. 5 illustrating a pair of boots having a grooved surface 31 and Fig. 6 illustrating the use of the boots 31 with a hiking strap 32 which has a mating surface 34 providing a frictional interconnection.

[0022] It will be readily evident that other mating patterns could be utilised. For example, circular or oval patterns, squares, zig-zags etc. The requirement being for the two surfaces to engage in a tight fit so as to provide for enhanced interlocking capabilities.

[0023] The foregoing describes preferred features of the present invention. Modifications, obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the invention.