Snakebite protective footwear

Abstract

Footwear assemblies that include a sole assembly and an upper portion secured to the sole assembly. The upper portion includes a tightening structure that extends up a portion of the height of the footwear assembly, and an extension of snakebite material positioned above the tightening arrangement. The extension of snakebite material is typically loose fit around the user's lower leg. The tightening arrangement provides adjustable tightening of the footwear assembly about the user's foot and lower leg at locations below the extension of snakebite material. The footwear assembly can include snakebite resistant material that covers substantially all of the surface area of the upper portion. Additional support, waterproofing, insulating and padding layers or materials can be used throughout the footwear assembly.

1 . A footwear assembly, comprising:
 a sole assembly;   an upper portion, comprising:
 a top end, the top end defining an opening; 
 a bottom end secured to the sole assembly; 
 a first material extending from the bottom end of the upper portion to the top end of the upper portion; 
 a second material extending from the bottom end of the upper portion to a location short of the top end of the upper portion; 
 a tightening arrangement provided on the second material, the tightening arrangement configured to adjustably tighten a portion of the footwear about a portion of the user. 
   
   
   
       2 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first material is configured to serve as a tongue portion of the footwear. 
   
   
       3 . The footwear assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the tongue portion is integral with the second material. 
   
   
       4 . The footwear assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the tightening arrangement includes a lace member over the tongue portion and a plurality of eyelet members on either side of the tongue portion. 
   
   
       5 . The footwear assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the eyelet members are connected to the second material. 
   
   
       6 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the tightening arrangement is spaced at least four inches from the top end of the upper portion. 
   
   
       7 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the portion of the upper portion of the boot above the tightening arrangement is free standing such that it extends upward even when the top end is not connected to the user's leg. 
   
   
       8 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first material includes a snakebite resistant material. 
   
   
       9 . The footwear assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the second material is leather. 
   
   
       10 . A footwear assembly, comprising:
 a sole member;   a first upper portion having a first bottom end and a first top end that defines an opening into which a user's foot can be inserted; and   a second upper portion including an adjustable tightening arrangement, the adjustable tightening arrangement configured to adjustably constrict the footwear assembly about the user's foot, the second upper portion having a second top end and a second bottom end, the second bottom end being secured to the sole assembly and the first bottom end of the first upper portion extending from the second top end of the second upper portion,   wherein both the first and second upper portions include a snakebite resistant construction.   
   
   
       11 . The footwear assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first upper portion defines a continuous, generally cylindrical structure. 
   
   
       12 . The footwear assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first upper portion extends between about 4 to 10 inches above the second top end. 
   
   
       13 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the first upper portion extends between about 6 to 8 inches above the second top end. 
   
   
       14 . The footwear assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first upper portion has sufficient structural rigidity between the first top and bottom ends to remain upstanding from the second upper portion such that the first top end extends upward even when it is not connected to the user's leg. 
   
   
       15 . The footwear assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the first upper portion is constructed of a snakebite resistant material. 
   
   
       16 . The footwear assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the second upper portion is constructed of material that is not snakebite resistant. 
   
   
       17 . The footwear assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the snakebite resistant material of the first upper portion overlaps with and is stitched to the material of the second upper portion in a tongue portion of the footwear to form an integral tongue that does not slide from side to side relative to the second upper portion of the footwear. 
   
   
       18 . A footwear assembly, comprising:
 a lower member including a snakebite resistant construction;   an upper member including a snakebite resistant construction removably connected to the lower member;   wherein the upper member has sufficient structural rigidity to remain upstanding around a user's leg while being connected only to the lower member and not directly to the user's leg;   wherein the upper member is separable along a longitudinal direction to enable the upper member to be removed without removing the lower member;   wherein no portion of the upper member extends under the lower member.   
   
   
       19 . The footwear assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the lower portion includes a first locking structure along a side of the lower member that is configured to engage a second locking structure on the upper member. 
   
   
       20 . The footwear assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first locking structure includes a hook type connector and the second locking structure includes an elastic material that is configured to be stretch over the hook type connector. 
   
   
       21 . The footwear assembly of  claim 18 , wherein the upper member has a camouflaged outer surface.