Footwear assemblies with removable scent blocking portions and associated methods of use and manufacture

Abstract

A footwear assembly configured in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure includes a footwear product, such as a boot, shoe, overshoe, etc., with a scent blocking extension member removably attached to an upper of the footwear product. The extension member can be tightened around the lower leg or ankle of a user to block scent from exiting the inside of the footwear product. The extension member can be made from material that is treated or otherwise configured to block scent (e.g., human scent). The extension member can be removably attached to the footwear product to allow the user to remove the extension member if not required, or to wash the extension member separate from the footwear product.

1 . A footwear assembly wearable by a wearer having a lower leg, and having a human scent, comprising:
 an upper having an interior area configured to contain at least a portion of the wearer's lower leg and the human scent when the footwear assembly worn by the user, wherein the upper is constructed of one or more materials substantially impervious to passage of the human scent therethrough when the wearer is wearing the footwear assembly, the upper having an open top portion that provides access into the interior area, the top portion having with an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer having a first connector thereon, the outer layer being moveable between an unfolded position wherein the outer layer covers the inner layer, and a folded position wherein a portion of the outer layer is folded over onto itself and away from the inner layer to uncover and expose the inner layer and the first connector on the inner layer;   an extension member coupled to the top portion of the upper, the extension member being a generally tubular member with a lower portion configured to at least partially overlap and removeably connect to the inner layer, the extension member having a second connector that connects to the first connector to securely attach the extension member to the upper, the outer layer of the upper being movable to the unfolded position when the extension member is connected to the inner layer to cover an intersection extension member and the upper, the extension member being made of one or more materials substantially impervious to the human scent from passing therethrough, the extension member having a flexible upper edge portion that has an opening that extends around the lower leg when the wearer is wearing the footwear assembly, the extension member having a closure member coupled to the flexible upper edge portion and being adjustable to change the size of the opening so the flexible upper edge portion sealably engages the lower leg of the wearer and substantially blocks the human scent in the interior area of the upper from escaping between the extension member and the lower leg through the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein extension member is a flexible material impregnated with a scent blocking additive. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer layer is made of a first material substantially impervious to human scent passing therethrough, and the inner layer is made of a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper has a body portion integrally connected to the inner and outer layers, the body portion is made of a neoprene material with a layer of vulcanized rubber on the neoprene and forming an outer surface of the upper. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper has a body portion integrally connected to the inner and outer layers, the body portion and the outer layer have an exterior surface formed by a vulcanized rubber material. 
     
     
         6 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first and second connectors are at least one of mating snaps, buttons, zippers, and hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the flexible upper edge portion of the extension member includes a sleeve and the closure member is at least partially disposed in the sleeve. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the closure member is at least one of a strap, drawstring, and elastic cord. 
     
     
         9 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the closure member is a tightening member configure to cinch the extension member against the wearer's lower leg. 
     
     
         10 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein extension member further comprises a locking member connected to the closure member and configured releasably retain the closure member and the flexible upper edge portion in sealable engagement with the wearer's lower leg. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear assembly of  claim 1  wherein the upper portion and the extension member are substantially waterproof. 
     
     
         12 . A footwear assembly wearable by a wearer having a lower leg and having a human scent, comprising:
 an upper having an interior area configured to contain the human scent when the footwear assembly worn by the wearer, the upper having a top portion that provides access into the interior area, the top portion having first connectors thereon, the top portion having a first layer and a second layer, the second layer being moveable between a first position wherein the second layer covers the first layer, and a second position wherein at least a portion of the second outer layer is positioned away from the first layer to uncover and expose the first connector;   a scent blocking member attached to the upper, the scent blocking member having a lower portion removeably connected to at least one of the first and second layers the scent blocking member having a second connector engaging the first connector to securely retain the scent blocking member on the upper, the scent blocking member being made of one or more materials that substantially blocks the human scent from passing therethrough, the scent blocking member having a engaging portion defining an opening that extends around the lower leg when the wearer is wearing the footwear assembly, the scent blocking member having a closure member coupled to the engaging portion and being adjustable to change the size of the opening so the engaging portion sealably engages the lower leg of the wearer and substantially blocks the human scent in the interior area of the upper from escaping from the footwear assembly between the extension member and the lower leg through the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein scent blocking member is a flexible material impregnated with a scent blocking additive. 
     
     
         14 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the second layer is made of a first material substantially impervious to human scent passing therethrough, and the first layer is made of a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         15 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the upper has a body portion integrally connected to the first and second layers, the body portion is made of a neoprene material with a layer of vulcanized rubber on the neoprene and forming and outer surface of the upper. 
     
     
         16 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the upper has a body portion integrally connected to the first and second layers, the body portion and the second layer have an exterior surface formed by a vulcanize rubber material. 
     
     
         17 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the first and second connectors are at least one of mating snaps, buttons, zippers, and hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         18 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the engaging portion of the scent blocking member includes a sleeve and the closure member is at least partially disposed in the sleeve. 
     
     
         19 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the closure member is at least one of a strap, drawstring, and elastic cord. 
     
     
         20 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein scent blocking member further comprises a locking member connected to the closure member and configured releasably retain the closure member and the engaging portion in sealable engagement with the wearer's lower leg. 
     
     
         21 . The footwear assembly of  claim 12  wherein the upper portion and the extension member are substantially waterproof. 
     
     
         22 . A hunting boot wearable by a wearer having lower leg and a human scent, comprising:
 A rubber outsole;   A neoprene and vulcanized rubber upper connected to the rubber outsole and being substantially impervious to passage of the human scent therethrough, the upper having an interior area configured to contain the human scent when the footwear assembly worn by the user, the upper having a top portion that provides access into the interior area, the upper having an open top portion that provides access into the interior area, the top portion having with an inner layer and an outer layer, the inner layer having a first connector thereon, the outer layer being moveable between an unfolded position wherein the outer layer covers the inner layer, and a folded position wherein a portion of the outer layer is folded over onto itself and away from the inner layer to uncover and expose the inner layer and the first connector on the inner layer;   a scent blocking member coupled to the top portion of the upper, the scent blocking member being a generally tubular member with a lower portion configured to at least partially overlap and removeably connect to the inner layer so the lower portion of the scent blocking member is positioned between the inner and outer layers when the outer layer is in the unfolded position, the scent blocking member having a second connector that connects to the first connector to securely attach the scent blocking member to the upper, the outer layer of the upper being movable to the unfolded position when the scent blocking member is connected to the inner layer to cover an intersection scent blocking member and the upper, the scent blocking member including a material substantially impervious to the human scent from passing therethrough, the scent blocking member having a flexible upper edge portion that has an opening that extends around the lower leg when the wearer is wearing the footwear assembly, the scent blocking member having a closure member coupled to the flexible upper edge portion and being adjustable to change the size of the opening so the flexible upper edge portion sealably engages the lower leg of the wearer and substantially contains the human scent in the interior area of the upper and substantially prevents the human scent from escaping from the interior area between the scent blocking member and the lower leg through the opening.   
     
     
         23 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein scent blocking member is a flexible material impregnated with a scent blocking additive. 
     
     
         24 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the second layer is made of a first material substantially impervious to human scent passing therethrough, and the first layer is made of a second material different than the first material. 
     
     
         25 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the upper has a body portion integrally connected to the first and second layers, the body portion is made of a neoprene material with a layer of vulcanized rubber on the neoprene and forming and outer surface of the upper. 
     
     
         26 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the upper has a body portion integrally connected to the first and second layers, the body portion and the second layer have an exterior surface formed by a vulcanize rubber material. 
     
     
         27 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the first and second connectors are at least one of mating snaps, buttons, zippers, and hook-and-loop fasteners. 
     
     
         28 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the engaging portion of the scent blocking member includes a sleeve and the closure member is at least partially disposed in the sleeve. 
     
     
         29 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the closure member is at least one of a strap, drawstring, and elastic cord. 
     
     
         30 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein scent blocking member further comprises a locking member connected to the closure member and configured releasably retain the closure member and the engaging portion in sealable engagement with the wearer's lower leg. 
     
     
         31 . The hunting boot of  claim 22  wherein the upper portion and the extension member are substantially waterproof.