Boot assembly

Abstract

A boot assembly for use with a dry suit includes an external boot assembly and a dual-layered insert. The external boot comprises a reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface. The boot is connected to a pant leg by a top connecting cuff. The dual-layered insert comprises an inner fabric sock for over-foot wear and a waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting in the inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner.

1 . A boot assembly for use with a dry suit, said dry suit comprising an outer pant and an inner pant, said assembly comprising:
 a. An external boot comprising:
 i. A reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface; 
 ii. a durable outer sole and an inner sole; 
 iii. a reinforced outer heel portion and an inner heel; and, 
 iv. a top connecting cuff for connection by first connection means to said dry suit outer pant leg bottom cuff; and, 
   b. a dual-layered insert comprising:
 i. An inner fabric sock for over-foot wear; 
 ii. A waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting said inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner; 
 iii. Wherein said waterproof outer elastomeric sock includes a cuff connected by second connection means to said dry suit inner pant leg bottom cuff; and, 
 iv. Wherein said second connection means affords a water-tight seal between the waterproof outer elastomeric sock and the dry suit inner pant leg bottom cuff so that said inner fabric sock remains dry when the assembly is submerged in water. 
   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first connection means comprises a permanent sewn connection 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first connection means comprises a temporary connection means comprising one of a hook and loop connection means; a zipper, a magnetic connection or a quick disconnect ring-seal. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1  and  claim 2  wherein the second connection means comprises a permanent sewn connection. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1  and  claim 2  wherein the second connection means comprises a temporary connection comprising one of a hook and loop connection means, a zipper, a magnetic seal or a quick disconnect ring-seal. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claims 1  to  5  wherein the outer elastomeric sock conforms substantially to the shape of the waterproof external boot. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the outer elastomeric sock nested within the external boot creates an intermittent void between them, and wherein said intermittent void is water filled when the assembly is submerged. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the external boot comprises at least one drainage hole proximate to said durable sole portion thereof, said at least one drainage hole adapted for draining said water from the intermittent void when the assembly is removed from water. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8  wherein the outer elastomeric sock comprises a cuff, a heel having an outside surface, a back panel having an outside surface, a gusset, a sole having an outside surface, a toe and an instep. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 9  wherein the outer elastomeric sock and the external boot are temporarily fixed together by fixing means. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10  wherein said temporary fixing means comprises a hooks and loops fastening system. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11  wherein said external boot inner sole is covered in said hooks and said outer elastomeric sock outside surface is covered in said loops from said heel to said toe. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12  wherein said inside surface of said external boot back portion includes a strip of hooks running from the cuff to the heel and wherein said back panel outside surface of the outer elastomeric sock includes a strip of loops running from the cuff of the outer elastomeric sock to the heel of the outer elastomeric sock. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 13  wherein the outer elastomeric sock is inserted into the external boot so that the hooks on the boot and the loops on the elastomeric sock mesh to hold the elastomeric sock to the boot. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein said external boot top connecting cuff first connection means comprises a circumferential outer ring of hooks and a plurality of tabs spaced radially around the connecting cuff, wherein each of said tabs has an inside surface comprising fastening hooks and a clean outside surface. 
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15  wherein the dry suit outer leg bottom cuff comprises a circumferential ring of loops disposed on the dry suit bottom cuff inside and outside surfaces. 
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein said circumferential ring of loops inside surface meshes with said outer ring of hooks and wherein said circumferential ring of loops outside surface meshes with said inside surfaces of the plurality of tabs thereby creating a temporary connection. 
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the outer elastomeric sock includes a stiffening insole inserted therein so that the sole of the outer elastomeric sock will engage the adjacent inside surfaces of the external boot and provide resistance to lifting of the elastomeric sock within the external boot. 
     
     
         19 . The assembly of  claim 1  wherein the external boot further includes a tightening strap on the outer surface thereof for constricting said upper portion. 
     
     
         20 . A boot assembly comprising:
 a. An external boot comprising:
 i. A reinforced upper portion and a back portion having a reinforced outside surface and an inside surface; 
 ii. a durable outer sole and an inner sole; 
 iii. a reinforced outer heel portion and an inner heel; and, 
 iv. a top connecting cuff for connection by connection means to; 
   b. a dual-layered insert comprising:
 i. An inner fabric sock for over-foot wear; 
 ii. A waterproof outer elastomeric sock for nesting said inner fabric sock in a water-tight manner; 
 iii. Wherein said waterproof outer elastomeric sock includes a cuff connected by said connection means to said external boot thereby affording a water-tight seal between the external boot and said outer elastomeric sock.