Protective wear closure system

Abstract

An article of protective wear such as a boot (10) includes a flexible shell (14) with an opening (16) extending between two parts (20, 22) of the shell that (14) can move relative to each other to open or close the opening (16). The boot (10) has one or more releasable closure elements (24) for holding the first and second parts (20, 22) closed and a mechanical tightening mechanism (28, 30) that allows tightening of the first and second parts (20, 22), but resists separation between them. The boot (10) also includes a one-way hook-and-loop fastening system (38, 40) attached to the first and second parts (20, 22) that is configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts (20, 22) to a looser condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and second parts (20, 22) to a tighter condition.

1 . An article of protective wear comprising a flexible shell that defines an opening extending between a first part of the shell and a second part of the shell, said first part and second part of the shell being movable relative to each other between at least one open condition in which the first part and the second part are spaced apart, and a plurality of closed conditions in which the first part and the second part are closer together than in the open condition, said closed conditions including at least one looser closed condition and at least one tighter closed condition in which the shell fits tighter around part of a wearer's body than in the looser closed condition, said article of protective wear further comprising:
 at least one releasable closure element that is configured to hold the first part and the second part of the shell in at least one of the closed conditions, said closure element including a mechanical tightening mechanism that is configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closed condition, but to allow tightening relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell from the looser closed condition to the tighter closed condition; and   hook-and-loop fastening system comprising complemental hook formations and loop formations, attached to the first part and second part of the shell, respectively, and being configured to attach the first part and the second part of the shell together releasably, by engagement of the hook formations and loop formations of the first part and the second part of the shell, to each other;   wherein the hook-and-loop fastening system is a one-way hook-and-loop system, configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closed condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell from the looser closed condition to the tighter closed condition.   
     
     
         2 . The article of protective wear according to  claim 1 , wherein the hook formations have free ends that extend away from the opening. 
     
     
         3 . The article of protective wear according to  claim 1 , wherein the mechanical tightening mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism that is configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closed condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell from the looser closed condition to the tighter closed condition, in ratchet-fashion. 
     
     
         4 . The article of protective wear according to  claim 1 , wherein the article of protective wear is in the form of protective footwear which includes a sole attached to the shell and wherein the shell is configured to extend at least partly around the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         5 . The article of protective wear according to  claim 2 , wherein the mechanical tightening mechanism includes a ratchet mechanism that is configured to resist relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell, from the tighter closed condition to the looser closed condition, but to allow relative sliding between the first and second parts of the shell from the looser closed condition to the tighter closed condition, in ratchet-fashion. 
     
     
         6 . The article of protective wear according to  claim 2 , wherein the article of protective wear is in the form of protective footwear which includes a sole attached to the shell and wherein the shell is configured to extend at least partly around the wearer's foot. 
     
     
         7 . The article of protective wear according to  claim 3 , wherein the article of protective wear is in the form of protective footwear which includes a sole attached to the shell and wherein the shell is configured to extend at least partly around the wearer's foot.