Patent ID: 9456652
Filing Date: 2016-10-04
CPC Classification: A43B

Claim Text:
1. A boot, comprising: a boot shell configured to receive and extend around a wearer's foot when the boot is worn by the wearer, the shell including a toe region that receives a toe portion of the wearer's foot when the boot is worn by the wearer, a heel region that receives a heel portion of the wearer's foot when the boot is worn by the wearer, and an outsole having a projecting heel portion that extends away from the heel region of the boot shell; and a boot shaft connected to and extending above the boot shell to define a passage through which the wearer's foot is passed when the wearer's foot is inserted into and removed from the boot shell and within which at least an Achilles and lower calf region of the wearer's leg is positioned when the boot is worn by the wearer, wherein the boot shaft is formed from a material and includes at least a front shaft section, a rear shaft section with an Achilles region that is proximate the Achilles region of the wearer's leg when the boot is worn by the wearer, an upper shaft above the front and rear shaft sections, and an expandable portion that is secured to the rear shaft section above the boot shell and below the upper shaft, wherein the expandable portion is proximate the Achilles region of the rear shaft section and does not extend into the upper shaft; wherein the expandable portion includes a vertical lane across which a stretchable material extends, wherein the stretchable material has a higher resilience than the material of the boot shaft and is configured to draw opposed sides of the vertical lane together when the boot is being worn by the wearer, and wherein the expandable portion is adapted to expand elastically and resiliently to permit the opposed sides of the vertical lane to move away from each other to enlarge a portion of the passage of the boot shaft proximate the vertical lane to facilitate ease of entry of a heel of the wearer's foot through the passage and into the boot shell.