Abstract:
A riding boot attachment for use with a riding boot includes a body member having a first surface, a second surface, and at least two openings for receiving the riding boot. The body member receives at least a portion of the riding boot and is shaped and configured to conform to a contour of the riding boot. The riding boot attachment also includes a sole for engaging a stirrup, the sole coupled to the first surface of the body member, and a magnetic member coupled to the sole.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part and claims priority to co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/403,638, entitled “STIRRUP”, filed on Mar. 13, 2009 by Paul H. Yanke and Charles H. Yanke, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/036,819, entitled “STIRRUP”, filed Mar. 14, 2008 by Scott H. Yanke, Patricia A. Van Housen and Paul H. Yanke, and to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/052,773, entitled “STIRRUP”, filed May 13, 2008 by Scott H. Yanke, Patricia A. Van Housen and Paul H. Yanke, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a boot attachment for a riding boot, and more particularly, to a magnetic riding boot attachment that magnetically attracts a stirrup. 
         [0003]    Typically, stirrups attach to a saddle by straps. In equestrian events and activities, a rider&#39;s feet are placed into the stirrups, thereby allowing the rider to maintain their balance on an equine (e.g., a horse). It is common for a rider&#39;s foot to fall out of the stirrup, often called “losing their stirrup” or “blowing their stirrup.” If order to prevent this action, a rider&#39;s foot is held in the stirrup by a variety of make-shift restraints, such as rubber bands, strings, leather, or fabric ties. Such restraints usually require assistance to put on, are unsightly in competitive arenas, and are outlawed by the governing bodies of various equestrian sports. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    In one embodiment, the invention provides a riding boot attachment for use with a riding boot. The riding boot attachment includes a body member having a first surface, a second surface, and at least two openings for receiving the riding boot. The body member receives at least a portion of the riding boot and is shaped and configured to conform to a contour of the riding boot. The riding boot attachment also includes a sole for engaging a stirrup, the sole coupled to the first surface of the body member, and a magnetic member coupled to the sole. 
         [0005]    Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a magnetic stirrup and a riding boot according to an embodiment of the invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a riding boot attachment for use with the stirrup and riding boot of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 3  is bottom view of the riding boot attachment of  FIG. 2 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 4  is a bottom perspective view of the riding boot attachment of  FIG. 2  on the riding boot of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the riding boot attachment and riding boot of  FIG. 4 . 
           [0011]      FIG. 6  is a side perspective view of the riding boot attachment and riding boot of  FIG. 4 . 
       
    
    
       [0012]    Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]      FIG. 1  illustrates a stirrup  10  and a riding boot  14  for use with one embodiment of the invention. The stirrup  10  and the riding boot  14  form a riding system for use with various riding animals. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the stirrup  10  includes a base  18 , an eye  22  for a strap to connect the stirrup to a saddle, such as a leather strap, and two branches  26  extending between the base  18  and the eye  22 . The stirrup  10  may be formed of various materials, such as steel, stainless steel, iron, plated nickel, plastic, aluminum, wood, leather, and composites. Furthermore, the stirrup  10  may be formed of any metal as is known in the art. The magnetic stirrup  10  may be either English-style, as shown, or Western-style. 
         [0014]    In the illustrated embodiment, a tread or foot pad  30  is removably coupled to the base  18  using fasteners (e.g., screws) inserted through apertures in the base  18 . In a further embodiment, the foot pad  30  may be permanently attached to the base  18 . The foot pad  30  may include ribs or another textured surface to provide friction between the foot pad  30  and riding boot  14  (or riding boot attachment  50  as discussed below). The foot pad  30  may be formed of various materials, such as metal (e.g., steel), plastic, rubber, urethane, silicon or leather. In some embodiments, the foot pad is molded using injection molding (i.e., high or low pressure injection molding), gravity molding, vacuum molding or any molding process. In still other embodiments, the stirrup  10  may not include a tread or foot pad  30 . 
         [0015]    Referring to  FIGS. 2-6 , a magnetic plate system  42 , or first attractant or first magnetic member, which exhibits magnetic behavior, is coupled to or imbedded in a sole  48  of a riding boot attachment  50 . The sole  48  is generally formed of rubber or other polymeric material. A second attractant or second magnetic member (not shown), which also exhibits magnetic behavior, is coupled to or imbedded in the foot pad  30 . In other embodiments, the second magnetic member may be coupled to or imbedded in the base  18  of the stirrup  10 . 
         [0016]    In some embodiments, the style or discipline of equine riding determines the riding boot placement in the stirrup and therein the first magnetic member and the second magnetic member placement in the riding boot attachment  50  and foot pad  30 , respectively. 
         [0017]    The riding boot attachment  50  includes a fabric sheath  54  having the sole  48  and a heel aperture  58 . The fabric sheath  54  is configured to surround a portion of the riding boot  14  and a portion of a sole  46  of the riding boot  14 , whereby the heel aperture  58  receives a heel  52  of the riding boot  14 . The fabric sheath  54  includes a fabric loop  62  on a rear of the riding boot attachment  50  to enable a user to grasp, pull, push, or otherwise manipulate the riding boot attachment  50  to put it onto and take it off of the riding boot  14 . In other embodiments, the fabric loop  62  may be any other type of element configured for grasping by a user. The fabric sheath  54  is manufactured of neoprene. However, in other embodiments, the fabric sheath  54  may be manufactured from spandex, nylon, or other stretch material. The stretch material is necessary to stretch the riding boot attachment  50  over the riding boot  14  to hold the magnetic plate system  42  against the sole  46  of the riding boot  14 . In still other embodiments, the fabric sheath  54  may be manufactured from other types or combinations of fabric materials. 
         [0018]    The riding boot attachment  50  also includes the sole  48  affixed to the bottom of the riding boot attachment  50  with adhesive. However, in other embodiments, the sole  48  may be affixed to the bottom of the riding boot attachment with a fastener, stitching, or other mechanical means. The riding boot attachment is shown as a slip-on article. However, in other embodiments, the riding boot attachment may include other adjustment features, including but not limited to a strap, a buckle, button, and/or shoelaces. 
         [0019]    As shown in  FIGS. 3-5 , the sole  48  of the riding boot attachment  50  includes the magnetic plate system  42 . The magnetic plate system  42  is shown as two plates; however, in other embodiments, the magnetic plate system may include one plate or more than two plates. As the number of plates increases, the magnetic attraction and flexibility of the sole may increase. 
         [0020]    Each of the plates  42  is configured for receipt in a recess  66  formed in the sole  48 , and affixed to the sole  48  with at least one fastener  70 , such as a washer and rivet. However, in other embodiments, the plate  42  may be affixed with one or a combination of a fastener, such as a nail, other mechanical means, or adhesive. Once received in the recess  66 , the magnetic plate  42  is flush with the bottom of the sole  48 . In still other embodiments, ridges  74  of the sole may be filed or otherwise machined down to provide the recess for the magnetic plate. The ridges  74  are shown as having a uniform shape on the sole. However, in some embodiments, the ridges  74  may have other shapes, sizes, or combination of shapes and/or sizes. In still other embodiments, the sole  48  may be flat without any ridges  74 . In such an embodiment, the flat sole would include recesses for receipt of the magnetic plate system, such that the magnetic plate system would be flush with the flat sole. 
         [0021]    The magnetic plate system  42  may be formed of various conventional magnetic materials. For example, in some embodiments, the magnetic plate system  42  is formed of ferromagnetic materials, such as steel, carbon steel or iron, which produce magnetic fields that attract one another. In another embodiment, the magnetic plate system  42  is a composite loaded with metal. The magnetic plate system  42  is configured to magnetically attract and/or interact with the second magnetic member formed in the stirrup  10 . 
         [0022]    The type, size and shape of the second magnetic member utilized in the stirrup  10  determines the effectiveness or amount of magnetic attraction with the magnetic plate system  42 . In some embodiments, the thickness and size of the magnetic plate system  42  may be varied to correspond to the type, size and shape of the second magnetic member in order to provide a desired amount of attraction between the magnetic members. 
         [0023]    The magnetic field couples the stirrup  10  (i.e., the second magnetic member) to the sole  48  of the riding boot attachment  50  and thereby prevents a rider&#39;s foot from slipping through, or falling out of, the stirrup  10 . If a rider does fall off the equine (e.g., horse, mule, etc.), the attraction of the first and second magnetic members is broken by the force of the rider&#39;s fall; therefore, allowing the rider&#39;s foot to fall out of the stirrup  10  rather than remaining entangled with the stirrup  10 . 
         [0024]    Although described for use with a riding boot, the riding boot attachment is contemplated for use in other applications where a magnetic attraction is desirable between two elements. 
         [0025]    The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are presented by way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and principles of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having ordinary skill in the art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and arrangement are possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Variations and modifications exist within the scope and spirit of one or more independent aspects of the invention as described. Various features and advantages of the invention are set forth in the following claims.