GB2552356A

GB2552356A - Clamp for wellington boots

Info

Publication number: GB2552356A
Application number: GB1612607.0A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cardozo Damian
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2016-07-20
Filing date: 2016-07-20
Publication date: 2018-01-24
Also published as: GB201612607D0

Abstract

A hinged device 1 with jaws 2 to grip the outside top edges of a pair of boots to prevent access to the inside part of the boots. The device may have a hook 4, loop 5 or ring by which it and the clamped boots may be hung. It may also have handles 3 or tabs that are squeezed together to open the jaws of the clamp and released to allow the jaws to close. The device is preferably of sufficient length to cover the top of the boots when they are squashed flat.

Description

(54) Title ofthe Invention: Clamp for Wellington boots Abstract Title: Boot top clamping device (57) A hinged device 1 with jaws 2 to grip the outside top edges of a pair of boots to prevent access to the inside part of the boots. The device may have a hook 4, loop 5 or ring by which it and the clamped boots may be hung. It may also have handles 3 or tabs that are squeezed together to open the jaws of the clamp and released to allow the jaws to close. The device is preferably of sufficient length to cover the top of the boots when they are squashed flat.

At least one drawing originally filed was informal and the print reproduced here is taken from a later filed formal copy.

Figure 1.

Drawings sheet 1 of 3

Figure 3.

Figure 4.

Drawings sheet 2 of 3

Figure 5.

Drawings sheet 3 of 3

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Title

Clamp for Wellington Boots

DESCRIPTION

Background

Wellington boots are widely known and used. The majority of people living in rural areas own a pair of Wellington boots and therefore most rural households will typically contain a pair of boots per person. Wellington boots are large and storing them can be a problem. Since boots tend to get muddy with use they bring dirt into the house and require a storage area that is either easy to clean or that is expected to remain dirty. Storing Wellington boots outdoors is not usually practical as rainwater can enter their open tops. Storing boots upside down on racks outdoors addresses this problem but requires the lower part of the boots which are often very muddy to be handled. Also, this solution does not stop insects from entering and inhabiting the boots. Storing boots in a shed can keep them dry but may not stop insects or rodents from entering them. Other designs for boot covers exist, which allow for outdoor storage but they do not function by clamping together the entire tops of the boots and are either bulky because they therefore need to cover two predominantly oval shapes, or if they are covers made from supple fabrics (eg. elasticated polythene covers) they do not clamp the boots together to facilitate carrying or hanging.

Advantages

This invention allows Wellington boots to be clamped together at their tops thereby sealing them from rain water, debris, insects and rodents, which allows for outdoor storage. It further facilitates the storage of boots by clamping them together firmly enough to allow them to be hung from a hook or a rail, and also allows the boots to be easily carried. The design is simple and economical to manufacture.

Statement of Invention

The design of this clamp for Wellington boots is original and inventive since it utilizes a single long clamp to cover the tops of the boots as well as to clamp them together by squeezing them flat against each other. The incorporation of a hook and a loop allow the boots to be hung by different methods and the incorporation of the handles facilitates carrying.

An example of the invention will now be described by referring to the drawings:

Figure 1 shows the clamp in its closed position. The main body of the clamp is formed from a single piece of plastic (1) which is flexible enough to allow the jaws (2) of the clamp to open by squeezing the handles (3) together. Both the loop (5) and the hook (4) are shown resting downwards against the top of the clamp.

Figure 2 shows the clamp with its jaws (2) in the open position as it is when the two handles (3) are squeezed together.

Figure 3 shows a side view of the clamp gripping the tops of a pair of Wellington boots. The hook (4) is in the vertical position to enable the boots to be hung from a rail or from a hook or screw in a wall.

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Figure 4 shows a front view of the clamp gripping the tops of a pair of Wellington boots. The hook (4) is in a forward position resting against the top of the clamp and the loop (5) is in a vertical position allowing the boots to be hung up from the back end of the clamp from a fixing in a wall.

Figure 5 shows a side view of the clamp gripping the tops of a pair of Wellington boots. The loop (5) is in the vertical position and the boots are hanging from a hook on a wall with their heels resting against the wall.

There are various different methods of construction that can be used to create a clamp that has the same functions and achieves the same results as the clamp described in relation to the drawings. For example; the clamp may be constructed from two separate lengths of material that are joined together along the length of their top edges to form a hinge which can be fitted with a spring to create a sprung clamp whose jaws are held together in the closed position by the force of the spring.

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Claims

1. A clamp for clamping together the tops of Wellington boots to stop insects, rodents, debris and rainwater from entering the boots and for holding together a pair of Wellington boots for easy handling and tidy storage, the clamp comprising jaws that contact and grip the outside of the Wellington boots and squeeze them tightly enough together to allow the boots to be lifted and/or hung up by the clamp.

2. A clamp according to claim 1 that has a hook to allow the boots to be hung from a rail or hook.

3. A clamp according to claims 1 or 2 that has a loop, ring or hook at one end to allow the boots to be hung from a hook, nail or screw fixed to a vertical wall so that the boots hang from the clamp with their backs resting against the wall and their toes facing away from the wall.

4. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims that is opened by squeezing together two handles or tabs and is closed by releasing them.

5. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims whose main clamping body is formed from a single shaped piece of plastic, spring steel, or other hard but flexible material of suitable strength and thickness to allow it to be opened and closed by hand.

6. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims that is of sufficient length to cover the entire top of a large sized Wellington boot when the top of the boot is squashed flat.

7. A clamp according to any of the claims 1-6 that can be made in different sizes for use with various different sized boots.

8. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims that is made from waterproof materials and has no holes or gaps in it that might allow water to pass through it from the top side to the underside and onto the top edges of the boots.

9. A clamp according to any of the preceding claims that has handles shaped to allow easy carrying and handling of a pair of Wellington boots when they are gripped by the clamp.

Intellectual

Property

Office

Application No: GB1612607.0 Examiner: Mr Ralph Plowman