Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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BABY BOOTIE
Field Of The Invention
The present invention relates generally to footwear.
i More particularly, the present invention relates to a bootie
- made out of a single piece of fabric that provides a wide
opening for insertion of a foot yet maintains a tight fit
about the wearer's ankle.
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Backgrouna Of The Invention
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~-~ When providing footwear for small children, there are
~,~J numerous factors that a designer must consider. It is
clesirable to provide a hootie that is soft, comfortable, easy
to put on, yet securely fastenable about the child's ankle.
While stanAard booties may be adequately secured to the
child's foot, they have several drawbacks. When attempting to
place a standard bootie on a bahy, the youngster will often
curl its toes or otherwise resist the effort, making it
difficult to insert the foot within opening provided. Booties
with large openings tightened by a drawstring or laces often
!. suefer the major drawback of not being securely fastenable to
the foot beaause the laces come untied. Thus, as a child
crawls, rolls or walks about, the bootie may come off and
become accidently lost.
Another major ohjective of a footwear designer for
small children i8 to produce a shoe or bootie that is
relatively inexpensive and simple to manufacture, since cost
is often a major factor in the sales of baby footwear. Along
these lines it is desirab]e to design footwear tl)at can be
readily produced with good quality control as to the size and
appearance of the finished product; Booties fashioned from
multiple pieces of material tend to suffer the drawback of
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inconsistency in size, shape and appearance due to variations
in the assembly of the multiple pieces from bootie to bootie.
The present invention describes a novel bootie construction
fashioned from a single piece of material that seeks to
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addres~s these and other problems found in conventional baby
footwear.
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Summary Of The Invention
An object of the present invention is to provide a
bootie that may be opened widely to easily receive the
insertion of a foot. Another object is to provide a bootie
that may be securely fastened about the ankle so that the
hootie is not easily lost.
A further object of the present invention is to provide
a bootie that may be fashioned from a single piece of
material. Yet another object is to provide a bootie that is
soft and comEortable for the wearer.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will
i be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in
part will be obvious from de6cription, or may be learneA by
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practice of the invention.
To achieve these and other objects, the present
~; invention provides a bootie including a fabric body fashioned
from a single piece of material having a substantially oval-
~i 9haped upper seCtion, a substantially barrel-shaped center
section, a substantially bulbous lower section, and a
substantially rectangular-shaped section disposed between the
oval-~haped and the barrel-shape-l sections. The barrel
section is narrower than the rectangular section, thus forming
ears on each side of the barrel section along the lower edge
of the rectangular section. An elastic member i9 provided
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which is preferably sewn lengthwise across the lower portion
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`~ of tl~e oval-shaped section. A fastener is also provided on
- opposite ends of the oval-shaped ~ection for securing the
bootie about the ankle of its wearer. Preferably, the
fastening means has a receiving portion located near one end
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` of tlle elastic member, and a fastening portion located near
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- the opposite end of the elastic member. It i9 also preferable
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that a trim material such as bias tape be sewn arounl1 tlle
exposed perimeter of at least the oval-shaped section, the
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~ tapered sides of the rectangular-sllaped ~ectiorl and the lower
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two-tllirds of the bulbous lower section.
In a process aspect, this invention relates to a Inethod
of producing a bootie out of the materials just described.
The first step of the method i8 to cut an a~propriately shaped
fabric body. Preferably, an elastic member i~ sewn onto and
acros~ the substantially oval-shaped section of the body.
Also, a fastener is attached to the oval-~haped section of tlle
body. Tlle bootie shape is then formed by the steps of
foldillg t11e body about the corner formed by the junction of an
ear an~ the barrel-shaped section such that the ear overlays
the ad~acent edge of the barrel section. Next, the bulbous
section is folded about its junctlon with the barrel section
~uch that the edge of the bulbous ~ection overlays tlle
ad~acent edge of the barrel ~ection, e~tenl~ing over tlle
prevlously folded ear. After the appropriate folds have been
made, a sewlng line is drawn along the edge of the harrel
section, thereby binding the ear, the barrel section an~ the
bulbous sectlon together near their edges. q'he foldillg and
sewing steps are repeatea, so that both ~ides are 90 ~ewn.
~rief Description Of ~e Drawings
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I'he features of the present invention whicll are
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.. believed to he novel are set orth wi.th particularity in the
appen(~ed claims. The invention together with ~urther ol)jects
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and a~valltages thereof may best be understood by reEerence to
the Eollowing description taken in conjunction with tl~e
accompanying drawings wherein:
Figure 1 ls a top view of the shape of the si.ngle piece
fabric body as originally cut and which can be folded sewn
and assembled into a baby bootie according to the prescnt
invention.
Figure 2 is a side a view of a baby ~ootie fasllioned
from the single piece fabric body shown in Fig. 1.
i911re .~ i9 a front view of the bootie shown i.n Figure
2.
Detailed Description Of The Drawings
As shown in Figure 1, the present invention includes a
fahric bo,ly 1 fasllioned from a single piece of material. The
body has a substantially elongated oval-shaped upper section
ln, a substantial].y barrel-shaped center secti.on lfi a
substantially bulbous lower section 18 and a substantially
rectanglll.ar-shaped section 12 disposed between the oval-shaped
section ln and tlle barrel-shaped section 16. One side of
rectanglllar section 12 is tapered slightly so that i.ts upl~er
edge that attaches to oval-section 10 is sliglltly wider tllan
its lower edge that attaches to barrel-sllaped section lfi.
Additionally, the wider end of rectangular section 12 is
flared to smoothly meet witll oval-shape(1 section In. Tlle
taper in rectangular section 12 is very slight and it sl~ould
l~e ~Inderstoo<l that sect.ion ].2 could have parallel or even
slightly inwardly tapered sides and still remain effective.
The barrel-shaped section 16 is narrower than the rectangular
section 12 thereby forming ears 14 along the lower edge of
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rectangular section 12 on each side of barrel-sllaped section
16.
In the following description of a presently preferred
d embodiment several references will be made to the relative
dimensions of the various sections. These dimen~ions are to
be construed as exemplary only and are in no way to be
consi~lered limiting. The dimen~ions describe-l herein are
appropriate for a medium ~ized baby bootie suitable for babies
in the general range of four to eight month~ old.
The optimal shape for oval-shaped section 10 w])ich i9
designed to wrap around the wearer 9 ankle is best understood
by reference to Figure 1. Oval-shaped section 10 is not
centered over rectangular section 12, but rather llas a
relatively lon~, skewed end 21 and a shorter end 22. Thus,
when the bootie is finally asse1nbled the skewed end 2l of
oval-shaped section 10 wraps around the front of the wearer s
allkle alld i9 attached to the shorter end 22. The slanted
nature of skewed end 21 provides a better fit about the
wearer s ankle than woul'ld be provided if a more strict oval
conflguration i8 used. Oval-sllaped section 10 is
approxilnately two and one-quarter~ (2&1/4) inche~ wide tllrough
its middle section and is about eleven (11) inches long. The
rectangular-sllaped portion 12 is approximately one and five-
eights (1~5/8) inclles wide and is about five (5) inclle~ long.
Barrel-shaped center sectlon lh is sub~tantially
narrower than rectangular section 12 thus forming a pair of
ears 14 extending approximately one and one-eight (1~1/8)
inches along the lower end of rectangular section 12. The
ears ]4 become important when folding the fabric body 1 for
sewing into the bootie shape as de~cribed hereinafter.
Similarly fold line3 23 emanate obliquely from from the
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perimeter junctlons of the barrel-shaped section 16 anll t1~e
rectangular oection 12. Barrel-shaped oection 16 is
approximately three and one-half (~&1/2) inches in lengtl~ and
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then flares from a width of about two and three-quarters
(2&3/4) inches at its top to a widest dimen~ion of
approximately two and seven-eights (267/~) incheo and then
contracts to a width of approximately two and one-half (2~1/2)
incl)es along it~ lower end which ~oins bulbous ~ectioll 18.
Fold line6 25 emanate obliquely from the perimeter junctions
'$of barrel-sl)aped section 16 and bulbous section 1~. ~ulbous
oection 10 is approximately 8iX and three-eights (fi63/~)
inches in height and five and one-eigl)t (561/B) inches in
wi-lth ~t its wide~t point. Sewing edges 40 extend along hotl)
~ides of bulbous section 18 a perimeter diotarlce approximately
e~ual to the distance along the exposed perimet~r o~ each side
of barrel-~haped section 16. Sewing edges 40 thus preferably
extend along approximately 3~ to 60 percent of the of bulbous
ection 1~.
!,An elastic band 30 io etretched substantially the
entire lengtll acro~o the lower ~ide of oval-~haped section 10
and is ~ewn to the oval-shape-l eection 10 in a stretclled
condition. A snap fasteller includes a male member 35 alld two
pace-l ~emale memberff 37, 39 eecureA to the ov~l-sl~oped
~ection 10 at oppo~lte ends of the elastic band 30. Otller
suitable, releasable fastening means including hook and loop fasteners
such as those sold under the T.M. VEICRD may also be used. Thus, the oval-
aped oection may l)e wrapped nnd fa~tened aroullll tlle wenrer's
ankle. With thio con-truction, tlle oval-sllaped section 10,
may be wrapped around the wearer's ankle and Rnapped into
place. The placement of the fastener sections at opposite
en~o of elA~tic band 30, re~ult~ in the elastic comp~etnly
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encircling the wearer's ankle thereby insuring t1lat the bootie
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will be firmly secured in place. Thus as the baby creepq,
;~ crawls, walks or kicks, the bootie will he mucllless likely to
~; colne o~f than conventional footwear.
llody I is preferably fashioned from any one ofal~ulnber
of soft and flexible fabrics. One such ~uitable fabric i9 a
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quilted cloth fabric. A trim material 41 such a ~ia~ tape is
ewn around the perimeter of the portions of body l that are
- exposed when the bootie is in its finished forln. Thus, as
o shown in Figure l, trlm material 41 is placed around the
expo~cd perimeters of oval-shaped section lO, the exposed,
i opposite sides of rectangular section 12, and the lower two-
thirds (2/3) to three-quarters (3/4) portion of bull)ous
section 18.
To fabricate a bootie in accordance with the pre~ent
invention, the shape of body l is first cut from an
~; appropriate m~terial, 9uch as quilted cotton fabric. Bias
~'~.i tape i8 then sewn about the perimeter of body 1 wherever trim
41 is desired. Elastic member 30 is then sewn in a stretche(l
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condition laterally across the lower portion of oval-sl)ape(3
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''~ 8eCtiOIl ln. The male member 35 and the two ~paced ~emnle
members 37 and 39 of a ~nap fastener are then punched into
bofly l near the oppo8i te ends of elastic tape 30.
llody l may then be sewn into a bootie ~hape througlltwo
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short sewing lines, which w111 be de~cribed in referellce to
Figure l. The description that follows corltemplates that the
folding and sewing described will be accomplislled initially
with reeerence to one side and then repeated on the oppo~ite
,,l side. ~ody 1 is first folded approximately along fold line 23
.1 80 that ear 14 lays beneath the adjacent portion of the
: perimeter of l~arrel-~haped ~ection 16 ~uch that point ~ Oe
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ear 1~ .i9 dispose(l beneath point 52 of the pcrimeter of
barrel-sllaped section 16. Thereafter, body l is folded along
fold line 25 near the joinder of barrel-shaped section lG and
bulbous section 18 such that bulbous section 18 is generally
beneat11 the barrel-shaped section 16 and such that point 54 is
disposed beneath points 52 and SO. The perimeter of bulbous
section 1~ is aligned with the peri~eter of barrel secti.or1 16
and ear 14. The perimeters are sewn together via a sewing
line exten-1ing essentially from fold 23 to fold 25. As the
sewing line approaches fold 25, it veers slightly towards the
center of the fabric. This veering will help provide a
roun~e(1 shape for the toe area of the bootie. Wl1er1 the
foregoing process is carried out on both sides of body 1, an
"inside/out" bootie i8 formed. The bootie is then turned
right si-1s out and i8 ready for use. The aforemel1tior1ed
sewing step could also be accomplished throug11 the u~e of a
single u-~hape(7 sewing line. After making the described folds
on each side, the bootie could be formed via a single ~ewing
line beyi.nning at one of the folds 23 down one edge of barrel-
shaped section 16, across the bottom of section 16, in the
V~Cil~ity Oe eOld 25 and up the other edge of 1:he barrel-s~a~ed
section 16.
It will be appreciated that bulbous section l~
essentially form~ the top and tongue of the newly completed
bootie. Figure 2 deplcts a side view of the completed bootie,
and Figure 3 depicts a front view of the completed bootie. A
bootie constructed as described, when unRnapped, has a huge
opening into which the wearer's foot i8 in9erted. Oval-8haped
sectiol1 ln is then wrapped around the back of the wearer's
ankle al1d snapped in the front.
~ bootie fashioned in the described material froln a
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oin~le piece of material has the additlonal advanta~e of being
manufactured in a relatively consi~tent, uniform size and
shape. When a bootie iB fashioned from mu~tiple piece of
fabric, many more cutting, sew1ng and a~sembly operations are
required, which not only increase~ the costs of mal!ufacture,
but alfio causes variations in the ~lze, ~hape and appearancc
of tl)e final product.
To enhance traction of the bootie when the baby stan~ls
and/or walks, a non-slip surface may be added to the bottom of
the formed bootie. To accomplish this, an appropriate ~heet
of material having a non-slip ~urface, suc1) as a vinyl "jiffy
grip" (T.M.) traction pad manufactured by Sta~le Sewing Aids of
Garfield, New Jer~ey, is sewn to the exposed ~urface of
barrel-shaped ~ection 16 which form6 the bottom o~ the
completed bootie. Thus, the non-slip surface may be
incorporated lnto the bootle con~truction either by sewing it
to the expo~ed surface of section 16 prior to folding an~
~ewing hody 1 into the bootie shape or by overlaying it on the
barrel-~haped ~ection 16 and secur1ng lt to body 1 by the same
~ewing operation that forms the bootie shape. In thi~ latter
procedure the 6ew llne would extend around the entire
peri~l)e1y of the non-sl~p ~urface. The non-slip surf~ce may
alternatively or odditionally secured to the body 1 with a
' uitahle adhesive.
! Although only one embodiment of the presant invel1tior1
has been described herein, it ~hould be understood that the
pre~ent lnvention may be embodied in many other ~pecific forms
wlthout departing from the ~pirit or scope of the invention.
W~ile the geometric ~hape~ of a preferred embodiment o~i the
bootie have been described ln detail, it should be understood,
that the shDpes are not nece~sarily 80 lim~ted. For example,
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section 12 has b~en clescribed as being substantially
rectangular, it could instead be substantially trapizoic3al.
~imilarly barrel-shaped section ~ could be mor2 rectanglllar. ~ c,?
Also, the shapes of oval-shaped section 10 and bulbous
section ]8 may be altered witho~t departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention. Additionally, elastic
band ~0 has been clescribed as extending lateral]y
substantially all the way acro~s oval-shaped section lO. A
single elastic band or multiple elastic bancls could be
disposec1 in many positions within oval-shaped section lO to
provicle the same effect. Therefore, the present example and
embo-liment is to be considered as illustrative and not
restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited t:o the
details given herein, but may be modified within the scope o~
the appetldecl claims.
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