Footwear for use in mud

Abstract

Footwear, such as a boot, having a vacuum release tube attached at the back of the boot along the lower part of the boot extending from the sole of the boot to approximately 10-30 inches above the sole of the boot. The vacuum release tube may be rigid, semi-rigid, or flexible, and the length of the vacuum release tube may be chosen based upon the intended use of the boot. The vacuum release mechanism can be electro-mechanically or pneumatically enhanced.

1 . Footwear for traversing areas in which the bottom is not solid comprising: 
 a. a foot covering; and    b. at least one vacuum release tube located at the back of the foot covering, said vacuum release tube extending upwardly from the sole of the foot covering.    
   
   
       2 . Footwear according to  claim 1  comprising one vacuum release tube located at the back of the foot covering.  
   
   
       3 . Footwear according to  claim 1  comprising a plurality of vacuum release tubes.  
   
   
       4 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum release tubes are flexible.  
   
   
       5 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum release tubes are rigid.  
   
   
       6 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum release tubes have a flexible part and a rigid part.  
   
   
       7 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the sole of the foot covering is equipped with channels running from the ends of the vacuum release tubes towards the center of the sole of the footwear.  
   
   
       8 . Footwear according to  claim 7  wherein the vacuum release tubes are made of flexible material and are hooked underneath the sole of the foot covering, exiting in a horizontal direction.  
   
   
       9 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum release tubes are made of a material which minimizes the coefficient of friction between the inner wall of the vacuum release tube and mud.  
   
   
       10 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the tops of the vacuum release tubes are connected by a horizontal manifold.  
   
   
       11 . Footwear according to  claim 10  further comprising a small submersible pump mounted near the top of the vacuum release tubes.  
   
   
       12 . Footwear according to  claim 11  wherein the pump is connected to a switch that activates the pump.  
   
   
       13 . Footwear according to  claim 11  wherein the pump is a hand pump or a CO 2  cartridge.  
   
   
       14 . Footwear according to  claim 1  wherein the vacuum release tubes are a combination of straight tubes and curved tubes.  
   
   
       15 . Footwear according to  claim 14  wherein the straight tubes are made of rigid material and the curved tubes are made of flexible material.