Utility boot with interchangeable article carriers and method for using the same

Abstract

An article of footwear having multiple interchangeable article carriers. The article of footwear including two or more article carriers, having the same or different configurations, which releasably attach to the article of footwear. Each of the article carriers have a fastener for attaching to the article of footwear, and the article of footwear has two or more corresponding fasteners for accepting the article carriers. The fasteners on one article of footwear can all be the same configuration, or have different configurations on the same article of footwear. The article carriers can be released from the article of footwear and reattached to the same or a different corresponding fastener on the article of footwear allowing a user to customize his footwear.

1 . A footwear article comprising: 
 a boot;    a plurality of article carriers releasably attached to said boot, wherein a first of said plurality of said article carriers is of a first configuration and a second of said article carriers is of a second configuration.    
     
     
         2 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said boot is a combat boot, hiking boot, fisherman's boot, waders, concrete worker's boot, hunter's boot, work boot, or any article of footwear that covers the whole foot and at least part of the lower leg.  
     
     
         3 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said boot is waterproof.  
     
     
         4 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said boot is composed of a material selected from the group consisting of leather, rubber, microfiber, plastic, nylon, metal, fabric, or any combination of said materials.  
     
     
         5 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said boot further comprises: 
 a cinching mechanism at the top of said boot.    
     
     
         6 . The footwear article of  claim 5 , wherein said cinching mechanism is either elastic, a drawstring, a strap having a buckle, a hook and eye fastener, a hook and loop fastener, or tie.  
     
     
         7 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein said boot further comprises: 
 a sole, having a heel and tread.    
     
     
         8 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is flexible and relatively conforms to the shape of its contents.  
     
     
         9 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is a cylindrical pocket.  
     
     
         10 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is selected from the group consisting of a pocket, strap, storage compartment, pouch, box, holster, key ring, and clip.  
     
     
         11 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is adapted to prevent crushing of the contents.  
     
     
         12 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is insulated.  
     
     
         13 . The footwear article carrier of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is rectangular.  
     
     
         14 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers has a cutout notch positioned at the top of said article carrier such that the article carrier is adapted to accept the handle of a tool such as a trowel, scrub brush, or drill.  
     
     
         15 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers has a vice which secures the contents of the article carrier.  
     
     
         16 . The footwear article of  claim 15 , wherein said vice is selected from the group consisting of a strap, cover, lid, hook, hook and eye fastener, hook and loop fastener, lace, button, magnet, tie, and elastic.  
     
     
         17 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers further comprises: 
 a fastener for releasably attaching said article carrier to said boot.    
     
     
         18 . The footwear article of  claim 17 , wherein said fastener selected from the group consisting of a snap, clip, strap, lace, button, hook, hook and eye fastener, hook and loop fastener, tie, and buckle.  
     
     
         19 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers further comprises: 
 a top opening; and    a carrier frame having a plurality of openings.    
     
     
         20 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers further comprises: 
 a front piece which has no large openings.    
     
     
         21 . The footwear article of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said plurality of article carriers is constructed of one or more materials selected from the group consisting of leather, rubber, microfiber, plastic, nylon, metal, fabric, or any combination of said materials.  
     
     
         22 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a boot;    a plurality of fasteners for accepting interchangeable article carriers located on the exterior of said boot, wherein a first of said plurality of said fasteners is of a first configuration and a second of said fasteners is of a second configuration; and    at least one article carrier releasably attached to at least one of said plurality of fasteners.    
     
     
         23 . The footwear article of  claim 22 , wherein said first of said plurality of fasteners and said second of said plurality of fasteners are selected from the group consisting of a snap, clip, strap, lace, button, hook, hook and eye fastener, hook and loop fastener, tie, and buckle.  
     
     
         24 . The footwear article of  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 a fastener reinforcer attached to said boot.    
     
     
         25 . The footwear article of  claim 24 , wherein said fastener reinforcer is leather, rubber, metal, plastic, or another suitable reinforcement material, and wherein said fastener reinforcer is bonded, ultrasonically welded, riveted, glued, or attached to the side of the boot by any other suitable connection, including molding.  
     
     
         26 . The footwear article of  claim 22 , such that said at least one article carrier is selected from the group consisting of a pocket having an open top and a plurality of openings, a pocket having a cylindrical shape, and a pocket that is in the shape of a box.  
     
     
         27 . An article of footwear for customizably securing article carriers to a leg of a wearer comprising: 
 a boot having a plurality of fasteners, wherein said fasteners are located on the exterior of said boot; and    a plurality of article carriers adapted to releasably attach to any one of said plurality of fasteners.    
     
     
         28 . The article of footwear of  claim 27 , wherein said plurality of article carriers further comprise: 
 at least one corresponding fastener which corresponds to at least one of said fasteners on said boot.    
     
     
         29 . An article carrier for attachment to an article of footwear comprising: 
 a top opening to allow the insertion of an object;    a carrier frame, wherein said carrier frame has a plurality of openings and a cutout notch positioned in said top opening such that the article carrier is adapted to accept the handle of a tool; and    a fastener that releasably attaches to at least one of a plurality of corresponding fasteners on an article of footwear.    
     
     
         30 . The article carrier of  claim 29 , wherein said carrier frame is adapted to prevent crushing of the contents.  
     
     
         31 . The article carrier of  claim 29 , wherein said carrier frame is selected from the group consisting of leather.  
     
     
         32 . A method comprising: 
 providing a footwear article having a plurality of fasteners for accepting an article carrier;    providing a plurality of article carriers, wherein a first of said plurality of article carriers is of a first configuration and a second of said plurality of article carriers is of a second configuration; and    releasably attaching any one of said plurality of article carriers to any one of said plurality of fasteners on said footwear article.    
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising: 
 releasing any one of said plurality of article carriers; and    releasably attaching said any one of said plurality of article carriers to any one of said plurality of fasteners on said footwear article.