Stealth Footwear

This application claims the benefit of and priority to U.S. Application No. 63/646,474, filed on May 13, 2024, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

Traditional hunting footwear has prioritized ruggedness and protection, incorporating stiff materials and heavy-duty construction to withstand harsh outdoor environments. However, these characteristics often come at the expense of stealth which is critical for the effectiveness of the hunter in hunting certain types of prey. Existing footwear solutions typically feature thick soles for durability and protection, which can produce considerable noise when traversing over dry leaves, twigs, and uneven terrain, thereby alerting prey to the hunter's presence. There remains a need for improvements to footwear.

In general terms, this disclosure is directed to stealth footwear. In some embodiments, and by non-limiting example, a stalking shoe includes an upper portion and a sole portion that together define a foot pocket. The foot pocket is configured to surround a user's foot. The upper portion defines a foot opening and includes a stretch portion and a reinforcement portion. The reinforcement portion extends about a toe region at a front of the stalking shoe. The reinforcement portion fortifies the toe region against puncture and tearing and is configured to protect the user's foot. The stretch portion is configured to reduce weight of the stalking shoe and to provide elastic conformance between the upper portion and the user's foot. The sole portion includes a stealth portion where the stealth portion extends about a bottom surface of the stalking shoe. The stealth portion is formed of noise reducing material.

In certain embodiments, a stalking shoe includes an upper portion configured to surround a user's foot. The upper portion includes a stretch portion including an elastic material configured to conform to a user's foot, and a reinforcement portion having greater durability and tear resistance than the stretch portion. The stalking shoe includes a sole portion connected to the upper portion. The sole portion extends about a bottom of the stalking shoe. The sole portion includes a stealth portion configured to dampen noise and vibrations during movement, and the stealth portion is made from felt.

In certain embodiments, an article of footwear includes a stretch portion, a reinforcement portion, and a stealth portion. The stretch portion extends at least partially across a top foot region. The stretch portion includes an elastic material configured to provide conformance between the stretch portion and the top foot region. The reinforcement portion extends at least partially across the top foot region. The reinforcement portion is connected to the stretch portion. The reinforcement portion has greater stiffness and tear resistance than the stretch portion. The stealth portion extends at least partially about a bottom exterior surface of the article of footwear. The stealth portion includes a material with a porous structure. The stealth portion is configured to contact the ground and dampen noise transmission.

Various embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals represent like parts and assemblies throughout the several views. Reference to various embodiments does not limit the scope of the claims attached hereto. Additionally, any examples set forth in this specification are not intended to be limiting and merely set forth some of the many possible embodiments for the appended claims.

Backcountry hunting often requires many miles of hiking with heavy gear. Conventional hiking boots, while excellent for covering long distances across rugged landscapes, hinder the hunter's ability to close in on their target undetected due to their bulk and the noise generated by their heavy tread. Successfully stalking wildlife demands a specialized shoe that allows for a delicate and nearly silent footfall, enabling the hunter to maintain a low profile when closing the final distance to the animal. The present disclosure describes a stalking shoe that is designed for lightweight packability in the backcountry.

show an example stalking shoehaving an upper portionand a sole portion. The upper portionand the sole portioncombine to form a foot pocket, with the upper portionincluding a foot openingfor insertion of the foot. The foot pocketis designed to surround the foot such that the upper portioncovers the top of the foot and the sole portiongenerally covers the bottom of the foot. The stalking shoeincludes an exterior surfaceand an interior surface. Each of the different parts of the stalking shoewill be discussed in turn.

In certain examples, and as shown in, the upper portionincludes a stretch portionand a reinforcement portion. The upper portionmay also include other features such as a heel portion, a tightening structure, a front pull tab, a rear pull tab, and/or a protective section.

The stretch portionis designed to provide lightweight shape conformance to the user's foot. The stretch portionprovides the stalking shoean ability to expand to a stretched state as the user's foot is being inserted, while also returning to a reduced stretch or unstretched state once the foot is seated in the stalking shoe. The stretch portionalso facilitates weight reduction for the stalking shoe. The stretch portionis designed to minimize weight on the stalking shoeby using minimal, lightweight, elastic material in areas of the stalking shoethat do not require additional structure to maintain functionality. In certain areas, a subset of the stretch portionmay overlap with another material or region of the stalking shoe. For instance, the stretch portionmay partially overlap with the reinforcement portionand/or the heel portion. In certain examples, the stretch portionextends about a majority of the upper portion. In certain examples, the stretch portionextends about a length of the stalking shoein one or more stretch sections. In certain examples, the stretch portionextends about the entirety of the upper portion. In the example shown in, the stretch portionextends from a first sideto a second sideof the stalking shoe, such that the stretch portionborders the sole portion. The stretch portionalso extends between the reinforcement portionat a toe regionand continues to the heel portion. The stretch portionshown inalso defines the foot opening. The stretch portionmay partially overlap with the sole portionsuch that the stretch portionmay be bonded or otherwise secured to the sole portionof the stalking shoe. In certain examples, the stretch portionhas a thickness that extends between the exterior surfaceand the interior surface. The stalking shoehas a width W that extends between the first and second sides,.

The stretch portionmay be made from any suitable material providing elastic stretch. In certain examples, the stretch portionis made from an elastic polymeric material. In certain examples, the stretch portionis made from polyester. In certain examples the stretch portionincludes a knit design. K nit designs may incorporate different ways of weaving thread, forming varying knit patterns such that certain zones of the stretch portionhave more breathability, support, or more stretch than other zones, all while being part of the same stretch portion. For example, as shown in, a high breathability zoneis included at the first sideof the stalking shoewhich helps provide additional airflow and breathability to the side and underside of a user's foot. The high breathability zoneincludes breathing holes. The breathing holesmay be openings extending between the exteriorand interioror areas of less/thinner material that enable better moisture transfer. Also shown inis a support zonethat helps provide structure to the upper portionof the stalking shoewithout needing additional materials or having excessive weight. The support zonefeatures a thicker weave or knit than neighboring zones. The thicker knit provides additional structure for shaping the stalking shoeand adding increased stiffness or rigidity in areas where additional support is desired. The use and placement of different zones maximizes performance of the stalking shoewhile minimizing the material needed. Also shown inis a foot opening edgethat is part of the stretch portionand provides improved durability with increased material thickness in order to withstand the repeated stresses of a user's foot entering and exiting the stalking shoe.

The reinforcement portionprovides additional structure to improve durability and tear resistance during use. The reinforcement portionprovides structural integrity to the stalking shoein a region that encounters significant stresses during use. In the example shown in, the reinforcement portionis located at the toe regionof the upper portionof the stalking shoe. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionextends between the sole portionand the stretch portion. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionextends between the first sideand the second side. The reinforcement portionmay partially overlap with the stretch portionor other parts of the upper portionin order to form a connection between the two. In certain examples, as shown in, the reinforcement portionincludes a curved borderalong the stretch portionwhere the stretch portionconnects to the reinforcement portion. The curved borderincludes multiple intersecting curves along its length. The curved borderfollows a contour similar to an outline of the toes of a user's foot. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionhas a thickness that extends between the exterior surfaceand interior surface. The reinforcement portionmay have a greater thickness than the stretch portion. In the example shown on, the reinforcement portionborders the sole portionat the first and second sides,and continues about a front endof the stalking shoe. The reinforcement portionmay partially overlap the sole portionin order to form a connection between the two. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionprotects the user's toes from the surrounding environment. In certain examples, the reinforcement portioncovers a minimum area to achieve the necessary structural integrity to prevent tearing during use. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionranges between 1 and 2 inches in length as measured from the front endtoward a back endof the stalking shoe.

The reinforcement portionmay be made from a different material than the stretch portion. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionis stiffer than the stretch portion. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionhas a greater resistance to tearing than the stretch portion. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionis made from leather. In certain examples, the leather is goat skin. The reinforcement portionmay connect to the stretch portionany number of ways. For example, the reinforcement portionmay be sewn or adhesively connected. Examples of different sewing/stitching techniques include line stitching, zig zag stitching, or bartacking. In the example shown in, the stretch portionand reinforcement portionare connected by a line stitch. The reinforcement portionmay connect to the sole portionin any number of ways, as previously discussed with respect to the stretch portion. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionconnects to the sole portionwith adhesive. In certain examples, the reinforcement portionconnects to the sole portionwith a combination of adhesive and stitching.

As shown in, the stalking shoeincludes a heel portionas part of the upper portion. The heel portionis optionally included to provide additional structural support at a heel regionof the stalking shoe. The heel regionis located adjacent the back end. In certain examples, the heel portionextends between the sole portionand the stretch portion. In certain examples, the heel portionextends between the first sideand the second side. The heel portionmay partially overlap with the stretch portionor other parts of the upper portionin order to form a connection between the two. In certain examples, the heel portionhas a thickness that extends between the exterior surfaceand the interior surface. The heel portionmay have a greater thickness than the stretch portion. In the example shown on, the heel portionborders the sole portionat the first and second sides,and continues about the back endof the stalking shoe. The heel portionmay partially overlap the sole portionin order to form a connection between the two. The heel portionmay partially define or be adjacent to part of the foot opening edge.

The heel portionmay be made from a different material than the stretch portion. The heel portionmay be made from the same material as the reinforcement portion. In certain examples, the heel portionis stiffer than the stretch portion. In certain examples, the heel portionhas a greater resistance to tearing than the stretch portion. In certain examples, the heel portionis made from leather. In certain examples, the leather is goat skin. The heel portionmay be made from multiple pieces of material connected together. The heel portionmay connect to the stretch portionany number of ways. For example, the heel portionmay be sewn or adhesively connected. The heel portionmay connect to the sole portionin any number of ways, as previously discussed with respect to the stretch portion. In certain examples, the heel portionconnects to the sole portionwith adhesive. In certain examples, the heel portionconnects to the sole portionwith a combination of adhesive and stitching.

In certain examples, the stretch portionprovides sufficient conformance, fit, adjustability, stability, support, and/or security between the interior surfaceof the stalking shoeand the foot such that a tightening structureis not needed or present. In certain examples, a tightening structureis included to provide additional conformance, fit, adjustability, stability, support, and security between the stalking shoeand the user's foot. In the example shown in, the tightening structureis a plurality of tightening straps and buckles. The tightening structureincludes a heel strapwith a first buckle and a second buckle,. The first buckleis connected to the stretch portionon the first sideand the second buckleis connected to the stretch portionon the second side. The heel strapextends between the first and second buckles,passing over the heel regionon the exterior surface. The heel strapextends through an openingformed by the rear pull tab. The heel strapmay be tightened, thereby decreasing the foot opening, by pulling the heel strapthrough either the first or second buckle,. Both ends of the heel strapare free ends. A top foot strapextends in a crisscross pattern about the exteriorof a top foot region. The top foot straphas a first endthat is fixed to the stretch portionat the first sideand may extend to overlap between the sole portionand the stretch portion. The top foot strapextends from the first sideto the second sideand extends through a second loop. The second loopis connected to the stretch portionon the second side. The top foot strapextends from the second loopback over the top foot regionand through a first loop. The first loopis connected to the stretch portionon the first side. The top foot strapcontinues back over the top foot regionthrough an openingformed by the front pull tab, to a third buckle. The third buckleis connected to the stretch portionon the second side. The top foot strapterminates at a second end. When the second endis pulled through the third buckle, the top foot strapbegins to tighten the upper portionof the stalking shoeagainst the user's foot. The second endof the top foot strapis a free end. The free ends of the tightening straps may include pull assisting tabsto aide in pulling the free ends of the tightening straps. The pull assisting tabsmay be made from silicone or other material providing suitable thickness and grip to facilitate tightening. The tightening straps may be made from a material such as nylon or polyester. In other examples, laces, zippers, elastic bands, Velcro, etc. may be used to suitably tighten the stalking shoe.

Front and rear pull tabs,may also be included on the stalking shoe. In the example shown on, the front pull tabextends partially along a length L of the stalking shoe, extending past the foot openingsuch that a front pull loopis positioned freely above the foot openingfor a user to grasp when putting the stalking shoeis on their foot. The front pull tabis connected to the upper portion/stretch portionsuch that pulling on the front pull loopmoves the upper portionof the stalking shoeabout the top foot region. The front pull tabmay include an openingformed between the front pull taband the upper portionby connecting the front pull tabto the upper portionon both sides of the opening. The opening may be used to loop the top foot strapthrough, as described above. The front pull tabmay be connected to the upper portionin any number of ways, including stitching and adhesive. In the example shown, the front pull tabis connected by line stitching. The rear pull tabextends partially along a height H of the stalking shoeabout the heel region, extending past the foot opening such that a rear pull loopis positioned freely above the foot openingfor a user to grasp when putting the stalking shoeon their foot. The rear pull tabis connected to the upper portion/heel portionsuch that pulling on the rear pull loopmoves the upper portionof the stalking shoeabout the heel region. The rear pull tabmay include an opening formed between the rear pull taband the upper portionby connecting the rear pull tabto the upper portionon both sides of the opening. The opening may be used to loop the heel strapthrough, as described above. The rear pull tabmay be connected to the upper portionin any number of ways, including stitching and adhesive. In the example shown, the rear pull tabis connected by line stitching and bartacking.

In certain examples, and as shown in, the sole portionincludes a stealth portion. In certain examples, the sole portionincludes a stealth portion, grip features, and/or an insole portion. The stealth portionprovides a quieting, sound dampening effect when the user travels over the ground, especially when the surface includes debris such as twigs and leaves. Specifically, the stealth portionprovides improved vibration absorption and sound diffusion by leveraging materials with soft, fibrous, porous, and flexible attributes. In certain examples, the stealth portioncovers the entirety of an exterior bottom surfaceof the stalking shoe. In certain examples, the stealth portioncovers a majority of the exterior bottom surfaceof the stalking shoe. In certain examples, the stealth portioncovers the entirety of the bottom exterior surface, but also includes grip featuresthat protrude from the stealth portion.

In the example shown in, the stealth portionextends between the front endand back endand between the first sideand second sideof the stalking shoe. The stealth portionforms the entirety of the exterior surfaceof the sole portion. The stealth portionmay have a thickness X that ranges between 0.25 and 1 inch. In certain examples, the thickness X is about 2 centimeters. The stealth portionmay be made from a variety of different materials that achieve the sound dampening effect. Specifically, the stealth portionis designed to provide improved vibration absorption and sound diffusion over conventional outsole materials by leveraging materials with soft, fibrous, porous, and flexible attributes. Where conventional outsoles often have rugged hard molded rubber, or other polymeric materials, the stalking shoeavoids the heavy and loud molded rubber for a much lighter, more packable, and quieter material. In certain examples, the stealth portionis made from felt or wool. Felt has a dense yet porous structure, which allows it to absorb and dissipate sound waves. When the foot makes contact with the ground, the porous nature of felt disrupts the transmission of sound, converting some of the sound energy into small amounts of heat through friction within the material's fibers. The softness of felt provides a gentle contact surface, reducing the impact noise that is typically generated by harder materials. This soft texture means that footsteps are less likely to produce a sharp, distinct sound that could alert wildlife to the hunter's presence. Felt has natural vibration-damping qualities. When walking, vibrations caused by footfalls are absorbed by the felt before they can reverberate and create noise. Felt can conform to the irregularities of natural terrain, such as rocks, twigs, and leaves, allowing for softer footsteps that produce less noise compared to rigid soles that might snap twigs or crunch loudly on debris. The non-uniform texture and fibrous nature of felt can help to scatter sound waves, reducing the direct path of sound transmission to the surrounding environment. In certain examples, the stealth portionand/or the sole portionis secured to the upper portionby adhesive and/or stitching.

The grip featuresmay be added over the stealth portionin a dispersed way that provides additional grip without sacrificing noise reduction. In certain examples, the grip featuresmay be spaced between 0.5 and 1 inch between neighboring grip features. In other examples, the grip featuresare spaced between 1 and 1.5 inches between neighboring grip features. In certain examples, the grip features protrude from the stealth portionbetween 0.083 and 0.25 inches. In certain examples, there may be between twenty and thirty grip featuresapplied to the bottom exteriorof the stalking shoe. The grip featuresmay be made from durable rubber or similar material having improved grip over the stealth portion.

The sole portionmay also include an insole portionextending at least partially along the length L within the interiorof the stalking shoe. The insole portionis designed to provide padding for the user's foot for improved comfort. The insole portionmay be made from a polymer foam or sewn mesh.

The sole portionmay connect to the upper portionin a number of ways including adhesive and stitching. In certain examples, both adhesive and stitching are used to secure the upper portionto the sole portion. The grip featuresmay be adhesively secured to the stealth portionof the stalking shoe. The insole portionmay also be adhesively secured to the stealth portion.

The structure of the stalking shoeis designed to minimize weight and maximize packability while maintaining the functionality to stalk animals. The combination of the stretch portion, reinforcement portion, and stealth portionprovides a stalking shoethat covers the entire user's foot while having minimal weight and maximum packability. In certain examples, the stalking shoemay be compressed to a height H of less than 1 inch about the entire length of the stalking shoe. In certain examples, the stalking shoemay be compressed to fit in a pocket, such as a rear pocket of pants.

In certain examples, the upper portionmay further include a protective section (not shown) that extends at least partially about the length along the first side, running along the outside of the user's foot, such that contact with brush, cacti, etc., does not puncture the neighboring or overlapping stretch portion. The protective section may be on the interioror exteriorof the stalking shoe.

show another example stalking shoe. The stalking shoeincludes many of the same features and inventive concepts as the stalking shoe. For conciseness, these features are not repeated. Relevant differences are described below. The stalking shoeincludes an upper portionwith a stretch portionand reinforcement portion. In certain examples, the stretch portionincludes multiple stretch sections. The multiple stretch sections may be used to leverage the weight saving and foot conforming benefits, while having a more durable or protective shoe. The stretch sections may be placed in multiple different parts of the stalking shoe. In certain examples, the stretch sections are strips or segments extending at least partially along a length of the stalking shoe. As shown, the stretch portionincludes a first stretch sectionand a second stretch section. The first and second stretch sections,extend from the foot opening toward a sole portionabout a height of the stalking shoe. The reinforcement portionextends about a majority of the upper portion.

The inventive concepts disclosed above may apply equally to other types of footwear. For instance, an article of footwear may include a stealth portion, a stretch portion, and a reinforcement portion, sharing many of the features of the stalking shoe, but in a different form, such as a toe covered sandal, a climbing shoe, a trail shoe, a tennis shoe, etc.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way of illustration only and should not be construed to limit the claims attached hereto. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modifications and changes that may be made without following the example embodiments and applications illustrated and described herein, and without departing from the full scope of the following claims.