| 摘要 |
<p>An inflatable boot (10) and method for its manufacture, in which the boot (10) includes a bladder (24) for encasing at least a portion of a human foot and at least a portion of an ankle. The bladder (24) is defined by an inner (22) and an outer (20) layer of substantially gas-tight material, and includes fluidically interconnected wall (26) and sole (28) portions. The wall portions (26) are sized and shaped for collectively encasing a human ankle and the sole portion (28) is sized and shaped for encasing a sole of a human foot. A structural interconnection (46) joins the inner layer (22) of the bladder (24) substantially directly to the outer layer (20) at a location interposed the sole portion (28) and one of the wall portions (26) to create a foot-supporting contour for the sole portion (28) of the bladder (24) when the bladder (24) is inflated. The bladder (24) for the boot (10) is manufactured in a flattened condition, and then folded over and joined at the seams to define a boot (10).</p> |
