Variable flexion resistance sport boot

• US 20030204971A1
• Filed: 05/05/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/06/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Flex Shock, LLC
• Original Assignee: William Benjamin Fauver
• Inventors: Fauver, William Benjamin
• Granted Patent: US 7,513,068 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/89
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/06 Shoes with flaps; Footwear with divided uppers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/046 with the actuator being disposed at the lateral or medial side of the boot A43B5/0464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1691 characterised by the higher part of the upper, e.g. surrounding the ankle, by the quarter or cuff
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders

Abstract

A sport boot that allows for a reduced resistance plantar extension coupled with a controlled, resistive plantar flexion motion. The preferred embodiments provide a one-piece boot made of a flexible material, such as leather. A triangular portion of the boot material, from a point just posterior to the ankle opening to a larger area anterior of the ankle on both sides of the boot, is cut out. One or more piston assemblies are attached to the boot material on both sides of the cut away portion of the boot. The piston assemblies provide resistance to compression during flexion of the boot but offer no resistance to extension during plantar extension.

Claims

1. A sport boot comprising:

a boot body adapted to cover the ankle of a wearer;

an aperture through both sides of said boot body proximate to the ankle; and

one or more pistons connected to said boot body across a portion of said aperture such that said one or more pistons are compressed when said boot body is flexed about the ankle.

2. The sport boot of claim 1 further comprising one or more metal bands attached to said boot body where said one or more pistons are connected to said boot body.

3. The sport boot of claim 1 wherein said aperture forms a triangle from a point just posterior of the ankle to a larger area anterior of the ankle on a front edge of said boot body.

4. The sport boot of claim 1 wherein said one or more pistons provide resistance to compression loads.

5. The sport boot of claim 4 wherein said one or more pistons provide no resistance to tension loads.

6. The sport boot of claim 1 further comprising a sheath adapted to connect to said boot body and cover said one or more pistons.

7. The sport boot of claim 1 further comprising an ice skating blade attached to said boot body.

8. A sport boot comprising:

a boot body adapted to cover the ankle of a wearer;

an aperture through both sides of said boot body proximate to the ankle;

a support system connected to said boot body and adapted to at least partially surround said aperture; and

one or more piston members connected to said flexible support system and adapted to compress when said boot body flexes about the ankle.

9. The sport boot of claim 8 wherein said support system further comprises:

a hinge proximate to the ankle;

an upper band attached to said hinge and disposed on said boot body adjacent to an upper edge of said aperture; and

a lower band attached to said hinge and disposed on said boot body adjacent to an upper edge of said aperture, wherein said support system is adapted to absorb at least a portion of the energy from flexion of said boot body about the ankle.

10. The sport boot of claim 9 wherein said one or more pistons are attached to only one of said upper or lower bands.

11. The sport boot of claim 10, wherein said one or more pistons are compressed when contacted by a plate affixed to the other of said upper or lower bands.

12. The sport boot of claim 8 wherein said aperture forms a triangle from a point just posterior of the ankle to a larger area anterior of the ankle on a front edge of said boot body.

13. The sport boot of claim 8 wherein said one or more pistons provide resistance to compression loads.

14. The sport boot of claim 13 wherein said one or more pistons provide no resistance to tension loads.

15. The sport boot of claim 8 further comprising an ice skating blade attached to said boot body.

16. The sport boot of claim 8 further comprising a sheath adapted to connect to said boot body and cover said one or more pistons.

17. A method for supporting a foot and ankle during jumping activities comprising:

providing a boot body having an aperture proximate to the ankle; and

providing lateral and flexion support to the foot and ankle by attaching one or more piston members to the boot body and disposed across the aperture.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein the one or more piston members provide flexion support by resisting compression.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the one or piston members do not resist extension.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein the amount of flexion support can be adjusted by replacing or adjusting the resistance provided by the one or more pistons.