SKI BOOT

• US 3,868,783 A
• Filed: 01/14/1974
• Issued: 03/04/1975
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Domenico Caporicci
• Original Assignee: Domenico Caporicci
• Inventors: Caporicci, Domenico
• Primary Examiner(s): Lawson, Patrick D.
• Application Number:
  US05/433,148
• Time in Patent Office: 414 Days
• Field of Search: 36/2.5R,2.5AL,50
• US Class Current: 36/118.7
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0445 directly actuated by non flexible means, e.g. screws, levers

Abstract

This invention relates to a ski boot which is flexible in the area adjacent the instep of a wearer of the boot. The boot is made up in three sections; a back section, a bottom section, and a tongue section. To make the boot flexible, the mating edges of the tongue and back sections comprise portions which are U-shaped in cross section, and the legs of the U-shaped portions are interjoined. The top leg of the tongue section will comprise a part of the top surface of the boot. To interconnect the interjoined legs, a slidable fastener passes through openings in the legs of the tongue section and the leg of the bottom section which extends between the legs of the tongue section. The fastener consists of a cylindrical middle section with flanges at both ends. Each flange is seated in a recess of a respective tongue section leg. A spiral spring surrounds the cylinder, and the ends of the spring abut against protrusions on the opening in the leg of the bottom section which extends between the legs of the tongue section. When the foot is pivoted, the U-shaped portions will move relative to one another against the force of the spring to provide the required flexibility. When the foot is unpivoted, the spring will urge the U-shaped portions back into their original positions. The back section of the boot is made to be pivotable relative to the bottom section so that the back section will follow the back of the leg when the front part of the boot flexes. The pivoting action of the back section is provided by a pivot pin in the heel of the boot.

Claims

1. A ski boot comprising;

a bottom section;

a tongue section; and

a back section;

said tongue section comprising a portion which is U-shaped in cross section, at an edge of said tongue section;

said bottom section comprising a portion which is U-shaped in cross section, at an edge of said bottom section;

said U-shaped portion of said tongue section being interjoined with said U-shaped portion of said bottom section at a joint at the front part of the boot, said U-shaped portions being movable relative to one another at said joint;

whereby said boot is flexible at said joint;

wherein the legs of the U-shaped portions are inter-connected by a slidable fastener.

2. A ski boot as defined in claim 1 wherein the back section of the boot is pivotable relative to the bottom section thereof.

3. A ski boot as defined in claim 2 wherein a top leg of the U-shaped portion of said tongue section comprises a part of the top surface of the boot;

one leg of the U-shaped portion of said bottom section extending between the legs of the U-shaped portion of the tongue section;

said slidable fastener being mounted to slide on a surface of the other leg of the U-shaped portion of the bottom section.

4. A ski boot as defined in claim 3 wherein said fastener comprises a base member comprising a generally cylindrical upstanding part with a cavity in the interior thereof;

a flange member attached at one end of said upstanding cylindrical part, said flange being seated in a recess in the bottom leg of the U-shaped portion of the tongue section;

said upstanding cylindrical part passing through openings in both legs of the U-shaped portion of the tongue section and an opening in the one leg of the U-shaped portion of the bottom section;

said fastener further comprising a top member having a second flange member seated in a recess in the top leg of the U-shaped portion Of the tongue section, and a projection extending from said second flange member and being retainably insertable into said cavity in said upstanding cylindrical part;

whereby the legs of said U-shaped portions are inter-connected.

5. A ski boot as defined in claim 4 and further comprising a spiral spring member, having two ends, surrounding said upstanding cylindrical part;

said two ends of said spring member abutting protrusions in the opening in said one leg of said U-shaped portion of said bottom section.

6. A ski boot as defined in claim 2 wherein said bottom section comprises a heel at the back end thereof;

said heel having semi-circular socket-like openings at the both sides of the boot;

said back section comprising two mating semi-circular portions extending into said openings and being in slidable engagement with said openings; and

a pivoting pin extending through said mating portions and said heel;

whereby said back section is pivotable relative to said bottom section about the pivoting pin in said heel.

7. A ski boot as defined in claim 3 wherein said slidable fastener passes through openings in both legs of the U-shaped portion of the tongue section and an opening in the one leg of the U-shaped portion of the bottom section;

said openings comprising at least one circular opening and at least one elongated opening extending from said circular opening;

said slidable fastener being elongate in cross section, the length of the fastener being greater than the width of the elongated opening but less than the diameter of the circular opening, the width of the fastener being less than the width of the elongated opening;

whereby, when the fastener extends transversely to the elongated opening in the circular opening, it will be restrained from sliding, and, when the fastener extends parallel to the elongated opening, it will be permitted to slide.