Adjustable, pressure-compensating, custom fitting pads having predetermined amount of fitting material and their use in boots
First Claim
1. An adjustable, multi-sectional, pressure-compensating fitting pad of desired shape and size, which comprisesa multi-sectional, shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein a predetermined volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide an adjustable, multi-sectional, pressure-compensating fitting pad,said multi-sectional enclosure being shaped and constructed to provide therein a reservoir section and at least one communicating primary fitting section, including interconnecting restrictable flow control passageway means, to allow confined fitting material in said primary fitting section to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted on that section of the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure, and to provide a reservoir section from or to which at least some flowable fitting material may be selectively transferred, as desired, within the enclosure to or from said primary fitting section through said passageway means, said passageway means being positioned, shaped and constructed to be selectively opened, to provide for said transfer of fitting material from or to said reservoir or fitting sections, or closed, as desired, by separating or partitioning means,said closing of the flow control passageway means thereby selectively restricts or prevents the ingress or egress of flowable fitting material from one section to the other partitioned or separated section and maintains a desired or controlled volume of fitting material in said primary fitting section.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Preformed fitting pads are disclosed having a protective envelope enclosure with flowable fitting material retained therein. The enclosure is shaped and constructed to provide therein communicating reservoir and primary fitting sections constructed in operative relationship to each other, so as to selectively provide for, as desired, the deliberate transfer of flowable fitting material from or to a reservoir section or a primary fitting section, and to selectively maintain, as desired, a controllable or predetermined volume of fitting material in a primary fitting section, all without requiring that fitting material be introduced into the pad from an external source of supply or be removed from the confines of the pad. The fitting material confined in said primary fitting section provides desirable pressure-compensating support when and where needed. Footwear or ankle-covering boots are also disclosed which are designed and constructed to receive and maintain such removable fitting pads therein, and which also include therein other, separate and distinct, removable fitting pads.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. An adjustable, multi-sectional, pressure-compensating fitting pad of desired shape and size, which comprises
a multi-sectional, shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein a predetermined volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide an adjustable, multi-sectional, pressure-compensating fitting pad, said multi-sectional enclosure being shaped and constructed to provide therein a reservoir section and at least one communicating primary fitting section, including interconnecting restrictable flow control passageway means, to allow confined fitting material in said primary fitting section to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted on that section of the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure, and to provide a reservoir section from or to which at least some flowable fitting material may be selectively transferred, as desired, within the enclosure to or from said primary fitting section through said passageway means, said passageway means being positioned, shaped and constructed to be selectively opened, to provide for said transfer of fitting material from or to said reservoir or fitting sections, or closed, as desired, by separating or partitioning means, said closing of the flow control passageway means thereby selectively restricts or prevents the ingress or egress of flowable fitting material from one section to the other partitioned or separated section and maintains a desired or controlled volume of fitting material in said primary fitting section.
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7. In a boot that covers the ankle of the wearer, the improvement comprising
providing in combination with and disposed and positioned in said boot along selected portions thereof, including selected front and side portions, including the ankle, of the foot, an adjustable, removable, pressure-compensating fitting pad having a fitting portion which substantially assumes the shape of selected portions of the foot covered thereby and provides proper, controllable and ready fitting, firm support and comfort to selected portions of the foot, and which comprises a shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein a predetermined volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide an adjustable, pressure-compensating fitting pad, said enclosure being shaped and constructed to provide therein a reservoir section and at least one communicating primary fitting section, to allow confined fitting material in said primary fitting section to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted on that section of the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure, and to provide a reservoir section from or to which at least some flowable fitting material may be selectively transferred, as desired, within the enclosure to or from said primary fitting section, and including means for selectively restricting or preventing the flow of flowable fitting material from one section to the other section and maintaining a desired or controllable volume of fitting material in said primary fitting section.
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17. A ski boot, which comprises:
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a substantially rigid outer shell, a flexible liner member disposed within said shell and having wall means with an inner surface and an outer surface, and constructed to conform substantially to the contour of a wearer'"'"'s foot, said flexible liner member having at least one cavity associated with said outer surface thereof, whereby space or clearance is provided between said outer surface of the liner member and said outer shell, said space or clearance being shaped and of a size to fully receive an adjustable, removable, pressure-compensating fitting pad which provides proper, controllable and ready fitting, firm support and comfort to selected regions of the foot, including selected front and side regions, including the ankle, said adjustable fitting pad comprising a shaped, flexible protective enclosure having retained therein a predetermined volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide an adjustable, pressure-compensating fitting pad, said enclosure being shaped and constructed to provide therein a reservoir section and at least one communicating primary fitting section, to allow confined fitting material in said primary fitting section to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted by the foot on that section of the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure, and to provide a reservoir section from or to which at least some flowable fitting material may be selectively transferred, as desired, within the enclosure to or from said primary fitting section, and including means for selectively restricting or preventing the flow of flowable fitting material from one section to the other section and maintaining a desired or controllable volume of fitting material in said primary fitting section, said ski boot being constructed so that upon placement of the foot to be fitted into said flexible liner member, the fitting material selectively present in at least said primary fitting section flows and is deformed, so as to place said flexible liner member into snug, but comfortable, fitting relationship with selected regions of the foot and to maintain such relationship during the wearing of the ski boot. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification