Fit and support system for sports footwear
First Claim
1. A fit and support system for sports footwear, comprising:
- a lower support shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear evenly against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the medial and lateral aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint but covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the footwear; and
an upper support shaped and dimensioned to bear evenly against the lower leg at the front above and clear of the ankle joint;
said supports being capable of independent relative motion to permit completely unrestricted dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint within the normal range; and
said lower support being sufficiently firm and unyielding to transmit pressure constantly during use from said adjacent inner surface of the footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot in order to substantially reduce articulation of said mid-foot bones and to substantially eliminate upward movement of said bones relative to the footwear.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fit and support system for sports footwear, particularly for ski boots, comprises up to three separate supports. A lower support is shaped and dimensioned to bear evenly against the dorsal or upper surface of the foot, including the medial and lateral aspects thereof, forwardly of the ankle joint to permit unrestricted dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint within the normal range. The support is sufficiently firm to transmit pressure from the footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot to reduce articulation of the bones of the mid-foot during use. An upper support may also be present. This is shaped and dimensioned to bear evenly against the front of the lower leg above the ankle joint. A complementary support may also bear against the lower leg at the rear and sides above the ankle joint. The support system allows proper flexion of the ankle joint while providing firm support for the bones of the mid-foot. When used in ski boots, the system gives the skier good balance and control of the boot even during fast downhill skiing.
72 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A fit and support system for sports footwear, comprising:
- a lower support shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear evenly against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the medial and lateral aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint but covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the footwear; and
an upper support shaped and dimensioned to bear evenly against the lower leg at the front above and clear of the ankle joint;
said supports being capable of independent relative motion to permit completely unrestricted dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint within the normal range; and
said lower support being sufficiently firm and unyielding to transmit pressure constantly during use from said adjacent inner surface of the footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot in order to substantially reduce articulation of said mid-foot bones and to substantially eliminate upward movement of said bones relative to the footwear. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
- a lower support shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear evenly against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the medial and lateral aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint but covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the footwear; and
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21. A support for sports footwear comprising a body of material shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear evenly against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the medial and lateral aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint so as not to restrict dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint within the normal range while covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the footwear, the material being sufficiently firm and unyielding to transmit pressure constantly during use from said adjacent inner surface of the footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot in order to substantially reduce articulation of said mid-foot bones and to substantially eliminate upward movement of said bones relative to the footwear.
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22. A boot assembly for a foot, comprising an outer boot of stiff material having a fastener therefor, and a fit and support system for the boot, said system comprising:
- a lower support shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the lateral and medial aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint but covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the outer boot; and
an upper support shaped and dimensioned to bear against the lower shin at the front above and clear of the ankle joint;
said supports being capable of independent relative motion to permit completely unrestricted dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint within the normal range; and
said lower support being sufficiently firm and unyielding in order to transmit pressure constantly during use from said adjacent inner surface of the boot to the wearer'"'"'s foot in order to substantially reduce articulation of said mid-foot bones and to substantially eliminate upward movement of said bones relative to the boot. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
- a lower support shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the lateral and medial aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint but covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the outer boot; and
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26. Sports footwear including a support for the foot, said support comprising a body of material shaped and dimensioned to fit within the footwear and to bear evenly against the dorsal surface of the foot, including the medial and lateral aspects thereof, forwardly and clear of the ankle joint so as not to restrict dorsiflexion of the foot at the ankle joint within the normal range, while covering a majority of the mid-foot bones, and to occupy substantially all free space between said dorsal surface and an adjacent inner surface of the footwear, said material being sufficiently firm and unyielding to transmit pressure constantly during use from said adjacent inner surface of the footwear to the wearer'"'"'s foot to substantially reduce articulation said mid-foot bones and to substantially eliminate upward movement of said bones relative to the footwear.
Specification