Ski boot with ankle support
First Claim
1. A ski boot comprisinga substantially rigid outer shell,a heel spoiler for selectively engaging and supporting the back of the wearer'"'"'s lower leg and hingedly connected to the outer shell to facilitate pivotal movement of the spoiler between open and closed positions;
- a boot liner disposed within said outer shell for comfortably seating a wearer'"'"'s foot within the boot,selectively operable closure means for securing the boot to a wearer'"'"'s foot, andankle support means, disposed substantially interior of the outer shell, for supportingly engaging the front of wearer'"'"'s foot above the malleolus to maintain the wearer'"'"'s foot supportingly engaged within the boot when the boot is in the closed position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A ski boot comprises a rigid outer shell and an inner shell which is relatively flexible. The inner shell features a relatively flexible saddle region which extends over the metatarsal and/or instep portions of a wearer'"'"'s foot. Tensile elements, such as cables or straps, extend over the saddle and cooperate with buckle mechanisms to provide a variable supporting force to the wearer'"'"'s foot. The inner shell also comprises an ankle support structure which grasps the wearer'"'"'s leg at a point just above the malleolus and cooperates with the heel spoiler to maintain the wearer'"'"'s heel in contact with the sole of the boot.
In another embodiment the ski boot features a hinged inner sole. The inner sole is secured to the outer shell in the phalanx region of the sole, and also is hingedly connected to the heel spoiler in the heel region of the inner sole. A hinge, either mechanical or natural, is disposed adjacent to or in common with the fastening point. The hinge enables heel, arch and metatarsal regions to pivot relative to the phalanx region of the sole to improve the ease of foot entry and exit.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A ski boot comprising
a substantially rigid outer shell, a heel spoiler for selectively engaging and supporting the back of the wearer'"'"'s lower leg and hingedly connected to the outer shell to facilitate pivotal movement of the spoiler between open and closed positions; -
a boot liner disposed within said outer shell for comfortably seating a wearer'"'"'s foot within the boot, selectively operable closure means for securing the boot to a wearer'"'"'s foot, and ankle support means, disposed substantially interior of the outer shell, for supportingly engaging the front of wearer'"'"'s foot above the malleolus to maintain the wearer'"'"'s foot supportingly engaged within the boot when the boot is in the closed position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A ski boot having a substantially rigid outer shell with an outer sole and an inner shell supportingly disposed within said outer shell, and further having the improvement comprising
a rear support element rotationally movable relative to said outer shell sole between a boot open position and a boot closed position, for supportingly engaging the back of the leg of a wearer, at least behind a region above the malleolus, when in said closed position. ankle support means on said inner shell for supportingly engaging the leg of a wearer at least in front of a region above the malleolus, and selectively operable closure means for urging said rear support element and said ankle support means together, for engagement with the leg of a wearer, when in a closed position and alternatively for releasing said urging when in an open position.
Specification