Ski boot walking attachment

• US 6,044,578 A
• Filed: 12/31/1998
• Issued: 04/04/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: William K. Kelz
• Original Assignee: William K. Kelz
• Inventors: Kelz, William K.
• Primary Examiner(s): PATTERSON, MARIE D
• Application Number:
  US09/224,308
• Time in Patent Office: 460 Days
• Field of Search: 36/117.4, 36/7.5, 36/7.6, 36/135, 36/117.3
• US Class Current: 36/7.5
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/18 Devices for holding overshoes in position
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/047 provided with means to improve walking with the skiboot
• CPC Class Codes: A43C 13/00 Wear-resisting attachments

Abstract

A ski boot walking attachment for attachment to an Alpine ski boot for aiding a wearer in walking. The attachment includes a sole having top and bottom faces, front and back ends, and a pair of sides extending between the front and back ends of the sole. The sole also has front, middle and back portions. The width of the middle portion is less than the widths of the front and back portions. The front portion has a front wall upwardly extending from the top face of sole along the front outer perimeter while the back portion has a back wall upwardly extending from the top face of sole along the back outer perimeter. In use, the top face of the sole is adapted for resting the bottom of a ski boot thereon such that the toe of the ski boot abuts against the front wall and the heel of the ski boot abuts against the back wall so that the ski boot is held between the front and back walls.

Claims

1. An attachment for attaching to the bottom of a ski boot, said attachment comprising:

a sole having generally planar top and bottom faces, front and back ends, and a pair of sides extending between said front and back ends of said sole, said top face of said sole being adapted for resting the bottom of a ski boot thereon, said bottom face of said sole being adapted for engaging a walking surface;

said sole having front, middle and back portions, said front portion being positioned adjacent said front end of said sole, said back portion being positioned adjacent said back end of said sole, and said middle portion being interposed between said front and back portions;

said bottom face of said sole having a plurality of generally circular protrusions downwardly extending therefrom, a number of said plurality of protrusions being located on said front portion, another number of said plurality of protrusions being located on said back portion, said protrusions being adapted for providing additional traction to the wearer on the walking surface;

said front, middle and back portions each having a length defined along a line extending between said front and back ends of said sole, wherein said lengths of said front, middle and back portions being generally equal to one another;

said front, middle and back portions each having a width defined between the corresponding portions of said sides of said sole, said widths of said front and back portions being generally equal to one another, said width of said middle portion being less than said widths of said front and back portions;

wherein said width of said middle portion is about one-half said widths of said front and back portions;

said front, middle, and back portions each having a corresponding side portion of each of said sides of said sole;

said corresponding side portions said front portion being generally parallel to each other;

said corresponding side portions of said middle portion being generally parallel to each other;

said corresponding side portions of said back portion being generally parallel to each other;

each of said sides having a front converging region between said corresponding side portions of said front and middle portions, said front converging regions being extended at an obtuse angle to said corresponding side portions of said front and middle portions such that said width of said sole tapers from said front portion to said middle portion;

each of said sides having a back converging region between said corresponding side portions of said back and middle portions, said back converging regions being extended at an obtuse angle to said corresponding side portions of said back and middle portions such that said width of said sole tapers from said front portion to said middle portion;

said front end and said corresponding side portions of said front portion defining an front outer perimeter;

said front portion having a front wall upwardly extending from said top face of sole along said front outer perimeter, said front wall having an upper edge;

said front wall having a height defined from said top face of said sole to said upper edge of said front wall adjacent said front end of said sole,

said front wall having a sloped portion adjacent each of said corresponding side portions of said front portion, said upper edge of said front wall along each of said sloped portions of said front wall sloping towards said top face of said sole adjacent said middle portion such that said upper edges of said sloped portions of said front wall lie in planes extending at an obtuse angle to said top face of said sole;

said back end and said corresponding side portions of said back portion defining a back outer perimeter;

said back portion leaving a back wall upwardly extending from said top face of sole along said back outer perimeter, said back wall having an upper edge;

said back wall having a height defined from said top face of said sole to said upper edge of said back wall adjacent said back end of said sole, said height of said back wall being greater than said height of said front wall;

said back wall having a sloped portion adjacent each of said corresponding side portions of said back portion, said upper edge of said back wall along each or said sloped portions of said back wall sloping towards said top face of said sole adjacent said middle portion such that said upper edges of said sloped portions of said back wall lie in planes extending at an obtuse angle to said top face of said sole;

an arcuate front pulling loop being coupled to said upper edge of said front wall adjacent said front end of said sole such that said front pulling loop upwardly extends from said upper edge of said front wall, said front pulling loop being for pulling the front wall in a direction away front the back wall;

said upper edge of said front wall having a reinforced portion extending therealong between said sloped portions of said front wall for preventing the front pulling loop from tearing away from the front wall when the front pulling loop is pulled;

a arcuate back pulling loop being coupled to said upper edge of said back wall adjacent said back end of said sole such that said back pulling loop upwardly extends from said upper edge of said back wall, said back pulling loop being for pulling the back wall in a direction away from the front wall;

said upper edge of said back wall having a reinforced portion extending therealong between said sloped portions of said back wall for preventing the back pulling loop for tearing away from the back wall when the back pulling loop is pulled;

said front and back pulling loops each extending a height of about 11/2 inches from the upper edge of their associated wall;

said sole and said front and back walls comprising a flexible resiliently elastic material such that the attachment fits around the bottom of the ski boot to protect the ski boot and provide additional traction when walking in the ski boots, wherein said sole comprises a flexible resiliently elastic rubber to aid traction and to help hold the ski boot between the front and back walls; and

wherein said top face of said sole is adapted for resting the bottom of a ski boot thereon such that the toe of the ski boot abuts against said front wall and the heel of the ski boot abuts against the back wall, said front and back walls being adapted for holding the ski boot therebetween to attach the attachment to tile ski boot.