Skate boot construction with integral plastic insert
First Claim
1. A skate boot having an ankle region and a heel counter region, the skate boot comprising:
- a boot-shaped outer;
an insert positioned inwardly from the outer and including three integrally connected portions for cupping a rear part of a wearer'"'"'s foot, the integrally connected portion insert including a heel portion having lateral and medial side sections, an intermediate winged ankle portion shaped to overlie the wearer'"'"'s malleoli, and an upper cuff portion configured to wrap at least partially around the wearer'"'"'s upper ankle; and
a liner overlying the insert,wherein the ankle portion of the insert is connected to the heel portion of the insert by at least one connecting member thereby permitting ankle movement when the wearer'"'"'s foot is received within the boot,wherein the insert is disposed between the liner and the outer thereby adding support to the ankle region and the heel counter region of the boot and preventing the ankle region of the boot from slumping down over the heel counter region of the boot after repeated use, andwherein the outer includes at least two recesses in an area of the ankle portion.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A skate boot is described in which a one-piece plastic ankle and heel counter insert is employed, positioned between the various layers which make up the skate boot. In sequence from outside to inside, the boot includes a conventional outer, the one-piece plastic insert, suitable cushioning, and a lining. The insert has a heel counter portion which is generally U-shaped and which cups around the heel area from along the lateral side, across the heel, and along the medial side, and an integral ankle portion which extends upwardly from the heel area of the heel counter portion and which includes forwardly projecting wing portions which cup around the ankle area from over the area of the lateral malleolus, across the rear and over the area of the medial malleolus. Preferably, the plastic insert extends up most of the height of the back of the boot, and includes lateral and medial cuff portions which extend partially forward along the sides of the skater'"'"'s upper ankle. The one-piece plastic insert provides improved performance and rigidity over conventional separate inserts, while avoiding the tendency of the ankle portion of the skate boot to slump down onto the heel portion with time.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A skate boot having an ankle region and a heel counter region, the skate boot comprising:
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a boot-shaped outer; an insert positioned inwardly from the outer and including three integrally connected portions for cupping a rear part of a wearer'"'"'s foot, the integrally connected portion insert including a heel portion having lateral and medial side sections, an intermediate winged ankle portion shaped to overlie the wearer'"'"'s malleoli, and an upper cuff portion configured to wrap at least partially around the wearer'"'"'s upper ankle; and a liner overlying the insert, wherein the ankle portion of the insert is connected to the heel portion of the insert by at least one connecting member thereby permitting ankle movement when the wearer'"'"'s foot is received within the boot, wherein the insert is disposed between the liner and the outer thereby adding support to the ankle region and the heel counter region of the boot and preventing the ankle region of the boot from slumping down over the heel counter region of the boot after repeated use, and wherein the outer includes at least two recesses in an area of the ankle portion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A skate boot having a heel portion surrounding and supporting the heel of a skater'"'"'s foot, an ankle portion covering the ankle of the skater, a lateral side portion and a medial side portion extending forward from said heel portion and laterally support each side of the skater'"'"'s foot, a sole, and a toe portion covering the toes of the skater'"'"'s foot, said skate boot comprising:
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an outer layer of soft material; an inner lining; a plastic insert disposed between said outer layer and said inner lining, said insert including a heel counter which cups around the heel of the skater, and a winged ankle counter which surrounds the sides and back of the skater'"'"'s ankle and is shaped to overlie the skater'"'"'s malleoli; said heel counter having separate lateral and medial side segments extending partially along said lateral and medial side portions of said skate boot, terminating short of the skate boot tip and joined together at the rear end of said skate boot thereby forming a U-shape structure which is open at the bottom for allowing width variations between said lateral and medial side segments, said heel counter adding structural support to said heel portion of said skate boot and to said lateral side portion and medial side portion of said skate boot; said heel counter and said winged ankle counter being connected for limited pivotal motion of said winged ankle counter relative to said heel counter; said plastic insert being configured for preventing said ankle portion of said skate boot from slumping down over said heel portion of said skate boot after repeated use of said skate boot. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification