Tongue stiffener for footwear

• US 6,360,454 B1
• Filed: 12/07/1999
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Burton Corporation
• Original Assignee: Burton Corporation
• Inventors: Tan, Sung-Ho Joe, Bailey, Catherine, Dachgruber, Susanne
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US09/457,121
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 361/171, 361/191, 36/54
• US Class Current: 36/54
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/26 Tongues for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0401 Snowboard boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0405 Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0464 with exchangeable parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0484 permitting easy replacement of parts

Abstract

A tongue construction for footwear is configured with a tongue and a stiffener that is able to move relative to the tongue, thereby resisting pinching of the rider'"'"'s foot as the boot is flexed. As a result, footwear having desired stiffness while substantially reducing discomfort, especially during flexing of the footwear is provided. By allowing the stiffener to slide rather than bend, or at least to reduce the extent of bending of the stiffener, pinching of the dorsal area near the ankle may be minimized as may be digging of the stiffener into the dorsal area near the toe. Consequently, a soft or hybrid snowboard boot is provided that provides both enhanced power transmission as well as improved wearer comfort.

Claims

1. A snowboard boot constructed as one of a soft snowboard boot and a hybrid snowboard boot, the boot comprising:

a boot body including a flexible upper, at least a portion of which is formed of flexible material, and a sole;

a flexible, non-rigid tongue associated with said boot body; and

a tongue stiffener having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of said flexible, non-rigid tongue and including an elongated body having a first portion engaged to said tongue and a second portion being movable relative to said tongue as said tongue is flexed forwardly to reduce pressing of said stiffener into said tongue.

2. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is removably fixed to said tongue.

3. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is an upper end of said tongue stiffener.

4. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said second portion of said stiffener is a lower end of said tongue stiffener.

5. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue defines a shin-to-toe direction, with said tongue stiffener being movable substantially along at least said shin-to-toe direction.

6. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue stiffener has a length substantially less than a length of said tongue.

7. The boot according to claim 4, wherein said lower end of said tongue stiffener is spaced from a lower end of said tongue.

8. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue further includes a medial side and a lateral side, said tongue stiffener being movable toward said medial or lateral sides in response to flexing of the boot in a respective medial or lateral direction.

9. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue includes a recess formed in an outward facing surface thereof, said recess receiving said tongue stiffener.

10. The boot according to claim 9, wherein said recess includes a lower edge and wherein a length of said recess is formed larger than a length of said tongue stiffener, thereby defining an open area between a lower end of said tongue stiffener and said lower edge of said recess, said open area facilitating relative movement of said tongue stiffener within said recess.

11. The boot according to claim 9, wherein said recess has a depth of about equal to a thickness of said tongue stiffener such that an extent to which the tongue stiffener protrudes beyond said outward facing surface of said tongue is minimized.

12. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue stiffener overlies said tongue and wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to maintain said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement between said tongue stiffener and said tongue.

13. The boot according to claim 12, wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to loosely constrain longitudinal, medial and lateral movement of said tongue stiffener.

14. The boot according to claim 12, further comprising a cover attached to at least said lower end of said tongue, said cover maintaining said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

15. The boot according to claim 1, wherein an end of said tongue stiffener includes a tip having a narrowing dimensioned cross-section, said tip thereby facilitating movement of the stiffener relative to the tongue.

16. The boot according to claim 1, further comprising a hook attached to said tongue to hold said first portion of said stiffener to said tongue.

17. The boot according to claim 16, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a slot engaging with said hook.

18. The boot according to claim 16, wherein said tongue includes an opening and wherein said hook includes a base passing through said opening and a hook insert secured to said base.

19. The boot according to claim 18, wherein said tongue includes a depression formed in an inward facing surface of said tongue, said depression surrounding said opening, said base being received within said depression such that an extent to which the base protrudes beyond said inward facing surface is minimized.

20. The boot according to claim 19, further comprising a foam covering attached over an inward facing side of said base.

21. The boot according to claim 20, wherein said base and said hook insert cooperate with each other to substantially reduce rotation of the hook insert relative to the base.

22. The boot according to claim 18, wherein said hook insert snap fits into engagement with said base.

23. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said boot has a closure device to secure said boot to a wearer and wherein said stiffener includes at least one receiving feature constructed and arranged to cooperate with the closure device such that the closure device secures said first portion of said stiffener to said tongue as the closure device closes said boot.

24. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said boot includes a pair of eye stays configured to draw toward each other upon tightening of said boot to a wearer, the eye stays defining a resulting space therebetween, the stiffener having a width sufficient to lie within said resulting space without interference with the eye stays.

25. The boot according to claim 23, wherein said receiving feature centers said tongue and said tongue stiffener relative to said boot upon closing said boot about the wearer.

26. The boot according to claim 23, wherein said receiving feature is an eyelet formed in said tongue stiffener, said eyelet constructed and arranged to receive a lace of said boot.

27. The boot according to claim 1, wherein the stiffness of the tongue stiffener is suitable to provide a substantial resistance to flexing beyond a forward flex angle of about 45°

.

28. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue stiffener includes at least one aperture formed therein.

29. The boot according to claim 1, further comprising at least one stiffness adjuster cooperating with said tongue stiffener to selectively change the stiffness of said tongue stiffener.

30. The boot according to claim 28, further comprising a stiffness adjuster placed within said at least one aperture to selectively change the stiffness of said tongue stiffener.

31. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue stiffener overlies said tongue.

32. The boot according to claim 1, wherein the stiffener body includes a flex inducing member formed therein.

33. The boot according to claim 32, wherein said stiffener body is formed in an hour-glass shape defining a waist area.

34. The boot according to claim 33, wherein said stiffener body includes sidewalls and wherein said flex inducing member comprises a plurality of flex inducing members formed along said sidewalls in said waist area.

35. The boot according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of interchangeable stiffeners, each stiffener being removably attached to said tongue at said first portion of said stiffener, each stiffener having a different flexibility.

36. The boot according to claim 1, further comprising means for attaching said first stiffener portion to said tongue.

37. The boot according to claim 1, further comprising an attachment member constructed and arranged to attach said first portion of said stiffener to said tongue.

38. The boot according to claim 1, further comprising a pocket attached to and disposed at a lower end of said tongue, said pocket maintaining said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

39. The boot according to claim 38, further comprising a pocket attached to and disposed at an upper end of said tongue, said pocket maintaining said first stiffener portion adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

40. The boot according to claim 39, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a midsection portion that free from attachment to the tongue.

41. The boot according to claim 1, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a midsection portion that is a free from attachment to the tongue.

42. A snowboard boot constructed as one of a soft snowboard boot and a hybrid snowboard boot, the boot comprising:

a boot body having a sole and a flexible upper, at least a portion of which is formed of flexible material;

a flexible, non-rigid tongue associated with said boot body;

a stiffener having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of said flexible, non-rigid tongue; and

a post mounted to said flexible, non-rigid tongue;

said stiffener including an opening for releasbly engaging said stiffener to said post so that said stiffener is mounted to said flexible, non-rigid tongue, wherein at least a portion of said stiffener is movable relative to said tongue as said tongue is flexed forwardly to reduce pressing of said stiffener into said tongue.

43. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is removably fixed to said tongue.

44. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is an upper end of said tongue stiffener.

45. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said second portion of said stiffener is a lower end of said tongue stiffener.

46. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said tongue defines a shin-to-toe direction, with said tongue stiffener being movable substantially along at least said shin-to-toe direction.

47. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said tongue further includes a medial side and a lateral side, said tongue stiffener being movable toward said medial or lateral sides in response to flexing of the boot in a respective medial or lateral direction.

48. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said tongue stiffener overlies said tongue and wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to maintain said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement between said tongue stiffener and said tongue.

49. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to loosely constrain longitudinal, medial and lateral movement of said tongue stiffener.

50. The boot according to claim 42, wherein the stiffness of the tongue stiffener is suitable to provide a substantial resistance to flexing beyond a forward flex angle of about 45°

.

51. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said tongue stiffener overlies said tongue.

52. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said stiffener body is formed in an hour-glass shape defining a waist area.

53. The boot according to claim 42, further comprising a pocket attached to and disposed at a lower end of said tongue, said pocket maintaining said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

54. The boot according to claim 42, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a midsection portion that is free from attachment to the tongue.

55. A snowboard boot constructed as one of a soft snowboard boot and a hybrid snowboard boot, the boot comprising:

a boot body having a sole and a flexible upper, at least a portion of which is formed of flexible material;

a flexible, non-rigid tongue associated with said boot body, said tongue including a pocket;

a stiffener having a stiffness greater than a stiffness of said flexible, non-rigid tongue, said stiffener having a first portion and a second portion, one of the first and second portions being supportable within said pocket when said tongue is in a rest position and which is movable relative to said tongue as said tongue is flexed forwardly to reduce pressing of said stiffener into said tongue.

56. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is removably fixed to said tongue.

57. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is an upper end of said tongue stiffener.

58. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said second portion of said stiffener is a lower end of said tongue stiffener.

59. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said tongue defines a shin-to-toe direction, with said tongue stiffener being movable substantially along at least said shin-to-toe direction.

60. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said tongue further includes a medial side and a lateral side, said tongue stiffener being movable toward said medial or lateral sides in response to flexing of the boot in a respective medial or lateral direction.

61. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said tongue stiffener overlies said tongue and wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to maintain said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement between said tongue stiffener and said tongue.

62. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to loosely constrain longitudinal, medial and lateral movement of said tongue stiffener.

63. The boot according to claim 55, wherein the stiffness of the tongue stiffener is suitable to provide a substantial resistance to flexing beyond a forward flex angle of about 45°

.

64. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said stiffener body is formed in an hour-glass shape defining a waist area.

65. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said pocket maintains said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

66. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said pocket maintains said first portion adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

67. The boot according to claim 55, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a midsection portion that is free from attachment to the tongue.

68. A snowboard boot constructed as one of a soft snowboard boot and a hybrid snowboard boot, the boot comprising:

a boot body including a flexible upper, at least a portion of which is formed of flexible material, and a sole;

a tongue associated with said boot body; and

a tongue stiffener overlying said tongue, said tongue stiffener including an elongated body having a first portion engaged to said tongue and a second portion being movable relative to said tongue as said tongue is flexed forwardly to reduce pressing of said stiffener into said tongue.

69. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is removably fixed to said tongue.

70. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said first portion of said stiffener is an upper end of said tongue stiffener.

71. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said second portion of said stiffener is a lower end of said tongue stiffener.

72. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said tongue defines a shin-to-toe direction, with said tongue stiffener being movable substantially along at least said shin-to-toe direction.

73. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said tongue further includes a medial side and a lateral side, said tongue stiffener being movable toward said medial or lateral sides in response to flexing of the boot in a respective medial or lateral direction.

74. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said tongue is constructed and arranged to loosely constrain longitudinal, medial and lateral movement of said tongue stiffener.

75. The boot according to claim 68, further comprising a hook attached to said tongue to hold said first portion of said stiffener to said tongue.

76. The boot according to claim 75, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a slot engaging with said hook.

77. The boot according to claim 68, wherein the stiffness of the tongue stiffener is suitable to provide a substantial resistance to flexing beyond a forward flex angle of about 45°

.

78. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said stiffener body is formed in an hour-glass shape defining a waist area.

79. The boot according to claim 68, further comprising means for attaching said first stiffener portion to said tongue.

80. The boot according to claim 68, further comprising an attachment member constructed and arranged to attach said first portion of said stiffener to said tongue.

81. The boot according to claim 68, further comprising a pocket attached to and disposed at a lower end of said tongue, said pocket maintaining said second portion of said stiffener adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

82. The boot according to claim 81, further comprising a pocket attached to and disposed at an upper end of said tongue, said pocket maintaining said first stiffener portion adjacent to said tongue while allowing relative movement therebetween.

83. The boot according to claim 82, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a midsection portion that is free from attachment to the tongue.

84. The boot according to claim 68, wherein said tongue stiffener includes a midsection portion that is free from attachment to the tongue.