Boot with an adjustable length upper adapted for skating

• US 6,374,516 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 04/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Miralles, Thierry, Reiller, Raphaël, Bonaventure, Laurent
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mohandesi, Jila M.
• Application Number:
  US09/487,988
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 36/97, 361/02, 361/00, 361/05, 36/82, 361/15, 361/01, 361/03, 36/10, 36/55
• US Class Current: 36/115
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0401 Snowboard boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0482 made from materials with different rigidities
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1608 size adjustable skates with special foot-plates for the boot divided into two parts permitting adjustment to the size of the foot A63C1/26
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1625 made from materials with different rigidities
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/26 divided into two parts permitting adjustment to the size of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/0086 Roller skates adjustable in length to fit the size of the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 17/06 single-track type

Abstract

A skating boot adapted to be affixed to a chassis, the boot including a flexible, at least partially padded upper, shaped to envelope the foot and the lower leg, and a reinforcing portion including at least one rigid sole connected to the chassis and a heel reinforcement. The flexible upper includes a front foot covering portion having a rear scallop at least in the heel zone. A rear cuff, independent of the covering portion, includes a heel enveloping portion and a rising portion to envelope the lower leg. The front foot covering portion and the rear cuff are assembled detachably to form a flexible upper whose length can be adjusted. The boot is adaptable to a variety of sizes and foot morphologies, while ensuring a uniform enveloping and the same level of comfort, regardless of the adjustment length adopted.

Claims

1. A skating boot adapted to be affixed to a skate chassis, the boot comprising:

a flexible, at least partially padded upper, shaped to envelope the foot and the lower leg;

a reinforcing portion comprising at least one rigid sole and a heel reinforcement, the rigid sole to be connected to the chassis, said flexible upper comprising a liner of said reinforcing portion;

the flexible upper comprising a front foot covering portion having a rear scallop at least in the heel zone; and

a rear cuff, independently movable with respect to the covering portion, comprising a heel enveloping portion and a rising portion to envelope the lower leg, the rear cuff extending forwardly to lateral edges, the lateral edges extending upwardly, one of the rear cuff and the fore-foot covering portion overlapping the other, whereby the lateral edges of the rear cuff are positioned forwardly of the lateral edges of the fore-foot covering portion;

the front foot covering portion and the rear cuff being assembled to form a flexible upper whose length can be adjusted.

2. A boot as defined by claim 1, wherein the cuff comprises lateral edges cut out to free the area of the malleoli, which is overlapped by the covering portion within a range of adjustment having a pre-determined length.

3. A boot as defined by claim 1, wherein the front foot covering portion and the rear cuff are assembled by overlapping two sole portion thicknesses whose rigidity is greater than the rigidity of the rest of the upper;

the overlapping length is capable of being modified according to the adjustment desired for the upper.

4. A boot as defined by claim 2, wherein the front foot covering portion and the rear cuff are, in addition, assembled by at least the partial overlapping of the lateral parts of each of said portions that together delineate the volume of the flexible upper.

5. A boot as defined by claim 3, wherein the front foot covering portion comprises a sole portion and a vamp portion connected to the sole portion;

the sole portion having a rigid tongue extending the sole portion towards the rear beyond the vamp portion;

the tongue being at least partially housed during the overlapping of the rear cuff in the sole portion.

6. A boot as defined by claim 1, wherein the reinforcing portion comprises a first sub-assembly forming a rigid cradle comprising the heel reinforcement, which is affixed to the rigid sole, and a second sub-assembly, relatively more flexible, constituting a front foot covering vamp and comprising a plantar support, said plantar support being nested in the cradle and being connected thereto in a pre-determined longitudinal position by means of detachable connecting elements arranged between the first and second sub-assemblies to allow longitudinal adjustment within a range of positions, the flexible upper being inserted within the volume defined by the first and second sub-assemblies.

7. A boot as defined by claim 6, wherein the vamp comprises deformable weak zones allowing its nesting in the cradle.

8. A boot as defined by claim 7, wherein the deformable weak zones are constituted of longitudinal slots arranged in the plantar support allowing a deformation thereof during its passage in the cradle at the moment of nesting.

9. A boot as defined by claim 6, wherein the adjustment and detachable connecting elements comprise at least one assembly formed by an elongate slot oriented longitudinally in the plantar support and by a screw passing through the elongate slot and into the rigid sole of the cradle.

10. A boot as defined by claim 9, wherein the adjustment and detachable connecting elements form common connecting elements for the boot on the chassis.

11. A skate comprising a boot affixed to a skate chassis, said skate comprising:

a chassis having a plurality of wheels mounted for rotation;

a boot comprising;

a reinforcing portion comprising at least a rigid sole and a heel reinforcement, said sole connected to said chassis;

a flexible liner of said reinforcing portion, said flexible liner comprising at least a partially padded upper, shaped to envelope the foot and the lower leg, said upper of said flexible liner comprising;

a fore-foot covering portion extending rearwardly to upwardly extending lateral edges forward of a heel area of the boot;

a rear cuff, independently movable with respect to said forefoot covering portion, said rear cuff comprising a heel enveloping portion and a rising portion to envelope the lower leg, said rear cuff extending forwardly to lateral edges, said lateral edges extending upwardly, one of said rear cuff and said fore-foot covering portion overlapping the other, whereby said lateral edges of said rear cuff are positioned forwardly of said lateral edges of said fore-foot covering portion, said fore-foot covering portion and said rear cuff thereby forming a length-adjustable flexible upper.

12. A skate according to claim 11, wherein:

said lateral edges of said rear cuff extend upwardly and forwardly.

13. A skate according to claim 11, wherein:

said rear cuff extends upwardly above an ankle area of the boot.

14. A skate according to claim 11, wherein:

said reinforcing portion of said boot is length-adjustable, said length-adjustable reinforcing portion comprising;

a rigid cradle comprising said rigid sole and said heel reinforcement;

a vamp having a plantar support, said plantar support being nested in said rigid cradle in a determinate longitudinal position with respect to said rigid cradle within a range of longitudinal positions, said plantar support being connected to said rigid cradle with adjustable connecting elements.

15. A skate according to claim 11, wherein:

said reinforcing portion further comprises a vamp extending above said rigid sole;

said flexible upper is positioned within said vamp and comprises an inner liner of said vamp.

16. A skate according to claim 15, further comprising:

a collar mounted for longitudinal movement with respect to said heel-reinforcement, said collar extending above an ankle portion of the boot to provide lateral support to a user'"'"'s ankle and lower leg.

17. A skate according to claim 11, wherein:

said vamp includes deformable weakened zones allow said plantar support to be nested within said rigid cradle.

18. A skate according to claim 17, wherein:

said deformable weakened zones comprise longitudinally elongated slots extending through said plantar support of said vamp.

19. A skate according to claim 11, wherein:

said flexible upper has a toe reinforcement connected to said fore-foot covering portion;

said fore-foot covering portion of said flexible upper is connected directly to said rigid sole of said reinforcing portion with adjustable connecting elements to facilitate length-wise adjustment of said flexible upper.

20. A skating boot adapted to be affixed to a skate chassis, the boot comprising:

a flexible, at least partially padded uppers shaped to envelope the foot and the lower leg;

a reinforcing portion comprising at least one rigid sole and a heel reinforcement, the rigid sole to be connected to the chassis, said flexible upper comprising a liner of said reinforcing portion;

the flexible upper comprising a front foot covering portion having a rear scallop at least in the heel zone; and

a rear cuff, independently movable with respect to the covering portion, comprising a heel enveloping portion and a rising portion to envelope the lower leg;

the front foot covering portion and the rear cuff being assembled to form a flexible upper whose length ea be adjusted;

wherein the front foot covering portion and the rear cuff are assembled by overlapping two sole portion thicknesses whose rigidity is greater than the rigidity of the rest of the upper, the overlapping length being capable of being modified according to the adjustment desired for the upper, and

wherein the front foot covering portion comprises a sole portion and a vamp portion connected to the sole portion, the sole portion having a rigid tongue extending the sole portion towards Fe rear beyond the vamp portion, the tongue being at least partially housed during the overlapping of the rear cuff in the sole portion.