Sport footwear construction

• US 6,499,233 B1
• Filed: 12/22/1999
• Issued: 12/31/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Bauer Hockey, LLC
• Original Assignee: Bauer Nike Hockey, Inc. (Nike, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chenevert, François
• Primary Examiner(s): Yu, Mickey
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNOLD III, TROY G
• Application Number:
  US09/469,872
• Time in Patent Office: 1,105 Days
• Field of Search: 361/15, 36/88, 36/89, 36/93, 361/09, 36/92, 36/68, 361/176, 36/10, 36/55
• US Class Current: 36/55
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/16 with heel or toe caps
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• 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: A43B 5/1666 characterised by the upper
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 100/02 Punching and eyelet-setting machines or tools for garments in general A41H37/02
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/02 rigidly mounted on the sole of the boot
• CPC Class Codes: A63C 1/42 Manufacture of skates

Abstract

A footwear is disclosed which comprises a molded shell for supporting and at least partially enclosing a wearer'"'"'s foot. The shell has an inner side, an outer side, a sole portion covering the bottom area of the wearer'"'"'s foot, lateral and medial quarters projecting upwardly from each side of the sole portion and a heel counter surrounding the back of the wearer'"'"'s foot and linking the lateral and medial quarters together. An outer skin like covering is affixed to the outer side of the shell and a frontal toe portion substantially covers the toe area of the wearer. A tongue covers the upper frontal area of the footwear; and finally a ground engaging supporting element is mounted to the bottom of the shell. More specifically, an ice skate boot and an in-line roller skate are disclosed having shell and an outer skin.

Claims

1. A footwear comprising:

(a) a structural molded inner shell for supporting and enclosing a foot having a bottom area, a length, right and left sides, a back, and a toe area, said inner shell having an inner side, an outer side, a sole portion covering the bottom area of the foot, lateral and medial quarters extending along the length of the foot and projecting upwardly from each side of said sole portion to cover the right and left sides of the foot, and a heel counter surrounding the back of the foot and linking said lateral and medial quartets together;

(b) an outer skin permanently bonded onto said outer side of said inner shell, said outer skin comprising right and left quarters that only cover said heel counter and said lateral and medial quarters of said inner shell and extend at least partially but not completely under said sole portion of said inner shell;

(c) a frontal toe portion substantially covering the toe area of the foot;

(d) a tongue covering the upper frontal area of said inner shell; and

(e) a ground-engaging supporting element mounted to the bottom of said footwear.

2. A footwear as defined in claim 1 further comprising a footbed cushioning the sole portion and a lower inner portion of each side of said structural molded inner shell.

3. A footwear as defined in claim 1 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises an ankle counter located above said heel counter.

4. A footwear as defined in claim 3 wherein said ankle counter surrounds the sides and back of the wearer'"'"'s ankle and is shaped to overlie the wearer'"'"'s malleoli.

5. A footwear as defined in claim 4 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises depression areas located between said heel counter and ankle counter on each side of said structural molded inner shell.

6. A footwear as defined in claim 4 further comprising a lining extending along an inside surface of said ankle counter.

7. A footwear as defined in claim 4 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises a tendon guard rising above said ankle counter and said lateral and medial quarters.

8. A footwear as defined in claim 7 further comprising a lining extending along an inside surface of said ankle counter and said tendon guard.

9. A footwear as defined in claim 7 wherein said structural molded inner shell is shaped to generally conform to the anatomical contour of a human foot and ankle.

10. A footwear as defined in claim 4 wherein said quarters of said structural molded inner shell further comprises edges which together define the opening of said footwear for insertion and removal of the foot, each edge having an upper segment curving outwardly away from each other.

11. A footwear as defined in claim 1 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises thinned wall areas to provide more flexibility in selected portion of said structural molded inner shell.

12. A footwear as defined in claim 11 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises a stiffening member.

13. A footwear as defined in claim 12 wherein said stiffening member defines said sole, said ankle counter and a portion of said heel counter which links said ankle counter and said sole together to form a continuous stiffening member.

14. A footwear as defined in claim 13 wherein said stiffening member is chemically bonded to the rest of said structural molded inner shell.

15. A footwear as defined in claim 14 wherein said stiffening member is more rigid than the rest of said structural molded inner shell.

16. A footwear as defined in claim 13 wherein one of said thinned wall areas is located in between said ankle counter and said sole defined by said stiffening member in said lateral and medial quarters.

17. An ice skate comprising:

(a) a structural molded inner shell for supporting and enclosing a foot having a bottom area, a length, right and left sides, a back, and a toe area, said inner shell having an inner side, an outer side, a sole portion covering the bottom area of the foot, lateral and medial quarters extending along the length of the foot and projecting upwardly from each side of said sole portion to cover the right and left sides of the foot, and a heel counter surrounding the back of the foot and linking said lateral and medial quarters together;

(b) an outer skin permanently bonded onto said outer side of said inner shell, said outer skin comprising right and left quarters that only cover said heel counter and said lateral and medial quarters of said inner shell and extend at least partially but not completely under said sole portion of said inner shell;

(c) a frontal toe portion substantially covering the toe area of the foot;

(d) a tongue covering the upper frontal area of said inner shell; and

(e) an ice runner holder and ice runner assembly mounted to the bottom of said ice skate.

18. An ice skate as defined in claim 17 further comprising a footbed cushioning the sole portion and a lower inner portion of each side of said structural molded inner shell.

19. An ice skate as defined in claim 17 wherein said ankle counter is shaped to overlie the wearer'"'"'s malleoli.

20. An ice skate as defined in claim 19 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises depression areas located between said heel counter and ankle counter on each side of said structural molded inner shell.

21. An ice skate as defined in claim 18 further comprising a lining extending along an inside surface of said ankle counter.

22. An ice skate as defined in claim 20 wherein said structural molded inner shell is shaped to generally conform to the anatomical contour of a human foot and ankle.

23. An ice skate as defined in claim 22 wherein said quarters of said structural molded inner shell further comprises edges which together define the opening of said footwear for insertion and removal of the foot, each edge having an upper segment curving outwardly away from each other.

24. An ice skate as defined in claim 22 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises thinned wall areas to provide more flexibility in selected portion of said structural molded inner shell.

25. An ice skate as defined in claim 24 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises a stiffening member.

26. An ice skate as defined in claim 25 wherein said stiffening member defines said sole, said ankle counter and a portion of said heel counter which links said ankle counter and said sole together to form a continuous stiffening member.

27. An ice skate as defined in claim 26 wherein said stiffening member is chemically bonded to the rest of said structural molded inner shell.

28. An ice skate as defined in claim 27 wherein said stiffening member is more rigid than the rest of said structural molded inner shell.

29. An in-line roller skate comprising:

(a) a structural molded inner shell for supporting and enclosing a foot having a bottom area, a length, right and left sides, a back, and a toe area, said inner shell having an inner side, an outer side, a sole portion covering the bottom area of the foot, lateral and medial quarters extending along the length of the foot and projecting upwardly from each side of said sole portion to cover the right and left sides of the foot, and a heel counter surrounding the back of the foot and linking said lateral and medial quarters together;

(b) an outer skin permanently bonded onto said outer side of said inner shell, said outer skin comprising right and left quarters that only cover said heel counter and said lateral and medial quarters of said inner shell and extend at least partially but not completely under said sole portion of said inner shell;

(c) a frontal toe portion substantially covering the toe area of the foot;

(d) a tongue covering the upper frontal area of said inner shell; and

(e) an in-line roller chassis mounted to the bottom of said in-line roller skate.

30. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 29 further comprising a footbed cushioning the sole portion and a lower inner portion of each side of said structural molded inner shell.

31. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 29 wherein said ankle counter is shaped to overlie the wearer'"'"'s malleoli.

32. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 31 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises depression areas located between said heel counter and ankle counter on each side of said structural molded inner shell.

33. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 30 further comprising a lining extending along an inside surface of said ankle counter.

34. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 33 wherein said structural molded inner shell is shaped to generally conform to the anatomical contour of a human foot and ankle.

35. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 34 wherein said quarters of said structural molded inner shell further comprises edges which together define the opening of said footwear for insertion and removal of the foot, each edge having an upper segment curving outwardly away from each other.

36. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 35 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises thinned wall areas to provide more flexibility in selected portion of said structural molded inner shell.

37. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 36 wherein said structural molded inner shell further comprises a stiffening member.

38. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 37 wherein said stiffening member defines said sole, said ankle counter and a portion of said heel counter which links said ankle counter and said sole together to form a continuous stiffening member.

39. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 38 wherein said stiffening member is chemically bonded to the rest of said structural molded inner shell.

40. An in-line roller skate as defined in claim 39 wherein said stiffening member is more rigid than the rest of said structural molded inner shell.