Footwear

• US 6,804,901 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Michel Joubert, Patrice Roy
• Original Assignee: Michel Joubert, Patrice Roy
• Inventors: Joubert, Michel, Roy, Patrice
• Primary Examiner(s): Kavanaugh, Ted
• Application Number:
  US10/223,727
• Publication Number:
  US 20030093923A1
• Time in Patent Office: 791 Days
• Field of Search: 36/89, 36/93, 36/71, 361/176, 361/15, 36/92, 36/94, 36/95, 36/501, 36/505, 36/54
• US Class Current: 36/50.1
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/02 wedge-like or resilient
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/023 wedge-like A43B17/03 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 19/00 Shoe-shaped inserts; Inserts covering the instep
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0405 Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/141 having an anatomical or curved form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1415 characterised by the location under the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/142 situated under the medial arch, i.e. under the navicular or cuneiform bones
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/144 situated under the heel, i.e. the calcaneus bone
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1445 situated under the midfoot, i.e. the second, third or fourth metatarsal
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/145 situated under the toes, i.e. the phalanges
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/1495 with arch-supports of the bracelet type
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders

Abstract

A skate boot having a sole and an upper, the upper having a medial quarter and a lateral quarter and defining a first pair of parallel fastening rows around the front edge of each quarter, at least in the vamp area of the boot. The median axis of the rows extends between the third and the fourth metatarsal bones of the foot.

Claims

1. A sports footwear having a sole and an upper, the upper having a medial quartet and a lateral quarter arid defining a first pair of parallel fastening rows around a front edge of each quarter, at least in the vamp area of the footwear, and the median axis of the rows extends between the third and the fourth metatarsal bones of the foot, the front edges of the lateral and medial quarters include a second pair of fastening rows above the first pair, wherein the second pair of fastening rows are offset from the first pair and aligned with the anterior portion of the ankle.

2. A sports footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein the fastening rows are provided with a series of lacing eyelets.

3. A sports footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein a lacing band extends about the rear of the boot and includes forward projecting lacing fingers overlapping the medial and lateral quarters respectively extending towards the anterior portion of the ankle, and the second pair of fastening rows comprises lacing books included on the lacing fingers to receive and accommodate a boot lace.

4. A sports footwear as defined in claim 1, wherein a tongue is provided which is attached to a vamp portion of the upper and the tongue includes a contour which follows a gap defined between the first pair of fastening rows and around to the offset second pair of fastening rows.

5. A sports footwear as defined in claim 4, wherein the tongue is fastened along its lateral edge to the lateral quarter and extends between the lateral portion of the first metatarsal bone to the medial portion of the fifth metatarsal bone.

6. A sports footwear as defined in claim 3, wherein the lacing band is fixed to a portion of the upper coincident with the area of the Achilles tendon and a pair of fingers extend forwardly of the band, overlapping over the medial quarter and lateral quarter respectively.

8. A sports footwear as defined in claim 1 the improvement comprising a rigid toe box having a lower edge coincident with a toe portion of the sole, and a rear edge of the toe box being asymmetric and having a parabolic outline between a portion coincident with the joint of the first metatarsal bone and the respective phalange of the foot, and another portion coincident with the joint of the fifth metatarsal bone and the respective phalange.

7. In a sports footwear having a sole, an upper, including a medial quarter and a lateral quarter, a plurality of pads on the interior of the upper, wherein the pads include at least a medial metatarsal pad between the base and the head of the first metatarsal bone, a lateral metatarsal pad near the head of the joints between the metatarsus and the phalanges, a medial malleolal pad having a vertical component between the Achilles tendon and the ankle and a horizontal component below the ankle, a lateral malleolal pad having a vertical component between the Achilles tendon and the ankle, and a horizontal component just below the ankle for the purpose of blocking the foot within the boot, and defining a first pair of parallel fastening rows around the front edge of each quarter, at least in the vamp area of the footwear, arid the median axis of tiac rows extends between the third and the fourth metatarsal bones of the foot.