Skate boot construction with 3-D heel pocket

• US 7,373,742 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2005
• Issued: 05/20/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sport Maska Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Original Assignee: Sport Maska Incorporated (Adidas AG)
• Inventors: Murphy, Stephen
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US11/067,019
• Publication Number:
  US 20050193594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,180 Days
• Field of Search: 361/15, 36/89
• US Class Current: 36/115
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/088 Heel stiffeners A43B23/10, A43B23/14, A43B23/16, A43B23/17 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1616 Inner boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/1691 characterised by the higher part of the upper, e.g. surrounding the ankle, by the quarter or cuff

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a 3-D insert to be disposed in a skate boot so as to eliminate or reduce the gap between the posterior section of the Achille'"'"'s heel and the boot liner.

Claims

1. A skate boot comprising:

a boot-shaped outer;

a support guard positioned inwardly from the outer, the guard including a tendon guard support, an ankle support and a heel counter;

a cushioning insert positioned inwardly from the support guard, the insert including a middle portion positioned to cover at least part of an Achilles tendon of a wearer of the boot and lateral and medial side portions extending from the middle portion to respectively cover at least part of lateral and medial malleoli of the wearer; and

a liner positioned inwardly from the insert;

wherein the middle portion has a thickness at least equal to that of the side portions, such as to at least partially fill a gap between the Achilles tendon and the boot.

2. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the middle and side portions of the insert are integral with one another.

3. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the side portions are connected to the middle portion through one of hinge means and a scam.

4. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a rectangular shape with an indentation defined along a bottom side thereof, the indentation being shaped to trace a contour of a heel of the wearer.

5. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the insert has a substantially triangular shape with an indentation defined along a bottom side thereof, the indentation being shaped to trace a contour of a heel of the wearer.

6. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the insert is crescent shaped such as to define an indentation along a bottom side thereof, the indentation being shaped to trace a contour of a heel of the wearer.

7. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the middle portion is thicker than the side portions.

8. The skate boot according to claim 1, wherein the insert completely fills the gap between the Achilles tendon and the boot.