U.S. patent application number 10/602831 was filed with the patent office on 2004-12-30 for skate boot with a rear opening.
Invention is credited to Howard, Stephanie.
Application Number | 20040261298 10/602831 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33539614 |
Filed Date | 2004-12-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040261298 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Howard, Stephanie |
December 30, 2004 |
Skate boot with a rear opening
Abstract
A skate boot for receiving a human foot, the skate boot
comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion
comprising an opening facing rearwardly and upwardly of the skate
boot for allowing insertion of the foot in the internal cavity.
Inventors: |
Howard, Stephanie; (Boston,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DOWELL & DOWELL PC
2111 Eisenhower Ave.
Suite 406
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
33539614 |
Appl. No.: |
10/602831 |
Filed: |
June 25, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/115 ;
36/117.1; 36/117.6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/1691
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/115 ;
036/117.1; 036/117.6 |
International
Class: |
A43B 005/04; A43B
005/16 |
Claims
1. A skate boot comprising an internal cavity for receiving a human
foot, said skate boot comprising a front portion and a rear
portion, said rear portion comprising an opening facing rearwardly
and upwardly of said skate boot for allowing insertion of the foot
in said internal cavity.
2. A skate boot as defined in claim 1, wherein said skate boot
comprises a fastening device to retain the foot in said internal
cavity.
3. A skate boot as defined in claim 2, wherein said fastening
device comprises a fastening member, said fastening device capable
to acquire either one of a fastened condition and a released
condition, in said fastened condition said fastening member
obstructs at least partially said opening to impede the foot from
egressing said internal cavity.
4. A skate boot as defined in claim 3, wherein in said fastened
condition said fastening member extends across said opening.
5. A skate boot as defined in claim 4, wherein in said released
condition said fastening member ceases to obstruct said opening to
allow insertion and removal of the foot from said internal
cavity.
6. A skate boot as defined in claim 1, wherein the foot has a heel,
an Achilles tendon, an ankle with a front ankle portion and medial
and lateral malleoli, a forefoot, medial and lateral sides, a
plantar surface and toes, and wherein said opening comprises a
bottom edge that is below the medial malleolus when the foot is
received in said internal cavity.
7. A skate boot as defined in claim 6, wherein said internal cavity
comprises a bottom surface facing the plantar surface when the foot
is received in said internal cavity, said rear portion comprising a
heel portion extending from said bottom surface to said bottom edge
of said opening, said heel portion facing the heel of the foot.
8. A skate boot as defined in claim 7, wherein said front portion
of said skate boot faces at least partially the front ankle portion
and the forefoot when the foot is received in said internal
cavity.
9. A skate boot as defined in claim 8, wherein said front portion
comprises a front opening facing the front ankle portion for
allowing the ankle to flex forwardly.
10. A skate boot as defined in claim 9, wherein said front portion
comprises a stretchable portion covering said front opening.
11. A skate boot as defined in claim 10, wherein said stretchable
portion comprises stretchable bands extending transversely side by
side.
12. A skate boot as defined in claim 11, wherein said stretchable
bands are made of synthetic material.
13. A skate boot as defined in claim 12, wherein said skate boot
comprises an outer shell and an inner lining affixed to an inner
surface of said outer shell.
14. A skate boot as defined in claim 13, wherein said skate boot
comprises a rigid insert sandwiched between said outer shell and
said inner lining, said rigid insert comprising a heel portion
enclosing the heel and medial and lateral ankle portions facing the
medial and lateral malleoli respectively.
15. A skate boot as defined in claim 1, wherein the foot has a
heel, an Achilles tendon, an ankle with a front ankle portion and
medial and lateral malleoli, a forefoot, medial and lateral sides,
a plantar surface and toes, and wherein, when the foot is received
in said internal cavity: (a) said front portion of said skate boot
faces at least partially the front ankle portion and the forefoot;
and (b) said rear portion of said skate boot comprises a heel
portion enclosing the heel, medial and lateral side portions facing
the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively and medial
and lateral ankle portions facing the medial and lateral malleoli
respectively.
16. A skate boot as defined in claim 15, wherein said opening is
defined by a bottom edge formed on said heel portion, by a top edge
formed on said front portion and by medial and lateral edges formed
on said medial and lateral ankle portions respectively, said medial
and lateral edges extending from said bottom edge to said top
edge.
17. A skate boot as defined in claim 15, wherein said heel portion
and said medial and lateral ankle portions enclose the heel and the
ankle without entirely covering the Achilles tendon.
18. A skate boot as defined in claim 16, wherein said skate boot
comprises a fastening device to retain the foot in said internal
cavity.
19. A skate boot as defined in claim 18, wherein said fastening
device comprises a fastening member, said fastening device capable
to acquire either one of a fastened condition and a released
condition, in said fastened condition said fastening member
obstructs at least partially said opening to impede the foot from
egressing said internal cavity.
20. A skate boot as defined in claim 19, wherein in said fastened
condition said fastening member extends across said opening.
21. A skate boot as defined in claim 20, wherein in said released
condition said fastening member ceases to obstruct said opening to
allow insertion and removal of the foot from said internal
cavity.
22. A skate boot as defined in claim 21, wherein said fastening
member is a strap with a VELCRO hooks section and a VELCRO loops
section.
23. A skate boot as defined in claim 22, wherein said skate boot
comprises a ring affixed to either one of said medial and lateral
ankle portions, said strap being affixed at one end to the other of
said medial and lateral ankle portions.
24. A skate boot as defined in claim 15, wherein said front portion
comprises a front opening facing the front ankle portion for
allowing the ankle to flex forwardly.
25. A skate boot as defined in claim 24, wherein said front portion
comprises a stretchable portion covering said front opening.
26. A skate boot as defined in claim 25, wherein said stretchable
portion comprises stretchable bands extending transversely side by
side.
27. A skate boot as defined in claim 26, wherein said stretchable
bands are made of synthetic material.
28. A skate boot as defined in claim 27, wherein said skate boot
comprises an outer shell and an inner lining affixed to an inner
surface of said outer shell.
29. A skate boot as defined in claim 28, wherein said skate boot
comprises a rigid insert sandwiched between said outer shell and
said inner lining, said rigid insert comprising a heel portion
enclosing the heel and medial and lateral ankle portions facing the
medial and lateral malleoli respectively.
30. A skate boot as defined in claim 29, wherein said skate boot
comprises a rigid band extending transversely along said top edge
of said front portion, said rigid band being sandwiched between
said inner lining and said outer shell.
31. A skate boot as defined in claim 30, wherein said rigid band
comprises respective ends projecting downwardly for forming medial
and lateral wings facing the medial and lateral malleoli
respectively.
32. A skate boot as defined in claim 31, wherein said medial and
lateral wings are affixed to an inner surface of said rigid
insert.
33. A skate boot as defined in claim 32, wherein said skate boot
comprises medial and lateral cushioning pads affixed to an inner
surface of said medial and lateral wings respectively.
34. A skate boot as defined in claim 33, wherein said skate boot
comprises an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot.
35. A skate boot as defined in claim 34, wherein said skate boot
comprises a toe cap facing the toes of the foot.
36. A skate boot as defined in claim 35 wherein said outer shell is
made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon,
thermoplastic urethane (TPU), ethylene vinyl acetate (TEVA),
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl
chloride (PVC).
37. An ice skate comprising the skate boot as defined in claim 1
and wherein said opening is at least partially covered when the
foot is received in said internal cavity.
38. An inline skate comprising the skate boot as defined in claim
1.
39. An ice skate comprising the skate boot as defined in claim 15
and wherein said opening is at least partially covered when the
foot is received in said internal cavity.
40. An inline skate comprising the skate boot as defined in claim
15.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention relates to a skate boot comprising a rear
opening for allowing insertion of a foot in the skate boot.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Skate boots for inline or ice skates typically comprise a
movable tongue disposed in the forefoot region and between the
lateral and medial sides of the boot. Pulling the movable tongue
forward creates an opening in the top and front of the boot, which
allows insertion of the foot into the internal cavity of the boot.
Laces or other tightening means disposed proximate to the tongue on
the lateral and medial sides of the boot are generally used to
close the opening and tighten the tongue, lateral, and medial sides
of the boot around the foot.
[0003] One of the drawbacks associated with such front-entry skate
boots is the discontinuity of the top and upper front regions of
the boot that is introduced by three distinct components, i.e. the
tongue, and the lateral and medial sides of the boot. This
discontinuity of the top and upper front regions of the skate boot
does not necessarily provide optimal fit and comfort for the
foot.
[0004] Thus, there is a need for a skate boot allowing the rear
entry of the foot into the boot, and providing adequate support,
comfort, and forward flexing characteristics.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] As embodied and broadly described herein, the invention
provides a skate boot comprising an internal cavity for receiving a
human foot. The skate boot comprises a front portion and a rear
portion, the rear portion comprising an opening facing rearwardly
and upwardly of the skate boot for allowing insertion of the foot
in the internal cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] A detailed description of the embodiments of the present
invention is provided herein below, by way of example only, with
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a human foot with the
integument of the foot in stippled lines and the bones in solid
lines;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the foot of FIG.
1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a rear perspective view of a skate boot according
to an embodiment of the invention;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front elevational view of the skate boot of FIG.
3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the skate boot of FIG.
3;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a right elevational side view of the skate boot of
FIG. 3;
[0013] FIG. 7 is a left elevational side view of the skate boot of
FIG. 3;
[0014] FIG. 8 is a rear exploded perspective view of the skate boot
of FIG. 3; and
[0015] FIG. 9 is a front exploded perspective view of the skate
boot of FIG. 3.
[0016] In the drawings, the embodiments of the invention are
illustrated by way of examples. It is to be expressly understood
that the description and drawings are only for the purpose of
illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not
intended to be a definition of the limits of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS
[0017] In order to facilitate the description, a typical human foot
is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The human foot has a heel H, an Achilles
tendon AT, a plantar surface PS, a forefoot F, toes T, and lateral
and medial sides LS and MS, respectively. The foot also has an
ankle with a front ankle portion FAP and lateral and medial
malleoli LM and MM, respectively.
[0018] In FIGS. 3 to 9, a skate boot is illustrated generally and
identified by reference numeral 10. The skate boot 10 comprises a
front portion 12 and a rear portion 14, both defining an internal
cavity for receiving the foot. The rear portion 14 comprises an
opening 16 facing rearwardly and upwardly of the skate boot 10 for
allowing insertion of the foot in the internal cavity.
[0019] The rear portion 14 comprises a heel portion 18 enclosing
the heel H, medial and lateral side portions 20, 22 facing the
medial and lateral sides MS, LS respectively, and medial and
lateral ankle portions 24, 26 facing the medial and lateral
malleoli MM, LM respectively.
[0020] As best seen in FIG. 8, the opening 16 is defined by a
bottom edge 28 formed on the heel portion 18, by a top edge 30
formed on the front portion 12 and by medial and lateral edges 32,
34 formed on the medial and lateral ankle portions 24, 26
respectively. The medial and lateral edges 32, 34 extend from the
bottom edge 28 to the top edge 30 and each has an arcuately shaped.
The bottom edge 28 may be at a level below the medial malleolus MM.
In fact, it is understood that the level of the bottom edge 28 and
the shape of the medial and lateral edges 32, 34 may vary to a
certain amount from an embodiment to another as long as the opening
16 still faces rearwardly and upwardly of the skate boot 10 for
allowing insertion of the foot in the internal cavity. Moreover,
the heel portion 18 and the medial and lateral ankle portions 24,
26 may enclose the heel H and the ankle without entirely covering
the Achilles tendon AT.
[0021] The skate boot 10 further comprises a fastening device 36
comprising a fastening member such a strap 38 capable to acquire
either one of a fastened condition and a released condition. In
FIGS. 3 to 7, the strap 38 is in the fastened condition wherein it
obstructs at least partially the opening 16 to impede the foot from
egressing the internal cavity. As best seen in FIG. 5, the strap 38
extends across the opening 16 in the fastened condition. As seen in
FIG. 8 and 9, in the released position, the strap 38 ceases to
obstruct the opening 16 and insertion and removal of the foot from
the internal cavity is then possible. The strap 38 comprises a
VELCRO hooks section and a VELCRO loops section.
[0022] Referring to FIG. 5 and 7, the strap 38 extends from a first
end having a ring 40 affixed to medial ankle portion 20 and into an
opening in the medial ankle portion 20, under the front portion 12,
out of an opening in the lateral ankle portion 26, and over the
opening 16 to a second end. The second end may then be passed
through the ring 40, and the strap 38 folded onto itself and
secured thereto using VELCRO hooks and loops sections.
[0023] The strap 38 is made of a length of synthetic materials such
as nylon, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) or polyvinyl chloride
(PVC). It is understood that other materials and other fastening
members such as clip buttons, hooks, buckles, laces, zippers or
other fastening members known in the art may be employed without
departing from the scope of the present invention. It is also to be
understood that various other configurations of the strap 38 are
possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
invention. For example, the first end of the strap may be affixed
to the medial ankle portion 24 extending therefrom over the opening
16, into a ring affixed to the lateral ankle portion 26, and folded
back onto itself and fastened using VELCRO hooks and loops sections
or other fastening means.
[0024] The front portion 12 comprises a front opening 42 generally
facing the front ankle portion FAP for allowing the ankle to flex
forwardly. A stretchable portion 44 having stretchable bands 46
extending transversely side by side covers the front opening 42.
The stretchable bands 46 are made of an elastomeric material, such
as thermoplastic urethane (TPU). The stretchable portion 44 is
over-molded, glued or sewn to the front portion 12. Alternatively,
a stretchable web may cover the front opening 42. The stretchable
web may be made of an elastic and resilient material such as
spandex or other synthetic material. As yet another alternative,
the front opening 42 may be left as a void area. It is understood
that various other configurations and synthetic materials may be
used for covering the front opening 42 without departing from the
spirit and scope of the present invention.
[0025] The skate boot 10 may comprise an outer shell 48 made of a
single or multiple layers of synthetic materials such as nylon,
thermoplastic urethane (TPU), ethylene vinyl acetate (TEVA),
styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl
chloride (PVC). In addition, outer shell 48 may be made of a single
piece of such materials that is formed into shape, or from multiple
pieces that are joined together with a fastener such as stitches,
glue, adhesives, or tacks. For example, in the embodiment shown,
medial and lateral ankle portions 24, 26, and the front portion 12
are made of two relatively soft layers of such synthetic materials,
the outermost layer being meshed to facilitate aeration of the
skate boot 10. The medial and lateral side portions 20, 22 and the
heel portion 18 are made of somewhat more rigid forms of the above
materials in order to provide added rigidity to the skate boot
10.
[0026] The skate boot 10 also comprises an inner lining 50 received
in the outer shell 48. The inner lining 50 can be made of a single
or multiple layers of soft synthetic materials, such as nylon-based
fabrics, styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) or LYCRA. In addition, the
inner lining 50 may be made of a single piece of such materials
that is formed into shape, or from multiple pieces that are joined
together with a fastener such as stitches, glue, adhesives or
tacks. For example, the inner lining 50 may be made of an outer
layer of a breathable tricot under which is disposed a thin layer
of an elastomeric foam. The inner lining 50 may be affixed to an
inner surface of the outer shell 48 by fastening means such as
glue, stitches, tacks, staples or rivets. The inner lining 50 may
have a shape that follows the one of the outer shell 48.
[0027] The skate boot 10 further comprises a rigid insert 52
sandwiched between the outer shell 48 and the inner lining 50. The
rigid insert 52 comprises a heel portion 54 enclosing the heel H
and medial and lateral ankle portions 56, 58 facing the medial and
lateral malleoli MM, LM respectively. The rigid insert 52 is made
of a unitary relatively thin piece of a synthetic material, such as
polypropylene (PP), which is of sufficient rigidity to provide
support. In addition, in order to provide added comfort, a thin
foam layer may be bonded to an inner surface of the rigid insert
52. It is understood that various modifications can be made to the
rigid insert 52 without departing from the spirit and scope of the
present invention. For example, medial and lateral ankle portions
56, 58 may be provided with a dished area in order to conform more
adequately to the malleoli. The skate boot 10 further comprises a
rigid band 60 extending transversely along the top edge 30 of the
front portion 12. The rigid band 60 is sandwiched between the inner
lining 50 and the outer shell 48 and comprises respective ends
projection downwardly for forming medial and lateral wings 62, 64
facing the medial and lateral malleoli MM, LM respectively. Each of
the wings 62, 64 comprises a cushioning pad 66 made of a synthetic
foam or gel-like material and affixed to an inner surface of the
wings 62, 64.
[0028] Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the skate boot 10 also comprises
an insole 70 facing the plantar surface PS and a molded toe cap 72
facing the toes T. The toe cap 72 comprises aeration apertures 74.
The insole 70 and toe cap 72 can be made of synthetic materials
such as polypropylene (PP), thermoplastic urethane (TPU), or poly
alpha-methylstyrene (PMS).
[0029] It is understood that the inline skate embodiment shown in
the figures is presented for purposes of example only, and that the
skate boot 10 is adaptable to other sporting equipment, such as an
ice skate.
[0030] The above description of the embodiments should not be
interpreted in a limiting manner since other variations,
modifications and refinements are possible within the spirit and
scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is
defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.
* * * * *