Ski Boot

Abstract

A ski boot which includes a low cut rigid oxford type lower shell having spaced sidewalls affixed to a sole, a rigid ankle cuff having sidewalls connected together in a spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall and secured to the sidewalls of the lower boot wherein the ankle of the individual using the boot passes through the open front portion of the ankle cuff when the boot is placed onto and removed from the individual's foot, and strap means connected to the opposite sidewalls of the ankle cuff across its open front end for securing the individual's ankle within the cuff. The sidewalls of the ankle cuff can be connected to the lower boot to pivot back and forth thereon in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the boot and at the natural pivot point of the individual's ankle.

Parent Case Text

RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation in part of my co-pending U.S. Pat. Application, Ser. No. 726,094, filed May 2, 1968, now U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,385 and my co-pending U.S. Pat. Application, Ser. No. 8,547, filed Feb. 4, 1970.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A boot which is used for skiing is generally designed to support the user's foot and ankle against undesirable movement. To accomplish this the boot is generally constructed from a heavy leather or resin material. However, because of the boot's heavy construction some desirable foot movement is restricted. Attempts have been made to overcome this problem by constructing the boot with a pivotally mounted ankle cuff which allows its user to easily tilt his ankle forward and backwards. For example, in my U.S. Pat. No. 3,521,385, a ski boot is described which includes a low cut oxford type lower boot having an ankle cuff affixed thereon to pivot back and forth in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lower boot. However, in order to obtain access to the boot the ankle cuff must be broken apart by releasing at least a portion of the pivoting structure from its connection to the lower boot. It is desirable to provide a rigid ski boot with a pivoted ankle cuff which does not require a portion of the cuff to be detached from its operative position when the boot is positioned on or removed from an individual's foot.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In its broadest form, the invention relates to a boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual which comprises a substantially rigid lower boot shell having first and second spaced sidewalls each connected to a boot sole; a substantially rigid ankle cuff having first and second sidewalls connected together in a fixed spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall, said first and second sidewalls of the ankle cuff being connected to the first and second sidewalls respectively of the lower boot shell such that the front portion of the ankle cuff is open to receive the ankle of said individual when the individual's foot is passed into and out of the lower boot shell; and strap means connected to the opposite sidewalls of the ankle cuff across the open front end of the cuff for securing the individual's ankle within the ankle cuff.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sidewalls of the ankle cuff are connected to the sidewalls of the lower boot to pivot back and forth at the natural pivot point of the individual's ankle in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of the lower boot shell.

In another embodiment of the invention biasing means are affixed to the rear connecting wall of the ankle cuff and to the heel end of the lower shell for urging the ankle cuff to a predetermined static position on the sidewalls of the lower boot.

In another embodiment of the invention the instep portion of the lower boot shell is open for placement of the foot therethrough.

In still another embodiment of the invention an inner boot is provided within the lower boot and the ankle cuff for retaining the individual's foot snugly therein.

In still yet another embodiment of the invention, flaps are secured on the lower shell for covering the open instep portion of the shell and for controlling the pressure of the inner boot on the individual's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the invention may be more readily understood and carried into effect, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which are offered by way of example only and are not to be taken as limiting the invention, the scope of which is defined by the appended claims which are intended to embrace equivalent structures.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the ski boot of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of the ski boot showing the front retention strap in a closed position.

FIG. 3 is a plan elevation view of the low cut oxford type lower boot shell.

FIG. 4 is a top view of the lower boot shell.

FIG. 5 is a side view of the preferred ankle cuff of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken in the plane of line 6--6 of FIG. 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 7 is a plan elevation interior view of the preferred ankle cuff connecting means of the invention.

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along the plane of line 8--8 of FIG. 10 looking in the direction of the arrows and also a portion of a sectional view of the heel end of the lower shell.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a modified ankle cuff of the invention.

FIG. 10 is a rear view of the ankle cuff shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a modified ankle cuff.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 12--12 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 13 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 13--13 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

FIG. 14 is a sectional view taken in the plane of line 14--14 of FIG. 7 looking in the direction of the arrows.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now more particularly to the drawings there is shown a ski boot which includes a low cut oxford type lower shell 10 having upwardly extending sidewalls 12 attached to the boot's bottom sole 14 and an upper shell in the form of an ankle cuff 16 sized to fit around and support the sides and rear portion of the ankle of an individual using the boot. The oxford shell 10 and ankle cuff 16 are constructed from a substantially rigid material such as metal, e.g., steel, aluminum, magnesium, etc., resin, fiber glass, etc. The ankle cuff 16 is preferably secured to the sidewalls of the oxford boot 10 with connecting means, hereinafter described, which allow the cuff to pivot back and forth on the top edge of lower shell sidewalls 12 in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis of said lower shell. In addition the ankle cuff preferably pivots at the natural pivot point of the individual's ankle which is back and below the ankle bone protrusion of the foot. Biasing means 18, also further described herein, are attached to the rear end 20 of the ankle cuff 16 and to the heel end 22 of the oxford shell 10 for urging the cuff to a predetermined static position on said shell 10.

An inner boot of the type described in my co-pending application, Ser. No. 8,547, filed Feb. 4, 1970, is preferably positioned within the lower shell 10 and in the ankle cuff 16 for fitting the boot of this invention to the foot and ankle of an individual and for preventing water leakage between the lower shell and the ankle cuff. Flaps 24 and 26 with buckle connector 28, and adjustable strap 30, all hereinafter described, are used to secure the foot within the boot and to control the pressure of the inner boot on the individual foot.

In the drawings, FIGS. 1, 2 and 5 illustrate one preferred from the ankle cuff 16 of this invention, and FIGS. 9, 10 and 11 illustrate a modified form of the cuff particularly suited for racing purposes. As shown, the ankle cuff is a substantially rigid U-shaped member secured to the lower boot shell 10 such that the opening in the cuff is proximately facing the front toe 11 of lower shell 10, and is sized to pass an individual's ankle therethrough when the boot is placed on and removed from said individual's foot. The encircling sidewalls 32 and rear connecting wall 34 of the ankle cuff are upwardly extending members used to support the ankle. The height of the side and rear walls 32 and 34 determines the amount of support obtained from the ankle cuff. For example, when the boot is used for racing purposes the sidewalls and rear wall can extend to a position proximate the lower calf of the individual's leg. This enables the skier to sit back on his skis while still being supported by the ankle cuff. Preferably, a rear support strap 36, constructed from a material more flexible than the rigid ankle cuff material such as leather, rubber, a flexible resin, etc., is affixed to the opposite sidewalls 32 of the cuff 16 above rear wall 34 such that strap 36 contacts the skier's leg proximate his lower calf.

When an individual's foot and ankle are properly positioned within the boot's lower shell 10 and ankle cuff 16 the foot and ankle are secured within the boot with front strap 30 which is fixedly secured proximate one end to one of the cuff's sidewalls 32 and adjustably secured proximate its other end to the opposite sidewall of the cuff with suitable connecting means such as buckle 38 which coacts with a retention loop 40 secured to the free end of said strap 30. Preferably, front strap 30 is constructed from a flexible material similar to rear strap 36 so that it can be easily swung away from the front opening of the ankle cuff 16. As best shown in FIGS. 1 and 9, a port 42 is preferably provided in the cuff sidewall 32 to which buckle 38 is connected which is sized to receive the free end of strap 30 so that the said strap can be tightened across the open interior of ankle cuff 16.

As indicated, it is preferred that the ankle cuff be connected to lower boot shell 10 so that said cuff will pivot or rock back and forth on the lower shell in a direction substantially parallel with the longitudinal axis Y--Y of the shell. While any type of pivot connection means can be used for this purpose, it is preferred to use connection means which minimize lateral cuff movement as it pivots back and forth on the lower shell. One structure particularly suited for accomplishing this purpose is best illustrated in FIGS. 7, 12, 13 and 14. As shown, a mating flange 42 is secured to sidewall 12 of lower shell 10 at a position spaced apart therefrom a sufficient distance to receive the locking end 50 of mating flange 48 which in turn is attached to cuff sidewall 32 to mate with the outside face of flange 42. Cuff sidewall 32 is shaped to receive flange 42 between it and flange 48. Each of the top edges of the lower shell's sidewalls 12 have an integrally formed pin 46 that acts as the pivot point of the cuff 16 on lower shell 10. Pin 46 is positioned so that the pivoting movement of cuff 16 approximates the natural pivoting movement of the ankle, i.e., the pivot point of the ankle which is back and below the ankle bone protrusion of the individual's foot. A detent opening 44 is formed in the bottom edge of cuff sidewall 32 to ride on pin 46 and hold cuff 16 in a longitudinally fixed position on lower shell 10. Accordingly, the lower edge of cuff 16 is supported on each of the pins 46 as it rocks back and forth thereon and lateral movement is prevented by the coaction between flanges 42, flanges 48, locking ends 50, cuff sidewalls 32, and lower shell sidewalls 12. It is to be noted that the connecting structure herein described equally prevents lateral ankle cuff movement at any cuff angle with respect to lower shell 10 because of mating flange construction of the structure. In actual operation, as shown in FIGS. 7, 12, 13 and 14, flanges 42 are connected to lower shell sidewalls 12 and mate with the inside faces flanges 48, connected to ankle cuff sidewalls 32, and also with the outside faces of said sidewall 32. Additionally, locking ends 50 of flanges 48 mate with the inside faces of flanges 42 and the outside faces of sidewalls 12.

Preferably, the ankle cuff 16 is held in a predetermined upright position on lower shell 10 except when a pivoting force is applied to the cuff by the skier by bending his ankles forward. For this reason the end wall 34 of the cuff 16 is connected with biasing means to the lower shell's heel end 22. As shown in FIG. 8, threaded rod 52 is spring loaded in housing 54 for this purpose. An enlarged head end 56 is connected to one end of rod 52 to coact with the heel end 22 of lower shell 10. A nut 58 is attached to the opposite end of said rod 52 for adjusting the pressure on spring 58 which coacts between said nut 58 and a lip 60 formed at the bottom end of housing 54. When the cuff is pivoted forward spring 58 is compressed which urges the cuff back to its normal upright position when the pivoting force is withdrawn. The force required to pivot the cuff can, as indicated, be modified by adjusting the position of nut 58 on rod 52.

Flexible flaps 24 and 26 are secured to the sidewalls of lower shell 10 which cover the instep portion of the shell so that access can be obtained to the interior of lower boot 10. The flaps overlap each other and are interconnected together with buckle 28, connected to flap 24, and loop connector 64 which coacts with pin 66 attached to flap 26. In addition to allowing access to the interior of the boot, flaps 24 and 26 are used to adjust the pressure of the inner boot on the instep portion of the foot. Preferably, flaps 24 and 26 are constructed from a flexible material such as leather, rubber, plastic, or the like.

The boot of this invention is fitted to an individual's foot by first releasing buckle 38 so that the strap 30 can be pulled away from the ankle cuff's open front end and buckle 28 so that flaps 24 and 26 can be opened. An inner boot of the type herein described is positioned within the lower shell 10 and ankle cuff 16 and the person being fitted places his foot within the inner boot. When thus positioned, strap 30 is wrapped around the front portion of the individual's ankle, passed through port 32, and fixedly secured with buckle 38 so that a desired pressure is applied to the individual's ankle. Finally, flaps 24 and 26 are secured together with buckle 28 as herein described.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual which comprises:

a substantially rigid lower boot shell having first and second spaced sidewalls each connected to a boot sole;

a substantially rigid ankle cuff having corresponding first and second sidewalls fixedly connected together in a spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall and pivotally connected to the first and second sidewalls, respectively, of said lower boot shell by means including at least one boot flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of said lower boot shell and at least one cuff flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of the said ankle cuff to mate with one face of the corresponding boot flange, each of the named cuff flanges including a locking end which mates with the face of the corresponding boot flange opposite the said one face.

2. The boot of claim 1 wherein the lower edge of each of the sidewalls of said ankle cuff pivots back and forth at a predetermined fixed pivot point on the upper edge of the sidewalls of said lower boot shell.

3. The boot of claim 2 wherein said fixed pivot point is positioned at the natural pivot point of said individual's ankle.

4. A boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual which comprises:

a substantially rigid lower boot shell having first and second spaced sidewalls each connected to a boot sole;

a substantially rigid ankle cuff having corresponding first and second sidewalls fixedly connected together in a spaced relationship with a rear connecting wall and pivotally connected to the first and second sidewalls respectively of said lower boot shell such that said individual's ankle passes through the open front portion of said ankle cuff when the boot is placed onto and removed from said individual's foot; and

an elongated flexible strap fixedly connected at one end to one of said sidewalls of said ankle cuff and adjustably connected through an opening in the opposite sidewall of said ankle cuff to said opposite sidewall for securing said individual's ankle within said ankle cuff.

5. The boot of claim 4 wherein the sidewalls of said ankle cuff extend upwardly to a position proximate the lower calf of the individual's leg and rear support means are connected to said sidewalls of said ankle cuff proximate the lower calf of said individual's leg for supporting said leg.

6. The boot of claim 4 wherein biasing means are affixed to the rear connecting wall of said ankle cuff and to the heel end of said lower boot shell for urging said ankle cuff to a predetermined position on said lower boot shell.

7. In a boot for supporting the foot and ankle of an individual, including a lower boot shell having first and second spaced sidewalls and an ankle cuff having corresponding first and second sidewalls, the improvement comprising means including at least one boot flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of said lower boot shell and at least one cuff flange connected to each of the said sidewalls of the said ankle cuff to mate with one face of the corresponding boot flange, each of the named cuff flanges including a locking end which mates with the face of the corresponding boot flange opposite the said one face.

8. The improvement of claim 7, wherein the lower edge of each of the sidewalls of said ankle cuff pivots back and forth at a predetermined fixed point on the upper edge of the corresponding sidewall of said lower boot shell.

9. The boot of claim 8 wherein said fixed pivot point is positioned at the natural pivot point of said individual's ankle.