Ski Boot With Interchangeable Back

Abstract

A ski boot having a rear closure, said boot being adapted to use either a normal height rear tongue member or a "high-rise" tongue member. The rear tongue member is held in the closed position by a securing clamp means made up of a cable and a buckle, which permits the boot to be easily opened. In the closed position, the rear tongue member preferably causes a forward lean of the skier's leg, but by unbuckling the cable, the skier's leg is permitted to flex upright. The position of the tongue member closure can be varied widely by using cables of various lengths in the securing means.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to footwear in general, and more particularly to what is known as a rear entry ski boot which securely holds the foot of the skier against the ski and supports the skier's ankle and calf against lateral movement and rearward lean, respectively, in order to provide maximum ski edge control. The present invention also provides a rear entry ski boot which has interchangable rear tongues, whereby a skier can change the height of the tongue from a conventional height to a "high-rise" form of tongue. Further the ski boot of the present invention provides for a built-in forward lean which can be released by the skier by unbuckling the rear opening tongue.

The ability of a snow skier to control his skis is directly related to the effectiveness with which his feet, ankles, and lower legs are connected to the skis proper. Under optimum conditions, the skier's feet should be secured to the skis in such a manner that the skis act, in effect, as extensions of the skier's feet. It is important that the skis not be able to move laterally with respect to the lower leg of the skier. While it is necessary for the skier to be able to shift his weight forwardly and rearwardly on the ski during turning, it is not necessary for the skier to be able to flex his ankle in this direction. It has been found, that a certain amount of forward lean is desirable. That is, it is desired that the skier's lower leg be tilted forward from a line drawn perpendicular to the ski or to the sole of the boot and a forward lean of 20.degree. or 30.degree. has been found to be desirable under some circumstances. In carrying out certain skiing maneuvers, it is desirable to support the rear of the lower leg in the forward lean position by an extended or a "high-rise" boot back. While such "high-rise" boots, with accentuated forward lean, are highly desirable for skiing, they are uncomfortable for standing in lift lines or riding on lifts because the knees of the skier must remain in the flexed position.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a new approach to ski boots, and particularly high back or "high-rise" ski boots, and particularly to "high-rise" boots wherein the boot has a certain amount of built-in forward lean. The present invention provides a ski boot which may be converted from a normal back boot to a "high-rise" boot, either by the retailer prior to sale, or by the skier after purchase of the boot. In addition to providing the convertibility, the ski boot of the present invention provides an easy opening securing means which permits the skier, while standing in a lift line, or on a chair lift to release the forward lean, thus permitting him to relax his leg muscles. Additionally, this arrangement permits the skier to insert or remove his foot from the boot quickly and easily, and secure the boot into the skiing position by the operation of only one or two buckles.

The advantages of the present invention are accomplished by constructing a rear entry boot having a rear closure which affords entry of a skier's foot into the boot from the rear. The boot has a closed-front vamp, wherein the opening in the rear of the vamp is closed with a rear tongue member. Preferably, the tongue member provides a substantial angle of forward lean built in thereto, which forward lean can be reduced or eliminated by changing the settings of the tongue-securing means or by opening the tongue-securing means. In this manner, the skier can release the forward lean for convenience simply by unbuckling the back of the boot. Further advantage is obtained in that the skier can readily change from a high back to a conventional back height by simply interchanging the tongue.

The invention will be further described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a right boot, taken in partial section near the heel, illustrating the boot in the closed position and the attachment of the "high-rise" tongue member to the floor of the vamp;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a tongue member, of conventional height, showing the lowermost extension which is adapted to engage the floor of the vamp;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a right boot taken from the oblique rear illustrating a "high-rise" tongue member in the boot, in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of a "high-rise" tongue;

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of the "high-rise" tongue illustrated in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 shows the cable engaging clamp in the cable release position;

FIG. 7 shows the cable engaging clamp in the cable engaging position, with the cable in place;

FIG. 8 shows the boot of FIG. 1 in the open position; and

FIG. 9 shows a fragmentary top view of the ski boot of the present invention in a closed position.

In the preferred embodiment, as illustrated by FIG. 1, the rear entry ski boot of the present invention is shown generally at 10. The boot 10 includes stiff sole 12 having front portion 14 and rear portion 16 adapted to engage ski bindings. Vamp 20, which preferably is a closed-front vamp, is attached to and integral with sole 12. As seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the front portion of vamp 20 is closed while the back is open, the back or rear opening 22 is more clearly shown in FIG. 3. The rear opening 22 is generally defined by the rear edges 21 of vamp 20 and the floor of the vamp 26. Preferably vamp 20 is made from semi-rigid or rigid plastic material which provides firm lateral support for the skier's ankles and lower leg.

Within vamp 20 is inner liner 24 which preferably provides both fitting and padding functions for the skier's foot. Inner liner 24 may be a foam cavity filled with a thermoplastic material, such as is described in applicants' copending application entitled "Ski Boot and Liner Therefor," Ser. No. 216,080, filed Jan. 7, 1972. Alternatively, liner 24 may comprise foam rubber, either foamed in place or factory installed, or it may comprise a flowable material in an envelope, such as is described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,237,319; 3,402,411; or 3,582,503. In the preferred embodiment, inner liner 24 extends all the way to the floor of the vamp 26 and covers substantially all of the foot with the exception of the rear opening 22.

Rear opening 22 is adapted to receive tongue member 30. The tongue member adapted to be fitted into rear opening 22 can be of the type shown in FIG. 2 or the "high-rise" type shown in FIG. 4. The tongue members of FIGS. 2 and 4 are of similar configuration and generally possess corresponding portions, and differ mainly in the height of the upper portion 34 and 34' with respect to the height of the boot. Tongue member 30 comprises a semi-rigid outer member 31 which extends from top portion 34 to the lowermost extension 32. Mounted within said semi-rigid member 31 is tongue padding member 36, which may be a foam material or any of the materials from which the inner liner 24 are constructed. Preferably padding member 36 runs the substantial length of tongue 30, except for the lowermost extension 32. The padding should be sufficient in length to cover the entire back of the skier's foot, from the floor of the vamp 26 to the top of the tongue 34. Preferably the tongue 30 is reinforced by vertical rib 38 in order to provide stiffness to the tongue and support for the back of the skier's leg. Preferably vertical rib 38 is provided with two pairs of cable-engaging grooves 40, on its rearmost projection. The cable from the securing means is engaged and stabilized by the grooves 40.

Lowermost extension 32 of tongue 30 is adapted to engage vamp 20 at the rear opening 22, and to be mounted contiguous to the floor 26 of vamp 20 near the lowermost portion of rear opening 22. In the preferred embodiment, vamp 20 includes in the vamp floor 26 a slot 27 which runs from the rear of vamp 20 forward and culminates in notch or recess 28. The width of slot 27 is not critical, but a suitable width is shown in FIG. 3. In the preferred embodiment, the lowermost extension 32 is provided with a lug 42 which may extend across the width of extension 32. The lowermost extension 32 is adapted to be inserted in slot 27 whereby lug 42 will engage in recess 28 and firmly, but removably, afix tongue member 30 to the boot. When lug 42 is engaged in recess 28 it is desired that the upper portion of extension 32 be contiguous with the floor 26 of vamp 20. In order to maintain extension 32 in an attitude contiguous with floor 26, the edges of extension 32 may have a bevelled surface 46, as is shown in FIG. 5, whereby the extension 32 is urged downwardly. Alternatively, the edges of extension 32 may have a laterally projecting flange 48 adapted to engage channels (not shown) in the floor of vamp 26 whereby the extension is held at a suitable elevation.

Tongue member 30 is provided with a relatively thin, flexible section 50 between the padding member 36 and the lowermost extension 32. Tongue 30 must be constructed of semi-rigid material, which is somewhat flexible in thin sections. In this manner, the flexible section 50 permits tongue member 30 to be pivoted with respect to lowermost extension 32 and with respect to the vamp 20 and boot 10 through the bending of flexible section 50. The flexible section 50 accomplishes a pivotal mounting and a pivotal opening-closing movement for tongue member 30. The tongue member in the closed position is illustrated by FIGS. 1 and 3. When in the closed position, the tongue preferably fits within the rear portions 21 of vamp 20, thereby filling said rear opening 22.

Tongue member 30 is adapted to be secured in the closed position by securing means which preferably includes a clamp 60, an endless cable 62, and a buckle 64. While it is essential to use at least one such securing means, it is preferred to use two, as is illustrated, although more than two may be used if desired.

The buckle 64 is of conventional design, generally, wherein it has a plurality of slots capable of engaging said cable 62, and a cam-like closing action, wherein the buckle 64 draws said cable 62, under tension, into the closed position. The cable 62 is preferably a steel cable made up of fine wires covered with plastic, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it could be a solid wire, and could be fabricated from various metals, plastic, rubber, natural fibers or the like.

The preferred clamp arrangement is shown more clearly in FIGS. 6 and 7. Preferably clamp 60 is attached to the rear portion of vamp 21 by a single rivet 61 or other similar connecting devices, whereby clamp 60 is pivotable or rotatable about rivet 61. Preferably the clamp is provided with at least one cable-engaging groove 63, which groove is adapted to hold cable 62 between the clamp 60 and the rear portion of vamp 20 when the clamp 60 is in the cable engaging position, as shown in FIG. 7. When the clamp 60 is rotated to the position shown in FIG. 6, the cable 62 may be removed from groove 63. In this manner cables of various length may be used, or in case of damage or wear to the cable, it may be replaced with a new endless or annular cable.

Preferably, both clamp 60 and the buckle 64 are mounted to the boot on a raised portion of the boot or vamp material. In this way, a thick section of the vamp may be provided through which rivet 61 can be affixed, thus provide a stronger union between the boot and the securing means. Further, it is contemplated that the inside surface to which rivet 61 is joined may be countersunk, in order to provide a smooth inner surface throughout the inside of vamp 20.

The ski boots of the present invention may be made from many different materials, although semi-rigid plastics are to be preferred for the formation of the vamp and rigid portion of the rear tongue. Since it is essential that the rear tongue have a certain amount of flexibility at section 50, it is considered important that the materials possess at least some elastomeric properties, whereby they can be flexed without crystallization or cracking. The padding for both the inner liner 24 and the rear tongue padding member 36 may be made out of the same or dissimilar material. As was mentioned above, it is possible to provide both the inner liner and the tongue with padding which is installed at the factory, padding which is custom fitted, or padding which is flowable and will deform to fit the contours of the wearer's feet.

In the preferred embodiment, the vamp and tongue member are designed so that, as shown in FIG. 9, their padding members, that is inner boot 24 and padding member 36, abut each other when the tongue is secured in a closed position. In this manner, a smooth inner surface, with complete padding is provided for the skier's foot. The tongues illustrated in the drawings are adapted to pivot about a point in proximity with the floor of the vamp, at the lowermost portion of the rear opening. While the preferred mode contemplates the pivoting to take place by bending the flexible section 50 of the tongue, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that other forms of a pivot may be used. For instance, the present invention contemplates the use of a screw running across the boot at about the point the tongue is to be pivoted. In this way the tongues can be changed simply by removing the screw and reinserting it. The screw then functions as the pivot pin in a hinge.

It is preferred that vamp 20 provided with rear flaps 25 which encompass a substantial portion of tongue member 30 when the tongue is in the closed position. The flaps are flexible enough to permit member 30 to be pivoted outwardly beyond the flaps as shown in FIG. 8 where the boot is shown in an open position. In this fashion, as the skier moves through the snow, there is no tendency of snow to pack in the joint between the tongue and flaps 21. However, it is possible to have the tongue overlap the sides of the vamp. Those skilled in the art will appreciate the necessary type of seal between the tongue and the vamp.

The forms of the invention herein shown and described are to be considered only as illustrative. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that numerous modifications may be made therein without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

We claim:

1. A ski boot having a rear closure which comprises a sole; a closed-front, semi-rigid vamp attached to said sole, said vamp having a rear opening;

a semi-rigid tongue member pivotally attached to said vamp near the lower-most portion of said rear opening, said tongue member adapted to fill and close said rear opening;

said tongue member having two sides adapted to cooperate with and be disposed substantially within said vamp when said tongue is in the closed position; and

securing means adapted to secure said tongue member in the closed position, whereby the angle formed between said tongue member and said sole member is less than about 90.degree..

2. A ski boot as described in claim 1, wherein said tongue is readily removable from said vamp.

3. A ski boot as described in claim 1, wherein said securing means comprises a cable, a clamp and a buckle.

4. A ski boot as described in claim 3, wherein said clamp is secured to said boot by a single, non-centered fastening means, said clamp being rotatable about said fastening means between a cable-engaging position and a cable-release position, whereby a cable engaging channel is formed between said boot and said clamp, when said clamp is rotated to the cable-engaging position and said cable engaging channel is opened when said clamp is rotated to said cable release position, said buckle adapted to releasably engage said cable, and to draw said boot into the locked and closed position.

5. A ski boot as described in claim 1, wherein said tongue includes a lowermost extension adapted to be inserted in a slot in the floor of the vamp.

6. A ski boot as described in claim 5, wherein said extension includes a lug adapted to engage a notch within the slot in the floor of the vamp.

7. A ski boot as described in claim 5, wherein said extension includes a flexible portion, about which the tongue may be pivoted about said flexible portion.

8. A ski boot as described in claim 1, wherein said tongue includes a flexible portion adjacent to its point of attachment to said vamp, whereby said boot is opened by pivoting said tongue about said flexible portion.

9. A ski boot which comprises a sole; a closed-front, semi-rigid vamp attached to said sole, said vamp having a rear opening through which a foot may be inserted;

a semi-rigid tongue member removably and pivotally attached to said vamp, and adapted to fill the rear opening of said vamp, said pivot being near the lower-most portion of said rear opening;

said tongue member having two sides adapted to cooperate with and be disposed substantially within said vamp when said tongue is in the closed position; and

securing means adapted to secure said tongue member in the closed position, said securing means comprises an annular cable, a clamp and a buckle.

10. A ski boot as described in claim 9, wherein said clamp is secured to said boot by a single, non-centered fastening means, said clamp being rotatable about said fastening means between a cable-engaging position and a cable-release position, whereby a cable engaging channel is formed between said boot and said clamp, when said clamp is rotated to the cable-engaging position and said cable-engaging channel is opened when said clamp is rotated to said cable release position, said buckle adapted to releasably engage said cable, and to draw said boot into the locked and closed position.

11. A ski boot which comprises a sole; a colsed-front; semi-rigid vamp attached to said sole, said vamp having a rear opening through which a foot may be inserted;

a semi-rigid tongue member removably and pivotally attached to said vamp, and adapted to fill the rear opening of said vamp, said pivot being near the lowermost portion of said rear opening;

said tongue having a lowermost extension adapted to be inserted in a slot in the floor of the vamp;

said tongue member having two sides adapted to cooperate with and be disposed substantially within said vamp when said tongue is in the closed postion; and

securing means adapted to secure said tongue member in the closed position.

12. A ski boot as described in claim 11, wherein said extension includes a lug adapted to engage a notch within the slot in the floor of the vamp.

13. A ski boot as described in claim 11, wherein said extension includes a flexible portion, about which the tongue may be pivoted about said flexible portion.

14. A ski boot as described in claim 9, wherein said tongue includes a flexible portion adjacent to its point of attachment to said vamp, whereby said boot is opened by pivoting said tongue about said flexible portion.

15. A rear entry ski boot which comprises a sole; a closed-front, semi-rigid vamp attached to said sole, said vamp having a rear opening;

a semi-rigid tongue member pivotally attached to said vamp, and adapted to fill the rear opening of said vamp, said pivot being near the lower-most portion of said rear opening;

said tongue member having two sides adapted to cooperate with and be disposed substantially within said vamp when said tongue is in the closed position; and

securing means adapted to secure said tongue in the closed position, said securing means comprises an annular cable, a clamp and a buckle.

16. A rear entry ski boot as described in claim 15, wherein said clamp is secured to said boot by a single, non-centered fastening means, said clamp being rotatable about said fastening means between a cable-engaging position and a cable-release position, whereby a cable engaging channel is formed between said boot and said clamp, when said clamp is rotated to the cable-engaging position and said cable engaging channel is opened when said clamp is rotated to said cable release position, said buckle adapted to releasably engage said cable, and to draw said boot into the locked and closed position.

17. A rear entry ski boot which comprises a sole; a semi-rigid vamp attached to said sole, said vamp having a rear opening extending contiguous to the floor of said vamp;

a semi-rigid tongue member pivotally attached to said vamp, and adapted to fill the rear opening of said vamp, said pivot being contiguous to the lower-most portion of said rear opening;

said tongue member having two sides adapted to cooperate with and be disposed substantially within said vamp when said tongue is in the closed position; and

securing means adapted to secure said tongue member in the closed position.

18. A rear entry ski boot as described in claim 17, wherein said securing means comprises an annular cable, a clamp and a buckle.

19. A rear entry ski boot as described in claim 18, wherein said clamp is secured to said boot by a single, non-centered fastening means, said clamp being rotatable about said fastening means between a cable-engaging position and a cable-release position, whereby a cable engaging channel is formed between said boot and said clamp, when said clamp is rotated to the cable-engaging position and said cable engaging channel is opened when said clamp is rotated to said cable-release position, said buckle adapted to releasably engage said cable, and to draw said boot into the locked and closed position.

20. A ski boot adapted to receive an interchangeable rear tongue member, which tongue member further serves as a closure for the boot, said boot comprising:

a sole;

a vamp attached to said sole and including a rear opening extending contiguous to the floor of said vamp, said vamp having two side flaps defining said rear opening;

a tongue member adapted to fill said rear opening, said tongue member having two sides adapted to cooperate with and be disposed substantially within said vamp when said tongue member is in a closed position;

said boot further having means for pivoting said tongue member relative to said boot, said pivoting means being disposed contiguous to the lower end of said tongue member; and,

said boot having securing means for releaseably securing said tongue member in a closed position in said boot whereby said sides of said tongue member are disposed within said side flaps and cooperate with said vamp to enclose said boot about the foot of a wearer.

21. A ski boot as described in claim 20, wherein said securing means comprises an annular cable, a clamp and a buckle.

22. A ski boot as described in claim 21, wherein said clamp is secured to said boot by a single, non-centered fastening means, said clamp being rotatable about said fastening means between a cable-engaging position and a cable-release position, whereby a cable engaging channel is formed between said boot and said clamp, when said clamp is rotated to the cable-engaging position and said cable engaging channel is opened when said clamp is rotated to said cable-release position, said buckle adapted to releasably engage said cable, and to draw said boot into the locked and closed position.

23. A ski boot adapted to receive a removable tongue member, said boot comprising:

a sole;

a vamp attached to said sole and including a rear opening extending contiguous to the floor of said vamp;

a tongue member having a boot engaging extension member located at the lowermost portion of said tongue member;

said boot including a receiving means located contiguous to the lowermost portion of said rear opening and adapted to receive said extension member of said tongue whereby said tongue member is releaseably secured to said boot.

24. A ski boot in accordance with claim 23, wherein said receiving means is a slot means.

25. A ski boot in accordance with claim 23, wherein said tongue member is pivotally attached to said boot and said boot further includes securing means adapted to secure said tongue in a closed position to substantially fill said rear opening.

26. A ski boot in accordance with claim 25, wherein said securing means includes an annular cable, a clamp and a buckle.

27. A rear entry ski boot as described in claim 26, wherein said clamp is secured to said boot by a single, non-centered fastening means, said clamp being rotatable about said fastening means between a cable-engaging position and a cable-release position, whereby a cable engaging channel is formed between said boot and said clamp, when said clamp is rotated to the cable-engaging position and said cable engaging channel is opened when said clamp is rotated to said cable-release position, said buckle adapted to releasably engage said cable, and to draw said boot into the locked and closed position.