Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/16—Skating boots
  • A43B5/1616—Inner boots
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
  • A43B5/0405—Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/04—Ski or like boots
  • A43B5/0427—Ski or like boots characterised by type or construction details
  • A43B5/0482—Ski or like boots characterised by type or construction details made from materials with different rigidities
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/16—Skating boots
  • A43B5/1625—Skating boots made from materials with different rigidities
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B5/00—Footwear for sporting purposes
  • A43B5/16—Skating boots
  • A43B5/1666—Skating boots characterised by the upper
  • A43B5/1691—Skating boots characterised by the upper characterised by the higher part of the upper, e.g. surrounding the ankle, by the quarter or cuff

Definitions

• This invention relates to a boot construction, especially for ice skates or in-line roller skates, but not necessarily limited to same.
• skates One means which has been used in skates to increase rigidity is to employ plastic ankle inserts and heel counter inserts, sewn in between the layers of various materials which make up the boot.
• plastic ankle inserts and heel counter inserts sewn in between the layers of various materials which make up the boot.
• this is fairly effective both in terms of rigidity and comfort.
• the leather and other materials naturally soften and become less rigid from repeated flexing, with the result that the upper ankle portion of the boot tends to slump down onto or over the heel counter, typically creating a ridge on the inside of the skate. This ridge bears against the Achilles' tendon, and thus creates a pressure point which results in decreased comfort and potential for blistering or other injury.
• the present invention is aimed specifically at avoiding that problem, and generally at providing an improved skate boot.
• a one-piece plastic ankle and heel counter insert is employed, positioned between the various layers which make up the skate boot.
• the boot includes a conventional outer, the plastic insert, suitable cushioning means, and a lining.
• the insert has a heel counter portion which is generally U-shaped and which cups around the heel area from along the lateral side, across the heel, and along the medial side, and an integral ankle area which extends upwardly from the heel counter portion and which includes forwardly projecting wing portions which cup around the ankle area from the lateral side, across the rear and along the medial side.
• the plastic insert extends up most of the height of the back of the boot, and includes lateral and medial cuff portions which extend partially forward around the skater's upper ankle.
• slots are provided between the wing portions and the sides of the heel counter portion.
• Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the skate boot
• Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the skate boot, cut open to show details of the construction
• Fig. 3 is a right side elevation of the skate, in cross-section, after positioning of the insert, but prior to positioning of the cushioning means and lining
• Fig. 4 is a right side elevation view of the skate, in cross-section, after positioning of the insert and the cushioning pack of flowable material, but prior to positioning of the neoprene rubber pad and of the lining, showing the lateral side of the insert and cushioning pack;
• Fig. 5 is a left side elevation view of the skate, in cross-section, corresponding to Fig. 4 and showing the medial side of the insert and cushioning pack;
• Fig. 6 is a right side elevation view of the skate, in cross-section, after positioning of the insert, the cushioning pack of flowable material and the neoprene rubber pad, but prior to positioning of the lining;
• Fig. 7 is an elevation view of the cushioning pack laid flat;
• Fig. 8 is a plan view of the cushioning pack; and Fig. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the cushioning pack, at 9-9 of Fig. 8.
• Fig. 1 shows the various components of the skate boot in exploded fashion. From the outside to the inside, the skate boot is made up of: a typical skate boot outer 2, conventionally having various layers of leather, plastic, ballistic nylon and/or other materials portions sewn together; the plastic insert 4 of the present invention; cushioning means such as, preferably, a cushioning pack 6 of flowable gel-like material which will conform to the particular individual's ankle shape, and neoprene rubber pads 8; and a soft material lining 10, preferably having a thin foam layer 12 bonded to the outside thereof.
• cushioning means such as, preferably, a cushioning pack 6 of flowable gel-like material which will conform to the particular individual's ankle shape, and neoprene rubber pads 8
• a soft material lining 10 preferably having a thin foam layer 12 bonded to the outside thereof.
• the essence of the present invention resides in the one-piece plastic ankle / heel counter insert 4. It is made of a suitable plastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane, and is relatively thin (about 2.5 mm at its thickest central portions, thinning near the edges down to zero) so as to not add too much weight to the skate. Because it is fairly thin, it is somewhat flexible, but nevertheless does add a fair amount of rigidity to the overall structure of the boot.
• a suitable plastic such as thermoplastic polyurethane
• the insert includes lateral and medial side portions 14 and 16 which extend forward from the heel area 18; a rear ankle portion 20 extending upwardly from the heel area; lateral and medial wing portions 22 and 24 arranged to overlie the malleoli of the skater's ankle; and lateral and medial cuff portions 26 and 28 to wrap partially around the skater's upper ankle.
• the lateral and medial wing portions include dished areas 30 and 32 to accommodate the malleoli.
• the boot outer 2 preferably includes recesses 33 to accommodate these dished areas.
• slots 34 preferably are provided between the wing portions and the side portions 14 and 16.
• the additional cushioning means preferably includes a cushioning pack 6 of flowable gel-like material which will conform to the particular skater's ankle shape. (One such material is that supplied by Alden Laboratories, Inc. of Boulder, Colorado under its Flo trademark.)
• the preferred cushioning pack is shown in greater detail in Figs. 7-9, and includes lateral and medial gel pouches 34 and 36 defined between thin layers of plastic, preferably but not necessarily connected by an integral neck portion 38.
• the cushioning pack may include lateral and medial closed areas 40 and 42, which approximate the path followed by the lateral and medial malleoli when the ankle is flexed, for even greater anatomical correctness and hence comfort and performance.
• the cushioning pack preferably is overlaid by thin pads 8, of 1/8 inch neoprene rubber for example.
• the soft material lining 10 such as a synthetic leather, the lining preferably having a thin foam layer 12 bonded to the outside thereof.
• the slots 34 could be omitted, i.e. the wing portions could be directly connected to the heel portion. This would restrict flexing of the ankle somewhat, and would therefore not be optimal, but would still be within the scope and spirit of the invention.
• the invention provides an improved skate boot, with better comfort and a longer effective life.

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Materials Engineering (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=4152551

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (6)

Families Citing this family (18)

Family Cites Families (6)

• 1993
  • 1993-11-30 CA CA002110328A patent/CA2110328C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
• 1994
  • 1994-11-29 WO PCT/CA1994/000661 patent/WO1995015094A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 1994-11-29 AT AT95901308T patent/ATE200396T1/de not_active IP Right Cessation
  • 1994-11-29 AU AU10615/95A patent/AU1061595A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1994-11-29 EP EP95901308A patent/EP0804102B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1994-11-29 DE DE69427098T patent/DE69427098T2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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