This invention is directed to a snow sport boot frame for connecting a soft-shell snow boot to a conventional downhill ski or the like.
A variety of devices are known for attaching a boot to skis, snowboards or the like. However, these known devices all suffer from limitations, such as limited compatibility with types and/or sizes of boots and skis, provide poor support to the user while engaging in snow sports, and/or lack proper safety devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,815,953, issued to Kaufman et al., discloses a downhill snow sport boot assembly that allows for a user to use any type of snow sport boot with skis or a snowboard. The Kaufman device is comprised of a solid, one piece base plate that is attached to a toe cap and molded metal components on each side of the base to provide lateral support. The Kaufman device further includes a one-piece calf support attached to the base on a pivoting mechanism. Forward resistance is provided by a spring like mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,854,743, issued to Hansen, discloses a ski boot attachment frame. The Hansen device includes a flat base plate with an attached toe and heel cup to allow for use with a boot. The Hansen device is designed to be used with an outdated type of bindings that do not comply with the DIN standard of modern ski boots.
International Patent Application No. WO2009097550, applicant Apex Sports, discloses a winter sports footwear device that includes an inner boot sized perfectly for an outer frame. The outer frame is comprised of a toe cap, a heel and an adjustable beam within a base plate. This design is not adaptable to be used with different types of boots and sizes.
As such, there is a need for a system for attaching a variety of boots to skis while providing proper and safe support to a user.
Modern ski boots are usually composed of a stiff plastic shell that surrounds a soft inner liner. The outer shell is relatively inflexible when fully buckled and is very difficult and uncomfortable to walk in for any more than a short distance. This stiffness is required for skiing but the boot must be worn to walk to and from the ski hill as well. In some versions, the soft inner liner may be removable however these removable liners do not include a proper sole and other components and cannot be used as a walking boot.
The invention of this application improves upon the design of the standard hard shell ski boot because the invention provides advantages of a stiff hard shell ski boot while allowing for the removal of a stiff outer frame to allow a user to easily walk in an inner snow boot. The snow boot may be any type of boot and preferably is a snowboard boot. The stiff outer frame provides all of the necessary forward and lateral support that is critical to skiing and allows the user to use their own snow boot, increasing user comfort on and off a ski hill.
In an embodiment of this invention, the ski boot frame includes a sole plate, a calf support pivotally connected to the sole plate. The ski boot frame further includes a toe clip and a heel clip mounted to the sole plate. The toe and heel clip are designed to engage with a standard ski binding to connect the ski boot frame to a ski. The ski boot frame also includes a plurality of boot connectors that provide a releasable connection for connecting the snow boot to the ski boot frame.
It is important the ski boot frame of this invention is capable of withstanding forces associated with downhill skiing. As such, the ski boot frame is preferably manufactured from strong and durable materials including, for example, aluminum, carbon fiber and/or thermoplastic.
In a preferred embodiment, the boot connectors comprise a plurality of adjustable straps that are secured to the frame located at the toe, ankle, shin and calf. The adjustability allows a user to adjust a tightness of the attachment of the ski boot frame to the snow boot. This adjustability allows for the ski boot frame to accommodate a variety of types and/or sizes of snow boots. This adjustability also plays a key role in user's perception of the transfer of movement from the user's foot to the direction the ski is going. This perception, known as “ski feel,” is critical to the user because it allows them to make the quick side to side movements necessary for skiing.
Another important aspect of ski boot design is forward lean resistance. A progressive forward resistance is critical to proper ski technique because it allows the user to “load” the edge of the ski during a turn and then release that “load” while transitioning to the next turn. A boot that has no forward resistance would cause the user to lose control of the skis as they initiate the turn and a boot with no forward flexibility would make correct skiing technique uncomfortable and more difficult. The ski boot frame of this invention provides progressive forward resistance by attaching the calf support close to the ankle joint of the user, allowing the calf support to pivot forward in a natural motion. The calf support is also attached to the sole plate via a sole plate band that comprises curved metal extrusions acting as a three quarter elliptical spring that, when pushed forward, progressively increases forward lean resistance. In a preferred embodiment, the ski boot frame further includes a spring arm connected to the sole plate and providing resistance to rotation of the calf support at the connection of the calf support to the sole plate.
In a preferred embodiment, the ski boot frame is adjustable to accommodate a variety of ski bindings. Preferably, at least one of the toe clip and the heel clip is adjustable along the sole plate, relative to the other of the toe clip and the heel clip to accommodate a plurality of sizes of ski bindings.
A preferred embodiment of a ski boot frame 10 of this invention is shown in
As shown in the figures, the ski boot frame 10 of this invention includes a sole plate 12, a calf support 14, a toe clip 16, a heel clip 18 and a plurality of connectors 20 for securing the boot 100 to the ski boot frame 10. The sole plate 12 is preferably connected to the calf support 14 with a pivot connection 22 that allows the calf support 14 to move relative to the sole plate 10. The toe clip 16 and the heel clip 18 are also connected to a bottom of the sole plate 12. At least one of the toe clip 16 and the heel clip 18 is connected to the sole plate 12 with an adjustable connection allowing for the clips 16, 18 to be adjusted to accommodate a range of conventional ski binding 102 sizes.
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the sole plate 12 includes attachment points for the attachment of the toe clip 16 and the heel clip 18. The toe clip 16 and the heel clip 18 each include components that are shaped to fit into and to be releasably secured by the standard downhill ski binding 102.
In the embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in the figures, the adjustment plate 30, the upper toe clip 32, and the reinforcement plate 34 are positioned between the upper sole plate 24 and the lower sole plate 26. The lower toe clip 36 is positioned below the lower sole plate 26. All the components of the toe clip 16 are attached to the sole plate 12 with a plurality of fasteners 38, in this case four bolts. In a preferred embodiment, each of the components of the toe clip 12 include a plurality of mounting holes and/or slots 40 to accommodate the fasteners 38. This arrangement allows the toe clip 16 to be mounted at a plurality of positions relative to the sole plate 12, allowing a user to extend or reduce an overall length between the toe clip 16 and the heel clip 18 in order to accommodate a range of different sized bindings 102. In the embodiment of
In the embodiment shown in
As shown in
In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the calf support 14 attaches to the upper sole plate 24 and the lower sole plate with a pivot connection 22 at ankle height which allows for a natural forward lean. The calf support 14 preferably also attaches to the lower sole plate band 28 with a fastener 52. In the embodiment shown, a pair of fasteners 52 are positioned near a rear area of the lower sole plate band 28 and a lower edge of the calf support 14. The curved nature of the lower sole plate band 28 provides a spring-like action to gradually increase a forward resistance on the user's leg as the user leans down the mountain or into a turn. In embodiment shown, the calf support spring 48 also attaches to both the lower sole plate 26 and the calf support 14. The calf support spring 48 is preferably made of aluminum, or another material with spring like properties, and is curved to allow for forward lean but eventually limits how far the calf support 14 can travel forward. The curved design of the calf support spring 48 provides gradual forward resistance needed for downhill skiing.
The ski boot frame of this invention allows a flexible snow boot 100 to be securely attached with a plurality of boot connectors 20. The boot 100 can be any of any type that is sufficient for winter but a preferred boot is a snowboarding boot. In this embodiment, the ski boot frame 10 includes four boot connectors however, any number of connectors may be used. The boot 100 and ski boot frame 10 may then be connected to a binding 102 of a ski 104. Thereby providing the necessary support to the flexible snow boot 100 for skiing. While, the detachablity of the frame 10 from the boot 100, allows a wearer to comfortably walk in the flexible boot 100 while not skiing. In a preferred embodiment, the boot connectors 20 may comprise a snowboard style ratchet strap, that includes a flexible ladder strap connected to one side of the ski boot frame 10 and a ratcheting clip connected to the other side of the ski boot frame 20. In an alternative embodiment of this invention, the boot connectors 20 may comprise a traditional ski boot latch, also known as an over-center levered latch, that includes a catch mounted on one side of the ski boot frame and a latch mounted on another side of the ski boot frame. Such boot connectors are preferred because the connector is adjustable to secure a range of different sized boots to the ski boot frame 10. However, other types of connectors may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the ski boot frame also includes a tension strap near the top of the calf support. The tension strap preferably includes a hook and loop fastener, also known as Velcro®.
The embodiments of the invention described herein are presently preferred. Various modifications and improvements can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the appended claims, and all changes that fall within the meaning and range of equivalents are intended to be embraced therein.
This application claims the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/261,686, filed on 1 Dec. 2015. The Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety and is made a part hereof, including but not limited to those portions which specifically appear hereinafter.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3854743 | Hansen | Dec 1974 | A |
4002354 | Ramer | Jan 1977 | A |
4367885 | Ramer | Jan 1983 | A |
5142798 | Kaufman | Sep 1992 | A |
5815953 | Kaufman et al. | Oct 1998 | A |
6126190 | Viodet | Oct 2000 | A |
6554295 | Rittmeyer | Apr 2003 | B2 |
6863285 | Gonthier | Mar 2005 | B2 |
20030094789 | Poscich | May 2003 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
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WO 2009097550 | Aug 2009 | WO |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20170151488 A1 | Jun 2017 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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62261686 | Dec 2015 | US |