SKATE

TECHNICAL FIELD

The application relates generally to skates and, more particularly, to skate boots and liners and paddings for skate boots.

BACKGROUND

Skates such as those for use in the practice of ice hockey are often required to perform under harsh conditions during the practice of such sport activity. Surfaces of the liners within these skates which contact the wearer's foot and/or ankle, whether or not covered by socks or other garments, may rub. Surfaces adherence and/or friction at interfaces between the skate boot and protective equipment (e.g. ankle pads, leg pads, socks, etc.) and/or garments worn by a wearer during the activity may also cause discomfort.

SUMMARY

In an aspect, there is provided a skate, comprising: a boot defining a foot receiving region adapted to receive a wearer's foot and ankle, the boot including: a boot shell having a heel portion and side portions extending from the heel portion to cover sides of at least part of the wearer's foot and ankle, the side portions of the boot shell defining a foot receiving opening, each side portion having an upper edge defining a part of a periphery of the foot receiving opening; and a liner defining an inner layer of the boot at least partially surrounding the foot receiving region, the liner having an ankle portion adapted to face towards the wearer's ankle, and upper segments extending upwardly from the ankle portion of the liner, each of the upper segments extending over at least part of a respective one of the upper edges of the boot shell, the upper segments defining a seamless area extending continuously from the ankle portion of the liner and wrapping over the respective upper edges; and a ground-engaging assembly attached beneath the boot.

The skate as defined above and herein may further include, in whole or in part, and in any combination, one or more of the following additional features.

In some cases, the upper segments extend at least in part outside the boot, over part of an outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, part of each of the upper segments define an outside surface of the boot.

In some cases, the upper segments are secured to the boot shell outside of the foot receiving opening.

In some cases, the upper segments are secured to the boot shell on an outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the upper segments are secured to the outer surface of the boot shell via stitching extending through the boot shell.

In some cases, the stitching are unexposed on the liner in the seamless area within the foot receiving opening.

In some cases, a secured area of the upper segments on the outer surface of the boot shell is located below the upper edges.

In some cases, the stitching through the boot shell are located at a distance below the upper edges on the outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the seamless area defines a smooth surface devoid from fasteners exposed on the liner within the foot receiving opening.

In some cases, the seamless area of the respective ones of the upper segments are symmetric relative to each other.

In some cases, the boot includes an ankle pad for facing at least one side of an ankle of the wearer's foot.

In some cases, the ankle pad is secured to the boot shell.

In some cases, the ankle portion of the liner covers the ankle pad.

In some cases, the ankle pad has an upper edge extending along at least one of the upper edges of the boot shell.

In some cases, the upper edge of the ankle pad coincides with the respective one of the upper edges of the boot shell.

In some cases, the ankle pad has an upper end extending over at least one of the upper edges of the boot shell, the upper end of the ankle pad covering the at least one of the upper edges along at least part of a length thereof, the upper end of the ankle pad extending between the upper segments of the liner and the upper edges of the boot shell.

In some cases, the ankle pad defines a comfort pad extending on top of at least one of the upper edges.

In some cases, the ankle pad folds over at least one of the upper edges of the boot shell, and part of the ankle pad extends over an outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the upper edges each define a stepped recess, the stepped recess lowering the upper edges relative to a remainder of the upper edges adjacent the stepped recess.

In some cases, the stepped recess is angled downwardly towards a rear end of the boot shell thereby increasingly lowering the upper edges towards the rear end of the boot shell.

In some cases, the boot shell includes a tendon guard portion extending upwardly from the upper edges.

In some cases, each seamless area extends over a length of the upper edges, from a base of the tendon guard portion towards an instep region of the boot shell.

In some cases, each side portion of the boot shell has an instep region defining an edge of the side portion, and the edge of the side portion has a substantially vertical edge portion, each one of the upper edges merging with a respective one of the vertical edge portions to form an apex, each seamless area extending between the tendon guard portion and a respective one of the apex.

In some cases, the boot has an uppermost eyelet, and each seamless area extends over a length of the upper edges, between the tendon guard portion and the uppermost eyelet of the boot.

In some cases, the upper edges are straight when viewed from a side of the boot shell, from the apex to a radiused corner at a junction between a base of the tendon guard portion and the upper edges of the boot shell.

In some cases, the boot includes a facing extending along at least one of the upper edges of the boot shell, the facing defining part of an outside surface of the boot, the facing covering part of the upper segments of the liner at a location where the upper segments extend over the outside surface of the boot.

In some cases, the facing is secured to at least one of the boot shell and one of the upper segments of the liner on the exterior of the boot.

In some cases, the boot shell includes a sole portion connected to the ground-engaging assembly.

In some cases, the skate includes a tendon guard extending upwardly from the heel portion of the boot shell.

In some cases, at least a part of the tendon guard is integrally formed with the boot shell so as to form a single, continuous part with the boot shell.

In some cases, the liner has a tendon guard portion extending on a surface of the tendon guard facing towards a front end of the boot.

In another aspect, there is provided a method of assembling a skate boot including at least a boot shell and a liner, the method comprising: covering part of an outer surface of the boot shell with part of upper segments of the liner, securing the upper segments of the liner to the boot shell along upper edges of the boot shell, and folding part of each one of the upper segments of the liner over a respective one of the upper edges of the boot shell.

The method as defined above and herein may further include, in whole or in part, and in any combination, one or more of the following additional features.

In some cases, the method further comprises placing the liner of the skate boot inside out such that a majority of an inner surface of the liner adapted to face a foot receiving region of the skate boot faces outwardly prior to the securing of the upper segments of the liner to the boot shell.

In some cases, the securing includes adhering or fusing the upper segments to an outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the securing includes stitching through the boot shell and the part of the upper segments covering the outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the method further comprises placing an ankle pad over part of an inner surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the placing of the ankle pad includes securing the ankle pad on the inner surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the method further comprises covering the ankle pad with the liner.

In some cases, the method further comprises flipping a tendon guard portion of the liner inversely from a remainder of the liner so as to rest the tendon guard portion of the liner against a tendon guard portion of the boot shell.

In some cases, the method further comprises placing a tendon guard padding over a surface of the tendon guard portion of the boot shell.

In some cases, the method further comprises securing the tendon guard portion of the liner to the tendon guard portion of the boot shell and/or the tendon guard padding.

In some cases, the method further comprises covering part of the upper segments of the liner with a facing at a location where the upper segments extend over the outer surface of the boot shell.

In some cases, the covering with the facing includes securing the facing on at least one of the outer surface of the boot shell and the part of at least one of the upper segments covered by the facing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a skate with a boot and a ground engaging assembly, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a shell of the boot of the skate of FIG. 1;

FIG. 2A is a partial lateral view of the shell of FIG. 2, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3A is a partial perspective view of the boot of FIG. 1, according to an embodiment;

FIG. 3B is a flat plane view of a liner of the boot of FIG. 3A, shown disassembled;

FIG. 3C is another perspective view of the boot shown in FIG. 3A;

FIG. 3D is a schematic cross-sectional view of the boot shown in FIG. 3A, taken through plane X in FIG. 3C;

FIG. 3E is a schematic perspective partial view of the boot of FIGS. 3A and 3C;

FIG. 4 is a magnified view of an upper portion of the boot as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, according to another embodiment;

FIG. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D show the boot shown in FIGS. 3A, 3C and 3E during assembly, according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the boot such as shown in FIG. 3D, according to another embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 illustrates a skate 10, such as the type worn for ice hockey. The skate 10 includes a boot 100 and a ground-engaging assembly 200 attached beneath the boot 100, e.g. to the outer sole of the boot 100. The ground-engaging assembly 200 is shown as including a blade. It is understood that the particular skate configuration shown here is provided as an example only and that alternate configurations are possible, including, but not limited to, other types of ground engaging assemblies such as roller skate ground engaging assemblies including rollers or wheels. In the depicted embodiment, the skate 10 is a hockey skate, though such skate 10 may be used for the practice of other sports, such as ringette and/or other activities such as ice skating, skating, inline roller hockey (with the ground engaging assembly adapted therefor) or the like.

The boot 100 defines a foot receiving region 101 adapted to receive a wearer's foot and ankle. Garments (padded or without integrated pads), such as socks, and/or protective wears, such as leg pads, ankle pads, etc. for covering at least part of the wearer's foot and/or ankle may be worn on the wearer's foot and/or ankle and may interface with at least some parts of the boot 100.

The boot 100 includes a boot shell 110. The boot shell 110 wraps about at least part of the wearer's foot and ankle and form the core of the boot 100. The boot shell 110 is configured to provide rigidity/stiffness to the boot 100. In some embodiments, the boot shell 110 may be made as described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 8,387,286, 8,813,393, 9,833,036, 9,648,922, and 9,936,762, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. Other aspects of the boot shell 110 will be described later.

The boot 100 includes a liner 120 covering at least part of an interior of the boot 100. The liner 120 is adapted to face and/or contact the wearer's foot and ankle (or garments and/or protective wears worn on the wearer's foot and/or ankle). The liner 120 defines an inner layer of the boot 100 and surfaces 1201N facing the foot receiving region 101 of the boot 100.

The boot 100 includes a toe cap 130 connected to the boot shell 110. In the depicted embodiment, the toe cap 130 is formed separately from a remainder of the boot shell 110, i.e. formed as a separate piece and secured to the boot shell 110, for instance via fasteners, adhesives, or overmolding. The toe cap 130 can be made from a hard or stiff material to protect the toes of the wearer. Other configurations are also possible. For instance, the toe cap 130 may be formed integrally with the boot shell 110 as another possibility.

The boot 100 includes a tongue 140 connected to the toe cap 130. In some cases, the tongue 140 may be removably connected to the toe cap 130, for instance via fasteners or the like. The tongue 140 extends from the toe cap 130, between opposite sides of the boot shell 110. The tongue 140 is adapted to cover at least an instep region of the wearer's foot, ankle, and at least part of a lower leg region of the wearer. One or more lace(s) 150 extends over at least part of the tongue 140 and attached at edges of the boot shell 110, to the opposite sides of the boot shell 110.

The boot 100 includes eyelets 160, which may be defined through the boot shell 110 or by one or more separate parts, which may be referred to as facings, connected to the boot shell 110 (on or along edges of the boot shell 110) on opposite sides thereof. The lace(s) 150 is threaded through at least part of the eyelets 160 on opposite sides of the boot shell 110 for tightening the tongue 140 on the wearer's foot thereby securing the boot shell 110 onto the wearer's foot and/or ankle.

The boot 100 includes a tendon guard 170 extending upwardly from a rearmost heel portion of the boot shell 110. The tendon guard 170 is configured to protect upper portions of an Achilles tendon of the wearer. As will be described below with reference to additional figures, in embodiments shown herein, at least part of the tendon guard 170 is integrally formed with the boot shell 110 so as to form a single, continuous part with the boot shell 110. The tendon guard 170 may however be removably attached to the boot shell 110 in other embodiments.

FIG. 2 illustrates the boot shell 110, shown in isolation. The boot shell 110 includes a sole portion 111 that has back and front ends 111R, 111F, which may correspond to back and front ends of the boot 100. The sole portion 111 may be connected to the ground-engaging assembly 200 (FIG. 1), and is shaped to receive the foot of the wearer thereover, in a particular embodiment with an inner liner and/or insole (not shown) adapted to extend between the sole portion 111 and the foot. In at least some embodiments, such as shown, the sole portion 111 is integrally formed with a remainder of the boot shell 110. The sole portion 111 may be a separate part secured to the remainder of the boot shell 110 in other embodiments. The boot shell 110 also includes a heel portion 112 extending from the back end 111R of the sole portion 111, for receiving a heel of the foot of the wearer. The heel portion 112 is generally curved to contour the heel and a rear of the foot. The boot shell 110 includes a toe portion 113 extending from the front end 111F of the sole portion 111, for receiving toes of the wearer's foot.

The boot shell 110 includes two opposite side portions 114L, 114R. The side portions 1141L, 114R are connected to the sole portion 111, heel portion 112 and toe portion 113. The side portions 114L, 114R extends from the heel portion 112 toward the toe portion 113 to cover sides of at least part of the wearer's foot and ankle. The spaced apart side portions 114L, 114R define quarters for covering at least the wearer's ankle and an instep portion of the boot shell 110. The spaced apart side portions 114L, 114R cooperate together to surround the wearer's foot on opposite sides thereof. The two side portions 114L, 114R define a foot receiving opening 115 of the boot shell 110. The foot receiving opening 115 receives (or intersect with) the lower leg of the wearer when the skate boot 100 is worn. Each side portion 114L, 114R has an instep region 116, defining a boundary or edge of the side portion 114L, 114R along an instep of the foot and part of a lower leg portion upward of and adjacent the instep of the foot. In the embodiment shown, each instep region 116 extends between the foot receiving opening 115 and the toe portion 113. The edge of the instep region 116 has an L-shaped form, when viewed from the side, with a vertical or substantially (±10 degrees) vertical edge portion 116V thereof near the foot receiving opening 115 and a horizontal or substantially horizontal portion 116H thereof near the toe portion 113, between the vertical edge portion 116V and the toe portion 113.

Each side portions 114L, 114R has an upper edge 117U extending from the vertical edge portion 116V of the instep region 116. The vertical edge portions 116V and the upper edges 117U of the respective side portions 114L, 114R merge together to form an apex 117X (or corner), which in the embodiment shown is rounded. In other words, the vertical edge portions 116V and the upper edges 117U transition into one another to form the apex 117X.

The boot shell 110 includes a tendon guard portion 118 extending upwardly from the upper edges 117U, near the heel portion of the boot shell 110. The upper edges 117U of the side portions 114L, 114R define part of a periphery of the foot receiving opening 115, between the instep region 116 and the tendon guard portion 118. The tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110 defines at least part of the tendon guard 170 of the boot 100 in the depicted embodiment. In one particular embodiment, the tendon guard portion 118 is integrally formed as a single, continuous part with the heel portion 112 of the boot shell 110. The tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110 includes a base 1188 extending from the opposite upper edges 117U. In other words, the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 transitions into the opposite upper edges 117U along the foot receiving opening 115. Stated differently, the upper edges 117U and the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 merge together to form a radiused corner 118X (alternately, a concave filet or concave corner), which in the embodiment shown is rounded. In other words, the upper edges 117U and the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 transition into one another to form the radiused corner 118X.

In the depicted embodiment, the upper edges 117U are straight (or substantially straight), when the boot shell is viewed from the side, from the apex 117X to the radiused corner 118X at the junction between the base 118B of tendon guard portion 118 and the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. It is however to be understood that when viewed from above, i.e. a top plan view, these upper edges 177U may have a slightly outwardly convex shape in order to surround the ankle and/or leg of the wearer. In some other embodiments, such as depicted in FIG. 2A, the upper edges 117U may define a recess therealong, or a depression to lower the upper edges 117U (or a portion thereof) relative to the apex 117X and/or relative to a remainder of the upper edges 121L, 121R. As shown in FIG. 2A, the upper edge 117U defines a step 117S (or stepped recess) between the apex 117X and the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118, whose step 117S in this embodiment is angled downwardly towards the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118. In other words, the step 117S increases in depth towards a rear end of the boot shell 110, thereby increasingly lowering the upper edges 117U towards the rear end of the boot shell 110. Such angular step 117S may provide more clearance and/or space for an ankle comfort pads (or ankle pad) extending over the edges 117U for added cushioning and/or comfort for the wearer.

Skate boots such as the skate boot 100 disclosed herein may be worn for long period of time. During the practice of hockey, or other activities requiring skating, discomfort may build over time for the wearer, which may be due to repetitive high loads transferred from the wearer to the skating surface via the boot 100. Pressure points, whether constant or intermittent, on the wearer's foot, ankle and/or lower leg, which may be due to edges of the boot 100, for instance, on opposite sides of the foot receiving opening 115 may contribute to such discomfort. The repetitive contact/rubbing of the wearer's ankle and/or lower leg on the liner 120 during skating and the relative movement (from side to side and/or front to back) between the boot 100 and the wearer's foot, ankle and/or lower leg may generate friction wears to the liner 120 within the skate boot and to stitchings that are apparent in high friction zones of the boot 100 such as about the foot receiving opening 115. Such friction over time may affect the integrity of the liner 120 and/or padding and reduce the lifetime of the skate boot 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 3A to 3E, an embodiment of the skate boot 110 is partially shown.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C, the liner 120 includes an ankle portion 121AL, 121AR on each side of the foot receiving opening 115 adapted to face opposite sides of the wearer's ankle. Such ankle portions 121AL, 121AR of the liner 120 may rub against garments covering the wearer's ankle during skating and/or the sides of the tongue 140 of the boot 100. The liner 120 of the skate boot 110 includes a tendon guard portion 121T, which covers substantially (substantially or an entirety) an inner surface 171 of the tendon guard 170. The inner surface 171 faces towards a toe end of the skate boot 100. In some embodiments, the tendon guard 170 may include at least one padding 172 (illustrated by the hatched area in FIG. 3A), for instance between the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110 and the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120. The tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 is attached to a remainder of the tendon guard 170 via fasteners 180, here stitchings extending along a periphery of the tendon guard 170 and extending through the liner 120. As shown, the fasteners 180, here stitchings, are visible from the inside of the boot 100 as they extend through the liner 120. The tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 may be secured to the remainder of the tendon guard 170 by other suitable ways in other embodiments, such as adhesives and/or welding (e.g. ultrasonic welding) to create a solid-state weld with other layers/components of the tendon guard 170, extending on a surface of the tendon guard facing towards a front end of the boot 100.

The liner 120 includes upper segments 121L, 121R on opposite sides of the foot receiving opening 115. The upper segments 121L, 121R fold (or extend) over the upper edges 117U of the boot shell (not shown in FIG. 3A, as covered at least by the liner 120). The upper segments 121L, 121R extend along at least part of the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110 (not visible in FIG. 3A, as covered at least by the liner 120). The upper segments 121L, 121R extend continuously, as a single part, with the respective ankle portions 121AL, 121AR on opposite sides of the foot receiving opening 115. As shown, the upper segments 121L, 121R define a smooth surface devoid from stitches or other fasteners exposed on the liner 120 within the foot receiving opening 115. In other words, the upper segments 121L, 121R define stitchless (stitchless or seamless) areas SA between the tendon guard 170 and a front edge FE of an instep region of the boot 100, which may correspond to the instep region of the boot shell 110 discussed above. Such front edge FE may correspond to the vertical edge portion 116V and/or apex 117X (discussed above) of the boot shell 110 on opposite sides of the foot receiving opening 115 as discussed above. The upper segments 121L, 121R extend at least partially outside the boot 100, such that part of the upper segments 121L, 121R is over part of an outer surface OS of the boot shell 110. As shown, part of the upper segments 121L, 121R defines an outside surface of the boot 100 (when the boot is viewed from an outside environment).

In the depicted embodiment, the upper segments 121L, 121R define the seamless areas SA from a base 173 of the tendon guard 170, which substantially correspond to the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110 and radiused corner 118X in this embodiment, as discussed above, to the uppermost eyelet 160 of the boot 100 (location along the edges 117U vertically aligned with the uppermost eyelet 160, as illustrated by the dashed line in FIG. 3A). The seamless areas SA are symmetric relative to each other, though this is only one possibility. The seamless areas SA may extend over a shorter distance over the upper edges 117U in other embodiments.

In some cases, the liner 120 may include a plurality of layers of materials, where in some instances patches or full layers may be made of a low-friction material, which may be in the form of a film. Such low-friction patches may reduce friction between the garments worn by the wearer and the surface of the liner 120 in contact therewith in selected areas. For instance, in an embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3A, darken areas of the liner 120, the liner 120 may have such low-friction patches PP. A patch PP may extend at least over one (or both, as shown) upper edges 117U in some embodiments.

As shown in FIG. 3B, the tendon guard portion 121T and the respective side portions of the liner 120 defined by the left upper segment 121L and ankle portion 121AL and the right upper segment 1221R and ankle portion 121AR may be made of separate parts and attached together, via fasteners, adhesives, ultrasonic welding or other suitable ways. It may be desirable to avoid stitchings extending through all of the layers of the liner 120 at their junction lines (identified by the double-sided arrows in FIG. 3B) to obtain smooth surfaces at such junction lines in the visible surface of the boot interior. As discussed above, in some embodiments of the boot 100, the tendon guard 170 may be removably attached to the remainder of the boot 100. As such, the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 may be optional in at least some embodiments.

Other aspects of the liner 120 will now be described with reference to FIG. 3D. FIG. 3D shows a cross-section of the boot 100 taken in plane X (FIG. 3C). In the depicted embodiment, the liner 120 has a sole portion 121S. The sole portion 121S may extend from the front to read ends 111F, 111R (FIG. 2), as one possibility. In other cases, the sole portion 121S may extend over part of the sole portion 111 of the boot shell 110. The liner 120 may contact an inner surface IS of the boot shell 110, though an intermediary component may extend between the inner surface IS of the boot shell 110 and the liner 120 (e.g. between the sole portion 111 of the boot shell 110 and the sole portion 121S of the liner 120) as another possibility. In the foot receiving opening 115, the ankle portions 121AL, 121AR extend upwardly from the sole portion 121S on opposite sides thereof. The upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 extend over part of an outer surface OS of the boot shell 110. The upper segments 121L, 121R are secured to the boot shell 110 from the outside of the foot receiving opening 115. As shown, the upper segments 121L, 121R on the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110 may be secured to the boot shell 110 via stitching extending through the boot shell 110, without extending through the liner 120 facing towards the foot receiving opening 115 (or the liner 120 over the upper edges 117U). In other words, the stitching is unexposed on the liner 120 in the seamless area SA within the foot receiving opening 115. Adhesives and/or other fasteners may be used to secure the liner 120 on the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110. As shown, a secured area of the upper segments 121L, 121R on the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110 is located below the upper edges 117U. The stitching through the boot shell 110 are located at a distance below the upper edges 117U on the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110.

In other embodiments, the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 may be secured to an intermediary component in contact with the boot shell 110, such that the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 may not contact the outside surface OS of the boot shell 110.

The boot 100 includes ankle pads 190 on the left and right sides thereof. The ankle pads 190 may be secured to the boot shell via adhesives, or otherwise. The ankle portions 121AL, 121AR cover (overlay) the ankle pads 190. As such, the ankle pads 190 may not directly contact the wearer's ankle or garments worn on the wearer's foot and/or ankle. As shown, the ankle pads 190 have an upper edge 191 that extend along the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. In some cases, such as shown, the upper edges 191 of the ankle pads 190 may coincide with the upper edge 117U of the boot shell 110. In other words, the ankle pads 190 in the embodiment shown extend upwardly as far as the boot shell 110. While the ankle pads 190 are described above as separate pads, there may be a single ankle pad extending on both the left and right sides of the skate boot 100 in some embodiments.

In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 6, the ankle pads 190 may have an upper end extending over (or “fold over”) the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. As shown, such upper end of the ankle pads 190 may extend over part of the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110. As such, the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 that fold over the upper edges 117U may interface with such upper end of the ankle pad 190 while extending over the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. The ankle pad 190 may extend high enough along the boot shell 110 to cover the upper edges 117U, along at least part of a length of the upper edges 117U. As such, the ankle pad 190 may define a comfort pad extending on top of at least part of the upper edges 117U.

In embodiments such as shown in FIG. 3D, having the upper edges 191 of the ankle pads 190 ending at the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110 may provide sufficient padding between the boot shell 110 and the wearer's ankle and/or lower leg (or garments worn thereon), without having an end of the padding extending over the upper edges 117U. This may be the case in embodiments where the upper edges 117U are flared outwardly, as seen in FIG. 3D.

As shown in FIG. 3E, a facing 181 may extend along the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120. The facing 181 may form part of the tendon guard 170 in some embodiments. As such, when viewed from an outside environment, the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110 may be covered by such facing 181. In at least some embodiments, the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110 may be covered by such facing 181 at least along the apex 117X and part of the vertical edge portion 116V. The facing 181 may define part of the outside surface of the boot 100 in at least some embodiments, such as shown. The facing 181 may be secured on the liner 120, from the outside of the boot 100, which may add stability and/or more liner retention force on the boot shell 110. The facing 181 may cover part of the upper segments 121L, 121R (one or both) over the outside surface of the boot 100, depending on the configuration of the facing 181. The facing 181 may be secured to at least one of the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 on the exterior of the boot 100 and the boot shell 110. As shown, the facing 181 is secured to the liner 120 via fasteners 180, here stitchings extending through the facing 181 and the liner 120, adjacent the front edge FE of the boot 100 and/or along the apex 117X and part of the vertical edge portion 116V of the boot shell 110. As shown, in at least some embodiments, the facing 181 may be stitched with stitchings extending through the liner 120 on each ends of the seamless areas SA of the liner 120 along the edges 117U. Other securing means may be contemplated, such as adhesives and/or ultrasonic welding.

FIG. 4 illustrates features of another embodiment of the skate boot 100. For conciseness, features similar to that described above are not described again. For simplicity, similar features bear the same reference numerals as those used in the previous figures.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper segments 121L 121R (121R not shown in this view) of the liner 120 extend over a smaller part of the upper edges 117U than in embodiments shown in the previous figures. As shown, a gap G is provided between the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110 and a rear end 121LR of the upper segments 121L, 121R. As such the seamless areas SA extend over a shorter distance (less than from the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 to the uppermost eyelet 160). In the gap G between the base 118B of the tendon guard portion 118 and the rear end 121LR of the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120, fasteners 180, here stitchings, may extend through all of the layer of materials, including the liner 120, such that stitchings may be visible in this region of the liner 120 from inside of the boot 100.

Referring now to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C and 5D, the skate boot 100 during assembly with respect to various embodiments will be described.

As shown in FIG. 5A, the liner 120 is flipped inside out such that in this position, a majority of the inner surface 1201N adapted to face the foot receiving region 101 of the boot 100 face outwardly. In the position shown, the liner 120 is upside down relative to the boot shell 110. As shown, at least the ankle portions 121AL, 121AR face outwardly from the boot shell 110. In embodiments where the liner 120 has a tendon guard portion 121T, such as shown, the tendon guard portion 118 may be flipped inversely from a remainder of the liner 120, such that the tendon guard portion 118 may rest against the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110, in embodiments where such tendon guard portion 118 is present, while the remainder of the liner 120 is flipped upside down. The upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 are secured along the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. Adhesive or fusing between the upper segments 121L, 121R and the outside surface OS of the boot shell 110 may be used to secure the upper segments 121L, 121R on the boot shell 110, for instance. In FIG. 5A, part of the liner 120, which may be part of the upper segments 121L, 121R covers the outside surface OS of the boot shell 110 along part of the vertical edge portion 116V of the instep region 116 of the boot shell 110 and at the apex 117X. In other embodiments, the outside surface SO of the boot shell 110 along the vertical edge portion 116V of the instep region 116 of the boot shell 110 and at the apex 117X may be free of upper segments 121L, 121R, where the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 are shorter and only fold over part of the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110.

As shown in FIG. 5B, the facing 181 may then be secured on the boot shell 110. The facing 181 covers part of the upper segments 121L, 121R. In the embodiment shown, the facing 181 extends along the apex 117X and part of the vertical edge portion 116V of the instep region 116. In the depicted embodiment, the facing 181 extends over the outside surface SO of the boot shell 110, on at least part (here en entirety) of the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110. The facing 181 may be secured on part of the upper segments 121L, 121R, where such upper segments 121L, 121 R extends on the outside surface SO of the boot shell 110. The facing 181 may be secured using fasteners 180, here stitchings, which may extend through the facing 181 and the boot shell 110, for instance. Adhesives may be used instead of or in addition to such fasteners 180.

As shown in FIG. 5C, the liner 120 is flipped out side in relative to the position shown in FIG. 5A, in the interior of the boot 100 along the inner surface IN of the boot shell 110 to define the surfaces 1201N of the foot receiving region 101 of the boot 100. Ankle pads 190 (not shown, see FIG. 3D) and//or other paddings may be secured to the boot shell 110 before folding the liner 120. Such step of adding the ankle pads 190 and/or other paddings may be done before positioning the liner 120 and securing it as described with respect to FIG. 5A. As the liner 120 is flipped in the position shown in FIG. 5C, the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 fold over the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. As shown, the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 may now extend along the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110, although yet to be secured thereto.

As shown in FIG. 5D, the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 may be secured to the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110, using fasteners 180, here stitchings, which may extend through the liner 120 and the facing 181 extending on the outside surface OS of the boot shell 110. In some cases, the fasteners 180 may extend through the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110, in addition to or instead of the facing 181. Adhesives, ultrasonic welding or other means may be used to secure the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120. It may be desirable to secure the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 with methods forming a stitchless (or seamless) tendon guard liner portion 121T in other embodiments.

Still with reference to the figures and based on the features described above, a method of assembling a skate boot 100 including at least a boot shell 110 and a liner 120 will be further described. During assembly of the skate boot 100, part of an outer surface OS of the boot shell 110 is being covered by part of the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120. The upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 are secured to the boot shell 110 along the upper edges 117U. Part of the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 are folded over respective ones of the upper edges 117U of the boot shell 110. By these steps, the seamless area(s) SA, such as discussed above, take(s) form. The folding of the liner 120 over the upper edges 117U provides a continuous surface of liner from one surface of the boot shell 110 to another surface of the boot shell 110 on opposite sides of the upper edges 117U.

In some embodiments, the liner of the skate boot 100 may be placed inside out such that a majority of an inner surface 1201N of the liner 120 adapted to face a foot receiving region 101 of the skate boot 100 faces outwardly prior to the securing of the upper segments 117U of the liner 120. In some embodiments, the securing of the upper segments 121L, 121R of the liner 120 to the boot shell 110 may include adhering or fusing the upper segments 121L, 121R to an outer surface OS of the boot shell 110. In some embodiments, the securing may include stitching through the boot shell 110 and the part of the upper segments 121L, 121R covering the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110.

In at least some embodiments, an ankle pad 190 (one or more) may be placed over part of an inner surface IS of the boot shell 110. Placing the ankle pad(s) 190 may include securing the ankle pad(s) 190 on the inner surface IS of the boot shell 110. Whether or not secured to the boot shell 110, the ankle pad(s) 190 may then be covered by the liner 120.

In some embodiments where the liner 120 has a tendon guard portion 121T, the tendon guard portion 121T may be flipped inversely from a remainder of the liner 120 so as to rest the tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 against the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110. In some embodiments where the skate boot 100 has a tendon guard padding 172, the tendon guard padding 172 may be placed over a surface of the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110. The tendon guard portion 121T of the liner 120 may be secured to the tendon guard portion 118 of the boot shell 110 and/or the tendon guard padding 172, as some possibilities.

In some embodiments where the skate boot 100 has a facing 181, the upper segments 121L, 121R may be covered in part with the facing 181 at a location where the upper segments 121L, 121R extend over the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110. The facing 181 may be secured on at least one of the outer surface OS of the boot shell 110 and the part of at least one of the upper segments 121L, 121R covered by the facing 181, as some possibilities.

Other ways of assembling the skate boot 100 may be contemplated.

The embodiments described in this document provide non-limiting examples of possible implementations of the present technology. Upon review of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present technology. Yet further modifications could be implemented by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, which modifications would be within the scope of the present technology.

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