The basic function of a ski boot is to transmit a skier's movements to the skis. Previously, skiers wore everyday winter footwear, and though warm and comfortable, this everyday winter footwear provided little ankle support and gave the skier absolutely no control over the skis. Thick, heavy leather boots supplanted these boots. Steel shanks were installed in the leather sole to counteract buckling effects. Added rigidity was provided with long straps of leather. Porous rubber boot inserts were designed to support the ankle while providing a more conformable fit. Buckle boots implemented with these boots deformed the leather. Plastic ski boots were introduced with forward flex, lateral rigidity, and a height to permit the lower leg to help control skiing.
Custom foaming is a process in which a skier's foot is sealed into an inner boot through an injection of polyurethane foam. While custom foaming was popular with skiers, it was a constant nightmare for ski shop technicians who found the process messy, complicated and costly since any boot foamed improperly had to be thrown away. Two years after its introduction, the process was abandoned in favor of more economical inserts.
The inner boot is the lining underneath the shell. The lining is made of a pliable, cushioning material that provides insulation and added fit. This material can be a gel or synthetic that molds itself to the foot over extended use or it can be a material that, when heated, provides an instantaneous custom fit.
This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.
In an embodiment, there is disclosed an outer shell of a ski boot, the outer shell comprising a right side portion and a left side portion formed by a longitudinal split through the outer shell of the ski boot; a hinged connection between the right side portion and the left side portion, the hinged connection permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the open configuration allowing placement of an inner liner into the interior of the shell, and the closed configuration restricting removal of the liner from the interior of the shell; and a selectively fastenable connector extending between the right side portion and the left side portion, the selectively fastenable connector permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between the open configuration and the closed configuration with only a hand of a user and without an additional tool.
In another embodiment, there is provided an inner liner of a ski boot, the inner liner comprising a wall of material defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining an exterior having dimensions sized to compressively fit within an outer shell of the ski boot, and the inner surface defining an interior having dimensions sized to receive a foot of a skier; an a shape memory foam forming at least a portion of the wall of material, the shape memory foam configured to conform to the shape of the foot of the skier.
In still another embodiment, there is provided a ski boot system, the ski boot system comprising ski boot system, the ski boot system comprising an outer shell and an inner shell of the ski boot, the outer shell comprising a right side portion and a left side portion formed by a longitudinal split through the outer shell of the ski boot; a hinged connection between the right side portion and the left side portion, the hinged connection permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the open configuration allowing placement of the inner liner into the interior of the shell, and the closed configuration restricting removal of the liner from the interior of the shell; and a selectively fastenable connector extending between the right side portion and the left side portion, the selectively fastenable connector permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between the open configuration and the closed configuration with only a hand of a user and without an additional tool; and the inner liner comprising a wall of material defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining an exterior having dimensions sized to compressively fit within the outer shell of the ski boot, and the inner surface defining an interior having dimensions sized to receive a foot of a skier; and a shape memory foam forming at least a portion of the wall of material, the shape memory foam configured to conform to the shape of the foot of the skier.
Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the technology will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the technology.
Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which:
Embodiments are described more fully below in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
Broadly, and with reference to
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In one embodiment, and with reference to
With reference to
Buckle system 75 may be in addition to or supplemented by other buckles 75A that latch to close the shell 10. In addition to the buckles identified herein, many styles of buckles or fasteners may be used to close various portions of the shell 10. In an embodiment, the buckle system may include the ladder 80, the bail 85, and the latch arm 90 (which may be referred to as the buckle itself.) The ladder 80 is the graduated rung that the bail 85, or wire, hooks onto so that the buckle latch arm 90 can close so as to latch the boot tightly around the foot or ankle. Ski boots may have as many as four buckles, each drawing the boot tightly around a different segment of the foot or ankle.
The inner liner 15 provides both comfort and protection while increasing the skier's performance. The padding of the inner liner 15 cushions the foot and ankle, protects it from friction, impact and cold as well as creating full foot contact, which forms the foundation for energy to transfer from the body to the ski. Ski performance is directly related to how well the foot contacts the inner liner of the boot and how well the inner liner integrates with the outer shell.
With reference to
Current custom liners are rigid and hard for performance. With the liner 15 including shaped memory form, as long as the foot is securely wrapped, the heel is locked into place within the liner 15, there is high performance achieved with even the use of softer foam. Without the longitudinal split 20, it would be difficult to slide the foot into the liner 15 within the boot. Otherwise, a much thinner layer of memory foam would need be implemented and it would to provide the surrounding support to the user's foot. In various embodiments, the thickness of the memory foam around the ankle is about 1.5 to 2 inches. Around the rest of the heal wrap, it is about 1 to 1.5 inches.
In an embodiment, the outer surface 105 may include a sole 120 so as to allow use of the inner liner 15 as a snow boot apart from the outer shell 10. Extending upwardly from the sole 120, the outer surface 105 may include a rubber covering 125. This covering may extend upwardly from the sole about 1-2 inches, or more.
In one embodiment, the wrap portion 135 is a combination of a denser foam 140A and a memory foam 1408. The combination is of the denser foam 140A and memory foam 140B is used in the calf wrap and the tongue portion of the inner boot.
As illustrated, the inside of the heel wrap portion 135 has a denser foam piece the holds down the back of the heel area. The next layer is the memory foam 1358 and behind that is a denser foam butterfly wrap.
In an embodiment, and with reference to
In an embodiment, and with reference to
In various embodiments, ski boot system 5 may include both outer shell 10 and inner liner 15, or ski boot system may include only outer shell 10 or inner liner 15 apart from the other component.
In another embodiment, the hinged portion and the selectively fastenable connector may be repositioned with respect to one another so as to selectively open and close the ski boot with respect to the longitudinally split opening. The longitudinally split sections of the boot, together with the selectively fastenable connector, or other skier operable closures, allow for ease of entry, enhanced comfort, and optimized boot fit.
In other embodiments, the hinged connection may be placed on the bottom or sole together with buckles on the front and back of the shell. The two longitudinally split halves of the shell may be connected by magnets, buckles, or other combinations of selectively operable fasteners.
In an embodiment, a rubber gasket may be provided on the front portion of the longitudinal split 20, or various portions of the longitudinal split, in order to prevent snow, water, and other material from entering into the interior 50 of shell 10. Overlapping or interlocking portions of the right side portion 25 and the left side portion 35 may be provided on the bottom of the shell 10 in order to prevent leaking into the liner. In addition, this overlapping configuration may provide rigidity in order to prevent unwanted flex of the outer shell 10 during skiing.
Referring to
In an embodiment, with reference to
In an embodiment, with reference to
Although the above embodiments have been described in language that is specific to certain structures, elements, compositions, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, elements, compositions and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed technology. Since many embodiments of the technology can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20130118040 A1 | May 2013 | US |