Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Occupational or athletic shoe
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-15
2001-01-16
Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Occupational or athletic shoe
C036S117400, C036S103000, C036S031000, C036S117300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06173510
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a boot for a gliding sport, in particular an alpine ski boot.
PRIOR ART
Since the appearance of injection-molded plastic boots which took over from leather boots, the most common type of boot has been one which essentially consists, on the outside, of a shell providing proper support for the foot and having a rigid sole whose ends are gripped by the elements of the ski binding and, on the inside, of a comfort liner.
This type of boot is particularly suitable for good skiing, but it is unsuitable for walking because the shell, and in particular the sole, has no flexibility in the metartasophalangeal zone to allow the foot to roll during walking.
For a number of years, attempts have been made to eliminate this drawback, that is to say to make it easier to walk with alpine ski boots, using a variety of methods. In patent EP 0 664 969, it was proposed to provide a flexible zone forming a hinge in the metartasophalangeal zone of the rigid sole, and to divide the shell of the boot into two parts that are articulated at said articulation, these two parts also being joined by a device allowing the articulation to be locked. The articulation created in this way does indeed make it easier to walk, but the rigidity remaining to the front and to the rear of the articulation does not allow the foot to roll smoothly, as happens naturally during walking. Further, the discontinuity of the shell in its anterior part creates waterproofing problems.
A boot designed using a similar principle is also known from patent U.S. Pat. No. 5,572,806. In this boot, locking is provided by a device sliding in the thickness of the sole. Above the articulation, the upper has a fold which is intended to give the upper some degree of flexibility while maintaining the continuity of the upper, that is to say keeping it waterproof. It is clear that a boot of this type has little flexibility in the metartasophalangeal region.
For snowboarding, which involves a great deal of walking, it is known to use soft flexible boots. However, boots of this type are not suitable for alpine skiing because their flexibility prevents the use of automatic release bindings. It has been proposed, in patent application EP 0 753 267, to rigidify a soft boot of this type using an inner shell and an articulated rigid dorsal part, that is to say by means added to the soft boot.
Moreover, patent FR 2 309 168 discloses a boot for ski touring in which the front part has a flexible sole intended to make it easier to walk. The front end of the boot is, however, designed in a traditional way for it to be held by a binding.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the invention is to provide the user with a boot, in particular a ski boot, which makes it possible to walk with ease, for example as a walking or mountaineering boot does, and which can be fixed on a gliding board, in particular a ski, by means of a binding while perfectly fulfilling its function as an interface between the leg and the binding.
To this end, the boot according to the invention is one wherein the rear part of its sole, between the heel and approximately the middle of the sole, and the lower rear part of the upper are rigid, while the rest of the upper and of the sole are flexible.
A boot of this type has the appearance of a hybrid boot, the rear of which corresponds to that of a conventional plastic ski boot, while the rest of the boot has the characteristics of a walking boot. The rigidity is not obtained by parts that are added on.
The flexible part may consist of a variety of materials, such as plastic, leather, rubber or a combination of these materials. As regards the rigid part, a customary material such as polyurethane will be used. Seen from the side, the front end of the boot is advantageously rounded in order to make it easier to walk.
The rigid part of the sole will be designed in such a way as to fulfill its function as an interface. It may have auxiliary means such as pins, bars, etc.
The boot will advantageously be provided with a lower leg cuff articulated to the rigid part of the boot.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4677769 (1987-07-01), Ahmad et al.
patent: 4839972 (1989-06-01), Pack et al.
patent: 5572806 (1996-11-01), Osawa
patent: 5771609 (1998-06-01), Messmer
patent: 5815952 (1998-10-01), Bobrowicz
patent: 5884420 (1999-03-01), Donnadieu
patent: 5899006 (1999-05-01), Donnadieu
patent: 865425 (1953-02-01), None
patent: 2514207 (1976-10-01), None
patent: 196 16 559 (1997-07-01), None
patent: 0 086 149 (1983-08-01), None
patent: 342462 (1989-11-01), None
patent: 0 416 437 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 0 753 267 (1997-01-01), None
patent: 2 309 168 (1976-11-01), None
Bugnion S.A.
Moetteli John
Mohandesi Jila
Sewell Paul T.
Skis Rossignol S.A.
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