Boot and shoe making – Processes – Moccasins
Patent
1995-05-04
1997-10-07
Patterson, M. D.
Boot and shoe making
Processes
Moccasins
12142P, 36 10, 36 55, 36 88, 36 93, 361176, A43D 900, A43D 1100
Patent
active
056734484
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This application is a 371 application of PCT/CA93/00458 filed on Nov. 4, 1993.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method for making a custom fitted liner for a sport boot, to a liner for a sport boot such as a ski boot, and to a sport boot incorporating such a liner.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Specialized boots are used in many sports such as skiing, snow boarding, ice skating, roller skating, and in-line roller skating. A widely used construction for a sport boot has a rigid or semi-rigid outer shell and a padded inner liner. It is important that the liner fit the wearer well if maximum performance is to be achieved.
In such boots, the outer shell of the boot and the inner liner open to permit entry of the wearer's foot. After the wearer's foot is in place, the outer shell is fastened shut with buckles, laces, or some other fastening means to hold the liner snugly around against wearer's foot and lower leg.
Three characteristics that are required in most high performance sport boots are lateral stiffness, a degree of forward flex at the ankle and a snug fit to provide the wearer with fine control over the motion of the boot. For example, in a ski boot, lateral stiffness is required to allow the skier to control the angle of the edges of the skis relative to the snow; forward flex is required to allow the skier to move his or her centre of gravity relative to the ski and to allow the skier to bend at his or her ankles to accommodate changes in the terrain; and, a snug fit is required so that small motions of the skiers foot are translated into precise changes in the position of the ski attached to the boot.
A problem faced by sport boot manufacturers is to design a boot capable of maintaining a snug fit around the wearer's calf and heel when the wearer flexes his or her leg forward in the boot. Flexing forward tends to cause the wearer's heel to lift. This problem is made worse because the pressure of the wearer's shin on the front of the boot liner tends to enlarge the opening in the upper portion of the liner. This makes it easier for the wearer's calf to pull away from the back of the boot liner when the wearer flexes his or her leg forward at the ankle.
Prior art sport boot liners have the disadvantage that the pressure of a wearer's shin on the front portion of the liner tends to cause the portion of the liner which encircles the wearer's leg at the cuff to loosen. This generally occurs because the closure in conventional boot liners opens when pressure is placed on the shin portion of the liner. For example, in a boot liner with a conventional front closure comprising a slit covered by a conventional tongue, the pressure of the wearer's shin on the tongue will cause the tongue to slip forward relative to the rest of the liner when the wearer's leg is flexed forward, thereby causing the liner to loosen around the wearer's calf.
Boot manufacturers have devised various attempted solutions to this problem. Most of the attempted solutions include providing fastening means associated with the boot shell for closing the shell tightly around the inner liner at the cuff. A disadvantage of keeping the liner snugly fitted about the wearer's calf and shin even when the wearer's leg is not flexed is that it can cut off blood circulation in the wearer's foot and lead to discomfort. Some manufacturers provide boots having various designs of clamp to positively hold the wearer's heel down. These designs can cause pressure points on the wearer's heel and achilles tendon area. They also require precise adjustment to accommodate the foot of an individual wearer.
Another problem faced by sport boot manufacturers is to provide a comfortable sport boot liner which provides good control by closely fitting the top of a wearer's foot, especially in the region of the forefoot just in front of the wearer's ankle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,786,580, Dalebout discloses a double-walled inner liner for a sport boot which can be custom moulded to a wearer's foot by injecting a foamed elastomeric material under pressure
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Gracie Byron
Lang Herbert
Watt Robert
Intuition Sports Incorporated
Patterson M. D.
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