# US 10,244,817 B2 · Ski boot > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,244,817 B2 - Document ID: US10244817B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/478,338 - Filed: 2017-04-04 - Published: 2017-10-05 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2016-04-04 - Assignees: Rossignol Lange S.R.L. - Applicants: Rossignol Lange S.R.L. - Inventors: Florence Mandon; Tiziano Posato - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10244817B2 ## CPC - A43B 5/046: {with the actuator being disposed at the lateral or medial side of the boot (A43B5/0464 takes precedence)} - A43B 5/0405: {Linings, paddings or insertions; Inner boots} - A43B 5/0427: {characterised by type or construction details} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract Ski boot with rigid shell comprising a lower shell (30) and a cuff (20) articulated in rotation to the lower shell (30), characterized in that it comprises at least a connecting ring (10) connecting the cuff (20) to the lower shell (30), this connecting ring (10) comprising a locking surface (11) collaborating with an opening (31) in the lower shell (30) so as to prevent the connecting ring (10) from rotating relative to the lower shell (30), and a rotation surface (12) collaborating with an opening (24) in the cuff so as to guide the rotation of the cuff (20) relative to the lower shell (30) about this second surface. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Ski boot with rigid shell comprising: a lower shell, a cuff articulated in rotation to the lower shell, at least one connecting ring connecting the cuff to the lower shell, the connecting ring being inserted in a first opening in the lower shell, and in a second opening in the cuff, the connecting ring comprising: a locking surface collaborating with a corresponding locking surface which is part of a surface of the first opening in the lower shell, so as to prevent the connecting ring from rotating relative to the lower shell, and a rotation surface collaborating with the second opening in the cuff, so as to guide the rotation of the cuff relative to the lower shell about the rotation surface. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the connecting ring comprises a third surface resting on a stop-forming surface of the cuff preventing outward transverse movement of the cuff relative to the connecting ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the lower shell and the cuff comprise mutually-facing through-openings at the level of their connection by the connecting ring, the connecting ring also comprising a through-opening accepting a mechanical element of a screw and nut assembly that fixes the connecting ring to the lower shell. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring has a cross section of substantially polygonal shape comprising between three and six sides. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rotation surface has a larger surface area than the locking surface, and (ii) the rotation surface has a cross section which is larger in size than the size of the cross section of the locking surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the rotation surface of the connecting ring is offset from the centre of the locking surface of the connecting ring so that the connecting ring forms an eccentric allowing the adjustment of the inclination of the axis of rotation of the cuff relative to the lower shell. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the rotation surface has a diameter greater than or equal to 1.9 centimeters. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the rotation surface of the connecting ring extends in a direction of a thickness of the cuff over a distance less than the thickness of the cuff. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring extends in a direction of a thickness of the lower shell over a distance less than the thickness of the lower shell. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the connecting ring has a monobloc form constituting a single component, the locking surface and the rotation surface belonging to the one single component. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, comprising a single connecting ring on one side of the boot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) Ski boot according to claim 1, comprising two connecting rings distributed one on each side of the boot. ### Claim 13 (depends on 4) Ski boot according to claim 4, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring has a square or hexagonal cross section. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) Ski boot according to claim 11, wherein the connecting ring is configured to be positioned level with or above a location of a malleolus bone of a skier wearing the ski boot or level with a location of an ankle of a skier wearing the ski boot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 2) Ski boot according to claim 2, wherein the lower shell and the cuff comprise mutually-facing through-openings at the level of their connection by the connecting ring, the connecting ring also comprising a through-opening accepting a mechanical element comprising a screw and nut assembly that fixes the connecting ring to the lower shell. ### Claim 16 (depends on 2) Ski boot according to claim 2, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring has a cross section of substantially polygonal shape comprising between three and six sides. ### Claim 17 (depends on 3) Ski boot according to claim 3, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring has a cross section of substantially polygonal shape comprising between three and six sides. ### Claim 18 (depends on 2) Ski boot according to claim 2, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rotation surface has a larger surface area than the locking surface, and (ii) the rotation surface has a cross section which is larger in size than the size of the cross section of the locking surface. ### Claim 19 (depends on 3) Ski boot according to claim 3, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rotation surface has a larger surface area than the locking surface, and (ii) the rotation surface has a cross section which is larger in size than the size of the cross section of the locking surface. ### Claim 20 (depends on 4) Ski boot according to claim 4, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rotation surface has a larger surface area than the locking surface, and (ii) the rotation surface has a cross section which is larger in size than the size of the cross section of the locking surface. ### Claim 21 Ski boot with rigid shell comprising: a lower shell, a cuff articulated in rotation to the lower shell, at least one connecting ring connecting the cuff to the lower shell, the connecting ring comprising: a locking surface collaborating with an opening in the lower shell so as to prevent the connecting ring from rotating relative to the lower shell, and a rotation surface collaborating with an opening in the cuff so as to guide the rotation of the cuff relative to the lower shell about the rotation surface, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring has a cross section of substantially polygonal shape comprising between three and six sides. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) Ski boot according to claim 21, wherein the locking surface of the connecting ring has a square or hexagonal cross section. ### Claim 23 (depends on 21) Ski boot according to claim 21, wherein the connecting ring comprises a third surface resting on a stop-forming surface of the cuff preventing outward transverse movement of the cuff relative to the connecting ring. ### Claim 24 (depends on 21) Ski boot according to claim 21, wherein the lower shell and the cuff comprise mutually-facing through-openings at the level of their connection by the connecting ring, the connecting ring also comprising a through-opening accepting a mechanical element of a screw and nut assembly that fixes the connecting ring to the lower shell. ### Claim 25 (depends on 21) Ski boot according to claim 21, wherein at least one selected from the group consisting of (i) the rotation surface has a larger surface area than the locking surface, and (ii) the rotation surface has a cross section which is larger in size than the size of the cross section of the locking surface.