Figure skating boot with monocoque structure

A skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein, the skating boot comprising:

• a sole portion extending longitudinally from a toe end arranged to receive toes of the foot thereabove towards a heel end arranged to receive a heel of the foot thereabove;
• an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween;
• a heel cup portion extending upwardly from the heel end of the sole portion in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions;
• two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup and extending forwardly to respective forward free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween and for spanning over respective ankles of the foot of the user;
• the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions comprising a unitary, monocoque structure integrally formed of a structural monocoque material;
• a toe cap supported above the toe end of the sole portion to define a toe box area receiving toes of the foot of the user therein;
• a rigid tongue supporting member coupled to the toe cap for pivotal movement relative to the toe cap, the rigid tongue supporting member extending into the tongue opening and spanning along a majority of a length of said lower portion of the tongue opening that is defined between the upper free edges of the inner side wall portion and the outer side wall portion;
• and
• a tongue formed of flexible material and extending across the lower portion and the upper portion of the tongue opening, the flexible tongue being connected to the rigid tongue supporting member so as to prevent bunching of a lower portion of the tongue.

A skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein, the skating boot comprising:

• a sole portion extending longitudinally from a toe end arranged to receive toes of the foot thereabove towards a heel end arranged to receive a heel of the foot thereabove;
• an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween;
• a heel cup portion extending upwardly from the heel end of the sole portion in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions;
• two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup and extending forwardly to respective forward free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween and for spanning over respective ankles of the foot of the user;
• the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions comprising a unitary, monocoque structure integrally formed of a structural monocoque material;
• a plurality of eyelet openings disposed along the upper free edge of each side wall portion for receiving laces therein,
• a rigid mounting bar supported along the forward free edge of each ankle portion above the eyelet openings;
• and
• a plurality of lace hooks each mounting bar so as to be located along the forward free edges of each ankle portion to receive said laces hooked therein;
• each mounting bar being secured to a corresponding one of the ankle portions of the monocoque structure using a plurality of removable threaded fasteners.

A skating boot for receiving a foot of a user therein, the skating boot comprising:

• a sole portion extending longitudinally from a toe end arranged to receive toes of the foot thereabove towards a heel end arranged to receive a heel of the foot thereabove;
• an inner side wall portion and an outer side wall portion oriented generally longitudinally and extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the sole portion between the toe end and the heel end towards respective upper free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define a lower portion of a tongue opening of the boot therebetween;
• a heel cup portion extending upwardly from the heel end of the sole portion in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions;
• and
• two ankle portions extending upwardly from laterally opposing sides of the heel cup and extending forwardly to respective forward free edges which are laterally spaced apart so as to define an upper portion of the tongue opening of the boot therebetween and for spanning over respective ankles of the foot of the user;
• the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, and the ankle portions comprising a unitary, monocoque structure integrally formed of a structural monocoque material;
• and
• each ankle portion being joined to a respective one of the side wall portions by a relief junction enabling the ankle portions of the monocoque structure to be flexed relative to the side wall portions of the monocoque structure;
• wherein each relief junction comprises a protruding channel formed of the structural monocoque material and connected between the respective ankle portion and the respective side wall portion of the skating boot.