US 2008/0172906 A1 · Skate boot

Abstract

A lasted skate boot for enclosing and supporting a human foot, the boot comprising: an outer shell comprising a heel portion for surrounding the heel, an ankle portion for surrounding the ankle, medial and lateral side portions for enclosing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, the outer shell comprising cloth material laminated to a support made of a non-woven fabric, and wherein the outer shell further comprises plastic material fused with the non-woven fabric; an inner lining made of a soft material and mounted in the outer shell; a toe box for enclosing the toes, the toe box being affixed to the medial and lateral side portions; and a tongue for facing the upper frontal portion of the foot, the tongue extending upwardly and rearwardly from the toe box.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A lasted skate boot for enclosing and supporting a human foot when in use, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon, an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides, an upper frontal portion and toes, said boot comprising:

(a) an outer shell comprising a heel portion for surrounding the heel, an ankle portion for surrounding the ankle, medial and lateral side portions for enclosing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said outer shell comprising cloth material laminated to a support made of a non-woven fabric, and wherein the outer shell further comprises plastic material fused with the non-woven fabric;
(b) an inner lining made of a soft material and mounted in said outer shell;
(c) a toe box for enclosing the toes, said toe box being affixed to said medial and lateral side portions;
and
(d) a tongue for facing the upper frontal portion of the foot, said tongue extending upwardly and rearwardly from said toe box.

2 more elements

A method of making a lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot when in use, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon, an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said method comprising:

(a) providing a male-female mold having male and female sections for defining a mold cavity therebetween, the male section having sides, a rear portion and a bottom portion for defining a three dimensional shape corresponding to the external three dimensional shape of the foot, the female section defining a recess for receiving the male section, the male section comprising a plurality of inner channels for admitting liquid plastic material in the mold cavity;
(b) providing a pre-cut sheet made of cloth material laminated to a support made of non-woven fabric;
(c) placing the sheet on the male section of the mold such that the non-woven fabric contacts the sides and rear portion of the male section of the mold;
(d) closing the male and female sections of the mold;
(e) injecting liquid plastic material in the inner channels at a temperature of between 160° C. and 200° C. and at a pressure of between 985 psi and 1015 psi such that the liquid plastic material spreads on the sheet, pushes the sheet against the recess of the female section of the mold, fills the mold cavity and fuses with the non-woven fabric to form, after cooling, an outer shell comprising a heel portion for surrounding the heel, an ankle portion for surrounding the ankle, and medial and lateral side portions for enclosing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively;
(f) opening the male and female sections of the mold;
and
(g) removing the outer shell from the mold.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Skate boot

Life of this patent

Skate boot

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims22