# US 2014/0151981 A1 · Sports footwear with adjustable bending > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151981 A1 - Document ID: US20140151981A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/093,266 - Filed: 2013-11-29 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-30 - Assignees: Salomon S.A. - Applicants: Salomon S.A.S - Inventors: Bruno BERTHET; Franck CONSTANT; Laurent BONAVENTURE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151981A1 ## CPC - A43B 5/0413: {Adaptations for soles or accessories associated with soles for cross-country bindings} - A43B 5/0494: {Adaptations for soles or accessories associated with soles for telemark bindings} - A63C 9/003: {Non-swivel sole plate fixed on the ski} - A63C 9/20: Non-self-releasing bindings with special sole edge holders instead of toe-straps - A63C 17/045: {Roller skis} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) ## Abstract A bending base of a footwear element provided for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus, comprising structure for removably fixing the footwear element in relation to this base, the base having flexibility along the length of the foot, and structure for removably fixing, against the base, at least one element for fastening to the apparatus. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A bending base for a footwear element structured and arranged for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus in which a heel of a wearer's foot is free during movement of the foot, the bending base comprising: structure for removably fixing a footwear element in relation to the base; the footwear base having a flexible structure, the base being flexible along a length of the wearer's foot when the foot is positioned within the footwear element; structure for removably fixing, against a front portion of the base, in the direction the length of the foot, at least one element for fastening to the apparatus. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, wherein: the bending base is flat or substantially flat; the bending base further comprises two substantially vertical lateral walls. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) A bending base according to claim 2, further comprising: a stiffener-forming portion structured and arranged for supporting a rear portion of the footwear element. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, further comprising: a shell for covering at least the lower portion of a footwear element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, further comprising: a stiffener, an end-piece, and a bridge connecting the stiffener to the end-piece. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) A bending base according to claim 5, wherein: the stiffener is reversibly affixed to the bridge. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) A bending base according to claim 5, wherein: the end-piece is reversibly affixed to the bridge. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) A bending base according to claim 5, wherein: the stiffener and the bridge form a unitary element. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) A bending base according to claim 5, wherein: the bridge comprises a single plate. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) A bending base according to claim 5, wherein: the bridge comprises a plurality of elements. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, further comprising: structure for fixing at least the fastening element to the base using any of screws, slides, and snap-fasteners. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, further comprising: removable structure to vary a flexibility of the base. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, wherein: the structure for varying the flexibility of the base comprises one or more inserts and/or one or more rods and/or one or more plates or blades to be inserted into, against, or near the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) A bending base according to claim 1, further comprising: structure for removably fixing a heel against the base. ### Claim 15 A footwear element adapted for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus, in which a heel of a wearer's foot is free during movement of the foot, the footwear element comprising: a bending base comprising: structure for removably fixing a footwear element in relation to the base; the footwear base having a flexible structure, the base being flexible along a length of the wearer's foot when the foot is positioned within the footwear element; structure for removably fixing, against a front portion of the base, in the direction the length of the foot, at least one element for fastening to the apparatus. ### Claim 16 A footwear element adapted for the practice of a sporting activity using a gliding or rolling apparatus, in which a heel of a wearer's foot is free during movement of the foot, the footwear element comprising: a fastening element positioned at a front end the footwear element structured and arranged to be removably connectable the apparatus; a heel; a bending base comprising: structure for removably fixing a footwear element in relation to the base; the footwear base having a flexible structure, the base being flexible along a length of the wearer's foot when the foot is positioned within the footwear element; structure for removably fixing, against a front portion of the base, in the direction the length of the foot, at least one element for fastening to the apparatus; the fastening element and the heel being structured and arranged to be removably fixed in relation to the base, in order to adapt the footwear element to either of a first type of contact interface of an apparatus and a second type of contact interface of said apparatus, the second type of contact interface being different from the first type of contact interface. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) A footwear element according to claim 16, wherein: both the fastening element and a heel are affixed to one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) A footwear element according to claim 16, wherein: the first type of contact interface comprises only a single longitudinal rib; the fastening element comprises a longitudinal groove structured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the single longitudinal rib. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) A footwear element according to claim 18, wherein: the heel comprises a longitudinal groove structured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the single longitudinal rib. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) A footwear element according to claim 16, wherein: the second type of contact interface comprises with two longitudinal ribs; the fastening element comprises two longitudinal grooves, each of the two grooves being structured and arranged to receive at least a portion of one of the two longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) A footwear element according to claim 20, wherein: the heel comprises longitudinal grooves structured and arranged to receive at least a portion of one of the two longitudinal ribs. ### Claim 22 (depends on 16) A footwear element according to claim 16, wherein: at least one of the first and second contact interfaces comprises at least one transverse rib and/or at least one stud; the fastening element comprises at least one longitudinal groove and/or at least one opening, each said groove or each said opening being structured and arranged to receive a transverse rib or a stud. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) A footwear element according to claim 22, wherein: the heel comprises at least one longitudinal groove and/or at least one opening, each said groove or each said opening being structured and arranged to receive a transverse rib or a stud. ### Claim 24 (depends on 16) A footwear element according to claim 16, wherein: at least one of the first and second contact interfaces comprises a planar surface of the apparatus; the fastening element comprises at least one longitudinal groove. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) A footwear element according to claim 24, wherein: the heel comprises at least one longitudinal groove. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) A footwear element according to claim 24, wherein: each said groove having a width substantially equal to a width of the apparatus.