Figure skating boot with monocoque structure

A method of fabricating a skating boot in which the skating boot comprises (i) a sole portion extending longitudinally between a toe end arranged to receive toes of a foot of a wearer thereon and a heel end arranged to receive a heel of the foot thereon, (ii) a first mounting surface at a bottom of the sole portion adjacent to the toe end thereof which is arranged to mount a first portion of the lower mounting frame thereon, (iii) 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, (vi) a heel cup portion extending upwardly from the heel end of the sole portion in connection between the inner and outer side wall portions, (v) 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, (vi) a heel member extending downwardly from the heel end of the sole portion, (vii) a second mounting surface at a bottom of the heel member at a location spaced below the heel end of the sole portion by a height of the heel member which is arranged to mount a second portion of the lower mounting frame thereon, the sole portion, the inner and outer side wall portions, the heel cup portion, the ankle portions, and the first and second mounting surfaces comprising a unitary, monocoque structure, the method comprising:

• (a) providing a foot last;
• (b) positioning a liner portion, adapted to cushion the foot of the wearer in the skate boot body, on the foot last;
• (c) forming the heel member separate from the monocoque structure;
• (d) layering wet composite material over said liner portion;
• (e) supporting the heel member below the heel end of the sole portion using the wet composite material;
• and
• (f) vacuum bagging and heating the wet composite material until the wet composite material has cured into a rigid composite structure matrix defining the monocoque structure of the skate boot body with said heel member integrated therein.

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

• a sole portion extending longitudinally between a toe end arranged to receive toes of the foot thereon and a heel end arranged to receive a heel of the foot thereon;
• 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.