# US 2023/0405441 A1 · Sports boot with integrated ankle compression system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2023/0405441 A1 - Document ID: US20230405441A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 18/241,153 - Filed: 2023-08-31 - Published: 2023-12-21 - Earliest claimed: 2021-07-28 - Assignees: Boardriders IP Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Boardriders IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: William KEEGAN; Giger ORTEGA - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20230405441A1 ## CPC - A43B 5/04: Ski or like boots - A63B 71/1225: {for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet} - A43B 5/00: Footwear for sporting purposes (non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00) - A43B 7/18: Joint supports, e.g. instep supports - A43B 7/20: Ankle-joint supports or holders - A43C 11/165: {characterised by a spool, reel or pulley for winding up cables, laces or straps by rotation} - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A63B: APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT (apparatus for passive exercising, massage A61H) - A43C: FASTENINGS OR ATTACHMENTS OF FOOTWEAR; LACES IN GENERAL ## Abstract Sport boots have an outer shell and an ankle compression system attached to and positioned within the outer shell to apply selective compressive force against an anterior ankle portion of a person's foot when wearing the boot. The ankle compression system includes an ankle compression member positioned forwardly adjacent to the anterior ankle portion and at least one medial positioning band having a lower terminal end immovably fixed to a medial edge portion of the strobel and having an opposite end operatively associated with the ankle compression member. An adjustment lace is connected to the ankle compression member and is operatively connected to a tightening member positioned on a lateral side of the outer shell so that operation of the tightening causes the adjustment lace to forcibly draw the ankle compression member toward and exert a selective compressive force against the anterior ankle portion of the person's foot. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sport boot comprising: an outer shell; and an ankle compression system attached to and positioned within the outer shell to apply selective compressive force against an anterior ankle portion of a person's foot when wearing the boot, wherein the ankle compression system comprises: (a) an ankle compression member adapted to be positioned forwardly adjacent the anterior ankle portion and including upper and lower guide channels; (b) a rotary tightening mechanism positioned on a lateral side of the outer shell and being accessible from an exterior of the outer shell; and (c) an adjustment lace having an upper end operatively connected to the tightening mechanism and an opposite lower end positionally fixed to a lateral interior surface of the outer shell, wherein respective sequential lengths of the adjustment lace between the upper and lower ends thereof are received within the upper and lower guide channels of the ankle compression member such that operation of the tightening mechanism causes the adjustment lace to forcibly draw the ankle compression member toward and exert a selective compressive force against the anterior ankle portion of the person's foot when wearing the boot. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sport boot according to claim 1, wherein the upper and lower guide channels are substantially horizontally parallel to one another. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sport boot according to claim 1, further comprising an anchor pad fixed to the lateral interior surface of the outer shell, wherein the lower end of the adjustment lace is fixed to the anchor pad. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The sport boot according to claim 3, wherein the anchor pad is positioned below the tightening member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The sport boot as in claim 1, wherein the ankle compression system further comprises an intermediate guide tube positioned on the interior surface of the outer shell between the anchor pad and the tightening member, the intermediate guide tube receiving a further respective length of the adjustment lace between the upper guide channel of the ankle compression member and the tightening mechanism. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The sport boot according to claim 1, wherein the ankle compression system further comprises a U-shaped guide tube fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on a medial side thereof, the U-shaped guide tube receiving therein a section of the adjustment lace so as to guide the adjustment lace to the upper and lower guide channels of the ankle compression member. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The sport boot according to claim 6, wherein the ankle compression system comprises a patch panel fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on the medial side thereof, and wherein the U-shaped guide tube is fixed to the patch panel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The sport boot according to claim 7, wherein the patch panel is fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on the medial side thereof generally opposite to the anchor pad fixed to the outer shell on the lateral side thereof. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The sport boot according to claim 1, wherein the ankle compression system further comprises: an intermediate guide tube positioned on the interior surface of the outer shell between the anchor pad and the tightening member; and a U-shaped guide tube fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on a medial side thereof, wherein the adjustment lace is routed from the upper end thereof operably attached to the tightening mechanism sequentially through the intermediate guide tube member, the upper guide channel associated with the ankle compression member, the U-shaped guide tube, the lower guide channel associated with the ankle compression member and then to the anchor pad where the lower end of the adjustment lace is positionally fixed. ### Claim 10 An ankle compression system adapted to being operatively associated with an outer shell of a sport boot, wherein the ankle compression system comprises: (a) an ankle compression member adapted to be positioned forwardly adjacent an anterior ankle portion of a person's foot when wearing the sport boot so as to apply selective compressive force thereagainst; (b) upper and lower guide channels associated with the ankle compression member; (c) a rotary tightening mechanism adapted to being positioned on a lateral side of the outer shell and being accessible from an exterior of the outer shell; and (d) an adjustment lace having an upper end operatively connected to the tightening mechanism and an opposite lower end positionally fixed to a lateral interior surface of the outer shell, wherein respective sequential lengths of the adjustment lace between the upper and lower ends thereof are received within the upper and lower guide channels of the ankle compression member such that operation of the tightening mechanism causes the adjustment lace to forcibly draw the ankle compression member toward and exert a selective compressive force against the anterior ankle portion of the person's foot when wearing the boot ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The ankle compression system according to claim 10, wherein the upper and lower guide channels are substantially horizontally parallel to one another. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The ankle compression system according to claim 10, further comprising an anchor pad adapted to being fixed to the lateral interior surface of the outer shell, wherein the lower end of the adjustment lace is fixed to the anchor pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The ankle compression system according to claim 12, wherein the anchor pad is positioned below the tightening member. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The ankle compression system as in claim 1, further comprising an intermediate guide tube adapted to being positioned on the interior surface of the outer shell between the anchor pad and the tightening member, the intermediate guide tube receiving a further respective length of the adjustment lace between the upper guide channel of the ankle compression member and the tightening mechanism. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The ankle compression system according to claim 1, further comprising a U-shaped guide tube adapted to being fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on a medial side thereof, the U-shaped guide tube receiving therein a section of the adjustment lace so as to guide the adjustment lace to the upper and lower guide channels of the ankle compression member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The ankle compression system according to claim 15, further comprising a patch panel adapted to being fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on the medial side thereof, wherein the U-shaped guide tube is fixed to the patch panel. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The ankle compression system according to claim 16, wherein the patch panel is adapted to being fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on the medial side thereof generally opposite to the anchor pad on the lateral side thereof. ### Claim 18 (depends on 10) The ankle compression system according to claim 10, further comprising: an intermediate guide tube adapted to being positioned on the interior surface of the outer shell between the anchor pad and the tightening member; and a U-shaped guide tube adapted to being fixed to the interior surface of the outer shell on a medial side thereof, wherein the adjustment lace is routed from the upper end thereof operably attached to the tightening mechanism sequentially through the intermediate guide tube member, the upper guide channel associated with the ankle compression member, the U-shaped guide tube, the lower guide channel associated with the ankle compression member and then to the anchor pad where the lower end of the adjustment lace is positionally fixed. ### Claim 19 (depends on 10) A sport boot which comprises the ankle compression system according to claim 10.