Hydraulic fit system for footwear
AssigneeForce Distribution, Inc.
InventorDonald R. Beuch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydraulic regulated, space adjustment device for use within the interior of a footwear to adjust to specific space requirements of a foot as they vary during usage comprising a plurality of compartment which permits shifting of hydraulic fluid in response to forces applied to the footwear. The said device further comprises channels, flow regulating valves, and hydraulic fluid insertion means.
Claims26
An hydraulically regulated, space adjustment device adapted to conform the interior of a rigid footwear shell to the changing configuration of an individual's foot, said device comprising:
- a. an interior, form-fitting liquid medium capable of being positioned laterally intermediate between the rigid shell and a contained foot and being fully contained within a thin, flexible compartment and adapted to be (i) form fitted to the foot by closure of the rigid shell about the foot and (ii) to be responsive to and to transfer forces developed thereat following boot closure between the rigid shell and the individual's foot without significant attenuation by fluid compression;
- b. said liquid medium being contained within a plurality of thin, flexible compartments sealed to form an integral unit capable of retaining the liquid medium therein and having a size and configuration adapted to fit inside a lateral portion of the rigid shell of the footwear at a position for contact at a portion of the foot which requires a dynamic form of containment;
- c. a narrow flow channel coupled between the respective compartments to enable flow of a contained hydraulic liquid therebetween;
- d. flow regulating means positioned within the flow channel and adapted to impede unrestrained flow of hydraulic liquid between the respective compartments in response to an imbalance of force applied thereto by closure of the rigid shell or movement of the foot therein;
- and
- e. injection means coupled to at least one of the compartments to enable introduction of hydraulic liquid within the device.
Footwear as defined in claim 16 wherein the footwear comprises a ski boot, said flow channel being connected at a base portion of the first compartment positioned at approximately the area where the ankle is to be contained to enable the boot to be opened for placement on the user's foot.
An hydraulically controlled tongue for a ski boot which allows the ankle and shin of the user to adjust positioning within the boot during dynamic changes which occur during various types of skiing maneuvers, said tongue comprising:
- a. an interior, form-fitting liquid medium capable of being positioned laterally intermediate between the rigid shell and a contained foot and being fully contained within a thin, flexible compartment and adapted to be (i) form fitted to the foot by closure of the rigid shell about the foot and (ii) to be responsive to and to transfer substantially all forces developed thereat following boot closure between the rigid shell and the individual's foot without significant attenuation by fluid compression;
- b. said liquid medium being contained within a first sealed compartment adapted to receive hydraulic liquid and to be positioned over the top portion of the foot enclosure;
- and
- c. a second sealed compartment adapted to receive hydraulic liquid and to be positioned over the upper shin enclosure, said respective compartments being attached together such that the lower part of the second compartment overlaps the upper part of the first compartment, each of said compartments having means for injecting hydraulic liquid therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.