Skate boot assembly

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means which is arranged in a manner that with a person's foot being positioned in said boot assembly, said first interfitting and protrusion and recess means is positioned to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly said protrusion and recess means being further arranged in a manner that without the person's foot being positioned in the boot assembly the protrusion and recess means are positioned to permit the bladder and the insert to be removed from the boot assembly,
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is engaged by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly.

A skate boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a blade which has a lengthwise blade axis and which is rigidly attached to said main boot member at a location below said sole portion, the lengthwise blade axis being aligned with, and centered on, said longitudinal center axis of the assembly;
• c. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• d. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot adjacent the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to position a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• e. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• f. the heel portion of the bladder having inwardly extending ankle engaging means to engage a rear ankle portion of a person's foot above a heel portion of the foot and laterally adjacent an Achilles tendon of an ankle/heel portion of the foot;
• g. said bladder and said boot member being provided with a second interfitting protrusion and recess means, said second interfitting protrusion and recess means being arranged to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to the boot member;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is positioned by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly, to insure proper centering with, alignment with, and support from, the skate blade.

A skate boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a blade which has a lengthwise blade axis and which is rigidly attached to said main boot member at a location below said sole portion, the lengthwise blade axis being aligned with, and centered on, said longitudinal center axis of the assembly;
• c. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• d. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot adjacent the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to position a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• e. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• f. said first protrusion and recess means being characterized in that said insert is provided with protrusion means interfitting with recess means in the sole portion of the bladder, and the bladder is provided with protrusion means interfitting with recess means formed in the sole portion of the foot member, whereby the protrusion means of the insert and the bladder interfit with the recess means of the sole portion of the boot member so as to restrain relative movement between the insert, the bladder and the boot member in said horizontal plane;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is positioned by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly, to insure proper centering with, alignment with, and support from, the skate blade.

A skate boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a blade which has a lengthwise blade axis and which is rigidly attached to said main boot member at a location below said sole portion, the lengthwise blade axis being aligned with, and centered on, said longitudinal center axis of the assembly;
• c. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• d. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot adjacent the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to position a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• e. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• f. said bladder being formed with a tongue section, said tongue section being further formed with right and left tongue portions which are formed with an adjustable connecting means, permitting said right and left tongue portions to be joined at a location further from each other or a location closer to each other.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder arranged to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. said main boot member and said bladder being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain movement of said bladder relative to the boot member;
• d. said heel portion of the bladder having inwardly extending ankle engaging means to engage a rear ankle portion of a person's foot above a heel portion of the foot and on opposite sides of an Achilles tendon of an ankle/heel portion of the foot.
• e. said first interfitting protrusion and recess means being arranged to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to the boot member.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder arranged to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. said main boot member and said bladder being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain movement of said bladder relative to the boot member;
• d. said first interfitting protrusion and recess means being arranged to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to the boot member.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower mole portion,.a toe portion, :a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder arranged to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. said main boot member and said bladder being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain movement of said bladder relative to the boot member;
• d. said first interfitting protrusion and recess means being arranged to restrain movement of said bladder relative to said boot member in a horizontal plane, and there is second interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain upward movement of the bladder relative to the boot member.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• e. said bladder and said boot member being provided with a second interfitting protrusion and recess means, said second interfitting protrusion and recess means being arranged to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to the boo member;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is engaged by the insert in a manner to support, center sand align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a planter surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• e. a toe portion of said bladder and the toe portion of the boot member having second interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain relative movement between the toe portion of the bladder and the toe portion of the boot member;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is engaged by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic inset having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• e. said first protrusion and recess means being characterized in that said insert is provided with protrusion means interfitting with recess means in the sole portion of the bladder, and the bladder is provided with protrusion means interfitting with recess means formed in the sole portion of the boot member;
• whereby the protrusion means of the insert and the bladder interfit with the recess means of the sole portion of the boot member so as to restrain relative movement between the insert, the bladder and the boot member in said horizontal plane.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• e. said first interfitting protrusion and recess means comprising a first set of interfitting members, namely a first upper protruding member connected to and extending downwardly from said insert, a first intermediate protruding member connected to and extending downwardly from the sole portion of the bladder, and providing a recess to recess the first upper protruding member, and a first lower recess portion formed in the sole portion of the boot member and positioned to receive the intermediate and upper first protrusion members;
• whereby the protrusion means of the insert and the bladder interfit with the recess means of the sole portion of the boot member so as to restrain relative movement between the insert, the bladder and the boot member in said horizontal plane.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said inset having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• e. said bladder being formed with a tongue section extending rearwardly from a toe portion of said bladder, said tongue section being further formed with right and left tongue poritons which are formed with an adjustable connecting means, permitting said right and left tongue portions to be joined at a location further from each other or a location closer to each other;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is engaged by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a planter surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain at least said orthotic insert relative to the sole portion of the boot member with regard to movement in a horizontal plane, and to align the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert with the longitudinal center axis of the boot assembly;
• e. said heel portion of the bladder having inwardly extending ankle engaging means to engage a rear ankle portion of a person's foot in a manner to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the foot relative to the heel portion of the bladder, said assembly having second interfitting protrusion and recess means operatively engaged between the bladder and the boot member to restrain vertical movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to the heel portion of the boot member;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is engaged by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly.

A skate boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a blade which has a lengthwise blade axis and which is rigidly attached to said main boot member at a location below said sole portion, the lengthwise blade axis being aligned with, and centered on, said longitudinal center axis of the assembly;
• c. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly form the sole portion of the bladder;
• d. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot adjacent the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to position a plantar surface of a foot, in manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• e. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to said boot member;
• where said first interfitting protrusion an recess means is arrange in a manner that with a person's foot being positioned in said boot assembly, said first interfitting and protrusion means is positioned to restrain upward movement of said bladder, said protrusion and recess means being further arranged in a manner that without the person's foot being positioned in the boot assembly the protrusion and recess means is positioned to permit the bladder and the insert to be removed from the boot assembly.

A boot assembly having a longitudinal center axis, a transverse axis and a vertical axis, said assembly comprising:

• a. a main boot member defining a foot receiving cavity and comprising a lower sole portion, a toe portion, a heel portion, and two side portions;
• b. a bladder adapted to be positioned in said boot cavity and made at least in part of a moderately yielding material, said bladder comprising a sole portion, and side and heel portions extending upwardly from the sole portion of the bladder;
• c. an orthotic insert having a longitudinal alignment axis and adapted to be positioned in the foot receiving cavity of the boot above the sole portion of the bladder, said insert having an upwardly facing surface contoured to engage a plantar surface of a foot, in a manner to align the foot with the longitudinal alignment axis of the insert;
• d. said assembly being arranged with first interfitting protrusion and recess means to restrain upward movement of the heel portion of the bladder relative to said boot member;
• whereby with the foot located in the boot assembly, the foot is engaged by the insert in a manner to support, center and align the foot with the longitudinal axis of the boot assembly;
• wherein said first interfitting protrusion and recess means is arranged in a manner that with a person's foot being positioned in said boot assembly, said first interfitting and protrusion means is positioned to restrain upward movement of said bladder, said protrusion and recess means being further arranged in a manner that without the person's foot being positioned in the boot assembly the protrusion and recess means are positioned to permit the bladder and the insert to be removed from the boot assembly.