Three point support

A lateral guidance and support apparatus for a boot or shoe attached to a cross-country ski, wherein said apparatus comprises:

• a longitudinally extending guidance element at the upper surface of said ski, said element comprises a rib, and
• a sole of said boot or shoe, wherein said sole comprises a groove, said groove having substantially the same cross-sectional configuration as said element, said groove comprising means for progressively covering said element in response to flattening of said boot or shoe on said ski, said element and said sole together comprising means for supporting of said sole of said boot or shoe on said ski at only three spaced apart regions on said ski;
• wherein said sole and groove comprise:
• an anterior metatarsus support zone for supporting the metatarses of said foot when said foot is placed in said boot or shoe;
• and
• a posterior heel support zone for supporting the heel of said foot when said foot is placed in said boot or shoe,
• wherein said rib comprises:
• a front portion for engaging said groove in said anterior metatarsus support zone when said boot or shoe is flattened on said ski;
• a rear portion for engaging said groove in said posterior heel support zone when said boot or shoe is flattened on said ski,
• wherein said ski comprises:
• a front portion comprising:
• said front portion of said rib;
• and
• the upper surface of said ski laterally bordering said front portion of said rib;
• and
• a rear portion comprising:
• said rear portion of said rib;
• and
• the upper surface of said ski comprises at least one zone laterally bordering said rear portion of said rib,
• wherein said three spaced apart regions are positioned on said front and rear portions of said ski;
• wherein said boot or shoe has a front end attached to said cross-country ski, wherein said boot or shoe is adapted to hold a foot of a skier on said ski, wherein said boot or shoe is attached to said ski such that the heel of said boot or shoe is adapted to be displaced at least vertically with respect to said ski;
• and
• wherein said front portion of said rib is positioned between the two lateral edges of said ski such that the upper surface of said ski comprises two lateral surfaces laterally bordering said rib on either lateral side of said rib, wherein the height of said front portion of said rib is less than the depth of said anterior metatarsus support zone of said groove, wherein the height of said front portion of said rib is less than the depth of said anterior metatarsus support zone of said groove, wherein the height of said rear portion of said rib is greater than the depth of said posterior heel support zone of said groove, whereby said boot or shoe is supported only at three regions comprising:
• the upper surface of said rear portion of said rib;
• and
• said two lateral upper surfaces of said ski laterally bordering said front portion of said rib.

A lateral guidance and support apparatus for a boot or shoe fixed at its front end on a cross-country ski, wherein said ski comprises an upper surface, wherein said boot or shoe is adapted to hold a foot therein, wherein said boot or shoe comprises a sole and a heel, wherein said heel is adapted to be displaced at least vertically with respect to said ski, wherein said apparatus comprises:

• a longitudinally extending guidance rib attached to an upper portion of said ski, wherein said rib comprises an upper surface comprising a central zone, wherein said rib further comprises:
• an anterior metatarsus support zone;
• and
• a posterior heel support zone;
• and
• a sole of said boot or shoe comprising a longitudinally extending groove therein, wherein said groove has substantially the same cross-sectional configuration and area as said rib, wherein said groove comprises means for progressively covering said rib in response to flattening said boot or shoe on said ski, wherein the groove further comprises:
• an anterior metatarsus support zone;
• and
• a posterior heel support zone,
• wherein the height of said rib in said anterior metatarsus support zone is less than the depth of said groove in said anterior metatarsus support zone,
• wherein said upper surface of said ski comprises two zones positioned on either side of said rib,
• wherein said sole is supported on said two zones of said upper surface of said ski,
• wherein the height of said rib in said posterior heel zone is greater than the depth of said groove in said posterior heel zone,
• wherein said heel of said boot or shoe is supported only on said central zone of said upper surface of said rib.