Ankle flexion limiting device

A ski boot, for use on a ski surface, comprising:

• a relatively rigid sole having a sole surface for placement on and support by the ski surface;
• a shell extending from the sole;
• a cuff and footbed incorporated in the shoe and movable relative to the shoe;
• the cuff being movable with respect to the shell to permit forward flexion of a leg relative to a foot located in the shoe from a first leg/foot angle to a predetermined leg/foot angle while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the ski surface;
• the predetermined leg/foot angle of the leg relative to the foot corresponding to a first leg/surface angle of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface;
• means for limiting movement of the cuff relative to the footbed to limit forward flexion of the leg relative to the foot beyond the predetermined leg/foot angle;
• and
• means for coupling the cuff to the footbed to permit further forward flexion of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface from the first leg/surface angle to a second leg/surface angle while substantially maintaining the predetermined leg/foot angle while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the ski surface.

A sport shoe, for use on a sport shoe performing surface, comprising:

• a relatively rigid sole having a sole surface for placement on and support by the sport shoe performing surface;
• a shell extending from the sole;
• a cuff and footbed incorporated in the shoe and movable relative to the shell;
• means for securing a foot within the shoe by manipulation of said securing means from a pre-use condition to an in-use conditions, at which the foot fits snugly in the shoe;
• the cuff being movable with respect to the shell with the securing means in the in-use condition to permit forward flexion of a leg relative to the foot from a first leg/foot angle to a predetermined leg/foot angle while the securing means maintains the in-use condition while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the sport shoe performing surface;
• the predetermined leg/foot angle of the leg relative to the foot corresponding to a first leg/surface angle of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface;
• means for limiting movement of the cuff relative to the shell with the securing means in the in-use condition to limit forward flexion of the leg relative to the foot beyond the predetermined leg/foot angle;
• and
• means for coupling the cuff to the footbed to permit further forward flexion of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface from the first leg/surface angle to a second leg/surface angle while substantially maintaining the flexion of the leg relative to the foot at said predetermined angle while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the sport shoe performing surface.

A sport shoe comprising:

• a sole having a surface for placement on and support by a sport shoe performing surface while practicing a sport;
• a shell extending upwardly from the sole;
• means for tightening the shoe to a close fit on the foot when it is located in the shoe;
• first means in engagement with the foot and the leg when the foot is located in the shoe for permitting relative dorsiflex movements in a given direction between the foot and the leg through a first angle having a predetermined magnitude while maintaining the foot in a fixed position relative to the sole and while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the shoe performing surface;
• and
• second means for simultaneously moving the foot and the leg with respect to the sole after the dorsiflex movements to change an angle between the leg and the sole while preventing dorsiflex movements between the foot and the leg and while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the shoe performing surface.

A sport shoe, for use on a sport shoe performing surface, comprising:

• a sole having a sole surface for placement on and support by the sport shoe performing surface;
• a shell extending from the sole;
• means for tightening the shoe to a close fit on a foot located in the shoe;
• means for permitting forward flexion of a leg relative to the foot located in the shoe while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the shoe performing surface from a first leg/foot angle to a predetermined leg/foot angle while the tightening means maintains the close fit of the shoe on the foot;
• the predetermined leg/foot angle of the leg relative to the foot corresponding to a first leg/surface angle of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface;
• means for limiting forward flexion of the leg relative to the foot beyond the predetermined leg/foot angle;
• means for automatically permitting further forward flexion of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface from the first leg/surface angle to a second leg/surface angle while substantially maintaining the predetermined leg/foot angle while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the shoe performing surface;
• and
• said means for limiting forward flexion being located inside of the shoe.

A sport shoe, for use on a sport shoe performing surface, comprising:

• a sole having a sole surface for placement on and support by the sport shoe performing surface;
• a shell extending from the sole;
• means for tightening the shoe to a close fit on a foot located in the shoe;
• means for permitting forward flexion of a leg relative to the foot located in the shoe while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the shoe performing surface from a first leg/foot angle to a predetermined leg/foot angle while the tightening means maintains the close fit of the shoe on the foot;
• the predetermined leg/foot angle of the leg relative to the foot corresponding to a first leg/surface angle of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface;
• means for limiting forward flexion of the leg relative to the foot beyond the predetermined leg/foot angle, said means for limiting forward flexion including an upwardly extending limit member, said limit member being movable relative to said sole;
• means for automatically permitting further forward flexion of the leg relative to the sport shoe performing surface from the first leg/surface angle to a second leg/surface angle while substantially maintaining the predetermined leg/foot angle while the sole surface is placed on and supported by the shoe performing surface, said further forward flexion automatically permitting means further including a footbed coupled to said limit member and movable relative to said sole;
• and
• said footbed being raised only when said limit member is moved beyond a first predetermined angle.