# US 5,704,139 A · Snowboard shoes

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- Number: US 5,704,139 A
- Document ID: US5704139A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/579,648
- Filed: 1995-12-27
- Granted: 1998-01-06
- Earliest claimed: 1994-12-28
- Assignees: Shimano Inc.
- Inventors: Shinpei Okajima
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5704139A

## CPC

- A63C 10/106: {to the front and back of the shoe}
- A43B 5/0401: {Snowboard boots}
- A43B 5/0403: {Adaptations for soles or accessories with soles for snowboard bindings}
- A43B 5/0421: {located underneath the sole}
- A63C 10/10: using parts which are fixed on the shoe, e.g. means to facilitate step-in
- A63C 10/18: about a vertical rotation axis relative to the board
- A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00)
- A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR

## Abstract

A sole for a snowboard boot includes a depression defined in the sole for attachment of a fastener and a recessed groove for providing a space which opens to the front of the boot for creating a through-passage between the space and the depression. The open space allows the boot to be easily attached to the snowboard while preventing direct contact between the fastener and the ground. A portion of the sole which includes the toe and recessed groove is more resilient than a remaining portion of the boot to further facilitate walking by allowing the sole to flex during walking.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A snowboard boot comprising:
a sole (3), wherein the sole (3) includes:
a depression (10) defined therein for attachment of a fastener (20);
a recessed groove (11 ) for providing a space (12) which opens to the front of the boot for creating a through-passage between the space (12) and the depression (10);
a toe portion (6) disposed forwardly of the recessed groove (11 );
wherein a portion of the sole (3) which includes the toe portion (6) and recessed groove (11) is more resilient than a remaining portion of the boot;
a reinforcement plate (5) for attachment of the fastener (20); and
wherein the reinforcement plate (5) is disposed in portions of the sole (3) except the portion of the sole (3) which includes the toe portion (6) and recessed groove (11).

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The boot according to claim 1 further comprising an upper (1) having first and second panels extending upwardly from lateral sides of the sole (3), wherein a width between the first panel and the second panel is approximately equal to a lateral width of the reinforcement plate (5).

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The boot according to claim 1 wherein the toe portion (6) of the boot bends upwardly.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The boot according to claim 3 further comprising the fastener (20) attached to the reinforcement plate (5).

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The boot according to claim 4 wherein the fastener comprises:
an elongated intermediate portion;
a frontal engagement component (21) disposed on a front end of the intermediate portion for engagement with a front fastener (31) on the snowboard; and
a rear engagement component (27) disposed on a rear end of the intermediate portion for engagement with a rear fastener (32) on the snowboard.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The boot according to claim 1 wherein the sole defines laterally extending portions of the depression (10) for forming lateral openings in the sole (3).