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US 6,226,898 B1Granted
Downhill ski boot with dual liner
AssigneeK-2 Corporation
InventorsAlan M. Trimble, James A. Vandergrift
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A downhill ski boot (10) includes an inner shell (14) that is secured within a substantially rigid outer shell (12). The outer shell has a base (18) and an ankle cuff (20). The base includes a sidewall portion (24) having medial and lateral sides, with a longitudinal gap (32) being defined therebetween which exposes the inner shell. The inner shell also receives a removable liner (16). The outer shell may be secured by fasteners to closely conform the inner shell and liner about the foot. The ankle cuff and base are reinforced by a segmented strut to aid in transfer of force from the lower leg to the ski.
Claims33
A downhill ski boot for receiving a skier's foot and securing it to the heel and toe bindings of a ski, comprising:
- (a) a shell assembly comprising an inner shell that substantially surrounds a skier's foot, the inner shell including a vamp portion covering the arch of the skier's foot and
- a substantially rigid outer shell that receives the inner shell, the inner shell and the rigid outer shell forming a shell assembly that cooperatively supports and closely conforms to the skier's foot, wherein the rigid outer shell including:
- (i) a base having a sole portion for supporting the underside of the skier's foot and a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the sole portion alongside at least some regions of the skier's foot and defining a longitudinal gap between left and right sides of the sidewall portion over the vamp portion of the inner shell, the base defining heel and toe binding surfaces for engagement by the heel and toe bindings;
- and
- (ii) an ankle cuff extending upwardly from the base and securable about the skier's ankle to aid in maintaining lateral and medial rigidity of the skier's foot;
- (b) a cushioned liner separable from and received within the inner shell:
- and
- (c) a first compression strap secured to the base and spanning the gap in the sidewall portion that is fastenable to compress the inner shell and the liner about the skier's arch.
5 more elements
A downhill ski boot for receiving a skier's foot and securing it to heel and toe bindings of a ski, comprising:
- (a) a shell assembly comprising an inner shell for substantially surrounding a skier's foot, the inner shell including a vamp portion covering the arch of the skier's foot, and
- a substantially rigid outer shell that receives the inner shell, the inner shell and the rigid outer shell forming a shell assembly that cooperatively supports and closely conforms to the skier's foot, wherein the rigid outer shell including a base portion for supporting the underside of the skier's foot and defining heel and toe binding surfaces, the rigid outer shell defining a vamp aperture leaving a substantial portion of the vamp portion of the inner shell exposed;
- (b) a cushioned liner separable from and received within the inner shell;
- (c) a first compression element secured to the base and spanning the vamp aperture, fastenable to compress the inner shell about the skier's arch;
- and
- (d) an ankle support extending upwardly from the base and securable about the skier's ankle to aid in maintaining lateral and medial rigidity of the skier's ankle.
3 more elements
A downhill ski boot for receiving a skier's foot and securing it to heel and toe bindings of a ski, comprising:
- (a) an inner shell for substantially surrounding a skier's foot, and including a vamp portion covering the arch of the skier's foot;
- (b) a cushioned lining slidably received within the inner shell;
- (c) a substantially rigid outer shell that receives the inner shell, the inner shell and the rigid outer shell defining mating surfaces that when engaged cooperatively form a substantially watertight encasing about the skier's foot, the rigid outer shell including:
- (i) a base including a sole portion for supporting the underside of the skier's foot and a perimeter portion extending upwardly from the sole portion alongside at least some regions of the skier's foot, the base defining heel and toe binding surfaces for engagement by the heel and the bindings;
- and
- (ii) an ankle cuff extending upwardly from the base and securable about the skier's ankle to aid in maintaining lateral and medial rigidity of the skier's foot;
- and
- (d) a first compression element secured to the rigid outer shell and fastenable to tighten the outer shell and compress the lining and the inner shell about the skier's arch.
5 more elements
A downhill ski boot for receiving a skier's foot and securing it to heel and toe bindings of a ski, comprising:
- (a) an inner shell for substantially surrounding a skier's foot, and including a vamp portion covering the arch of the skier's foot;
- (c) a substantially rigid outer shell that receives the inner shell, the rigid outer shell including:
- (i) a base including a sole portion for supporting the underside of the skier's foot and a perimeter portion extending upwardly from the sole portion alongside at least some regions of the skier's foot, the base defining heel and toe binding surfaces for engagement by the heel and the bindings, wherein the perimeter portion of the base defines at least a first aperture and the inner shell defines a raised portion that is sealingly received within the aperture so that the inner shell and the outer shell cooperatively form a substantially watertight encasing about the skier's foot;
- and
- (ii) an ankle cuff extending upwardly from the base and securable about the skier's ankle to aid in maintaining lateral and medial rigidity of the skier's foot;
- and
- (d) a first compression element secured to the rigid outer shell and fastenable to tighten the outer shell and compress the inner shell about the skier's arch.
4 more elements
A downhill ski boot for receiving a skier's foot and securing it to heel and toe bindings of a ski, comprising:
- (a) an inner shell for substantially surrounding a skier's foot, and including a vamp portion covering the arch of the skier's foot;
- (b) a substantially rigid outer shell that receives the inner shell, the rigid outer shell including:
- (i) a base having a sole portion for supporting the underside of the skier's foot and a sidewall portion extending upwardly from the sole portion alongside at least some regions of the skier's foot, the base defining heel and toe binding surfaces for engagement by the heel and toe bindings;
- and
- (ii) an ankle cuff extending upwardly from the base and securable about the skier's ankle to aid in maintaining lateral and medial rigidity of the skier's foot;
- (c) a first compression element secured to the base and fastenable to compress the inner shell about the skier's arch;
- and
- (d) a force transmission strut incorporated into the outer shell and extending from along the ankle cuff downwardly to beneath and crossing over a majority of a width of the base of the rigid outer shell, for linear force transmission from the lower leg of the skier to the sole portion of the base.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.