# US 8,739,435 B2 · Footwear with improved sole assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,739,435 B2 - Document ID: US8739435B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/020,394 - Filed: 2011-02-03 - Published: 2011-08-04 - Granted: 2014-06-03 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-04 - Assignees: Salomon S.A. - Applicants: François Girard - Inventors: François Girard - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8739435B2 ## CPC - A43B 5/0411: {for cross-country} - A43B 5/0496: {boots for touring or hiking skis} - A43B 13/146: {Concave end portions, e.g. with a cavity or cut-out portion} - A63C 9/20: Non-self-releasing bindings with special sole edge holders instead of toe-straps - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR - A63C: SKATES; SKIS; ROLLER SKATES; DESIGN OR LAYOUT OF COURTS, RINKS OR THE LIKE (water skis B63B32/00, B63B34/00) ## Abstract A boot including an outer sole assembly, the outer sole assembly extending lengthwise from a rear end to a front end, widthwise between a lateral side and a medial side, and heightwise between a free surface and a connection surface, the outer sole assembly having a longitudinal groove that opens out in the area of the free surface. The longitudinal groove opens out in the area of the free surface, the groove having a length ranging between 30 and 100% of the length of the outer sole assembly, a width ranging between 25 and 45 mm, and a depth greater than or equal to 4 mm, the groove being compatible with one or more guiding ribs. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A boot comprising: an outer sole assembly having a length extending from a rear end to a front end, a width extending between a lateral side and a medial side, and a height extending between a free surface and a connection surface; the outer sole assembly having a longitudinal groove having a depth extending from a base to a bottom, the bottom of the groove opening out at a bottom width in an area of the free surface; the longitudinal groove having a length ranging between 30 and 100% of the length of the outer sole assembly, a bottom width ranging between 25 and 45 mm, and a depth greater than or equal to 4 mm; the groove being structured and arranged to be compatible in receiving and engaging, laterally and medially, any of a plurality of different guiding devices, said plurality of different guiding devices comprising at least a first guiding device and a second guiding device, the first and second guiding devices having different bottom widths; the groove having a transverse cross section that includes an upper subdivision and a lower subdivision; each of the upper and lower subdivisions having a top portion and a bottom portion; the bottom portion of the upper subdivision having a width less than a width of the top portion of the lower subdivision; the upper subdivision of the groove including a lateral surface and a medial surface; the lower subdivision of the groove including a lateral surface and a medial surface; the lateral surface of the upper subdivision and the lateral surface of the lower subdivision not being coplanar; the medial surface of the upper subdivision and the medial surface of the lower subdivision not being coplanar; a lateral shoulder connecting a lower end of the lateral surface of the upper subdivision to an upper end of the lateral surface of the lower subdivision; a medial shoulder connecting a lower end of the medial surface of the upper subdivision to an upper end of the medial surface of the lower subdivision. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the groove has a trapezoidal transverse cross section. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The boot according to claim 2, wherein: each trapezoidal transverse cross section of the groove has a lateral surface or a medial surface with an angle of inclination ranging between 1 and 40°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the upper and the lower subdivisions have respective depths, each ranging between 20 and 60% of a depth of the groove. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the upper subdivision and the lower subdivision are transversely symmetrical. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the lateral and medial shoulders have identical widths. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the upper subdivision has a trapezoid shape; the lower subdivision has a trapezoid shape. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The boot according to claim 7, wherein: each trapezoid-shaped upper subdivision or the lower subdivision has a lateral surface or a medial surface with an angle of inclination ranging between 1 and 40°. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the depth of the groove ranges between 4 and 30 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, further comprising: one or two connecting members structured and arranged to be captured by an assembly for retaining the boot on a sports apparatus; each of the one or two connecting members being partially exposed within the longitudinal groove of the sole assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The boot according to claim 10, wherein: each of the one or two connecting members is affixed to the sole in or forward of an area of the boot corresponding to a metatarsophalangeal flexion zone of the wearer's foot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The boot according to claim 1, wherein: the groove being structured and arranged to be compatible in receiving and engaging a plurality of different guiding devices comprises the groove being structured and arranged to be compatible in receiving and engaging at least a first guiding device and a second guiding device; the first guiding device consists of a single longitudinally extending guiding rib and the second guiding device consists of first and second transversely spaced-apart guiding ribs; the groove is structured and arranged to engage both (1) a lateral side and a medial side of the single guiding rib of the first guiding devices and (2) a lateral side of the first guiding rib of the second guiding device and a medial side of the second guiding rib of the second guiding device. ### Claim 13 In combination, a sports boot and a boot-guiding device configured to be mounted on a sports apparatus, said combination comprising: said sports boot comprising: an outer sole assembly having a length extending from a rear end to a front end, a width extending between a lateral side and a medial side, and a height extending between a free surface and a connection surface; the outer sole assembly having a longitudinal groove having a depth extending from a base to a bottom, the bottom of the groove opening out at a bottom width in an area of the free surface; the longitudinal groove having a length ranging between 30 and 100% of the length of the outer sole assembly, a bottom width ranging between 25 and 45 mm, and a depth greater than or equal to 4 mm; the groove being structured and arranged to be compatible in receiving and engaging, laterally and medially, any of a plurality of different guiding devices, said plurality of different guiding devices comprising at least a first guiding device and a second guiding device, the first and second guiding devices having different bottom widths; the groove having a transverse cross section that includes an upper subdivision and a lower subdivision; each of the upper and lower subdivisions having a top portion and a bottom portion; the bottom portion of the upper subdivision having a width less than a width of the top portion of the lower subdivision; the upper subdivision of the groove including a lateral surface and a medial surface; the lower subdivision of the groove including a lateral surface and a medial surface; the lateral surface of the upper subdivision and the lateral surface of the lower subdivision not being coplanar; the medial surface of the upper subdivision and the medial surface of the lower subdivision not being coplanar; a lateral shoulder connecting a lower end of the lateral surface of the upper subdivision to an upper end of the lateral surface of the lower subdivision; a medial shoulder connecting a lower end of the medial surface of the upper subdivision to an upper end of the medial surface of the lower subdivision; said boot-guiding device comprising one of the first and second guiding devices. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The combination of claim 13, wherein: said boot guiding device comprises a longitudinally extending guiding rib. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The combination of claim 14, wherein: the guiding rib has a transverse cross section that includes an upper subdivision and a lower subdivision; each of the upper and lower subdivisions of the guiding rib has a top and a base; the base of the upper subdivision has a width less than a width of the top of the lower subdivision. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The combination of claim 15, wherein: each of the upper and lower subdivisions of the guiding rib has a trapezoidal cross section. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The combination of claim 15, wherein: the base of the lower subdivision of the guiding rib has a width less than the width of the lower subdivision of the groove.