Exoskeleton and footwear attachment system

A footwear attachment system for attaching an item of footwear to an item of sporting equipment, the system comprising an exoskeleton, a toe latch assembly attached to an item of sporting equipment, and a heel latch assembly attached to the item of sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising:

• an underfoot base;
• an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base;
• a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff to provide lateral support to the ankle cuff;
• a second restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff to provide medial support to the ankle cuff, the first and second restraining braces being configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton, the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear;
• and
• an engagement feature for connecting the exoskeleton to an item of sporting equipment;
• wherein the toe latch assembly comprises at least one latch suitable for engaging the engagement feature on the exoskeleton, and wherein the heel latch assembly is selectively engageable with a heel engagement feature on the heel portion of the underfoot base.

A footwear attachment system for attaching an item of footwear to an item of sporting equipment, the system comprising an exoskeleton and a toe latch assembly attached to an item of sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising:

• an underfoot base;
• an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base;
• a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff to provide lateral support to the ankle cuff;
• a second restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff to provide medial support to the ankle cuff, the first and second restraining braces being configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton, the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear;
• and
• an engagement feature for connecting the exoskeleton to an item of sporting equipment;
• wherein the toe latch assembly comprises at least one latch suitable for engaging the engagement feature on the exoskeleton and wherein when the toe latch and engagement feature are engaged, the engagement forms a pivot for the exoskeleton so that the heel portion of the underfoot base is movable up and down with respect to the item of sporting equipment, and the pivot is positioned so that when a user's foot is secured in the system the pivot is under the user's big toe.