Abstract: A ski boot having an outer shell which contains a front cuff with opposed side portions, a rear cuff and with inner boot having an instep portion being fitted within the outer shell. First and second elongated continuous flexible members each having forward and rearward end portions are provided for maintaining the boot in snug relationship upon the users foot. The first end portions of said members are fixedly secured upon the boot and are then arranged in mutually crossing relationship across the foot of the wearer and with the rearward end portions of said members being engaged to opposite ends of a boot fastener member provided on the rear portion of the outer shell. The ski boot may, in lieu of having first and second members, have a single member which is suitably directed for extending across the toe and/or instep portion of the inner boot and being secured at its opposite ends to the boot fastener.

Abstract: Ski boot composed of at least one front quarter connected to a shell wherein a substantially transverse slot is provided on the upper portion of the front quarter and is provided with means for determining the inclination of the front quarter, said means acting by varying the working span of the slot and therefore the degree of deformability of the quarter at that point.

Abstract: A multi-component, waterproof, sock-type article is provided comprising a waterproof, non-elastic, non-stretch sole component having a heel portion and a toe portion, a waterproof, non-elastic, non-stretch calf component, the calf component being attached to and forming a seam with the sole component at the heel portion, a vamp component attached to and forming seams with the sole and calf components, the vamp component comprising a waterproof, breathable, elastic, stretchable material having stretchability of more than 70%, the calf component being tapered inwardly proceeding upwardly from the heel portion of the sole component, all seams in the article being sealed with a waterproof material.

Abstract: A footwear of the type incorporating a shoe upper, attaching to a shoe sole, with a tongue portion connecting with the toe piece for the shoe upper, with the tongue portion being fabricated of either singular or a pair of liners of material, having hook and pile fastening means provided at its lower edge, and likewise at the upper edge of the toe piece, so that the tongue can be connected to the toe piece, but then readily removed and reversed, so as to disclose its opposite side where a variety of colors or indicia are desired for display during usage and application of the identified structured footwear.

Abstract: The foot securing device comprises, inside the shell, a single traction element such as a cable. This cable has a first portion which embraces a pressor in the metatarsal region and is inclined with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shell. Conveniently, the firt portion of the cable extends from the inner part of the foot adjacent to the big toe towards the outer part thereof in the direction of the instep. The cable furthermore has a second portion extending rearwardly with respect to the boot, which affects the region of the heel of the foot, and/or with a third portion extending transversely above said presser in the foot instep region. Advantageously, a spool for tensioning the cable is associated therewith.

Abstract: In the case of shoes or boots, particularly a ski-boot, comprising an outer shell, an outer sole and an inner sole and, in the case of boots and ski-boots, an inner liner embracing the foot within the outer shell, the foot or the inner liner is clamped to the inner sole by means of a band-like member, two ends of which are connected, either directly or through flexible guys, to a clamping device, actuatable from the outside of the shoe or boot, and comprising a sleeve like member and a fixed anchoring member, to which members the said two ends of the band-like member are connected as stated, the sleeve-like member being slidable towards or away from said anchoring member by means of a cam lever, the position of said sleeve-like member being adjustable with respect to said anchoring member, by rotating said cam lever around the axis of sliding motion of said sleeve-like member.

Abstract: In insole for promoting muscle activity has a first fluid cell confined to a toe area of the insole and a second fluid cell in the heel area. The cells are connected by at least one communicating duct which allows fluid to flow there between as a person walks on the insole. The duct has a valve system for controlling the flow as between the cells in a manner such that it may flow faster in one direction than the other.

Abstract: In shoes and boots, in particular ski boots, at least one band-like member can be clamped against the foot or the liner containing whereby the foot is clamped to the shoe or the boot by means of a device readily actuatable and positioned in the front part of the ski boot.

Abstract: Rear closing device for rear-entry ski-boots, comprising a lever arrangement easily and readily operated between the opened and clamped positions and permitting adjusting of clamping position of boot leg in relation to shell and hence of inclination of boot leg.

Abstract: A controllable temperature grid assembly (1) on which food can be cooked or defrosted is provided which includes an array of spaced tubular members (3) interconnected to form a generally planar grid (4) on which food to be cooked or defrosted can be placed for cooking or defrosting, with the hollow interiors of the members (3) also being interconnected to form a circulation flow path (5) for a heat exchange medium. The assembly (1) also includes heat exchange means (6) in fluid flow communication with the heat exchange medium circulation flow path for extracting heat from or supplying heat to the heat exchange medium. A thermostat is provided in the heat exchange medium for controlling the temperature to which the heat exchange medium is heated or cooled being recirculation through the tubular members (3).

Abstract: A shoe upper portion of a ski boot comprises a shell portion enclosing the foot and a tongue portion attached thereto. The tongue portion comprises an instep region and a shin region and a transition region therebetween. A corrugated or undulated wall section having elevations and depressions, i.e. corrugations, is located in the transition region. This wall section is composed of a different type of material than the remainder of the tongue portion and possesses a lower bending stiffness or flexural rigidity than the remainder of the tongue portion. This wall section is non-detachably joined to the remainder of the tongue portion and forms therewith a unitary structure. The larger bending or flexural elasticity of the wall section facilitates bending of the lower leg.

Abstract: A sandal with an elongated sole configured to the profile of a human footprint with a toe end and a heel end, employs a toe strap connected at two anchor points to grip the forward part of user's foot and a heel strap connected at two anchor points to grip the ankle of a user's foot with a lateral strap connected between the toe strap and the heel strap which is located on the outside of the sole and parallel to its surface so it is operable to stabilize the other straps and to maintain essentially constant tension in the individual straps as the sole flexes, with the toe and heel straps being infinitely adjustable so the wearer can cinch the sandal to his foot by adjusting said straps in a manner that it will not be dislodged during rigorous activity.

Abstract: A custom-fit ski boot orthotic which efficiently transfers movement of the foot to the edges of the skis. The orthotic has a substantially rigid base plate attached to a rigid heel post. The base plate has an arch portion 20-40% shallower than the skier's actual arch which permits the limited movement necessary for foot comfort, without any significant loss in transfer efficiency. The base plate also has a heel cup portion to prevent heel roll. The orthotic of the present invention may be used as an insert or be built into the footbed of a ski boot.

Abstract: A stud for a football boot is moulded in two parts. An attachment portion (1;25) moulded in a hard and inflexible material, such as an acetal resin, comprises an externally screw-threaded spigot (3;27) and a body providing a collar (7;29) a flange (5;30) and a central stiffening support. The stiffening support comprises a hub (8;37) supported by spokes (11;38) extending radially from the hub to the collar. A boss (2;26) of the stud is moulded on to the attachment portion and is of a tough but more resilient material, such as a polyurethane. The boss-forming material flows through apertures between the spokes to join up and form a ring (22) or plug (43) which causes the boss to become interlocked with the attachment portion.

Abstract: The inner shoe for ski boots comprises an upper provided with a perimetral border at the end associated with an inner sole. The inner sole is furthermore provided with at least one raised portion and at least one perimetral tab facing and connected to the border of the upper. Advantageously, the central raised portion of the inner sole defines a perimetral edge having a thickness approximately equal to that of the border provided on the upper.

Abstract: A manipulation element for closing and latching a rear spoiler of boot on the leg of a skier. The manipulation element is journaled on the rear spoiler so that journalling of this element tensions a cable which closes the spoiler on the leg of the skier. The manipulation element comprises a U-shaped lever having an open space therein adapted to receive a second manipulation element which can, for example, lock the heel of the foot in the boot. In this way, two manipulation elements can be positioned on the dorsal zone of the spoiler. In another embodiment, the manipulation element includes two lateral ribs, each having a groove extending along the length of the rib for engaging and protecting the cable.

Abstract: A manipulation element for closing and latching a rear spoiler of boot on the leg of a skier. The manipulation element is journaled on the rear spoiler so that journalling of this element tensions a cable which closes the spoiler on the leg of the skier. The manipulation element comprises a U-shaped lever having an open space therein adapted to receive a second manipulation element which can, for example, lock the heel of the foot in the boot. In this way, two manipulation elements can be positioned on the dorsal zone of the spoiler. In another embodiment, the manipulation element includes two lateral ribs, each having a groove extending along the length of the rib for engaging and protecting the cable.

Abstract: A foot presser device, particularly for ski boots, composed of at least one presser connected to a wedge on which the foot rests. The presser is acted upon by actuating means in order to exert a selected pressure on the foot. The presser spans the foot entirely and is connected to the wedge in at least one point.

Abstract: An overboot is described which is adapted to be worn over a conventional boot or shoe and which is further adapted to connect to a ski (e.g., a cross-country ski) or a showshoe. The overboot includes an elongated, generally flat sole member. Attached to the periphery of the sole member is a flexible, water-resistant upper member which extends upwardly from the sole. The upper member can be opened to allow a boot to be inserted; closure means is adapted to close the upper member around the boot. Strap means are used to urge the boot forwardly in the overboot and to secure the boot to the sole member. The overboot is adapted to fit more than one size of boot. A connection member projects forwardly of the upper member for detachably connecting the overboot to a ski or snowshoe. The sole member can be flexed between the forward and rearward ends.

Abstract: A fiberglass sucker rod construction is disclosed comprising a cylindrical fiberglass rod having a steel connector member adhesively bonded to each end thereof. The steel connector members are basically identical in their manner of being affixed to each end of the fiberglass rod, each connector member having an internal receptacle defining a series of tapered annular spaces for receiving an epoxy adhesive material which bonds the fiberglass rod in the metal connector member, thereby forming a unitary sucker rod having a male thread connector at one end and a mating female connector at the other end thereof. The epoxy adhesive cures, forming a sleeve having a series of annular tapering surfaces defining annular wedges that are oriented such that tension applied to the rod causes the wedges to be compressed between the rod and connector member, resulting in a radially inwardly directed force to retain the rod in position against such tension.