Abstract: A footwear ventilation system including the use of ventilation openings and integrally connected flap members. The invention includes the use of vent openings cut out of the side of a shoe. The vent openings may be of any shape to allow sufficient air flow therethrough. Around the periphery of each vent opening and the shoe, extends a perpendicularly oriented male track. A flap is integrally hinged to one side of the vent opening and has a integrally connected female track extending around the periphery of it. To close the vents, the female track of the flap is pushed onto the male track of the opening thereby facilitating a tight seal. When it is desired that the shoe be ventilated, the flap, being hinged to one edge of the opening, is pulled away from the opening, thereby disengaging the male and female tracks. In one embodiment of the invention, the flap or flaps, while integrally hinged to the shoe adjacent an opening, can be attached directly to the shoe.

Abstract: A heel stabilizer is provided for the midsole of a shock absorbing sole in footwear. The stabilizer may be provided on a side of a shoe or may surround the entire heel area of the shoe. A stabilizer which surrounds the heel area may be formed as a single piece which wraps around the heel area or may be formed of several pieces joined to form a frame. The stabilizer includes cells when viewed in vertical cross section which provide lightweight, stable cushioning to the foot along the periphery of the midsole. The cells may take a variety of geometric configurations.

Abstract: A ski boot in the form of an overlap construction, comprising a boot body 10, respectively a shell or the like and a collar 11 fitted to the shell pivotally. The boot body 10 and the collar 11 are closable in front by clasps 12 and 13. The collar 11 is provided on the heel side with a mechanism comprising a guide 3, in which a strap 2 is vertically movable and is linked on to the boot body 10 by way of its ends which are remote from the guide 3. At one of the two ends of the guide 3 a lever 5 is linked on pivotally which by means of a projection 15 engages into the slot 7 of the guide 3 in the pressed down position of the lever 5 and limits the vertical movement of the strap 2.

Abstract: Ski boot having a rigid shell base surmounted with an upper including at least one front portion and one rear portion that are fastened, via at least a tightening system of the upper, on the lower part of the leg, and a flexion control device, both of amplitude and of force in the frontward direction located on the rear portion of the upper. The flexion control device includes an energy stirrup that is flexible and connected in a pivotable manner to the rear portion of the upper, this rear portion being pivotable on the shell base. The stirrup has at least one abutment adapted to cooperate with a complementary abutment obtained on the shell base when the upper is closed on the lower part of the leg of the skier in the skiing position.

Abstract: A ski boot comprising a shell inside which one or more pressers are provided, a front quarter connected to the shell, a rear quarter pivotally connected to the shell, a lever pivotally connected to the rear quarter, a cable winding device rotatably supported by the lever, a first cable connected to the winding device and engaging the foot presser, and a second cable interconnected between the quarters and the free end of the lever for closing the quarters, whereby the first cable passes through the pivoting axis of the lever, or through a sheath element interconnected between the lever and the shell, so that the actuation of the lever and the actuation of the winding device both only affect the appropriate cable and the securing provided by the other cable is completely unchanged.

Abstract: A shoe having a seamless exterior upper in contact with a seamless interior liner each fashioned from a single piece of material affixed to a sole and having a heel attached to the sole, the shoe being fashioned that, if an oxford type shoe is desired, the tongue and eyelet sections of the shoe being integrally formed from the single piece of material.

Abstract: A shoe which is provided with a permanently attached low heel can be converted to a high heel shoe by attaching the high heel bodily to the low heel. Additionally, there is an adjustable shank for retaining the shoe in a shape conforming to its high heel condition or in a shape conforming to its low heel condition.

Abstract: The instant invention is directed to a ski boot having a holding device in which the force for fastening a front foot portion can be adjusted. The ski boot has a screw portion provided on an adjusting rod for adjusting the fastening force. The ski boot according to the present invention, further includes an adjusting member provided to the first end portion of the adjusting rod projected outward from the outer shell, for applying a fastening force to the foot holding member through the pressing members so as to press the inner foot and fasten a front foot portion, and for releasing the foot holding member from the fastening force through the pressing members by one-touch operation.

Abstract: The boot, made of plastic material, comprises a shell of variable volume (1) having two longitudinal flaps (2, 3) which overlap on at least one part of the foot, and a shaft in the form of a collar (7) articulated on the shell. Only the flap (3) of the internal side of the boot extends at the same time over and at least in part above the instep. The missing part of the other flap (2) is replaced by an auxiliary piece (6) which is integral with a covering piece (5) which envelops the metatarso-phalangeal zone. Putting the boot on is facilitated by this, while a good transmission of the forces from the leg on the internal side of the boot for the edge grip is ensured.

Abstract: An exercise device for strengthening the muscles and ligaments of the feet, legs and lower torso. The device comprises a platform element, front and rear securing straps, a footbed and a tractive sole. The rear securing straps are attached substantially below the upper level of the platform element, helping to preclude inadvertent egress from the device while in use. The front securing straps are for substantially securing the forward portion of the foot to the device.

Abstract: This disclosure is directed to a novel shoe tongue construction wherein the tongue is made as an integral extension of preferably the heel portion of the shoe. The tongue may also be an integral extension of the quarter. The tongue construction provides greater comfort to the wearer of the shoe than do conventionally mounted tongue constructions because the tongue is integrally formed with either the counter or the quarter of the shoe rather than being stitched only to the vamp. This construction is also more economical to make because cutting and stitching requirements are reduced.

Abstract: A system for storing integrated circuits in a stacked relationship comprising integrated circuit storage trays and spacer trays. Each integrated circuit storage tray has a storage pocket area for containing an integrated circuit. When portions of the integrated circuit protrude beyond the overall profile of the storage tray, a spacer tray can be interposed between adjacent storage trays. The spacer tray elevates an adjacent storage tray to clear the protruding portions of the integrated circuit. The spacer tray also includes tabs or other structures for overlying portions of each integrated circuit in an adjacent storage tray thereby to retain the integrated circuits within the storage tray.

Abstract: An insole for ventilating shoes or boots comprising an air intake passage, an inflatable elastic bladder, an air exhaust passage, a ventilating capillary, and valve means. The bladder is formed along the peripheral area of the heel portion of the insole. Periodic application and release of pressure to the bladder causes air to flow out of the ventilating capillaries, thus cooling and drying the foot.

Abstract: The functional forefoot orthotic of this invention comprises a shell plate that is conformed to the sole of the foot replica, a forefoot posting shim is applied to the upper surface of the shell plate. A stabilizing heel platform may also be applied to the bottom of the shell plate. The forefoot posting shim is applied at the level of the first to third metatarsals for a varum prescription. The shape, size and thickness of the posting shim is determined by the prescription. The forefoot posting shim will have a width that will be determined by the degree of deformity in the patient's forefoot. It will be wide enough to support at least the first metatarsal and may be wide enough to support two or all three of the first-to-third metatarsals. The forefoot posting shim will accommodate the patient's varum forefoot deformity so as to provide, in combination with the shell plate replica of the patient's foot, a stable forefoot platform for the patient's foot.

Abstract: A tool holder includes two opposite surfaces, a number of openings formed in the tool holder for receiving tools, and one or more projections formed in the tool holder for engaging with the tools so as to retain the tools in the openings, the openings are extended through the tool holder and opened in both of the opposite surfaces such that the tools can be easily reached from either side of the tool holder.

Abstract: A method which comprises sequentially depositing individual shirred food casing strands into a holder, which, when filled, holds the strands in a desired configuration; stretching a tubular resilient plastic film having a stretched diameter large enough to accommodate the configuration and having a relaxed diameter small enough to tightly engage the external surfaces of strands located proximate the external surface of the configuration; inserting the configuration of strands into the tubular resilient plastic film when at least a portion of the film is so stretched and allowing the film to relax to tightly secure the strands in said configuration.

Abstract: In a stud and socket combination for studded footwear, a moulded plastics socket (1) provides a threaded axial hole (5) bounded by an inner ring (9). A co-axial outer ring (10) is radially separated from the inner ring to leave an annular space (11). A plastics stud moulding (19) comprises an externally threaded sleeve (21) which can be screwed into the socket hole and a co-axial ring (26) which is spaced radially outwards from the sleeve to slide over the inner socket ring (9) and enter the annular space (11) when the stud and socket are assembled. Four part-cylindrical webs (29) project axially from the ring (26) into the space (11) and provide four axially-extending locking ribs (28) at 90.degree. intervals which project radially outwards from the ring. On the inner surface of the outer ring (10) of the socket are formed four corresponding formations providing recesses (15) to receive the ribs (28). Each recess is bordered on one side by a lead-in ramp (16) and on the other side by a stop block (17).

Abstract: In the custom-fitting of athletic footwear, such as ski boots and hockey skates, which include an outer shell and an inner bladder, a patch is provided between the shell and the bladder at a selected location where there is a poor fit between the shell and a wearer's foot. The patch forms a receptacle which can be inflated or otherwise supplied with a filler, such as foam, to an extent sufficient to improve the fit at the selected location.

Abstract: A transport container for transporting fragile articles, such as test tubes or vials, which is able to accommodate vials of various sizes. The transport container protects the contents from forces or impact shocks associated with transport, thus preventing breakage of the vials. The transport container comprises a first body member including a spring for providing an axial bias force to a vial supported therewithin for restraining movement of the vial in a first axial direction and for urging the vial toward a second body member for proper seating therein. The second body member includes a plurality of positioning vanes which provide a yieldable restraint in a second axial direction and in the radial direction. The first and second body members are connected to form a releasable, liquid-tight seal and joint therebetween.

Abstract: A protective body is arranged for projection onto cleats of an associated athletic shoe, such that the body includes a first layer of a first durameter arranged to receive in a piercing manner the cleats such that a second layer of a second durameter measurement greater than the first durameter measurement is arranged to effect impalement of the cleats therewithin, with a third layer mounted coextensively to the second layer of a third durameter greater than the second durameter measurement for providing for a rigid support surface. A strap member is mounted through the layers for securement to the athletic shoe structure.