Abstract: A sport boot, of the rigid shell type, provided with an adjustable stiffening device for its sole having a rigid element. The rigid element is mounted freely in a housing of the sole open across from the plantar surface of the user's foot. An adjustable assembly device, inserted in the rigid element and fixed to the sole allows achieving, for an adjustment position, the coupling of the sole to the rigid element. The invention allows modifying the stiffness of the sole, and thus adapting the general behavior of the boot depending on a specific use for which the boot is adapted at a given time.

Abstract: A liner having a single foot entry for a rigid shell sport boot, constituted of an upper enveloping the foot and the malleoli and of a top portion of the upper that covers the user's lower leg. The top portion of its upper has a composite structure formed of a plurality of comfort elements coupled together and fixed to a relatively thin support envelope that extends on the exterior, and each comfort element is made from a material having a specific density and degree of firmness that are different from those of the element to which it is coupled. The differentiation of the characteristics of the elements with respect to one another allows transmitting the impulses from the user's lower leg to the boot shell in preferred predetermined directions in correspondence with selected support zones on the lower leg.

Abstract: A comfort liner provided with a wedging element made of foam having thermoplastic qualities rendering it capable of being adjusted and/or adapted, after being heated at its thermoforming temperature, to the specific volume of the user's foot. The liner in its entirety is preformed at an initial fitting volume corresponding to a standard of a given size, and its wedging element, constituted of foam formed from at least one thermoplastic material, is thermocompressed and micro-perforated. The micro-perforations confer to the wedging element a certain flexibility and elastic compressibility, as well as a certain permeability rendering it sufficiently comfortable to be used as such, and adapted to be easily thermoformed by reheating, due to the rapid and in-depth diffusion of the heat across the micro-perforations.

Abstract: A process and device for heating at least one portion of the internal fitting of a boot, for thermoforming the fitting. The heating of the internal fitting, at a temperature of about 120.degree.-140.degree. C., is done while the fitting is arranged within the boot. The heated air is emitted from an air distribution element, in which each outlet is positioned relative to the internal fitting at least at a minimum predetermined distance. In a preferred embodiment, the device includes an arrangement for positioning a pair of air distribution elements into respective ones of a pair of boots, including respective seats that receive the vamps of the boots, thereby positioning the boots with their heels extending upwardly, and respective abutments that limit the introduction of the air distribution elements within the boots.

Abstract: A comfort liner for a ski boat provided with a wedging element made of foam having thermoplastic qualities rendering it adapted to be adjusted and/or adapted, after being heated at its thermoforming temperature, to the specific volume of the foot of the skier, and a ski boot incorporating such liner. The liner in its entirety is preformed to an initial foot fitting volume corresponding to the standard of a given size, and its wedging element, constituted by a foam formed from at least one thermoplastic material, is thermocompressed and micro-perforated. The micro-perforations confer to the wedging element a certain flexibility and elastic compressibility, as well as a certain permeability rendering it sufficiently comfortable to be used as such for skiing, and adapted to be easily thermoformed by reheating, by virtue of the rapid and in-depth diffusion of the heat across the micro-perforations.