Abstract: Improved footwear, such as a ski boot having a substantially rigid shell, a slip joint defined at the instep area between a vamp portion extending upwardly and an upper shell portion extending downwardly with a portion overlying the vamp at the instep area provide boot flexure. A slit in the upper shell portion commences at the joint and extends upwardly. Threaded adjustable fastening means are positioned across the slit so that the amount of boot flexure can be adjusted.

Abstract: A wear resisting member or pad is mounted in the undersurface of the heel of an article of footwear, such as a ski boot, to improve the wearability of the heel. When employed in a ski boot, the heel thereof is formed with a cavity for weight reduction, and an opening is provided in the bottom wall of the heel for receiving the pad. When mounted in the opening in the heel, an upstanding boss on the pad engages a depending boss on the underside of an inclined wall in the heel so that the pad strengthens the heel and supports the heel of the wearer's foot. The pad is releasably retained in the opening in the heel by a plurality of circumferentially spaced lugs on the margin of the opening and a groove in the outer periphery of the pad into which the lugs extend. The pad is shiftable to different rotated positions in the opening to compensate for wear and can be replaced when worn out.

Abstract: An article of footwear, particularly a ski boot or the like, having an integral one-piece shell molded from a relatively rigid plastic material. The shell has a lengthwise split in the cuff portion to provide overlapping flap members which completely enclose the wearer's foot. The flap members are resiliently spreadable for insertion or removal of the wearer's foot. The front of the shell has a depending skirt portion with a lower free edge which overlies a rearwardly extending vamp. The skirt portion has a downwardly opening slot with adjustable transverse fastener means for flex control at the front of the shell. The cuff portion of the shell is assymetrical at its upper end so that the shell is higher at the inside and the rear than at the outside and the front. An integral one-piece liner of soft flexible material is disposed within the shell. The liner is split lengthwise to permit spreading of the liner when the flap members of the shell are spread apart.

Abstract: Removable, adjustable, foot-supporting and foot-positioning, orthopedic inserts for selectively and correctly supporting and positioning bottom regions of the foot, which are constructed and designed for use in athletic or sports footwear, including shoes and boots, whereby the foot is selectively and correctly supported and positioned in the footwear, and the leg, in turn, is selectively and correctly supported and positioned relative to the footwear.

Abstract: A closure assembly for footwear including ski boots in which a closure member having a lever end, engagement tooth and latch end is associated with a slotted tooth section molded on the footwear shell to open and close sections of the footwear.

Abstract: Improved footwear, such as a ski boot having a substantially rigid shell, a split section in the rear, lower boot heel portion with a slit commencing at a circular aperture in the shell and extending upwardly, and adjustable fastening means mounted across the slit for varying the slit width and thereby adjusting the split section at the heel portion to the wearer's heel width size.

Abstract: An improved custom fitted ankle-covering boot, such as for sportswear, including a substantially rigid shell, a substantially rigid rear tongue member extending upwardly from the shell along the back of the wearer's lower leg, an elongated, curved tab with a lower portion adpated for insertion around the instep area and an upper portion extending in the area of the lower leg front opposite from the rear tongue member. A slit is provided at the top of the upper tab portion extending downwardly towards the lower tab portion. Adjustable threaded means extend across the slit to vary the slit width and thereby enable conformance of the upper boot with the lower leg size of the wearer.

Abstract: An improved boot for sportswear, such as a custom fitted ski boot with a substantially rigid outer shell, wherein the top instep portion is offset from the lower vamp section. An apertured pleat member interconnects the offset portions. The offset instep-vamp relationship along with the apertured pleat member serves to transmit normally occurring compressive forces through a bending moment at the location of the apertured pleat member to substantially minimize bowing of the boot shell.

Abstract: Viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting materials or compositions suitable for a variety of uses and applications, including, but not limited to, fitting pads for footwear or the like.

Abstract: Viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting materials or compositions having low density, sturdy, glass microbeads and lightweight, sturdy resinous microbeads substantially uniformly distributed therein, which are suitable for a variety of uses and applications, including, but not limited to, fitting pads for footwear or the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for releasably mounting closure buckles to ski boots, said apparatus including a mounting pad integrally molded with the shell of the boot and having an undercut interior surface for slidably engaging flanges depending from a buckle stand assembly to secure the buckle stand assembly and the closure buckle pivotally mounted therein to the boot. The apparatus further includes a mechanism for releasably latching the buckle stand assembly in position on the mounting pad.

Abstract: Preformed fitting pads are disclosed having a protective envelope enclosure with flowable fitting material retained therein. The enclosure is shaped and constructed to provide therein communicating reservoir and primary fitting sections constructed in operative relationship to each other, so as to selectively provide for, as desired, the deliberate transfer of flowable fitting material from or to a reservoir section or a primary fitting section, and to selectively maintain, as desired, a controllable or predetermined volume of fitting material in a primary fitting section, all without requiring that fitting material be introduced into the pad from an external source of supply or be removed from the confines of the pad. The fitting material confined in said primary fitting section provides desirable pressure-compensating support when and where needed.

Abstract: A plastic ski boot shell having an opening for foot entry, a buckle on one side of the entry opening for engaging one portion of an endless locking cable, and cable retaining structure on the other side of the entry opening for engaging and retaining another portion of the endless cable. The cable retaining structure is integral with and constitutes a continuation of the shell, the retaining structure being composed of the same plastic material as the shell. The retaining structure permits ready engagement or disengagement of the endless cable.