Abstract: The ski boot comprises a shell with which a front quarter and a rear quarter are associated. The boot comprises at least one flexible traction element, constituted by a cable, which is connected to tensioning means which are associable with the rear quarter. The traction element engages with a coupling element which is arranged laterally to the boot and is interconnected between the shell and the front quarter. The shell or the front quarter, or possibly both, have a guiding opening for sliding engagement with said coupling element.

Abstract: A foot support structure which is attached to a shoe so as to provide support to the medial arch of a foot in a longitudinal direction while acting as a supplement to the longitudinal fascia, ligaments and tendons of the foot is disclosed. The structure includes a sling strap which is most effective when employed with and anchored to a relatively flexible outsole. On the medial side of the foot, the sling pulls from a point just forward of the first metatarsal head. On the lateral side, the sling pulls from a point adjacent the posterior portion of the fifth metatarsal. The sling could also be anchored to transverse shoe components in the midfoot region. In one embodiment, the longitudinal support sling of the present invention includes a medial-lateral connector strap which extends across the top of the foot in the forefoot region and interconnects the medial and lateral sling portions proximate to the anterior portions thereof.

Abstract: In the inner lining shoe for boots, particularly ski boots, an fore tongue is anchored in a floating manner to the upper, so as to be displaceable in a controlled manner with respect to the upper under the action of elastic return means. Elastically deformable means are also provided to prevent the deformation of the upper under stress, while permitting the bending of the leg portion with respect to the true upper.

Abstract: In a ski boot having a toe- and heel-piece and an anklet consisting of an anklet front part and an anklet rear part it is proposed that the toe- and heel-piece is soft to deformation in the instep region in the direction of variation of the clear instep width, that the anklet front part is displaceable perpendicularly of a transverse axis on lateral articulation points on the side parts of the toe- and heel-piece, in the direction of variable action of the anklet front part along the instep line of the deformation-soft instep region of the toe- and heel-piece, and that tension means serving for the adjustment of the anklet front part on the articulation points act upon the anklet front part.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a securing and adjustment device particularly for ski boots comprising a shell containing at least one presser arranged at the foot instep region. The peculiarity of the invention resides in that it comprises an actuation element arranged outside said shell which actuates a central body associated with a first element arranged inside said shell and having at least one inclined-plane surface; a coupling body is associated with the central body and is interconnected with a second element also defining an inclined-plane surface which interacts with the inclined-plane surface of the first element. One of said first and second elements is interconnected with the presser so as to exert a securing action on the foot instep.

Abstract: The heel securing device is for use in rear entry ski boots having a shell, a front quarter associated with the shell and defining anterior lateral portions including one anterior lateral portion and an opposite anterior lateral portion, and a rear quarter articulated to the shell and defining a rear lateral portion and a heel region. The heel securing device has an elongate element having one end connected to one lateral portion selected from among the anterior lateral portion and the rear lateral portion, an intermediate portion extending around the heel region of the rear quarter, and another end connected to the opposite anterior lateral portion of the front quarter.

Abstract: The shoe incorporates a shaft (3) jointed (5) to a shell (1) along a transverse axis (5'), connecting two joint pieces (5) on each side of the shoe and connected to one another by a stirrup (6). The joint pieces (5), stationary in relation to the shaft (3), may be moved (52) in an approximately vertical direction in relation to the shell (1) and may be locked into position. The stirrup (6) is located in the upper part of the shell (1) and surrounds the top of the wearer's instep, thereby distributing the bearing stresses exerted by the shaft (3) on the shell (1) in the area of the instep.

Abstract: The present invention pertains to a structure resistant to the transmission of forces of impact which is useful in the fabrication of articles subjected to impact forces by the user of the articles. The structure includes a double plush-like open mesh structure having first and second layers of interlaced stretch-resistant flexible strand material positioned adjacent each other, and defining an intermediate space therebetween. A plurality of elongated partitions are disposed between the first and second layers and divide the intermediate space into a plurality of elongated generally parallel channels. The partitions each comprise a plurality of pile stretch-resistant strand material connecting with the first and second layers in a plane generally perpendicular to the first and second layers.

Abstract: An arrangement for retaining a skier's foot within the shell base of a ski boot, comprising one or more tongues integral with the inner sides of the shell base, extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the boot and at least partly surrounding the top of the foot. The tongues fold down along a drop line in a plane above the heads of the metatarsals and the malleoli, and are located between two planes secant to the plane of the boot sole and passing through the heads of these bones. Actuation of the tongues relative to the foot takes place from outside the boot.

Abstract: A crampon removably attached to a shoe having a plurality of teeth oriented in an angled, noncolinear fashion, such as on the faces of a polygon, on both a heel and toe portion of the crampon. The toe portion of the crampon further includes a plurality of slots which receive a plurality of pick elements selected from a variety of interchangeable pick elements. The variety of pick elements includes a double flat pick, a single reverse angle pick, a flanker pick, a tooth claw pick and a novel tubular pick. The crampon according to the present invention provides enhanced traction by inhibiting a skating action resulting from the substantially linearly disposed teeth of prior crampon designs, while providing a maximum flexibility by interchangeably receiving a variety of pick elements.

Abstract: The boot is comprised of a shaft (12, 13) joined along a transverse axis (11) to a shell-base (10), and of a mechanism for controlling the stiffness of the pivoting movements of the shaft (12, 13) in relation to the shell-base (10). This mechanism incorporates, in the form of a double girder, two flexion arms (1,2) joined at one end, respectively, and attached to the shaft (12, 13) or to the shell-base (10) by means of an anchoring piece (3). The other end of each strip cooperates with an operating device (5) carried on the shell-base (10) or on the shaft (12, 13), respectively. The device (5) elastically produces variations in the degree of separation of the strips (1,2) in response to the force exerted by pivoting movements of the shaft (12, 13) in either direction.

Abstract: A boot liner, preferably for use with a ski boot of the rear-entry type, including an exterior envelope and an interior sock, having an injection cavity therebetween. Within the injection cavity, a filling product is designed to be injected for retaining the foot of the skier within the boot liner and within the ski boot within which it is adapted to be used. The exterior envelope and the interior sock are sealed along a lower peripheral edge defining a sole portion of the boot liner. The peripheral edge is engageable within a peripheral groove in the internal wall of the exterior envelope to thereby seal the injection cavity from the sole portion of the boot liner to thereby prevent the filling product from flowing beneath the sole of the foot positioned within the boot liner. The injection cavity is defined by respective surfaces of the external envelope and the interior sock.

Abstract: A ski boot having a shell base and an upper. The upper includes a front cuff and a rear spoiler which are independently pivoted on the shell base. The rear spoiler is mounted in such a manner as to allow two types of movement. The rear spoiler can rotate to a rearward, open position to provide a large opening for insertion of a foot. The rear spoiler can also move in a substantially vertical direction so that, when it is tightened to the front cuff, the upper can rotate as a monoblock assembly around the pivot for the front cuff.

Abstract: A ski boot including a rigid shell base and a cuff journalled to the shell base. A manipulation lever for adjusting the fit of the boot, the manipulation lever being positioned at an upper zone of the shell base. At least one flexion element having a space for receiving the manipulation lever, the flexion element being associated with an upper surface of the shell base and cooperating with the cuff. The flexion element being mounted transversely to a longitudinal axis of the boot and being adapted to extend over at least a portion of the periphery of the foot of a skier using the boot over a zone extending along the flexion fold of the instep of the skier. The cuff having a lower edge adapted to cooperate with an upper surface of the shell base via at least one flexion element, the flexion element being in continuous supporting contact with the lowered cuff edge at least along the longitudinal axis of the boot. An internal foot tightening apparatus for adjusting the fit of the boot.

Abstract: A heating device for ski boots comprising an insole, provided with an electric resistor and temporarily associable with the boot, below which there is rigidly associated a rigid inner sole having, preferably at the heel region, an accommodation for one or more accumulators. Electric conductors are furthermore provided which extend from the insole and are connected to a support, provided with at least one switch, temporarily associable with one of the components of the ski boot.

Abstract: A shoe sole including an outsole (5) and an insole (1). The latter includes a plurality of ribs (2) which run along the entire width of the sole, are directed transversely relative to the longitudinal direction of the sole, and are covered at the side facing the foot (10) with a perforated base layer and possibly a covering (6) of leather or fabric. The ribs (2) include a base part which has approximately the shape of a trapezoid, whose shorter base is at the bottom, so that grooves (3) occur between the ribs (2). The insole (1) is located on the upper side of an outsole (5), which upper side faces the foot. The special shape of the ribs (2) results in a reinforced reciprocal rolling effect and consequently in an improved massaging and foot aeration.

Abstract: A boating shoe, comprises an upper unit, a midsole and a high traction outsole attached to the bottom of said midsole. The upper unit includes a padded tongue made of a substantially nonabsorbent material and an inner lining having at least two plies. The outer ply adjacent the wearer's foot is made of a hydrophobic material and the inner ply is made of a hydrophilic material with good wicking characteristics. A bottom sock made of a fabric material through which water can flow freely is sewn to the bottom of the upper unit. The midsole is molded from a plastic material and includes forward and rear drainage cavities, each having a plurality of upstanding projections for supporting the wearer's foot. Drainage channels extend from each of the cavities through the midsole to its outer surface so that water flowing into the cavities of the midsole will be drained from the shoe.

Abstract: An insole is provided for a shoe, particularly for a welted shoe which insole is composed of at least three longitudinally arranged sections, adjacent sections being connected at transverse lines of flexure to impart a degree of flexibility to the insole. Preferably the transverse lines of flexure are produced by sewing together three separate sections forming respectively a toe section a center section and a waist section of alternate methods of producing transverse lines of flexure are suggested. The invention also provides a welted shoe incorporating such an insole, said shoe according to a preferred embodiment being provided with such an insole having a projecting rib to which the shoe upper a lining for the shoe upper (if present) and a welt are affixed, in which shoe, before application of the sole of the shoe, the rib and that portion of the upper adjacent the rib are deformed inwardly so as to lie adjacent to the lower surface of the insole.

Abstract: A ski boot fastening device according to the present invention is applied to a ski boot comprising an outer shell and an inner boot fitted in the outer shell.

Abstract: A fabric, adapted for use in a belt of a papermaking machine, is formed of interwoven machine direction wrap and cross-machine direction shute type strands, at least the shute strands being woven in a repetitive pattern of passing over at least three adjacent warp strands and then passing under at least two adjacent warp strands so as to form a 3/2 type weave pattern.