Abstract: A ski boot includes a shell base having an overlying upper, the upper including a front portion and a rear portion journalled with respect to the shell base about a transverse axis, so as to enable pivoting of the rear portion of the upper towards the rear at the opening of the boot. The rear portion of the upper is connected to the front portion by tightening and closure elements, whereas the shell base includes two lateral wings extending upwardly, to which a linkage is connected, linking them to the rear portion of the upper where a traction element of the linkage is located.

Abstract: The present invention is an upper for an athletic shoe which substantially takes the form of an inflatable chamber. The upper is formed from first and second laminates which are welded together at various locations to form several fluid impervious chambers. The chambers, which are visible, are inflated with fluid to provide lightweight support and comfort to the foot of the wearer.

Abstract: An alpine ski boot having an arrangement for reclaiming rear support of the upper and tightening of the collar on the lower part of the leg, constituted by a link forming a dual circuit and by a latchable tensioning lever. The flexible connection describes a circuit originating from a strap of the collar constituting a mobile attachment point of one end of the link, which is thereafter freely connected to the tensioning lever, by which it transits, to be thereafter fixed by its other end on a portion of the collar constituting a fixed attachment point, from which the intermediate tensioning lever exerts a traction on the other end of the link simultaneously causing a tightening action on the strap and a latching action of the element for reclaiming rear support and vice versa.

Abstract: Shoes, especially sport or leisure shoes, preferably for team sports or for group leisure play, with a central rotary closure which, as much as possible, is not present in preferred kicking areas of such shoes while still being in a location where it can be easily and conveniently operated. In accordance with preferred embodiments, the central rotary closure is located on an upper outer (lateral) side in an area surrounding the lateral side of the ankle. With the central rotary closure so located, advantageously, the tightening element runs from the central rotary closure, alternately between guide elements on the instep cover and lateral side part of the upper toward the toe area of the shoe, across the instep in the metatarsophalangeal joint area and then runs upwardly on the other (medial) side of the upper, alternating between guide elements on the instep cover and medial side part of the upper.

Abstract: A therapeutic pad is used in footwear which has a liquid absorbent to prevent liquid leakage in the event the sealed envelope of the pad is ruptured. The footwear includes a pair of compartments which substantially surround the foot cavity for receiving the therapeutic pad.

Abstract: A protective covering and method of use for preventing contamination of a syringe used to deliver material to a surface, so as to permit subsequent reuse of the syringe. The syringe comprises a barrel containing the material, a plunger for expelling the material from the barrel, and a removable delivery tip. The protective covering includes a collapsible sleeve for enclosing the syringe so as to provide a barrier to protect the syringe from contamination by an environment. A first and a second portion form the collapsible sleeve. The first portion has a width greater than the widest portion of the syringe. The second portion has a width smaller than the first portion which conforms to the width and length of the barrel so as to provide a snug fit around the barrel. An aperture is formed at the end of the collapsible sleeve through which a portion of the removable delivery tip passes when the syringe is inserted into the sleeve so that that portion of the tip is exposed to the outside environment.

Abstract: A toe cap for a protective shoe is injection molded utilizing a fiber-filled plastic resin having a high loading of relatively long fibers. A preferred material is glass-filled polyurethane having fibers predominantly of a length in the range of 0.25 inch (6 mm) and 1 inch (25 mm). The resin injection gate is positioned to provide injection of the fiber-filled plastic material directly adjacent the rear edge of the toe cap, preferably between the roof of the cap and the lower edge of one wall. The gate has a minimum dimension of 0.100 inch (2.5 mm). The gate location and size results in a lateral orientation of the fibers in the injected plastic material across the roof of the toe cap to substantially enhance the strength thereof.

Abstract: Footgear is provided with an inner sole having a grid of removable resilient elements to permit removal of selected elements to provide relief to ulcerated or otherwise injured areas of the foot. An air bladder may underlie the inner sole, preferably with additional cushioning material within the air bladder. A walker with a soft goods type support may be provided with the foregoing type of inner sole within the support.

Abstract: A corrective foot insole for sufferers of an uncompensated forefoot varus, more commonly known as flexible flat foot. The corrective insole has a forefoot and a midfoot portion. The forefoot portion of the insole provides a lift for the two interior toes a distance back to, but not including the heel of the foot. The midfoot portion provides an additional lift to the metatarsal by use of a support arch which is located on top of the forefoot portion. The corrective foot insole allows the midfoot to rotate into supination. The entire first metatarsal and two interior toes are lifted into a position to compensate for the forefoot varus, and this insole also maintains the normal alignment position, motion and function of the entire foot during use of the corrective foot insole while maintaining the heel of the foot in its normal position.

Abstract: A shoe, especially an athletic, leisure or rehabilitation shoe, with an upper part consisting, at least partially, of a flexible material which covers the ankle of the foot (3/4 mid-height) or rises above the ankle (high top) and which is provided with an instep cover coveting the instep of the foot (which is movable like a tongue or forms the tongue or a part of it) on which a central rotary closure is provided, with which at least the instep length of at least one tightening element can be shortened for closing the shoe and can be extended for opening it, and the tightening element is alternately guided respectively from a guide element on the upper side part to a guide element of the instep cover.

Abstract: A shoe with a central closure (1) is provided with two tensioning devices (10, 11) which can be activated both simultaneously and independently of each other in order to close different areas of the shoe with the central closure (1). This makes it possible to tension one area of the shoe (2) or subsequently tension it further if the other area of the shoe (2) is already exposed to the necessary closing tension.

Abstract: An article packaging kit, system and method which system includes a flat, corrugated, cardboard sheet material having a central horizontal fold line and two vertical fold lines to define a base and two end portions. The system includes a flexible plastic sleeve or tube which loosely fits about a portion of the base of the sheet material in the flat condition. The sheet material moves between a horizontal line folded position when an article to be packaged is inserted within the sleeve and a flat, article hugging, immobilizing position when the end portions are folded upwardly causing the base portion to become flat. The system includes optionally inserting the immobilized article on the folded sheet material into a packaging or shipping container.

Abstract: An insert for an outer package for a thermoformed blister package, wherein the blister package has an outwardly extending flange. The foldable insert is placed within the outer package so that the flange of a blister package is rigidly supported and the outer package has improved stiffness and resistance to flexing. The insert has a pair of hingingly connected members having a rectangular cross-section. A longitudinal based panel having a pair of opposed major and a pair of opposed minor sides is foldably connected to a first end panel along the minor sides of the base panel. A first longitudinal side panel is foldably connected to a first major side of a longitudinal base panel and an opposed second longitudinal side panel is foldably connected to the other major side of the longitudinal base panel. A first longitudinal cover panel is foldably connected to the first longitudinal base panel and an opposed longitudinal side panel is foldably connected to the second longitudinal side panel.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a dynamically interactive combination of a shoe and an externally adjustable internal orthotic foot cradle formed of a fabric strap material. The disclosed combination attenuates and beneficially disperses the deforming forces experienced by the foot in weight bearing, limits the extent of pronation and excursions of the various joints of the mid and hind foot during weight bearing and the cradle can store mechanical energy absorbed during weight bearing and return at least a portion of such stored energy in the form of restorative forces applied to the mid and hind foot during the non-weight bearing phase of the gait cycle.

Abstract: A sharp instrument encasement system is disclosed for encasing the sharp points or edges of medical instruments. The system comprises a container having two fluid-tight compartments separated by a frangible membrane, one compartment containing a hardenable resin and the other containing a filler comprising a particulate material that is substantially incompressible. Upon insertion of a medical instrument through a penetrable top and through the frangible membrane, the contents of the compartments mix, creating a reaction that hardens the resin and particulate material mixture and encases the sharp portions of the medical instrument.

Abstract: An elastomeric mesh bag member is arranged for receiving a shoe therewithin to provide for covering of the shoe sole and optionally of the shoe heel. For use with elevated heel construction, the bag member includes a heel opening to receive the heel therethrough. The elastomeric strands of the bag member may employ a matrix of tooth members to extend over the shoe heel and sole portion for enhanced traction, as well as using an optionally employable traction disc securable to the strands adjacent the toe portion of the associated shoe.

Abstract: A shoe shield is adapted to be detachably secured to the lacings of a shoe to protect the lacings and to provide a surface for a decorative emblem or feature.

Abstract: A boot for recreational exercise which is equipped with a pneumatic ball spring. The ball is configured as a first semi-ovoid segment and a second smaller semi-ovoid segment which intersect at a minimum dimension. This minimum dimension receives an inwardly directed ledge which is captured by the fully inflated ball to secure the ball to its retainer. The retainer is in turn, secured to the bottom of the boot platform by adjustable dovetail members to permit the ball to be adjusted under the center of gravity of the wearer. The platform has a clamshell attaching member which secures a portion of the boot's weight to the calf of the wearer. The clamshell mechanism limits rotation about the ankle to .+-.15.degree. and restricts rotation of the foot about the axis of the leg and foot to reduce the potential of injury to the wearer.

Abstract: A package, especially a soft-cup pack for cigarettes is disclosed. An inner wrapping (12) of the soft-cup pack is provided with an opening and withdrawal aid. In the region of an end wall (15), a longitudinal tab (16) is folded out s of the region of the end wall (15). The other longitudinal tab (17) serves as a closure tab for a withdrawal opening (24) which is formed in the central region of the end wall (15). The withdrawal opening (24) is enlarged because parts of side tabs (20, 21) can be moved into the open position a together with the longitudinal tab (17). Additionally, the inner wrapping (12) is provided with a withdrawal aid which is effective in the region of the withdrawal opening (24), in particular with a lift-out strip (44) which is formed from the inner wrapping (12).

Abstract: A cushioning corner pad is placed on the corners of furniture or the like to protect it during shipment. The corner pad is die-cut, prescored, and folded from a single piece of corrugated paper board to a three-dimensional form consisting of three connected triangular hollow cells which fit the corner of the article to be protected. The thickness of the cells, and thus the corner pad, is determined by sections which are perpendicular to, and sections diagonal to, the parallel sides of each of the connected cells when folded. The corner pad is thus hollow and fits over the corner of an artical with a cell adjacent to each side of the corner.