Abstract: A skate includes a skate boot with two opposed boot side portions extending from heel and ankle portions to a forward edge of the boot side portions. A forward-most eyelet is the eyelet closest to the forward edge. A toe cap is connected to the skate boot at a front end, and the toe cap has toe cap side portions extending rearwardly to a rear edge of the toe cap disposed forward of the forward-most eyelet. A toe cap extension extends rearwardly from the rear edge of the toe cap and over a portion of the boot side portions defined rearward of the forward edge and below the forward-most eyelet. The toe cap extension engages the portion of the skate boot and allows movement of at least the skate boot rearward of the forward-most eyelet during formation of the skate boot or use thereof.

Abstract: A skate is disclosed, with a boot defining a foot receiving region. The boot includes a boot shell having a heel portion and side portions extending from the heel portion, the side portions of the boot shell defining a foot receiving opening, each side portion having an upper edge defining a part of a periphery of the foot receiving opening. A liner defines an inner layer of the boot at least partially surrounding the foot receiving region, the liner having an ankle portion, and upper segments extending upwardly from the ankle portion of the liner. Each of the upper segments extending over at least part of a respective one of the upper edges of the boot shell. The upper segments each define a seamless area extending continuously from the ankle portion of the liner and wrapping over the respective upper edges.

Abstract: A tendon guard for a skate boot includes (a) a structural guard frame configured to protect an Achilles tendon of a wearer of the skate boot; and (b) a mount configured to join the guard frame to a shell of the skate boot. The mount includes a mount flex portion having sufficient flexibility to permit rearward movement of an upper portion of the frame in response to application of a rearward force on the upper portion by a lower leg of the wearer during plantarflexion. The mount flex portion has sufficient resiliency to urge the upper portion back toward a resting position when the rearward force is relieved.

Abstract: A skate boot includes a boot shell having first and second opposite side portions cooperating to define a foot receiving opening therebetween. The first and second side portions have a facing portion extending from the foot receiving opening. A band having a first end portion is received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through an opening defined in the first side portion so as to have a second end portion of the band extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion of the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace.

Abstract: A skate boot includes a boot shell having first and second opposite side portions cooperating to define a foot receiving opening therebetween. The first and second side portions have a facing portion extending from the foot receiving opening. A band having a first end portion is received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through an opening defined in the first side portion so as to have a second end portion of the band extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion of the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace.

Abstract: A boot includes a boot shell having first and second side portions each including eyelets defined in an instep region thereof and a respective opening through at least one the first side portion in proximity of the eyelets. The boot also includes a band having a first end portion received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through the opening defined in the first side portion so as to have an opposed second end portion extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace. An opposed second band may be provided, with the bands crossing each other. The boot may be a skate boot. A method of manufacturing a boot is also discussed.

Abstract: A skate boot having a tendon guard partially delimiting an opening of the skate boot. The tendon guard includes a lower member, a connecting member extending upwardly from the lower member, an upper member extending upwardly from the connecting member and an intermediate part. The upper member is abuttable against a rear bottom portion of a leg of the user. The upper member is resiliently displaceable relative to the lower member in a forward and a rearward direction. The intermediate part interconnects the upper and lower members and may encase the connecting member. The intermediate part is made of a material having one or both of a greater flexibility and a lower hardness than that of the lower member, the connecting member and the upper member. A method of manufacturing a skate is also discussed.

Abstract: A boot includes a boot shell having first and second side portions each including eyelets defined in an instep region thereof and a respective opening through at least one the first side portion in proximity of the eyelets. The boot also includes a band having a first end portion received in the boot shell and attached to the boot shell at or adjacent the second side portion. The band extends across an interior of the boot shell and is slidingly received through the opening defined in the first side portion so as to have an opposed second end portion extending outside of the boot shell. The second end portion the band defines an aperture for receiving a lace. An opposed second band may be provided, with the bands crossing each other. The boot may be a skate boot. A method of manufacturing a boot is also discussed.