Abstract: A boot, such as a snowboard boot, having an outer shell including a flexible upper and a harness assembly disposed in the outer shell. The harness assembly wraps about a user's ankle, includes a plurality of cord keepers. A cord—for example, a lace or a stainless steel cable—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism such as a spool mechanism or a lace keeper is attached to the flexible upper and engages the cord, such that the user can releasably tension the cord. The cord extends through an aperture in the outer shell whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. In an embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is a lace locker fixedly attached to the shell tongue, wherein the tongue includes apertures disposed near the bottom of the lace locker to slidably accommodate the cord.

Abstract: A boot, such as a snowboard boot, having an outer shell including a flexible upper and a harness assembly disposed in the outer shell. The harness assembly wraps about a user's ankle, includes a plurality of cord keepers. A cord—for example, a lace or a stainless steel cable—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism such as a spool mechanism or a lace keeper is attached to the flexible upper and engages the cord, such that the user can releasably tension the cord. The cord extends through an aperture in the outer shell whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. In an embodiment, the tensioning mechanism is a lace locker fixedly attached to the shell tongue, wherein the tongue includes apertures disposed near the bottom of the lace locker to slidably accommodate the cord.

Abstract: A boot (200), such as a snowboard boot, having a harness assembly (240) disposed in an outer shell (210). The harness defines a vamp gap and includes a plurality of cord keepers (268) disposed on either side of the gap. A cord—for example, a stainless steel cable (266)—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism (190) having a knob (192) is attached to the harness assembly and engages the cable, whereby the user can releasably tension the cable. An aperture (126) in the outer shell is adapted to receive the knob, whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. The cable may slidably engage the tongue (215) of the boot, such that tensioning the cable will bias the tongue inwardly, towards the user.

Abstract: A boot (100), such as a sports boot, having a removable liner (160) that is adapted to be inserted into an outer shell (110). The liner includes a vamp gap (170) with a plurality of cable keepers (168) disposed on either side of the gap, and a cable (166) that slidably engages the cable keepers, for tightening the liner about the user's foot. A tightening mechanism (190) having a knob (192) is attached to the liner and engages the cable, whereby the user can releasably tension the cable. An aperture (126) including a grommet portion (130) in the outer shell is adapted to receive the knob whereby the user can tighten the liner without removing the boot outer shell.

Abstract: A boot (200), such as a snowboard boot, having a harness assembly (240) disposed in an outer shell (210). The harness defines a vamp gap and includes a plurality of cord keepers (268) disposed on either side of the gap. A cord—for example, a stainless steel cable (266)—slidably engages the cord keepers, for tightening the harness about the user's ankle. A tensioning mechanism (190) having a knob (192) is attached to the harness assembly and engages the cable, whereby the user can releasably tension the cable. An aperture (126) in the outer shell is adapted to receive the knob, whereby the user can tighten or loosen the harness without removing the boot. The cable may slidably engage the tongue (215) of the boot, such that tensioning the cable will bias the tongue inwardly, towards the user.