Abstract: The invention is the assembly of a flexible walking boot and a boot brace made of a rigid material for receiving and holding the boot within it so that the assembly can be used for downhill skiing or snowboarding. The brace has a sole plate for insertion into a conventional downhill ski or snowboard binding. Lateral support is provided by upright members extending along the leg from the sole plate of the brace. Forward resistance is provided by resilient bias means located at the pivotal attachment of the upright members to the brace, which attachment is preferably beneath the heel. The skier's heel is held down by means of an adjustable heel counter positioned at the rear of the brace.

Abstract: A closure mechanism for overlapping closure flaps of an athletic boot comprises at least one cable arranged to overlap the flaps and travel interiorly of the boot to a position remote from the overlapping flaps. The cable then exits the interior of the boot and is connected to a latch for pulling the end of the cable to draw it about and close the overlapping flaps.

Abstract: This ski boot comprises a member for locking the upper in relation to the lower portion of the boot in the downhill running position, in the form of a rocker pivoted to a transverse axis in a cavity formed in the pivoted upper of the boot, and adapted to cooperate with a stop carried by the lower portion of the boot. The rocker can be released from the stop for straightening the skier's leg to a walking or non-skiing position by simply depressing the upper portion of the rocker. When the skier bends his leg the rocker is restored automatically to its locked position by a spring.

Abstract: This fastener for closing two opposed closure flaps of a sports footwear, notably a ski boot, comprises on a first flap of the footwear a coupling member adapted to interconnect these flaps, means for anchoring one end of the coupling member to a catch member secured to the one flap, a binding lever pivoted to a support fixed to the other flap of the footwear and having pivoted thereto the other end of the coupling member and comprising beyond its pivot point a rigid extension lying substantially within the plane and thickness of the binding lever extension for interlocking substantially in a common plane the end of the lever extension and the binding lever in their closed and fold-down position which is also the closed position of the fastener itself.

Abstract: A plastic ski boot having an attachment member mounted on its lower between the toe and heel, is adapted to be releasably attached to a ski. The toe and heel portions of the boot are shaped to facilitate safe and comfortable walking and standing, and at least part of the sole walking surfaces are covered with a high friction plastic for walking purposes. The forward lean angle of the boot when out of the binding can be lesser than normal to provide comfortable standing and walking, and the ski binding with which the boot is adapted to cooperate adds sufficient forward lean angle for skiing purposes when the boot is in the binding.

Abstract: An adjustable fastener for securing two relatively movable ski boot portions together includes a T-bolt mounted in one boot portion, a threaded actuator on the T-bolt and a friction device adapted to be moved relative to the T-bolt upon rotation of the actuator to engage one of the boot portions for securing them together in a selected position after desired relative movement.

Abstract: A buckle for securing a pair of opposed closure flaps of an athletic boot comprises a catch mounted to one of the flaps and a latch mounted adjacent to the catch on the opposite flap. A wireform is mounted to the latch by means of a shaft pivoted on the latch, the shaft being threaded into a wireform holder to permit for longitudinal micro-adjustment of the wireform. The pivotal connection between the post and latch is arranged to permit limited play for alignment of the wireform and catch and includes a biasing member which urges the wireform and shaft toward the flaps when the buckle is disengaged.

Abstract: A liner for a molded athletic boot is formed with pockets on either side thereof in the area about the wearer's ankle. Each of the pockets has a slit-like opening for positioning one or more inserts therein to adjust the width size. Closure means are provided to close the slit-like openings of each pocket.