Abstract: A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.

Abstract: A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.

Abstract: Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: A method and corresponding arrangement for customization of footwear, more particularly sports footwear, comprising an element made of a thermoplastic material, are provided. The method includes heating the element made of thermoplastic material until its temperature rises above a predetermined threshold and locally applying, from the outside of the footwear, a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear, so as to locally deform the thermoplastic material to adapt it to the morphology of the particular user. Correspondingly, the system comprises heating means, intended to heat the element made of thermoplastic material, and shaping means, arranged outside the footwear and intended to locally engage the outer surface of the element made of thermoplastic material and to apply a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear.

Abstract: A closure device for a sports footwear s provided. The device facilitates insertion of the user's foot into the footwear and extraction of the same from the footwear. The closure device can switch from a closed position, in which the user's foot is immobilized within the footwear, to an open position in which the user's foot can be inserted into the footwear or extracted therefrom, and the device can be locked in a fixed position both when it is in its closed position and when it is in its open position. In particular, when it is in its open position, the closure device is locked in a position in which it does not hinder the operations of inserting the user's foot into the footwear and of extracting the user's foot from the footwear.

Abstract: A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.

Abstract: A locking device for sports footwear is adapted to lock two mutually hinged portions of sports footwear or to release them from each other. The locking device may be used in a ski boot for locking or releasing the shell and cuff relative to each other. The locking device comprises a male member and a female member, which members comprise respective engaging elements adapted to cooperate with each other, and actuating elements for moving the members from a configuration in which the male member is disengaged from the female member to a configuration in which the male member is engaged with the female member. The engaging elements of the male member and/or the engaging elements of the female member have a tapered or conical shape, whereby it is possible to make a coupling without clearance between the male member and the female member when the members are engaged.

Abstract: Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

Abstract: An anchoring plate for a closure device for a sports footwear and a closure device for a sports footwear incorporating such anchoring plate are provided. The anchoring plate comprises—in addition to a body provided with hooking seats for the hooking member of the tensioning member of a closure device—an extendable member which is movably connected to the body and is provided with at least one additional hooking seat. In this way, a closure device incorporating the anchoring plate can move from a configuration in which the user's foot is firmly held inside the sports footwear to a configuration in which the user's foot has a certain freedom of movement inside the footwear, and in either of the configurations the elements of the closure device are retained in some way, so as not to be of hindrance to the user.

Abstract: A locking device for sports footwear is adapted to lock two mutually hinged portions of sports footwear or to release them from each other. The locking device may be used in a ski boot for locking or releasing the shell and cuff relative to each other. The locking device comprises a male member and a female member, which members comprise respective engaging elements adapted to cooperate with each other, and actuating elements for moving the members from a configuration in which the male member is disengaged from the female member to a configuration in which the male member is engaged with the female member. The engaging elements of the male member and/or the engaging elements of the female member have a tapered or conical shape, whereby it is possible to make a coupling without clearance between the male member and the female member when the members are engaged.

Abstract: A method and corresponding arrangement for customization of footwear, more particularly sports footwear, comprising an element made of a thermoplastic material, are provided. The method includes heating the element made of thermoplastic material until its temperature rises above a predetermined threshold and locally applying, from the outside of the footwear, a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear, so as to locally deform the thermoplastic material to adapt it to the morphology of the particular user. Correspondingly, the system comprises heating means, intended to heat the element made of theimoplastic material, and shaping means, arranged outside the footwear and intended to locally engage the outer surface of the element made of thermoplastic material and to apply a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear.

Abstract: A footwear sole, more particularly a sports footwear sole, is provided. The extension of the sole can be adjusted in a transverse direction. The sole comprises a deformable portion made of the same material as the rest of the sole and is made with no discontinuity with the rest of the sole. The deformable portion extends in the longitudinal direction of the sole over the whole length of the sole or at least over a substantial portion thereof. Owing to this solution, the sole does not have any discontinuity areas and the non-uniformities in the structural features of the sole, for instance in terms of flexional and torsional rigidity, are remarkably limited.

Abstract: A closure device for a sports footwear s provided. The device facilitates insertion of the user's foot into the footwear and extraction of the same from the footwear. The closure device can switch from a closed position, in which the user's foot is immobilized within the footwear, to an open position in which the user's foot can be inserted into the footwear or extracted therefrom, and the device can be locked in a fixed position both when it is in its closed position and when it is in its open position. In particular, when it is in its open position, the closure device is locked in a position in which it does not hinder the operations of inserting the user's foot into the footwear and of extracting the user's foot from the footwear.

Abstract: The present invention refers to sports footwear having a custom fitting device comprising a plurality of expandable bladders arranged within the footwear at a respective plurality of regions of the wearer's foot; an actuation unit can be associated to the footwear in fluid communication with the bladders by means of suitable connection means to actuate the selective expansion of the bladders; the bladders and the connection means are integrally formed on a support element made in one piece at least partly wrapping the wearer's foot and fastened to the footwear.

Abstract: A sport shoe to be used for sports involving a sliding movement, comprising a rigid shell inside which the foot is inserted; two pressure pieces, i.e. a heel piece and a toe piece, situated on the bottom of the shell and able to fix it to the bindings of sports equipment for performing a sliding movement. At least one pressure piece is movably connected to the shell so as to be able to move towards the shell in response to an external force causing them to move together.

Abstract: Sport shoe to be used for sports involving a sliding movement, comprising a rigid shell inside which the foot is inserted; two pressure pieces, i.e. a heel piece and a toe piece, situated on the bottom of the shell and able to fix it to the bindings of sports equipment for performing a sliding movement. At least one pressure piece is movably connected to the shell so as to be able to move towards the shell in response to an external force causing them to move together.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a shell (10) and preferably also a leg piece (20), and features, at least at some portions thereof that do not include the sole (15), a composite structure formed of two layers (30, 40; 30A, 40A) that are made of preferably synthetic materials having different mechanical properties. At least the interfacing surface (34, 34A) of the layer (30) made of mechanically stronger materials is provided with protruding elements (36) that remain inseparably adhering to the interfacing surface (42, 42A) of the other layer (40).

Abstract: A liner for an article of footwear, particularly a ski-boot, comprises a thermally formable material which can be selectively heated by means of an insert comprising electrical resistance heating elements. The latter in turn are sandwiched between heat spreading material.

Abstract: Sports shoe having a shell (10) partially overlapped by a leg-piece (20) and adjusting hinge (52, 53) for allowing a flexing movement of controlled amplitude of the leg-piece about a hinging axis. In the overlapping zones (ZE, ZI) plates (42, 41; 47) provided on the outer surfaces of the leg-piece (20) allow selective insertion and subsequent locking of at least one hinge (52, 53) in any one of the matching seats (33, 34, 35, 36; 37; 34′, 36′) provided on the shell (10). The hinging axis thus able to assume at least two different angular positions (X1, X2, X3, X4) relative to the longitudinal centre plane (M) of the shoe, as required by the user.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprises a shell (10) and preferably also a leg piece (20), and features, at least at some portions thereof that do not include the sole (15), a composite structure formed of two layers (30, 40; 30A, 40A) that are made of preferably synthetic materials having different mechanical properties. At least the interfacing surface (34, 34A) of the layer (30) made of mechanically stronger materials is provided with protruding elements (36) that remain inseparably adhering to the interfacing surface (42, 42A) of the other layer (40).