Abstract: A sports boot that includes an upper, an outer sole and at least one fastening member adapted to cooperate with an associated fastening member of a sports article, such as a snowboard, ski, or skate. The upper is provided at its lower end with a continuous peripheral belt, at least semi-rigid, and each fastening member of the boot is fixed on the peripheral belt. The peripheral belt can be arranged on the inside or on the outside of the upper.

Abstract: A one-piece quarter for a lasted skate boot. The quarter comprises a quarter medial portion and a quarter lateral portion. The quarter medial and quarter lateral portions each comprise, respectively, foxing medial and lateral portions. A tendon guard is disposed in the upper portion of the quarter. This tendon guard is preferably sewn to the quarter. Therefore, the guard is attached to the quarter along the junction line. According to the invention, with a quarter consisting of only one piece, there is no sewing line along the symmetry line. The skate boot provided with such a quarter features a stronger heel portion, without any risk of a broken sewing line. The skate boot is less expensive to manufacture, with at least one sewing step eliminated.

Abstract: A snowboard boot for use with a snowboard boot strap that is attachable thereto. In one aspect, the boot comprises a foot-shaped outer surface; and a strap mounting member that includes an attachment feature adapted to mount a portion of the strap to the snowboard boot the strap mounting member including a raised portion that protrudes beyond the foot-shaped outer surface of the boot, the raised portion including the attachment feature. In another aspect, the snowboard boot includes a boot upper having an outer surface, a sole, and an adjustable strap that is mounted to the outer surface of the boot upper, the strap being adjustable so that the strap can be selectively tightened and loosened over the outer surface of the boot upper. The outer surface of the boot upper is formed from at least first and second materials, the first material having a lower coefficient of friction than the second material, the first material being disposed to underlie a portion of the strap that is movable to tighten the strap.

Abstract: A boot for a gliding sport, consisting of a bootie with a soft upper (1) and of an intermediate rigid sole (4) itself at least partially covered by a flexible walking sole (9), and provided with a transverse metal bar (6) for connection to a binding. The boot further has bearing surfaces on either side of the bar. At least in the foot sole region, the bearing surface is a projection (7) of the intermediate rigid sole.

Abstract: An inner liner for a boot having a sole and an upper provided with a foot entry opening in its front upper part. The upper is made of several pieces, the several pieces being connected by a mode of assembly that define connecting lines. A sealing element extends continuously from the sole, where it is welded/glued, to the foot entry opening by completely housing the liner toe. The liner contributes to reinforcing and ensuring the impermeability of the boot.

Abstract: A structural interface for a sports shoe is described. An implementation of the structural interface includes a lateral beam member and a medial beam member connected together by a bridge member. The lateral and medial beam members may each include at least one mounting location for connection means and/or attachment devices. The connection means or attachment devices mate with sports apparatus, for example, snowboard bindings or bike pedals.

Abstract: A shoe with optionally a high upper such as a moutaineering boot or a sports shoe, comprises an upper and a tongue connected with said upper and having a foot-inside edge, a foot-outside edge and an edge close to a shin, said edge close to the shin connecting the foot-inside edge and the foot-outside edge. The tongue extends over a forefoot-instep portion of the shoe to at least an ankle-flexure portion of the shoe. For adapting to an instep-ankle-flexure contour of a foot it is approximatively formed in a saddle shape. In the ankle-flexure portion of the shoe the tongue comprises at least one, compared to adjacent tongue portions, flexurally softer, preferably flat flexing zone. The flexing zone reduces the tendency of the tongue to slip towards the side after wearing the shoe for some time, which prevents pressure sores or skin abrasions. This increases the wearing comfort of the shoe.

Abstract: A downhill ski boot (10) includes an inner shell (14) that is secured within a substantially rigid outer shell (12). The outer shell has a base (18) and an ankle cuff (20). The base includes a sidewall portion (24) having medial and lateral sides, with a longitudinal gap (32) being defined therebetween which exposes the inner shell. The inner shell also receives a removable liner (16). The outer shell may be secured by fasteners to closely conform the inner shell and liner about the foot. The ankle cuff and base are reinforced by a segmented strut to aid in transfer of force from the lower leg to the ski.

Abstract: A structural interface for a sports shoe is described. An implementation of the structural interface includes a lateral beam member and a medial beam member connected together by a bridge member. The lateral and medial beam members may each include at least one mounting location for connection means and/or attachment devices. The connection means or attachment devices mate with sports apparatus, for example, snowboard bindings or bike pedals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a snowboard boot including a sole adapted to be attached to the board, a relatively flexible upper, mainly forming the outer portion of the boot and connected to the sole, a rigid shell at least partially covering the sole and extending upwardly at the rear of the boot, at the level of the heel, and a rigid back portion journalled on the shell and extending it upwardly. The rigid back portion is journalled on the internal side of the boot, along a journal axis forming an angle of inclination between 20 and 45° with respect to the median longitudinal plane of the boot. Such an improved boot maintains its qualities of comfort while ensuring the transmission of the forces that are essential for a good control and mastery of the board in the sports involved.

Abstract: A shoe for a bicycle includes an outsole having a depression for receiving a board and having an opening for receiving a coupler. The board has a recess for receiving a fastener plate. One or more fasteners are engaged through the coupler and the board and threaded to the fastener plate for securing the coupler to the board. A shoe upper includes a peripheral flange engaged onto the board and an insole has a peripheral portion snugly engaged with the peripheral flange of the shoe upper. The insole has a pivotal flap received in the recess and engaged with the fastener plate.

Abstract: A removable snowboard boot liner made from Ethyl Vinyl Acetate with an air bladder attached therein and a method of mass producing such liners. An oily chalk like substance consisting of 90% sweet starch, 9% lubricant and 1% stearate is included between the two sheets that make up the bladder. The bladder is attached to the EVA before the EVA is folded, stitched, heated and molded. This allows the bladder to be attached while the EVA is still flat and allows the attachment to be performed by machine stitching. The bladder is partially inflated before the EVA is heated and molded. The oily chalk like substance and the partial inflation of the bladder allows the installed bladder to pass through the heating and molding steps of the EVA without the two sheets that make up the bladder melting together. The invention also consists of a design and installation of the bladder that minimizes the amount of slipping of a wearer's foot and heal within the boot.

Abstract: A cushioned in-line skate shoe comprises: an in-line skate shoe body, including: an outer side wall which has an outer lower edge, an inner side wall which has an inner lower edge, a sole provided on a bottom of the shoe body and connected between the outer and inner lower edges, at least one outer hole and at least one inner hole formed on the outer lower edge and the inner lower edge, respectively; an air cushion foot pad including: an upper surface, a lower surface opposing to the upper surface, a circumferential edge which is formed between the upper and lower surfaces, a plurality of flexible columns connecting the upper surface and the lower surface to define a plurality of air chambers formed within the circumferential edge so as to rigidly support the air chambers, a plurality of transverse protrusions formed on the circumferential edge of the foot pad, thereby when the foot pad is positioned over and contact with the sole of the shoe body, the protrusions are inserted into the outer and inner holes o

Abstract: The present invention relates to a forefoot/midfoot compression member for a footwear device. The compression member comprises an instep counter and an arm mechanism for rigidly supporting the instep counter. The arm mechanism is disposed along only one of the medial or lateral aspects of the footwear device. The arm mechanism is adjustable to move the instep counter to a desired position and a retention mechanism is provided to retain the arm mechanism in the desired position. In another aspect, the invention relates to a retention member for a liner for a footwear device. The retention member includes a plate that mounts to the liner. A post extends from the plate through a bore defined in a wall for the footwear device where it is secured with a fastener. In another aspect, the invention relates to a retention member for an article of footwear within a footwear device.

Abstract: Footwear having one or more reinforcement features is disclosed. Footwear having two independent components constructed from a woven material with the strands oriented at specified angles to the plane of the sole of the footwear is disclosed. The footwear may also incorporate a substantially rigid structural collar in the area of the ankle or lower leg. Heel and/or forefoot straps that wrap downwardly and laterally around the heel and/or forefoot may be provided to limit flexing of the ankle and the footwear in a forward or backward direction, respectively. An internal reinforcement structure comprising a plurality of support strips arranged transversely to one another in a criss-cross arrangement is also disclosed.

Abstract: A boot suitable for use in association with various sports related gliding devices having a stirrup embedded in the sole of the boot containing a pair of opposed arms for removably supporting a pin therebetween.