Abstract: Ski boot whose upper consists of a variable-volume plastic shell (1) provided with at least one tightening device (5, 6). The outer side (A) of the shell has zones (A′, A″) which are of substantially lower rigidity than the rest of the shell and lie on either side of a stronger band (15) which extends obliquely from the heel to the front end of the shell and bears one of the parts of the tightening device.

Abstract: The present invention provides an athletic shoe offering an easily adjustable support for the wearer's ankle, a means for the wearer to quickly put on and remove the shoe, protection to the wearer's toes and forefoot from impacts to the upper surface of the shoe, and a unique and attractive appearance. The shoe may be constructed from four basic components: a resilient sole, an ankle surrounding section, an instep enclosing section, and a toe section. The ankle surrounding section begins at the after end of the sole portion and extends forward to a point between the forward end and the after end defining an opening through which a wearer's foot is passed. The toe section extends from the forward end of the sole portion backward and runs from the inner edge to the outer edge of the sole portion. The wearer's toes are inserted into the cavity defined by the toe section. The instep enclosing section extends from the toe section to the ankle surrounding section.

Abstract: The present invention provides an athletic shoe offering an easily adjustable support for the wearer's ankle, a means for the wearer to quickly put on and remove the shoe, protection to the wearer's toes and forefoot from impacts to the upper surface of the shoe, and a unique and attractive appearance. The shoe may be constructed from four basic components: a resilient sole, an ankle surrounding section, an instep enclosing section, and a toe section. The ankle surrounding section begins at the after end of the sole portion and extends forward to a point between the forward end and the after end defining an opening through which a wearer's foot is passed. The toe section extends from the forward end of the sole portion backward and runs from the inner edge to the outer edge of the sole portion. The wearer's toes are inserted into the cavity defined by the toe section. The instep enclosing section extends from the toe section to the ankle surrounding section.

Abstract: A tightening device adapted to equip an article of footwear, which makes it possible to hold the foot laterally, while distributing on the foot the pressure generated by the tightening device. The tightening device includes an upper flap that partially covers a lower flap. The flaps hold the foot by the tightening device which includes at least one anchor positioned on each of the flaps. The upper flap is more flexible than the lower flap.

Abstract: The top of the shell (2) made of molded plastic forms part of a flexible upper (1) in which a longitudinal opening line (9) forming a flap (12) is formed. The front lateral side of this flap is connected to the upper by an extensible elastic part (15).

Abstract: A lace device for tightening or closing an article such as a boot upper, garment, or backpack including a lace and at least two series of at least one guide for said lace, the sub-assembly constituted by the guides and the lace(s) defining a lacing zone, in the vicinity of which a blocking zone is located, in the area where the lace(s) extends from the lacing zone, the device further including a blocking element, a pocket adapted to receive the blocking element, the pocket being located in the blocking zone, and the pocket including passage(s) for the lace enabling the penetration of the lace between its exit from the lacing zone and its entry into the blocking element.

Abstract: Flap attachment means form part of a means to secure an object or parts thereof to the flaps of a shoe where said means to secure device comprises a plurality of flap attachment means. The flap attachment means are secured at or near the edge of flap of shoe and arranged in a linear sequence along length of flap. Each flap attachment means is attached either directly or via intermediate attachment means to an elongate member which itself is securable to said device. A first flap attachment means comprises a lever whose axis of rotation is parallel to and proximally set apart at a fixed distance from a substantially planar surface. Projecting from lever is a protrusion which rotates towards planar surface as lever is rotated towards surface. When a portion of flap is placed between protrusion and surface the lever is rotated downwards and that portion of flap is compressed between protrusion and surface and kept in place by a pinning action of the protrusion which pins it between itself and surface.

Abstract: A binding strap for use in a soft boot snowboard binding is provided, the binding strap including a flexible, unitary binding member having an ankle section connected to a toe section by a midsection. The binding strap may be configured and dimensioned to preferably provide a rider with easy entry and exit from the strap. In addition, the shape and flexible nature of the binding makes it comfortable to use, while also allowing it to perform well by securely engaging the rider's boot to the snowboard. The unitary construction allows the binding strap to move in an integrated manner, while the surface area of the binding strap reduces pressure points by distributing pressure exerted by the binding over a relatively large surface area of the boot, and hence foot, of the rider.

Abstract: A shell, particularly for a ski boot, constituted by a box-like main body which is open in an upward region and is rigidly coupled to a sole. The shell has, at the foot instep region, two arc-like partially overlapping plates, each of which is rotatably pivoted to the shell by pivots arranged laterally to the shell on an axis which is approximately parallel to the resting plane of the sole. The rotation of the two plates is limited by a pivot and slot connection arranged in the region in front of the heel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a footwear lacing system comprising a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace is threaded through a series of opposing guide members positioned along the top of the foot and ankle portions of the footwear. The lace and guide preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace along the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. A release mechanism allows a user to quickly loosen the lace.

Abstract: A high boot having, on its bottom part that surrounds the foot, a lace-tightening device whose strands are alternatively crossed by means of returns, from one edge to the other of the upper to be adjusted on the foot. The strands of the lace are directed so as to converge from the instep zone up to the top portion of a tongue provided with a guiding double tunnels via two semi-flexible sheaths. The tightening device of the boot leaves the flexion fold zone free and can be controlled in tightening from the edge of the top portion of the upper.

Abstract: A shoe and an improved method of shoe construction comprising an upper, an insole, a midsole, and an outsole, that are coupled together to form a housing for receiving a foot, and wherein the midsole is enveloped by the bottom ends of the upper, the insole, and the outsole to provide a more secure and stable fit of the shoe to the foot. The shoe is constructed to have the midsole of the shoe enveloped by the combination of the upper, insole, and outsole. This method of shoe construction results in a shoe having an improved fit because the midsole is pulled from the top and the bottom to provide improved fit, support, stability, and cushioning characteristics.

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 binding strap for use in a soft boot snowboard binding is provided, the binding strap including a flexible, unitary binding member having an ankle section connected to a toe section by a midsection. The binding strap may be configured and dimensioned to preferably provide a rider with easy entry and exit from the strap. In addition, the shape and flexible nature of the binding makes it comfortable to use, while also allowing it to perform well by securely engaging the rider's boot to the snowboard. The unitary construction allows the binding strap to move in an integrated manner, while the surface area of the binding strap reduces pressure points by distributing pressure exerted by the binding over a relatively large surface area of the boot, and hence foot, of the rider.

Abstract: A footwear lacing system includes a lace attached to a tightening mechanism. The lace is threaded through a series of opposing guide members positioned along the top of the foot and ankle portions of the footwear. The lace and guide preferably have low friction surfaces to facilitate sliding of the lace through the guide members so that the lace evenly distributes tension across the footwear member. The tightening mechanism allows incremental adjustment of the tension of the lace. A release mechanism allows a user to quickly loosen the lace.

Abstract: A means to secure a device or parts thereof to the flaps of an associated shoe is flexible, and comprises a plurality of flap attachments which can be fixedly or detachably secured to the flap(s) of a shoe. Each flap attachment is attached directly or via intermediate attachments to an elongate member which is securable to the device. Each intermediate attachment has two ends, one secured to the flap attachment and the other to the elongate member. The elongate member can be longitudinally extendable and retractable and can be made up of shorter segments connected to each other. The flap attachments are pivotably secured to one another in a linear sequence where at least one segment is attached directly or indirectly to the device. One type of flap attachment is permanently secured to the shoe by methods like adhesive bonding and fasteners. Another is detachable from the shoe and consists of three versions.