United States Patent [191
`Sartor
`
`lllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllIlllllllllIlllllllllllllllllllllllllll
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`USOOS 107609A
`[11] Patent Number:
`[45] Date of Patent:
`
`_ 5,107,609
`Apr. 28, 1992
`
`[54] SKI BOOT WITH IMPROVED FIT
`[75] Inventor: Mariano Sartor, Montebelluna, Italy
`[73] Assignee: Nordica S.p.A., Montebelluna, Italy
`[21] Appl. No.: 641,316
`[22] Filed:
`Jan. 14, 1991
`
`[63]
`
`Related US. Application Data
`Continuation of Ser. No. 349,197, May 8, 1989, aban
`doned.
`
`[30]
`
`'
`
`Foreign Application Priority Data
`
`May 20, 1988 [IT]
`
`Italy ............................. .. 82550 A/88
`
`[51] Int. Cl.5 .............................................. .. A43B 5/04
`[52] US. Cl. ......................................... .. 36/ 120; 36/50
`[56]
`References Cited
`U.s'. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`3,665,619 5/1972
`3,803,730 4/1974
`4,203,235 5/1980
`4,575,957 3/1986
`4,633,599 1/1987
`
`4,680,878 7/1987 Pozzobon et al.
`36/50
`4,711,042 12/1987 Morell et al.
`36/50
`4,765,069 8/1988 Baggio et al.
`4,839,973 6/1989 Dodge ................................. .. 36/121
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`120267 10/1984 European Pat. Off. ............ .. 36/117
`191368 8/1986 European Pat. Off. ........ .. 36/117
`229638 7/1987 European Pat. Off. ............ .. 36/117
`Primary Examiner—-Paul T. Sewell
`Assistant Examiner-BethAnne C. Cicconi
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Guido Modiano; Albert Josif
`[57]
`ABSTRACT
`The present invention relates to a ski boot with im
`proved ?t, comprising a shell ‘to which at least one
`quarter is articulated. The peculiarity of the invention
`resides in that it comprises a movable ?ap which is
`arranged at a preset opening provided on the at least
`one quarter and rearwardly embraces the skier’s leg.
`Means for selecting the inclination of the flap with re
`spect to the at least one quarter are associated with the
`flap itself and can be actuated by the skier.
`
`4 Claims, 2 Drawing Sheets
`
`MYLAN ET AL. - EXHIBIT 1025
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`

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`US. Patent
`
`Apr. 28, 1992
`
`Sheet 1 of 2
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`5,107,609
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`

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`Apr. 28, 1992
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`Sheet 2 of 2
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`5,107,609
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`

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`1
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`5,107,609
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`SKI BOOT WITH IMPROVED FIT
`
`This is a continuation application of application Ser.
`No. 07/ 349,197 ?led on May 8, 1989, now abandoned.
`
`5
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`2
`can be obtained thereby in the direction of the rear
`region of said boot, regardless of the securing degree of
`the quarter.
`Within the scope of the above described aim, an im
`portant object is to provide a boot which allows to walk
`easily once said boot has been released from the ski,
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`allowing the skier to keep an upright position during
`The present invention relates to a ski boot with im
`this phase.
`proved fit.
`Another important object is to provide a boot which
`The problem is currently felt of providing a boot
`allows to easily insert the foot, maintaining a good rear
`which allows the skier to walk correctly after he has
`support of the leg.
`stopped skiing.
`Not least object is to provide a ski boot which associ
`This problem adds to that of keeping the foot cor
`ates the above described characteristics with that of
`rectly secured inside the boot; the mere opening of the
`being safe and reliable in use, of being structurally sim
`quarter or quarters, in fact, allows snow to enter and
`ple and of having a low cost, said boot being producible
`also produces an unpleasant play of the foot inside the
`with conventional machines and systems.
`boot.
`This aim, these objects and others which will become
`At the same time, it is important to maintain a good
`apparent hereinafter are achieved by a ski boot with
`rear support for the leg both during skiing and while
`improved ?t, comprising a shell to which at least one
`walking.
`-
`quarter is articulated, characterized in that it comprises
`In view of these problems, many kinds of ski boots
`are currently known which partially and individually
`a movable ?ap which is arranged at an adapted opening
`solve the above described problems.
`provided on said at least one quarter and rearwardly
`A monolithic rear-entry boot is in fact known which
`embraces the skier’s leg, means being associated with
`allows to vary the inclination of the leg by acting on
`25
`said ?ap, said means being actuatable by the skier and
`adapted levers, which however also adjust the degree of
`cooperating with at least one traction element to select
`securing of said leg.
`its inclination with respect to said at least one quarter.
`A U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,235 is also known which de
`Said flap is advantageously obtained by molding from
`scribes a boot which has a rear support adjuster which
`said shell or said at least one quarter or is connected to '
`besides having the disadvantage of acting only on the
`means for articulating it to said shell or to said at least
`part of the leg which is outside the boot had a single
`one quarter.
`degree of adjustment which can be set by inserting an
`Said means for selecting the inclination of said ?ap
`adapted wedge.
`'
`with respect to said at least one quarter are conve
`In order to vary the inclination it is therefore neces
`niently constituted by a tensioning and/or adjustment
`sary to remove said wedge and/ or replace it with others
`element, such as a vertical lever or a circular winding
`of different sizes; such an operation is undoubtedly not
`device which tensions at least one traction element such
`easy, and the skier must furthermore have a plurality of
`wedges easily available.
`as a cable.
`A ski boot particularly for mountain skiing is also
`known in which the rear quarter is rearwardly provided
`with a notch in which the edges can partially overlap
`and be moved closer by using a band which can be
`tensioned by means of a lever: even in this case, how
`ever, there is a dependency between the degree of se
`curing of the quarter and the inclination which can be
`set for said quarter by acting on said lever.
`As a partial solution to this disadvantage, the same
`Applicant ?led Jan. 5, 1987 U.S. Ser. No. 07/000,785
`(European Patent No. 229,638) claiming a support ad
`juster for ski boot quarters, the peculiarity whereof
`resides in that it comprises a shaped body which em
`braces at least one portion of the skier’s leg and is sup
`ported at the upper end of the quarter of a boot, remov
`able locking means for positioning said shaped body
`with respect to the quarter being furthermore provided.
`55
`Said support adjuster, however, has a rather compli
`cated structure from the point of view of production
`which increases its overall cost, and its adjustment is not
`very easy since the skier must act directly on the shaped
`body to incline it and the backward motion of said body
`must occur while keeping constantly pressed a release
`button which constitutes said removable locking means.
`
`- 0
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`20
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`45
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`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`The aim of the present invention is therefore to elimi
`nate the disadvantages described above in known types
`by providing a ski boot which allows to vary the possi
`ble position of the leg by varying the inclination which
`
`65
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`Further characteristics and advantages will become
`apparent from the detailed description of a particular
`but not exclusive embodiment, illustrated only by way
`of non-limitative example in the accompanying draw
`ings, wherein:
`FIGS. 1 and 2 are side views of a ski boot to which
`the movable flap is applied, in two different positions
`obtainable by said ?ap;
`FIG. 3 is a rear isometric view of the connection
`between said ?ap and said quarter according to a ?rst
`embodiment;
`FIG. 4 is a view of a ?rst embodiment of the means
`for selecting the inclination of said ?ap with respect to
`said quarter;
`FIG. 5 is a sectional lateral elevation view of the
`inclination selection means, constituted by a vertical
`lever;
`FIG. 6 is a view of a boot ?tted with a flap according
`to a further embodiment;
`FIG. 7 is a view of a boot according to another em
`bodiment;
`FIG. 8 is a view of a second embodiment of said
`means for selecting the inclination of said ?ap;
`FIG. 9 is a lateral view of a shell in which said ?ap is
`provided during molding;
`FIG. 10 is a side view of a shell in which said flap is
`articulated laterally to said shell.
`
`

`
`3
`DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED
`EMBODIMENTS
`With reference to the above described ?gures, the
`reference numeral 1 indicates a ski boot, particularly of
`the front-entry type, constituted by a shell 2 to which a
`quarter 3 is articulated. An inner shoe 10 is insertable
`inside the shell 2 and quarter 3. The quarter 3 is closed
`about the inner shoe 10 by adapted known securing
`means such as for example levers 18.
`Said quarter has, at its rear region, an opening 4
`which affects almost all of its longitudinal extension
`starting from its upper perimetric edge 5 to its lower
`perimetric edge 5a which overlies the heel region 6 of
`the shell 2.
`.
`1
`A lower bridge 7 of the outer 3 is thus de?ned at the
`heel of the shell 2 region 6, and the end of a flap 8 which
`rearwardly embraces the calf of the skier is articulated
`to said bridge and is arranged at the opening 4 provided
`on said quarter. As mentioned above and as seen in the
`?gures, the opening 4 provided in the quarter 3 has a
`longitudinal extension which affects nearly all of the
`longitudinal extension of the quarter. Thus, the lower
`bridge 7 of the quarter 3 has a width which is signi?
`cantly smaller than the longitudinal extension of the
`opening 4. Furthermore, since the opening 4 extends all
`the way down to the bridge 7 which is arranged at the
`heel region 6, the ?ap 8 is allowed to pivot in the open
`ing 4 around an axis which is de?ned at such heel region
`6.
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`5,107,609
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`ing partially within the lever body, as illustrated in
`broken lines in the ?gure.
`As an alternative to the vertical lever 11 and 111, a
`circular winding device 17 can be used; as shown in
`FIG. 8 said device is rotatably associated rearwardly to
`the flap 8 and actuates an adapted pulley to wind up one
`or more cables 14 which laterally affect the ?ap 8, then
`an adapted second return element 16 which protrudes
`internally and laterally to the quarter 3, and the cables
`14 are then again associated with the ?ap 8.
`The cables 14 can thus be rapidly wound, imparting a
`different inclination to the flap 8 with respect to the
`quarter 3, which is closed by means of adapted known
`devices such as for example levers 18.
`This allows an adjustment which is independent from
`the degree of securing of the quarter.
`By loosening the degree of tensioning of the cables
`14, the ?ap 8 can be arranged in the reclined condition
`illustrated in FIG. 2; in this condition it is possible to
`maintain an upright posture while walking, and it is
`easier to insert the foot in the boot.
`The use of a vertical lever 11 or 111 furthermore
`allows to memorize the selected degree of inclination,
`and it is therefore suf?cient to close said lever by inclin
`ing the flap by the previously selected amount to pass
`from the walking condition to the skiing condition.
`It has thus been observed that the invention achieves
`the intended aim and objects, a ski boot having been
`provided in which it is possible to vary the position of
`the leg regardless of the degree of securing of the quar
`ter.
`The skier can just as easily start walking after per
`forming a simple operation, keeping his leg in an upright
`position, i.e. approximately perpendicular to the ground
`support plane.
`The boot also provides a good rear support for the
`leg, allowing the skier to easily insert his foot.
`The use of means such as vertical levers or circular
`devices reduces the effort required to incline the flap
`without furthermore pressing at the calf while winding
`the cables. The lateral wings of the quarter 3 are in fact
`not subject, at the opening 4, to any deformation which
`causes said wings to approach one another.
`The invention is naturally susceptible to numerous
`modi?cations and variations, all of which are within the
`scope of the same inventive concept.
`Thus for example FIG. 9 illustrates a shell 102 which
`has a ?ap 108 at the rear region overlying the heel
`region 106; said ?ap 108 protrudes on the opposite side
`with respect to the sole and embraces the region of the
`skier’s calf.
`A means for selecting said flap’s inclination with
`respect to the quarter is advantageously rearwardly
`associated with said ?ap 108; said ?ap is constituted by
`one of the above de?ned systems, comprising, for exam
`ple, a knob 117.
`FIG. 10 illustrates a further embodiment, in which
`the wings 219 of a ?ap 208 which embraces the skier’s
`heel region are laterally articulated to a shell 202.
`In this case, too, means for selecting the inclination of
`the flap with respect to the quarter are advantageously
`associated with said ?ap 208. FIGS. 1-10 have shown in
`particular a front-entry type ski boot, but a rear-entry
`type boot can also be used which would be within the
`scope of the inventive concept; the inclination of the
`movable ?ap provided by the various inclination selec
`tion means is obtained independently from the securing
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`50'
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`The flap 8 is advantageously ?xed by means of a
`lower tooth 9a which ?ts snugly in a slot 9b provided in I
`the lower bridge of the quarter 3, as illustrated in FIGS.
`3 and 4.
`Said ?ap 8 may also be articulated to the bridge 7 by
`means of articulation means constituted by an adapted
`plate 90 (as illustrated in FIG. 6) or possibly by means of
`an adapted pivoting pin arranged transversely to said
`quarter 3.
`By virtue of the presence of the plate 9 arranged
`transversely to the quarter, it is possible to move said
`flap so as to make it approach the inner shoe 10 of the
`boot or move away therefrom.
`Means for selecting the inclination of said ?ap 8, with
`respect to the quarter 3 are furthermore associated with
`the flap itself and can be constituted for example by a
`vertical lever 11, illustrated in FIG. 7, which has a pivot
`12 interacting with a rack 13 arranged longitudinally to
`the flap 8; as an alternative, the rack can be provided on
`the lever.
`Adapted traction elements, such as for example ca
`bles 14, are associated laterally to the vertical lever 11
`and interact with a ?rst return element 15 arranged
`laterally tothe flap 8 and then with a second return
`element 16 which protrudes internally and laterally to
`the front quarter 3, and the cables 14 are then again
`associated with the flap 8.
`The inclination selection means may also be consti
`tuted by a lever 111, of the kind illustrated in FIG. 5,
`comprising a lever arm 112 which is pivoted at the pivot
`113 and acts on a cable 14 by means of a slider 114.
`The tension of the cable 14 is adjusted, when the arm
`112 is open as illustrated in broken lines in FIG. 5, by
`adjusting the position of the slider 114 with respect to
`the teeth 115 of the arm 112.
`A cover 116 is pivoted to the pivot 113 and allows a
`greater rotation of the arm 112 during opening, return
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`5
`means of the quarter, whether the boot be of a rear
`entry type or of a front-entry type.
`The materials and the dimensions constituting the
`individual components of the boot may naturally be the
`most pertinent according to the speci?c requirements.
`I claim:
`1. Ski boot of the front-entry type with improved ?t,
`comprising a shell, at least one quarter, securing means,
`and an inner shoe, said at least one quarter being articu~
`lated to said shell, said inner shoe being inserted inside
`said shell with said at least one quarter articulated
`thereto, said securing means being associated with said
`at least one quarter to close said at least one quarter
`about said inner shoe, thereby securing said inner shoe
`inside said shell with said at least one quarter articulated
`thereto, said at least one quarter comprising an upper
`perimetric edge, a lower perimetric edge, and a lower
`bridge, said shell comprising a heel region, said lower
`perimetric edge of said at least one quarter being ar
`ranges at said heel region of said shell, said lower bridge
`of said at least one quarter being arranged at and em
`bracing said heel region of said shell above said lower
`perimetric edge of said at least one quarter, wherein an
`opening is provided in said at least one quarter, said
`opening of said at least one quarter de?ning a longitudi
`nal extension which extends longitudinally and rear
`wardly from said upper perimetric edge to said lower
`bridge, said lower bridge having a width which is signif
`icantly smaller in size than said longitudinal extension‘of
`said opening, and thereby said longitudinal extension of
`30
`said opening extending from said upper perimetric edge
`of said at least one quarter to said heel region, and
`wherein said ski boot further comprises a movable ?ap
`for embracing a user‘s lower leg calf portion and incli
`nation selection means, said movable ?ap being ar
`ranged at said opening of said at least one quarter, said
`movable ?ap being pivotable in said opening around an
`axis de?ned at said heel region, said inclination selection
`means being associated with said movable ?ap to select
`an inclination of said movable ?ap with respect to said
`at least one quarter.
`2. Ski boots of the front-entry type with improved ?t,
`comprising a shell, at least one quarter, securing means,
`and an inner shoe, said at least one quarter being articu
`lated to said shell,_said inner shoe being inserted inside
`said shell with said at least one quarter articulated
`thereto, said securing means being associated with said
`at least one quarter to close said at least one quarter
`about said inner shoe, thereby securing said inner shoe
`inside said shell with said at least one quarter articulated
`thereto, said at least one quarter comprising an upper
`perimetric edge, a lower perimetric edge, and a lower
`bridge, said shell comprising a heel region, said lower
`perimetric edge of said at least one quarter being ar
`ranged at said heel region of said shell, said lower
`55
`bridge of said at least one quarter being arranged at and
`embracing said heel region of said shell above said
`lower perimetric edge of said at least one quarter,
`wherein an opening is provided in said at least one
`quarter, said opening of said at least one quarter de?n
`60
`ing a longitudinal extension which extends longitudi
`nally and rearwardly from said upper perimetric edge
`to said lower bridge, said lower bridge having a width
`which is signi?cantly smaller in size than said longitudi
`nal extension of said opening, and thereby said longitu
`dinal extension of said opening extending from said
`upper perimetric edge of said at least one quarter to said
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`5,107,609
`6
`heel region, and wherein said ski boot further comprises
`a movable ?ap for embracing a user’s lower leg calf
`portion and inclination selection means, said movable
`flap being arranged at said opening of said at least one
`quarter, said movable ?ap being pivotable in said open
`ing around an axis de?ned at said heel region, said incli
`nation selection means being associated with said mov
`able ?ap to select an inclination of said movable ?ap
`with respect to said at least one quarter, said inclination
`selection means comprising a lever arm pivoted to said
`movable ?ap and a cable element, said cable element
`being interconnected between said at least one quarter
`and a slider element which is slidable on said lever arm,
`said cable element further being slidably accommodated
`in return elements provided on said movable ?ap, an
`inside portion of said lever arm which faces said mov
`able ?ap being provided with a set of teeth, said slider
`element being provided with a tooth which is lockably
`arrangeable in one tooth of said set of teeth to thereby
`lockably position said slider element with respect to said
`lever arm.
`3. Ski boot according to claim 2, wherein said lever
`arm is pivoted to said movable flap around a pivot, said
`inclination selection means further comprising a cover
`element which is also pivoted around said pivot to
`thereby allow a greater rotation of said lever arm about
`said pivot.
`4. Ski boot of the the front-entry type with improved
`?t, comprising a shell, at least one quarter, securing‘
`means, and an inner shoe, said atleast one quarter being
`articulated to said shell, said inner shoe being inserted
`inside said shell with said at least one quarter articulated
`thereto, said securing means being associated with said
`at least one quarter to close said at least one quarter
`about said inner shoe, thereby securing said inner shoe
`inside said shell with said at least one quarter articulated
`thereto, said at least one quarter comprising an upper
`perimetric edge, a lower perimetric edge, and a lower
`bridge, said shell comprising a heel region, said lower
`perimetric edge of said at least one quarter being ar
`ranged at said heel region of said shell, said lower
`bridge of said at least one quarter being arranged at and
`embracing said heel region of said shell above- said
`lower perimetric edge of said at least one quarter,
`wherein an opening is provided in said at least one
`quarter, said opening of said at least one quarter de?n
`ing a longitudinal extension which extends longitudi
`nally and rearwardly from said upper perimetric edge
`to said lower bridge, said lower bridge having a width
`which is signi?cantly smaller in size than said longitudi
`nal extension of said opening, and thereby said longitu
`dinal extension of said opening extending from said
`upper perimetric edge of said at least one quarter to said
`heel region, and wherein said ski boot further comprises
`a movable ?ap for embracing a user’s lower leg calf
`portion and inclination selection means, said movable
`?ap being arranged at said opening of said at least one
`quarter, said movable ?ap being pivotable in said open
`ing around an axis defined at said heel region, said incli
`nation selection means being associated with said mov
`able flap to select an inclination of said movable ?ap
`with respect to said at least one quarter, said movable
`flap de?ning a lower end which is connected directly to
`said lower bridge of said at least one quarter, and
`thereby said movable flap'being pivotable around an
`axis de?ned at said heel region.
`i i i it
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`t