Patent ID: 9622539
Date: 2017-04-18
CPC Classifications: A43B,A43C

Claim:
1. In combination: a skate boot for a skate, the skate boot being configured to enclose a foot of a skater above a skating element of the skate, the skate boot comprising: (i) an outer shell including medial and lateral side portions for facing medial and lateral sides of the foot, each of the medial and lateral side portions having an upper edge; and (ii) a lace member mounted to the upper edge of at least one of the medial side portion and the lateral side portion of the outer shell and configured to receive a lace, the lace member comprising at least one opening; and an insert for insertion into the at least one opening of the lace member, the insert being removable from the at least one opening of the lace member, wherein the lace member has a first flexion mode when the skate boot is laced and the insert is not inserted into the at least one opening and a second flexion mode when the skate boot is laced and the insert is inserted into the at least one opening, the second flexion mode being different from the first flexion mode, wherein the lace member defines a top edge and a bottom portion and each of the at least one opening extends from the top edge towards the bottom portion, and wherein the at least one opening has a width that varies from the top edge to the bottom portion and is narrowest near the top edge.