Adjustable, pressure-compensating, custom fitting pads having predetermined amount of fitting material and their use in boots

Preformed fitting pads are disclosed having a protective envelope enclosure with flowable fitting material retained therein. The enclosure is shaped and constructed to provide therein communicating reservoir and primary fitting sections constructed in operative relationship to each other, so as to selectively provide for, as desired, the deliberate transfer of flowable fitting material from or to a reservoir section or a primary fitting section, and to selectively maintain, as desired, a controllable or predetermined volume of fitting material in a primary fitting section, all without requiring that fitting material be introduced into the pad from an external source of supply or be removed from the confines of the pad. The fitting material confined in said primary fitting section provides desirable pressure-compensating support when and where needed. Footwear or ankle-covering boots are also disclosed which are designed and constructed to receive and maintain such removable fitting pads therein, and which also include therein other, separate and distinct, removable fitting pads.

The present invention relates to fitting pads particularly suitable for use 
in or with a variety of boots or sports footwear, such as ski boots, which 
provide adjustable, proper and ready fitting, firm pressure-compensating 
support, and comfort to desired portions or regions of the foot of the 
wearer [e.g., selected side (including the ankle extremities) and front 
(extending from the vicinity, but not including, the arched instep to the 
ends of the toes) regions of the foot], and ankle-covering boots or sports 
footwear which include such fitting pads. 
If desired, the fitting pads may be used in conjunction with rear-entry or 
conventional front-entry boots (e.g., ski boots), and the boots may be 
constructed and designed for a variety of uses (e.g., ice skates). 
Furthermore, fitting pads of the invention may be used in conjunction with 
articles other than boots or footwear. For example, such fitting pads may 
be used in conjunction with cushioning structures, devices or appliances, 
such as sports and safety equipment, which provide protection or comfort 
to parts of the human body by cushioning against pressure, impact or 
shock. 
The adjustable fitting pad of this invention has flowable fitting material 
therein and includes communicating, but selectively separable or 
partitionable, reservoir and primary fitting sections. When used, for 
example, in conjunction with boots, the pad provides improved, 
customfitting of the boot to the foot of the wearer at ambient or room 
temperatures, is removable from the boot, does not require, for fitting 
purposes, that one physically remove flowable fitting material from the 
confines of the already formed pad or introduce such material into the 
formed pad from an external source, and conveniently provides for 
adjustable control of a desired or predetermined volume of flowable 
fitting material that covers or coacts with selected or primary fitting 
regions of the foot. Furthermore, the reservoir section(s) of the pad 
selectively provide(s) added flowable fitting material, when needed, for 
the primary fitting section(s), and may, if desired, receive some fitting 
material from the primary fitting section(s). When used in boots, the 
reservoir section(s), for example, cover(s) the lower front region of the 
foot, including the toes, which region does not require flowable fitting 
material thereat for fitting purposes or at least does not require as much 
fitting material thereat; whereas, the primary fitting section(s) 
require(s) fitting material thereat, although a variable volume which is 
dependent upon the particular size and shape of the foot of the wearer. 
The term "flowable," when referring to the flowable fitting material 
hereof, characterizes the moldable, shapeable, deformable or 
pressure-compensating properties of that fitting material under conditions 
of fitting and/or use. 
The term "preformed," when referring to adjustable fitting pads hereof, 
refers to the presence and retention of flowable fitting material within 
at least part of the confines of the enclosure, and therefore does not 
exclude any desired or deliberate transfer of fitting material, within the 
enclosure, to or from a primary fitting section from or to a reservoir 
section thereof for fitting purposes. 
Ski boots presently available generally comprise a relatively rigid outer 
shell which typically is molded of plastic. Disposed within the outer 
shell of such boots is an inner member or liner which is relatively soft 
and flexible, as compared to the shell. The boot also has one or more 
buckles or other suitable fastening means for selectively opening and 
closing the boot. 
Rear-entry ski boots generally have a pivoting rear tongue member which 
pivots outwardly away from the shell to provide a rear, vertically 
extending opening, which accommodates or facilitates placement of the foot 
of the wearer into the boot. After the foot is placed in the boot from the 
rear, the rear tongue member is pivoted back into its closed position and 
is secured in place by fastening means, such as one or more buckles and 
associated fastening loops or cables. It should be noted that each of U.S. 
Pat. Nos. 3,798,799 and 3,882,561 to Alden B. Hanson and Chris A. Hanson 
discloses a rear-entry ski boot. The disclosure of each of those patents 
is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
Referring to U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,798,799 and 3,882,561 in added detail, those 
patents disclose rear-entry ski boots having a substantially rigid, 
plastic outer shell, and a substantially flexible, inner liner (e.g., 
polyurethane foam) disposed therein. The outer surface of the liner is 
generally complementary to the inside surface of the outer shell. The 
inner surface of the liner is adapted to surround the wearer's foot, 
including the ankle extremities, is contoured substantially to the outer 
surface of the wearer's foot, and is adapted to be deformed to custom-fit 
the foot during the special fitting procedure disclosed therein. The liner 
is shaped and positioned to provide a clearance or space forming one or 
more cavities (herein "cavity") between its outer surface and the inner 
surface of the outer shell, which cavity is adapted to be substantially 
filled with substantially non-compressible, fitting material. The fitting 
material is inserted into the cavity, preferably during the course of a 
special custom-fitting and sizing operation, to complete the assembly. 
Alternatively, the fitting material may be placed in the cavity prior to 
the fitting operation, and simply rendered flowable during the special 
customfitting operation. Although the fitting material is flowable during 
the special conditions of the fitting operation, thereafter it solidifies 
or hardens to give firm support and comfort for skiing purposes. 
The fitting material, as disclosed in those particular patents, does not 
provide a padding function, since it is substantially non-compressible 
during conditions of use. It does provide, however, a support function for 
the skier's foot and ankle, and firm contact between the foot and the 
outer shell of the ski boot. 
The custom-fitting operation disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,798,799 and 
3,882,561 is preferably accomplished by injecting heat-flowable, 
thermoplastic fitting material into a cavity formed between the outer 
shell and the liner or into a bladder or enclosure that is positioned in 
the cavity, with the foot being in place within the liner. The fitting 
material is heated until it becomes flowable, whereupon it is introduced 
into the cavity or bladder. The wearer waits for the warm fitting material 
to cool sufficiently and consequently to solidify or harden to provide a 
custom-fit to the shape of the foot. 
The present invention involves the use of flowable, pressure-compensating 
fitting material which significantly differs from the substantially 
non-compressible fitting material disclosed in those patents. 
In accordance with the invention, a preformed, adjustable fitting pad of 
selected shape and construction is conveniently used, which comprises a 
flexible, protective envelope enclosure having confined and retained 
therein a predetermined volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting 
material with desirable fitting and flow characteristics. The flowable 
fitting material is capable of deforming to the shape of the foot at 
ambient or room temperatures. The fitting pad retains the flowable, 
pressurecompensating fitting material therein and is shaped, constructed, 
and adapted to be positioned in an ankle-covering boot between the boot 
and the foot. For example, it is adapted to be positioned between an outer 
shell and a flexible liner member (the term "liner" includes the use of 
padding means), so as to substantially or significantly fill the space or 
cavity provided between portions of the shell and liner member that are 
directly adjacent to or in direct contact with a primary fitting section 
of the fitting pad (in overlying and underlying relationship thereto). The 
fitting pad is adapted to provide and maintain a snug or firm fitting 
relationship with desired regions of the foot of the wearer during 
conditions of use while, at the same time, maintaining a high degree of 
comfort. 
In accordance with the present invention, the adjustable fitting pad is 
removable from the boot and includes a shaped, flexible, protective 
barrier or envelope enclosure having retained therein a predetermined 
volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material. The overall 
enclosure is an integral or unitary structure shaped and constructed (a) 
to provide within its confines at least one reservoir section and at least 
one communicating primary fitting section, (b) to allow confined, flowable 
fitting material present in the primary fitting section to flow within 
that section in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure 
exerted by the foot on that section of the fitting pad and the relief of 
such exerted, flowproducing pressure, and (c) to provide a reservoir 
section from or to which at least some flowable fitting material may be 
selectively transferred, as desired, within the enclosure to or from the 
primary fitting section. The enclosure or pad is also shaped or 
constructed to include means for selectively restricting or preventing the 
flow of flowable fitting material from the reservoir section to the 
primary fitting section, or vice versa, and for maintaining, after the 
boot is properly fitted, a desirable or controllable volume of fitting 
material in the primary fitting section. 
Since the reservoir section of the pad is positioned over or coacts with 
selected regions of the foot which need or require little, if any, 
custom-fitting to the shape of the foot and/or pressure-compensating 
support during conditions of use, and the boot is shaped and constructed 
to provide a cavity with sufficient clearance to accommodate for the 
presence in the reservoir section of a varying or adjustable volume of 
fitting material, the reservoir section may conveniently retain or have a 
controllable or variable volume of fitting material, as desired or needed, 
without causing discomfort to the foot. 
Furthermore, by deliberately transferring, within the enclosure, flowable 
fitting material to or from the primary fitting section from or to the 
reservoir section, as desired or needed, one may assure that the primary 
fitting section custom-fits the shape of the foot of the wearer snugly and 
with comfort, and provides thereat proper and ready fitting and firm 
pressure-compensating support to regions of the foot that need 
custom-fitting and pressure-compensating support. When the boot is fitted 
to the wearer, the cavity which accommodates the fitting section of the 
pad is substantially filled by that section of the pad. 
Referring to the multi-sectional fitting pad in added detail, means may be 
provided for selectively restricting or preventing the flow of flowable 
fitting material from one section to the other section and for maintaining 
a desirable and controllable volume of fitting material in the primary 
fitting section. For example, one may selectively fold or roll-up at least 
part of the reservoir section, much as one rolls-up an end of a tube of 
tooth paste, as desired or needed. In that embodiment, the reservoir 
section has a variable length or size, and the portion of the reservoir 
section that may remain after such folding or rolling-up operation may be 
considered as being an end part or extention of the primary fitting 
section. 
Alternatively, the communicating reservoir and primary fitting sections of 
the multi-sectional pad or enclosure may be interconnected by a 
communicating, restrictable or partitionable flow control passageway. The 
passageway should be positioned, shaped and constructed to be selectively 
opened or closed, as desired. When opened, it selectively provides for the 
transfer or movement therethrough of fitting material from or to the 
reservoir or primary fitting sections. When closed, it selectively 
restricts or prevents the ingress or egress of additional fitting material 
from one section to the other section, and maintains a desirable or 
controllable volume of fitting material in the primary fitting section. 
The opening and closing of the restrictable passageway may be provided by a 
variety of adjustable, partitioning or separating, clamping means. For 
example, the clamping means may comprise a removable flow control clip, or 
an adjustable vise-like clamp which is connected to the shell of the boot. 
Still further, an adjustable clamping plate may be positioned below the 
reservoir section and connected by an adjusting screw to the overlying 
shell of the boot, so that the plate may be adjusted to firmly urge the 
reservoir section (with fitting material) against the shell in a vise-like 
manner and thereby restrict or limit the flow of fitting material from the 
primary fitting section, through the passageway, and into the reservoir 
section. 
Another, separate and distinct, removable, pressurecompensating fitting pad 
with flowable fitting material retained therein should also be disposed in 
ski boots so as to cover the arched instep region of the foot, an area not 
covered by the adjustable, pressure-compensating pads for boots 
specifically described above. By using such a separate instep fitting pad, 
one advantageously provides a fitting pad at another primary fitting 
region of the foot that needs pressure-compensating fitting and support 
during conditions of use, and, more specifically, provides effective means 
for maintaining flowable fitting material thereat. If that pad were not 
separate and distinct and were an integral or communicating part of the 
above referred to fitting section of the multi-sectional pad, during 
certain conditions of use, the flow material would flow from that instep 
region to lower communicating regions and not return, as needed, or not 
adequately return to the instep region. 
The protective envelope enclosures of the abovementioned fitting pads may 
be formed of a variety of flexible and pliable materials which provide a 
protective barrier for the predetermined volume of flowable fitting 
material substantially sealably maintained therein, and should be 
substantially impervious to the flow or seepage therethrough of necessary 
or essential constituents or components of the confined fitting material. 
However, the barrier material may not be, and often is not, entirely 
impervious to the escape or transmission therethrough of volatile liquids, 
such as any residual water which may be present in the fitting material. 
If the closure is formed of a synthetic resinous film, the film should be 
flexible both at ambient room temperatures and at temperatures of use, 
which for ski boots is at least as low as about -20.degree. F. 
The preferred material is a heat-sealable elastomeric film formed of 
thermoplastic synthetic resin [e.g., a thermoplastic polyurethane film, 
such as MP-1880 film supplied by Stevens Elastomeric & Plastic Products, 
Inc.,, a subsidiary of J. P. Stevens & Co., Inc., Easthampton, Mass., or a 
polyester-based thermoplastic polyurethane film known as "Tuftane" TF-310, 
supplied by B. F. Goodrich General Products Company, Akron, Ohio]. 
The flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material is sealably retained 
within the envelope enclosure of the fitting pad and is substantially 
homogeneous, stable, and although viscous, flows under controlled pressure 
conditions during fitting and conditions of use, so as to snugly or 
firmly, but comfortably, fit or conform to the shape of the foot when the 
foot is placed in the boot, and, subsequently during skiing or other 
activities. At the same time, the fitting pad provides effective means for 
substantially filling the cavity between the adjacent or over-lying, 
semi-rigid outer shell of a ski boot and adjacent or underlying, 
substantially flexible liner of the boot and/or the foot. The flexible 
liner has an inner surface contoured substantially to the outer surface of 
the foot. 
Referring next to the pressure-compensating fitting material retained in 
the primary fitting section(s) of the adjustable fitting pad and the 
separate instep fitting pad, it is flowable or formable, will conform or 
deform to an irregular shape, will substantially retain that shape when 
relieved of pressure, and does not "sag" or slump significantly upon 
storage at ambient temperatures. The fitting material provides positive 
foot control for the wearer. The shape of the fitting material may be 
changed, for example, by the application of continuously applied pressure 
or shear stress that exceeds some desired minimum level. After the yield 
point of the fitting material is reached, it flows under shear stress. In 
this respect, the fitting material responds in a manner generally expected 
of a liquid. 
The flowable fitting material generally is a thermoplastic composition. It 
provides controllable, pressure-compensating support. It is flowable 
during fitting and conditions of use about the adjacent or underlying 
portion of the foot, so as to be capable of essentially assuming or 
conforming to or snugly or firmly fitting its shape to that of the foot in 
an effective, but comfortable manner. It gives desired firm support and 
comfort for skiing or other intended purposes. It is a viscous material 
and generally may be considered as being highly viscous, and should not 
significantly or substantially change its volume responsive to ambient 
temperatures or ambient temperature changes. 
When the flowable fitting material is confined within an envelope enclosure 
and the resultant pad is confined in a boot, during conditions of use the 
fitting material should be resistant to flow in response to 
instantaneously applied pressure, and should flow in response to 
continuously applied pressure to provide some pressure on portions of the 
foot that can best withstand it and to allow portions of the foot to at 
least momentarily move away from pressure. The confined fitting material 
should undergo flow and deformation away from the areas of highest 
pressure, but should not flow away from those portions of the foot which 
require support or flow out of desired locations to provide an 
uncomfortable fit. 
A preferred flowable fitting material is disclosed in pending U.S. 
application Ser. No. 723,981 of Jack C. Swan, Jr., filed Sept. 16, 1976, 
and includes a viscous, flowable, predominant continuous phase essentially 
consisting of wax and oil, preferably a petroleum-based wax and oil, and a 
discontinuous, substantially uniformly distributed phase of discrete, 
lightweight, sturdy microbeads, such as expanded monocellular microspheres 
of thermoplastic resinous material (see, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 
3,615,972 to Morehouse, et al.) formed, for example, of vinylidene 
chlorideacrylonitrile copolymer. 
More particularly, the preferred flowable fitting material, as disclosed in 
said application Ser. No. 723,981, is characterized by having a 
predominant, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, 
flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil, and 
having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a discontinuous 
phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy microbeads. The wax and oil phase 
is present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat 
substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of the 
microbeads or to more then merely form a thin film over the surface of 
essentially each of the microbeads, and (b) to provided a volume that is 
substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the 
quantity of microbeads alone. The preferred fitting material is further 
characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not 
substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or 
ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response 
and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined 
during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to 
instantaneously applied pressure. 
The disclosure of said application Ser. No. 723,981 is hereby expressly 
incorporated by reference herein. 
Other suitable flowable fitting materials are disclosed, for example, in 
U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,237,319 and 3,635,849 of Alden W. Hanson.

For purposes of convenience, the same number will be used to identify the 
same or similar elements or parts which appear in the different views of 
the drawings. 
Referring to the fitting pad assembly shown in FIGS. 2-6, the shaped, 
adjustable pressure-compensating fitting pad 40 thereof comprises a 
flexible, protective bladder or envelope enclosure 41 with a predetermined 
volume of flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material 55 sealably 
retained therein. The envelope enclosure 41 is constructed of flexible 
material and desirably is formed of a flexible and pliable, thermoplastic 
resinous film 42 that is heat-sealed. As shown in FIG. 4, the fitting pad 
40 is bifurcated, and has two, similarly-shaped, upper legs 44 with an 
opening 43 therebetween. Although the opening 43 may have a variety of 
appropriate shapes, it is shown herein as having an hourglass 
configuration. The ends of the legs 44 have locating holes 45 which should 
be positioned on the pair of buttons 37 of the removable, rear-entry, 
flexible liner member 36, thereby facilitating the appropriate positioning 
of the legs 44 of the pad 40, as well as the remainder of the pad, in 
place on a recessed portion of the liner 36. If desired, the buttons 37 
may be shaped and constructed to be snapped into the locating holes 45. 
More particularly, the enclosure 41 is multisectional. It includes therein 
a reservoir section 46 and a communicating primary fitting section 47 
interconnected by a communicating, but restrictable or partitionable, 
narrow passageway 48. Each of these sections includes an adjustable or 
controllable volume of flowable fitting material 55. As shown in FIG. 4, a 
slot or opening 49 is positioned in the vicinity of the restrictable 
passageway 48 and is shaped to receive a removable, U-shaped flow control 
clip 58 in the manner shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6. The clip 58 may be 
selectively inserted into the slot 49 with the intermediate or arcuate 
portion of the clip positioned in the slot. When so inserted in the slot 
49, the opposed sides of the clip 58 and shaped and constructed to 
securely clamp or close the passageway (see FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6), thereby 
selectively restricting or preventing the flow of flowable fitting 
material 55 therethrough from one section to the other by closing or 
partitioning the interconnecting passageway 48 and separating the 
communicating reservoir section 46 and primary fitting section 47. and 
maintaining a predeterminable, selectable or controllable volume of 
fitting material 55 in the primary fitting section. FIGS. 2, 3, 5 and 6 
show the flow control clip 58 positioned in place and restricting or 
preventing the flow of fitting material 55 from one section to the other. 
The peripheral edges 50 of the enclosure 41 and the L-shaped lines 51 and 
52 thereof, shown in FIG. 4, at least in part define boundaries of the 
reservoir and primary fitting sections. Those edges and lines, as well as 
the clip receiving slot 49, are formed by heat-sealing thereat upper and 
lower sheets of the film 42. 
The fitting pad 40 is shaped so as to be positioned over selected front and 
side regions of the liner 36 (and the foot) in the manner shown in FIGS. 2 
and 3. The inner surface of the liner 36 (not shown) is contoured 
substantially to the outer surface of a wearer's foot. The liner 36 and 
overlying fitting pad 40 are positioned in place in the substantially or 
relatively rigid, outer ski boot shell 11 of the ski boot 10 shown in 
FIGS. 1 and 2, so that the primary fitting section 47 of fitting pad 40 
significantly or substantially fills the space or cavity between the 
adjacent, overlying and underlying regions of the outer shell 11 and the 
inner, flexible liner member 36, respectively (see FIGS. 2 and 5). 
Moreover, the shell 11 is constructed to provide a cavity which is shaped 
so as to fully accommodate the variable volume of fitting material that 
may be present in the reservoir section 46 of the pad 40 (see FIGS. 2, 5 
and 6). 
FIGS. 2 to 4 also show a separate, upper, pressure-compensating, instep 
fitting pad 60 which is shaped to be positioned on the recessed liner 
member 36 and in the opening 43 provided between the legs 44 of the 
fitting pad 40. When so positioned, the pad 60 covers the arched instep 
region of the foot. The instep pad 60 has an envelope enclosure 61 with 
flowable, pressure-compensating fitting material 55 sealably retained 
therein. The enclosure 61 is formed of the same flexible thermoplastic 
film used in forming the fitting pad 40. The peripheral edges of the pad 
are heatsealed, thereby retaining therein the flowable, 
pressure-compensating fitting material 55. The upper end of the instep 
fitting pad 60 has a pair of locating holes 62 which should be positioned 
on the pair of buttons 38 of the flexible liner member 36, thereby 
facilitating the positioning of the pad 60 in place on a recessed portion 
of the liner 36. If desired, the buttons 38 may be shaped and constructed 
to be snapped into the locating holes 62. 
When the primary fitting section 47 of the pad 40 has an appropriate volume 
of fitting material in it, so as to provide proper fitting for a 
particular skier, and its restrictable passageway 48 is closed, and both 
of the pads 40 and 60 and the underlying liner 36 are positioned in place 
in the boot 10, the foot of the skier is placed in the boot, the 
controllable or adjustable volume of pressure-compensating fitting 
material 55 present in the primary fitting section 47 of the pad 40 flows 
therein at ambient temperatures to conform to the contour or shape of the 
skier's foot covered by that section and to essentially fill the space or 
cavity provided for that section, thereby providing and thereafter 
maintaining a snug or firm, but comfortable, pressure-compensating fit. 
Furthermore, the flowable fitting material 55 in the instep fitting pad 60 
flows therein in a similar manner to accommodate properly the shape of the 
instep region of the foot. 
The assembled rear-entry ski boot 10 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 includes a 
substantially rigid, outer plastic shell 11. As shown in FIG. 1, a front 
part of the shell 11 has a pair of similarly-shaped depressed regions 14 
which slope downwardly from their respective outer sides toward an 
intermediate rib 15. Those depressions provide for the use of less plastic 
material, and the intermediate rib provides desirable structural strength 
at that region of the boot. The shell 11 has a pair of vertically 
extending crease lines 16 of desired length positioned at the sides 
thereof. FIG. 1 shows only one of those crease lines. The front of the 
shell has a vertically extending slit 17 positioned above the rib 15. As 
shown in FIG. 2, the slit 17 receives a vertically extending plastic fin 
24, which is connected to the base of the plastic tab 23, and projects 
therefrom in a substantially perpendicular manner. As explained in added 
detail later below, the length of the slit 29 is adjustable, so that a 
skier may adjust the flex in the boot 10 to an amount desired by him. As 
shown in FIG. 1, the upper end of the base of the tab 23 has a vertically 
extending slit 26, which provides flexibility to that region of the boot. 
At the front of the boot 10, as shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of opposed, 
similarly-shaped, aligned pairs of recesses 18 are positioned in the 
vicinity of each of the sides of the slit 17. Each pair of recesses 18 has 
aligned holes 19, which, in turn, are aligned with the intermediate, 
vertically spaced-apart holes 25 in the fin 24 of the tab 23 (see FIG. 2). 
Adjustable fastening means are shown in FIG. 1 connecting the lowermost 
aligned holes. The fastening means may include, for example, a threaded 
screw (not shown) which extends through the aligned holes and is retained 
in place by means of a threaded, adjustable locking nut 20. By positioning 
the threaded screw and locking nut in place in any one of the three sets 
of aligned holes, the skier may select or change the amount of flex in the 
boot to provide variable flex characteristics, much in the manner provided 
by the ski boot disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,848,347 to Alden B. Hanson 
and Chris A. Hanson. 
A plastic, pivoting tongue member 28 is positioned at the rear of the 
vertically extending openings of the shell 11 and liner 36, and has a 
flexible liner member 30 which pivots therewith. The upper end of the 
tongue 28 has a vertically extending slit 29. which provides desirable 
flexibility thereat. The tongue 28 and its liner 30 selectively pivot, 
together, from the base of the tongue (at or near the vicinity of the heel 
of the boot) outwardly away from the shell 11 of the boot and liner member 
36, to provide a rear, vertically extending opening for entry of the foot 
into the boot 10, and selectively pivots back to a closed position. As 
shown in FIG. 1, the closed tongue 28 is secured in place in a closed 
position by appropriate fastening means, such as provided by a pair of 
buckles 33 which selectively secure a pair of cables 34 under tension. 
Such fastening means are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,945,135 and 
3,936,959 to Alden B. Hanson and Chris A. Hanson, and the disclosures of 
those patents are hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
FIGS. 7 and 8 show an alternative use of the fitting pad 40 shown in FIGS. 
2-6 and described above. More particularly, FIGS. 7 and 8 differ from 
FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively, in that the restrictable interconnecting 
passageway 48 of the pad 40 is closed or restricted by means of an 
adjustable, removable, L-shaped clamp 65 having a threaded hole therein, 
instead of the removable clip 58. The clamp 65 is connected to a modified 
shell 12 of a ski boot by means of a removable, threaded adjusting screw 
66. The clamp 65 is positioned in the slot 49 of the pad 40 (see FIG. 8), 
and the upper wall of the narrow or restricted passageway 48 is positioned 
in bearing contact with a protuberance 13 which extends downwardly from 
the inner side of the shell 12 of the boot. The adjusting screw 66 is then 
tightened, so as to firmly close the passageway. 
The instep fitting pad 60 is used in conjunction with the fitting pad shown 
in FIGS. 7 and 8. 
FIGS. 9 and 10 show another embodiment of an adjustable fitting pad. The 
fitting pad 70 shown therein has an envelope enclosure 71 with fitting 
material 55 therein. The enclosure 71 differs from the enclosure 41 of the 
fitting pad 40 shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in that the heat-sealed, L-shaped 
lines 51 and 52, which define adjacent boundaries of the reservoir and 
primary fitting sections of the pad 40, and the slot 49 thereof are not 
present. The fitting pad 70 has communicating reservoir and primary 
fitting sections 72 and 73 with a restrictable interconnecting passageway 
which extends entirely across the width of the pad, and may be positioned, 
as desired, along the length of the pad. Accordingly, the fitting pad 70 
may be termed as being multisectional. The reservoir section 72 of the 
fitting pad 70 may be wholly or partly folded or rolled-up, as desired, 
much as one rolls-up the end of a tooth paste tube, to shorten the pad 70 
or shorten and/or close all or part of the reservoir section. The 
reservoir section, which may be or remain partly or wholly unfolded or not 
rolled-up, may be termed as being an extension of the primary fitting 
section 73. 
The instep fitting pad 60 is used in conjunction with the fitting pad 70 
shown in FIGS. 9 and 10. 
The foregoing detailed description has been given for clearness and 
understanding only, and the forms of the invention shown and described 
therein are to be considered only as illustrative, and no unnecessary 
limitations should be understood therefrom, as modifications will be 
obvious to those skilled in the art without departure from the spirit of 
the invention or the scope of the appended claims.