Boot having closure flaps with an instep tongue

A sports boot including an upper and a shell base having a rear portion that encircles the ankle and a frontal portion closed by transverse flaps that surround the front foot area. The flaps are equipped with instep tongues that extend in the longitudinal direction of the boot. These tongues are each connected by a sliding connecting element to the contiguous flank of the rear portion of shell base. The connecting element guarantees the constant maintenance of the tongue with respect to the contiguous flank while still allowing substantial freedom of clearance from the instep zone.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The present invention is related to a sports boot that closes on top of the 
foot by means of transverse flaps that overlap partially, and is 
especially related to a boot, one of whose transverse flaps at least 
extends up to the top of the instep zone via a tongue oriented in the 
lengthwise direction of the boot. 
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information 
Sports boots of the aforementioned type are known, for example, by the boot 
styles "Formula 77", "Pro 77" and "Elite 77", marketed in 1977 under the 
brand name Tecnica, as well as by the disclosure of U.S. Pat. No. 
4,974,346 and the published patent application EP 659 358. These boots 
comprise an upper that is used to retain the lower part of the leg, and a 
shell base for the retention of the foot. To this end, the shell base has 
a rear portion that encircles the ankle and that is shaped like an open 
tube that corresponds with the instep, and a front, split portion that 
surrounds the front of the foot and that is closed by transverse flaps. In 
addition, at least one of such flaps become extended into the instep zone 
by a relatively flexible tongue that extends in the lengthwise direction 
of the boot and is independent of the contiguous flank extending from the 
rear portion of the shell base that encircles the ankle. In a traditional 
manner, the upper of the boot is advantageously assembled so as to overlap 
the rear portion of the shell base that encircles the ankle, thus 
guaranteeing a certain imperviousness, and tightening and closure devices 
are associated to the upper and to the shell base. 
By these various arrangements, the closure and tightening of these boots 
can be done differently between the upper and the shell base. Indeed, the 
tongue constitutes a junction element that is automatically adapted 
therebetween in the instep zone and thereabove, by virtue of its 
flexibility and its independence with respect to the contiguous flank of 
the rear portion of the shell base. Consequently, the tongue retains a 
certain flexibility in the area of the instep zone, notably to allow the 
bending of the upper when the boot is in the closed position. It also 
facilitates the passage of the foot when the boot is in the position for 
putting on and removing the boot since it encourages the upper to open 
like a tulip in the instep zone under the pressure exerted by the foot. 
However, these boots equipped with instep tongues have disadvantages 
related to the lateral retention of the tongue in a constant overlapping 
position with respect to the contiguous flank of the rear portion of the 
shell base. Indeed, after a certain amount of use, the tongue tends to get 
separated naturally in the instep zone and, due to this fact, is capable 
of becoming wrongly positioned after the boot has been put on, and during 
the closure of the upper, and this then requires manual intervention. 
This type of disadvantage is especially common in those cases where the 
tongue is simply separated by a slit or a vertical scallop from the 
contiguous flank of the rear portion of the shell base, as in the example 
of the boot disclosed by the patent application EP 659 358. In this 
example, the tongue is also devoid of any predetermined positioning 
direction since it does not even partially cover the flank of the shell 
base. Consequently, there is nothing to stop it from sliding above or 
beneath the contiguous flank of the shell base during the closure of the 
upper on the lower part of the leg, and thus from substantially modifying 
the way in which the wearer's ankle is enveloped, thereby adversely 
impacting comfort. 
In the example of the boot according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,346, this 
disadvantage is avoided by virtue of providing other transverse flaps that 
originate from the contiguous flanks of the rear portion of the shell base 
that surrounds the ankle, and extend into the upper zone of the instep 
while being separated from the lower flaps via a transverse slit. More 
specifically, these upper flaps are positioned to overlap the instep 
tongues borne by the lower flaps, and they extend the inner wall of the 
contiguous flanks of the shell base up to the vicinity of the instep zone 
in a continuous manner. The result of this arrangement is that the tongues 
cannot become separated naturally from the instep zone and that their 
positioning with respect to the contiguous flanks of the shell base is 
almost immovable. However, the superposition of the tongues with the upper 
flaps coming from the contiguous flanks of the shell base has other 
disadvantages. As a matter of fact, in the overlapping area, it 
constitutes a stratified structure whose stiffness varies in accordance 
with the tension exerted by the tightening-closure devices of the upper, 
and this directly modifies the bending conditions of the upper with 
respect to the shell base. As such, the flexibility of the boot is not 
maintained in the instep zone. In addition, obtaining upper flaps in the 
rear portion of the shell base that encircles the ankle hinders the 
separation of the tongues, and thus the tulip-like opening of the upper in 
the instep zone during the putting on and removal of the boot. Finally, 
adding instep tongues, in the slit, on the lower flaps requires an 
assembly operation that adversely impacts manufacturing costs. 
In the example of the boot-styles "Formula 77", "Pro 77" and "Elite 77", 
marketed in 1977 under the brand name Tecnica, the problem of keeping the 
instep tongue in a constant overlapping position is partially resolved by 
virtue of the oversizings of the tongue and of the contiguous flanks of 
the shell base that extend towards the front up to the vicinity of the 
instep zone. 
More specifically, the tongue of the flap from which it originates is of 
such a size that it covers the two frontal edges of the flanks of the 
shell base in the instep zone, and it becomes inserted laterally on either 
side of the zone, up to a pint beneath the flaps of the upper of the boot. 
Due to these arrangements, the tongue is always placed on the outside of 
the contiguous flanks of the shell base but there is no guarantee that it 
can be maintained beneath the flaps of the upper. As a matter of fact, the 
action of putting on and removal of the boot requires the disengagement of 
the tongue from beneath the flaps of the upper, and this then puts it 
naturally into a position of covering these flaps. The solution 
implemented in these boots thus appears to be inadequate since it does not 
guarantee the constant maintenance of the tongue in a preferred 
overlapping position. Also, due to the over-sizing of the tongue and of 
the contiguous flanks of the shell base up to the vicinity of the instep 
zone, the passage of the foot becomes more difficult during the putting on 
and removal of the boot. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
It is an object of the instant invention to overcome the various 
disadvantages mentioned above in a simple and efficient manner, without 
adversely affecting manufacturing costs, and by retaining a substantial 
degree of clearance for the instep tongue in order to facilitate the 
putting and removal of the boot, as well as by retaining the overall 
flexibility of the boot in the instep zone, and this is done whilst 
guaranteeing a constant maintenance of the instep tongue with respect to 
the contiguous flank of the rear portion of the shell base that encircles 
the ankle, or in other words, while guaranteeing the conditions of 
constant enveloping, imperviousness and comfort. 
According to the invention, the sports boot is constituted of an upper and 
a shell base having a rear portion that encircles the ankle up to the 
instep zone, and a front, slit portion that surrounds the front foot and 
that is closed by transverse flaps, at least one of such flaps extending 
into the instep zone via a tongue that extends in the lengthwise direction 
of the boot, independently of the contiguous flank coming from the rear 
portion of the shell base. The tongue of the boot is equipped with a 
sliding connection, connecting the tongue laterally to the contiguous 
flank coming from the rear portion of the shell base. This connection is 
intended to obtain the permanent coupling of the tongue with the 
contiguous flank of the shell base, allowing a pre-determined clearance 
amplitude, between an initial assembly position and an extreme position of 
separation from the instep zone. This extreme position is fixed during 
construction according to the disengagement that one wants to obtain in 
the instep zone in order to ensure passage of the foot during the putting 
and removal of the boot. 
According to a first embodiment, the sliding connection is constituted by a 
tab, lateral to the tongue, whose free end is freely engageable in a 
cut-out provided in the contiguous flank extending from the rear portion 
of the shell base. The cut-out obtained in the flank contiguous to the 
tongue thus acts as a passage for the tab thereof whilst keeping it in a 
constant position, and at the same time allowing it to slide freely 
relative to the flank. The tab lateral to the tongue is obtained with a 
predetermined length that is in correlation with the clearance amplitude 
required for the tongue in order to avoid its free end from escaping 
accidentally from the cut-out when the tongue is at maximum separation 
from the instep zone. In fact, its free end remains engaged in the cut-out 
of the flank contiguous to the tongue. 
Advantageously to this end, the lateral tab comprises at least one gripping 
projection at its free end. This gripping projection is designed to be 
retractable, or capable of being retracted in the direction of its 
introduction into the cut-out of the flank that is contiguous to the 
tongue, and constitutes a retention abutment in the direction of its 
extraction from the cut-out. It is obvious from this embodiment that the 
gripping projection is thus sufficiently spaced from the attachment zone 
of the connecting tab on the tongue in order to allow the desired 
clearance for the tongue in the instep zone. 
According to a second embodiment, the sliding connection is constituted of 
an oblong slot obtained in the flank contiguous to the tongue, and an 
element for connecting the tongue with the flank, the element sliding 
freely in the oblong slot. The latter is oriented in a direction that 
corresponds approximately to the path described by the connecting element 
borne by the tongue, and its length is determined in correlation with the 
clearance amplitude that one wishes to provide to the tongue. As in the 
previous embodiment, this type of sliding connection places the tongue in 
a given and constant position with respect to the contiguous flank 
extending from the shell base. It is understood, as per the design of the 
enveloping surface of the flanks of shell base around the ankle that the 
tongue can be overlapping with the contiguous flank from any side, i.e., 
either from the outside, or from the inside. Also, the tongue can be 
designed to have a width such that it remains overlapping with the 
contiguous flank of the shell base when it is in the extreme separation 
position with respect to the instep zone, and this improves the 
imperviousness of the boot in this area.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a ski boot constituted of a shell base 1, 
equipped with a sole 8 and an upper portion 2, the upper portion 2 having 
tightening elements thereon, as seen in FIG. 1, the upper portion being 
represented in dotted and dashed lines in order to further highlight the 
specific structure of the shell base 1 in its zone corresponding to the 
instep 3 zone. In this type of boot, the shell base 1 has a rear portion 4 
that encircles the ankle up to the vicinity of the instep 3 zone, and a 
frontal portion 5, split longitudinally, that encircles the front of the 
foot. The latter is closed by transverse flaps 6, 7, as can be seen 
clearly from the drawings of FIGS. 2 and 3, whereas the rear portion 4 has 
the shape of a tube, comprising, in the instep zone 3, an indent 13 ending 
upwardly, that demarcates, laterally, the flanks 9 and 10 of the shell 
base 1 at the level of the ankle. 
According to one characteristic, each of the transverse flaps 6, 7 is 
extended, respectively, in the instep zone 3 via a tongue 16, 17, that 
extends in the lengthwise direction of the boot and independently of the 
contiguous flank 9, 10 extending from the rear portion 4 of the shell base 
1. Thus, each tongue is separated from an associated flank by means of a 
longitudinally extending slit. Each tongue 16, 17 is thus free to move in 
the lengthwise direction of the boot from its attachment zone on the 
corresponding flap 6, 7. As can be seen in FIG. 2, the flaps 6, 7 are in 
an overlapping relationship. Further, tongue 16 has a continuous common 
longitudinal edge with flap 6 and tongue 17 has a continuous common 
longitudinal edge with flap 7, these edges extending through the entire 
lengths of the flaps and tongues, i.e., from a front end of the flaps, 
through the instep zone 3, to an area above the instep zone. In order to 
guarantee the constant positioning of the tongues 16, 17, whilst retaining 
their freedom of clearance with respect to the contiguous flanks 9 and 10 
of the shell base 1, a sliding connection 15 laterally connects each 
tongue 16, 17 to the corresponding flanks 9, 10, i.e., the flank on the 
same side, or common side, as a respective tongue. 
In this embodiment, each of the connection 15 is constituted by a tab that 
is lateral to the tongue 16, 17, whose free end 15' is freely engaged in 
an oblong cut-out 18 obtained in the contiguous flanks 9 and 10 of the 
shell base 1. This tab 15, having an elongate shape, is also sized in such 
a way that its free end 15' cannot escape from the cut-out 18 when the 
tongue 16, 17 is brought into a predetermined extreme separation position 
from the instep zone 3. 
Advantageously, a gripping projection 19, even two projections 19 are 
provided on the free end 15' of the connecting tab 15 to serve as 
retention abutments to the latter when it is pulled in the direction of 
its extraction therefrom. It is understood that the connecting tab 15 is 
thus equipped with a certain flexibility allowing the removal of the 
projections 19 via elastic deformation when its free end 15' is introduced 
in the corresponding oblong cut-out 18. 
Preferably, the end 15' of the connecting tab 15 is engaged in the opening 
18, from the outside towards the inside of the shell base 1. In this way, 
the tongue 16, 17 is automatically placed on the outside of the contiguous 
flank 9, 10 of the shell base 1, and kept in this position during its 
entire possible predetermined clearance, between its initial assembly 
position to its extreme separation position from the instep zone 3. 
According to an embodiment detail, the tongues 16, 17 each have a lateral 
widening on the side directed towards the contiguous flank 9, 10 of shell 
base 1, ensuring a permanent overlapping with the latter, from their 
initial assembly position, represented in dashed lines in FIG. 1, to their 
separation position from the instep zone 3. 
In this type of construction, the permanent overlapping of the tongues 16, 
17 with the contiguous flanks 9, 10 of shell base 1 makes the boot more 
impervious. 
According to a second embodiment represented in FIG. 4, the sliding 
connection 25 by each tongue 26, 27 is constituted of an elongated or 
oblong slot 28 obtained in the contiguous flank 9, 10, at each tongue 26, 
27, and a connecting element 29 for the tongue 26, 27 with the flank 9, 10 
that slides freely in the oblong slot 28. 
As was the case previously, the sliding connection 25 is intended to obtain 
a permanent coupling of the tongue 26, 27 with the contiguous flank 9, 10 
of the shell base 1 between its initial assembly position and its extreme 
separation position from the instep zone 3. For this, the length 30 of the 
oblong slot 28 is determined in correlation with the maximum clearance 
amplitude desired for the tongue 26, 27. As can be seen in FIG. 4, the 
slot 28 is closed, i.e., it has opposite ends that define the length 30. 
Both the preceding embodiments with reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 show, as 
examples, a shell base 1 whose tongues 16, 17, 26, 27 are obtained in one 
piece, i.e., unitary, with the transverse flaps 6, 7. However, it is 
obvious, as illustrated in FIG. 5, that the tongues 36, 37 can also be 
constituted of relatively flexible elements that are designed to be 
independent from the transverse flaps 6, 7. In this case, the elements 
forming the tongues 36, 37 are attached and affixed on the latter by any 
known means 30, such as adhesion, welding, rivets etc. 
According to other possible embodiments represented in FIGS. 6 and 7, only 
one of the flaps 6 or 7 can be equipped with an instep tongue 46, 56. This 
tongue 46 can also be affixed to the outer transverse flap 6, as in FIG. 
6, or to the inner transverse flap 7, as in FIG. 7 for the tongue 56. 
In addition, the tongues that are constituted of elements that are attached 
on the flaps 6, 7 can be obtained in a variety of shapes and sizes, 
without leaving the scope of the invention. Thus, for example, the instep 
tongue 56 can almost entirely cover the transverse flap 7 on which it is 
attached and possibly be used as a junction element between the flaps 6 
and 7. 
Furthermore, the tongues 16, 17, 26, 27, 36, 37, 46, 56 can be designed in 
such a way that they are assembled to overlap under the contiguous flanks 
9 or 10, i.e., from the inside of shell base 1 and not from the outside, 
as illustrated in the previous drawings. 
Finally, a sliding connection other than those represented by 15 and 25 
that have been described hereinabove can be implemented on the tongues 16, 
17, 26, 27, 36, 37, 46, 56 without leaving the scope of the invention. It 
is also understood that the tongues can be obtained in various shapes and 
comprise extensions that have, or do not have, the functional 
characteristics of imperviousness, protection, reinforcement, etc. 
The instant application is based upon the French priority patent 
application No. 96.12279 filed on Oct. 2, 1996, the disclosure of which is 
hereby expressly incorporated by reference thereto, and the priority of 
which is hereby claimed under 35 USC 119.