Abstract:
There is disclosed a ski boot system. In an embodiment, an outer shell has right and left side portions formed by a longitudinal split. A hinged connection is provided between the portions. The open configuration allows placement of an inner liner into the shell. The closed configuration restricts removal of the liner from the shell. A selectively fastenable connector extends between the right and left side portions. The selectively fastenable connector permits selective positioning of the shell between open and closed configurations. The liner of a ski boot includes a wall of material defining inner and outer surfaces. The outer surface defines an exterior having dimensions sized to compressively fit within the shell. The inner surface defines an interior having dimensions sized to receive a foot. A shape memory foam forms at least a portion of the wall of material and is configured to conform to the foot.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     The basic function of a ski boot is to transmit a skier&#39;s movements to the skis. Previously, skiers wore everyday winter footwear, and though warm and comfortable, this everyday winter footwear provided little ankle support and gave the skier absolutely no control over the skis. Thick, heavy leather boots supplanted these boots. Steel shanks were installed in the leather sole to counteract buckling effects. Added rigidity was provided with long straps of leather. Porous rubber boot inserts were designed to support the ankle while providing a more conformable fit. Buckle boots implemented with these boots deformed the leather. Plastic ski boots were introduced with forward flex, lateral rigidity, and a height to permit the lower leg to help control skiing. 
     Custom foaming is a process in which a skier&#39;s foot is sealed into an inner boot through an injection of polyurethane foam. While custom foaming was popular with skiers, it was a constant nightmare for ski shop technicians who found the process messy, complicated and costly since any boot foamed improperly had to be thrown away. Two years after its introduction, the process was abandoned in favor of more economical inserts. 
     The inner boot is the lining underneath the shell. The lining is made of a pliable, cushioning material that provides insulation and added fit. This material can be a gel or synthetic that molds itself to the foot over extended use or it can be a material that, when heated, provides an instantaneous custom fit. 
     SUMMARY 
     This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key aspects or essential aspects of the claimed subject matter. Moreover, this Summary is not intended for use as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. 
     In an embodiment, there is disclosed an outer shell of a ski boot, the outer shell comprising a right side portion and a left side portion formed by a longitudinal split through the outer shell of the ski boot; a hinged connection between the right side portion and the left side portion, the hinged connection permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the open configuration allowing placement of an inner liner into the interior of the shell, and the closed configuration restricting removal of the liner from the interior of the shell; and a selectively fastenable connector extending between the right side portion and the left side portion, the selectively fastenable connector permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between the open configuration and the closed configuration with only a hand of a user and without an additional tool. 
     In another embodiment, there is provided an inner liner of a ski boot, the inner liner comprising a wall of material defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining an exterior having dimensions sized to compressively fit within an outer shell of the ski boot, and the inner surface defining an interior having dimensions sized to receive a foot of a skier; an a shape memory foam forming at least a portion of the wall of material, the shape memory foam configured to conform to the shape of the foot of the skier. 
     In still another embodiment, there is provided a ski boot system, the ski boot system comprising ski boot system, the ski boot system comprising an outer shell and an inner shell of the ski boot, the outer shell comprising a right side portion and a left side portion formed by a longitudinal split through the outer shell of the ski boot; a hinged connection between the right side portion and the left side portion, the hinged connection permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between an open configuration and a closed configuration, the open configuration allowing placement of the inner liner into the interior of the shell, and the closed configuration restricting removal of the liner from the interior of the shell; and a selectively fastenable connector extending between the right side portion and the left side portion, the selectively fastenable connector permitting selective positioning of the outer shell between the open configuration and the closed configuration with only a hand of a user and without an additional tool; and the inner liner comprising a wall of material defining an inner surface and an outer surface, the outer surface defining an exterior having dimensions sized to compressively fit within the outer shell of the ski boot, and the inner surface defining an interior having dimensions sized to receive a foot of a skier; and a shape memory foam forming at least a portion of the wall of material, the shape memory foam configured to conform to the shape of the foot of the skier. 
     Additional objects, advantages and novel features of the technology will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will become more apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned from practice of the technology. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present invention, including the preferred embodiment, are described with reference to the following figures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views unless otherwise specified. Illustrative embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a ski boot having a longitudinally split outer shell and a memory foam inner liner; 
         FIG. 2  is a right side elevational view of the ski boot of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a rear elevational view of the ski boot of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the outer shell in an open position illustrating the ski boot shell of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  illustrate a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the hinge of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 5A and 6A  illustrate a cross-sectional view of another embodiment of the hinge of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIGS. 7-10  illustrate various view of the shape memory foam inner liner; 
         FIGS. 11-13  illustrate various views of a combination of foam materials in the heel portion of the line of  FIGS. 7-10 ; 
         FIGS. 14 and 15  illustrate a foot bed for use in the inner liner; 
         FIGS. 16 and 17  illustrate the toe section of the line of  FIGS. 7-10 ; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates the outer surface of the toe and instep; and 
         FIG. 19  illustrates the liner worn by a skier in which the outer shell is opened to allow insertion or removal of the line while disposed on the foot of the skier. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Embodiments are described more fully below in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the system and method. However, embodiments may be implemented in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense. 
     Broadly, and with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an embodiment of the present invention provides a ski boot system  5 . In an embodiment, there is provided an outer shell  10  and an inner liner  15 . A longitudinal split  20  through the outer shell  10  may form a right side portion  25  and a left side portion  30 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 3 , a hinged connection  35  may be between the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  30 . The hinged connection  35  may permit selective positioning of the outer shell  10  between an open configuration  40  ( FIG. 4 ) and a closed configuration  45  ( FIG. 1 .) The open configuration  40  ( FIG. 4 ) allows placement of the inner liner  15  into the interior  50  of the shell  10 . The closed configuration  45  restricts removal of the liner  15  from the interior  50  of the shell  10 . Typically made of plastic or composite, the outer shell  10  provides stability to the boot and is primarily responsible for the transfer of energy from the body to the ski. The rigidity of the boot also provides foot and ankle protection. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , a selectively fastenable connector  55  may extend between the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  30 . The selectively fastenable connector  55  may permit selective positioning of the outer shell  10  between the open configuration  40  and the closed configuration  45  with only a hand of a user and without an additional tool. In other words, outer shell  10  may be opened or closed by a skier, boot fitter, or other person without extensive joining or removal of hardware, the use of saws, glues, adhesives, bolts, or other time consuming and potentially damaging mechanical reconfiguration of the ski boot system. The longitudinally split sections of the boot, together with the selectively fastenable connector, or other skier operable closures, allow for ease of entry, enhanced comfort, and optimized boot fit. 
     In one embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 4 , the hinged connection  35  may include multiple separate sections. Components of the separate sections may be disposed at a rear portion of the longitudinally split shell  10 . In an embodiment, the hinged connection  35  may be split into several sections and disposed on an upper cuff  60 , a lower cuff  65 , and a heel  70 . The upper cuff of a ski boot is the portion that wraps around the calf, upper ankle and shin. It is typically connected to the lower boot by a hinge (distinct from the hinged connection  35 ) and is responsible for the overall stiffness, lateral stability and forward lean of the boot. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the selectively fastenable connector  55  may be disposed at a front (or toe) portion of the longitudinally split shell  10 . In an embodiment, the selectively fastenable connector  55  is a buckle system  75  having a ladder  80 , bail  85 , and latch arm  90 . A recessed portion  95  may be provided at the front (or toe) portion and the recessed portion  95  may be configured to receive the bail  85  of the selectively fastenable connector  55 . This recessed portion  95  may include notched out sections of the shell  10  in order to hold the cable or bail  85  of the connector  55  just above the front lug of the shell  10 . This lug is the portion that clicks into a ski binding. Blending the cable into the shell prevents any adverse effects on the operation of the boot and binding interface. However, there is usually a gap between the boot and the binding so as to allow the cable or bail  85  to remain slightly exposed from the surface of shell  10 . 
     Buckle system  75  may be in addition to or supplemented by other buckles  75 A that latch to close the shell  10 . In addition to the buckles identified herein, many styles of buckles or fasteners may be used to close various portions of the shell  10 . In an embodiment, the buckle system may include the ladder  80 , the bail  85 , and the latch arm  90  (which may be referred to as the buckle itself.) The ladder  80  is the graduated rung that the bail  85 , or wire, hooks onto so that the buckle latch arm  90  can close so as to latch the boot tightly around the foot or ankle. Ski boots may have as many as four buckles, each drawing the boot tightly around a different segment of the foot or ankle. 
       FIGS. 5 and 6  are cross-sectional illustrations of embodiments of the hinged connection  35  between the right side portion and the left side portion. In  FIG. 5 , the hinged connection  35  is shown in the open configuration  40 . In  FIG. 6 , the hinged connection  35  is shown in the closed configuration  45 . In one embodiment, hinged connection may be disposed protruding away from the outer shell  10  at the upper cuff  60  and the lower cuff  65 . In various embodiment, the hinged connection  35  may be configured to maintain the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  30  in pivotal attachment with one another. 
       FIGS. 5A and 6A  are cross-sectional illustrations of embodiments of the hinged connection  35  between the right side portion and the left side portion. In  FIG. 5A , the hinged connection  35  is shown in the open configuration  40 . In  FIG. 6A , the hinged connection  35  is shown in the closed configuration  45 . In one embodiment, hinged connection  35  may be disposed protruding toward the outer shell  10  at the heel  70 . 
     The inner liner  15  provides both comfort and protection while increasing the skier&#39;s performance. The padding of the inner liner  15  cushions the foot and ankle, protects it from friction, impact and cold as well as creating full foot contact, which forms the foundation for energy to transfer from the body to the ski. Ski performance is directly related to how well the foot contacts the inner liner of the boot and how well the inner liner integrates with the outer shell. 
     With reference to  FIG. 1 , the selectively fastenable connector  55  may be disposed at a front (or toe) portion of the longitudinally split shell  10 . In an embodiment, the selectively fastenable connector  55  is a buckle system  75  having a ladder  80 , bail  85 , and latch arm  90 . A recessed portion  95  may be provided at the front (or toe) portion and the recessed portion  95  may be configured to receive the bail  85  of the selectively fastenable connector  55 . This recessed portion  95  may include notched out sections of the shell  10  in order to hold the cable or bail  85  of the connector  55  just above the front lug of the shell  10 . This lug is the portion that clicks into a ski binding. Blending the cable into the shell prevents any adverse effects on the operation of the boot and binding interface. However, there is usually a gap between the boot and the binding so as to allow the cable or bail  85  to remain slightly exposed from the surface of shell  10 . 
     Current custom liners are rigid and hard for performance. With the liner  15  including shaped memory form, as long as the foot is securely wrapped, the heel is locked into place within the liner  15 , there is high performance achieved with even the use of softer foam. Without the longitudinal split  20 , it would be difficult to slide the foot into the liner  15  within the boot. Otherwise, a much thinner layer of memory foam would need be implemented and it would to provide the surrounding support to the user&#39;s foot. In various embodiments, the thickness of the memory foam around the ankle is about 1.5 to 2 inches. Around the rest of the heal wrap, it is about 1 to 1.5 inches. 
     In an embodiment, the outer surface  105  may include a sole  120  so as to allow use of the inner liner  15  as a snow boot apart from the outer shell  10 . Extending upwardly from the sole  120 , the outer surface  105  may include a rubber covering  125 . This covering may extend upwardly from the sole about 1-2 inches, or more. 
       FIGS. 11-13  illustrate a heel reinforcement section  130  of the inner liner  15 . The heel and ankle reinforcement section  130  may include a wrap portion  135  together with a support portion  140 . The wrap portion  135  may include a carpet foam type material. The support portion  140  may include a shape memory material. 
     In one embodiment, the wrap portion  135  is a combination of a denser foam  140 A and a memory foam  1408 . The combination is of the denser foam  140 A and memory foam  140 B is used in the calf wrap and the tongue portion of the inner boot. 
     As illustrated, the inside of the heel wrap portion  135  has a denser foam piece the holds down the back of the heel area. The next layer is the memory foam  1358  and behind that is a denser foam butterfly wrap. 
     In an embodiment, and with reference to  FIGS. 14 and 15 , wherein a foot bed  145  may be provided for disposal within the interior  115  of the liner  15 . The foot bed  145  of a ski boot provides the support for the sole of the foot. The foot bed may include a cork portion  150  configured to provide an arch support  155  and a heel cup  160 . The greater the surface area of the foot making contact with the foot bed  145  the better the control and performance of the boot. For this reason, many skiers turn to custom moldable foot beds that match the contours of the foot perfectly. However, a custom moldable foot bed does not reconfigure to any changes in a particular individual&#39;s foot or to multiple individuals using a single boot. Using a memory foam portion  165  disposed on the cork portion  150 , a remolded foot bed is provided with each use of the boot as the memory foam portion  165  molds to the foot at each use. A thin fabric portion  170 A disposed on the memory foam portion  165  provides reduced friction when sliding the foot into the inner liner  15  and onto the foot bed  145 . 
       FIGS. 16-18  illustrates the toe area  170  of liner  15 . An expandable piece  175  may be disposed on the outside of the toe area  170 . Memory foam wall material  95  lines the toe area  170  and a thin linen piece  180  covers and holds in place memory foam material  95 . A reinforcement portion  185  may be disposed on the inner liner  15  in combination with Spandex stretch fabric material, or other suitable stretch fabric material, 
     In an embodiment, and with reference to  FIG. 19 , the inner liner  15  contains the skier&#39;s foot and is disposed within outer shell  10  in the open configuration  40  prior to either removal of the inner liner  15  worn by the skier from the outer shell  10  or closure of the outer shell  10  for closing the ski boot to ski. 
     In various embodiments, ski boot system  5  may include both outer shell  10  and inner liner  15 , or ski boot system may include only outer shell  10  or inner liner  15  apart from the other component. 
     In another embodiment, the hinged portion and the selectively fastenable connector may be repositioned with respect to one another so as to selectively open and close the ski boot with respect to the longitudinally split opening. The longitudinally split sections of the boot, together with the selectively fastenable connector, or other skier operable closures, allow for ease of entry, enhanced comfort, and optimized boot fit. 
     In other embodiments, the hinged connection may be placed on the bottom or sole together with buckles on the front and back of the shell. The two longitudinally split halves of the shell may be connected by magnets, buckles, or other combinations of selectively operable fasteners. 
     In an embodiment, a rubber gasket may be provided on the front portion of the longitudinal split  20 , or various portions of the longitudinal split, in order to prevent snow, water, and other material from entering into the interior  50  of shell  10 . Overlapping or interlocking portions of the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  35  may be provided on the bottom of the shell  10  in order to prevent leaking into the liner. In addition, this overlapping configuration may provide rigidity in order to prevent unwanted flex of the outer shell  10  during skiing. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 19 , and in an embodiment, interlocking reinforcements  190  may be provided adjacent to longitudinal split  20 . As illustrated, these interlocking reinforcements  190  are discrete components added to the shell  10 . This prevents the two longitudinal halves of the shell from overlapping with one another. This also prevents the portions of the shell  10  from sliding across each other as the skier makes a turning motion or other rotational twist of the foot. These reinforcements may be made of metal or other suitable material. In other embodiments, these reinforcements may be integral or otherwise formed into the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  30 . 
     In an embodiment, with reference to  FIG. 19 , there may be provided a riveted hinge attachment  190  pivotally attaching one or more of the buckle systems  75  to the outer shell  10 . The riveted hinge attachment  190  allows movement of the buckle system  75  away from the longitudinal split to allow for easier insertion and removal of the skier&#39;s foot inside of the inner liner  15 . In  FIG. 19 , there is shown an interlocking boot board  195 , which provides added rigidity and reinforcement as described hereinabove. 
     In an embodiment, with reference to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , there may be provided a replaceable heel component  200  and a replaceable toe component  205 . The replaceable heel component  200  and the replaceable toe component  205  may be replaceably attached to one of the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  35  and simply slide into the position with respect to the other portion. In other embodiments, these components may attach in various manners to one or both of the right side portion  25  and the left side portion  35 . 
     Although the above embodiments have been described in language that is specific to certain structures, elements, compositions, and methodological steps, it is to be understood that the technology defined in the appended claims is not necessarily limited to the specific structures, elements, compositions and/or steps described. Rather, the specific aspects and steps are described as forms of implementing the claimed technology. Since many embodiments of the technology can be practiced without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended.