Patent Publication Number: US-2005115117-A1

Title: Ski boot, in particular for alpine skiing

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to a ski boot, in particular for alpine skiing.  
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      Ski boots are known consisting of a shell of substantially rigid plastic, provided with closure levers and internally housing a shoe of soft material.  
      The shell is generally provided with a rubber sole, of which that surface facing the outside is provided with a plurality of grooves enabling it to grip the ground and hence facilitating walking. At the same time the toe and heel of the shell are shaped to enable it to engage a traditional binding on an alpine ski.  
      These known boots present however certain drawbacks, and in particular: 
          a high cost as the shell must be constructed of expensive material, such as polyamide resins or TPU, to enable the sole to be fixed by gluing,     the sole cannot be replaced when worn, without returning it to the manufacturer or forwarding it to a specialized workshop. 
 
 An object of the invention is to eliminate these drawbacks by providing a boot for alpine skiing which is of lower cost than currently available boots. Another object of the invention is to provide a boot, the sole of which can be easily and comfortably replaced when worn. 
       

      These and further objects which will be apparent from the ensuing description are attained according to the invention.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      A boot for alpine skiing has a plastic shell. A rubber sole fixed to a rigid support can be removably secured to the shell.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The present invention is described in detail hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is an exploded perspective side view of a ski boot according to the invention,  
       FIG. 2  is a side view of the sole,  
       FIG. 3  is a side view of the ski boot in its assembled configuration,  
       FIGS. 4 and 5  show the rubber sole and the support element in plan view.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
      As can be seen from the figures, the ski boot according to the invention comprises a substantially rigid shell  2  constructed by injection moulding a plastic material, which can be of low quality such as polypropylene, provided with closure levers and internally accommodating a shoe of soft material (not shown in the drawings).  
      The invention also comprises a combined support  4  and sole  6 , consisting of two profiled facing slabs formed from a heel and a toe  10  connected together by a band  12  of smaller width than their own width.  
      The support  4 , which is substantially rigid, is constructed of high quality material, such as polyamide, TPU or the like, while the actual sole  6  is constructed of rubber and comprises a plurality of grooves  14 .  
      The support and sole are joined together by traditional adhesives, or alternatively they can be joined together by overinjecting the rubber onto the support or the support onto the rubber.  
      The combined support-sole is secured to the shell by traditional threaded screws  20  which, after passing through holes  16  provided in the support and sole, engage in corresponding bosses  18  provided on the lower surface of the shell.  
      From the aforegoing it is clear that the ski boot according to the invention presents numerous advantages, and in particular: 
          it is of lower cost than traditional sports footwear in that low quality materials can be used to form the shell, as the sole is fixed to the support,     it enables the sole to be easily replaced if damaged, by purchasing a replacement sole from a supplier,     it enables the boot to be adapted for different uses, such as downhill skiing, as the boot can be provided with a replacement sole of normal type,     because of the presence of the band connecting the toe to the heel, it provides improved holding when standing on rocks or iron-stepped walkways.        

      The invention has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment. Variations and modifications would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art. The invention encompasses such variations and modifications.