Patent Publication Number: US-6655050-B1

Title: Snowboard boot with inflatable bladders

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates generally to footwear and, more particularly, to a snowboard boot having inflatable bladders that allow the boot to securely clamp to the user&#39;s foot and ankle. Specifically, the present invention relates to a snowboard boot having a plurality of selectively inflatable bladders disposed at the ankle, the top of the foot, the toe of the foot, and the heel of the foot to allow the user to secure his foot within the boot by adjusting the pressure within the bladders. 
     2. Background Information 
     Snowboarding has increased in popularity in recent years. The rise in popularity has contributed to the improvement of snowboarding equipment. Snowboarders have also increased the difficulty of their activities by building half pipes and obstacles that increase the stress on the snowboarding equipment. 
     A snowboarder needs a snowboard and a pair of boots configured to be securely mounted on the snowboard. Snowboard boots are either strapped to the snowboard or are clamped to the snowboard with a clamp specially designed to hold a corresponding boot. In either arrangement, the connection between the user&#39;s foot and the snowboard boot is an important connection allowing the user&#39;s movements to be translated directly to the board and providing a safe, secure connection between the snowboarder and the snowboard. 
     Typical prior art snowboard boots include an interior mold that is formed around the user&#39;s foot while the user is breaking in the boot. Although some prior art molds allow the user to custom shape the mold before use, other molds are standard sizes are shaped to fit the user&#39;s foot while the user is snowboarding. One problem with molds that must be broken in is the discomfort to the user during the breaking in period. The tradeoff to the discomfort is that the snowboarder has a secure fit due to the tightness of the mold. Unfortunately, the tight fit is uncomfortable and it is difficult for the snowboarder to remove his foot from the boot when necessary. Another problem with the prior art molds is that the tight fit eventually loosens due to normal use. The constant movement of the snowboarder&#39;s foot loosens the mold over time. 
     A loose fitting snowboard boot is highly undesirable in the art. Loose fits between the foot and the boot lessen the snowboarder&#39;s control over the snowboard and can lead to injury of the snowboarder or others. The art thus desires to provide a snowboard boot that provides a constant tight fit between the snowboarder&#39;s foot and the boot. The art also desires that the boot be adjustable to accommodate for wear over time. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the foregoing, an objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that maintains a tight, secure fit with the snowboarder&#39;s foot. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that has an adjustable fit. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot having a fit that can be selectively tightened and loosened about different areas of the snowboarder&#39;s foot. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot having quickly deflatable bladders allowing the snowboarder&#39;s foot to be easily inserted into and removed from the boot. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that has a plurality of selectively inflatable bladders distributed around the critical areas of the foot to allow the snowboarder to tighten and loosen the grip of the snowboard boot against different areas of his foot. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that allows the selectively inflatable bladders to be manually or automatically inflated rapidly. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that improves the comfort of the wearer. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that has improved safety and performance and improved response in the snowboard when used by a snowboarder. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot having a plurality of inflatable bladders that may be inflated with a carbon dioxide cartridge. 
     Another objective of the present invention is to provide a snowboard boot that has a tight, secure fit that does not loosen over time. 
     These and other objectives and advantages of the invention including a snowboarding boot including a boot shell having a toe portion, a heel portion, an ankle portion, and a top portion; a first selectively inflatable bladder disposed at one of the portions of the boot shell; a second selectively inflatable bladder disposed at another of the portions of the boot shell; a first air inlet/release connected to the first bladder and extending outside the boot shell; and a second air inlet/release connected to the second bladder extending outside the boot shell; the first and second air inlet/releases allowing the first and second bladders to be inflated and deflated independent of each other. 
     Other objectives and advantages of the invention are achieved by including a boot shell having a toe portion, a heel portion, an ankle portion, and a top portion; a first selectively inflatable bladder disposed at one of the portions of the boot shell; a second selectively inflatable bladder disposed at another of the portions of the boot shell; and pump means for selectively inflating and selectively deflating the first and second selectively inflatable bladders. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The preferred embodiments of the invention, illustrative of the best mode in which applicant contemplated applying the principles of the invention, are set forth in the following description and are shown in the drawings and are particularly and distinctly pointed out and set forth in the appended Claims. 
     FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the snowboard boot having inflatable bladders of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the boot of FIG. 1 shown along with a snowboard and a user&#39;s foot and ankle in phantom lines. 
     FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line  4 — 4  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line  5 — 5  of FIG. 2; 
     FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing an alternative embodiment of the invention wherein each of the bladders is individually inflatable and deflatable; and 
     FIG. 7 is a view of a manual hand pump used to inflate the bladders. 
     Similar numbers refer to similar parts throughout the specification. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     A first embodiment of the snowboard boot of the present invention is indicated generally by the numeral  10  in FIGS. 1-5. Boot  10  generally includes an outer boot shell  12  formed generally in the shape of a human foot. Boot shell  12  may be substantially rigid or fabricated from a plurality of substantially rigid interlocking elements. Boot shells  12  are known in the art of snowboarding boots and ski boots and those skilled in the art recognize that such boots may be fabricated from a variety of materials such as any of a variety of plastics. Boots having similar shells are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,692,321 and 5,727,338. Boot shell  12  protects the snowboarder&#39;s foot  13  from impact forces and scratches. Boot shell  12  also forms a secure connection between the snowboard  15  and boot  10 . A secure connection between the snowboard and boot  10  is important because the movements of the snowboarder are transferred to the snowboard through boot  10 . 
     Boot  10  further includes a flexible interior mold  14  that molds to the snowboarder&#39;s foot to provide a secure fit between the snowboarder&#39;s foot and boot  10 . Molds  14  are known to those skilled in the art and may be fabricated from any of a variety of materials. In accordance with the objectives of the present invention, boot  10  of the present invention further includes a plurality of selectively inflatable and deflatable bladders  16  distributed throughout the critical areas of boot shell  12  to allow the user to adjust the fit between boot  10  and his foot. 
     The construction of bladders  16  is known in the art. Bladders  16  may be fabricated from a pair, of opposed gas-impervious sheets having their edges welded together to form a bladder. Many bladders are fabricated from gas-impervious plastic sheets. An inlet may be provided before or after the welding to allow the bladder to be inflated and deflated. The edges of the opposed gas-impervious sheets may also be connected together with an adhesive. Although the material and construction of bladders  16  may vary in the present invention, each bladder  16  must be strong and durable enough to withstand the numerous forces imparted against bladder during a strenuous snowboard ride. 
     Boot shell  12  generally includes a toe portion  20 , a heel portion  22 , a top portion  24 , and an ankle portion  26 . As may be seen in the drawings, each portion  20 ,  22 ,  24 , and  26  of boot shell  12  corresponds to the location of the snowboarder&#39;s toes, heel, top of foot, and ankle when the snowboarder&#39;s foot and ankle are received in boot  10 . 
     In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, four selectively inflatable and deflatable air bladders  16  are mounted in boot  10 . For purposes of clarity, bladders  16  are referred to as first bladder  30 , second bladder  32 , third bladder  34 , and fourth bladder  36 . Although the following description locates first, second, third, and fourth bladders at specific locations about boot shell  12 , it is understood that first bladder  30  may be disposed at any of portions  20 ,  22 ,  24 , or  26  without departing from the concepts of the present invention. Similarly, second, third, and fourth bladders  32 ,  34 , and  36  may be disposed at any of portions  20 ,  22 ,  24 , or  26  without departing from the concepts of the present invention. 
     In the exemplary embodiment, first bladder  30  is disposed at toe portion  20  having sides  37  and  38  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. First bladder  30  includes a main body  40  and a pair of extensions  42 . Extensions  42  are disposed along the side of toe portion  20  as clearly shown in FIG.  5 . Main body  40  and extensions  42  thus substantially surround the user&#39;s toe and forward portion of the user&#39;s foot when the user&#39;s foot is inserted within boot  10 . 
     Second bladder  32  is disposed at heel portion  22  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. Second bladder  32  includes a main body  44  and pair of extensions  46  that extend along the sides of heel portion  22  as shown in FIG.  5 . Extensions  46  thus surround the side portions of the user&#39;s heel when the user&#39;s foot is inserted into boot  10 . 
     Third bladder  34  is positioned at top portion  24  of boot shell  12  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. Third bladder  34  also includes a main body  48  and a pair of extensions  50  that extend down along the sides of the top portion  24  of boot shell  12  as shown in FIG.  4 . Third bladder  34  thus snugly fits around the top of the user&#39;s foot when the user&#39;s foot is positioned within boot  10 . 
     Fourth bladder  36  is located at ankle portion  26  as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Fourth bladder  36  is ring-shaped and extends entirely around ankle portion  26  of boot shell  12  such that fourth bladder  36  will entirely surround the user&#39;s ankle  39  when the user&#39;s ankle and foot  13  are inserted into boot  10 . As shown in FIG.  2 , the front of fourth bladder  36  has a height that is substantially less than the rear of fourth bladder  36 . In the preferred embodiment, the front of fourth bladder  36  is approximately one-half of the height of the rear of fourth bladder  36 . This configuration gives fourth bladder  36  a taper providing a wider area of support at the rear or Achilles heel area of the user&#39;s  39  ankle and a narrower band of support at the front of the user&#39;s ankle  39 . Bladder  36  allows the user to obtain a secure fit between his ankle  39  and boot  10  that prevents the user&#39;s foot  13  from pulling out of boot  10 . This fit is one of the most important areas for boot  10  because snowboarders often jump up off of the snow while snowboarding. 
     As shown throughout the drawings, each bladder  16  is positioned between mold  14  and boot shell  12 . This position protects bladder  16  and prevents bladder  16  from directly contacting the user&#39;s foot. The pressure and supporting force provided by bladder  16  is cushioned by mold  14  in this location. In another embodiment of the invention, bladder  16  may be embedded within mold  14  or positioned on the inside surface of mold  14 . However, positioning bladder  16  between shell  12  and mold  14  allows mold  14  to be changed when it becomes worn. 
     In the embodiment of the invention depicted in FIGS. 1-5, a single air inlet  60  is provided in fluid communication with bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36 . The fluid communication between each of bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  is provided by first  62 , second  64 , and third  66  air lines as shown in FIG.  2 . Air lines  62 ,  64 , and  66  allow inlet  60  to inflate each of bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36 . A release  68  allows air to be removed from each of bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36 . In this embodiment, a handheld pump  70  (FIG. 7) is provided to selectively connect to air inlet  60  and release  68 . Air inlet  60  may also be configured to cooperate with a standard container of carbon dioxide that automatically fills bladders  16 . Each of air inlet  60  and release  68  includes a valve that regulates the flow of air into and out of bladder  16 . The tip  72  of pump  70  is configured to interact with the valves of air inlet  60  and release  68  to move the valves from a closed to an open position. Release  68  may also be configured to be mainly operated simply by pushing release  68  to release air from bladder  16 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the pump for increasing the pressure in each of bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  is built into shell  12  as depicted schematically in FIG.  2 . Pumps of this type are known in the art and can be fabricated to be small enough to be mounted on the rear portion of shell  12  as depicted in FIG.  2 . When pump  74  is built into shell  12 , air inlet  60  may be provided as a back up. 
     In another embodiment of the invention, each bladder  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  includes an individual air inlet and release  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 , respectively. Each inlet/release  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  is configured to cooperate with pump  70  to allow air to be selectively inserted and removed from each of bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36 . This configuration allows the user to regulate the amount of pressure in each bladder  16  individually. 
     This embodiment of the boot is indicated generally by the numeral  90  is FIG.  6  and includes many of the same numbered elements as boot  10  with the addition of air inlet/releases  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86 . Each air inlet/release  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  includes a valve that allows air to be directed into bladder  16  but prevents air from escaping from bladder  16  until the release is activated. Boot  90  lacks air line  62 ,  64 , and  66 . Bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  of boot  90  operate independently allowing the user of boot  90  to completely deflate one or more of bladders  16  while inflating other bladders  16 . The user may also selectively add pressure to the toes, heel, top of foot, or ankle as needed. Although air inlet/releases  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  are disposed at different areas of boot  90  in the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, air inlet/releases  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  may be disposed in a common location at the back or top of boot  90 . When grouped together, each air inlet/release  80 ,  82 ,  84 , and  86  is labeled and air lines extend to the respective bladders  16 . 
     Boot  10  is used by the snowboarder by first deflating each bladder  16  so that the snowboarder&#39;s foot may be easily inserted into boot  10 . The snowboarder then arranges his foot until comfortable. The snowboarder then inflates bladders  16  to provide a secure fit between his foot and boot  10 . Bladders  16  may be inflated automatically by using a carbon dioxide cartridge or manually with pump  70  or pump  74 . If the inflation pressure is too tight, the pressure in bladders  16  may be released. 
     In boot  90 , the snowboarder also must deflate each bladder  16  before inserting his foot. After the foot is inserted, the snowboarder selectively inflates bladders  30 ,  32 ,  34 , and  36  as needed to provide a secure fit. Thus, if the snowboarder needs a tighter fit at the top of his foot, he adds more pressure to third bladder  34 . If the ankle bladder  36  is to tight, he may release pressure from bladder  36  without changing the pressure in the other bladders  30 ,  32 , and  34 . Boot  90  thus allows the snowboarder to custom fit boot  90  to his foot each time it is put on. 
     Accordingly, the improved Snowboard Boot With Inflatable Bladders apparatus is simplified, provides an effective, safe, inexpensive, and efficient device which achieves all the enumerated objectives, provides for eliminating difficulties encountered with prior devices, and solves problems and obtains new results in the art. 
     In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding; but no unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art, because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed. 
     Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is by way of example, and the scope of the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described. 
     Having now described the features, discoveries, and principles of the invention, the manner in which the Snowboard Boot With Inflatable Bladders is constructed and used, the characteristics of the construction, and the advantageous new and useful results obtained; the new and useful structures, devices, elements, arrangements, parts, and combinations are set forth in the appended claims.