Patent Publication Number: US-2020282290-A1

Title: Skate boot with flexible midfoot section

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     The instant application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/651,509 filed Jul. 17, 2017, pending, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/860,632 filed Apr. 11, 2013, abandoned, and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/622,808, filed Apr. 11, 2012, the entire specifications of all of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to footwear, such as shoes or boots, and, more specifically to footwear, such as but not limited to ice skating boots, having a flexible midfoot section that is not rigidly connected to either a sole and/or base of the boot, in order to adjustably tighten around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer&#39;s midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional ice skating boots are typically constructed with concave arch portions. The arch portion thus defines an internal or interior arch cavity (i.e., a cavity inside the boot) relative to the wearer&#39;s foot, especially in proximity to the foot&#39;s arch. That is, when the wearer&#39;s foot is placed inside the boot, there is a space or cavity defined between the arch or side of the wearer&#39;s foot and the adjacent inside surface of the boot, including an area underneath the wearer&#39;s foot. The presence of the arch cavity may be a problem for individuals with any type of feet when skating in conventional boots. 
     Because typical ice skating maneuvers with ice skating boots require the foot to be able to balance on a point of a rockered skating blade, it is important for the wearer&#39;s foot to have constant arch support. This is a special concern for those skaters that have one or both feet that have high arches. The presence of arch cavities in boots cause the skater&#39;s foot to collapse into the arch cavity due to the foot&#39;s high arch. Needless to say, skating performance would be expected to significantly suffer under these circumstances. 
     The problem of arch cavities may be due to the trend of conventional skating boots being made from shoe or boot last shapes that are concave through the arch portion of the foot bed or sole, because of the “toe spring” shape needed for walking. Because of these different mechanical conditions being present, the ice skater&#39;s foot needs constant support against the arch, and, with an arch cavity being present, the muscles, bones, tendons and ligaments of the foot (especially in proximity to the arch) can become stressed and/or injured as the foot (especially the arch) repeatedly collapses (or attempts to collapse) into this cavity. 
     Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide new and improved pieces of footwear, such as but not limited to ice skating boots, for overcoming at least one of the aforementioned problems. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the general teachings of the present invention, new and improved pieces of footwear, such as but not limited to ice skating boots, are provided. 
     More specifically, a skate boot or other piece of footwear is provided with a flexible midfoot section that is not rigidly connected to either a sole and/or base of the boot, in order to adjustably tighten around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer&#39;s midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. The midfoot section is in a “hammock” type arrangement while the ball and heel portions of the wearer&#39;s foot rests on the footbed over the respective sole portions. 
     In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, a piece of footwear is provided, comprising: 
     an ice skate boot having a heel portion and a spaced apart forefoot portion; 
     an ice skate blade member; 
     a discontinuous sole system extending along a lower portion of the ice skate boot, wherein the sole system includes a heel sole member and a forefoot sole member, wherein the heel sole member and the forefoot sole member are spaced apart and do not contact each other; 
     wherein the heel sole member is positioned only on an underside surface of the heel portion, a first portion of the ice skate blade member being fastened to the heel sole member; 
     wherein the forefoot sole member is positioned only on an underside surface of the forefoot portion, a second portion of the ice skate blade member being fastened to the forefoot sole member; and 
     a substantially flexible midfoot portion disposed between, and fastened to, the heel portion and forefoot portion, wherein the midfoot portion is soleless; 
     wherein an underside surface of the midfoot portion does not contact either the heel sole member, the forefoot sole member, or the ice skate blade member; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to receive a wearer&#39;s midfoot portion such that the midfoot portion envelopes an entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to be tightened around the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion by manipulation of fasteners connected to the midfoot portion so as to conform the midfoot portion around the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion. 
     In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, a piece of footwear is provided, comprising: 
     a heel portion; 
     a discontinuous sole system including a heel sole member and a forefoot sole member, wherein the heel sole member and the forefoot sole member are spaced apart and do not contact each other; 
     wherein the heel sole member is positioned only on an underside surface of the heel portion; 
     a forefoot portion; 
     wherein the forefoot sole member is positioned only on an underside surface of the forefoot portion; 
     a substantially flexible midfoot portion disposed between, and fastened to, the heel portion and forefoot portion, wherein the midfoot portion is soleless; and 
     at least two connection members interconnecting the heel sole member to the forefoot sole member, wherein the at least two connection members are proximate to the underside surface of the heel portion and the underside surface of the forefoot portion; 
     wherein an underside surface of the midfoot portion does not contact either the heel sole member or the forefoot sole member; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to receive a wearer&#39;s midfoot portion such that the midfoot portion envelopes an entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to be tightened around the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion by manipulation of fasteners connected to the midfoot portion so as to conform the midfoot portion around the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion; 
     wherein the connection members are selectively operable to change an angular orientation of the forefoot portion relative to the heel portion such that the forefoot portion is operable to move horizontally leftward or rightward relative to the heel portion. 
     In accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention, a piece of footwear is provided, comprising: 
     an ice skate boot having a heel portion and a spaced apart forefoot portion; 
     a continuous sole member extending along a lower portion of the ice skate boot from the heel portion to the forefoot portion; 
     an ice skate blade member fastened to the heel portion and the forefoot portion; and 
     a substantially flexible midfoot portion disposed inside of the ice skate boot and suspended above the sole member such that no portion of the midfoot portion contacts the sole member; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to receive a wearer&#39;s midfoot portion such that the midfoot portion envelopes an entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to be tightened around the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion by manipulation of fasteners connected to the midfoot portion so as to conform the midfoot portion around the entire circumference of the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion; 
     wherein the midfoot portion is adapted to prevent the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion from contacting the sole member when the wearer&#39;s midfoot portion is received therein. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is an elevational view of an ice skating boot, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of an ice skating boot, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view of an ice skating boot, in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of an ice skating boot, in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a sectional view of an alternative ice skating boot, in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6  is a sectional view taken along line  6 - 6  of  FIG. 5 , in accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a top plan view of a second alternative ice skating boot, in accordance with a seventh embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a second alternative ice skating boot, in accordance with an eighth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various Figures. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, or uses. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-4 , there is shown an ice skating boot generally at  10 . The boot  10  primarily includes a heel portion  100 , a forefoot portion  200 , and a midfoot portion  300  that is positioned between the heel portion  100  and the forefoot portion  200 . 
     The midfoot portion  300  includes a substantially flexible midfoot member  302  that is flexibly attached to the heel portion  100  and the forefoot portion  200 . That is, the midfoot portion  300  should not be comprised of a material that is so stiff so as to be difficult to manipulate around a wearer&#39;s midfoot so as to be drawn closer thereto, the significance of which will be described herein. 
     Furthermore, it should be appreciated that the flexible member  302  is not connected to either a sole and/or base of the boot  10 . That is, only the heel portion  100  and the forefoot portion  200  are provided with sole portions  102 ,  202 , respectively. In this manner, it is possible to adjustably tighten the midfoot member  302  (and only the midfoot member  302 ) around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer&#39;s midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. It should be appreciated that no part of the midfoot member  302  is intended to extend to the wearer&#39;s heel or forefoot portions. The midfoot member  302  is in a “hammock” type arrangement while the ball and heel of the wearer&#39;s foot may rest on the footbed over the sole portions  102 ,  202 , respectively, of the heel portion  100  and the forefoot portion  200 . That is, no part of the midfoot member  302  is intended to be positioned over and/or suspended over any portion of a sole or sole-like structure of the boot  10 . 
     The midfoot member  302  may be comprised of any number of suitable materials, such as but not limited to soft leather, vinyl, various synthetic or natural rubbers, nylon, rayon, or any other workable fabrics or mixtures thereof, that can be made to tighten and conform around the wearer&#39;s midfoot uniformly and comfortably. The heel portion  100  and the forefoot portion  200  of the boot  10  as well as the sole portions  102 ,  202 , respectively, can be comprised of the same materials as usually used for conventional boots. 
     In order to adjustably tighten the midfoot member  302  around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer&#39;s midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness, the boot  10  and/or the midfoot member  302  may be provided with various fasteners  400 , such as but not limited to laces, straps, belts, rings, VELCRO™ hooks and loops, hooks, snaps, latches, or any other suitable fasteners. By way of a non-limiting example, manipulation (e.g., “cinching’) of the fasteners  400  (e.g., tightening of laces connected to (or proximate to) the midfoot member  302  (e.g., on the left and right portions of the midfoot member  302 )) may cause the midfoot member  302  to be drawn taut (or further taut) against the wearer&#39;s midfoot, e.g., in an upward and/or inward direction. It should be noted that only a portion of the fasteners  400  proximate to the midfoot member  302  are depicted in  FIG. 3  for purposes of clarity of illustration. By way of a non-limiting example, the fasteners  400  may be incorporated into a portion or the entirely of the circumference of the midfoot member  302 , e.g., so as to be operable to be drawn taut (or further taut) against the wearer&#39;s midfoot. By way of another non-limiting example, the fasteners  400  may be incorporated onto an exterior surface, an internal cavity and/or an interior surface of the midfoot member  302 , e.g., so as to be operable to be drawn taut (or further taut) against the wearer&#39;s midfoot. 
     As previously noted, the boot  10  includes a midfoot portion  300  that does not have a sole portion underneath it or associated therewith. In the case of an ice skating boot, the midfoot sole portion can be deleted or eliminated because the blade portion  500  would function to hold the heel portion  100  and the forefoot portion  200  together in a fixed relationship. 
     In accordance with an alternative embodiment, for those individuals that want continuous upper portions and sole portions extending along the entire length of the boot  10  from the heel portion to the forefoot portion, a sole portion  300   a  and/or an upper portion  300   b  (e.g., leather or other type of suitable footwear material) can be provided to provide for a substantially enclosed piece of footwear. e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . It should be appreciated that no part of the midfoot member  302   a  is intended to extend to the wearer&#39;s heel or forefoot portions. In this manner, a substantially flexible midfoot member  302   a  (and only the midfoot member  302   a ) would be “suspended” in a hammock-like arrangement above, but not touching, the sole portion  300   a . The midfoot member  302   a  may be fastened to the upper portion  300   b  in any number of methods, including but not limited to stitching, laces, straps, belts, rings. VELCRO™ hooks and loops, hooks, snaps, latches, or any other suitable fasteners. 
     As with the previously described embodiment, the midfoot member  302   a  may be comprised of any number of suitable materials, such as but not limited to soft leather, vinyl, various synthetic or natural rubbers, nylon, rayon, or any other workable fabrics or mixtures thereof, that can be made to tighten and conform around the wearer&#39;s midfoot uniformly and comfortably. Again, it should be appreciated that the midfoot portion  302   a  should not be comprised of a material that is so stiff so as to be difficult to manipulate around a wearer&#39;s midfoot so as to be drawn closer thereto, the significance of which will be described herein. 
     As with the previously described embodiment, in order to adjustably tighten the midfoot member  302   a  around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer&#39;s midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness, the boot  10  and/or the midfoot member  302   a  may be provided with various fasteners  400 , such as but not limited to laces, straps, belts, rings. VELCRO™ hooks and loops, hooks, snaps, latches, or any other suitable fasteners. By way of a non-limiting example, manipulation (e.g., “cinching’) of the fasteners  400  (e.g., tightening of laces connected to the midfoot member  302   a  (e.g., on the left and right portions of the midfoot member  302   a )) may cause the midfoot member  302   a  to be drawn taut (or further taut) against the wearer&#39;s midfoot, e.g., in an upward and/or inward direction. It should be noted that only a portion of the fasteners  400  proximate to the midfoot member  302   a  are depicted in  FIG. 5  for purposes of clarity of illustration. By way of a non-limiting example, the fasteners  400  may be incorporated into a portion or the entirely of the circumference of the midfoot member  302   a , e.g., so as to be operable to be drawn taut (or further taut) against the wearer&#39;s midfoot. By way of another non-limiting example, the fasteners  400  may be incorporated onto an exterior surface, an internal cavity and/or an interior surface of the midfoot member  302   a . e.g., so as to be operable to be drawn taut (or further taut) against the wearer&#39;s midfoot. 
     Thus, summarizing, and by way of a non-limiting example, the flexible midfoot portion may span the gap between the forefoot and heel portions, e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 1-4 , or may be inserted (e.g., sewn in or otherwise attached) inside an otherwise conventionally made boot, e.g., as shown in  FIGS. 5 and 6 . 
     The present invention can also be practiced with other types of footwear other than ice skating boots. By way of a non-limiting example, the forefoot portion and the heel portion can be connected together via any number of suitable rigid connectors, such as but not limited to plates, rods, dowels, struts, and/or the like. In this case too, the flexible midfoot section is not rigidly connected to the sole or connectors that lie below it or are associated therewith, so as to allow the middle of the foot to be “suspended” in a hammock-like configuration relative to the forefoot portion and the heel portion of the piece of footwear. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a piece of footwear may be provided, such as but not limited to an ice skating boot, having a split sole allowing the front and back portions thereof to be fitted separately in a modular fashion, to the specific curvature and width of the wearer&#39;s foot. By way of a non-limiting example, the curvature of the wearer&#39;s foot is the angle from which the direction of the forefoot portion is offset from the heel portion direction. 
     Referring specifically to  FIGS. 7 and 8 , the forefoot portion of the boot may be set relative to the heel portion to match the wearer&#39;s foot curvature, and then fixed in place with permanent or temporary rigid connecting pieces  600 ,  602 , respectively, fastening the forefoot portion  700  and heel portion  800  together. Although two connecting pieces  600 ,  602 , respectively, are shown, it should be appreciated that either less than or more than this number of connecting pieces may be used in the practice of the present invention. By way of a non-limiting example, the connecting pieces  600 ,  602 , respectively, are proximate to an underside surface of the heel portion  800  and an underside surface of the forefoot portion  700 , e.g., so as not to be visible when in use. 
     In this manner, the orientation (e.g., left/right, inboard/outboard, and/or the like) of the forefoot portion of the boot may be changed relative to the heel portion, and vice versa, of the boot so as to provide a better fit for the wearer. This can be done because the midfoot portion  900 X) is substantially flexible and may be tightened closely to the wearer&#39;s foot (e.g., as previously described), or alternatively, the midfoot portion may be attached afterward. By way of a non-liming example, the connecting pieces  600 ,  602 , respectively, can be removed, the forefoot portion  700  realigned relative to the heel portion  800 , or vice versa, e.g., to the wearer&#39;s desire, and then the connecting pieces  600 ,  602 , respectively, may be reinstalled, thus fixing the forefoot portion  700  relative to the heel portion  800 , or vice versa, in a new orientation or alignment with each other. 
     While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.