Abstract:
Disclosed are boot frames comprising: a base; an ankle support; and at least one strap configured to secure a boot to the boot frame; wherein the base comprises: a) at least one side support, b) a toe binding, and c) a heel binding.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention is in the field of ski and snowboard boots, and specifically in the field of ski boot accessories. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE 
       [0002]    Ski boots are generally uncomfortable whereas snowboard boots provide more long lasting comfort for the wearer. The outer shell of ski boots is comprised of hard plastic and is thus makes the boot difficult to maneuver in when not latched into skis. The flexible leather that comprises the synthetic shell of a snowboard boot provides more comfort and motility. The thick hard soles of ski boots can be ruined once worn off of the snow and restrict cushioning on the feet. The soles of snowboarding boots are similar to those of athletic shoes which allows them to be more versatile as well as provides more cushioning for the feet. Many skiers have switched to snowboarding due to the more comfortable boot. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Disclosed herein is a boot frame comprising: a base; an ankle support; and at least one strap configured to secure a boot to the boot frame; wherein the base comprises: a) at least one side support, b) a toe binding, and c) a heel binding. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0004]      FIG. 1  is a top view showing the components of an embodiment of a ski boot frame. 
           [0005]      FIG. 2  is a side view showing the components of an embodiment of a ski boot frame. 
           [0006]      FIG. 3  is a top view showing the components of an embodiment of a ski boot frame with detachable components. 
           [0007]      FIG. 4  is a side view showing the components of an embodiment of a ski boot frame. 
           [0008]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of an embodiment of a heel binding. 
           [0009]      FIG. 6  is a side of an embodiment of a heel binding. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0010]    Disclosed herein are devices for the support of snowboard boots to be used with skis as ski boots. 
         [0011]    Throughout this disclosure, “front” refers to the area where the toe section of a boot would fit in the disclosed device, and “rear” refers to the area where the heel section of a boot would fit in the disclosed device.  FIG. 1  shows a schematic drawing of one embodiment of devices disclosed herein. The devices are described with reference to  FIG. 1 , but those of skill in the art recognize that variations, including those described herein, are still within the scope of the present disclosure. 
         [0012]    Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , disclosed herein is a boot frame  100 . The frame  100  comprises a base  102 . As shown in  FIG. 1  the base  102  comprises two substantially parallel bars. In some embodiments the bars are present in various quantities and positions. For example, in some embodiments the bars are not parallel. In other embodiments, the bars intersect. In some embodiments, the base  102  is a solid piece, whereas in other embodiments it is a perforated piece. Some embodiments are comprised of a single bar and other embodiments are comprised of multiple, e.g. more than two, bars. 
         [0013]    In some embodiments, the base  102  has an adjustable length. In these embodiments the base  102  comprises two interconnected pieces, a front piece and a rear piece. When the length of the base  102  is adjusted, the front of the base  102  moves closer to, or further away, from the rear of the base  102 . The adjustable length allows the user to adjust the frame  100  to fit the user&#39;s boot size. 
         [0014]    In other embodiments, the base  102  has a fixed length. In these embodiments, frames  100  of various lengths are manufactured and the users uses a frame  100  that fits the user&#39;s boot size. 
         [0015]    In some embodiments base  102  is made of a metal. Examples of metals include those that are strong enough to hold the boot to skis and not bend under pressure. These examples include, but are not limited to, iron, steel, titanium, and composite metals. In certain embodiments, base  102  is made of wood. In other embodiments, base  102  is made of a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, and the like. 
         [0016]    The base  102  comprises a toe binding  104  at the front end of the frame  100 . The toe binding  104  is configured to secure the frame  100  into a ski binding the way a typical ski boot would latch in. As shown in  FIG. 1  the toe binding  104  comprises a small piece of hard material in the shape of a trapezoid. In some embodiments the toe binding  104  is present in different shapes, including but not limited to, a square, oval, or rectangular shape. The shape of the toe binding  104  is dependent on the type of ski binding used on skis, i.e., the toe binding  104  is shaped to match the binding of the skis. In some embodiments, the toe binding  104  comprises metal. In certain embodiments the toe binding is made of one or more material including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber. 
         [0017]    In some embodiments, for example, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the top surface of toe binding  104  is higher than the base  102  of the frame  100 . In these embodiments, the raised toe binding  104  provides a snug fit for a boot when the boot is placed in the frame  100 . In other embodiments, a boot has a corresponding binding at the toe area and the boot binding latches into the toe binding  104 . 
         [0018]    The base  102  comprises a heel binding  106  at the rear end of the frame  100 . The heel binding  106  is configured to secure the frame  100  into a ski binding the way a typical ski boot would latch in. In some embodiments, the heel binding  106  comprises metal. In certain embodiments the heel binding  106  is made of one or more material including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber. In some embodiments, the heel binding  106  is located at the far rear of the base  102 . In other embodiments, the base  102  extends farther to the rear than where the heel binding  106  is located. 
         [0019]    In some embodiments, the boot is held in place on the frame  100  by at least two side supports  108 . In some embodiments, the boot side supports  108  are connected near the front of the frame  100 . In some embodiments they are located towards the rear of the frame  100  or in the middle of the frame  100 . In some embodiments the side supports  108  are comprised of solid metal and in some embodiments they are comprised of perforated metal. In certain embodiments the side supports  108  is made of one or more material including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber. In some embodiments the side supports curve around the shape of the boot and in other embodiments the side supports have various shapes including but not limited to vertical and parallel bars. Some embodiments comprise one set of parallel side supports  108 . Other embodiments comprise more than one set of parallel side supports  108  for example two or three sets. Some embodiments, for example the one shown in  FIG. 3 , do not have any side support  108 . 
         [0020]    In some embodiments, for example that shown in  FIG. 4 , the side supports  408  are adjustable. In these embodiments, the user can move the side supports  408  towards the center of the base  102  or away from the base  102 . In some embodiments, the two side supports  408  move together and in the same direction when they are adjusted. In other embodiments, the two side supports  408  move together but in the opposite direction when they are adjusted. In still other embodiments, each side support  108  moves independently. 
         [0021]    Often times, when a person stands, the natural inclination of the feet is to either turn in, i.e., with toes facing toward each other and inward, or turn out, i.e., with toes tending away from each other and outward. Regular ski boots force everyone&#39;s feet to line up parallel with the skis. This unnatural positioning of the feet puts great pressure on the skier&#39;s knees and causes knee and hip injuries over time. By adjusting the side supports  408 , a skier can allow for the boot to line up at an angle to the base  102 , which angle is the natural angle of the skier&#39;s feet when the skier stands. This way, the base  102  lines up with the skis and the skier&#39;s feet rest at their natural and comfortable angle, thereby reducing the pressure on knees and hips. 
         [0022]    The boot is held in place at the rear of the frame  100  by an ankle support  110 . In some embodiments the ankle support  110  comprises a curved bar that is connected to either side of the base  102 . In other embodiments the ankle support  110  comprises various bars are connected to either side of the base  102 , for example, two bars intersecting each other, multiple bars attached vertically from the base of the base  102 , or multiple curved bars attached starting from the heel leading up to the ankle. In some embodiments the ankle support  110  comprises metal for example a solid or perforated metal. In certain embodiments the ankle support  110  is made of one or more material including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber. 
         [0023]    In some embodiments a calf support  112  is connected to the ankle support  110 . The calf support  112  can be attached anywhere from the front to the rear of the ankle support  110 . In some embodiments the calf support  112  comprises a curved metal bar attaching to either side of the ankle support  110 . In other embodiments the calf support  112  comprises various bars attaching to either side of the ankle support  110 , for example, two or more bars intersecting each other, multiple bars attached vertically from the base of the frame  102  or base of the ankle support  110 , or multiple curved bars attached starting from the top of the ankle leading up to the calf. In some embodiments the calf support  112  comprises metal for example a solid or perforated metal. In certain embodiments the calf support  112  is made of one or more material including, but not limited, to iron, steel, titanium, composite metals, wood, a synthetic material, such as, but not limited to, plastics, carbon fiber, fiber glass, and the like, hard plastic or rubber. 
         [0024]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , to keep the boot attached to the frame  100 , some embodiments include boot straps located at, for example, but not limited to, the toe  302 , ankle  304 , and calf  306 . In some embodiments, each of the straps  302 ,  304 ,  306  independently comprises various materials including but not limited to plastic, cloth, rubber, Kevlar®, or a combination thereof. 
         [0025]    In some embodiments the toe strap  302  connects on either side of the frame  102  near the front. In some embodiments, the ankle strap  304  connects to either side of the ankle support  110  near the rear. In other embodiments the ankle strap  304  is located in various locations, for example, connected to either side of the metal frame  102  near the rear. In some embodiments the calf strap  306  is connected to opposite sides of the calf support  112  near the top. In other embodiments the calf strap  306  is attached in various locations, for example, either side of the calf support  112  near the middle or bottom. 
         [0026]    In some embodiments, each of the straps  302 ,  304 ,  306  independently is connected to the frame  100  at one end and is loose at the other end. In these embodiments, after the boot is inserted into the frame  100 , the loose end of the strap  302 ,  304 ,  306  is then attached to the frame  100  to hold the boot in place. 
         [0027]    In other embodiments, both ends of each of the straps  302 ,  304 ,  306  independently are connected to the frame  100 . In these embodiments, after the boot is inserted into the frame  100  the straps  302 ,  304 ,  306  are tightened to secure the boot in place. 
         [0028]    In some embodiments, the height of the heel binding  106  is adjustable. In an embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the heel binding  106  comprises one or more plates  506 . The user can add additional plates  506  in the location of the heel binding  106  thereby raising the height of the heel binding  106 . In these embodiments, the plates  506  are secured in place using screws  504 , that screw into holes  502 . In some embodiments, for example the one shown in  FIG. 5 , two screws  504  secure the plates  506  in place. In other embodiments, additional screws are used. It is preferable to have at least two screws  504 , because a single screw may result in the rotation of the plate  506  in place.  FIG. 6  shows a side view of a heel binding  106  having four plates  506  held in place by screws  504 . 
         [0029]    In other embodiments (not shown), the user can turn a dial that cranks the heel binding  106  up or down and adjusts it to the desired height. By changing the height of the heel binding  106  the user raises or lowers the height of the boot heel, which results in a more comfortable stance on the skis and provides greater control while skiing.