Patent ID: 8876123

Claim:
An exoskeleton for connecting an item of footwear to sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising: an underfoot base; an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base; a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base and a posterior end positioned adjacent the lateral side of the ankle cuff, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff to provide lateral support to the ankle cuff; a second restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base and a posterior end positioned adjacent the medial side of the ankle cuff, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff to provide medial support to the ankle cuff; and a restraining brace connector configured to extend behind the ankle cuff to operatively and detachably connect the posterior end of the first restraining brace to the posterior end of the second restraining brace; wherein the first and second restraining braces are configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton, the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear.