Patent ID: 8505222

Claim:
A skate boot for receiving a wearer's foot and ankle therein, the boot comprising: a boot upper fixed to an outsole, the boot upper consisting of a first quarter, a second quarter and a remainder of the upper; each quarter having a bottom section for covering a side of the foot and a top section for covering a side of the ankle, the bottom section extending forwardly from the top section and the top section extending upwardly from the bottom section; the remainder of the upper including: a vamp for covering a front portion of the foot and connected to the quarters, an instep portion connected to the vamp and quarters for at least partly covering a top portion of the foot, and a rear portion connected to the quarters for covering a rear portion of the foot and ankle; wherein at least the instep portion is made of a first material; wherein the first and second quarters are made of a second material more rigid than the first material, with at least a major part of the instep portion being free of the second material, and wherein the first and second quarters are connected to the remainder of the upper through stitching, adhesive or lamination.