Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02239738 1998-06-OS
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FOOTWFAR
The present invention relates to a footwear,
and particularly to a boot to be used with a runner
such as a boot for an ice, inline, or roller skate,
cross country ski, snowboard, etc.
The developments of skate boots in the last
twenty years have been in the direction of a more rigid
boot partly because of the advent of molded plastic
shells for the construction of skate boots. Such tech-
niques have allowed a more rigid construction of the
uppers, presumably to increase performance, and to
improve the protection of the skater. However, there is
little consideration for the anatomy or the biome-
chanics of the foot. The foot is a very complex biome-
chanical structure with scores of articulates bones,
cartilage and muscles. When the foot is encased in a
conventional molded plastic shell, little of the
mechanical advantages of the complex leverage movements
can be transferred to the runner, i.e. blade inline
rollers or cross country ski, because of the rigidity
of the shell and the instability of the foot within the
slipper.
The rigid shell forming the upper, in con-
ventional molded skate boots, is uncomfortable. Various
soft inner boots or slippers have been designed for use
with such rigid boots to be adapted and to be formed to
the foot of the wearer. However, the skate is not
therefore responsive to the thrust of the foot. Some of
the force being transferred to the foot laterally, or
torquewise, is loss due to the movement of the slipper
relative to the shell.
It is an aim of the present invention to
provide a boot which is comfortable while providing
stability for the foot, thereby providing a high degree
of performance.
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It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a boot which is designed respecting anatomy
and biomechanical aspects of the foot.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a boot which has a relatively rigid upper
and provided with selected flexible portions to allow
suitable flexion extension about the ankle.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a boot which better blocks the foot and
ankle in the boot to prevent power loss.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a boot with a rigid shell which surrounds
the foot and is in contact with the foot only through
selected, strategically located, pads which effectively
suspend the foot in the shell.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a rigid toe box for a boot which respects
the asymmetric anatomy of the articulated structure of
the foot .
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a boot upper having a lateral quarter and a
medial quarter which are asymmetric and mostly rigid.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a pair of flexible compressible wall por-
tions provided in the lateral and medial quarters but
aligned in a plane containing the general flexion and
extension movements of the foot in relation to the
ankle.
It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a pair of fastening rows and tongue which
extend in the lower part over the vamp, on either side
of an axis extending parallel to and between the third
and fourth metatarsal bones. The upper part of the lac-
ing is provided on either side of an axis which is
aligned with the upper anterior portion of the ankle
and which is offset from the axis of the lacing in the
lower part thereof.
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It is a further aim of the present invention
to provide a tongue which extends from the toe box in
the area of the vamp and which is coincident with the
lacing on the lower part of the upper and which extends
offset to be oriented with the lacing in the upper part
of the upper.
It is yet a further aim of the present
invention to provide an improved inner sole or foot bed
in the boot.
It is an aim of the present invention to
provide a boot suitable for gliding sports which pro-
vides an improvement in comfort, adaptability, foot
stability and performance.
In one aspect of the present invention
there is provided a toe box having a rigid one piece
shell for a boot having a sole with a toe portion, a
heel portion, the toe box having a lower edge coinci-
dent with the sole in the toe portion and the rear edge
thereof defines the extent of the shell which is asym-
metric and has a somewhat parabolic outline between a
portion coincident with the joint of the first metatar-
sal shaft and the respective phalange, and another
portion coincident with the joint of the fifth metatar-
sal bone and the respective phalange.
A construction in accordance with another
aspect of the present invention comprises an upper for
a boot having a medial quarter and a lateral quarter
and defining a first pair of parallel fastening rows
along the front edges of each quarters, at least in the
vamp area of the boot, and the median axis of the rows
extends between the third and fourth metatarsal bones
of the foot.
More specifically the front edges of the
lateral and medial quarters include a second pair of
fastening rows above the first pair that are offset
from the first pair and aligned with the anterior por-
tion of the ankle.
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In a further construction of the present
invention the medial quarter and the lateral quarter
are each provided with a flexible compressible area
aligned in a common axis which extends in the medial
dorsal area and posterior lateral area in order to per-
mit flexion and extension of the foot about the axis of
the ankle during the skating action.
In another aspect of the present invention
there are provided spaced apart pads fixed to the inte
rior of the upper wherein the pads include at least a
medial metatarsal pad between the base and the head of
the first metatarsal shaft, in the horizontal, a lat-
eral metatarsal pad near the head of the fifth metatar-
sal bone, in horizontal, a vamp pad in the dorsal area
of the metatarsus and phalange joints, a medial ankle
pad having a vertical component and a horizontal compo-
nent just behind and below the ankle protrusion and an
asymmetrical lateral ankle pad having a vertical com-
ponent and a horizontal component and extending in the
boot just behind and below the ankle.
In a further aspect of the present invention
there is provided an inner sole being a relatively deep
recess in the heel portion of the sole with a 5 varus
in the frontal plane, a pronounced parabolic arch
extending so that the apex of the arch is at the medial
cuneiform while the front of the foot pad has a 7 varus
in the frontal plane with the exclusion of the first
metatarsal shaft in a cuboid bump relative to the loca
tion of the cuboid is provided in the lateral portion
of the foot bed.
Having thus generally described the nature
of the invention, reference will now be made to the
accompanying drawings, showing by way of illustration,
a preferred embodiment thereof, and in which:
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a boot in
accordance with the present invention;
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Figure 2 is a side elevation taken from the
medial side of the boot;
Figure 3 is a front elevation thereof;
Figure 4 is a side elevation taken from the
lateral side of the boot;
Figure 5 is a rear elevation thereof;
Figure 6 is a side elevation taken from the
medial side showing the spatial arrangement of the pads
and foot bed of the present invention;
i Figure 7 is a front elevation of the spatial
arrangement shown in Figure 6;
Figure 8 is a side elevation taken from the
lateral side of the spatial arrangement shown in
Figures 6 and 7;
Figure 9 is a rear elevation thereof;
Figure l0a is a front elevation view of
another embodiment of the lateral malleolar pad;
Figures lOb, lOc, and lOd represent rear,
front, and side views of the malleolar pad shown in
Figures l0a in position on the foot shown in dotted
lines;
Figure lla is a front elevation of a medial
malleolar pad of the same embodiment as that shown in
Figures 10a; and
Figures llb through lld represent rear,
front, and side views of the medial malleolar pad in
position on a foot shown in dotted lines.
Referring now to Figs. 1 to 5 there is shown
a skate 10 including a boot 12, a blade support 14, and
blade 16. The blade support 14 and the blade 16 are of
conventional construction. It is also understood that
the boot 12 can be utilized with an inline roller skate
support with similar advantages.
It is also contemplated that the boot 12 can
be adapted for use with other so called gliding sports
such as cross country skiing, specially when using
equipment for the skating technique. The boot 12 could
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also be adapted for other gliding sports such as snow-
boarding, skiing, etc.
The boot 12 includes an upper formed with a
rigid toe box 18, a lateral quarter 20 and a medial
quarter 22. A sole 24 is also provided to which the
blade support is fixed.
The toe box 18 includes a lower edge 26
coincident with the edge of the sole 24, the toe box 18
extends rearwardly on the medial side and on the dorsal
portion to cover the first metatarsal shaft and must
extend laterally rearwardly to cover the fifth metatar-
sal bone.
The rear edge 28 of the box 18 defines a
somewhat parabolic curve in the area of the vamp to
coincide with the joints of the second, third, and
fourth metatarsal heads. The toe box 18 should be one-
piece molded, rigid plastic material with means pro-
vided for fastening the tongue 38 as will be described.
The upper includes a lateral quarter 20 and
a medial quarter 22 which may be two asymmetric inde
pendent pieces joined together in the area of the
Achilles tendon or may be a one piece molded plastic
shell.
The lateral quarter 20 includes an eyelet
row 30 which is aligned with the fourth metatarsal
bone. The lateral quarter is fixed along its edge to
the sole 24 and forwardly along the rear edge 28 of the
toe box 18. The upper portion of the forward edge 30a
of the lateral quarter 20 is offset from the alignment
of the eyelet row 30 in order that it would be symmet-
rical with the anterior portion of the ankle.
The medial quarter 22 as shown in Figs. 1,
2, and 3 includes an eyelet row 32 which is aligned
with the second metatarsal bone. The gap between the
eyelet rows 30 and 32 is offset with respect to the
longitudinal axis of the boot as best seen in Fig. 3.
The medial quarter 22 is joined at its lower edge to
CA 02239738 1998-06-OS
the sole 24 and at its forward edge to the rear edge 28
of the toe box 18. The upper edge 32a of the medial
quarter 22 is offset from the alignment of the eyelet
row 32 and along with the upper forward edge 30a of
quarter 20 to form a gap which is in alignment with the
anterior portion of the ankle, that is with the longi-
tudinal axis of the boot. Thus, in appearance the lac-
ing gap appears to be scewered when seen from the front
view as shown in Figs. 1 and 3.
A lacing band 34 having forwardly extending
pairs of fingers 34a and 34b is loosely mounted to the
rear of the boot with the fingers extending forwardly
and presenting lacing hooks 40. The lacing band 34 is
fixed at least at one point to the rear portion of the
upper, at least in the area of the Achilles tendon. The
fingers 34a and 34b on either side of the boot 12 are
not directly connected to their respective quarters 20
and 22. Thus, when it is necessary to mount the boot
the lacing 31 is first passed through the pairs of eye-
lets 30 and 32 and then crossed over the hook 40 of
fingers 34a and 34b on either side of the boot. This
lacing pattern was designed to maximize the blocking of
the foot by use of pads 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 as will
be described.
The tongue 38 is attached in the vamp por-
tion to the toe box 18 at its rear edge 28. The tongue
38 extends from the lateral portion of the first meta-
tarsal shaft to the medial portion of the fifth meta-
tarsal bone. The tongue 38 is fixed along its lateral
edge to the lateral quarter 20 in order to best anchor
the tongue 38 and prevent it from floating. The tongue
38 includes a contour that follows the gay ~etween the
lower eyelet rows 30 and 32 and the gap f~°°med between
the upper edges 30a and 32a to extend over the curved
gap portion between them to just pass over the
malleolus.
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Although not shown on the top edge of the
tongue 38 may be folded outwardly to receive the bottom
edge of a shin pad. Tongue 38 is lighter than a conven-
tional boot tongue, thereby contributing to the reduc-
tion weight of the boot. The tongue is also designed to
provide a better anatomical fit.
It is necessary to provide a boot having a
rigid boot thereby providing a rigid lever in order to
obtain the maximum propulsion force in the power
stroke. However, conventional rigid boots are uncom-
fortable and do not allow certain important movements
necessary for skating.
It is known that the axis of the subtalar
joint permits complex eversion/inversion and adduction
and abduction. The axis of the subtalar joint completes
the function of the ankle when pressure is applied as
well as when pressure is released. However, under pres-
sure, the extension of the ankle draws the head of the
astragalus in adduction causing the pronation of the
axis of the subtalar joint. Since skating is partially
non-weight bearing, it is thus possible to block the
pronation about the subtalar joint axis without limit-
ing the amplitude of necessary ankle movement. This is
in order to obtain a rigid lever without restraining
the mobility of the ankle.
At the beginning of a power stroke the ankle
has an extension movement of between 10° and 25°. How-
ever, this extension provokes the adduction of the head
of the astragalus causing a pronation movement which is
proportional to the loss of power energy. By blocking
the subtalar joint the skate acts more like a rigid
lever. However, when one changes speed, the ankle must
be mobile. Thus, by stabilizing and fixing the foot
within the boot while allowing the movement of the
ankle, the general skating efficiency can be improved.
Since the skating stroke is partially non-
weight-bearing, as compared to walking or running, the
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movements of the foot can be limited by blocking the
foot within the skate so as to provide the rigid lever.
The axis of the ankle is of the prona-
tion/supination type to provide mainly flexion and
extension of the foot. During skating, the ankle must
be allowed to move between 10° and 25° either in flex-
ion or in extension but no greater. More specifically,
the ankle pivots at an angle to the longitudinal axis
of the boot and the plane of this flexion/extension is
referred to as a dorsal medial flexion in the gliding
portion of the stroke while the ankle must flex 10° to
25° in the post lateral direction in the same plane
during the power phase of the stroke. Thus, the medial
quarter 22 includes a cutout portion with a compress-
ible insert 23 provided therein. The compressible
insert 23 may be of a somewhat oval outline and made of
a corrugated plastic material with the ribs of the
corrugated plastic member 23 extending in the same
direction as the pleats formed in the skin during flex-
ion otherwise known as the "resting skin tension
lines". The insert 23 could be made of other compress-
ible flexible materials including compressible metals
having memory, an air bladder or other spring-like
materials. The insert 23 can be sewn or otherwise
adhered along its edges to the cutout edge in the
medial quarter 22. The center of the insert can be
located at a point considered a medial dorsal to the
junction of the cartilage to the head of the
astragalus. It is also contemplated that the cut outs
in the medial and lateral quarters respectively are
sufficient to allow for ankle mobility. The compress-
ible inserts 21, 23 are therefore optional and may be
used as an energy return mechanism.
A similar lateral compressible insert 21 is
provided in the lateral quarter and the center of this
insert is fixed to the apex of the peroneus and the
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Achilles tendon. This insert 21 permits planter flexion
during the power stroke.
The compressible inserts 21 and 23 act in
the two directions, that is in compression and exten-
sion. When the insert is compressed, greater mobility
results. When compression pressure on the insert is
released the extension of the insert acts as a spring
providing synergy to the flexion of the ankle by way of
the kinetic thrust which it provides. The compressible
inserts are mainly designed to allow specific sagittal
plane mobility of the ankle in gliding sports.
A plurality of distinct pads are strategi-
cally located on the inner surface of the upper of the
boot 12. These pads can be glued to the inner shell and
covered by a liner such as a leather liner similar to a
conventional construction of the boot. Although the
location of these pads are shown in dotted lines in
Figs. 2 through 5, they are shown in Figs. 6 to 9 in
their relative position to the foot. Medial pad 44 and
lateral pad 46 are provided in asymmetric relation on
either side of the foot. Even though pads 44, 46 are
identical, they are located in asymmetrical relation as
shown in Figs. 6 and 8 for instance. The medial meta-
tarsal pad 44 has a somewhat quadrilateral shape and is
located coincident with the base and the head of the
first metatarsal shaft. The pad must be convex in the
area of contact with the foot in the horizontal axis
and must also be convex in its vertical axis, thus it
must have somewhat of a dome shape. The lateral meta-
tarsal pad 46 is located in a position coincident with
the location between the tubercle and the head of the
fifth metatarsus in a horizontal axis. The pad 46 must
be convex both in the vertical and horizontal axes.
When the boot is laced the medial metatarsal pad 44 and
the lateral metatarsal pad 46 protect the first meta-
tarsal bone and the fifth and fourth metatarsal bones,
respectively. When the boot is laced the pads 44, 46
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will provide a stabilizing force to prevent movement of
the foot relative to the boot.
The lacing and metatarsal pads add a plantar
flexorial force on the medial and lateral columns of
the foot. Thus, the pads 44 and 46 increase the rigid
lever effect and provide mechanical advantages to the
longitudinal flexors.
The vamp pad 48 is located in the vamp area
of the boot which covers the proximal portions of the
second to the fifth phalanges in the dorsal area of the
metatarsal-phalangeal joints. This pad 48 is generally
crescent-shaped. The pad 48 acts to prevent movement of
the foot forwardly in the boot. This pad is fixed to
the tongue at its junction with the toe box.
The lateral malleolar pad 52 extends between
the Achilles tendon and the ankle in the vertical axis
filling up the concave area therein and extends down-
wardly to the post-lateral upper tubercle of the cal-
caneum by forming a hook. The horizontal component of
the malleolar pad 52 extends forward to end just above
the cuboid.
The medial malleolar pad 50 extends between
the Achilles tendon and the ankle. The malleolar pad 50
has an overall J-shape with a horizontal component
extending forwardly into proximity with the tubercle of
the scaphoid. Pads 50 and 52 block the foot within the
shell of the boot and will prevent the adduction of the
head of the astragalus and will support the susten-
taculum tali, limiting the pronation about the subtalar
joint axis. These two pads 50 and 52 are asymmetric and
follow the anatomical form of the foot. Pads 50 and 52
further fill the concave area on either side of the
foot behind the ankle and form a wedge to block the
foot on the inside of the boot. Thus, it can be seen
that these pads will prevent relative movement of the
foot in the boot, thereby contributing to the reduction
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on energy loss. Each pad 50, 52 is compatible with the
right or left foot.
In fact, foot movement is transmitted
directly to the boot while the cut out portions includ-
ing compressible inserts 21 and 23 will provide
mobility to the boot in response to the foot movements.
The cut out portions in the medial and lateral quarters
respectively are sufficient to allow proper ankle
mobility. The compressible inserts 21, 23 are therefore
optional and may be used as an energy return mechanism.
Although not shown, a further pad can be
provided in the end of the toe box 18 to eliminate the
necessity of manufacturing half sizes or to compensate
for the growing foot of a child.
The pads 44, 46, 48, 50 and 52 form an
arrangement of strategically located pads within the
upper that provide protection and comfort to the foot.
It also blocks or stabilizes the foot along with the
foot bed, to permit a rigid lever effect which permits
suitable ankle mobility. Furthermore it is contemplated
that a thinner rigid liner may be used as a result,
thereby contributing to reducing the weight of the
boot.
An inner sole or foot bed 54 is provided.
First of all, a deep, narrow recess 53 is shown in dot-
ted lines and located in their calcaneum bed por-
tion 56. Recess 53 may be 8mm to 9mm deep. The surface
of the calcaneum slopes at 5° to the frontal plane,
thus opposing the pronation force about the subtalar
joint axis and providing mechanical advantage to the
power muscles In view of this mechanical advantage dur-
ing the gliding stroke, the axis need not have a large
amplitude of movement. In fact the movement of this
axis must be restricted. By positioning the calcaneum
at a slope of 5° the subtalar joint can be maintained
in a position of supination. The muscle leverage is
thus increased and the amplitude of movement of the
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forefoot is decreased, thereby stabilizing the forefoot
portion and increasing the force of the power stroke.
By relocating the calcaneum at a 5° angle, the func-
tional axes of the foot are reoriented, thereby opti-
mizing the stability of the foot. The deep recess 53
provides sidewalls which limit the lateral movement of
the calcaneum within the boot and further controls the
pronation force around the axis of the subtalar joint.
The arch 58 of the foot bed 54 is in the
form of a parabola extending from the planter tubercle
medial of the calcaneum to the head of the first meta
tarsal bone. The apex of this parabola is located under
the medial cuneiform. The height of the apex is deter
mined by the size of the boot (for a 92 North American
men size, the apex is 33mm high).
The forward portion of the innersole has a
7° slope in the frontal plane but excluding the first
metatarsal bone. This provides the most efficient
leverage for the power stroke in the skating cycle. The
foot bed 54 includes a forward portion which extends
below the heads of the fourth and fifth metatarsal
bones including the toe. The foot bed extension has a
thickness of about 3mm. A cuboid bump 60 of semi-
cylindrical shape has an apex of about 4mm and is
located as shown in Fig. 8.
The material used for the foot bed 54 must
be flexible, light and resilient. A multifoam material
is used for the top surface layer of the footbed 54 as
well as the portion that extends under the toes. The
main portion of the footbed 54 is preferably make of
"Aliplast" material.
Referring now to Figures l0a through lOd and
Figures lla through lld there is shown another embodi-
ment of the malleolar pads 150 and 152 which can be
compared to the malleolar pads of the embodiments shown
in Figures 2 through 9. The malleolar pads 150 and 152
have an extension 150a and 152a which projects for-
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wardly and downwardly to form a C-shape pad surrounding
the respective medial and lateral malleolars as shown
in Figures l0a through lOb and Figures lla through lld.
The malleolar pads 150 and 152 of this embodiment apply
especially to boots which are used in gliding sports
such as downhill skiing, telemark skiing, cross country
skiing and snowboarding. The upper extension 150a and
152a of these pads opposes the heel lift effect experi-
enced in such boots. Most such gliding sports require
substantial foot lifting movements to require lifting
of substantial weights such as the boot harness and
ski. There is a tendency therefore of the heel to move
upwardly within the boot. The C-shaped malleolar pads
150 and 152 of this embodiment will have the effect of
blocking the foot and stabilize it within the boot and
reduce any heel lifting effect.
