Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
SKATE BOOT HAVING AN INNER LINER WITH
AN ABRASION RESISTANT OVERLAY
Field of the invention
The present invention relates to a skate boot having an inner liner with an
abrasion
resistant cover, layer, patch, or overlay made of a material that has more
abrasion
resistance than the remaining material of the inner liner.
Background of the invention
As is well known in the art, a skate boot for an ice hockey or roller hockey
player
may comprise an outer shell made of different layers and an inner liner or
inner lining
for covering the inner surface of the outer shell. The inner liner has an
outer surface
that is mounted to the inner surface of the outer shell and an inner surface
adapted
to contact the player's foot or the sock covering the player's foot.
The inner liner may be made of a layer of soft material such as a sheet of
polyester
laminated with a layer of foam, or of a layer of fabric made from nylon
fibers.
Because of the repetitive flexing motions in the ankle region of the hockey
player,
the hockey sock covering the leg pad worn by the player and/or the boot tongue
repetitively contact the upper medial and lateral inner regions of the inner
liner and
these portions are therefore exposed to much more friction and may eventually
be
partially or entirely be torn, abraded or damaged. This constant rubbing of
the
tongue and/or leg pad covered by the hockey sock is mostly concentrated to the
upper medial and lateral inner regions of the inner liner around the first and
second
lace openings or eyelets of the skate boot, extending backwards from the lace
openings or eyelets a few centimeters depending on the size of the skate boot.
There is therefore a need in the industry for a skate boot having an inner
liner that
has one or more overlays, coverings, layers or patches provided on the upper
inner
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regions of the inner liner and made of a material that has more abrasion
resistance
than the remaining material of the inner liner.
Summary of the invention
As embodied and broadly described herein, according to a broad aspect, the
invention provides a skate boot for enclosing a foot of a hockey player, the
player's
foot having a heel, an ankle with a medial side and a lateral side, and medial
and
lateral sides, the skate boot comprising: (a) an outer shell having outer and
inner
surfaces, the outer shell comprising a heel portion for receiving the heel of
the
player's foot, an ankle portion for receiving the ankle of the player's foot,
the ankle
portion of the outer shell comprising a medial side having a medial upper edge
and a
lateral side having a lateral upper edge, and medial and lateral side portions
for
receiving the medial and lateral sides of the player's foot; and (b) an inner
liner made
of a first material and comprising an outer surface mounted to the inner
surface of
the outer shell, an inner surface adapted to contact the player's foot or a
sock
covering the player's foot, an ankle portion comprising a medial upper edge, a
medial upper inner region, a lateral upper edge and a lateral upper inner
region,
wherein one of the medial and lateral upper inner regions of the inner liner
comprises an overlay made of a second material having more abrasion resistance
than the first material of the inner liner.
According to another broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing
a foot of a hockey player, the player's foot having a heel, an ankle with a
medial side
and a lateral side, and medial and lateral sides, the skate boot comprising:
(a) an
outer shell having outer and inner surfaces, the outer shell having a heel
portion for
receiving the heel of the player's foot, an ankle portion for receiving the
ankle of the
player's foot, the ankle portion of the outer shell comprising a medial side
having a
medial upper edge and a lateral side having a lateral upper edge, and medial
and
lateral side portions for receiving the medial and lateral sides of the
player's foot;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-25
and (b) an inner liner made of a first material and comprising an outer
surface
mounted to the inner surface of the outer shell, an inner surface adapted to
contact
the player's foot or a sock covering the player's foot, an ankle portion
comprising a
medial upper inner region and a lateral upper inner region, and an overlay at
least
partially covering one of the medial and lateral upper inner regions of the
ankle
portion of the inner liner, the overlay being made of a second material having
more
abrasion resistance than the first material of the inner liner.
According to another broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing
a foot of a skater, the skate boot comprising: an outer shell comprising an
outer
surface and an inner surface; and an inner liner mounted to the outer shell
and
comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the
inner liner
facing towards the inner surface of the outer shell, the inner surface of the
inner liner
being configured to be exposed to the skater when the foot of the skater is in
the
skate boot, the inner liner comprising: a first material making up a first
portion of the
inner surface of the inner liner; and a second material having more abrasion
resistance than the first material and making up a second portion of the inner
surface of the inner liner.
According to another broad aspect, the invention provides an inner liner for a
skate
boot for enclosing a foot of a skater, the inner liner being mountable to an
outer shell
of the skate boot, the inner liner comprising an outer surface and an inner
surface,
the outer surface of the inner liner being configured to face towards an inner
surface
of the outer shell of the skate boot, the inner surface of the inner liner
being
configured to be exposed to the skater when the foot of the skater is in the
skate
boot, the inner liner comprising a first material making up a first portion of
the inner
surface of the inner liner and a second material having more abrasion
resistance
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-25
than the first material and making up a second portion of the inner surface of
the
inner liner.
According to a further broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing a skater's foot, the skate boot comprising: a) an outer shell; and
b) an
inner liner mounted to the outer shell, the inner liner comprising an
innermost
surface of the skate boot, the inner liner comprising: a first material making
up a first
portion of the innermost surface of the skate boot; and a second material
having
more abrasion resistance than the first material and making up a second
portion of
the innermost surface of the skate boot.
According to another broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing
a foot of a skater, the skate boot comprising: a) an outer shell comprising an
outer
surface and an inner surface; and b) an inner liner mounted to the outer shell
and
comprising an outer surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the
inner liner
facing towards the inner surface of the outer shell, the inner liner
comprising: a first
material making up a first portion of the inner surface of the inner liner;
and a second
material having more abrasion resistance than the first material and making up
a
second portion of the inner surface of the inner liner, the second material
being
configured to be exposed to the skater when the foot of the skater is in the
skate
boot.
According to another broad aspect, the invention provides a liner for a skate
boot,
the liner being mountable to a shell of the skate boot and comprising an outer
surface and an inner surface, the outer surface of the liner being configured
to face
towards an inner surface of the shell of the skate boot, the inner surface of
the liner
comprising a first material and an overlay of a second material covering a
part of the
first material, the second material having more abrasion resistance than the
first
material the overlay and another part of the first material not covered by the
second
material being exposed to a skater's foot when placed in the skate boot.
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-25
According to a further broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot
comprising
(i) a shell; and (ii) a liner mounted to the shell, the liner having an inner
surface
comprising a first material, at least part of the first material being covered
by a layer
.. of a second material, the second material and another part of the first
material not
covered by the second material being exposed to a skater's foot when placed in
the
skate boot.
According to another broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing
.. a foot of a skater, the skate boot comprising: a) a shell; and b) a liner
mounted to the
shell, the liner including an inner surface configured to be exposed to the
skater
when the foot of the skater is in the skate boot, the liner comprising: a
first material
making up a first portion of the inner surface of the liner; and a plurality
of patches of
a second material having more abrasion resistance than the first material that
are
making up a second portion of the inner surface of the liner, the patches
being
separated from one another by the first material.
According to a further broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing a foot of a skater, the skate boot comprising: a) a shell; and b) a
liner
.. mounted to the shell, the liner including an inner surface configured to be
exposed to
the skater when the foot of the skater is in the skate boot, the liner
comprising: a
layer of fabric making up a first portion of the inner surface of the liner;
and an
overlay of a material having more abrasion resistance than the fabric, the
overlay
overlying the layer of fabric and making up a second portion of the inner
surface of
.. the liner, the second portion of the inner surface of the liner being
exposed to more
friction during repeated flexion of an ankle of the skater while skating than
the first
portion of the inner surface of the liner.
According to a further broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
.. enclosing a foot of a hockey player, the player's foot having a heel, an
ankle with a
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-25
medial side and a lateral side, and medial and lateral sides. The skate boot
comprises an outer shell having outer and inner surfaces. The outer shell
comprises
a heel portion for receiving the heel of the player's foot, an ankle portion
for receiving
the ankle of the player's foot. The ankle portion of the outer shell comprises
a medial
side having a medial upper edge and a lateral side having a lateral upper
edge, and
medial and lateral side portions for receiving the medial and lateral sides of
the
player's foot. The skate boot also comprise an inner liner made of a first
material and
comprising an outer surface mounted to the inner surface of the outer shell.
The
inner liner also comprises an inner surface forming a foot-receiving cavity.
The inner
liner further comprises an ankle portion comprising a medial upper edge, a
medial
upper inner region, a lateral upper edge and a lateral upper inner region. One
of the
medial and lateral upper inner regions of the inner liner comprises an overlay
made
of a second material having more abrasion resistance than the first material
of the
inner liner, the second material being exposed to an interior of the foot
receiving-
cavity.
According to a further broad aspect, the invention provides a skate boot for
enclosing a foot of a hockey player, the player's foot having a heel, an ankle
with a
medial side and a lateral side, and medial and lateral sides. The skate boot
comprises an outer shell having outer and inner surfaces, the outer shell
having a
heel portion for receiving the heel of the player's foot, an ankle portion for
receiving
the ankle of the player's foot. The ankle portion of the outer shell comprises
a medial
side having a medial upper edge and a lateral side having a lateral upper
edge, and
medial and lateral side portions for receiving the medial and lateral sides of
the
player's foot. The skate boot also comprises an inner liner made of a first
material
and comprising an outer surface mounted to the inner surface of the outer
shell. The
inner liner also comprises an inner surface forming a foot-receiving cavity.
The inner
liner further comprises an ankle portion comprising a medial upper inner
region and
a lateral upper inner region. The inner liner also comprises an overlay at
least
partially covering one of the medial and lateral upper inner regions of the
ankle
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-25
portion of the inner liner, the overlay being made of a second material having
more
abrasion resistance than the first material of the inner liner, the second
material
being exposed to an interior of the foot receiving-cavity.
These and other aspects and features of the present invention will now become
apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon review of the following
description
of specific embodiments of the invention and the accompanying drawings.
Brief description of the drawings
A detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention is provided
herein
below, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which:
Figure 1 is a side view of a right human foot with the integument of the foot
shown in
dotted lines and the bones shown in solid lines;
Figure 2 is a front view of the human foot of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a side view of an ice skate having a skate boot with an inner
liner in
accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the ice skate of Figure 3, shown without the
tongue
in order to better show the inner liner in accordance with the first
embodiment of the
present invention;
Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the ice skate of Figure 3;
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Date Recue/Date Received 2020-09-25
Figure 6 is a partial enlarged top perspective view of the ice skate of Figure
3;
Figure 7 is a perspective view of the inner liner in accordance with the first
embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 8 is a top view of the inner liner of Figure 7, with the liner shown in
a flat
position and with the medial and lateral overlays shown separately;
Figure 9 is a top view of the inner liner of Figure 7, with the inner liner
shown in a flat
position;
Figure 10 is a top view of an inner liner in accordance with a second
embodiment of
the present invention, with the liner shown in a flat position;
Figure 11 is a top view of an inner liner in accordance with a third
embodiment of the
present invention, with the liner shown in a flat position;
Figure 12 is a top view of an inner liner in accordance with a fourth
embodiment of
the present invention, with the liner shown in a flat position; and
Figure 13 is a top view of an inner liner in accordance with a fifth
embodiment of the
present invention, with the liner shown in a flat position.
In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of
examples. It
is to be expressly understood that the description and drawings are only for
the
purpose of illustration and are an aid for understanding. They are not
intended to be
a definition of the limits of the invention.
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Detailed description of the embodiments of the invention
To facilitate the description, any reference numeral designating an element in
one
figure will designate the same element if used in any other figures. In
describing the
embodiments, specific terminology is resorted to for the sake of clarity but
the
invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terms so selected, and
it is
understood that each specific term comprises all equivalents.
Unless otherwise indicated, the drawings are intended to be read together with
the
specification, and are to be considered a portion of the entire written
description of
this invention. As used in the following description, the terms "horizontal",
"vertical",
"left", "right", "up", "down" and the like, as well as adjectival and
adverbial derivatives
thereof (e.g., "horizontally", "rightwardly", "upwardly", "radially", etc.),
simply refer to
the orientation of the illustrated structure. Similarly, the terms "inwardly,"
"outwardly"
and "radially" generally refer to the orientation of a surface relative to its
axis of
elongation, or axis of rotation, as appropriate.
Shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a typical right human foot F that includes toes T,
a
plantar surface PS, a top surface TS, a medial side MS and a lateral side LS.
In
addition, the human foot includes a heel H, and an ankle A having a medial
side with
and a medial malleolus MM, a rear side RS and a lateral side with a lateral
malleolus
LM, the lateral malleolus LM being at a lower position than the medial
malleolus MM.
The rear side RS has an upper part UP and a lower part LP projecting outwardly
with
relation to the upper part UP, the lower part merging with the heel H.
Shown in Figures 3 to 5 is an ice skate 2 that comprises a skate boot 4
suitable for
enclosing the foot of a hockey player. Although the skate boot 4 shown in the
figures
is being used for an ice skate, it is understood that the skate boot 4 could
also be
used for a roller hockey skate.
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CA 2984944 2017-11-07
The skate boot 4 has an outer shell 6 for receiving the player's foot, the
outer shell 6
having an outer surface 8 and an inner surface 10, a toe cap 12 made of a
rigid
material for protecting the player's toes, a tongue 14 extending upwardly and
rearwardly from the toe cap 12 for covering a forefoot of the player's foot,
an inner
.. liner 16 having an outer surface 18 mounted to the inner surface 10 of the
outer shell
6 and an inner surface 20 adapted to contact the player's foot or a sock
covering the
player's foot, a footbed 22, an insole 24, an outsole 26, an ice skate blade
holder 28
and an ice skate blade 29. The footbed 22 has an upper surface for facing the
plantar surface of the player's foot. The outsole 26 has an upper surface on
which
the sole portion of the outer shell 6 (e.g. the insole 24) may be affixed and
a lower
surface on which the blade holder 28 is mounted.
The outer shell 6 may be made of a thermoformable material. As used herein,
the
expression "thermoformable material" refers to a material that is capable of
softening
when heated and of hardening again when cooled. Some non-limiting examples of
different types of thermoformable material comprise ethylene vinyl acetate
(EVA)
foam, polyethylene foam, polystyrene foam, polypropylene foam and
thermoformable materials sold under the trade-marks MEGABIX , SURLYN ,
SONTARA , FORM0500 , BYLON , MOSOCA and NYLON 66.
The outer shell 6 is thermoformed such that it comprises a heel portion 30 for
receiving the heel of the player's foot, an ankle portion 32 for receiving the
ankle of
the player's foot, the ankle portion 32 comprising a medial side 34 having a
medial
upper edge 36 and a medial upper region 38, a lateral side 40 having a lateral
upper
edge 42 and a lateral upper region 44, and a rear portion 46 for receiving the
rear
side of the ankle, and medial and lateral side portions 48, 50 for receiving
the medial
and lateral sides of the player's foot, the medial and lateral side portions
48, 50
having medial and lateral upper edges 52, 54. The medial and lateral side
portions
48, 50 of the outer shell 6 extend forwardly from the heel and ankle portions
30, 32.
.. The heel portion 30, ankle portion 32 and medial and lateral side portions
48, 50
form a foot-receiving cavity that conforms to the general shape of the
player's foot.
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The heel portion 30 of the outer shell 6 may be thermoformed such that it is
substantially cup-shaped for following the contour of the player's heel.
The medial side 34 of the ankle portion 32 of the outer shell 6 may have a
medial
cup-shaped depression for receiving the medial malleolus and the lateral side
40 of
the ankle portion 32 of the outer shell 6 may have a lateral cup-shaped
depression
for receiving the lateral malleolus. The lateral depression is located
slightly lower
than the medial depression for conforming to the morphology of the player's
foot.
The rear portion 46 of the ankle portion 32 may be thermoformed such that it
follows
the lower part of the rear side of the player's foot.
The medial and lateral side portions 48, 50 of the outer shell 6 may be
thermoformed
such that they each define an inner surface that generally follows the contour
of the
side of the player's foot.
The outer shell 6 also comprises a tendon guard 56 for facing at least
partially the
upper part of the rear side of the ankle. The tendon guard 56 allows backwards
flexion of the ankle when the player's foot moves towards full extension. The
tendon
guard 56 may be made of silicone or may be made by injection molding using
polyester, polyurethane, polyamide, or other suitable thermoplastics. The
selected
material may have enough flexibility to allow the tendon guard 56 to flex
rearwardly
when pressure is applied on it while it should also have enough resiliency to
allow
the tendon guard 56 to return to its initial position when pressure is no
longer applied
on it.
The skate boot 4 may also comprises medial and lateral lace members 58, 60
mounted to the medial and lateral upper edges 52, 54 of the medial and lateral
side
portions 48, 50 of the outer shell 6. The medial and lateral lace members 58,
60 may
be made of fabric, textile, leather or plastic and comprise a series of medial
and
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CA 2984944 2017-11-07
lateral apertures 62, 64 for receiving a lace. Eyelets may be punched into the
lace
apertures 62, 64 of lace members 58, 60.
The lace members 58, 60 can be mounted to the medial and lateral upper edges
52,
54 of the medial or lateral side portions 48, 50 of the outer shell 6 via any
method
known in the art such as stitching, overmolding, thermal bonding, high-
frequency
bonding, vibration bonding, piping, adhesive, or any combination thereof. In
yet other
embodiments, the lace members can form an integral part of the outer shell 6.
In
another embodiment, the lace members may be omitted and lace apertures and
eyelets may be rather provided along the medial and lateral upper edges of the
medial and lateral side portions of the outer shell. Medial and lateral bands
or
overlays may then be added to the outer shell in order to add rigidity to the
skate
boot in the lace regions.
As indicated previously, the skate boot 4 has the inner liner 16, which can be
mounted to the outer shell 6 by lamination, stitches, glue, needles,
overmolding,
thermal bonding, high-frequency bonding, vibration bonding, ultra-sonically
bonded,
or the like.
The inner liner 16 is made of a first material and comprises at least one
covering,
layer, patch or overlay made of a second material having more abrasion
resistance
than the first material of the inner liner.
The inner liner 16 may be made of different layers, for example an inner layer
that is
made of an air-pervious fabric and has an inner surface to contact the
player's foot
or sock in use, an intermediate cushioning layer made of a resilient
cushioning
material, and an outer layer that is co-extensive with the inner layer and
cushioning
layer and that is made of a water impervious material. The air-pervious fabric
may be
made of nylon fabric. The resilient cushioning material may be made vinyl
foam.
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CA 2984944 2017-11-07
In other examples, the inner liner 16 may be made of one or more layers of
materials
such as: anti-microbial, anti-fungal polypropylene, polyester or polyester
blend
having a polyester or cotton backing or the like; fabric or nonwoven made from
corn
fibers or a blend of corn fibers with acetate, polyvinyl acetate or polyester
fibers;
synthetic leathers; polyester fabrics; nonwoven fabrics, nonwoven wool blend;
polyester fabric with an active carbon compound bonded to the polyester; or
sanded
polyester microfiber material.
In another example, the inner liner 16 may be made of a layer of soft material
such
as a sheet of polyester laminated with a layer of foam, or of a layer of
fabric made
from nylon fibers. The inner liner 16 may also be made of brushed nylon
fabric, nylon
mesh, polyester mesh or synthetic leather.
Referring to Figures 7 to 9, the inner liner 16 has an ankle portion 66
comprising a
medial upper inner region 68, a medial upper edge 70, a medial front edge 72,
a
lateral upper inner region 74, a lateral upper edge 76 and a lateral front
edge 78.
The inner liner 16 may also comprise a tendon guard portion 80 for covering
the
inner surface of the tendon guard 56 and medial and lateral side portions 82,
84 for
covering the inner surface of the medial and lateral side portions 48, 50 of
the outer
shell 6.
The inner liner 16 is made of a first material and comprises at least one
covering,
layer, patch or overlay made of a second material having more abrasion
resistance
than the first material of the inner liner, the overlay being located in an
inner region
of the liner 16 that is more exposed to friction from the tongue and/or leg
pad
covered by hockey sock. For example, the inner liner may have medial and
lateral
overlays 86, 88 generally covering the medial and lateral upper inner regions
68, 74
of the inner liner 16. The medial and lateral upper inner regions 68, 74 of
the inner
liner 16 may each be seen as a region occupying a substantial portion of the
upper
of the medial and lateral inner surfaces of the ankle portion 66 delimited by
the
upper edge and the front edges at both upper corner sides (see the trapezoids
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CA 2984944 2017-11-07
shown as broken lines in Figure 8). While the medial and lateral overlays 86,
88 may
cover about 20% to 30% of the medial and lateral upper inner regions 68, 74,
it is
understood that the overlays may also cover a smaller or larger percentage of
these
regions.
The medial overlay 86 has upper, front, lower and rear edges 86UE, 86FE, 86LE,
86RE and the lateral overlay 88 has upper, front, lower and rear edges 88UE,
88FE,
88LE, 88RE, the upper edge 86UE of the medial overlay 86 being located
adjacent
the medial upper edge 70 of the inner liner ankle portion 66, the front edge
86FE of
the medial overlay 86 being located adjacent the medial front edge 72 of the
inner
liner ankle portion 66, the upper edge 88UE of the lateral overlay 88 being
located
adjacent the lateral upper edge 76 of the inner liner ankle portion 66 and the
front
edge 88FE of the lateral overlay 88 being located adjacent the lateral front
edge 78
of the inner liner ankle portion 66. As is best seen in Figure 6, with such a
construction the upper edge 86UE of the medial overlay 86 is located adjacent
the
medial upper edge 36 of the shell ankle portion 32, the front edge 86FE of the
medial overlay 86 is located adjacent the upper edge 52 of the shell medial
side
portion 48 (and adjacent the first and second lace openings 621, 622), the
upper
edge 88UE of the lateral overlay 88 is located adjacent the lateral upper edge
42 of
the shell ankle portion 32, and the front edge 88FE of the lateral overlay 88
is
located adjacent the upper edge 54 of the shell lateral side portion 50 (and
adjacent
the first and second lace openings 641, 642).
While the inner liner 16 has medial and lateral overlays 86, 88, it is
understood that
one overlay may be omitted such that the inner liner only comprises one
overlay
located on the inner region that may be more exposed to friction (the lateral
inner
region for example).
The medial and lateral overlays 86, 88 may be mounted or affixed to the medial
and
lateral upper inner regions 68, 74 of the inner liner 16 using any method
known in
the art such as lamination, stitching, gluing, needling, overmolding, thermal
bonding,
CA 2984944 2017-11-07
high-frequency bonding, vibration bonding, ultra-sonically bonding or any
combination thereof.
Moreover, the medial and lateral overlays 86, 88 may be made of any suitable
material offering more abrasion resistance than the remaining material of the
inner
liner 16, such as thermoplastic polyurethane, polyurethane, denier nylon,
denier
cord ura, ballistic nylon, rubber or neoprene.
For example, the medial and lateral overlays 86, 88 may be made of a
thermoplastic
polyurethane film or layer bonded to the inner surface 20 of the inner liner
16 by
high-frequency bonding at a temperature between 90 C and 100 C and at a
pressure between 4 and 5 kg/cm2 for about two minutes with a cooling period of
about one minute.
The medial and lateral overlays 86, 88 may each have a thickness between 0.3mm
and 0.7mm.
An inner liner 160 in accordance with a second embodiment of the invention is
shown in Figure 10 in which the same reference numerals are used for the same
elements as those for the inner liner 16. The inner liner 160 has medial and
lateral
overlays 186, 188 generally covering the medial and lateral upper inner
regions of
the inner liner 160. The medial overlay 186 has upper, front, lower and rear
edges
186UE, 186FE, 186LE, 186RE and the lateral overlay 188 has upper, front, lower
and rear edges 188UE, 188FE, 188LE, 188RE, the upper edge 186UE of the medial
overlay 186 being located adjacent the medial upper edge of the inner liner
ankle
portion, the front edge 186FE of the medial overlay 186 being located adjacent
the
medial front edge of the inner liner ankle portion, the upper edge 188UE of
the
lateral overlay 188 being located adjacent the lateral upper edge of the inner
liner
ankle portion and the front edge 188FE of the lateral overlay 188 being
located
adjacent the lateral front edge of the inner liner ankle portion. The rear
edges
186RE, 188RE each extends along an axis generally parallel to the vertical and
the
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CA 2984944 2017-11-07
lower edges 186LE, 188LE each extends along an axis generally parallel to the
horizontal.
An inner liner 260 in accordance with a third embodiment of the invention is
shown
in Figure 11 in which the same reference numerals are used for the same
elements
as those for the inner liner 16. The inner liner 260 has medial and lateral
overlays
286, 288 generally covering the medial and lateral upper inner regions of the
inner
liner 260. The medial overlay 286 has upper, front and lower edges 286UE,
286FE,
186LE and the lateral overlay 288 has upper, front and lower edges 288UE,
288FE,
288LE, the upper edge 286UE of the medial overlay 286 being located adjacent
the
medial upper edge of the inner liner ankle portion, the front edge 286FE of
the
medial overlay 286 being located adjacent the medial front edge of the inner
liner
ankle portion, the upper edge 288UE of the lateral overlay 288 being located
adjacent the lateral upper edge of the inner liner ankle portion and the front
edge
288FE of the lateral overlay 288 being located adjacent the lateral front edge
of the
inner liner ankle portion. The lower edges 286LE, 288LE each extends along an
axis
generally transversal to the vertical.
An inner liner 360 in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the invention is
shown
in Figure 12 in which the same reference numerals are used for the same
elements
as those for the inner liner 16. The inner liner 360 has an overlay 386
covering the
medial and lateral upper inner regions and a portion of the upper inner middle
region
of the inner liner 360. The overlay 386 has medial upper edge 386MUE being
located adjacent the medial upper edge of the inner liner ankle portion,
medial front
edge 386MFE being located adjacent the medial front edge of the inner liner
ankle
portion, lateral upper edge 388LUE being located adjacent the lateral upper
edge of
the inner liner ankle portion, and lateral front edge 288LFE being located
adjacent
the lateral front edge of the inner liner ankle portion.
An inner liner 460 in accordance with a fifth embodiment of the invention is
shown in
Figure 13 in which the same reference numerals are used for the same elements
as
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CA 2984944 2017-11-07
those for the inner liner 16. The inner liner 460 has medial and lateral
overlays 486,
488 generally covering the medial and lateral upper inner regions of the inner
liner
460. The medial overlay 486 has upper, front, lower and rear edges 486UE,
486FE,
486LE, 486RE and the lateral overlay 488 has upper, front, lower and rear
edges
488UE, 488FE, 488LE, 488RE, the upper edge 486UE of the medial overlay 486
being located adjacent the medial upper edge of the inner liner ankle portion,
the
front edge 486FE of the medial overlay 486 being located adjacent the medial
front
edge of the inner liner ankle portion, the upper edge 488UE of the lateral
overlay
488 being located adjacent the lateral upper edge of the inner liner ankle
portion and
the front edge 488FE of the lateral overlay 488 being located adjacent the
lateral
front edge of the inner liner ankle portion. The rear edge 488RE of the
lateral overlay
488 is located more inwardly than the rear edge 486RE of the medial overlay
486
such that the lateral overlay 488 covers a larger region than the medial
overlay 486.
As is best seen in Figures 3 to 5, the skate boot 4 may also comprises medial
and
lateral ankle layers, coverings or overlays 90, 92 for covering the medial and
lateral
upper edges 70, 76 of the liner 16 and the medial and lateral upper edges 36,
42 of
the ankle portion 32 of the outer shell 6. These medial and lateral overlays
90, 92
may be made of natural or synthetic leather and may add comfort to the player
in the
ankle region, especially during the breaking-in process of the skate boot 4.
The
skate boot 4 may also comprise a heel layer, covering or overlay 94 for at
least
partially covering the heel portion 30 of the outer shell and medial and
lateral side
layers, coverings or overlays 96 for at least partially covering the front
portion of the
medial and lateral side portions 48, 50 of the outer shell 6.
The above description of the embodiments should not be interpreted in a
limiting
manner since other variations, modifications and refinements are possible
within the
scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined in the
appended claims and their equivalents.
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