Composite ski boot

Abstract

A boot, preferably for skiing and other sports activities, designed for performance as well as comfort. The preferred embodiment of the boot includes rigid upper and lower frames with a conformable cuff and shell. The boot is open in front to allow an inner flexible boot to be easily inserted as well as removed. A controlled flex unit controls the movement of the upper frame relative to the lower frame while maintaining the lateral stability of the boot.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A boot for sport activity, said boot comprising: 
 a rigid upper frame;    a substantially open front on said upper frame;    a cuff affixed to said upper frame;    said cuff formed from a conformable material;    a rigid lower frame;    a substantially open upper surface on said lower frame;    a shell affixed to said lower frame;    said shell formed from a conformable material; and    an attachment unit for pivotally attaching said upper frame to said lower frame while maintaining the lateral stiffness of the upper frame relative to the lower frame.    
     
     
         2 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said attachment unit includes: 
 an elastomer member constrained for elongation and displacement movement during movement of said upper frame relative to said lower frame.  
 
     
     
         3 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said attachment unit includes: 
 a post attached to one of said upper frame and said lower frame;  
 an aperture in the other of said upper frame and said lower shell surrounding said post; and  
 an elastomer member mounted between said post and said aperture and constrained for elongation and displacement movement during movement of said upper frame relative to said lower shell.  
 
     
     
         4 . The boot of  claim 3  wherein said attachment unit includes: 
 an elastomer member having a shape and material choice to allow said elastomer member to displace under pressure from said post and said aperture in a substantially non-compressive manner due to elongation and shear stresses in said elastomer member.  
 
     
     
         5 . The boot of  claim 3  wherein said elastomer member includes: 
 an elastomer ring.  
 
     
     
         6 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot includes: 
 a flexible inner boot.  
 
     
     
         7 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot includes: 
 a flexible inner boot having a supportive sole.  
 
     
     
         8 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot includes: 
 a flexible inner boot having an outer sole for walking on surfaces.  
 
     
     
         9 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot includes: 
 a flexible inner boot having a heat moldable inner layer for custom fitting to a user's foot.  
 
     
     
         10 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot includes: 
 a flexible inner boot having at least one section that transmits moisture.  
 
     
     
         11 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said lower frame includes: 
 a toe portion;  
 a section on said toe portion that can be trimmed to reduce the length of said lower frame;  
 a toe portion on said shell; and  
 a section on said toe portion that can be trimmed to reduce the length of said lower frame wherein said lower frame and said shell are assembled together for a boot of a first size and said toe portion on said lower frame and said toe portion on said shell are trimmed and assembled together for a boot of a second size.  
 
     
     
         12 . The boot of  claim 11  wherein said boot further includes: 
 a first heel pad for assembly onto said lower frame for said boot of said first size and a second heel pad for assembly onto said lower frame for said boot of said second size.  
 
     
     
         13 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot further includes: 
 a lateral canting adjustment mechanism on said boot for adjusting the canting of said boot laterally.  
 
     
     
         14 . The boot of  claim 13  wherein said lateral canting adjusting mechanism includes: 
 a first bracket on the under surface of said lower frame;  
 a second bracket on said shell mating with said first bracket; and  
 a screw mechanism engaging said first bracket and said second bracket for adjusting the canting of said boot.  
 
     
     
         15 . The boot of  claim 13  wherein said lateral canting adjusting mechanism includes: 
 a convex surface on the lower surface of said lower frame; and  
 a concave surface on the mating surface of said shell.  
 
     
     
         16 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said boot further includes: 
 a resilient bumper between said upper frame and said cuff.  
 
     
     
         17 . A boot for sport activity, said boot comprising: 
 a rigid upper frame;    a substantially open front on said upper frame;    a cuff affixed to said upper frame;    said cuff formed from a conformable material;    a rigid lower frame;    a substantially open upper surface on said lower frame;    a shell affixed to said lower frame;    said shell formed from a conformable material;    a flexible inner boot; and    an attachment unit for pivotally attaching said upper frame to said lower frame while maintaining the lateral stiffness of the upper frame relative to the lower frame, wherein said attachment unit includes an elastomer member constrained for elongation and displacement movement during movement of said upper frame relative to said lower frame.    
     
     
         18 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said attachment unit includes: 
 a post attached to one of said upper frame and said lower frame;  
 an aperture in the other of said upper frame and said lower shell surrounding said post; and  
 said elastomer member mounted between said post and said aperture and constrained for elongation and displacement movement during movement of said upper frame relative to said lower shell.  
 
     
     
         19 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said elastomer unit includes: 
 an elastomer member having a shape and material choice to allow said elastomer member to displace under pressure from said post and said aperture in a substantially non-compressive manner due to elongation and shear stresses in said elastomer member.  
 
     
     
         20 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said elastomer m ember includes: 
 an elastomer ring.  
 
     
     
         21 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said flexible inner boot includes: 
 a supportive sole.  
 
     
     
         22 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said flexible inner boot includes: 
 an outer sole for walking on surfaces.  
 
     
     
         23 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said flexible inner boot includes: 
 a heat moldable inner layer for custom fitting to a user's foot.  
 
     
     
         24 . The boot of  claim 1  wherein said flexible inner boot includes: 
 at least one section that transmits moisture.  
 
     
     
         25 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said lower frame includes: 
 a toe portion;  
 a section on said toe portion that can be trimmed to reduce the length of said lower frame;  
 a toe portion on said shell; and  
 a section on said toe portion that can be trimmed to reduce the length of said lower frame wherein said lower frame and said shell are assembled together for a boot of a first size and said toe portion on said lower frame and said toe portion on said shell are trimmed and assembled together for a boot of a second size.  
 
     
     
         26 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said boot further includes: 
 a first heel pad for assembly onto said lower frame for said boot of said first size and a second heel pad for assembly onto said lower frame for said boot of said second size.  
 
     
     
         27 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said boot further includes: 
 a lateral canting adjustment mechanism on said boot for adjusting the canting of said boot laterally.  
 
     
     
         28 . The boot of  claim 27  wherein said lateral canting adjusting mechanism includes: 
 a first bracket on the under surface of said lower frame;  
 a second bracket on said shell mating with said first bracket; and  
 a screw mechanism engaging said first bracket and said second bracket for adjusting the canting of said boot.  
 
     
     
         29 . The boot of  claim 27  wherein said lateral canting adjusting mechanism includes: 
 a convex surface on the lower surface of said lower frame; and  
 a concave surface on the mating surface of said shell.  
 
     
     
         30 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein said boot further includes: 
 a resilient bumper between said upper frame and said cuff.  
 
     
     
         31 . A boot for active use, said boot comprises: 
 a lower portion;    guides formed in an upper part of said lower portion;    a tightening mechanism; and    a lace extending through said guides and connected to said tightening mechanism.