Snowboard boot with articulating binding interface

Abstract

A snowboard boot includes an upper and a binding interface that is adapted to engage with a snowboard binding. The interface is supported from the boot upper so that even when the interface is rigidly engaged by the binding, the boot upper can advantageously roll or flex side-to-side relative to the interface, and consequently the snowboard, to provide a rider with a desirable feel of foot roll. The boot may be configured so that a segment of the boot upper rearward of its toe portion can flex in the side-to-side direction relative to the binding interface, while the forward toe portion of the boot upper remains fixed against side-to-side flexibility. A flexible connection may be employed to couple the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper to allow the segment of the lower portion thereof to flex relative to the binding interface. The flexible connection may extend along a substantial length of at least one of the heel portion, the in-step portion and the toe portion of the upper. The flexible connection may be constructed within at least one of the lateral and medial sidewalls of the snowboard boot upper. The flexible connection may include a flexible panel to mount the interface to the boot upper. The panel may include a fabric or other flexible material, including stretchable and non-stretchable materials.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 a snowboard boot upper constructed and arranged to receive a user's foot therein, the snowboard boot upper including a lower portion with a toe portion, an in-step portion and a heel portion; and    a strapless binding interface adapted to engage with a snowboard binding, the binding interface being coupled to the snowboard boot upper to allow a segment of the lower portion disposed rearward of the toe portion to flex relative to the binding interface to provide side-to-side flexibility when the binding interface is engaged by a snowboard binding, at least a segment of the toe portion of the snowboard boot upper being fixed against side-to-side flexibility relative to the binding interface.    
     
     
         2 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 1 , wherein the segment of the lower portion includes the heel portion.  
     
     
         3 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 2 , wherein the segment of the lower portion further includes the in-step portion.  
     
     
         4 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a flexible connection coupling the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         5 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 4 , wherein the snowboard boot upper includes a lateral side and a medial side, the flexible connection being disposed adjacent at least one of the lateral and medial sides.  
     
     
         6 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 5 , wherein the flexible connection includes a flexible panel connecting the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         7 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 6 , wherein the flexible panel includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the panel being attached to the snowboard boot upper and the lower portion of the panel being attached to the binding interface.  
     
     
         8 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 6 , wherein the flexible panel couples the binding interface to the lateral and medial sides of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         9 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 8 , wherein the flexible panel extends about the heel portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         10 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 9 , wherein the flexible panel extends from the heel portion to a region of the snowboard boot upper forward of the in-step portion.  
     
     
         11 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 10 , wherein the flexible panel includes a fabric material.  
     
     
         12 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 11 , wherein the fabric material is stretchable.  
     
     
         13 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 1 , wherein the binding interface is supported at the in-step portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         14 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a restraint to limit movement between the snowboard upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         15 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 14 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit heel lift between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         16 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 15 , wherein the restraint is disposed at a rear section of the heel portion.  
     
     
         17 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 16 , wherein the restraint includes a strap connected between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         18 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 14 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         19 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 18 , wherein the restraint is disposed along at least one of a lateral and medial side of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         20 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 1 , wherein the binding interface includes at least one interface feature constructed and arranged to engage with the snowboard binding.  
     
     
         21 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 20 , wherein the at least one interface feature includes a first interface feature disposed adjacent a lateral side of the boot and a second interface feature disposed adjacent a medial side of the boot.  
     
     
         22 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 21 , wherein at least one of the first and second interface features has at least one recess that is adapted to receive a portion of the snowboard binding therein.  
     
     
         23 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 1 , further comprising an outsole supported by the lower portion of the snowboard boot upper, the outsole being coupled to the snowboard boot upper to allow the segment of the lower portion to flex relative to the outsole to provide the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         24 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 23 , wherein the toe portion of the snowboard boot upper is fixed against side-to-side flexibility relative to the outsole.  
     
     
         25 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 a snowboard boot upper constructed and arranged to receive a user's foot therein, the snowboard boot upper including a lower portion with a toe portion, an in-step portion and a heel portion;    a strapless binding interface adapted to engage with a snowboard binding; and    a fabric coupling the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper to allow at least a segment of the lower portion thereof to flex relative to the binding interface to provide side-to-side flexibility when the binding interface is engaged by a snowboard binding.    
     
     
         26 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 25 , wherein the segment of the lower portion includes the heel portion.  
     
     
         27 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 26 , wherein the segment of the lower portion further includes the in-step portion.  
     
     
         28 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 25 , wherein the snowboard boot upper includes a lateral side and a medial side, the fabric being disposed adjacent at least one of the lateral and medial sides.  
     
     
         29 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 28 , wherein the fabric includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the fabric being attached to the snowboard boot upper and the lower portion of the fabric being attached to the binding interface.  
     
     
         30 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 28 , wherein the fabric couples the binding interface to the lateral and medial sides of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         31 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 30 , wherein the fabric extends about the heel portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         32 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 31 , wherein the fabric extends from the heel portion to a region of the snowboard boot upper forward of the in-step portion.  
     
     
         33 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 32 , wherein the fabric includes a stretchable material.  
     
     
         34 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 25 , wherein the binding interface is supported at the in-step portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         35 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 25 , further comprising a restraint to limit movement between the snowboard upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         36 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 35 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit heel lift between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         37 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 36 , wherein the restraint is disposed at a rear section of the heel portion.  
     
     
         38 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 37 , wherein the restraint includes a strap connected between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         39 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 35 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         40 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 39 , wherein the restraint is disposed along at least one of a lateral and medial side of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         41 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 25 , wherein the binding interface includes at least one interface feature constructed and arranged to engage with the snowboard binding.  
     
     
         42 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 41 , wherein the at least one interface feature includes a first interface feature disposed adjacent a lateral side of the boot and a second interface feature disposed adjacent a medial side of the boot.  
     
     
         43 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 42 , wherein at least one of the first and second interface features has at least one recess that is adapted to receive a portion of the snowboard binding therein.  
     
     
         44 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 25 , further comprising an outsole supported by the lower portion of the snowboard boot upper, the outsole being coupled to the snowboard boot upper to allow the segment of the lower portion to flex relative to the outsole to provide the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         45 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 44 , wherein the toe portion of the snowboard boot upper is fixed against side-to-side flexibility relative to the outsole.  
     
     
         46 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 a snowboard boot upper constructed and arranged to receive a user's foot therein, the snowboard boot upper having medial and lateral sides and including a lower portion with a toe portion, an in-step portion and a heel portion;    a strapless binding interface adapted to engage with a snowboard binding; and    a flexible connection coupling the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper to allow a segment of the lower portion to flex relative to the binding interface to provide side-to-side flexibility when the binding interface is engaged by a snowboard binding, the flexible connection extending along a substantial length of at least one of the heel portion, the in-step portion and the toe portion.    
     
     
         47 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 46 , wherein the segment of the lower portion includes the heel portion.  
     
     
         48 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 47 , wherein the segment of the lower portion further includes the in-step portion.  
     
     
         49 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 46 , wherein flexible connection is disposed adjacent at least one of the lateral and medial sides.  
     
     
         50 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 49 , wherein the flexible connection includes a flexible panel connecting the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         51 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 50 , wherein the flexible panel includes an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion of the panel being attached to the snowboard boot upper and the lower portion of the panel being attached to the binding interface.  
     
     
         52 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 50 , wherein the flexible panel couples the binding interface to the lateral and medial sides of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         53 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 52 , wherein the flexible panel extends about the heel portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         54 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 53 , wherein the flexible panel extends from the heel portion to a region of the snowboard boot upper forward of the in-step portion.  
     
     
         55 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 54 , wherein the flexible panel includes a fabric material.  
     
     
         56 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 55 , wherein the fabric material is stretchable.  
     
     
         57 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 46 , wherein the binding interface is supported at the in-step portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         58 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 46 , further comprising a restraint to limit movement between the snowboard upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         59 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 58 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit heel lift between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         60 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 59 , wherein the restraint is disposed at a rear section of the heel portion.  
     
     
         61 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 60 , wherein the restraint includes a strap connected between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         62 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 58 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         63 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 62 , wherein the restraint is disposed along at least one of the lateral and medial sides of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         64 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 46 , wherein the binding interface includes at least one interface feature constructed and arranged to engage with the snowboard binding.  
     
     
         65 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 64 , wherein the at least one interface feature includes a first interface feature disposed adjacent the lateral side of the boot and a second interface feature disposed adjacent the medial side of the boot.  
     
     
         66 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 65 , wherein at least one of the first and second interface features has at least one recess that is adapted to receive a portion of the snowboard binding therein.  
     
     
         67 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 46 , further comprising an outsole supported by the lower portion of the snowboard boot upper, the outsole being coupled to the snowboard boot upper to allow the segment of the lower portion to flex relative to the outsole to provide the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         68 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 67 , wherein the toe portion of the snowboard boot upper is fixed against side-to-side flexibility relative to the outsole.  
     
     
         69 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 a snowboard boot upper constructed and arranged to receive a user's foot therein, the snowboard boot upper having medial and lateral sidewalls and including a lower portion with a toe portion, an in-step portion and a heel portion;    a strapless binding interface adapted to engage with a snowboard binding; and    a flexible connection coupling the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper to allow a segment of the lower portion to flex relative to the binding interface to provide side-to-side flexibility when the binding interface is engaged by a snowboard binding, the flexible connection being constructed within at least one of the lateral and medial sidewalls of the snowboard boot upper.    
     
     
         70 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 69 , wherein the segment of the lower portion includes the heel portion.  
     
     
         71 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 70 , wherein the segment of the lower portion further includes the in-step portion.  
     
     
         72 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 69 , wherein the flexible connection includes a flexible panel connecting the binding interface to the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         73 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 72 , wherein the flexible panel is constructed within the lateral and medial sidewalls of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         74 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 73 , wherein the flexible panel extends about the heel portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         75 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 74 , wherein the flexible panel extends from the heel portion to a region of the snowboard boot upper forward of the in-step portion.  
     
     
         76 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 75 , wherein the flexible panel includes a fabric material.  
     
     
         77 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 76 , wherein the fabric material is stretchable.  
     
     
         78 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 69 , wherein the binding interface is supported at the in-step portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         79 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 69 , further comprising a restraint to limit movement between the snowboard upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         80 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 79 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit heel lift between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         81 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 80 , wherein the restraint is disposed at a rear section of the heel portion.  
     
     
         82 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 81 , wherein the restraint includes a strap connected between the snowboard boot upper and the binding interface.  
     
     
         83 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 79 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         84 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 83 , wherein the restraint is disposed along at least one of the lateral and medial sides of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         85 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 69 , wherein the binding interface includes at least one interface feature constructed and arranged to engage with the snowboard binding.  
     
     
         86 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 85 , wherein the at least one interface feature includes a first interface feature disposed adjacent the lateral side of the boot and a second interface feature disposed adjacent the medial side of the boot.  
     
     
         87 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 86 , wherein at least one of the first and second interface features has at least one recess that is adapted to receive a portion of the snowboard binding therein.  
     
     
         88 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 69 , further comprising an outsole supported by the lower portion of the snowboard boot upper, the outsole being coupled to the snowboard boot upper to allow the segment of the lower portion to flex relative to the outsole to provide the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         89 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 88 , wherein the toe portion of the snowboard boot upper is fixed against side-to-side flexibility relative to the outsole.  
     
     
         90 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 a snowboard boot upper constructed and arranged to receive a user's foot therein, the snowboard boot upper having medial and lateral sides and including a lower portion with a toe portion, an in-step portion and a heel portion;    an outsole supported below the lower portion of the snowboard boot upper; and    a flexible panel disposed between at least a portion of the snowboard boot upper and the outsole, a first portion of the flexible panel being connected to the snowboard boot upper and a second portion of the flexible panel being connected to the outsole to allow a segment of the lower portion of the snowboard boot upper to flex relative to the outsole to provide side-to-side flexibility therebetween.    
     
     
         91 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 90 , wherein the segment of the lower portion includes the heel portion.  
     
     
         92 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 91 , wherein the segment of the lower portion further includes the in-step portion.  
     
     
         93 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 90 , wherein the flexible panel extends about the heel portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         94 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 93 , wherein the flexible panel extends from the heel portion to a region of the snowboard boot upper forward of the in-step portion.  
     
     
         95 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 90 , wherein the flexible panel includes a fabric material.  
     
     
         96 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 95 , wherein the fabric material is stretchable.  
     
     
         97 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 90 , further comprising a restraint to limit movement between the snowboard upper and the outsole.  
     
     
         98 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 97 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit heel lift between the snowboard boot upper and the outsole.  
     
     
         99 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 98 , wherein the restraint is disposed at a rear section of the heel portion.  
     
     
         100 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 99 , wherein the restraint includes a strap connected between the snowboard boot upper and the outsole.  
     
     
         101 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 97 , wherein the restraint is constructed and arranged to limit the side-to-side flexibility.  
     
     
         102 . The snowboard boot recited in claim  101 , wherein the restraint is disposed along at least one of the lateral and medial sides of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         103 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 90 , further comprising a strapless binding interface adapted to engage with a snowboard binding, the binding interface being supported on the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         104 . The snowboard boot recited in claim  103 , wherein the binding interface is supported at the in-step portion of the snowboard boot upper.  
     
     
         105 . The snowboard boot recited in claim  103 , wherein the binding interface includes at least one interface feature constructed and arranged to engage with the snowboard binding.  
     
     
         106 . The snowboard boot recited in claim  105 , wherein the at least one interface feature includes a first interface feature disposed adjacent the lateral side of the boot and a second interface feature disposed adjacent the medial side of the boot.  
     
     
         107 . The snowboard boot recited in claim  106 , wherein at least one of the first and second interface features has at least one recess that is adapted to receive a portion of the snowboard binding therein.  
     
     
         108 . The snowboard boot recited in  claim 90 , wherein the toe portion of the snowboard boot upper is fixed against side-to-side flexibility relative to the outsole.