Snowboard boot with removable forward support

Abstract

A snowboard boot ( 200 ) includes an upper boot ( 204 ) secured to an outsole ( 206 ). The boot upper includes a vamp opening ( 208 ) that is closed by a tongue ( 210 ) and a selectively securable vamp fastener ( 216 ). The tongue ( 210 ) carries a pocket ( 218 ) on a lower end ( 212 ) thereof, and first and second snap fasteners ( 222 ) on an upper end ( 214 ) thereof. A semi-rigid tongue stiffener ( 202 ) can be selectively secured to an anterior side of the tongue ( 210 ) utilizing the pocket and snap fasteners to selectively increase the stiffness of the boot and resistance to forward flexure by a predetermined degree.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined as follows:  
     
         1 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 an upper portion for receiving the foot and ankle of a snowboarder, the upper portion including an elongate vamp opening along the instep and anterior ankle of the snowboarder, the upper portion being configured to permit forward flexure of the snowboarder's ankle;    a tongue secured to the upper portion and positionable to cover the vamp opening;    an outsole joined to the upper portion;    a vamp fastener carried on the upper portion for selective closure of the vamp opening; and    a semi-rigid support insert having an upper end and a lower end, that is selectively securable at the upper and lower ends thereof to a surface of the tongue to selectively decrease the forward ankle flexibility of the upper portion.    
     
     
         2 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid support insert when secured to the tongue extends from a lower end of the instep to above the ankle of the snowboarder.  
     
     
         3 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein at least one end of the support insert is secured to the tongue by being received within a pocket defined on the tongue.  
     
     
         4 . The snowboard boot of  claim 3 , wherein an opposite end of the support insert is secured to the tongue by at least one snap fastener carried on the tongue.  
     
     
         5 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein the support insert is secured to the tongue by engaging a snap fastener carried on the tongue.  
     
     
         6 . The snowboard boot of  claim 5 , further comprising a plurality of snap fasteners carried on the tongue to secure the support insert thereto.  
     
     
         7 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of semi-rigid support inserts, each having a differing predetermined degree of flexibility to permit selective adjustment of the forward flexibility of the snowboard boot.  
     
     
         8 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid support insert is formed as a curvilinear shape defining an overall “Y” profile.  
     
     
         9 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid support insert is wider at the upper end than at the lower end.  
     
     
         10 . The snowboard boot of  claim 9 , wherein the support insert defines a center section that has a width that is narrower than a width of the upper end and of the lower end.  
     
     
         11 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein the semi-rigid support insert is secured to an anterior side of the tongue.  
     
     
         12 . The snowboard boot of  claim 11 , wherein a recess is defined in the anterior side of the tongue that receives the semi-rigid support insert once the semi-rigid support insert is secured to the tongue.  
     
     
         13 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein when secured to the tongue, the semi-rigid support insert is disposed between the tongue and the vamp fastener.  
     
     
         14 . The snowboard boot of  claim 1 , wherein the tongue is secured to the upper portion at a lower end of the tongue and is separate from the upper portion along at least a first side of the tongue.  
     
     
         15 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 an upper portion for receiving the foot and ankle of a snowboarder, including an anterior ankle portion covering the anterior of the ankle of the snowboarder and an instep portion covering the instep of the snowboarder, and including an access aperture for insertion of the snowboarder's foot into the upper portion;    an outsole joined to the upper portion;    a fastener for selective closure of the access opening of the upper portion to tighten the upper portion about the snowboarder's foot; and    a semi-rigid support insert having an upper end and a lower end, the semi-rigid support insert being selectively securable to the upper portion adjacent the anterior ankle portion and instep portion of the upper portion and securable at the upper and lower ends thereof to the upper portion to decrease the forward ankle flexibility of the upper portion.    
     
     
         16 . A snowboard boot comprising: 
 an upper portion for receiving the foot and ankle of a snowboarder, the upper portion including an elongate vamp opening along the instep and anterior ankle of the snowboarder, the upper portion being configured to permit forward flexure of the snowboarder's ankle;    a tongue secured to the upper portion and positionable to cover the vamp opening;    an outsole joined to the upper portion;    a vamp fastener carried on the upper portion for selective closure of the vamp opening; and    a semi-rigid support insert having an elongate body and an upper end, the semi-rigid support insert being selectively securable at an upper end to the tongue, overlying a surface of the tongue to selectively decrease the forward ankle flexibility of the upper portion.