Suspension ski boot

Abstract

This invention in the broadest sense comprises a ski boot, freely pivoting at the ankle, in combination with an adjustable suspension shock absorber to control and optimize compression and rebound damping characteristics. In the preferred embodiment, the ski boot would comprise a rigid, pivoting exoskeleton (providing the lateral stiffness and torsional control), a sub-boot (providing padding, thermal insulation, and water-proofing), and a fully adjustable pneumatic/hydraulic/spring suspension system (providing adjustable fore-aft stiffness, shock absorption, and rebound damping). The object of the invention is to optimize ski boot performance by separating the necessary boot components, allowing them to be designed to optimize different performance characteristics.

1 . A ski boot utilizing a separate adjustable hydraulic shock absorber to control and optimize fore-aft (ankle flexion-extension) compression and rebound damping. 
 said ski boot comprising in the preferred embodiment an exoskeleton, a sub-boot, and a separate hydraulic shock absorber;    
   
   
       2 . The ski boot as defined in  claim 1  wherein said exoskeleton, preferably adapted to the shape of a foot and leg, comprises a front flap, rear flap, hinge, closure buckles, quick release shock mount, toe cage, heel cage, sole, and attachment sites, and is cast, forged, molded or machined from any durable, stiff material such as metallic alloy, hard plastic, carbon fiber, or composite material. 
 said front flap ( 1 ) providing support to the shin (tibia), in the preferred embodiment incorporating releasable attachment sites ( 10 ) to fasten the exoskeleton to the sub-boot, and in some cases providing a fixation point for the quick release shock mount ( 2 ) and mounted to said hinge ( 5 );    said rear flap ( 4 ) providing support to the calf, in the preferred embodiment incorporating releasable attachment sites to fasten the exoskeleton to the sub-boot, and in some cases providing a fixation point for the quick release shock mount and mounted to said hinge;    said hinge ( 5 ) attaching the front and rear flaps together and allowing for unrestricted ankle flexion and extension;    means for securing the front and rear flaps together, such as standard ski boot closure buckles ( 8 ) currently in use for similar applications;    said hinge attached to a rigid heel cage ( 6 ), in the preferred embodiment with provision for canting adjustment (adjustment of the side-to-side angle of the front and rear flaps with respect to the sole ( 7 ) of the exoskeleton);    said heel cage attached to the rigid sole, in the preferred embodiment providing attachment sites for securing the heel cup ( 15 ) of the sub-boot;    said toe cage ( 3 ) attached to the sole, in the preferred embodiment providing attachment sites for securing the toe cup ( 14 ) of the sub-boot and providing an attachment for the quick release shock mount in a boot-mounted compression system;    said releasable attachment sites in the preferred embodiment fastening the exoskeleton to the sub-boot and comprising simple screw fastening mechanisms;    
   
   
       3 . The ski boot as defined in  claim 1  wherein in the preferred embodiment said sub-boot comprising an inner liner attached to a plastic shell adapted to the shape of a foot and leg with closure straps and reinforced areas in the tongue ( 12 ), calf support ( 13 ), and toe and heel cups. 
 said inner liner comprising a waterproof material and insulated padding;    in the preferred embodiment said plastic shell comprising any available durable plastic or composite, and incorporating reinforced areas in the tongue, calf support, and toe and heel cups providing releasable attachment sites to fix the shell to the exoskeleton;    means for fastening said shell to the foot and leg, defined as closure straps ( 11 );    
   
   
       4 . The ski boot as defined in  claim 2  wherein said shock absorber would be a modification of existing technology comprising any adjustable hydraulic shock absorber to provide control of the compression and rebound damping characteristics of the boot as a whole as well as the starting and full-compression leg positions. 
 in the preferred embodiment means for attaching it to the exoskeleton by quick release shock mounts, allowing it to be easily disengaged or removed to permit easy ambulation and climbing for Randonee systems;    * Note: The use an adjustable hydraulic shock absorber to define damping characteristics is an integral part of the patent application, but the shock as a separate entity is not the subject of this patent application.