Sports footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear, such as a boot, adapted to be removably retained on a sports apparatus, the boot including an outer sole assembly, an upper and a fastening element, the latter being adapted to cooperate with a locking mechanism, itself adapted to be affixed to the apparatus. The boot includes a connection mechanism adjustable in position, which adjustably connects the fastening element to the outer sole assembly.

1 . A boot structured and arranged to be selectively retained or released with respect to a sports apparatus, the boot comprising:
 an outer sole assembly;   an upper;   a fastening element structured and arranged to cooperate with a locking mechanism, the locking mechanism adapted to be affixed to the sports apparatus;   a position-adjustable connection mechanism structured and arranged to connect the fastening element selectively, in at least either of two different positions, to the outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         2 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is a removable connection mechanism removably connecting the fastening element to the outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         3 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fastening element includes at least one transverse wire.   
     
     
         4 . A boot according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the one transverse wire is a first transverse wire;   the fastening element further includes a second transverse wire.   
     
     
         5 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fastening element includes a first longitudinal bar and a second longitudinal bar.   
     
     
         6 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fastening element comprises:
 a first longitudinal bar and a second longitudinal bar; 
 at least one transverse wire extending between respective ends of the first and second longitudinal bars. 
   
     
     
         7 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fastening element comprises:
 a first longitudinal bar and a second longitudinal bar; 
 a first transverse wire and a second transverse wire, the first and second transverse wires extending between respective ends of the first and second longitudinal bars. 
   
     
     
         8 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is structured and arranged to connect the fastening element to the outer sole assembly selectively in at least either of the two different positions in which the two different positions are reversed relative to one another, said two different positions comprising:
 a first position in which a first end of the fastening element faces a front end of the boot; 
 a second position in which a second end of the fastening element faces the front end of the boot. 
   
     
     
         9 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism further comprises:
 two studs extending from the fastening element; 
 two openings arranged in the outer sole assembly, said two openings being configured and arranged to receive the studs; 
 the two studs being transversely opposed; 
 the two openings being transversely opposed. 
   
     
     
         10 . A boot according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first wire and the studs are longitudinally spaced apart by a first distance;   the second wire and the studs are longitudinally spaced apart by a second distance;   the first distance being different from the second distance.   
     
     
         11 . A boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is a removable connection mechanism removably connecting the fastening element to the outer sole assembly;   the removable connection mechanism comprises a plurality of screws cooperating with the fastening element and threaded openings positioned in outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         12 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is structured and arranged to connect the fastening element to the outer sole assembly selectively in at least either of two different positions in which the two different positions comprise:
 a first position in which a first end of the fastening element is located at a first distance from a front end of the boot; 
 a second position in which the first end of the fastening element is located at a second distance from the front end of the boot. 
   
     
     
         13 . A boot according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism further comprises:
 two studs extending from the fastening element; 
 at least four openings arranged in the outer sole assembly, said openings being configured and arranged to receive the studs; 
 the studs being transversely opposed; 
 the openings comprising at least two pairs of transversely opposed openings. 
   
     
     
         14 . A boot according to  claim 12 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is a removable connection mechanism removably connecting the fastening element to the outer sole assembly;   the removable connection mechanism comprises a plurality of screws cooperating with the fastening element and a plurality of threaded openings of the outer sole assembly;   the plurality of threaded openings being greater in number than the plurality of screws.   
     
     
         15 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is structured and arranged to connect the fastening element to the outer sole assembly via a continuous adjustment over a predetermined range;   the fastening element is connectable to the outer sole assembly along a continuous adjustment range extending longitudinally of the outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         16 . A boot according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable mechanism comprises a sliding rack and a rail.   
     
     
         17 . A boot according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the sliding rack is associated with the fastening element;   the rail is associated with the outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         18 . A boot according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the position-adjustable connection mechanism is a removable connection mechanism removably connecting the fastening element to the outer sole assembly;   the removable connection mechanism comprises a screw structured and arranged to cooperate with a slit of the fastening element and a threaded opening of the outer sole assembly.   
     
     
         19 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the fastening element is located in a zone of the outer sole assembly structured and arranged to extend into an area corresponding to toes of a wearer's foot.   
     
     
         20 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer sole assembly has a central longitudinal groove in an area of a heel of the boot.   
     
     
         21 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outer sole assembly has two off-centered longitudinal grooves in an area of a heel of the boot.