Articulating footwear for sports activity

Abstract

A boot includes an upper formed of articulating panels that permit portions of the boot to move in substantial independence from one another in response to loads experienced by the boot. The boot generally comprises a sports boot that is positioned around a wearer's foot for coupling to an external appliance, such as a snowboard, wakeboard, skating appliance (such as a blade or wheels), or any other appliance.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A footwear device that couples to a sport board, comprising:
 an upper positioned on a sole, wherein the upper is configured to receive a foot and is comprised of more than one underlay panel and more than one overlay panel that can move relative to one another to permit the upper to deform in response to loads, wherein the overlay panels are configured to cover a portion of the underlay panels, the upper including a first pair of overlay panels connected to each other along a seam line positioned above at least one of the underlay panels, the seam line extending from an edge of the sole to a cut-out positioned in between the first pair of overlay panels, the-cut-out comprising an open area which serves as a region of articulation between the first pair of overlay panels.   
     
     
         2 . The footwear device of  claim 1 , further comprising a tongue attached to the upper, wherein the tongue is positioned adjacent an upper region of the footwear device and wherein the tongue includes two or more distinct regions that are connected to one another along predetermined connection zones, the regions configured to move relative to one another, wherein the regions can each be manufactured of a material having desired structural characteristics specifically suited to the location of the region on the tongue. 
     
     
         3 . The footwear device of  claim 1 , wherein the cut-out is filled with a flexible and protective material that interconnects the first pair of overlay panels and allows the overlay panels to move relative to one another. 
     
     
         4 . The footwear device of  claim 3 , wherein the underlay panels are configured to allow the first pair of overlay panels to articulate relative to each other while sealing out moisture from the interior of the footwear device. 
     
     
         5 . The footwear device of  claim 1 , wherein the overlay panels are made of a material that is more flexible than a material of the underlay panels. 
     
     
         6 . A footwear device as in  claim 5 , wherein the underlay panels are connected via seams positioned below the overlay panels. 
     
     
         7 . The footwear device of  claim 1 , wherein the underlay panels are made of a material that is more flexible than a material of the overlay panels. 
     
     
         8 . The footwear device of  claim 1  wherein the panels are molded of non-woven material. 
     
     
         9 . A footwear device that couples to a sport board, comprising:
 an upper positioned on a sole, wherein the upper is configured to receive a foot and is comprised of more than one articulating panel, each articulating panel configured to move relative to one another, the structural characteristics of one panel having minimal or no effect on the structural characteristics of an adjacent panel.   
     
     
         10 . The footwear device of  claim 9 , further comprising a tongue attached to the upper, wherein the tongue is positioned adjacent an upper region of the footwear device and wherein the tongue includes two or more distinct regions that are connected to one another along predetermined connection zones, the regions configured to move relative to one another, wherein the regions can each be manufactured of a material having desired structural characteristics specifically suited to the location of the region on the tongue. 
     
     
         11 . The footwear device of  claim 9 , wherein the material of each panel is particularly selected to provide localized structural characteristics to a particular region of the footwear device where the panel is located.