K-2 Corporation

K2 Sports, LLC

Madshus As

John Erik Svensson

Antonin A Meibock

Dodd H Grande

Brent H Turner

Christopher J Rench

Mark S Williams

Darrin John Haugen

James Sener

Shin B Min

Hans D Grande

James T Sener

Chris J Rench

Todd Allinger

A base is provided for a ski boot comprising a sole and an outsole element that is positioned in a predetermined position relative to a longitudinal axis (L). The outsole element is positioned on the sole by using two projections that are carried by one or other of the sole and the outsole element and that locate in holes or cavities defined by the other. Preferably, the projections are carried by the outsole element and locate in holes or cavities defined by the sole. The projections may be integrally formed with the outsole element or the sole. Alternatively, they may be formed by injected pins, rivets, fasteners, t-nuts, or screws.

Base for a ski boot and ski boot incorporating such a base

A base () is provided for a ski boot () and comprises a one-piece sole () defining heel and toe portions () that is adapted to be secured to one or more outsole elements (). Preferably, toe and heel outsole elements () are bonded to the toe and heel portions () respectively to form a base () with a unitary construction. The sole () also has a fiber-reinforced composite structure wherein a majority of the fibers in at least a mid-section () of the sole () between the heel and toe portions () are angled at an acute angle with respect to a longitudinal axis (L) of the sole (). Preferably, the mid-section () of the sole covers a position anatomically beneath the location of the metatarsal bones and the plantar arch of a person wearing the ski boot and a majority of the fibers in this mid-section () of the sole are angled at substantially &#xb1;45&#xb0;&#xb1;10&#xb0; to the longitudinal axis (L) of the sole () and between 5% and 10% of the fibers in the mid-section () of the sole () are substantially aligned with the longitudinal axis of the sole at angles within &#xb1;20&#xb0; of being parallel to the longitudinal axis (L) of the sole (). A ski boot () incorporating such a sole () is also provided.

A base () is provided for a ski boot () and comprises a sole () and an outsole element () that is positioned in a predetermined position relative to a longitudinal axis (L). The outsole element () is positioned on the sole () by using two projections () that are carried by one or other of the sole () and the outsole element () and that locate in holes or cavities () defined by the other. Preferably, the projections () are carried by the outsole element () and locate in holes or cavities () defined by the sole (). The projections () may be integrally formed with the outsole element () or the sole (). Alternatively, they may be formed by injected pins, rivets, fasteners, t-nuts, or screws.

A ski boot comprises a sole portion () that is attached to one or more separate outsole elements () for location between the sole portion () and a ski binding. At least one of the outsole elements () is adjustably mounted on the sole portion () prior to a secure fixing of said outsole element () to the sole portion () by at least one fastener () so as to be adjustable in forward, rearward, lateral and medial directions relative to the sole portion () and so as to be rotatable clockwise and counter clockwise relative to a centerline of the boot. Preferably, at least one of the outsole elements () is adapted for attachment to the ski binding. Advantageously, a plurality of outsole elements () is provided that are adjustably mounted on the sole portion () independently of the other outsole elements.

Ski boot

Sole and outsole assembly for ski boot

Sole for ski boot

Outsole for ski boot

A skate includes a midskate hinge in the shoe to preferentially flex the shoe base at the metatarsal area, a forward hinge to allow the rear of the shoe to be raised in relation to the rear of the skate frame, and a third hinge to laterally stabilize the rear of the shoe as the shoe base is flexed.

Double klap flex base boot with heel linkage

A skate () having a frame () adapted to support a plurality of wheels () and a base () disposed above the frame. The base includes a platform () having a longitudinal rail () with a plurality of locking detents (), and an upwardly extending guide tab (). A separable semirigid toe cup () includes an elongate slit () therethrough, and slidably engages the rail of the base, such that the toe cup can be adjusted longitudinally. An angled channel () in the toe cup engages the guide tab, such that the width of the slit, and therefore the width of the toe cup, increases as the toe cup is moved to lengthen the skate. In an alternative embodiment of the invention, a threaded post () extends transversely through the slit, permitting independent adjustment of the width of the toe cap.

Expandable in-line skate

A flexing base skate () includes an upper shoe portion () mounted on a base (). The base includes a forefoot region () secured to a forward frame segment () carrying forward wheels (). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment () that carries rearward wheels (). A second embodiment () provides a rigid full length frame () and a base () mounted at the forefoot region () to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal portion (), and forms an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide () for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment () provides a forward frame segment () carrying forward wheels () and a rearward frame segment () carrying rearward wheel ().

Flexing base skate

A skate frame () for an in-line skate () having a shoe portion () and a plurality of wheels () capable of traversing a surface. The skate frame includes an elongate structural member comprised of a structural material having a first average density. The structural member having first and second sidewalls (). The structural member also includes a shoe mounting portion () spanning between at least a portion of the upper ends of the sidewalls. The skate frame also includes core material () disposed within at least one of the first and second sidewalls or within the shoe mounting portion. In an embodiment of the invention a threaded insert () is embedded in the core material of one sidewall, and an aligned tubular insert is installed in the opposite sidewall, such that the wheel axle () can be inserted through the tubular insert to engage the embedded threaded insert. In another embodiment, a protective cap () protects and/or enhances the appearance of the skate frame.

Skate frame with cap construction

A skate upper ( ) of the type having an elongate vamp ( ) with lace keepers ( ) and a tongue ( ) disposed generally in the vamp is provided with an attached lace locker. The lace locker ( ) fixedly attached near the top of the upper, preferably to an upper portion of the tongue. A lace ( ) is retained by the lace keepers and releasably engaged by the lace locker. A strap assembly ( ) is provided below the lace locker. A lace guide ( ) is attached to the tongue, below the lace locker and below the strap assembly. The invention positions the lace locker more conveniently above the strap assembly, and permits the user to tighten and loosen the lace with one hand.

Lacing system for skates

In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semirigid plastic that may be heat-moldable to conform to the user's foot. The shoe sole may also include heat-moldable materials so it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

In-line roller skate

A first embodiment of a flexing base skate ( ) includes an upper shoe portion ( ) mounted on a base ( ). The base includes a forefoot region ( ) secured to a forward frame segment ( ) carrying forward wheels ( ). A heel region of the base is secured to a rearward frame segment ( ) that carries rearward wheels ( ). The base defines and flexes at a reduced thickness metatarsal head portion ( ), with the skater's heel and the rearward frame segment elevating freely relative to the forward frame segment. A spring plate ( ) incorporated into the base biases the skate to the unflexed configuration. The forward frame segment overlaps the rearward frame segment for lateral stability. An alternate embodiment ( ) provides a rigid full length frame ( ) and a flexible base ( ) mounted only at the forefoot region ( ) to the frame. The base flexes at a metatarsal head portion ( ), and is constructed to form an integral spring biasing the base against the frame. The base includes a guide ( ) for lateral alignment of the heel region with the frame. Another embodiment ( ) provides a forward frame segment ( ) carrying three forward wheels ( ) and a rearward frame segment ( ) carrying a single rearward wheel ( ), the rearward frame segment being freely pivotably but longitudinally coupled to the forward frame segment. A fourth embodiment ( ) provides a forward frame segment ( ) that carries three forward wheels ( ) and a rearward frame segment ( ) that carries two rearward wheels ( ).

In-line roller skate including a soft, pliable, and comfortable shoe body having structural foot support components positioned in selected strategic areas such as the ball, heel, and ankle. The shoe body may be made of a material that allows air circulation for coolness. In one embodiment, the structural components are made of semi-rigid plastic that may be heat moldable to conform to the user's foot. The shoe sole may also include heat moldable materials so that it can be anatomically formed to the foot. The shoe is mounted on a frame that supports a plurality of in-line roller wheels and includes structure for easily removing and replacing the wheels. The shoe-frame connection may be laterally and longitudinally adjustable. A speed control or brake, which applies a frictional force downwardly onto some or all of the in-line roller wheels, is mounted on the frame. Canting adjustment is provided to allow the ankle support to be canted laterally or longitudinally.

Growing community of inventors

Vashon, WA, United States of America

John Erik Svensson