A lasted skate boot for ice skates or in-line roller skates, the lasted skate boot comprising an upper having an outer shell molded of synthetic material and an inner lining mounted inside the outer shell. The outer shell comprises a heel counter, an ankle portion, medial and lateral quarters and reinforcing elements provided on the heel counter, ankle portion, medial quarter or lateral quarter. Each of the reinforcing elements comprises a ridge formed on one of the inner or outer surface of the outer shell and a groove registering with the ridge, the groove being formed on one of the inner or outer surface of the outer shell. The outer shell may also comprise an ankle portion having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel counter. The lower and upper parts of the ankle portion follow the rear profile of the Achilles tendon.
1. A lasted skate boot comprising an upper for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes;
(a) said upper comprising an outer shell and an inner lining mounted inside said outer shell;
(b) said inner lining comprising a surface facing the heel, the ankle and the medial and lateral sides of the foot; and
(c) said outer shell being made of a thermoformable synthetic material and comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, said medial and lateral quarters having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
2. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said ankle portion comprises medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge, said groove being formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces.
3. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge, said groove being formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces.
4. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon.
5. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said ankle portion comprises a lateral depression for receiving the lateral malleolus and a medial depression for receiving the medial malleolus.
6. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 5 wherein said lateral depression is below said medial depression.
7. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 further comprising an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot and an insole fastener for affixing said insole to said outer shell.
8. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 7 wherein said outer shell comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap said insole.
9. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 7 wherein said insole fastener is selected from the group consisting of stitches, glue, nails, adhesives and tacks.
10. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 further comprising a toe box facing the toes of the foot and a toe box fastener for affixing said toe box to said medial and lateral quarters.
11. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 10 further comprising a tongue extending upwardly and rearwardly from said toe box and an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot.
12. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 11 wherein said toe box fastener is selected from the group consisting of stitches, glue, nails, adhesives and tacks.
13. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said upper further comprising a protective overlay, said overlay recovering a portion of said medial and lateral quarters.
14. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer shell is made of a homogenous synthetic material.
15. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 wherein said outer shell comprises an outer layer and an inner layer, said outer layer being more rigid than said inner layer.
16. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 further comprising lacing members disposed in an upper portion of said medial and lateral quarters and a rear cover secured to a rear portion of said outer shell.
17. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 16 wherein said lacing members are selected from the group consisting of lacing loops and eyelets.
18. An ice skate comprising the lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 .
19. An in-line roller skate comprising the lasted skate boot as defined in claim 1 .
20. A thermoformed outer shell for use in an upper of a lasted skate boot having a sole component, said thermoformed outer shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of a human foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, said medial and lateral quarters having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
21. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 20 , wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
22. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 20 , wherein said ankle portion comprises medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
23. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 20 wherein said ankle portion comprises a lateral depression for receiving the lateral malleolus and a medial depression for receiving the medial malleolus.
24. A thermoformed outer shell as defined claim 23 wherein said lateral depression is below said medial depression.
25. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 20 wherein said outer shell further comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap the sole component of the lasted skate boot.
26. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 20 wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon of the foot and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon of the foot.
27. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said lasted skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising a layer of thermoformable synthetic material, said outer shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, in ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, said medial and lateral quarters having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
28. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 27 wherein said ankle portion comprises medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with maid ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
29. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 27 wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge-on the other one of said inner or outer surfaces.
30. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 27 wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon.
31. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 27 further comprising an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot and wherein said outer shell comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap said insole.
32. A lasted skate boot comprising an upper for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes;
(a) said upper comprising an outer shell and an inner lining mounted inside said outer shell;
(b) said inner lining comprising a surface facing the heel, the ankle and the medial and lateral sides of the foot; and
(c) said outer shell being made of a thermoformable synthetic material and comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein maid ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon, and wherein said medial and lateral quarters comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
33. A lasted skate boot comprising an upper for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes;
(a) said upper comprising an outer shell and an inner lining mounted inside said outer shell;
(b) said inner lining comprising a surface facing the heel, the ankle and the medial and lateral sides of the foot; and
(c) said outer shell being made of a thermoformable synthetic material and comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon, and wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
34. A lasted skate boot comprising an upper for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes;
(a) said upper comprising an outer shell and an inner lining mounted inside said outer shell;
(b) said inner lining comprising a surface facing the heel, the ankle and the medial and lateral sides of the foot; and
(c) said outer shell being made of a thermoformable synthetic material and comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon, and wherein said ankle portion comprises medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
35. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 34 wherein said ankle portion comprises a lateral depression for receiving the lateral malleolus and a medial depression for receiving the medial malleolus.
36. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 35 wherein said lateral depression is below said medial depression.
37. A thermoformed outer shell for use in an upper of a lasted skate boot having a sole component, said thermoformed outer shall comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of a human foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces, said ankle portion comprising an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon of the foot and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon of the foot.
38. A thermoformed outer shell for use in an upper of a lasted skate boot having a sole component, said thermoformed cuter shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of a human foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said ankle portion comprising an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon of the foot and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon of the foot, said ankle portion comprising medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
39. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 38 wherein said ankle portion comprises a lateral depression for receiving the lateral malleolus and a medial depression for receiving the medial malleolus.
40. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 39 wherein said lateral depression is below said medial depression.
41. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 39 wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
42. A thermoformed outer shell as defined in claim 41 wherein said outer shell further comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap the sole component of the lasted skate boot.
43. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising a layer of thermoformable synthetic material, said outer shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon, and wherein said medial and lateral quarters comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
44. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising a layer of thermoformable synthetic material, said outer shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said ankle portion comprises an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon, and wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with maid ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
45. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising a layer of thermoformable synthetic material, said outer shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said ankle portion comprise an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter, said upper part following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part following the lower part of the Achilles tendon, and wherein said ankle portion comprises medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
46. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 45 further comprising an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot and wherein said outer shell comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap said insole.
47. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising:
(a) a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot;
(b) an ankle portion receiving the ankle, said ankle portion comprising an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter; and
(c) medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion and comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces, and wherein said outer shell is thermoformed in a three dimensional shape such that said heel counter is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel of the foot, said upper part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the lower part of the Achilles tendon.
48. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising:
(a) a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, said heel counter comprising an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces;
(b) an ankle portion receiving the ankle, said ankle portion comprising an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter; and
(c) medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said outer shell is thermoformed in a three dimensional shape such that said heel counter is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel of the foot, said upper part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the lower part of the Achilles tendon.
49. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising:
(a) a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot;
(b) an ankle portion receiving the ankle, said ankle portion comprising an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to said upper part, said lower part merging with said heel counter; said ankle portion comprising medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with maid ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces; and
(c) medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral aides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, wherein said outer shell is thermoformed in a three dimensional shape such that said heel counter is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel of the foot, said upper part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the lower part of the Achilles tendon.
50. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 49 further comprising an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot and wherein said outer shell comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap said insole.
51. A lasted skate boot for enclosing a human foot, the foot having a heel, an Achilles tendon having an upper part and a lower part that projects outwardly with relation to the upper part, the lower part merging with the heel, the foot also comprising an ankle with a medial malleolus and a lateral malleolus, a plantar surface, medial and lateral sides and toes, said lasted skate boot comprising an outer shell comprising a layer of thermoformable synthetic material, said outer shell comprising a heel counter receiving the heel of the foot, an ankle portion receiving the ankle and medial and lateral quarters receiving the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively, said medial and lateral quarters extending forwardly from said heel counter and said ankle portion, said ankle portion comprising medial and lateral sides facing the medial malleolus and the lateral malleolus, said medial and lateral sides having an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral sides comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
52. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 51 , wherein said heel counter comprises an inner surface and an outer surface, said heel counter further comprising reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other one of said inner or outer surfaces.
53. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 51 , wherein said medial and lateral quarters comprise an inner surface and an outer surface, at least one of said medial and lateral quarters comprising reinforcing elements, each of said reinforcing elements having a ridge formed on one of said inner or outer surfaces and a groove registering with said ridge on the other of said inner or outer surfaces.
54. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 51 , wherein said outer shell is thermoformed in a three dimensional shape such that said heel counter is substantially cup shaped for following the contour of the heel of the foot, said upper part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the upper part of the Achilles tendon and said lower part of said ankle portion is shaped for following the lower part of the Achilles tendon.
55. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 54 , wherein said outer shell is thermoformed in a three dimensional shape such that said ankle portion comprises a cup-shaped lateral depression for receiving the lateral malleolus and a cup-shaped medial depression for receiving the medial malleolus.
56. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 55 , wherein said cup-shaped lateral depression is below said cup-shaped medial depression.
57. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 55 further comprising an insole facing the planter surface of the foot.
58. A lasted skate boot as defined in claim 57 wherein said outer shell comprises a lower skirt portion foldable to overlap said insole.
59. An ice skate comprising the lasted skate boot as defined in claim 58 .