SKATE BOOT INCLUDING A THERMOFORMABLE ARCH-SUPPORT REGION
A hockey skate boot includes a sole portion having a deformable arch-support region to accommodate feet having differently shaped arches. The deformable arch-support region may be made of a thermoformable material that is moldable when heated to match the arch of a given wearer's foot. After the arch-support region is molded to conform to a wearer's arch, it is allowed to cool so that it hardens and remains in the desired shape.
1 . A skate boot, comprising:
a lower portion including a heel region and a toe region;
an upper portion attached to or integral with the lower portion; and
an arch-support region in the lower portion comprising a thermoformable material that is moldable to conform to a wearer's arch when heated.
2 . The skate boot of claim 1 wherein the arch-support region comprises a higher arch geometry than a wearer's arch before molding.
3 . The skate boot of claim 1 further comprising an additional arch support positioned under the arch-support region.
4 . The skate boot of claim 1 wherein the arch-support region comprises corrugations.
5 . The skate boot of claim 4 wherein the corrugations are oriented substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the skate boot.
6 . The skate boot of claim 4 wherein the corrugations are oriented substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the skate boot.
7 . The skate boot of claim 1 wherein the lower portion comprises a composite boot form reinforced by structural fibers.
8 . The skate boot of claim 1 wherein the thermoformable material comprises a thermoplastic material.
9 . The skate boot of claim 8 wherein the thermoplastic material has a melting temperature of 160 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit.
10 . The skate boot of claim 8 wherein the thermoplastic material is reinforced with structural fibers.
11 . The skate boot of claim 1 wherein the upper portion comprises a quarter panel having a bottom edge attached to a top edge of the lower portion.
12 . The skate boot of claim 11 wherein the quarter panel comprises a thermoplastic fabric laminate.
13 . A method of fitting a skate boot including a thermoformable arch-support region to a wearer's foot, comprising:
heating at least the thermoformable arch-support region to a temperature that softens the thermoformable arch-support region;
inserting the wearer's foot into the skate boot so that the arch of the wearer's foot presses down on the arch-support region;
waiting a sufficient time to allow the arch-support region to conform to the arch of the wearer's foot; and
removing the wearer's foot from the skate boot.
14 . The method of claim 13 further comprising tightening the skate boot to a desired fit after inserting the wearer's foot into the skate boot.
15 . The method of claim 13 further comprising allowing the skate boot to cool after removing the wearer's foot so that the arch-support region hardens to its pre-heated stiffness.
16 . The method of claim 13 wherein the elevated temperature is approximately 169 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit.
17 . A skate boot, comprising:
a foot-receiving portion; and
an arch support in the foot-receiving portion comprising a material that is moldable to conform to a wearer's arch when heated.
18 . The skate boot of claim 17 wherein the arch support comprises a higher arch geometry than a wearer's arch before molding.
19 . The skate boot of claim 17 wherein the arch support comprises a thermoplastic material that has a melting temperature of 160 to 220 degrees Fahrenheit.
20 . The skate boot of claim 19 wherein thermoplastic material is reinforced with structural fibers.