Skate with flexion feature

Abstract

A skate boot includes a boot shell having an upper portion forming parts of a lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion defining an ankle receiving region of the boot shell and adapted to receive malleoli of the wearer, and a base portion forming other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot below the ankle receiving region. A flexion feature joins the upper portion and the base portion on at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot. The flexion feature is resiliently deformable and causes a relative angular movement between the base portion and the upper portion in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot. The flexion feature includes an intermediary section located below the ankle receiving region of the skate boot.

Description

SKATE WITH FLEXION FEATURECROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 63 / 551 ,620 filed February 9, 2024, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates generally to skates and, more particularly, to skate boots.BACKGROUND

[0003] Skates such as those for use in the practice of ice hockey include a rigid boot shell, in many instances, and an inner liner. Such rigid boot shell may be molded, by thermoforming or injection molding, for example. Rigid boot shells may provide great impact protection and transmit propulsion forces more efficiently from the user to the ground surface compared to conventional lasted skate boots. However, a gain in rigidity may inversely affect the natural movements of the foot. For example, rigid boot shells may impede certain natural movements of the ankle, such as dorsiflexion or extension during skating, or other ankle flexion soliciting manoeuvre.SUMMARY

[0004] There is accordingly provided a skate boot for a wearer’s foot, comprising: a boot shell having, an upper portion forming parts of a lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion defining an ankle receiving region of the boot shell and adapted to receive malleoli of the wearer, and a base portion forming other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot below the ankle receiving region; and a flexion feature joining the upper portion and the base portion on at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot, the flexion feature being resiliently deformable to reduce a distance between a first front edge portion of the upper portion and a second front edge portion of the base portion and causing a relative angular movement between the base portion and the upper portion in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot, the flexionfeature including an intermediary section located below the ankle receiving region of the skate boot.

[0005] The skate boot as defined above, and described herein, may further include one or more of the following aspects and features, in whole or in part, and in any combination.

[0006] In certain aspects, the flexion feature has a pair of fore sections and the intermediary section is one of a pair of intermediary sections, the pair of fore sections and the pair of intermediary sections being located on opposite ones of the medial and lateral sides of the skate boot, the pair of fore sections being resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state, wherein in the compressed state the upper portion of the boot shell moves angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the base portion as the pair of fore sections transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.

[0007] In certain aspects, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of intermediary sections upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0008] In certain aspects, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have a different resistance to deformation in compression upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0009] In certain aspects, the pair of fore sections includes a medial fore section and a lateral fore section, the medial fore section having a dimension in the fore-aft direction smaller than that of the lateral fore section between respective front lateral and medial edges of the boot shell and respective ones of the pair of intermediary sections.

[0010] In certain aspects, each fore section of the pair of fore sections has at least one bellow ply.

[0011] In certain aspects, the at least one bellow ply extends longitudinally in a direction transverse to the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0012] In certain aspects, the intermediary section is made of a different material than the boot shell.

[0013] In certain aspects, the intermediary section has a minimum thickness in a direction transverse to the fore-aft direction, the minimum thickness of the intermediary section is larger than that of the boot shell in the ankle receiving region.

[0014] In certain aspects, the pair of intermediary sections are at least partially offset from each other in the fore-aft direction.

[0015] In certain aspects, each of the pair of intermediary sections includes a medial intermediary section and a lateral intermediary section, the medial intermediary section is positioned to generally vertically align with a medial malleolus of the wearer’s foot and the lateral intermediary section is positioned to generally vertically align with a lateral malleolus of the wearer’s foot.

[0016] In certain aspects, the medial intermediary section extends more rearward than the lateral intermediary section.

[0017] In certain aspects, the pair of intermediary sections each have a dimension in the fore-aft direction that is between 10 mm and 50 mm.

[0018] In certain aspects, the dimension of each of the pair of intermediary sections differs by at least 2 mm.

[0019] In certain aspects, the pair of intermediary sections have a same resistance to deformation upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0020] In certain aspects, the flexion feature includes a rear section joining the pair of intermediary sections, the rear section stretches as the pair of fore sections gains the compressed state.

[0021] In certain aspects, the rear section has at least one bellow ply.

[0022] In certain aspects, the rear section has a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of fore sections upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0023] In certain aspects, the flexion feature is asymmetrical with respect to a median plane thereof.

[0024] In certain aspects, the first front edge portion and the second front edge portion have a concave curvature outline projection, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have an elongated shape, a projection of a length of the respective fore sections intersecting with the concave curvature projection outline in a direction normal to a tangent of the concave curvature projection outline.

[0025] In certain aspects, the skate boot has a longitudinal axis extending between a foremost end of the skate boot and a rearmost end of the skate boot, the projection of the length extending at an angle 0 relative to the longitudinal axis, the angle 0 being between 20 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0026] In certain aspects, the base portion and the upper portion are separate parts interconnected to each other via the flexion feature.

[0027] In certain aspects, the base portion and the upper portion are separate parts interconnected to each other via the flexion feature by at least one of stitching, welding, gluing, molding, overmolding, fusing, interlocking, and fastening with the flexion feature.

[0028] In certain aspects, the upper portion and the flexion feature are integral so as to form a single piece, and the base portion is a separate part secured to the flexion feature.

[0029] There is also provided a skate boot for a wearer’s foot, comprising: a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion and the upper portion defining a foot receiving cavity, the lower portion including a boot shell forming parts of a lateral side and a medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion adapted to wrap partially about an ankleof the wearer’s foot; and a flexion feature projecting upwardly from the boot shell, in the upper portion of the skate boot, the flexion feature having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion defining a front edge on at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, in the upper portion of the skate boot, at least part of the lower portion of the flexion feature being resiliently deformable to cause a relative angular movement of the front edge toward the lower portion of the skate boot in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot, the lower portion of the flexion feature having at least one fore section extending towards a rear section, the at least one fore section extending below the front edge, and an intermediary section extending between the at least one fore section and the rear section, and upon moving the front edge toward the lower portion of the skate boot, the at least one fore section resiliently deforms in compression while the rear section resiliently stretches.

[0030] The skate boot as defined above, and described herein, may further include one or more of the following aspects and features, in whole or in part, and in any combination.

[0031] In certain aspects, the intermediary section has a greater resistance to deformation than the at least one fore section and the rear section when the flexion feature deforms to move the front edge toward the lower portion of the skate boot.

[0032] In certain aspects, the fore section is resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state, wherein in the compressed state the upper portion of the flexion feature moves angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the lower portion of the skate boot as the fore section transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.

[0033] In certain aspects, the fore section has a lower resistance to deformation than the intermediary section upon resiliently deforming to reduce a distance between the front edge of the upper portion of the flexion feature and the lower portion of the skate boot.

[0034] In certain aspects, the fore section has at least one bellow ply.

[0035] In certain aspects, the at least one bellow ply extends longitudinally in a direction transverse to the front edge of the upper portion of the flexion feature.

[0036] In certain aspects, the intermediary section is made of a different material than the boot shell.

[0037] In certain aspects, a stiffening insert in overlapping relation at least with the upper portion of the flexion feature.

[0038] In certain aspects, the stiffening insert is received in a recess defined in the upper portion of the flexion feature, on an inwardly facing side thereof.

[0039] In certain aspects, the stiffening insert is coupled to an inner side of the flexion feature.

[0040] In certain aspects, the stiffening insert is a first stiffening insert located on one of a medial and a lateral side of the upper portion of the skate boot, a second stiffening insert located on the other one of the medial and the lateral side of the upper portion of the skate boot.

[0041] In certain aspects, a portion of the stiffening insert extends in overlapping relationship with the intermediary section in the lower portion of the flexion feature.

[0042] In certain aspects, the portion of the stiffening insert that extends in overlapping relationship with the intermediary section has an overall thickness greater than that of a portion of the stiffening insert extending in overlapping relationship with the upper portion of the flexion feature.

[0043] In certain aspects, the portion of the stiffening insert that extends in overlapping relationship with the intermediary section has rigidifying ribs.

[0044] In certain aspects, the upper portion of the flexion feature defines an outer surface of the skate boot in the upper portion of the skate boot.

[0045] In certain aspects, the lower portion of the flexion feature defines an outer surface of the skate boot in the upper portion of the skate boot.

[0046] In certain aspects, the boot shell has an upper edge, the upper edge extending along the lower portion of the flexion feature, the upper edge configured to extend underan ankle receiving region of the skate boot, the ankle receiving region of the skate boot defined by the upper portion of the flexion feature.

[0047] In certain aspects, the stiffening insert extends rearwardly from the front edge, in the ankle receiving region.

[0048] In certain aspects, the flexion feature extends in a medial side and a lateral side of the skate boot, the stiffening insert extends up to a median plane of the flexion feature.

[0049] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a skate boot for a wearer’s foot, comprising: a boot shell having: an upper portion forming parts of a lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion defining an ankle receiving region of the boot shell and adapted to receive malleoli of the wearer; a base portion forming other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot below the ankle receiving region; and a flexion feature between the upper portion and the base portion on at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot, the flexion feature being resiliently deformable to reduce a distance between a first front edge portion of the upper portion and a second front edge portion of the base portion and causing a relative angular movement between the base portion and the upper portion in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot, the flexion feature including an intermediary section interconnecting the upper portion and the base portion, the intermediary section located below the ankle receiving region of the skate boot.

[0050] In accordance with another aspect, there is provided a skate boot for a wearer’s foot, comprising: a boot shell having: an upper portion forming parts of a lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion adapted to wrap partially about an ankle of the wearer’s foot, the upper portion having a forwardmost edge on at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot; a base portion forming other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, the base portion and the upper portion defining a foot receiving cavity; and a flexion feature extending between the upper portion and the base portion, the flexion feature forming yet other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, at least part of the flexion feature being resiliently deformable to cause a relative angular movement of the forwardmost edge of the upperportion toward the base portion in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot, the flexion feature having at least one fore section extending towards a rear section, and an intermediary section extending between the at least one fore section and the rear section, and upon moving the forwardmost edge of the upper portion toward the base portion, the at least one fore section resiliently deforms in compression while the rear section resiliency stretches.

[0051] The skate boots as defined above, and described herein, may further include one or more of the following aspects and features, in whole or in part, and in any combination.

[0052] In certain aspects, the flexion feature has a pair of fore sections and a pair of the intermediary sections on opposite ones of the medial and lateral sides of the skate boot, the pair of fore sections being resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state, wherein in the compressed state the upper portion of the boot shell moves angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the base portion as the pair of fore sections transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.

[0053] In certain aspects, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of intermediary sections upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0054] In certain aspects, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have a different resistance to deformation in compression upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0055] In certain aspects, the pair of fore sections includes a medial fore section and a lateral fore section, the medial fore section having a dimension in the fore-aft direction smaller than that of the lateral fore section between respective front lateral and medial edges of the boot shell and respective ones of the intermediary sections of the pair of intermediary sections.

[0056] In certain aspects, each fore section of the pair of fore sections has at least one bellow ply, the at least one bellow ply compressing as the pair of fore sections gains the compressed state.

[0057] In certain aspects, at least one bellow ply extends longitudinally in a direction transverse to the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0058] In certain aspects, the intermediary section is made of a different material than the boot shell.

[0059] In certain aspects, the intermediary section has a minimum thickness in a direction transverse to the fore-aft direction, the minimum thickness of the intermediary section larger than that of the boot shell in the ankle receiving region.

[0060] In certain aspects, the intermediary sections of the pair of intermediary sections are at least partially offset from each other in the fore-aft direction.

[0061] In certain aspects, the pair of intermediary sections includes a medial intermediary section and a lateral intermediary section, the medial intermediary section is positioned to generally vertically align with a medial malleolus of the wearer’s foot and the lateral intermediary section is positioned to generally vertically align with a lateral malleolus of the wearer’s foot.

[0062] In certain aspects, the medial intermediary section extends more rearward than the lateral intermediary section.

[0063] In certain aspects, the intermediary sections of the pair of intermediary sections each have a dimension in the fore-aft direction that is between 10 mm and 50 mm.

[0064] In certain aspects, the dimension of the intermediary sections of the pair of intermediary sections differs by at least 2 mm.

[0065] In certain aspects, the intermediary sections of the pair of intermediary sections have a same resistance to deformation upon resiliently deforming to reduce thedistance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0066] In certain aspects, the flexion feature includes a rear section joining the pair of intermediary sections, the rear section stretches as the pair of fore sections gains the compressed state.

[0067] In certain aspects, the rear section has at least one bellow ply, the at least one bellow ply of the rear section widens to extend as the pair of fore sections gains the compressed state.

[0068] In certain aspects, the rear section has a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of fore sections upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

[0069] In certain aspects, the flexion feature is asymmetrical with respect to a median plane thereof.

[0070] In certain aspects, the first front edge portion and the second front edge portion have a concave curvature outline projection, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have an elongated shape, a projection of a length of the respective fore sections intersecting with the concave curvature projection outline in a direction normal to a tangent of the concave curvature projection outline.

[0071] In certain aspects, the skate boot has a longitudinal axis extending between a foremost end of the skate boot and a rearmost end of the skate boot, the projection of the length extending at an angle 0 relative to the longitudinal axis, the angle 0 being between 20 degrees and 60 degrees.

[0072] In certain aspects, the base portion and the upper portion are separate parts interconnected to each other via the flexion feature.

[0073] In certain aspects, the base portion and the upper portion are separate parts interconnected to each other via the flexion feature by at least one of stitching, welding, gluing, molding, overmolding, fusing, interlocking, and fastening with the flexion feature.

[0074] In certain aspects, the upper portion and the flexion feature are integral so as to form a single piece, and the base portion is a separate part secured to the flexion feature.

[0075] In certain aspects, the intermediary section has a greater resistance to deformation than the at least one fore section and the rear section when the flexion feature deforms to move the forwardmost edge of the upper portion toward the base portion.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0076] Reference is now made to the accompanying figures in which:

[0077] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a skate with a boot and a ground engaging assembly, according to an embodiment;

[0078] Fig. 2 is a lateral side elevation view of the skate of Fig. 1 , showing portions of a shell of the boot of the skate of Fig. 1 ;

[0079] Fig. 3 is a medial side elevation view of the skate of Fig. 1 , showing portions of a shell of the boot of the skate of Fig. 1 ;

[0080] Fig. 4 is a side elevation exploded view of the shell of the skate of Fig. 1 ;

[0081] Fig. 5 illustrates a range of motion of a wearer’s ankle and lower leg in a fore- aft direction of the boot of the skate of Fig. 1 ;

[0082] Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a flexion feature of the skate of Fig. 1 ;

[0083] Fig. 7 shows a cross-section of the flexion feature of Fig. 6, taken in a planeA-A of Fig. 6;

[0084] Fig. 8 is a medial side elevation view of the flexion feature of Fig. 6;

[0085] Fig. 9 is a lateral side elevation view of the flexion feature of Fig. 6;

[0086] Fig. 10 is a rear elevation view of the flexion feature of Fig. 6;

[0087] Fig. 11 is a partial side elevation view of a rear portion of the flexion feature of Fig. 6, showing a cross-section taken in a plane B-B of Fig. 10;

[0088] Fig. 12 is a top view of the flexion feature of Fig. 6; and

[0089] Fig. 13 is a perspective view of a skate with a boot and a ground engaging assembly, according to a variant;

[0090] Fig. 14 is an exploded partial view of the boot of the skate of Fig. 13.

[0091] Fig. 15 is a perspective view of a flexion feature of the boot of Fig. 14.

[0092] Fig. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the flexion feature of Fig. 15.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0093] Fig. 1 illustrates a skate 10, such as the type worn for ice hockey. The skate 10 includes a boot 100 and a ground-engaging assembly 200 attached beneath the boot 100, e.g. to the outer sole of the boot 100. The ground-engaging assembly 200 is shown as including a blade. It is understood that the particular skate configuration shown here is provided as an example only and that alternate configurations are possible, including, but not limited to, other types of ground engaging assemblies such as rollerskate ground engaging assemblies including rollers or wheels. In the depicted embodiment, the skate 10 is a hockey skate, which is optionally a goalie skate, though such skate 10 may be used for the practice of other sports, such as ringette and / or other activities such as ice skating, skating, inline roller hockey (with the ground engaging assembly adapted therefor) or the like.

[0094] The boot 100 defines a foot receiving cavity 101 adapted to receive a wearer’s foot and ankle. Garments (padded or without integrated pads), such as socks, and / or protective wears, such as leg pads, ankle pads, etc. for covering at least part of the wearer’s foot and / or ankle may be worn on the wearer’s foot and / or ankle and may interface with at least some parts of the boot 100, within the foot receiving cavity 101 .

[0095] The boot 100 includes a boot shell 110. The boot shell 110 extends about at least part of the wearer’s foot and ankle and form the core of the boot 100. The boot shell110 is configured to provide rigidity / stiffness to the boot 100. The boot shell 1 10 defines the core structure of the boot 110. The boot shell 1 10 provides structural integrity of the boot 100. Rigidity of the boot shell 110 may allow for impact protection, control / stability of the boot 100 during strokes, and / or load transfer efficiency from the userto the groundengaging assembly 200 during skating. In at least some embodiments, the boot shell 110 may be molded, such as by thermoforming or injection-molding in a tridimensional piece shell, and include one or more layers. Other aspects of the boot shell 110 will be described later.

[0096] The boot 100 includes a liner 120 covering at least part of an interior of the boot 100. The liner 120 is adapted to face and / or contact the wearer’s foot and ankle (or garments and / or protective wears worn on the wearer’s foot and / or ankle). The liner 120 defines an inner layer of the boot 100 and surfaces delimiting the foot receiving cavity 101 of the boot 100.

[0097] The boot 100 includes a toe cap 130 connected to the boot shell 1 10. In the depicted embodiment, the toe cap 130 is formed separately from the boot shell 1 10, i.e. formed as a separate piece and secured to the boot shell 110, for instance via fasteners, adhesives, or overmolding. The toe cap 130 can be made from a hard or stiff material to protect the toes of the wearer. Other configurations are also possible. For instance, the toe cap 130 may be formed integrally with the boot shell 1 10 as another possibility.

[0098] The boot 100 includes a tongue 140 connected to the toe cap 130. In some cases, the tongue 140 may be removably connected to the toe cap 130, for instance via fasteners or the like. The tongue 140 extends from the toe cap 130, between opposite sides of the boot shell 110. The tongue 140 is adapted to cover at least an instep region of the wearer’s foot, ankle, and at least part of a lower leg region of the wearer. A lacing system 150 with a lace 151 (or more than one) extends over at least part of the tongue 140 and attached at edges of the boot shell 110, to the opposite sides of the boot shell 110.

[0099] The boot 100 includes eyelets 160, which may be defined through the boot shell 1 10 or by one or more separate parts, which may be referred to as facings 165, connected to the boot shell 1 10 (on or along edges of the boot shell 110) on oppositesides thereof. The lace 151 is threaded through at least part of the eyelets 160 on opposite sides of the boot shell 110 for tightening the tongue 140 on the wearer’s foot thereby securing the boot shell 110 onto the wearer’s foot and / or ankle.

[0100] In variants, the boot 100 may include a tendon guard extending upwardly from a rearmost heel portion of the boot shell 110. The tendon guard may be configured to protect upper portions of an Achilles tendon of the wearer. The tendon guard could be integrally formed with an upper portion of the boot shell 110 which surrounds the wearer’s ankle so as to form a single, continuous part therewith. The tendon guard could also be removably attached to the boot shell 1 10 in variants.

[0101] Figs. 2-5 illustrate an embodiment of the boot shell 110, shown in isolation. The boot shell 110 includes a sole portion 111 that has back and front ends 1 11 R, 1 11 F, which may correspond to back and front ends of the boot 100. The sole portion 11 1 may be connected to the ground-engaging assembly 200 and is shaped to receive the foot of the wearer thereover, in a particular embodiment with an inner liner and / or insole adapted to extend between the sole portion 111 and the foot. In at least some embodiments, such as shown, the sole portion 1 11 is integrally formed with a remainder of the boot shell 110. The sole portion 1 11 may be a separate part secured to the remainder of the boot shell 110 in other embodiments.

[0102] The boot shell 1 10 includes a base portion 1 12B and an upper portion 112U, each defining parts of the lateral and medial sides of the boot 100. The base portion 112B extends from the sole portion 111 , from the back end 11 1 R of the sole portion 111 and defines a heel receiving region 113R for receiving a heel of the foot of the wearer. The heel receiving region 113R is generally curved to contour the heel and a rear of the foot. The base portion 112B of the boot shell 110 may include a toe receiving region 113F extending at the front end 11 1 F of the sole portion 111 , for receiving toes of the wearer’s foot. The toe receiving region 113F is optional in at least some cases, since the toe receiving region 1 13F may be defined by a separate toe cap 130 connected at front end of the boot shell 1 10, for example.

[0103] The base portion 112B extends upwardly from the sole portion 111 . The sole portion 11 1 and the base portion 112B may be formed as an integral part or separateparts that are jointly secured together, such as by co-molding, injection-molding, fusing, and / or made of one or more layers of material wrapping extending in a bottom of the boot shell 110 and extending upward therefrom, for example. The base portion 112B includes a lateral side region 1 14L, and a medial side region 114M. The lateral side region 114L and the medial side region 114M may extend from the sole portion 111 , the heel receiving region 113R and to the toe receiving region 113F (if present), to cover sides of at least part of the wearer’s foot. The lateral side region 1 14L and the medial side region 114M may extend along at least an instep portion of the boot shell 110. As shown, the spaced apart lateral and medial side regions 114L, 1 14M cooperate to surround the wearer’s foot on opposite sides thereof.

[0104] The upper portion 1 12U of the boot shell 1 10 defines an ankle receiving region 114K of the boot shell 110. The ankle receiving region 114K is adapted to wrap partially about an ankle of the wearer’s foot and to receive the malleoli of the wearer. In some embodiments, the ankle receiving region 114K in one or both of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot 100 may have bulge(s) defined therein to accommodate the lateral and medial malleolus of the foot. In such cases, the flexion feature 300 is located below the bulges.

[0105] The upper portion 1 12U extends above the base portion 112B. The upper portion 112U defines a foot-receiving opening 115 of the boot shell 1 10. The foot receiving opening 115 intersects with the lower leg of the wearer when the skate boot 100 is worn. In some embodiments, the upper portion 112U may include a tendon guard region which is adapted to extend along part of the lower leg of the wearer.

[0106] Each one of the base portion 1 12B and the upper portion 112U has an edge 116 extending therealong on the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot 100. The edge 116 includes a front edge portion 116F of the boot shell 110. The base portion 112B and the upper portion 1 12U may thus define respective front edge portions (or segments).

[0107] The edge 116 has an upper edge portion 116U along the foot-receiving opening 115. The upper edge portion 1 16U defines part of a periphery of the foot receiving opening 115 and extends partially about the wearer’s lower leg.

[0108] As shown in Fig. 4, the base portion 112B and the upper portion 1 12U may be separate parts that are connected together via an intermediary piece with references in the 300s, as will be further described herein.

[0109] Maintaining rigidity / stiffness of the boot 100 for impact protection and power transmission to the ground engaging assembly 200 while allowing a range of motion of the lower leg in a fore-aft direction may be desirable. More freedom of movement between the lower leg of the wearer and the boot 100 in a fore-aft direction may allow the natural biomechanical behaviour of the ankle and leg during the impulsion and propulsion phase of the skating motion or ease a transitioning from an upstanding position to a crouched position (or vice versa), as may be the case for goaltenders, for example. An exemplary range of motion of the lower leg of the wearer and the boot 100 in the fore-aft direction is illustrated in Fig. 5, with the range of motion (dorsiflexion) of the lower leg shown at two angular positions as the ankle flexes. In order to facilitate the fore-aft motion of the lower leg and ankle during the skating motion or other motions soliciting the ankle flexion, it may be desirable to adapt the mechanical resistance (e.g., rigidity in forward flex) of the boot 100 to promote mobility to the ankle at least for dorsiflexion.

[0110] An embodiment of a flexion feature 300 is presented with reference to Figs. 2-12.

[0111] As shown in Figs. 2-3 the flexion feature 300 joins the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110 and the upper portion 112U of the boot shell 110. The flexion feature 300 is configured to wrap partially about the foot of the wearer. The flexion feature 300 extends in a lateral side and a medial side of the skate boot 100. As shown, the flexion feature 300 is located generally underneath the ankle of the wearer when the skate boot 100 is worn. As mentioned above, the upper portion 112U of the boot shell 110 defines the ankle receiving region 1 14K of the boot shell 110, which is upward of the flexion feature 300. The flexion feature 300 thus extends below the ankle receiving region 1 14K and / or between the ankle receiving region 114K of the boot shell 110 and the base portion 112B of the boot shell 1 10. The ankle receiving region 114K of the boot shell 110 has malleoli-receiving surfaces on opposite sides of the boot shell 1 10 to accommodate the lateral and medial malleoli of the foot. At least part of the flexion feature 300, if not an entirety of the flexion feature 300, is located below the malleoli-receiving surfaces. Itshould be understood that such malleoli-receiving surfaces do not necessarily contact directly the malleoli but rather are located so as to face / overlie the malleoli, considering interfacing components between the foot and the boot shell 110. In embodiments where the ankle receiving region 114K has bulges defined therein to accommodate the lateral and medial malleoli of the foot, at least part of the flexion feature 300, if not an entirety of the flexion feature 300, is located below such bulges.

[0112] The flexion feature 300 has a body 301 which may be made as a single piece. The body 301 has an arch shape when viewed from a side thereof. Such arch shape may extend underneath and / or along a lower hemisphere of the malleoli and provide a better ergonomic shape to the flexion feature 300, e.g., not interfere with the malleoli of the wearer. When viewed from the rear thereof, the flexion feature 300 may also have an arch shape, this time upside down relative to the arch shape on the sides. The rear arch shape may extend upward of the heel receiving region 113R.

[0113] The body 301 is adapted to overlie with the natural flexing points of the foot articulation. More specifically, when the user wears the appropriate size of the boot 100 for his / her foot and when the boot 100 is worn and tighten appropriately for its use, the rear arch shape may generally overlie and / or wrap over the Achilles tendon insertion point to the calcaneus bone. The front of the body 301 , on opposite sides of the wearer’s foot and boot 100, may generally overlie or extend over lateral and medial sides of the foot, at the level of the talus and tibial bone insertion. Such locations are illustrated in Fig. 5. As illustrated in Fig. 5, the instep of the foot in dorsiflexion creates an acute angle at a junction with the lower leg. The front portion of the body 301 is shown in the area described, i.e., along the instep, overlying what would correspond to the talus and tibial bone insertion), and the rear portion of the body 301 is shown in the area described, i.e., overlying what would correspond to the Achilles tendon insertion point to the calcaneus bone. In an embodiment, the body 301 of the flexion feature 300 is made by injection molding. Other manufacturing techniques could be contemplated, such as other types of molding (e.g., thermoforming). The body 301 of the flexion feature 300 could be in the form of a multi-component assembly, as another possibility. The flexion feature 300 may be made of a single material, or a plurality of materials. For example, different materials could be selected for respective section(s) of the flexion feature 300.

[0114] As will be further described later, at least one section of the flexion feature 300 is configured to compress, deflect or otherwise deform to provide mobility in a fore- aft direction of the skate boot 100 to the upper portion 112U relative to the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110.

[0115] As shown in Fig. 4 and mentioned above, in an embodiment, the upper portion 112U and the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110 are separate (distinct) parts that are assembled together to form the boot shell 110 (or a substantial body part thereof). In the depicted embodiment, the upper portion 112U and the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110 are interconnected via the flexion feature 300. The base portion 112B and the upper portion 112U may be interconnected to each other via the flexion feature 300 by at least one of stitches, fasteners, adhesive, welding, molding, and fusing with the flexion feature 300, for example.

[0116] In a variant, the upper portion 112U and the flexion feature 300 may be integral so as to form a single piece, and the base portion 112B may be a separate part secured to the flexion feature 300. Such variant is shown in Figs. 13-16.

[0117] Now referring to Figs. 6-7, the flexion feature 300 defines connecting portions, which include in the embodiment shown an upper channel 302 and a lower channel 303 extending along the body 301 of the flexion feature 300. These channels 302, 303 are adapted to receive a lower edge 112UL (Fig. 4) of the upper portion 112U of the boot shell 110 and an upper edge 112BU (Fig. 4) of the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110, respectively. With these channels 302, 303, the base portion 112B and the upper portion 112U may be joined in an end-to-end configuration. The flexion feature 300 may form a bridge or interface between the base portion 112B and the upper portion 112U, such that, once assembled, the serial connection between the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110, the flexion feature 300 and the upper portion 112U of the boot shell 110 may provide sufficient structural integrity to the boot shell 110 to maintain the lateral stability of the wearer’s foot and ankle.

[0118] Still referring to Figs. 6-7, the upper channel 302 and lower channel 303 have spaced apart walls 304 adapted to receive therebetween the lower edge 112UL of the upper portion 112U of shell and upper edge 112BU of the lower portion 112B of the shell110, respectively. In the depicted embodiment, the walls 304 have an arc shape, which may correspond to the curvature of the boot shell 110 at an upper end of the heel receiving region 113R and / or a lower end of the ankle receiving region 114K. The walls 304 may extend continuously from one side to the other of the flexion feature (medial and lateral sides). The walls 304 may have a varying height along the upper channel 302 and / or lower channel 303, though this is optional. The inner and outer walls 304 may have a different height, as in the embodiment shown, though this is optional. In an embodiment, the height of the inner wall is 20 mm ± 3 mm and the outer wall is 15 mm ± 3 mm. This may apply to either one of both of the upper and lower channels 302, 303.

[0119] In the depicted embodiment, the upper channel 302 and the lower channel 303 are separated by a common wall 305 extending along part of the channels 302, 303. Geometry, features and thickness of such wall 305 may vary depending on the embodiments. More will be described accordingly herein later. As shown in Fig. 7, and as can be seen in Fig. 12, the common wall 305 may have perforations 305P extending therethrough and opened to the upper channel 302 and lower channel 303. This may be for a more lightweight structure orto facilitate the manufacturing (e.g., injection molding).

[0120] In an embodiment, as shown, the flexion feature 300 has eyelets 306 defined therethrough to receive the lace 151 . As shown, the eyelets 306 may extend through the inner and outer walls 304. In the embodiment shown, eyelets are present at the upper channel 302 and at the lower channel 303, though this is optional (only upper channel 302 or lower channel 303 could be contemplated). The eyelets 306 may have a rectangular or square cross-section, as shown, to better accommodate the lace 151 and orient the lace 151 as it exits the eyelets 306. Upon tightening the lace 151 (Fig. 1), the lateral and medial sides of the flexion feature 300 may slightly move towards each other, as is the case with the lateral and medial sides of the upper portion 112U. Other embodiments of the flexion feature 300 may not have eyelets 306.

[0121] As mentioned above, the flexion feature 300 may provide flexibility to the boot shell 110 in a fore-aft direction of the boot 100 to provide a range of motion to the lower leg of the wearer. The flexion feature 300 may be configured to fit a desired flexibility. Such desired level of flexibility may be wearer-specific or adapted to categories or types of wearers (e.g., different hockey players, goaltenders, youth, adults, wearer’s weight,strength). The flexion feature 300 is located in a zone extending generally along the superior extensor retinaculum and the inferior extensor retinaculum of the wearer. The location of the flexion feature 300 may be such that the flexion feature 300 may overlap the foot where the instep merges with the ankle or, stated otherwise where the smallest radius between the lower leg and the instep is reached when foot ankle is in dorsiflexion.

[0122] The flexion feature 300 extends between the upper portion 112U and the base portion 112B. The flexion feature 300 is resiliently deformable to reduce a distance DD (Fig. 3) between a front edge portion of the upper portion 112U and a front edge portion of the base portion 112B. As the lower leg of the wearer forces the tongue 140 (Fig. 1) of the skate boot 100 forwardly, against the tensioned lace 151 (Fig. 1), the flexion feature 300 may deform to cause a relative angular movement between the base portion 112B and the upper portion 1 12U in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot 100. This is illustrated in Fig. 5, where the ankle of the wearer is in dorsiflexion.

[0123] Referring to Figs. 6 and 8-10, the flexion feature 300 includes a pair of fore sections 310, a pair of intermediary sections 320 and a rear section 330.

[0124] The pair of fore sections 310 and the pair of the intermediary sections 320 are adapted to extend at opposite ones of the medial and lateral sides of the skate boot 100. The rear section joins the pair of intermediary sections 320 and is adapted to extend at the rear of the lower leg of the wearer.

[0125] The pair of fore sections 310 includes a lateral fore section 310L and a medial fore section 310M. The fore sections 310 extends between respective front lateral and medial edges 116 of the skate boot 100, and respective ones of the intermediary sections 320. The flexion feature 300 may be asymmetrical with respect to a median plane MP (Fig. 10) thereof. For example, in at least some embodiments, the lateral and medial fore sections 310M, 310L may be asymmetrical. In an embodiment, as shown, the medial fore section 310M may have a dimension D1 in the fore-aft direction smaller than that of the lateral fore section 310L. Such asymmetrical dimension may contribute to having a different resistance to deformation on the lateral side versus the medial side of the flexion feature 300. As such, in at least some embodiments, the fore sections 310 may have a different resistance to deformation in compression upon resiliently deforming to reducethe distance DD between the front edge portion of the upper portion 1 12U and the front edge portion of the base portion 112B.

[0126] The pair of fore sections 310 is resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state. In the compressed state, the upper portion 112U of the boot shell 110 may move angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the base portion 112B as the pair of fore sections 310 transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state. In the depicted embodiment, the fore sections 310 extends from between the front edge portions defined by respective ones of the base portion 112B and upper portion 112U. The fore section 310 that is resiliently deformable extends between eyelets 106, which may be the eyelets 306 defined through the flexion feature 300, if present.

[0127] As can be seen in Figs. 8-9, the fore sections 310 (310M, 310L) have an elongated shape. In the embodiment shown, the elongated shape is angled with respect to a longitudinal axis LL (axis extending between a foremost end of the skate boot and a rearmost end of the skate boot 100). The angle 0 between a projection of a length of the respective fore sections 310 with respect to the longitudinal axis LL of the skate boot 100 may be between 20 degrees and 60 degrees, preferably around 40 degrees, in at least some embodiments. The angle 0 may be different on the medial side versus the lateral side, or identical, depending on the embodiments. As can be seen in Fig. 3, also, is that the projection PL of the length of the fore sections 310 may intersect with a concave curvature projection outline PC of the front edge portions in a direction normal to a tangent thereof.

[0128] The fore sections 310 is more flexible / less stiff in a direction transverse to the fore-aft direction of the skate boot 100 than the boot shell 1 10, at least in the ankle receiving region 114K. It may be desirable to have the stiffness at a level high enough to provide lateral rigidity to the flexion feature 300, so as to generally maintain the shape of the boot shell 1 10 along the front edge, as the lace 151 are tightened, and as the lateral and medial sides of the boot shell 110, at least between the edges 116, move towards each other slightly.

[0129] In the embodiment shown, each fore section 310 has a bellow ply 312. As shown, the bellow ply 312 may extend longitudinally in a direction transverse to the front edge portion defined by the upper portion 112U and the front edge portion defined by the base portion 112B. The bellow ply 312 includes a fold having an edge which forms an apex in the material of the fore section 310. In the embodiment shown, the bellow ply 312 has a generally symmetrical shape along the edge forming the apex, though it could be asymmetrical in other embodiments. Segments of the ply 312 extending on each side of the apex have a tapered shape in the rearward direction relative to the skate boot 100, towards the intermediary section 320. This is only one possibility as, for example, there could be no taper. In the depicted embodiment, the ply 312 extends longitudinally in a direction transverse to the front edge portions defined by the respective base portion 112B and upper portion 112U.

[0130] In variants, there could be a plurality of plies in parallel with each other or “stacked” between the upper channel 302 and the lower channel 303. The bellow could therefore have a zig-zag configuration with an alternating sequence of apexes and valleys, for example. In the depicted embodiment, the bellow has segments of its ply 312 that are generally flat, thereby forming an angle in between them. In variants, the ply could have a rounded or hemispherical shape, preferably but not necessarily bulging outwardly, so as to deflect from the uncompressed state to the compressed state and retrieve its shape once the pressure there is released.

[0131] When the fore section 310 is compressed, the bellow ply 312 sags as the fore section 310 gains the compressed state. The segments may move towards each other and the angle of the apex may become more and more acute as the fore section 310 gains the compressed state. As the pressure is released on the fore section 310, the ply 312 retrieves its uncompressed state and shape. The resiliency deformable fore section 310 may have other suitable shapes and still act as a spring or spring damper. For example, an insert of polymeric or elastomeric material resiliency deformable when compressed between the upper channel 302 and the lower channel 303 could be contemplated, with such material being different, e.g., less rigid or “softer”, than a remainder of the flexion feature 300, or at least different than the intermediary section and / or rear section 330.

[0132] In a variant, there may be only one fore section on one of the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot 100, for instance to provide mobility to the ankle asymmetrically, such as only laterally or medially. This may depend on the wearer’s preference, for example.

[0133] The intermediary sections 320 (at least) interconnects the upper portion 112U and the base portion 112B on the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot 100. With reference to Figs. 2-3 and 8-9, the intermediary sections 320 are located below the ankle receiving region 1 14K of the skate boot 100. The intermediary sections 320 include a lateral intermediary section 320L and a medial intermediary section 320M. In an embodiment, the intermediary sections 320 may be shifted with respect to each other in the fore-aft direction of the skate boot 100. As such, the medial intermediary section 320M may positioned to generally vertically align with a medial malleolus of the wearer’s foot and the lateral intermediary section 320L may be positioned to generally vertically align with a lateral malleolus of the wearer’s foot.

[0134] The intermediary sections 320 may have a different dimension D2 in the fore- aft direction of the skate boot 100. For example, in an embodiment, the medial intermediary section 320M may extend more rearwardly than the lateral intermediary section 320L. The dimension D2 of the intermediary sections 320 of the pair of intermediary sections 320 may differ by at least 2 mm, for example. In at least some embodiments, the intermediary sections 320 of the pair of intermediary sections 320 each have a dimension D2 in the fore-aft direction that is between 10 mm and 50 mm.

[0135] In an embodiment, the intermediary sections 320 may be made of a same material as the boot shell 110, though this is optional. The intermediary sections 320 may be as rigid as the boot shell 110, whether or not made of the same material. However, in other embodiments, the intermediary sections 320 may have a lower resistance to deformation than the boot shell 1 10 when a force is applied on the boot 100 to induce flexion of the upper portion 112U forward relative to the base portion 112B (or stated otherwise, by forcing with the lower leg forward and cause a dorsiflexion of the ankle). This may provide more mobility to the skate boot in the fore-aft direction, since boot shells 110 may often be rigid to the point where during skating, the boot shell 110 may not flex at all or minimally. This can be seen for example in one-piece injection-molded skate boots, or tridimensional skate boot shells made of fiber-reinforced layers of materials.

[0136] The resistance to deformation of the intermediary sections 320 may be adapted to provide more or less flexibility of the boot 100 in the fore-aft direction. For example, a minimum thickness of the intermediary sections 320 may be varied (in a transverse direction relative to the fore-aft direction). In an example, the minimum thickness of the intermediary section 320 may be larger than that of the boot shell 110 in the ankle receiving region. It could be smaller than that of the boot shell 110 in other embodiments, depending on the material, size, shape and geometry of the intermediary section 320.

[0137] In an embodiment, the intermediary sections 320 of the pair of intermediary sections have a same resistance to deformation upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance DD between the front edge portion of the upper portion 112U and the front edge portion of the base portion 112B. They could have a different resistance to deformation in some variants.

[0138] In an embodiment, the fore sections 310 of the pair of fore sections 310 may have a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of intermediary sections 320 upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance DD between the front edge portion of the upper portion 112U and the front edge portion 112B of the base portion 112B. This may be desirable to promote mobility in flexion in the fore-aft direction of the boot 100, while still maintaining a sufficient structural integrality of the skate boot 100 and / or maintain a sufficient rigidity of the skate boot 100 laterally, about the ankle of the wearer.

[0139] As mentioned above, the flexion feature 300 may include a rear section 330 joining the pair of intermediary sections 320. The rear section 330 may stretch as the pair of fore sections 310 gains the compressed state. Depending on the embodiments, the rear section 330 may provide more or less resistance to deformation when the boot 100 is flexed forwardly. For example, in an embodiment, the rear section 330 may have a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of fore sections 310 upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance DD between the front edge portion of the upper portion 112U and the front edge portion of the base portion 112B. The rear section 330 couldhave the same resistance to deformation as the fore sections 310, in variants. As seen in the figures, the rear section 330 may have a similar shape and configuration as the fore sections 310.

[0140] In an embodiment, the rear section 330 includes a bellow ply 332, similar to the ply 312 of the fore section 310 discussed above. In the embodiment shown, the rear section 330 has a single bellow ply, though there could be more. The bellow ply 332 extends in the lateral side and in the medial side of the skate boot 100, by wrapping rearwardly being the wearer’s foot, above the heel receiving region 113R of the skate boot 100. The bellow ply 332 may be symmetrical with respect to the median plane MP, as can be seen in Fig. 10. The bellow ply 332 may have a curvature to conform to the curvature of the boot 100 above the heel receiving region 113R. The bellow ply 332 may have a forwardly extending tapered shape, from the median plane MP. This is only one possibility, as discussed above with respect to the bellow ply 312. In the embodiment shown, the bellow ply 332 is recessed in a recess 333 in the flexion feature 300. As shown, a base 334 of the bellow ply 332 is recessed with respect to an outermost surface of the flexion feature 300. This is only one possibility, as other shapes for the ply 332 and / or rear section 330 as a whole could be contemplated. When the pair of fore sections 310 gains the compressed state, the bellow ply 332 of the rear section 330 may widen. Stated otherwise, the angle between segments of the ply 332 extending from the apex of the ply 332 may become less and less acute (or more and more obtuse).

[0141] As mentioned above with respect to the fore sections 310, other forms of rear sections 330 could be contemplated and still act as a spring or spring damper as the flexion feature moves between the compressed state and the uncompressed state. For brevity, this will not be repeated, but it should understood that the above description with respect to the fore section 310 may similarly apply to the rear section 330.

[0142] The rear section 330 could also offer little to no resistance upon flexing the skate boot 100 in the forward direction, in some variants. The rear section 330 could also be absent, in some variants.

[0143] Referring to Figs. 13-16 a variant of the skate 10 with a variant of the flexion feature 300 will be now described. It is understood that like features described above withthe skate 10 and flexion feature 300 will not be entirely repeated for brevity, but they similarly apply to the variant described in the following paragraphs.

[0144] As shown in Fig. 13, the skate 10A has a skate boot 100A for a wearer’s foot. The skate boot 100A has a lower portion 100AL and an upper portion 100AU. The lower portion 100AL and the upper portion 100AU define a foot receiving cavity 101 A. The upper portion 100AU is adapted to wrap partially about an ankle of the wearer’s foot. The lower portion 100AL includes a boot shell 110A forming parts of a lateral side and a medial side of the skate boot 100A. The boot shell 1 10A may include the features of the base portion 112B of the boot shell 110 described above. In the variant shown, the flexion feature 300A projects upwardly from the boot shell 110A, and forms part of the upper portion 100AU of the skate boot 100A.

[0145] Referring to Figs. 13-15, the flexion feature 300A has a lower portion 300AL and an upper portion 300AU. In the variant shown, the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A forms a portion of the skate boot 100A that generally corresponds to the upper portion 112U of the boot shell 1 10 described with respect to Figs. 2-4. Stated otherwise, the boot shell 1 10A shown in Fig. 14, which may be made as an integral piece from the sole portion and upward to where it joins with the flexion feature 300A, may define the lower portion 100AL of the skate boot 100A only. Such lower portion 100AL may end below the ankle receiving region 114AK that is defined by a portion of the flexion feature 300A. The boot shell 110A shown in Fig. 14 may thus have an upper edge extending below the lateral and / or medial malleolus of the wearer’s foot. The ankle receiving region 1 MAK is adapted to wrap partially about an ankle of the wearer’s foot and to receive the malleoli of the wearer. In some embodiments, the ankle receiving region 1 AK may have bulge(s) defined therein to accommodate the lateral and medial malleolus of the foot. In such cases, the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A defines the bulges, and the lower portion 300AL of the flexion feature 300A may be below the bulge(s).

[0146] The upper portion 300AU extends above the lower portion 300AL. As shown, in some embodiments, the upper portion 300AU defines a foot-receiving opening 115A of the skate boot 100A. The foot receiving opening 115A (Fig. 13) may intersect with (and / or extend about part of) the lower leg of the wearer when the skate boot 100 is worn.In some embodiments, the upper portion 300AU may include a tendon guard region which is adapted to extend along part of the lower leg of the wearer. In some embodiments, the upper portion 300AU has a similar rigidity / stiffness of the boot shell 110A. The upper portion 300AU may provide a similar impact protection as the boot shell 100A in the lower portion 100AL of the skate boot 100A. In alternate embodiments, as will be described later, the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A may include a stiffening insert to increase the rigidity / stiffness of the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A.

[0147] The upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A defines a front edge 116AF on at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot 100A in the upper portion 100AU. The lower portion 300AL is resiliency deformable to cause a relative angular movement of the forwardmost edge 116AF toward the lower portion 100AL of the skate boot 100A in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot 100A.

[0148] The lower portion 300AL of the flexion feature 300A has at least one fore section 310A extending towards a rear section 330A. The at least one fore section 310A extends below the forwardmost edge 116AF. As described above with reference to Figs. 2-12, the fore section 310A may be on a lateral and / or medial side of the skate boot 100A. Similarly as described above, the fore section(s) 310A is / are resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state. In the compressed state, the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A may move angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the lower portion 100AL of the skate boot 100A as the fore section 310A transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state. In the depicted embodiment, the fore section 310A extends from between the front edge portions defined by respective ones of the boot shell 1 10A in the lower portion 100AL of the skate boot 100A, and the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A. The fore section 310A that is resiliently deformable may extend between eyelets, which may be eyelets 306A (Fig. 13) defined through the flexion feature 300. Eyelets may not be defined through the flexion feature 300A other variants.

[0149] The flexion feature 300A may be asymmetrical on a lateral side and on a medial side of the skate boot 100A, as described above. The flexion feature 300A may have a different resistance to deformation in compression upon resiliently deforming toreduce the distance DD between the front edge portion 1 16AF of the upper portion 300AU and the front edge portion of the base portion 112B. The corresponding characteristics described above with respect to Figs. 2-12 may also be applicable and will not be repeated for brevity, likewise for the shape, angular orientation, length, etc., of the fore sections 310 described above.

[0150] Yet, as similarly described above, in at least some embodiments, the fore section 310A has a bellow ply 312A. This can be seen at least in Fig. 15. As shown, the bellow ply 312A may extend longitudinally in a direction transverse to the front edge portion 1 16AF defined by the upper portion 300AU and the front edge portion defined by the base portion 112AB. The corresponding characteristics of the bellow ply 312 described above with respect to Figs. 2-12 may also be applicable and will not be repeated for brevity. When the fore section 310A is compressed, the bellow ply 312A sags as the fore section 310A gains the compressed state. As the pressure is released on the fore section 310A, the bellow ply 312A retrieves its uncompressed state and shape. The resiliently deformable fore section 310A may have other suitable shapes and still act as a spring or spring damper, as described above.

[0151] In some variants, there may be only one fore section on one of the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot 100A, for instance to provide mobility to the ankle asymmetrically, such as only laterally or medially. This may depend on the wearer’s preference, for example.

[0152] An intermediary section 320A extends between the at least one fore section 310A and the rear section 330A. Upon moving the forwardmost edge 1 16AF toward the lower portion 100AL of the skate boot 100A, the at least one fore section 310A may resiliently deform in compression while the rear section 330A may resiliently stretch. The intermediary section 320A is located below the ankle receiving region 114AK of the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A. The intermediary section 320 may be present on a lateral and / or medial side of the skate boot 100A. The intermediary section 320A may be positioned to generally vertically align with a medial / lateral malleolus of the wearer’s foot.

[0153] In some embodiments, the intermediary section 320A may have a lower resistance to deformation than the boot shell 110A when a force is applied on the boot 100A to induce flexion of the upper portion 300AU forward relative to the base portion 112B (or stated otherwise, by forcing with the lower leg forward and cause a dorsiflexion of the ankle). The resistance to deformation of the intermediary sections 320A may be adapted to provide more or less flexibility of the boot 100A in the fore-aft direction.

[0154] In an embodiment, the fore section 310A may have a lower resistance to deformation than the intermediary section 320A upon resiliency deforming to reduce the distance DD between the front edge portion 116AF of the upper portion 300AU and the front edge portion of the base portion 112B. This may be desirable to promote mobility in flexion in the fore-aft direction of the boot 100A, while still maintaining a sufficient structural integrity of the flexion feature 300A and / or maintain a sufficient rigidity of the flexion feature 300A laterally, about the ankle of the wearer.

[0155] Other aspects described above with respect to the intermediary sections 320 may similarly apply to the flexion feature 300A and will not be repeated for brevity.

[0156] As mentioned above, the flexion feature 300A may include a rear section 330A joining the intermediary section 320A on a lateral and medial side of the skate boot 100A. The rear section 330A may stretch as the fore section 310A gains the compressed state. Depending on the embodiments, the rear section 330A may provide more or less resistance to deformation when the boot 100A is flexed forwardly. These aspects have been already described herein and will not be repeated.

[0157] As shown, the rear section 330A includes a bellow ply 332A, similar to the ply 312A of the fore section 310A discussed above. In the embodiment shown, the rear section 330A has a single bellow ply, though there could be more. The bellow ply 332A extends in the lateral side and in the medial side of the skate boot 100A, by wrapping rearwardly being the wearer’s foot, above the heel receiving region 113R of the skate boot 100 Other aspects described above with respect to the rear section 330 may similarly apply to the flexion feature 300A and will not be repeated for brevity.

[0158] The description of the lower channel 303 with reference to Figs. 6-7 may similarly apply to the flexion feature 300A and will not be described again for brevity. Suffice it to say that the flexion feature 300A, as shown, may have a lower channel 303A (Fig. 16) adapted to engage an upper edge of the boot shell 110A. The lower channel 302A extends below the fore section 310A, intermediary section 320A and rear section 330A.

[0159] The flexion feature 300A can be molded. For example, it can be injection- molded. The flexion feature 300A may be made of a polymeric material, e.g., polyethylene (PE) such as low-density polyethylene (LDPE).

[0160] Referring to Fig. 16, in at least some embodiments, a stiffening insert 340A can be assembled with the flexion feature 300A. The stiffening insert 340A may provide added rigidity / stiffness to the flexion feature 300A in areas that are not configured to provide fore-aft mobility of the upper portion 300AU with respect to the lower portion 300AL. For example, as shown, the stiffening insert 340A may be configured to span in an entirety or a substantial area of the upper portion 300AU. The stiffening insert 340A may be stiffer / more rigid than a remainder of the body of the flexion feature 300A, though this is optional as it may have a similar rigidity / stiffness thereto. As shown, the stiffening insert 340A is received in a recess 341A defined in the upper portion 300AU, on an inwardly facing side of the flexion feature 300A. The recess 341 A is optional. The stiffening insert 340A may be glued, stitched, or otherwise coupled to the inner side of the flexion feature 300A.

[0161] There may be a plurality of stiffening inserts 340A, or a single one, depending on the embodiments. As shown, at least a first stiffening insert 340A1 is locate on a medial side of the flexion feature 300A and at least a second stiffening insert 340A2 is located on a lateral side of the flexion feature 300A. Both inserts 340A1 , 340A2 have the same flexing / rigidity characteristics to provide a similar added stiffness to the medial and lateral sides of the flexion feature 300A. In alternate embodiments, the inserts 340A1 , 340A2 may be geometrically different and / or have different stiffness / rigidity properties to cause a different stiffening increase on the medial and lateral sides of the flexion feature 300A. Such added stiffening / rigidity may be based on a user’s selection of inserts 340A having desired stiffening properties.

[0162] The stiffening insert 340A is in overlapping relationship with the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A. As shown, the stiffening insert 340A has a portion 342A spanning upward of the fore section 310A, intermediary section 320A and rear section 330A, and overlying an inner side of the upper portion 300AU. A thickness of the stiffening insert 340A may vary in the portion 342A to accommodate the relief of the ankle of the wearer and / or the ankle receiving region 114AK defined by the upper portion 300AU of the flexion feature 300A. As shown, the stiffening insert 340A has a portion 343A configured to overlap with the intermediary section 320A, between the fore section 310A and the rear section 330A. The portion 343A overlies the inner side of the lower portion 300AL, in the intermediary section 320A. Such portion 343A has an overall thickness greater than the overall thickness of the portion 342A in the upper portion 300AU. Ribs 344A, as shown, or other rig idifying features, can extend in the portion 343A, though this is optional. The stiffening insert 340A may be made of a same or different material as the flexion feature 300A. In an embodiment, the stiffening insert 340A includes a fiber-reinforce composite material, such as a carbon reinforced composite material. The stiffening insert 340A may be made of layers of fiber materials. The stiffening insert 340A may be injection-molded, as possibility.

[0163] According to the present disclosure, in accordance with at least some embodiments, a skate boot 100 includes a boot shell 110 having an upper portion 112U forming parts of a lateral side and medial side of the skate boot 100. The upper portion 112U is adapted to wrap partially about an ankle of the wearer’s foot and have a forwardmost edge on at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot 100. A base portion 112B of the boot shell 110 forms other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot 100, the base portion 1 12B and the upper portion 112U may define a foot receiving cavity 101 . The boot 100 includes a flexion feature 300 joining the upper portion 112U and the base portion 112B, the flexion feature 300 forming yet other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot 100. At least part of the flexion feature 300 may be resiliently deformable to cause a relative angular movement of the forwardmost edge of the upper portion 112U toward the base portion 112B in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot 100, the flexion feature 300 has at least one fore section 310 extending towards a rear section 330 and an intermediary section 320 extending between the at least one fore section 310 and the rear section 330. Uponmoving the forwardmost edge of the upper portion 1 12U toward the base portion 112B, the at least one fore section 310 may resiliently deform in compression while the rear section 330 may resiliently stretch. In some embodiments, the intermediary section 320 may have a greater resistance to deformation than the at least one fore section 310 and the rear section 330 when the flexion feature 300 deforms to move the forwardmost edge of the upper portion 112U toward the base portion 112B.

[0164] It should be understood that the resistance to deformation of sections of the skate boot 100, including sections of the flexion feature 300 may be measured using various suitable techniques, on test benches, or evaluated via finite element analyses, for example. Due to the manufacturing variabilities and other practical realities, a perfectly identical resistance to deformation for two or more sections of the skate boot 100 may not be practically obtainable. As such, the term “generally” used in the context of such resistance to deformation is meant to account for such realities. Similarly, resistances to deformation that differ by ± 5% would also be considered as generally having the same resistance to deformation.

[0165] The embodiments described in this document provide non-limiting examples of possible implementations of the present technology. Upon review of the present disclosure, a person of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made to the embodiments described herein without departing from the scope of the present technology. For example, while the reference skate 10 shown in Figs. 1-5 is a goalie skate, the present disclosure is not limited to goalie skates (i.e., non-goalie skates with a flexion feature as described herein is also within the scope of the present disclosure). Yet further modifications could be implemented by a person of ordinary skill in the art in view of the present disclosure, which modifications would be within the scope of the present technology.

Claims

CLAIMS:1 . A skate boot for a wearer’s foot, comprising: a boot shell having, an upper portion forming parts of a lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion defining an ankle receiving region of the boot shell and adapted to receive malleoli of the wearer, and a base portion forming other parts of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot below the ankle receiving region; and a flexion feature joining the upper portion and the base portion on at least one of the lateral side and the medial side of the skate boot, the flexion feature being resiliently deformable to reduce a distance between a first front edge portion of the upper portion and a second front edge portion of the base portion and causing a relative angular movement between the base portion and the upper portion in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot, the flexion feature including an intermediary section located below the ankle receiving region of the skate boot.

2. The skate boot of claim 1 , wherein the flexion feature has a pair of fore sections and the intermediary section is one of a pair of intermediary sections, the pair of fore sections and the pair of intermediary sections being located on opposite ones of the medial and lateral sides of the skate boot, the pair of fore sections being resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state, wherein in the compressed state the upper portion of the boot shell moves angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the base portion as the pair of fore sections transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.

3. The skate boot of claim 2, wherein the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of intermediary sections upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

4. The skate boot of claim 2, wherein the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have a different resistance to deformation in compression upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

5. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 4, wherein the pair of fore sections includes a medial fore section and a lateral fore section, the medial fore section having a dimension in the fore-aft direction smaller than that of the lateral fore section between respective front lateral and medial edges of the boot shell and respective ones of the pair of intermediary sections.

6. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein each fore section of the pair of fore sections has at least one bellow ply.

7. The skate boot of claim 6, wherein the at least one bellow ply extends longitudinally in a direction transverse to the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

8. The skate boot of claim 1 , wherein the intermediary section is made of a different material than the boot shell.

9. The skate boot of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the intermediary section has a minimum thickness in a direction transverse to the fore-aft direction, the minimum thickness of the intermediary section is larger than that of the boot shell in the ankle receiving region.

10. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 9, wherein the pair of intermediary sections are at least partially offset from each other in the fore-aft direction.11 . The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 10, wherein each of the pair of intermediary sections includes a medial intermediary section and a lateral intermediary section, the medial intermediary section is positioned to generally vertically align with a medial malleolus of the wearer’s foot and the lateral intermediary section is positioned to generally vertically align with a lateral malleolus of the wearer’s foot.

12. The skate boot of claim 1 1 , wherein the medial intermediary section extends more rearward than the lateral intermediary section.

13. The skate boot of claim 2, wherein the pair of intermediary sections each have a dimension in the fore-aft direction that is between 10 mm and 50 mm.

14. The skate boot of claim 13, wherein the dimension of each of the pair of intermediary sections differs by at least 2 mm.

15. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 14, wherein the pair of intermediary sections have a same resistance to deformation upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

16. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 15, wherein the flexion feature includes a rear section joining the pair of intermediary sections, the rear section stretches as the pair of fore sections gains the compressed state.

17. The skate boot of claim 16, wherein the rear section has at least one bellow ply.

18. The skate boot of claim 16 or 17, wherein the rear section has a lower resistance to deformation than the pair of fore sections upon resiliently deforming to reduce the distance between the first front edge portion of the upper portion and the second front edge portion of the base portion.

19. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 18, wherein the flexion feature is asymmetrical with respect to a median plane thereof.

20. The skate boot of any one of claims 2 to 19, wherein the first front edge portion and the second front edge portion have a concave curvature outline projection, the fore sections of the pair of fore sections have an elongated shape, a projection of a length of the respective fore sections intersecting with the concave curvature projection outline in a direction normal to a tangent of the concave curvature projection outline.21 . The skate boot of claim 20, wherein the skate boot has a longitudinal axis extending between a foremost end of the skate boot and a rearmost end of the skate boot, the projection of the length extending at an angle 0 relative to the longitudinal axis, the angle 0 being between 20 degrees and 60 degrees.

22. The skate boot of any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the base portion and the upper portion are separate parts interconnected to each other via the flexion feature.

23. The skate boot of claim 22, wherein the base portion and the upper portion are separate parts interconnected to each other via the flexion feature by at least one of stitching, welding, gluing, molding, overmolding, fusing, interlocking, and fastening with the flexion feature.

24. The skate boot of any one of claims 1 to 21 , wherein the upper portion and the flexion feature are integral so as to form a single piece, and the base portion is a separate part secured to the flexion feature.

25. A skate boot for a wearer’s foot, comprising: a lower portion and an upper portion, the lower portion and the upper portion defining a foot receiving cavity, the lower portion including a boot shell forming parts of a lateral side and a medial side of the skate boot, the upper portion adapted to wrap partially about an ankle of the wearer’s foot; and a flexion feature projecting upwardly from the boot shell, in the upper portion of the skate boot, the flexion feature having a lower portion and an upper portion, the upper portion defining a front edge on at least one of the lateral side and medial side of the skate boot, in the upper portion of the skate boot, at least part of the lower portion of the flexion feature being resiliently deformable to cause a relative angular movement of the front edge toward the lower portion of the skate boot in a fore-aft direction of the skate boot, the lower portion of the flexion feature having at least one fore section extending towards a rear section, the at least one fore section extending below the front edge, and an intermediary section extending between the at least one fore section and the rear section, and upon moving the front edge toward the lower portion of the skate boot, the at least one fore section resiliently deforms in compression while the rear section resiliently stretches.

26. The skate boot of claim 25, wherein the intermediary section has a greater resistance to deformation than the at least one fore section and the rear section when the flexion feature deforms to move the front edge toward the lower portion of the skate boot.

27. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 and 26, wherein the fore section is resiliently deformable between a compressed state and a uncompressed state, wherein in the compressed state the upper portion of the flexion feature moves angularly forwardly in the fore-aft direction relative to the lower portion of the skate boot as the fore section transitions from the uncompressed state to the compressed state.

28. The skate boot of claim 27, wherein the fore section has a lower resistance to deformation than the intermediary section upon resiliently deforming to reduce a distance between the front edge of the upper portion of the flexion feature and the lower portion of the skate boot.

29. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 28, wherein the fore section has at least one bellow ply.

30. The skate boot of claim 29, wherein the at least one bellow ply extends longitudinally in a direction transverse to the front edge of the upper portion of the flexion feature.

31. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 30, wherein the intermediary section is made of a different material than the boot shell.

32. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 31 , further comprising a stiffening insert in overlapping relation at least with the upper portion of the flexion feature.

33. The skate boot of claim 32, wherein the stiffening insert is received in a recess defined in the upper portion of the flexion feature, on an inwardly facing side thereof.

34. The skate boot of any one of claims 32 and 33, wherein the stiffening insert is coupled to an inner side of the flexion feature.

35. The skate boot of any one of claims 32 to 34, wherein the stiffening insert is a first stiffening insert located on one of a medial and a lateral side of the upper portion of the skate boot, a second stiffening insert located on the other one of the medial and the lateral side of the upper portion of the skate boot.

36. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 35, wherein a portion of the stiffening insert extends in overlapping relationship with the intermediary section in the lower portion of the flexion feature.

37. The skate boot of claim 36, wherein the portion of the stiffening insert that extends in overlapping relationship with the intermediary section has an overall thickness greater than that of a portion of the stiffening insert extending in overlapping relationship with the upper portion of the flexion feature.

38. The skate boot of any one of claims 36 and 37, wherein the portion of the stiffening insert that extends in overlapping relationship with the intermediary section has rigidifying ribs.

39. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 38, wherein the upper portion of the flexion feature defines an outer surface of the skate boot in the upper portion of the skate boot.

40. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 39, wherein the lower portion of the flexion feature defines an outer surface of the skate boot in the upper portion of the skate boot.

41. The skate boot of any one of claims 25 to 40, wherein the boot shell has an upper edge, the upper edge extending along the lower portion of the flexion feature, the upper edge configured to extend under an ankle receiving region of the skate boot, the ankle receiving region of the skate boot defined by the upper portion of the flexion feature.

42. The skate boot of claim 41 when depending on any one of claims 32 to 40, wherein the stiffening insert extends rearwardly from the front edge, in the ankle receiving region.

43. The skate boot of claim 42, wherein the flexion feature extends in a medial side and a lateral side of the skate boot, the stiffening insert extends up to a median plane of the flexion feature.

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