Skate boot with a rear opening

Abstract

A skate boot for receiving a human foot, the skate boot comprising a front portion and a rear portion, the rear portion comprising an opening facing rearwardly and upwardly of the skate boot for allowing insertion of the foot in the internal cavity.

1 . A skate boot comprising an internal cavity for receiving a human foot, said skate boot comprising a front portion and a rear portion, said rear portion comprising an opening facing rearwardly and upwardly of said skate boot for allowing insertion of the foot in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         2 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said skate boot comprises a fastening device to retain the foot in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         3 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 2 , wherein said fastening device comprises a fastening member, said fastening device capable to acquire either one of a fastened condition and a released condition, in said fastened condition said fastening member obstructs at least partially said opening to impede the foot from egressing said internal cavity.  
     
     
         4 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 3 , wherein in said fastened condition said fastening member extends across said opening.  
     
     
         5 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 4 , wherein in said released condition said fastening member ceases to obstruct said opening to allow insertion and removal of the foot from said internal cavity.  
     
     
         6 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the foot has a heel, an Achilles tendon, an ankle with a front ankle portion and medial and lateral malleoli, a forefoot, medial and lateral sides, a plantar surface and toes, and wherein said opening comprises a bottom edge that is below the medial malleolus when the foot is received in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         7 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 6 , wherein said internal cavity comprises a bottom surface facing the plantar surface when the foot is received in said internal cavity, said rear portion comprising a heel portion extending from said bottom surface to said bottom edge of said opening, said heel portion facing the heel of the foot.  
     
     
         8 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said front portion of said skate boot faces at least partially the front ankle portion and the forefoot when the foot is received in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         9 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 8 , wherein said front portion comprises a front opening facing the front ankle portion for allowing the ankle to flex forwardly.  
     
     
         10 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 9 , wherein said front portion comprises a stretchable portion covering said front opening.  
     
     
         11 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 10 , wherein said stretchable portion comprises stretchable bands extending transversely side by side.  
     
     
         12 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said stretchable bands are made of synthetic material.  
     
     
         13 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 12 , wherein said skate boot comprises an outer shell and an inner lining affixed to an inner surface of said outer shell.  
     
     
         14 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , wherein said skate boot comprises a rigid insert sandwiched between said outer shell and said inner lining, said rigid insert comprising a heel portion enclosing the heel and medial and lateral ankle portions facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively.  
     
     
         15 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the foot has a heel, an Achilles tendon, an ankle with a front ankle portion and medial and lateral malleoli, a forefoot, medial and lateral sides, a plantar surface and toes, and wherein, when the foot is received in said internal cavity: 
 (a) said front portion of said skate boot faces at least partially the front ankle portion and the forefoot; and    (b) said rear portion of said skate boot comprises a heel portion enclosing the heel, medial and lateral side portions facing the medial and lateral sides of the foot respectively and medial and lateral ankle portions facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively.    
     
     
         16 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said opening is defined by a bottom edge formed on said heel portion, by a top edge formed on said front portion and by medial and lateral edges formed on said medial and lateral ankle portions respectively, said medial and lateral edges extending from said bottom edge to said top edge.  
     
     
         17 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said heel portion and said medial and lateral ankle portions enclose the heel and the ankle without entirely covering the Achilles tendon.  
     
     
         18 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 16 , wherein said skate boot comprises a fastening device to retain the foot in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         19 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 18 , wherein said fastening device comprises a fastening member, said fastening device capable to acquire either one of a fastened condition and a released condition, in said fastened condition said fastening member obstructs at least partially said opening to impede the foot from egressing said internal cavity.  
     
     
         20 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 19 , wherein in said fastened condition said fastening member extends across said opening.  
     
     
         21 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 20 , wherein in said released condition said fastening member ceases to obstruct said opening to allow insertion and removal of the foot from said internal cavity.  
     
     
         22 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 21 , wherein said fastening member is a strap with a VELCRO hooks section and a VELCRO loops section.  
     
     
         23 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 22 , wherein said skate boot comprises a ring affixed to either one of said medial and lateral ankle portions, said strap being affixed at one end to the other of said medial and lateral ankle portions.  
     
     
         24 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said front portion comprises a front opening facing the front ankle portion for allowing the ankle to flex forwardly.  
     
     
         25 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 24 , wherein said front portion comprises a stretchable portion covering said front opening.  
     
     
         26 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 25 , wherein said stretchable portion comprises stretchable bands extending transversely side by side.  
     
     
         27 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 26 , wherein said stretchable bands are made of synthetic material.  
     
     
         28 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 27 , wherein said skate boot comprises an outer shell and an inner lining affixed to an inner surface of said outer shell.  
     
     
         29 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 28 , wherein said skate boot comprises a rigid insert sandwiched between said outer shell and said inner lining, said rigid insert comprising a heel portion enclosing the heel and medial and lateral ankle portions facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively.  
     
     
         30 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 29 , wherein said skate boot comprises a rigid band extending transversely along said top edge of said front portion, said rigid band being sandwiched between said inner lining and said outer shell.  
     
     
         31 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 30 , wherein said rigid band comprises respective ends projecting downwardly for forming medial and lateral wings facing the medial and lateral malleoli respectively.  
     
     
         32 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 31 , wherein said medial and lateral wings are affixed to an inner surface of said rigid insert.  
     
     
         33 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 32 , wherein said skate boot comprises medial and lateral cushioning pads affixed to an inner surface of said medial and lateral wings respectively.  
     
     
         34 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 33 , wherein said skate boot comprises an insole facing the plantar surface of the foot.  
     
     
         35 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 34 , wherein said skate boot comprises a toe cap facing the toes of the foot.  
     
     
         36 . A skate boot as defined in  claim 35  wherein said outer shell is made of a material selected from the group consisting of nylon, thermoplastic urethane (TPU), ethylene vinyl acetate (TEVA), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polypropylene (PP) or polyvinyl chloride (PVC).  
     
     
         37 . An ice skate comprising the skate boot as defined in  claim 1  and wherein said opening is at least partially covered when the foot is received in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         38 . An inline skate comprising the skate boot as defined in  claim 1 .  
     
     
         39 . An ice skate comprising the skate boot as defined in  claim 15  and wherein said opening is at least partially covered when the foot is received in said internal cavity.  
     
     
         40 . An inline skate comprising the skate boot as defined in  claim 15.