Boot having a flexible outer wall

Abstract

A ski boot having a rigid shell made of a plastic material, in which an inner comfort element is inserted, the rigid shell including a collar fixed on a shell base. The boot has a softening structure located on the outer wall of the boot and which includes a plurality of recesses provided in the rigid shell. The recesses are provided in the ankle joint zone, in the lower portion of the outer wall of the shell base, and on the outer wall of the collar.

1 . A sports boot comprising: 
 a rigid shell including a lateral wall and a medial wall;    an inner liner;    a structure for softening a force transmission zone of the lateral wall of the shell, said force transmission zone extending from an upper edge area of the shell to a sole area of the boot, said force transmission zone further extending between a front tip of the shell and a heel area of the shell, said softening structure providing a difference in rigidity between the lateral wall and the medial wall of the shell.    
     
     
         2 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the softening structure comprises a plurality of juxtaposed recesses provided in the shell.    
     
     
         3 . A sports boot according to  claim 2 , wherein: 
 the softening structure comprises a zone of the lateral wall, the lateral wall having a thickness less than 60% of a thickness of a corresponding zone of the medial wall.    
     
     
         4 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the softening structure comprises a zone of the lateral wall made of a material more flexible than a material of the remainder of the boot and more flexible than a material of a corresponding zone of the medial wall.    
     
     
         5 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the softening structure is provided in the lateral wall of the shell, in an area of the user's instep.    
     
     
         6 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the softening structure is provided in an area of the axis of the user's ankle joint.    
     
     
         7 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a collar fixed on a shell base and equipped with at least two closure mechanisms;    a softening structure being arranged on the outer wall of the collar having at least one opening positioned between the closure mechanisms.    
     
     
         8 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the recesses extend through a thickness of the shell;    an imperviousness structure is arranged on the inner surface of the shell so as to seal said recesses.    
     
     
         9 . A sports boot according to  claim 8 , wherein: 
 said imperviousness structure includes a thermal insulating layer.    
     
     
         10 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the boot is a ski boot.    
     
     
         11 . A sports boot according to  claim 1 , wherein: 
 the rigid shell is made of a plastic material.