Boot with improved tightening of the upper

Abstract

A boot including a sole and an upper, the boot extending lengthwise from a heel to a front end, widthwise between a lateral portion and a medial portion, and height-wise from the sole to an upper end. The boot includes a reinforcement that is more rigid than the upper, at least in the region of the instep, the reinforcement including a lateral wall and/or a medial wall, and extending beneath the instep, the boot further including a transverse linkage provided to tighten the instep zone, the linkage extending from the lateral portion to the medial portion in a transverse plane of the boot.

1 . A boot comprising:
 a sole;   an upper extending upwardly from the sole, said upper including an instep region;   a length extending longitudinally between a heel and a front end;   a width extending transversely between a lateral portion and a medial portion;   a height extending from the sole to an upper end;   the upper further including a reinforcement positioned at least in the instep region of the upper, the reinforcement comprising a lateral wall and/or a medial wall and extending plumb with the instep;   a transverse linkage configured and arranged to tighten the instep region, the linkage extending from the lateral portion to the medial portion in a transverse plane of the boot.   
     
     
         2 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reinforcement further includes a bottom portion positioned to support a foot of a wearer.   
     
     
         3 . A boot according to claim, wherein:
 the reinforcement includes a bottom portion extending from the lateral wall to the medial wall.   
     
     
         4 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reinforcement further includes a rear wall positioned to extend behind a wearer's heel.   
     
     
         5 . A boot according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the bottom portion, the lateral wall and the medial wall of the reinforcement form a unitary element.   
     
     
         6 . A boot according to  claim 4 , wherein:
 the bottom portion, the lateral wall, the medial wall, and the rear wall of the reinforcement form a unitary element.   
     
     
         7 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the reinforcement is located externally of the upper.   
     
     
         8 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage is affixed at least to a portion of the reinforcement.   
     
     
         9 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage includes a first portion, a second portion, as well as a mechanism for removably connecting the second portion to the first portion.   
     
     
         10 . A boot according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first portion is affixed directly to the reinforcement and the second portion is affixed directly to the reinforcement.   
     
     
         11 . A boot according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 the first portion is affixed directly to the reinforcement and the second portion is affixed indirectly to the reinforcement.   
     
     
         12 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage includes a first portion, a second portion, and a permanent connection of the first portion to the second portion;   a tightening mechanism is permanently affixed to the lateral portion of the upper.   
     
     
         13 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage extends around the upper in a transverse plane as a belt.   
     
     
         14 . A boot according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the transverse plane forms, together with a plane tangent to a lower surface of the sole, an angle a having a value between 50 and 90 degrees.   
     
     
         15 . A boot according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the transverse plane intersects a plane, tangent to a lower surface of the sole, plumb with a tightening device of the upper.   
     
     
         16 . A boot according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the transverse plane intersects a plane, tangent to a lower surface of the sole, approximately plumb with an intersection of upper and lower subdivisions of a foot insertion opening.   
     
     
         17 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the transverse linkage is connected to the upper in front of the heel.   
     
     
         18 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the upper includes a lower portion adapted to cover a foot of a wearer, and a top portion adapted to extend above an ankle of the wearer.   
     
     
         19 . A boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the boot is configured and arranged to be used for a gliding sport, said boot having a connection for connecting a front of the boot to a binding affixed to a gliding board.