Alpine ski boot with strap closure

Abstract

An easy entry alpine ski boot includes one or more of a ladder strap closure, flap joint, ratcheting buckle and worm gear buckle.

1 . An easy entry alpine ski boot with a strap closure comprising:
 a boot outer shell including a plurality of flaps;   a boot vamp including a first pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   a boot throat including a second pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   for at least one pair of opposed flaps, a strap fixed to one flap and a buckle fixed to the opposed flap; and,   the buckle operable to advance the strap toward the buckle and to cinch the boot around the skier's foot and leg.   
     
     
         2 . The boot of  claim 1  further comprising:
 teeth on the strap; and, 
 the buckle for engaging the strap teeth. 
 
     
     
         3 . The boot of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a ratchet mechanism integral with the buckle; and, 
 the ratchet mechanism for tensioning the strap. 
 
     
     
         4 . The boot of  claim 3  further comprising:
 a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps; and, 
 the flap joint operable to reduce the force required to separate the strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps thereby easing the entry of a skier's foot into the boot. 
 
     
     
         5 . The boot of  claim 4  wherein the joint is a thinned section of the flap. 
     
     
         6 . The boot of  claim 4  wherein the joint is a pinned hinge. 
     
     
         7 . The boot of  claim 4  wherein gear teeth affixed to a buckle lever engage the ladder strap teeth. 
     
     
         8 . The boot of  claim 7  further comprising:
 an extension rod; 
 a buckle lever fitment adapted to engage the extension rod; and, 
 the rod operable to operate the actuate the buckle lever. 
 
     
     
         9 . The boot of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a worm-gear mechanism integral with the buckle; and, 
 the worm-gear mechanism for tensioning the strap. 
 
     
     
         10 . The boot of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps; and, 
 the flap joint operable to reduce the force required to separate the strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps thereby easing the entry of a skier's foot into the boot. 
 
     
     
         11 . The boot of  claim 10  wherein the joint is a thinned section of the flap 
     
     
         12 . The boot of  claim 10  wherein the joint is a pinned hinge. 
     
     
         13 . The boot of  claim 12  further including:
 an extension rod; 
 a worm gear mechanism fitment adapted to engage the extension rod; and, 
 the rod operable to rotate the worm gear. 
 
     
     
         14 . The boot of  claim 12  further including:
 a worm gear mechanism fitment adapted to receive a mating fitment; 
 the mating fitment extending from a tip of an alpine ski pole; and, 
 the ski pole operable to rotate the worm gear. 
 
     
     
         15 . The boot of  claim 2  further comprising:
 a ratchet mechanism integral with the buckle; 
 a rotatable shaft of the ratchet mechanism for coiling the strap; and, 
 the rotatable shaft supported by a buckle housing. 
 
     
     
         16 . The boot of  claim 15  further comprising:
 a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps; and, 
 the flap joint operable to reduce the force required to separate the strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps thereby easing the entry of a skier's foot into the boot. 
 
     
     
         17 . The boot of  claim 16  wherein the joint is a thinned section of the flap. 
     
     
         18 . The boot of  claim 17  wherein the joint is a hinge. 
     
     
         19 . The boot of  claim 7  further comprising:
 an extension rod; 
 a buckle lever fitment adapted to engage the extension rod; and, 
 the rod operable to actuate the buckle lever. 
 
     
     
         20 . An easy entry alpine ski boot with a ladder strap closure comprising:
 a boot outer shell including a plurality of flaps;   a boot vamp including a first pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   a boot throat including a second pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   for at least one pair of opposed flaps, a ladder strap fixed to one flap and a buckle fixed to the opposed flap;   a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps;   the flap joint operable to reduce the force required to separate the ladder strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps thereby easing the entry of a skier's foot into the boot;   a ratcheting mechanism integral with the buckle; and,   the ratcheting mechanism operable by a lever to advance the ladder strap through the buckle and cinch the boot around the skier's foot and leg.   
     
     
         21 . An easy entry alpine ski boot with a ladder strap closure comprising:
 a boot outer shell including a plurality of flaps;   a boot vamp including a first pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   a boot throat including a second pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   for at least one pair of opposed flaps, a ladder strap fixed to one flap and a buckle fixed to the opposed flap;   a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps;   the flap joint operable to reduce the force required to separate the ladder strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps thereby easing the entry of a skier's foot into the boot;   a worm gear mechanism including an angular drive integral with the buckle; and,   a ski pole adapted to mate with the worm gear mechanism for rotating the worm gear, advancing the ladder strap through the buckle, and cinching the boot around the skier's foot and leg.   
     
     
         22 . An easy entry alpine ski boot with a coilable strap closure comprising:
 a boot outer shell including a plurality of flaps;   a boot vamp including a first pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   a boot throat including a second pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps;   for at least one pair of opposed flaps, a coilable strap fixed to one flap and a buckle fixed to the opposed flap;   a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps;   the flap joint operable to reduce the force required to separate the coilable strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps thereby easing the entry of a skier's foot into the boot;   a ratcheting mechanism integral with the buckle;   the ratcheting mechanism including a ratcheting pawl and a locking pawl;   and,   the ratcheting mechanism operable via a lever to coil the coilable strap on a rotatable shaft within the buckle and cinch the boot around the skier's foot and leg.   
     
     
         23 . A method enabling a skier to cinch his/her alpine ski boot while standing erect comprising the steps of:
 providing
 a boot outer shell including a plurality of flaps, 
 a boot vamp including a first pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps, and 
 a boot throat including a second pair of opposed flaps of the plurality of flaps; 
   for at least one pair of opposed flaps, fixing a ladder strap to one flap and fixing a buckle to the opposed flap;   providing a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps;   easing the entry of the skier's foot into the boot by reducing the force required to separate the ladder strap flap and the buckle flap of the at least one pair of opposed flaps by providing a joint in at least one of the flaps of the at least one pair of opposed flaps;   providing a worm gear mechanism integral with the buckle;   providing a ski pole adapted to mate with the worm gear mechanism;   mating the ski pole and worm gear mechanism; and,
 the skier, while standing erect, rotating the ski pole to advance the ladder strap through the buckle to cinch the boot around the skier's foot and leg.