Footbed for a skate boot

Abstract

A footbed for a skate boot having a quarter and a toe cap defining an internal space for receiving a human foot having a heel, an ankle, medial and lateral sides, a big toe, second, third and fourth toes, a little toe and a plantar surface, the footbed comprising: (a) a sole portion for facing the plantar surface of the foot, the sole portion having medial and lateral sides and front and rear ends; and (b) medial, front and lateral walls extending from the front end of the sole portion, the medial, front and lateral walls being movable from a first position, wherein the medial, front and lateral walls are generally in the same plane than that of the sole portion, to a second position, wherein each of the medial, front and lateral walls define an angle with respect to the sole portion such that, in use, the medial, front and lateral walls face the toes and are located between the toes and the toe cap of the skate boot. In one embodiment, the medial, front and lateral walls are replaced by first and second lateral walls, each having at least one flexing zone extending in a direction that is general traversal relative to the sole portion.

1 . A footbed for a skate boot having a quarter and a toe cap defining an internal space for receiving a human foot having a heel, an ankle, medial and lateral sides, a big toe, second, third and fourth toes, a little toe and a plantar surface, said footbed comprising:
 (a) a sole portion for facing the plantar surface of the foot, said sole portion having medial and lateral sides and front and rear ends; and   (b) medial, front and lateral walls extending from said front end of said sole portion, said medial, front and lateral walls being movable from a first position, wherein said medial, front and lateral walls are generally in the same plane than that of said sole portion, to a second position, wherein each of said medial, front and lateral walls defines an angle with respect to said sole portion such that, in use, said medial, front and lateral walls face the toes and are located between the toes and the toe cap of the skate boot.   
     
     
         2 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said angle is between 80° and 100°. 
     
     
         3 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , wherein said angle is approximately 90°. 
     
     
         4 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , wherein, in use and in said second position, said medial wall at least partially faces medial and distal portions of the big toe. 
     
     
         5 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , wherein, in use and in said second position, said lateral wall at least partially faces lateral and distal portions of the small toe. 
     
     
         6 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , wherein, in use and in said second position, said front wall at least partially faces distal portions of the second, third and fourth toes. 
     
     
         7 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a surrounding wall extending upwardly from said medial and lateral sides and rear end of said sole portion wherein, in use, said surrounding wall at least partially faces the medial and lateral sides and heel of the foot. 
     
     
         8 . A footbed as defined in  claim 1 , wherein in said second position, said medial, front and lateral walls has a height of between 0.5 inch and 1.5 inch. 
     
     
         9 . A footbed as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said surrounding wall partially cups the heel. 
     
     
         10 . A footbed as defined in  claim 7 , wherein said surrounding wall extends upwardly up to a medial line defined by the bones of the foot. 
     
     
         11 . A footbed for a skate boot having a quarter and a toe cap defining an internal space for receiving a human foot having a heel, an ankle, medial and lateral sides, a big toe, second, third and fourth toes, a little toe and a plantar surface, said footbed comprising:
 (a) a sole portion for facing the plantar surface of the foot, said sole portion having medial and lateral sides and front and rear ends; and   (b) first and second walls extending from said front end of said sole portion, each of said first and second walls having at least one flexing zone extending in a direction that is general traversal relative to said sole portion, said first and second walls being movable from a first position, wherein said first and second walls are generally in the same plane than that of said sole portion, to a second position, wherein each of said first and second walls defines an angle with respect to said sole portion such that, in use, said first and second walls face all toes and are located between the toes and the toe cap of the skate boot.   
     
     
         12 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said first and second walls are medial and lateral walls and said footbed has a front wall extending from said front end of said sole and being located between said medial and lateral walls and wherein, in use and in said second position, said medial wall at least partially faces medial and distal portions of the big toe, said lateral wall at least partially faces lateral and distal portions of the small toe, and said front wall at least partially faces distal portions of the second, third and fourth toes. 
     
     
         13 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said angle is between 80° and 100°. 
     
     
         14 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said angle is approximately 90°. 
     
     
         15 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said footbed has a top layer made of textile and a bottom layer made of foam and wherein said at least one flexing zone is provided in said bottom layer made of foam. 
     
     
         16 . A footbed as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one flexing zone is a V-shaped groove. 
     
     
         17 . A footbed as defined in  claim 15 , wherein said at least one flexing zone is a U-shaped groove. 
     
     
         18 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one flexing zone is a first flexing zone and wherein each of said first and second walls has a further flexing zone. 
     
     
         19 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one flexing zone is a first flexing zone and wherein each of said first and second walls has second and third flexing zones. 
     
     
         20 . A footbed as defined in  claim 11 , wherein said at least one flexing zone extends in a perpendicular direction relative to said sole portion.