Skate boot with flexble midfoot section

Abstract

A skate boot or other piece of footwear is provided with a flexible midfoot section that is not rigidly connected to either a sole and/or base of the boot, in order to adjustably tighten around the bottom, sides, and/or top of the wearer's midfoot to provide arch support and uniform snugness. The midfoot section is in a “hammock” type arrangement while the bail and heel portions of the wearer's foot rests on the footbed over the respective sole portions.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A piece of footwear, comprising:
 a heel portion;   a heel sole member formed on an underside surface of the heel portion;   a forefoot portion;   a forefoot sole member formed on an underside surface of the forefoot portion; and   a substantially flexible midfoot portion disposed between the heel portion and forefoot portion;   wherein the midfoot portion does not contact either the heel sole member or the forefoot sole member.   
     
     
         2 . A piece of footwear boot, comprising:
 a skate blade member;   a heel portion;   a heel sole member formed on an underside surface of the heel portion, a first portion of the skate blade member being fastened to the heel sole member;   a forefoot portion;   a forefoot sole member formed on an underside surface of the forefoot portion, a second portion of the skate blade member being fastened to the forefoot sole member; and   a substantially flexible midfoot portion disposed between the heel portion and forefoot portion;   wherein the midfoot portion does not contact either the heel sole member, the forefoot sole member, or the skate blade member.   
     
     
         3 . A piece of footwear, comprising:
 a heel portion;   a heel sole member formed on an underside surface of the heel portion;   a forefoot portion;   a forefoot sole member formed on an underside surface of the forefoot portion;   a substantially flexible midfoot portion disposed between the heel portion and forefoot portion; and   at least one connection member interconnecting the heel sole member to the forefoot sole member;   wherein the midfoot portion does not contact either the heel sole member, the forefoot sole member, or the connection member;   wherein the connection member is selectively operable to change the orientation of the forefoot portion relative to the heel portion.