Ski boot

Abstract

A ski boot comprising a rigid shell made of plastic or composite material, which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and at least a first and a second removable front sole which, alternatively to each other, are adapted to be fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner to the lower wall of the shell substantially at the tarsal-phalangeal area of the foot; the shell being provided with a first transversal stiffening plate made of metal material which is embedded within the lower wall of the shell, close to the tip of the shell, and is structured/shaped so as to partially emerge/crop out on the outer surface of the lower wall of the shell substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot; the first and second removable front soles comprising: an upper plate-shaped socle which has the upper face shaped so as to be removably coupled to the lower wall of the shell substantially at the tarsal-phalangeal area of the foot, and a second transversal stiffening plate made of metal material which, in turn, is embedded within the upper plate-shaped socle close to the front end of the socle, so as to be aligned below the transversal stiffening plate of the shell, and is further shaped so as to emerge/crop out on the surface of the upper face of the socle substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot, so as to rest directly on the transversal stiffening plate of the shell.

1 . Ski boot comprising a rigid shell which is made of plastic or composite material and is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and at least a first and a second removable front sole which, alternatively to one another, are adapted to be fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner on the lower wall of the shell substantially at the tarsal-phalangeal area of the foot; said first and said second removable front sole being structured for being fixed on the back of the ski by means of a ski-binding device;
 the ski boot being characterised in that the shell is provided with a first transversal stiffening plate made of metal material which is embedded within the lower wall of the shell, close to the tip of the shell, and is structured/shaped so as to partially emerge/crop out on the outer surface of the lower wall of the shell substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot; and in that both the first and the second removable front sole comprise: an upper plate-shaped socle which has the upper face shaped so as to removably couple with the lower wall of the shell substantially at the tarsal-phalangeal area of the foot, and a second transversal stiffening plate made of metal material which, in turn, is embedded within the upper plate-shaped socle close to the front end of the socle, so as to be aligned below the transversal stiffening plate of the shell, and is furthermore shaped so as to emerge/crop out on the surface of the upper face of the socle substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot, so as to rest directly on the transversal stiffening plate of the shell.   
     
     
         2 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the first removable front sole also comprises a slab of elastomeric material which is fixed on the lower face of the upper plate-shaped socle so as to form a single block with the socle; said single block being overall shaped/structured so as to meet the standards for mountaineering ski boots. 
     
     
         3 . Ski boot according to  claim 2 , characterised in that the slab of elastomeric material has a knobbed profile. 
     
     
         4 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterised in that also the second removable front sole comprises a slab of plastic or elastomeric material which is fixed on the lower face of the upper plate-shaped socle so as to form a single block with the socle; said single block being overall shaped/structured so as to meet the standards for downhill ski boots. 
     
     
         5 . Ski boot according to  claim 4 , characterised in that the slab of plastic material is made of a polymeric material which has a sliding friction coefficient lower than that of the elastomeric material of the slab of elastomeric material of the first removable front sole. 
     
     
         6 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterised by also comprising at least one first anchoring screw which is adapted to lock/retain the upper plate-shaped socle of the first or second removable front sole in abutment on the lower wall of the shell. 
     
     
         7 . Ski boot according to  claim 6 , characterised in that said first anchoring screw is adapted so as to engage in pass-through manner the upper plate-shaped socle of the first or second removable front sole and the transversal stiffening plate embedded in the upper plate-shaped socle, and then to screw directly in the emerged portion of the transversal stiffening plate of the shell. 
     
     
         8 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterised in that the transversal stiffening plate of the shell is provided with two projecting overhangs or protrusions which jut out while remaining on opposite sides of the vertical centre plane of the boot (M), up to emerge/crop out on the outer surface of the lower wall of the shell, substantially at the metatarsal-phalangeal area of the foot. 
     
     
         9 . Ski boot according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the two projecting overhangs or protrusions of the shell transversal stiffening plate are arranged in a specular position on opposite sides of the vertical centre plane of the ski boot (M). 
     
     
         10 . Ski boot according to  claim 8 , characterised in that the transversal stiffening plate of the first and of the second removable front sole is shaped so as to emerge/crop out from/on the surface of the upper face of the upper plate-shaped socle at two areas/portions which are located on opposite sides of the vertical centre plane (M) of the ski boot, each aligned at the distal end of a corresponding projecting overhang or protrusion of the shell transversal stiffening plate, to abut on the distal end of said projecting overhang or protrusion. 
     
     
         11 . Ski boot according to  claim 10 , characterised by comprising at least two first anchoring screws which are arranged on opposite sides of the vertical centre plane (M) of the ski boot, and each of said first anchoring screws is structured so as to engage in pass-through manner the upper plate-shaped socle at a corresponding emerged area/portion of the transversal stiffening plate of the first or second removable front sole, and then directly screw into the underlying projecting overhang or protrusion of the transversal stiffening plate of the shell. 
     
     
         12 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterised by also comprising at least a first and a second removable back heel which, alternatively to one another, are adapted to be fixed in a rigid and stable although easily removable manner on the lower wall of the shell substantially at the heel of the foot. 
     
     
         13 . Ski boot according to  claim 12 , characterised in that both the first and the second removable back heel comprise an upper plate-shaped socle which has the upper face shaped so as to be removably coupled with the lower wall of the shell substantially at the heel of the foot. 
     
     
         14 . Ski boot according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the first removable back heel also comprises a slab of elastomeric material which is fixed on the lower face of the upper plate-shaped socle so as to form a single block with the socle; said single block being overall shaped/structured so as to meet the standards for mountaineering ski boots. 
     
     
         15 . Ski boot according to  claim 13 , characterised in that the second removable back heel also comprises a slab of plastic or elastomeric material which is fixed on the lower face of the upper plate-shaped socle so as to form a single block with the socle; said single block being overall shaped/structured so as to meet the standards for downhill ski boots. 
     
     
         16 . Ski boot according to  claim 1 , characterised by also comprising a rigid cuff which is shaped so as to enclose the ankle of the user and is hinged on the shell so as to rotate about an axis (A) substantially perpendicular to the vertical centre plane (M) of the ski boot.