Article of footwear having a shell with an inner tongue

Abstract

An article of footwear, such as a ski boot that includes a rigid upper comprised of a shell base equipped with a rigid tongue and overlaid by a hinged collar, the shell base including a wide opening extending from the top of the upper to the forefoot, the opening separating a lateral edge and a medial edge, which extend parallel to one another without overlap. The rigid tongue is wider than the width of the opening and comprises a lateral wing and a medial wing intended to be positioned under the lateral edge and the medial edge, respectively.

1 . A ski boot comprising:
 a rigid upper comprising:
 a shell base, the shell base comprising a longitudinal opening extending from a top of the rigid upper to a forefoot region of the rigid upper, the longitudinal opening transversely separating a lateral edge and a medial edge, the lateral and medial edges extending parallel without overlap; 
 a rigid tongue having a width greater than a width of the opening, the rigid tongue comprising a lateral wing and a medial wing, the lateral and medial wings being configured to be positioned beneath the lateral edge and beneath the medial edge; and 
 a collar overlaying the rigid shell base and hinged to the rigid shell base. 
   
     
     
         2 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rigid tongue is positioned upon and secured to a top of a front portion of the rigid upper.   
     
     
         3 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rigid tongue comprises a transversely central plate, the central plate being raised with respect to the lateral and medial wings of the rigid tongue   
     
     
         4 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rigid tongue comprises a stiffening rib.   
     
     
         5 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rigid tongue comprises an elongated and longitudinally extending stiffening rib.   
     
     
         6 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable inner liner, not permanently fixed with respect to the rigid upper;   the removable inner linger have a central portion devoid of a rigid plate for distributing forces.   
     
     
         7 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the rigid tongue is made of a molded or injected plastic material, or a composite material.   
     
     
         8 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flexible panel transversely connecting the lateral edge and medial edge to one another.   
     
     
         9 . A ski boot according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the flexible panel is fixed to the tongue   
     
     
         10 . A ski boot according to  claim 9 , wherein:
 a lower portion of the flexible panel comprises a gusset;   an upper portion of the flexible panel comprises an apron; and   the flexible panel is fixed to the rigid tongue in an area of a top of the apron.   
     
     
         11 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the hinged collar comprises two flaps;   in a closed state of the boot, the two flaps of the hinged collar overlap one another and cover an upper portion of the rigid tongue   
     
     
         12 . A ski boot according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 at least one tongue retainer configured to retain the rigid tongue;   each of the at least one tongue retainer comprising a strip fixed to the rigid tongue and to at least one of the lateral and medial edges.