Skate with foot wrapping system

Abstract

A skate boot is disclosed with a rigid boot shell having medial and lateral quarter portions defining a foot receiving cavity in between them having a volume for receiving at least a metatarsal region of a wearer's foot. A tongue extends between the medial and lateral quarter portions above the volume. A lacing system overlies the tongue and links the medial and lateral quarter portions. A foot wrapping member extends from the lateral quarter portion, the foot wrapping member movable relative to the rigid boot shell in a downward direction towards a sole portion of the rigid boot shell so as to vary the volume at least from a lateral side of the foot receiving cavity along the metatarsal region of the wearer's foot.

1 . A skate boot comprising:
 a rigid boot shell having at least a heel portion, a sole portion, and a medial quarter portion and a lateral quarter portion each extending forward of the heel portion towards a front end of the skate boot, the medial quarter portion and the lateral quarter portion defining a foot receiving cavity in between them, the foot receiving cavity having a volume for receiving at least a metatarsal region of a wearer's foot;   a tongue extending between the medial quarter portion and the lateral quarter portion above the volume;   a lacing system overlying the tongue and linking the medial quarter portion and the lateral quarter portion; and   a foot wrapping member extending from the lateral quarter portion, the foot wrapping member movable relative to the rigid boot shell in a downward direction towards the sole portion of the rigid boot shell so as to vary the volume at least from a lateral side of the foot receiving cavity along the metatarsal region of the wearer's foot.   
     
     
         2 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the lateral quarter portion has an edge extending from a front end of the rigid boot shell, the edge defining a notch, the foot wrapping member extending in the notch. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , wherein the foot wrapping member is a first foot wrapping member, the skate boot including a second foot wrapping member secured to the medial quarter portion, the second foot wrapping member movable relative to the rigid boot shell. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising an inner boot having a sole portion and side portions extending from the sole portion, the side portions including a layer of foam and a layer of fabric overlying the layer of foam, the layer of fabric facing the foot receiving cavity, the inner boot having a strip of liner unattached to the rigid boot shell along an edge thereof, the strip of liner defining the foot wrapping member. 
     
     
         8 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 1 , further comprising a vamping, a portion of the vamping defining the foot wrapping member. 
     
     
         9 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the vamping is located in a widest zone of the skate boot, on an outer surface of the rigid boot shell, the vamping having a first segment extending along a front end of the rigid boot shell and a second segment extending from an upper end of the first segment, the second segment extending rearwardly from the first segment, the vamping having a generally L-shape. 
     
     
         10 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the vamping has eyelets defined therethrough, the foot wrapping member thereby defining the eyelets. 
     
     
         11 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the vamping includes at least one of an elastomeric material, synthetic leather, plastic and composite material. 
     
     
         12 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 8 , wherein the vamping extends from the sole portion of the rigid boot shell. 
     
     
         13 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 2 , further comprising a toe cap, the toe cap having an extension, the extension of the toe cap defining the foot wrapping member, the extension overlying the notch. 
     
     
         14 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the toe cap overlies part of the rigid boot shell in an overlapping region, the toe cap having a reduced thickness in the overlapping region. 
     
     
         15 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 14 , wherein the boot shell has a thickness that tapers towards a front end of the boot shell in the overlapping region. 
     
     
         16 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 15 , wherein a sum of the thickness and the thickness at their respective smallest dimension in the overlapping region is substantially the same as a thickness of the toe cap immediately adjacent and fore of the front end of the boot shell. 
     
     
         17 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , wherein eyelets are defined through the extension, the eyelets are aligned along an edge of the boot shell defining an outline of the notch. 
     
     
         18 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the eyelets are recessed relative to an outer surface of the extension. 
     
     
         19 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 17 , wherein the eyelets have: a generally rectangular or square cross-section; and/or a cross-section that tapers in an inward direction. 
     
     
         20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , wherein the foot wrapping member is a first foot wrapping member, the skate boot including a second foot wrapping member secured to the medial quarter portion, the second foot wrapping member movable relative to the rigid boot shell. 
     
     
         22 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 13 , further comprising a vamping, a portion of the vamping defining: the second foot wrapping member; or overlying at least part of the extension where the extension overlies the notch, the vamping and the toe cap thereby defining the foot wrapping member. 
     
     
         23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A skate boot comprising:
 a rigid boot shell having at least a heel portion, a sole portion, and medial and lateral quarter portions extending forward of the heel portion towards a front end of the skate boot, the medial and lateral quarter portions defining a foot receiving cavity in between them, the foot receiving cavity having a volume for receiving at least a metatarsal region of a wearer's foot, the lateral quarter portion having an edge extending from a front end of the rigid boot shell, the edge defining a notch.   
     
     
         25 . The skate boot as defined in  claim 24 , further comprising a foot wrapping member extending from the lateral quarter portion, in the notch, the foot wrapping member movable relative to the rigid boot shell in a downward direction towards the sole portion of the rigid boot shell so as to vary the volume at least from a lateral side of the foot receiving cavity along the metatarsal region of the wearer's foot.