A ski boot including a substantially rigid foot-case adapted to accommodate a user's foot, a substantially rigid cuff adapted to surround a lower part of the user's leg and being pivotally joined to the foot-case so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis substantially perpendicular to a midplane of the ski boot and a closing mechanism adapted to selectively close/tighten the on the user's foot. The closing mechanism may include a locking band, which extends transversally to the midplane of the ski boot having a first end firmly fixed to a first lateral side of the foot-case and a manually-operated coupling assembly adapted to connect a the second end of the locking band selectively and alternatively to the foot-case or to the cuff, at a second lateral side of the foot-case opposite to the first lateral side.

Operating device (5) for a sports shoe/boot (1), including: a tightening device (6) intended to tighten the sports shoe/boot around a foot or lower leg of a user; a first lever (14) able to move between a first position and a second position, the first lever being able to actuate the tightening device; and a second lever (15) distinct from the first lever (14), the second lever (15) being able to move between a first position and a second position, the second lever being intended to actuate at least one accessory (10) of the sports shoe/boot, the first lever and the second lever being configured to rest one upon the other.

A ski boot comprising: a rigid shell which is shaped so as to accommodate the foot of the user, and has a lower part structured to be able to couple to a ski binding device; a rigid cuff which is shaped so as to enclose the lower part of the leg of the user, and is pivotally joined to the shell so as to be able to swing about a rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the boot; and a cuff locking device which is located on the cuff and is selectively adapted to rigidly connect the cuff to the shell to prevent the cuff from swinging on the shell; the cuff locking device, in turn, comprising a movable arm which is pivotally joined to the cuff so as to be able to rotate to and from a locking position in which the movable arm extends downwards and arranges its distal end in abutment on an anchorage structure present on said shell, and an elastic assembly which is adapted to bring and elastically retain the movable arm in the locking position, and which basically consists of a telescopic stem that lies substantially on the rotation plane of the movable arm and is interposed between the movable arm and a fixed point on the cuff, and of an elastic opposing member that is fitted on the telescopic stem, and acts on the telescopic stem so as to bring and elastically maintain the telescopic stem in a maximum extension configuration.

Adjustable and/or dual-suspension boot levers for hardshell boots, having upper parts and lower parts that rotate relative to one another, are disclosed. Adjustable boot levers disclosed herein are adjustable along a continuum or at one of a plurality of preset positions on a lever to provide a forward-lean angle customizable to a user's preferences. Dual-suspension boot levers provide fore-aft dampening and are also customizable by selection of appropriate elastic materials and properties for use in the forward-lean and backward-lean suspension devices. In some embodiments, adjustability and dual-suspension are combined in a boot lever design.

A ski boot is provided of the type comprising a substantially soft inner liner, a substantially rigid outer shell and a cuff articulated to the shell, and further comprising a spoiler articulated to the shell and arranged between the inner liner and the cuff. The ski boot comprises a locking device for selectively allowing or preventing rotation of the cuff relative to the shell and, at the same time, for selectively allowing or preventing the movements of the spoiler relative to the cuff, and consequently also relative to the shell.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.

An item of footwear such as a boot (10) includes a stiff lower part (12) that extends around part of a wearer's foot, a stiff upper part (16) that extends around the wearer's lower leg, and one or more limit elements (66,72,80,88) that extend between the lower part (12) and the upper part (16). The lower part (12) and upper part (16) are movable relative to each other when the ankle moves and the relative movement is inhibited selectively by the limit elements (66,72,80,88). The limit elements (66,72,80,88) are displaceable between a free condition in which the lower part (12) and the upper part (16) are movable relative to each other, and lock condition in which the relative movement between the lower part (12) and the upper part (16) is inhibited.

A ski boot composed of a lower part or foot portion and an upper part or leg portion, suitable to enclose the lower part of the skier's leg, wherein the leg portion is hinged to the foot portion so as to rotate with respect to the foot portion around hinges defining a rotation axis. The leg portion comprises a closing lever suitable to block and/or unblock selectively the rotation of the leg portion with respect to the foot portion, and operatively connected to a base and an arm engageable in abutment against a pin fixed to the foot portion. The closing lever in the open configuration mutually moves the base and the arm away from each other forcing the latter against the pin to prevent a rotation of the leg portion backwards. The boot comprises traction means which operatively connect the base, the arm, and a fastening on the foot portion, the arm being placed between the base and the fastening. Said traction means comprise a cable at least partially extensible.

Ski boot comprising: a rigid foot-case, which is adapted to accommodate the user's foot; a rigid cuff, which is pivoted on the foot-case so as to be able to swing around a first rotation axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the boot; and a manually-operated cuff locking device, which is adapted to selectively lock the cuff to the foot-case in a predetermined down-hill position, and which comprises: a supporting plate positioned on the cuff, above the heel of the boot; a movable arm, which is pivoted on the supporting plate so that it can rotate about a second transverse axis, to and from a locking position in which the movable arm extends downwards and couples its lower end in a rigid and releasable manner to an anchoring structure integral with the foot-case; and a manually-operated locking member which is fixed to the movable arm with the capability of moving between a first operating position in which it immobilises the movable arm in the locked position, and a second operating position in which it allows the movable arm to move freely on the supporting plate.

An apparatus for automatically adjusting tension on retention member to hold multiple objects together. Examples include using retention apparatus to obtain optimal fit and use of a human wearable item such as article of footwear. Sensors may be used to sense changes in movement of the article of footwear, of the person wearing it, or of a third object such as a vehicle carrying the person. A retention member may surround at least a portion of the objects, and an actuator may be included that automatically rotates a rotating member such as a gear or pulley that may be coupled to the retention member. The rotating member may be configured to automatically adjust tension on the retention member many times per second based on control signals from control logic responsive to the sensors.