A control pad system for a motorcycle has a substantially U-shaped saddle-like unit having a horizontally-disposed upper portion adapted to engage a frame of a motorcycle beneath a seat of the motorcycle, with downward-extending first and second opposite side portions, disposed on each side of the motorcycle frame with the upper portion engaged to the motorcycle frame, and two control pads fashioned from resilient rubber-like material, each having a length, a height and a thickness, one each of the control pads mounted to each of the first and second opposite side portions, such that an outer surface of each control pad is presented outwardly from the motorcycle frame on each side portion. The control pads are positioned in a manner to enable the rider to grip the control pads between the knees, constraining the rider's position forward and rearward on the motorcycle.

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 protective footwear includes a foot engagement portion, a lower-leg engagement portion, and a cable closure system. The lower-leg engagement portion defines a cable end interface and a buckle interface. The cable closure system is configured to facilitate at least partially securing the protective footwear to a leg of a wearer. The cable closure system includes a buckle assembly configured to releasably couple to the buckle interface and a cable extending between the cable end interface and the buckle assembly. The cable has a first end coupled to the cable end interface and an opposing second end coupled to the buckle assembly.

A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

Protective footwear, such as a motorcycle or motocross boot, can have a supple, leather boot feel. Disclosed footwear can have a hinged coupling between a foot engagement structure and a lower-leg engagement structure to promote anatomically correct flexion in a wearer's ankle. The lower-leg engagement portion can define a ledge having a lowermost face configured to abut and matingly urge against an uppermost face of a ledge of the foot engagement portion to limit an extent of pivoting of the hinged coupling. The hinged coupling, in some instances, can include a pair of opposed bushings, each defining an internal thread configured to matingly engage a corresponding outer thread on a stud. The stud can retain the lower-leg engagement portion and the foot engagement portion in a pivotable relationship to each other. The opposed bushings can be keyed to matingly engage either a lateral portion of the foot engagement portion or a medial portion of the foot engagement portion.

Protective footwear, such as a motorcycle or motocross boot, can have a supple, leather boot feel. Disclosed footwear can have a hinged coupling between a foot-engagement structure and a lower-leg engagement structure to promote anatomically correct flexion in a wearer's ankle. The lower-leg engagement portion can define a ledge having a lowermost face configured to abut and matingly urge against an uppermost face of a ledge of the foot-engagement portion to limit an extent of pivoting of the hinged coupling. The hinged coupling, in some instances, can include a pair of opposed bushings, each defining an internal thread configured to matingly engage a corresponding outer thread on a stud. The stud can retain the lower-leg engagement portion and the foot-engagement portion in a pivotable relationship to each other. The opposed bushings can be keyed to matingly engage either a lateral portion of the foot-engagement portion or a medial portion of the foot-engagement portion.

Sports footwear comprising an upper having a toe portion and a sole fixed to said upper. The sports footwear also comprises a protection element mounted on the side surface of the toe portion. This protection element is fixed permanently to the side surface of the toe portion and is provided with an outer surface provided with first coupling means for coupling a covering component on the protection element. The first coupling means of the protection element define a seat suitable for housing a fastening element for fastening the covering element onto the protection element. The seat has a direction of insertion which is substantially parallel to the side surface of the toe portion of the footwear on which the protection element is mounted. A covering component suitable for use with footwear is also described.

A footwear assembly having an upper that comprises a neoprene sock with a foot portion integrally connected to a leg portion. The foot portion has heel, vamp and under-foot portions. The leg portion has front shin, side wall, and rear calf-side portions. The upper has a unitary, outer, injection molded layer molded directly onto the foot and shin portions of the neoprene sock, while the sidewall and rear calf-side portions remain substantially uncovered by the injection molded layer. The injection molded layer encases the foot portion of the neoprene sock. The injection molded layer on the shin portion defines a shin guard portion having a necked down area integrally connected to the injection molded layer at the vamp portion, wherein the shin guard extends upwardly from the necked-down portion in an outwardly diverging shape away from the vamp.

A control pad system for a motorcycle has a substantially U-shaped saddle-like unit having a horizontally-disposed upper portion adapted to engage a frame of a motorcycle beneath a seat of the motorcycle, with downward-extending first and second opposite side portions, disposed on each side of the motorcycle frame with the upper portion engaged to the motorcycle frame, and two control pads fashioned from resilient rubber-like material, each having a length, a height and a thickness, one each of the control pads mounted to each of the first and second opposite side portions, such that an outer surface of each control pad is presented outwardly from the motorcycle frame on each side portion. The control pads are positioned in a manner to enable the rider to grip the control pads between the knees, constraining the rider's position forward and rearward on the motorcycle.

A boot for a motorcyclist, including an upper portion integrally connected to an outsole, the upper portion having a leg portion and a foot portion integrally connected to each other by means of an ankle portion, the leg portion including a shin portion and a calf portion, and the foot portion having a heel portion and a vamp portion, and a curved coverture configured to cover an outer side of the leg portion of the boot, the curved coverture being shaped according to an airfoil and including a leading edge arranged in correspondence of the shin portion and a trailing edge arranged in correspondence of the calf portion.