Device for connecting the lower leg J of a skier S, with a foot P and an ankle axis CC′, to a ski binding F mounted on a ski board PS, comprising a footwear assembly (30), a tibial connection (16) with at least one rigid rod (16-3), said at least one rigid rod comprising an upper end (16-1) comprising means (18) of attachment to the lower leg J, including securing means (24) and a lower end (16-2) comprising a pivot connection (20) pivoting about an axis AA′ with respect to said footwear assembly (30), characterized in that it comprises means (22) of articulation having at least one degree of freedom, these means being interposed between the upper end (16-1) of said at least one rigid rod (16-3) and the means (18) of attachment to the lower leg J. The invention also covers the footwear assembly equipped with this device.

Connecting device between a lower shell and a cuff of a ski boot, the ski boot comprising a lower shell, a cuff and a connecting device between the lower shell and the cuff, the connecting device comprising: a connecting ring configured to guide the cuff in rotation relative to the lower shell, a locking element that is movable between a first position and a second position, the locking element being able to prevent the connecting ring from rotating relative to the locking element when it is in its first position, a retaining element configured to retain the locking element in its first position.

This invention relates to sports footwear, in particular a ski or snowboard shoe or boot, including a shell provided at the top with a longitudinal opening, a flap or tongue extending longitudinally along the shell and connectable near the region of the tip. The flap or tongue is capable of covering the opening and is removably connectable to the shell to define a first configuration of the sports footwear, in which the flap or tongue is connected to the shell in order to limit or prevent, during use, the oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot, and a second configuration, in which the flap or tongue is removed from the shell to allow, during use, the free oscillation movement of the user's leg in relation to the foot.

A movement assistance device comprising a first element for rigidly connecting the device to one foot of a user and transmitting a thrust force to said foot; and a second element linked to the first element by link means and intended to be in contact with the ground; the device further comprises means for transmitting a force from an exogenous energy source, to the first element and/or to the second element, in order to separate them from each other.

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.

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.

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.

A ski boot (1) includes a base frame (2) for receiving a foot of a skier; a rigid sole (3) connected to the base frame (2); a shaft (4) for receiving a lower leg part of the skier, the shaft (4) being angularly variably connected to the base frame (2); and a traction element (12). The traction element is attached to the sole (3) and/or in a toe area of the base frame (2) and extends from there to a heel area of the sole (3). In the heel area, the traction element (12) is deflected towards the shaft (4) and is then attached to the shaft (4). By inclining the shaft (4) towards a toe region, the traction element (12) can be tensioned and, in particular, traction can be exerted on the sole (3) and/or the toe region.

A locking device for sports footwear is adapted to lock two mutually hinged portions of sports footwear or to release them from each other. The locking device may be used in a ski boot for locking or releasing the shell and cuff relative to each other. The locking device comprises a male member and a female member, which members comprise respective engaging elements adapted to cooperate with each other, and actuating elements for moving the members from a configuration in which the male member is disengaged from the female member to a configuration in which the male member is engaged with the female member. The engaging elements of the male member and/or the engaging elements of the female member have a tapered or conical shape, whereby it is possible to make a coupling without clearance between the male member and the female member when the members are engaged.

A movement assistance device comprising a first element for rigidly connecting the device to one foot of a user and transmitting a thrust force to said foot; and a second element linked to the first element by link means and intended to be in contact with the ground; the device further comprises means for transmitting a force from an exogenous energy source, to the first element and/or to the second element, in order to separate them from each other.