A ski boot comprising: a substantially rigid foot-case, which is adapted to accommodate the user's foot and has the lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a substantially rigid cuff, which is adapted to surround the lower part of the user's leg, and is pivotally joined to the foot-case so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; and foot-case closing means which are adapted to selectively close/tighten the foot-case on the user's foot and comprise: an oblong, transversal locking band with a flexible and substantially inextensible structure, which extends transversally to the midplane of the ski boot, astride of and flush to the protective tongue or gaiter, and has a first end firmly fixed to a first lateral side of the foot-case; and a manually-operated coupling assembly, which is adapted to connect the second end of the transversal locking band selectively and alternatively to the foot-case or to the cuff, at a second lateral side of the foot-case opposite to said first lateral side.

A ski boot comprising: a substantially rigid foot-case, which is adapted to accommodate the user's foot and has the lower part structured to couple with a ski binding device; a substantially rigid cuff, which is adapted to surround the lower part of the user's leg, and is pivotally joined to the foot-case so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot; and foot-case closing means which are adapted to selectively close/tighten the foot-case against the user's foot, and comprise: an oblong, transversal locking band with a flexible and substantially inextensible structure, which extends transversally to the midplane of the ski boot, astride of and flush to the protective tongue or gaiter, and has a first end firmly fixed to a first lateral side of the foot-case; and a manually-operated coupling assembly, which is adapted to connect the second end of the transversal locking band selectively and alternatively to the foot-case or to the cuff, at a second lateral side of the foot-case opposite to said first lateral side.

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 sports shoe including a shell, adapted to receive the foot of a user in use, provided with a longitudinal front opening adapted to facilitate the insertion of the foot of the user, a covering tongue to cover at least the front opening, the covering tongue including at least a first rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at least at the instep of the foot of the user, and which can be connected to the shell through fixing means. The tongue further includes at least a second rigid portion, adapted to extend, in use, at the front part of the lower leg of the user, the second portion being rotatable with respect to the first portion in the instep region of the foot of the user, the tongue further including selective locking means for selectively locking/unlocking the rotation of the second portion with respect to the first portion.

A ski boot including a rigid foot-case that accommodates a user's foot, a rigid cuff, which is pivotally joined to the foot-case so as to be able to rotate about a reference axis substantially perpendicular to the midplane of the ski boot, and foot-case closing means which are adapted to selectively close/tighten the foot-case against the user's foot. The foot-case closing means includes an oblong, transversal locking band that extends transversally to the midplane of the ski boot and has a first end firmly fixed to a first lateral side of the foot-case, and a manually-operated coupling assembly, which is adapted to connect the second end of the transversal locking band selectively and alternatively to the foot-case or to the cuff, at a second lateral side of the foot-case opposite to said first lateral side.