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.

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.

Ski boot with rigid shell comprising a lower shell (30) and a cuff (20) articulated in rotation to the lower shell (30), characterized in that it comprises at least a connecting ring (10) connecting the cuff (20) to the lower shell (30), this connecting ring (10) comprising a locking surface (11) collaborating with an opening (31) in the lower shell (30) so as to prevent the connecting ring (10) from rotating relative to the lower shell (30), and a rotation surface (12) collaborating with an opening (24) in the cuff so as to guide the rotation of the cuff (20) relative to the lower shell (30) about this second surface.

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 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 combination of a ski boot and a strap where the strap extends from an attachment point on the lateral side of a hard outer shell of the boot and in use is tightened to hold the inner boot liner in relatively fixed proximity to the lateral side of the outer boot shell during skiing. The strap can extend around the inner boot liner, or be at least partially incorporated as a part of the inner boot liner. In either case, the strap is adjustable between the tightened position, and an open position.

An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.

An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.

An article of footwear with adjustable stiffness is provided. The article of footwear in the form of a snowboard boot is provided with adjustable tensioning systems that are disposed on either side of an inner liner of the snowboard boot. The adjustable tensioning system includes a comb body structure having flex portions made of a plurality of extending fingers with a flexibility that can be controlled by the adjustable tensioning system. Depending on the level of tension applied by the tensioning system, or lack thereof, a range of flex profiles having varying amounts of stiffness are available to the wearer to adjust the overall stiffness of the snowboard boot.