Patent US3361328A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3736612A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method of fitting ski boots
Assignee: Bass Sports Inc
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Filing: 1971-03-11
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Granted: 1973-06-05
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Expires: 1991-03-11
Abstract
Abstract A method of fitting ski boots using a conformable material made up of separable small discrete particles covered with a film of a lubricating or liquid material. The material is fluidized with air under pressure for injecting the material into the pads, in order to fit closely to the foot and to insure a close fit in a short time. The apparatus includes a gun member which utilizes fluid under pressure that forms a turbulent mixing zone and discharges the material into the pad in a boot fitting, and which has means for advancing the bulk material into the mixing zone as necessary.
Inventors
- 👤 D Check
- 👤 G Ader
- 👤 E Pauls
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 01:32
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B5/00; A43B5/04; A43B5/0405
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of fitting a ski boot to a foot utilizing a filling of relatively dry discrete particles comprising the steps of providing a boot and placing a foot form inside said boot, providing a pad member having a cavity adjacent at least portions of said foot form, providing an inlet opening to said pad cavity, mixing and suspending said discrete particles in a stream of air and injecting said air and particle suspension in a flowing stream into said pad until said pad is filled.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
86 words
A method of fitting a ski boot to a foot utilizing a filling of relatively dry discrete particles comprising the steps of providing a boot and placing a foot form inside said boot, providing a pad member having a cavity adjacent at least portions of said foot form, providing an inlet opening to said pad cavity, mixing and suspending said discrete particles in a stream of air and injecting said air and particle suspension in a flowing stream into said pad until said pad is filled.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said pad cavity is inflated with air prior to fluid introducing the air and particle mixture into said pad.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
55 words
The process of claim 1 further characterized in that said pad cavity is defined by a wall having a resilient layer adjacent said foot form, and said process comprises adjusting the pressure of the air in the air suspension material to attain the desired compaction pressure of material in said pad against said resilient layer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The process of claim 1 comprising the step of separating said pad in said boot into separate cavities and individually filling each cavity sequentially.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
65 words
The process of claim 1 comprising the step of separating said pad member into separated cavity means adjacent the front portions of said foot form and adjacent the heel portions of said foot form, and injecting the air and material mixture into the cavity means adjacent said heel at a higher pressure then in the cavity means adjacent the front portions of said foot form.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
The process of claim 5 including the further step of providing an air and particle mixing chamber Having an outlet, and feeding selected amounts of discrete particle material into said mixing chamber at a rate to permit the air and particle suspension to escape through said outlet.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of fitting a boot such as a ski boot to the foot of a wearer, said boot including a shell providing a pad member having a cavity, placing a foot form inside said boot with said pad member between the shell and said foot form, inflating said pad member cavity to cause the pad to assume the shape of portions of the foot form, and filling said cavity with padding material carried in an air suspension.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
78 words
A method of fitting a boot such as a ski boot to the foot of a wearer, said boot including a shell providing a pad member having a cavity, placing a foot form inside said boot with said pad member between the shell and said foot form, inflating said pad member cavity to cause the pad to assume the shape of portions of the foot form, and filling said cavity with padding material carried in an air suspension.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of fitting an athletic boot to the foot of a wearer utilizing a normally substantially nonflowable material comprising a particulate material composed of discrete particles ranging generally up to 0.025 inches in major dimension comprising the steps of providing a boot having a wall, providing pad means having a cavity between the boot wall and the foot form, suspending said particulate material in a gaseous fluid stream, injecting particulate material in the fluid stream into the pad cavity and permitting the fluid to escape from the pad until the pad cavity is filled the desired amount with the particulate material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
102 words
A method of fitting an athletic boot to the foot of a wearer utilizing a normally substantially nonflowable material comprising a particulate material composed of discrete particles ranging generally up to 0.025 inches in major dimension comprising the steps of providing a boot having a wall, providing pad means having a cavity between the boot wall and the foot form, suspending said particulate material in a gaseous fluid stream, injecting particulate material in the fluid stream into the pad cavity and permitting the fluid to escape from the pad until the pad cavity is filled the desired amount with the particulate material.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of fitting a ski boot to a wearer utilizing a filling of discrete particles coated with a lubricant and which retains the discrete particle characteristic in use comprising the steps of providing a boot and placing a foot form to be fitted inside said boot, providing a pad member having a cavity adjacent at least portions of said form, providing an inlet opening to said pad cavity, mixing and suspending said discrete particles in a stream of gaseous fluid to cause the discrete particles to be suspended to flow with the fluid, and injecting said fluid and suspended particles into said pad, and permitting air to escape from the cavity until said pad is filled with discrete particles a desired amount.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of fitting a ski boot to a wearer utilizing a filling of discrete particles coated with a lubricant and which retains the discrete particle characteristic in use comprising the steps of providing a boot and placing a foot form to be fitted inside said boot, providing a pad member having a cavity adjacent at least portions of said form, providing an inlet opening to said pad cavity, mixing and suspending said discrete particles in a stream of gaseous fluid to cause the discrete particles to be suspended to flow with the fluid, and injecting said fluid and suspended particles into said pad, and permitting air to escape from the cavity until said pad is filled with discrete particles a desired amount.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
53 words
The process of claim 8 further characterized in that said pad cavity is defined by a wall having a resilient layer adjacent said foot, and said process comprises adjusting the pressure of the fluid carrying the suspended particles to attain the desired compaction pressure of particles in said pad against said resilient layer.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
64 words
The process of claim 8 comprising the step of separating said pad means into separated cavity means adjacent the front portions of said foot form and adjacent the heel portions of said foot form, and injecting the fluid and suspended particles into the cavity means adjacent said heel at a higher pressure than in the cavity means adjacent the front portions of said foot.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of fitting a boot, such as a ski boot, on a foot of a wearer using a pad filled with discrete particles comprising the steps of providing a boot shell, providing pad means defining a pad chamber on the interior of the shell, placing a foot in the boot, providing a quantity of discrete particles which form the pad filling in suspension in an air stream, injecting the air stream and suspended discrete particles into the pad chamber and permitting the air to escape from the pad chamber at a rate such that the pad is initially inflated and the chamber subsequently fills with discrete particles in a pad shape generally conforming to the configuration of the space the pad occupies.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
123 words
A method of fitting a boot, such as a ski boot, on a foot of a wearer using a pad filled with discrete particles comprising the steps of providing a boot shell, providing pad means defining a pad chamber on the interior of the shell, placing a foot in the boot, providing a quantity of discrete particles which form the pad filling in suspension in an air stream, injecting the air stream and suspended discrete particles into the pad chamber and permitting the air to escape from the pad chamber at a rate such that the pad is initially inflated and the chamber subsequently fills with discrete particles in a pad shape generally conforming to the configuration of the space the pad occupies.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of fitting a boot such as a ski boot to the foot of a wearer, said boot including a shell providing a flexible wall member forming an interior cavity, placing a foot form inside said boot with said flexible wall member between the shell and said foot form, inflating said interior cavity under fluid pressure to cause portions of the flexible wall to be forced toward the foot form under pressure to exert a pressure on portions of the foot form, and subsequently filling said interior cavity with padding material while permitting the inflating fluid to escape from the interior cavity.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
103 words
A method of fitting a boot such as a ski boot to the foot of a wearer, said boot including a shell providing a flexible wall member forming an interior cavity, placing a foot form inside said boot with said flexible wall member between the shell and said foot form, inflating said interior cavity under fluid pressure to cause portions of the flexible wall to be forced toward the foot form under pressure to exert a pressure on portions of the foot form, and subsequently filling said interior cavity with padding material while permitting the inflating fluid to escape from the interior cavity.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
The method of claim 13 wherein the flexible wall fOrms a pad member and including the step of regulating the fluid pressure to a desired level prior to inflating said interior cavity.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 14 including the step of filling the pad with padding material with the padding material exerting a pressure on the foot substantially equal to the fluid pressure of pad inflation.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-04 | 1976-12-04 | 1977-06-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-04 | 1980-12-04 | 1981-06-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-04 | 1984-12-04 | 1985-06-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |