Ski boot and liner therefor

Claim 2

A liner assembly for footwear, said footwear having a substantially rigid outer shell, said liner assembly comprising: an inner padding member having an inner surface and outer wall, said inner surface being contoured substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said outer wall being contoured to fit into said rigid shell; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall, said cavity adapted to receive a relatively non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material; and, passages means in said inner padding member for allowing a flowable fitting material to pass to said cavity when said liner is disposed within said shell.

Claim 3

A liner assembly in accordance with claim 1 in which a substantially non-compressible thermoplastic fitting material is disposed within said cavity.

Claim 4

A liner assembly for a ski boot comprising a relatively rigid outer shell, said liner assembly adapted to be disposed within said shell, said liner assembly comprising an inner padding member having an inner wall and an outer wall; said inner padding member inner wall being adapted to conform substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall whereby a space is formed between said outer wall and the inner wall of said outer shell, said space adapted to receive a relatively non-compressible fitting meterial which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material; and, access means in said inner padding member adapted to pass flowable fitting material into said space when said inner padding member is disposed within said shell.

Claim 5

A liner assembly for a ski boot comprising a relatively rigid outer shell, said liner assembly adapted to be disposed within said shell, said liner assembly comprising an inner padding member having an inner wall and an outer wall; said inner padding member inner wall being adapted to conform substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall whereby a space is formed between said outer wall and the inner wall of said outer shell, said space adapted to receive a relatively non-compressible fitting meterial which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material; and, access means in said inner padding member adapted to pass flowable fitting material into said space when said inner padding member is disposed within said shell.

Claim 6

A liner assembly in accordance with claim 3 in which a thermoplastic fitting material is disposed in said cavity.

Claim 7

A ski boot comprising a substantially rigid outer shell, and a liner assembly disposed therein, said liner assembly comprising: an inner padding member having an inner surface and outer wall, said inner surface being contoured substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said outer wall being contoured to fit in said rigid outer shell; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall, whereby a space is formed between said outer wall and the inner wall of said outer shell, said space adapted to receive a substantially non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material.

Claim 8

A ski boot comprising a substantially rigid outer shell, and a liner assembly disposed therein, said liner assembly comprising: an inner padding member having an inner surface and outer wall, said inner surface being contoured substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said outer wall being contoured to fit in said rigid outer shell; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall, whereby a space is formed between said outer wall and the inner wall of said outer shell, said space adapted to receive a substantially non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material.

Claim 9

A ski boot in accordance with claim 5 which comprises a thermoplastic fitting material disposed within said cavity.

Claim 10

A ski boot in accordance with claim 5, wherein said liner assembly is secured within said outer shell.

Claim 11

A ski boot in accordance with claim 5, which comprises a bladder member associated with said cavity, said bladder being adapted to seat against said outer shell when filled with a fitting material.

Claim 12

A ski boot comprising a substantially rigid outer shell, and a liner assembly disposed within said shell, said liner assembly comprising an inner padding member having an inner wall and an outer wall; said inner padding member inner wall being adapted to conform substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall whereby a space is formed between said outer wall and inner wall of said outer shell, said space being adapted to receive a substantially non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material.

Claim 13

A ski boot comprising a substantially rigid outer shell, and a liner assembly disposed within said shell, said liner assembly comprising an inner padding member having an inner wall and an outer wall; said inner padding member inner wall being adapted to conform substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall whereby a space is formed between said outer wall and inner wall of said outer shell, said space being adapted to receive a substantially non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material.

Claim 14

A ski boot in accordance with claim 9, in which said inner padding member comprises access means adopted to pass flowable fitting material through said access means into said space.

Claim 15

A ski boot in accordance with claim 9, wherein said space is substantially filled with a thermoplastic fitting material having a melting point of between about 120*F. and 180*F.

Claim 16

A ski boot which comprises a rear entry outer shell which is substantially rigid, a rear entry closure, having closure securing means associated therewith, and a liner assembly disposed within said shell, said liner assembly comprising an inner padding member having an inner wall and an outer wall; said inner padding member inner wall being adapted to conform substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall, whereby A space is formed between said outer wall and the inner wall of said outer shell, said space being adapted to receive a substantially non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material.

Claim 17

A ski boot which comprises a rear entry outer shell which is substantially rigid, a rear entry closure, having closure securing means associated therewith, and a liner assembly disposed within said shell, said liner assembly comprising an inner padding member having an inner wall and an outer wall; said inner padding member inner wall being adapted to conform substantially to the outer surface of a wearer''s foot; said inner padding member having at least one cavity associated with said outer wall, whereby A space is formed between said outer wall and the inner wall of said outer shell, said space being adapted to receive a substantially non-compressible fitting material which is substantially non-flowable at room temperature; said inner padding member adapted to provide padding between said wearer''s foot and said non-compressible fitting material.

Claim 18

A ski boot in accordance with claim 12, in which said inner padding member comprises access means adapted to pass fitting material through said access means into said space.

Claim 19

A ski boot in accordance with claim 12, wherein said space is substantially filled with a thermoplastic fitting material having a melting point of between about 120*F. and 180*F.

Claim 20

A ski boot in accordance with claim 12, wherein said liner assembly is secured within said outer shell.

Claim 21

A ski boot in accordance with claim 12, which comprises a bladder member associated with said cavity, said bladder being adapted to seat against said outer shell when filled with a fitting material.