Ski boot

Claim 2

In a ski boot of the rear or modified top entry variety which includes a plastic shell having a forward part and a rearward part hingedly connected together, a hinge structure comprising: a projection formed in one piece with and of the same material as one of said boot parts, said projection having a major dimension which extends transversely of the boot and said projection having a basal stem part of restricted thickness, when measured perpendicularly to said major dimension, merging with a terminal head part of expanded thickness, when measured perpendicularly to said major dimension; and a groove in the other of said parts, said groove extending transversely of the boot and having an open mouth of restricted dimension through which said stem extends, and an enlarged bottom part in which said head is disposed, said mouth being sufficiently restricted to prevent said head from being passed therethrough in a direction to disconnect said one boot part from said other boot part.

Claim 3

The ski boot hinge structure of claim 1, wherein said groove is provided with at least one open end through which said projection can be passed to disconnect said one boot part from said other boot part, said open end being disposed in a lateral side surface of the boot shell.

Claim 4

In a ski boot of the rear or modified top entry variety which includes a plastic shell having a forward part and a rearward part, said parts being hinged together for relative movement enabling a wearer to don or remove the boot, a hinge structure comprising adjacent contacting surfaces on said forward and rearward boot parts in the area of the heel of the boot; a male member formed on one of said boot parts and projecting therefrom toward the other of said boot parts, said male member being formed in one piece and the same material as said one boot part and extending transversely of the boot; a groove formed in the other of said boot parts extending transversely of the boot, said male member being disposed in said groove, said groove having an open mouth through which said male member extends and at least one open end extending through a side surface of the boot, said open end providing the only means by which said male member can be withdrawn from said groove, there being means preventing withdrawal of said male member from said groove by way of said open mouth.

Claim 5

In a ski boot of the rear or modified top entry variety which includes a plastic shell having a forward part and a rearward part, said parts being hinged together for relative movement enabling a wearer to don or remove the boot, a hinge structure comprising adjacent contacting surfaces on said forward and rearward boot parts in the area of the heel of the boot; a male member formed on one of said boot parts and projecting therefrom toward the other of said boot parts, said male member being formed in one piece and the same material as said one boot part and extending transversely of the boot; a groove formed in the other of said boot parts extending transversely of the boot, said male member being disposed in said groove, said groove having an open mouth through which said male member extends and at least one open end extending through a side surface of the boot, said open end providing the only means by which said male member can be withdrawn from said groove, there being means preventing withdrawal of said male member from said groove by way of said open mouth.

Claim 6

In a ski boot of the rear or modified top entry variety which includes a plastic shell having forward and rearward parts hingedly connected together for relative movement enabling one to don or remove the boot, a hinge structure comprising: a projection formed on one of said boot parts and protruding toward the other of said boot parts, said projection extending transversely of the boot and being formed of the same material and in one piece with said shell; a groove formed in the other of said boot parts and extending transversely of the boot, said groove having an open mouth through which said projection passes and having at least one open end in a side wall of the boot shell, said projection being freely slidable through said groove, in a direction normal to a plane containing said open end whereby said projection can be withdrawn from said groove through said open end; means preventing said projection from being withdrawn from said groove through said open mouth; and said groove and said projection being positioned in the general heel area of the boot shell.

Claim 7

In a ski boot of the rear or modified top entry variety which includes a plastic shell having forward and rearward parts hingedly connected together for relative movement enabling one to don or remove the boot, a hinge structure comprising: a projection formed on one of said boot parts and protruding toward the other of said boot parts, said projection extending transversely of the boot and being formed of the same material and in one piece with said shell; a groove formed in the other of said boot parts and extending transversely of the boot, said groove having an open mouth through which said projection passes and having at least one open end in a side wall of the boot shell, said projection being freely slidable through said groove, in a direction normal to a plane containing said open end whereby said projection can be withdrawn from said groove through said open end; means preventing said projection from being withdrawn from said groove through said open mouth; and said groove and said projection being positioned in the general heel area of the boot shell.