FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of sports boots, notably the field of sports boots comprising a rigid shell for skiing, skating etc. The present invention relates in particular to a sports boot with a rigid exogenous shell and a removable inner boot of the touring type.

STATE OF THE ART

Ski boots comprising an inner boot and a rigid exogenous shell are known in the state of the art. The inner boot can be extracted from the exogenous shell for walking more comfortably, or inserted into this shell for skiing. An example of such a boot is described in WO2009/097550.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One of the problems with ski boots with an exogenous shell is the transmission of the forces between the inner boot and the exogenous shell. In fact, the inner boot is generally not fastened to the exogenous shell but can slide or move inside it, which prevents an efficient transmission of forces and compromises the skiing style.

One aim of the present invention is to propose a new sports boot with an improved exogenous shell.

According to the invention, these aims are achieved notably by means of a sports boot comprising:an inner boot (3);an exogenous shell (1), whose dimensions allow said inner boot (3) to be inserted into or extracted from it, said exogenous shell strengthening said inner boot and allowing it to be attached to a piece of sports equipment;said exogenous shell comprising a sole (10) and an upper;said inner boot comprising a pivot protruding on the outer side close to the ankle,said exogenous shell comprising a housing for accommodating the pivot.

This solution makes it notably possible to integrally unite the inner boot and the exogenous shell at an important point for the transmission of forces notably during ski turns.

The exogenous shell can comprise a forward part of an upper capable of pivoting with respect to the sole around a first articulation and/or a rear part of an upper capable of pivoting with respect to said sole around a second articulation. The inner boot can be inserted into the exogenous shell respectively extracted from the exogenous shell by pivoting the rear part of the upper. Buckles can be provided for holding the forward part of the upper and the rear part of the upper closed and tight one against the other. This construction enables the inner boot to be easily extracted resp. inserted and this inner boot to be held efficiently at the ankle.

The housing for the pivot can be opened respectively closed by pivoting the forward part of the upper and/or the rear part of the upper. One portion of the housing's circumference can be formed by an indentation on the forward part of the upper, and another portion of this housing's circumference can be formed by an indentation on the rear part of the upper. The protruding pivot on the inner boot can comprise an annular groove for accommodating the indentations. This construction enables a rigid connection between the pivot and the housing and an easy uncoupling of these components by simply opening the forward or rear part of the upper.

The boot can include a reinforcement around the Achilles tendon that is articulated relative to the sole of the exogenous shell and can be fastened to the rear upper.

According to an independent characteristic of the presence of a pivot and of a housing, the sole of the exogenous shell can comprise holes for evacuating water inside this shell. Advantageously, the exogenous shell comprises a structure that is to a large extent perforated to allow the inner boot to be seen and water to be evacuated.

The inner side of this sole can include a relief pattern, for example ribs and grooves, working together with a corresponding pattern under the sole of the inner boot, so as to position laterally and to the required height the inner boot in the exogenous shell. This construction thus affords another rigid fastening point (at least along the axis perpendicular to the foot) between the inner boot and the exogenous shell.

The invention also relates to an exogenous shell as described and to an inner boot on its own as described.

