BACKGROUND ART Known ski or snowboard boot structures usually comprise a rigid shell member, which is attached at the bottom to a standardized sole and to which a cuff is pivotally mounted in the anklebone region. This cuff, which is often rigid too, is designed to wrap around and protect the lower area of the tibia or shin bone. The cuff and the shell may be provided with a pair of overlapping flaps, to which several closure buckles are transversely mounted, so as to allow a greater or lesser tightening of the shell around the foot and the of cuff around the tibia.

Such known boot structures have some drawbacks, which are mainly related to their relatively high degree of rigidity in order to be able to withstand stresses and vibrations, to which a boot is subjected when

practicing a sport, and transmit the forces from the leg to the sports equipment. As a consequence, such known ski and snowboard boot structures are somewhat uncomfortable, often also presenting considerable difficulty for the user in introducing the foot. Further, the need of having a rigid boot often implies the fact that these structures are provided with relatively thick shell and cuff members, with a considerable increase in weight and with a substantial decrease in manageability during carrying and in particular during walking before and after the sports activity. Another important shortcoming of known ski and snowboard boot structures lies in the fact that the closure system, which usually envisages the use of two or more buckles in various positions transversely to the flaps of the shell and the cuff, are difficult to activate and deactivate. Every time the tightness of a buckle is changed, there is a variation in the retention force of the adjacent buckles, for which a further correction is therefore required, if comfort is desired.

U. S. patent No. 5,815,953 teaches to assembly a flexible walking boot to a boot brace made of a rigid material, so that the assembly can be used for downhill skiing or for snowboarding; the boot brace comprises an upright member extending along the sides and the rear of the lower leg, a sole plate and lateral members extending along both sides of the foot and behind the heel; the upright member is pivotally attached to the sole plate, and resistance to its forward movement is provided by a mechanism including resilient bias means located at the rear of the upright member.

Even if this known structure is somewhat less heavy, and the introduction and closing of the walking boot is less difficulty for the use, nonetheless it has still some drawbacks: the pivotal attachment of the upright member to the sole plate by means of pins or rivets needs a careful mounting during manufacturing to avoid the entrance of snow or dirt, such as earth, mud, dust, which can heavily compromise the correct functioning of the boot brace; this risk is seriously higher when the pivotal attachment is located at a region very close to the ground, as this is the case. Another drawback resides in the fact that the mechanism to resiliently bias the

pivoting motion of the upright member is relatively complicated and bulky, rendering the boot brace heavy, not easy to carry and costly to manufacture.

With regard to known types of skate boot structures drawbacks can be noticed as well. Known skate boot structures comprise usually a rigid shell and a cuff, wrapping around the foot and the lower part of the tibia.

The shell is attached in its lower part to a base plate for the interconnection and support of gliding or rolling means, such as three or more in-line wheels, four paired wheels or an ice blade. The drawbacks of such a boot structure, even though less severe given the different conditions of use, are similar to those described for known ski and snowboard boot structures and therefore are mainly related to problems of comfort, lack of easy handling and carrying during use, and complexity of the foot retention system as well.

U. S. patent No. 922,774 teaches to provide a skate with a rigid ankle- brace structure which supports the lower leg and the ankle regions: however this known structure of ankle-brace gives an insufficient lateral support to the foot and, being the various members of the brace mutually articulated by means of a mechanical joint, such as pins or rivets, it has the same drawbacks mentioned above with reference to U. S. patent 5, 815, 953.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION The main aim of the present invention is therefore to solve the described technical problems of the state of the art, by providing a support frame, which allows to obtain an article of sports footwear that is comfortable to use and easy to carry, while keeping the sturdiness and capacity of transmission of force intact.

Within the scope of the above aim, another important object of the

present invention is to provide a support frame that can be used without distinction for different types of sports footwear, consequently obtaining a lowering of manufacturing and warehouse management costs.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a support frame that makes it easier for the user to walk before and after the sports activity.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support frame that allows achieving an improvement and simplification of the closure system of said article of sports footwear.

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a support frame that helps the user to take a correct posture for the sport the user is performing, so as to maintain a good balance during practice.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a support frame which does not require highly accurate design and manufacturing processes, maintaining at the same time a high degree of reliability and durability.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a support frame which does not need any additional mechanism to perform its functions of supporting and guiding the movement of the user's leg.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a support frame that is structurally simple and has low manufacturing costs.

Thus, the present invention provides a support frame for an article of sports footwear for use in sports activities; the frame is adapted to receive and support a soft shoe having at least a foot portion and a sole portion, and it is connected to a base supporting said sole portion and associable to a sports device having a gliding or rolling surface, such that energy is

transmitted from the wearer's lower leg to the sports device; the frame comprises at least a first supporting arm adapted to laterally support at least an ankle area and a forward area of the foot portion, and a second supporting arm adapted to laterally and rearwardly support the lower leg, wherein at least one of said first and second supporting arms is provided with fastening means to fasten the soft shoe; a substantially rigid coupling arrangement is provided between the first and second supporting arms such that, in use, relative motion of the first and second supporting arms is exclusively caused by elastic strain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description of a particular embodiment, illustrated by way of example in the annexed drawings, but not limited thereto, wherein: Fig. 1 is a side view of the support frame attached to a sole base; Fig. 2 is a perspective view from the rear of the support frame shown in fig. 1 wherein a footwear is associated to form a ski or snowboard boot; Fig. 3 and 4 are perspective and side views respectively of the support frame attached to a skate chassis supporting a plurality of wheels; Fig. 5 is a side section view of a possible embodiment for the interconnection between the support frame, the chassis and a skating footwear at the heel area; Fig. 6 is a side view of the support frame shown in figures 1 and 2 provided with fastening means; Fig. 7 is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention; Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another embodiment.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION With reference to the above figures, the support frame according to the present invention, generally designated by number 1, is particularly

suitable to receive a soft shoe 21, as shown in figs. 2 and 6, to form, in combination with a base 10 supporting the sole of the shoe 21, an article of sports footwear, such as a ski boot, a snowboard boot or a skate boot, adapted to be subsequently attached to a respective sports device having a gliding or rolling surface, such as a ski, a snowboard, a roller or ice skate, having a gliding or rolling surface for use in sports activities; in another embodiment, shown in figs. 3 and 4 with reference to a skate structure, the support frame 1 can be attached to a sports device having a gliding or rolling surface, such as a ski, a snowboard or a skate chassis 31 supporting a plurality of wheels 32 or an ice blade; the sports device constitutes the base for supporting the sole of the soft shoe, which can be subsequently received into the support frame 1 for use in sports activities.

The support frame 1 according to the present invention comprises at least a first supporting arm 4 adapted to laterally support at least the ankle area and a forward area of the foot, and a second supporting arm 5 adapted to laterally and rearwardly support said lower leg; the support frame 1 may also comprise a third supporting arm 3 laterally supporting at least a heel area of the foot. A substantially rigid coupling arrangement is provided between the first and second supporting arms 4 and 5 such that, in use, relative motion of the first and second supporting arms 4 and 5 is exclusively caused by elastic strain. The third supporting arm 3 is also substantially rigidly coupled to the first and second supporting arms 4 and 5.

Referring to the embodiment shown in figure 1, the support frame 1 comprises first, second and third supporting arms shaped as rod-like elements and designated with numbers 4,5 and 3 respectively. These elements are preferably joined together at least in the anklebone areas 6a and 6b and if necessary in the rear area of the ankle, designated with number 6c, in order to restrain and limit backward movement of the foot.

The interconnection between said first, second and third rod-like

elements may be accomplished in different ways, according to the material with which the same are made, and therefore, for example, by welding, gluing or by means of two or more interconnecting elements, designated as a whole by number 7.

Each interconnecting element 7 may comprise one band or closed ring or, as illustrated in figure 3, in side view it may have an approximate"C" shape.

These rod-like shaped elements 3,4 and 5 are advantageously hollow and closed onto themselves and may be made, for example, of metal such as aluminum or a light alloy or of plastics or synthetic fibres.

The first and third rod-like elements 4 and 3 are attached at their ends, approximately close to an area 8 of the heel and an area 9 of the user's toe respectively, to a base 10 adapted to contact with the ground or to be associated to a sports device having a gliding or rolling surface.

Fig. 1 illustrates a first embodiment in which the support frame 1 is attached to a base 10 constituted by a rigid sole, to obtain a support frame structure 2a that may receive dedicated sports footwear or footwear already present in the market. The rigid sole can be constituted, for example, by the lower portion of a ski boot associable to a ski binding.

The first rod-like element 4 circumscribes the heel, extending between said anklebone areas 6a and 6b, and it is provided with a pair of first segments 13a and 13b that, continuing from the anklebone areas 6a and 6b, are attached to the base 10 approximately near area 9 of the toe, preferably joining together.

The second rod-like element 5 also circumscribes the heel, extending between said anklebone areas 6a and 6b above the first rod-like element 4, and comprises a pair of second segments 14a and 14b protruding from

said anklebone areas 6a and 6b and then curving upwards, being arranged on opposite sides of the lower leg, to join again in a rear area 15 of the same.

In this way the second rod-like element 5 provides for rear support of the user's leg, helping the user to assume a correct posture, during the sport activity.

The third rod-like element 3 extends, circumscribing the heel at the rear approximately below the first rod-like element 4, between the areas adjacent the anklebones 6a and 6b and it is provided with a pair of third segments 1 la and lib that, starting from said anklebone areas, separate to couple with the heel 12 of the base 10, according to a curved conformation, in an approximate"J"shape. Said third segments 11 a and lib advantageously join together at the heel 12.

The pairs of first and third segments 13a, 13b and lla, 11b, being arranged two by two on the inside and outside of the foot, provide support and retention for the ankle and lateral areas of the foot.

Figure 2 illustrates a preferred embodiment of the present invention, according to which the support frame structure 2a is adapted to receive a footwear 21, for example a gymnastic shoe or a climbing or mountain boot with relatively soft upper, to obtain a ski boot 20. A toe cap 22 and, if required, also a heel counter 23 may be provided on the base 10 illustrated in figure 1, in order to permit a non-sliding positioning of said footwear 21 on the base 10; fastening means can be also provided to fasten the footwear 21 to the support frame structure 2a. Such fastening means are, for example, constituted by at least a first and a second fastening buckle, designated in figure 6 by numbers 17a and 17b, respectively attached at the first rod-like element 4 and at the second rod- like element 5; advantageously the first and second fastening buckles 17a and 17b are attached, from opposite sides, to the pair of first segments

13a and 13b and to the pair of second segments 14a and 14b respectively, in order to permit the footwear 21 to be fastened to the support frame structure 2a approximately at the upper surface of the foot and at the tibia. The first and second buckle 17a and 17b may be directly interconnected onto the pairs of first and second segments 13a, 13b and 14a, 14b or, as illustrated in figure 6, through inserting a first and second pair of arched plates, designated by numbers 18a and 18b respectively, pivotally attached to said first and second segments. These pairs of plates 18a and 18b, whose respective plates may be arranged mutually and at least partially overlapping, are approximately counter-shaped to the upper surface of the foot and to the lower part of the tibia respectively, in order to permit a better distribution of pressure over the part of the user's body in question, as well as to improve comfort. The first and second pair of arched plates 18a and 18b are attached to said pairs of first and second segments 13a, 13b and 14a, 14b through suitable pivotal interconnecting means, consisting, for example, of one or more clamps 19, preferably U- shaped or Q shaped and positioned along said first and second segment.

Each of said second pair of plates 18b illustrated in figure 6 has the end adjacent to the second segment 14a or 14b arranged inside the flanges of said adjacent clamps 19; these flanges are suitably attached to the plate by means of gluing, welding, riveting or through other known interconnecting means.

A fastening band 17c, advantageously of the Velcro type, can be provided above said second fastening buckle 17b.

An alternative embodiment of the present invention can provide for a non-removable interconnection between the support frame 1 and a suitable sports footwear having a particularly lightweight structure, such as a liner, since the forces and stress created during the sporting activity are discharged by the support frame 1; this interconnection may be accomplished, for example, through gluing, riveting, welding or other

known processes, advantageously in the region of the base 10.

It must be intended that the use of the embodiments disclosed above is not limited to skiing, but it can also include skating, snowboarding and any other suitable sports practice.

Figs. 3,4 and 5 illustrate another embodiment of a support frame according to the invention: the support frame 1 is attached to a base 10, constituted by the sole plate of a sports device having means for rolling or gliding over the ground, to obtain a support frame structure 2b that may receive dedicated sports footwear or footwear already present in the market. As shown in figs. 3 and 4, the base 10 can be constituted by the sole plate of a skate chassis 31 having means 30 for rolling or gliding over the ground. The chassis 31 is adapted to permit interconnection with a plurality of wheels 32, preferably arranged in line, or with an ice blade. A heel counter 33, partially illustrated in figure 5, and/or a toe cap, not illustrated, may be advantageously provided above the areas of the heel 8 and of the toe 9 and inside the support frame 1 to allow for a precise positioning of a footwear.

As shown in fig. 5, the interconnection between the heel counter 33 (or toe cap), the support frame 1 and the skate chassis 31 may, for example, be accomplished by accommodating a joining element between the pair of third segments lla and llb, designated in figure 5 by number 34, in counter-shaped grooves obtained half at a rear sole plate 35, which protrudes upwards from said skate chassis 31 approximately at the region of the heel 8, and half at the lower surface of the heel counter 33.

The interconnection is advantageously accomplished through two or more known mechanical means, such as one or more screws 36 or one or more pins or rivets 37. To permit better fastening between the parts, a plate 38, with an approximate Q shape, may preferably be positioned between said sole plate 35 and heel counter 33.

Rather than with the insertion of the heel counter 33, the connection may also be accomplished directly between the footwear, which in this case can not be removable, and the skate chassis 31.

It must be intended that the use of the embodiment shown in figs. 3,4 and 5 is not limited to skating, but it can also include skiing, snowboarding and any other suitable sports practice, wherein the base 10 is constituted by the surface of the sports device supporting the sole of a footwear.

Fig. 7 and fig. 8 show further embodiments of the support frame structure: in fig. 7 the support frame 1 has the first, second and third elements 4,5,3 which are made of a single piece obtained, for example, by moulding plastic material. The free ends of the first segments 13a, 13b of the first element 4 are attached to the base 10 at the toe area 9, while the free ends of the third segments 11 a, 11 b are attached to the base 10 at the heel area 8. The embodiments of in fig. 8 has a support frame 1 wherein the first and third elements 4,3 are made of a single piece with the base 10; the second element 5 is attached at the joining of the first and third elements 4,3 by means of a rigid coupling.

It has thus been shown how the invention achieves the proposed aim and objects, a support frame having been devised that allows to obtain an article of sports footwear which is comfortable to use and easy to carry, while keeping unchanged its robustness and capacity to transmit forces.

It has been also demonstrated how the invention can be used to obtain an article of sports footwear with a more lightweight structure, the rigidity and robustness being guaranteed by the support frame.

The advantage of using said single support frame for various types of sports footwear is also achieved, thereby reducing manufacturing costs

and optimizing management of stocks.

Otherwise it is also possible to produce a support frame structure 2a or 2b, such as that illustrated in figure 1 or 3, if necessary fitted with a toe cap, a heel counter and fastening means, so that it may be worn by the user with a conventional footwear, thereby forming the chosen article of sports footwear. Depending on the means of gliding, rolling or contact with the ground that this support frame structure 2a, 2b can be provided with, the user may perform a different sport, for example skiing, snowboarding or skating. In this way it is also possible, at the end of the sporting activity, to simply release the footwear from the support frame structure 2a, 2b without the need to take the foot out of the footwear, thus giving the user greater practicality and excellent comfort.

Walking of the user before and after the sporting activity is thus also facilitated.

The lack of any mechanical joint between the supporting arms of the frame 1, particularly a pivotal joint with pins or rivets, eliminates any risk due to entrance of water or dirt; therefore the design and the manufacture processes, particularly the assembly of the supporting arms, are highly simplified increasing, on the other hand, the reliability and the durability of the frame.

Another important advantage achieved by the support frame according to the invention resides in the fact that the overall support frame structure does not need any additional mechanism to perform its functions of supporting and guiding the movement of the user's leg: in fact the forward movement of the leg is resiliently biased exclusively by the elastic strain of the material used for the supporting arms, rendering even simpler the support frame structure.

The invention may be used without distinction in many types of sports footwear, consequently bringing down manufacturing and warehouse management costs.