초록 ▼

An exoskeleton (E) for connecting footwear to sporting equipment. The exoskeleton has an underfoot base (7), an ankle cuff (3) connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base, a first restraining brace (2a) having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot

An exoskeleton (E) for connecting footwear to sporting equipment. The exoskeleton has an underfoot base (7), an ankle cuff (3) connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base, a first restraining brace (2a) having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base (7), and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff, and a second restraining brace (2b) having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base (7), and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff. The first and second restraining braces (2a, 2b) are configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton (E), the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An exoskeleton for connecting an item of footwear to sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising: an underfoot base;an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base;a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfo

1. An exoskeleton for connecting an item of footwear to sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising: an underfoot base;an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base;a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base and a posterior end positioned adjacent the lateral side of the ankle cuff, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff to provide lateral support to the ankle cuff;a second restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base and a posterior end positioned adjacent the medial side of the ankle cuff, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff to provide medial support to the ankle cuff; anda restraining brace connector configured to extend behind the ankle cuff to operatively and detachably connect the posterior end of the first restraining brace to the posterior end of the second restraining brace;wherein the first and second restraining braces are configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton, the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear. 2. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second restraining braces are sufficiently stiff to hold their shape in the absence of an external force. 3. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first and second restraining braces are substantially rigid. 4. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the posterior end of the first restraining brace and the posterior end of the second restraining brace are operatively and detachably connected to the ankle cuff. 5. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second restraining braces are pivotally connected to the underfoot base. 6. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ankle cuff is pivotally connected to the underfoot base. 7. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adjustable cuff fastener connected to the ankle cuff, for securing the ankle cuff around the ankle of an item of footwear or around a user's lower leg enclosed in the exoskeleton. 8. An exoskeleton as claimed claim 7 wherein the adjustable cuff fastener is a ratchet strap arrangement. 9. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the restraining brace connector is adjustable. 10. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 9, wherein the restraining brace connector is a ratchet strap arrangement. 11. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first and second restraining braces are removably connected to the underfoot base. 12. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ankle cuff is removably connected to the underfoot base. 13. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the underfoot base has the form of a crampon. 14. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 13, comprising at least one crampon point at a periphery of the heel portion of the underfoot base. 15. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 13, comprising at least four crampon points disposed at the forefoot portion of the underfoot base assembly. 16. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 13, further comprising connectors fixed to ends of the ankle cuff and/or the restraining braces, for connecting the ankle cuff and/or the restraining braces to the underfoot base. 17. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 16, wherein the connectors are plates which form crampon points. 18. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 2, wherein the restraining braces comprise carbon fibre. 19. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 2, wherein the restraining braces comprise a stiff or rigid material and a flexible material arranged so that if the stiff or rigid material undergoes a failure, the flexible material will keep the fractured parts connected. 20. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ankle cuff comprises a relatively flexible posterior portion and relatively stiff lateral and medial portions. 21. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the heel portion and the forefoot portion of the underfoot base are substantially rigid and are connected by a relatively flexible mid-foot portion to allow vertical motion of the heel portion relative to the forefoot portion. 22. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ankle cuff has a rear heel cut-out. 23. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flexible heel retaining strap and a flexible toe retaining strap. 24. An exoskeleton as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an engagement feature for connecting the exoskeleton to an item of sporting equipment. 25. A footwear attachment system for attaching an item of footwear to an item of sporting equipment, the system comprising: an exoskeleton as claimed in claim 24; anda toe latch assembly attached to an item of sporting equipment, the toe latch assembly comprising at least one latch suitable for engaging the engagement feature on the exoskeleton. 26. A footwear attachment system as claimed in claim 25, whereby when the latch and engagement feature are engaged, the engagement forms a pivot for the exoskeleton so that the heel portion of the underfoot base is movable up and down with respect to the item of sporting equipment. 27. A footwear attachment system as claimed in claim 26, further comprising a secondary engagement feature on the forefoot portion of the underfoot base and a complementary secondary engagement feature on the toe latch assembly, wherein the complementary secondary engagement features are selectively engageable with each other to prevent the exoskeleton pivoting relative to the toe latch assembly. 28. A footwear attachment system as claimed in claim 27, wherein the underfoot base has the form of a crampon and the secondary engagement feature on the forefoot portion of the underfoot base is provided in a crampon point. 29. A footwear attachment system for attaching an item of footwear to an item of sporting equipment, the system comprising an exoskeleton, a toe latch assembly attached to an item of sporting equipment, and a heel latch assembly attached to the item of sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising: an underfoot base;an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base;a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff to provide lateral support to the ankle cuff;a second restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff to provide medial support to the ankle cuff, the first and second restraining braces being configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton, the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear; andan engagement feature for connecting the exoskeleton to an item of sporting equipment;wherein the toe latch assembly comprises at least one latch suitable for engaging the engagement feature on the exoskeleton, and wherein the heel latch assembly is selectively engageable with a heel engagement feature on the heel portion of the underfoot base. 30. A footwear attachment system for attaching an item of footwear to an item of sporting equipment, the system comprising an exoskeleton and a toe latch assembly attached to an item of sporting equipment, the exoskeleton comprising: an underfoot base;an ankle cuff connected to a heel portion of the underfoot base;a first restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the medial side of a forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the lateral side of the ankle cuff to provide lateral support to the ankle cuff;a second restraining brace having an anterior end connected to the lateral side of the forefoot portion of the underfoot base, and extending rearwardly and diagonally at least to the medial side of the ankle cuff to provide medial support to the ankle cuff, the first and second restraining braces being configured such that when an item of footwear is enclosed by the exoskeleton, the restraining braces extend over and support a portion of the item of footwear; andan engagement feature for connecting the exoskeleton to an item of sporting equipment;wherein the toe latch assembly comprises at least one latch suitable for engaging the engagement feature on the exoskeleton and wherein when the toe latch and engagement feature are engaged, the engagement forms a pivot for the exoskeleton so that the heel portion of the underfoot base is movable up and down with respect to the item of sporting equipment, and the pivot is positioned so that when a user's foot is secured in the system the pivot is under the user's big toe.