| CPC A43B 5/0456 (2013.01) | 17 Claims |
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1. A ski boot configured to control and adjust a forward flex and a rearward rebound movement of the ski boot while the ski boot is in-use, the ski boot comprising:
a shell configured to receive and retain a foot of a skier;
a cuff configured to secure to a lower leg of the skier;
an adjustable damper coupled to the shell and the cuff, wherein the adjustable damper is configured to control the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement of the ski boot;
a sensor measuring sensed data comprising forward flex and the rearward rebound movement of the ski boot about at least one pivot axis,
wherein the sensor is
located on or about the at least one pivot axis, or
located on the cuff, or
is part of the cuff; and
means to adjust the adjustable damper in response to the sensed data provided by the sensor and in response to a signal communicated to a receiver that is configured to adjust the adjustable damper, to alter the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement of the ski boot,
wherein said signal is configured to be communicated via a processor that receives and analyzes said sensed data from said sensor prior to communicating said signal to enable adjustment of the adjustable damper;
wherein the sensed data about the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement is measured by sensing one or more of
a range of motion (ROM),
a speed of motion,
an acceleration forward and aft of the cuff relative to the shell;
wherein the adjustable damper controls the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement by controlling characteristics selected from one or more of
an extent of the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement;
a speed of the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement;
an acceleration of the forward flex and the rearward rebound movement.
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