WO1985001191A1

WO1985001191A1 - Method and apparatus for properly fitting a skier to ski boots

Info

Publication number: WO1985001191A1
Application number: PCT/US1984/001522
Authority: WO
Inventors: David Goodspeed
Original assignee: Questuary Corporation
Priority date: 1983-09-19
Filing date: 1984-09-19
Publication date: 1985-03-28
Also published as: EP0156881A1

Abstract

A method of and apparatus for correcting the fit of a skier's feet within his ski boots (10) and for ensuring the correct transverse orientation of his ski boots (10) with respect to his skis (14). According to this method, one ensures that the skier's foot (20) properly fits his boot (10) by manufacturing an insert (22) designed to ensure that his weight is correctly distributed over the entire bottom surface of his foot (20), and then determines the correct transverse inclination of his lower leg. After this has been done, the inclination of the ski boot (10) with respect to the horizontal is iteratively varied such that the inclination of the skier's leg varies. When the desired position has been reached, the amount of correction required is noted and a shim (24, 26) of the equivalent thickness is inserted underneath the ski binding (16, 18) to ensure that this position is achieved. In the preferred embodiment, the correct relation of leg, boot (10) and ski (14) is determined by consideration of the relation of the skier's knees (12) to his feet (20).

Description

FITTING A SKIER TO SKI BOOTS

Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to the field of fitting the feet of skiers to their ski boots. More particularly, the invention relates to a way of correcting for improper fit of ski boots, particularly as regards the fixed angle provided to the ankle joint in the plane transverse to the direction of travel of the skier, which is frequently incorrect.

Background of the Invention

The basic elements of skiing equipment are well understood. The average skier will select a pair of skis from a first manufacturer, and will buy a set of ski bindings from another manufacturer and attach, or have them attached, to the skis. He will then buy a pair of ski boots, which in use are affixed to his skis by his bindings. The function of the binding is to release the boot from the ski upon exceeding of some predetermined amount of force, e.g., in a fall or accident. The present state of the art in ski boots and bindings is such that the ski boot rigidly fixes the transverse angle of the athlete's calf with respect to the bottom surface of the ski in the plane perpendicular to the direction of travel. The boot generally also controls the angle made by the skier's calf in the plane of direction of travel, although some slight flexibility in this plane is usually provided. That is to say. the boot and hence the leg is fixed rigidly to the ski by the bindings. No flexibility is provided in the angle of the skier's calf with respect to the plane of the ski in the plane transverse to the direction of travel, hereinafter sometimes referred to as the transverse angle. Thus, as is well understood by those skilled in the art. the transverse angle made by the calf with respect to the bottom of the ski is defined by the boot.

As in the case of the angle made by the calf in the direction of travel, the prior art has suggested generally that the angle of the calf with respect to the ski measured transversely to the direction of travel of the ski may be of importance to a skier's performance. However, while the correct angle of the calf in the direction of travel is generally agreed upon, and is provided by most boots, not all boots provide the same transverse angle. Moreover, boots are typically selected by wearers on the basis of fit and comfort, as well as perhaps other considerations, rather than by consideration of the transverse angle at which the boot places the wearer's calf with respect to the bottom of the ski. Recently, some boot manufacturers have begun building in means permitting slight adjustment of this side-to-side angle into their boots ("cant" adjustment) but have provided no way in which the typical skier can determine what the proper angle is. In particular, the prior art does not show any way of selecting the proper transverse angle with respect to the skill level and preferred type of skiing of any given skier. Moreover, the prior art does not provide any way in which this angle can be measured and controlled with respect to the typical skier. Thus, even if the proper transverse angle were known to the skier, the prior art does not show any reasonably efficient method of achieving this angle with respect to a given skier and pair of boots.

Another area in which the prior art is deficient is in fitting the skier to his boot. As mentioned above, boots are typically selected on the basis of fit and comfort. However, most boots selected will represent a compromise except in the rare case that the skier's foot precisely matches the last on which the boot is constructed. This is so unusual that many boots now include some sort of custom fitting provision, such as foam injection, plastic deformation of the boot's inner structure while being worn by the wearer, and the like. However, such systems are normally passive, that is. they merely conform the boot to the user's foot and do not provide any positive correction for any improper conformation of the user's foot. In particular, no system provides correction for improper distribution of the skier's weight within his boot, while also correcting the transverse angle discussed above. It would be desirable if this were provided as well.

Objects of the Invention

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide apparatus and methods for correcting the fit of a skier's foot to his boot and of his boot to his ski so that the proper weight distribution and calf angle in the plane transverse to the direction of travel are established.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a system for correction of the angle of a given ski boot with respect to a ski such that a given skier can be correctly fit, regardless of his boot selection.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus and methods for first correcting the weight distribution of a skier within his boot and then providing means for correcting the angle of the calf imparted to the skier by his boot, so that his calves are at the correct angle.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a method and apparatus for providing correct fit of skiers to boots and of boots to skis such that the skier is in the proper position for skiing, according to which the actual fitting is sufficiently simple that it can be accomplished by semi-skilled personnel, whereby this correction becomes more generally and more economically available to the public.

It is a further object of the invention to provide apparatus for determining the amount of correction required to provide the proper angle between the skier's calf and the bottom plane of his ski. determined by consideration of the skier's skill level and the ski conditions likely to be encountered, and to provide means for correcting the relative fit of the skier's boot and foot so that the correct angle is achieved.

Other aspects and objects of the invention will appear to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification below.

Summary of the Invention

The needs of the art and objects of the invention are satisfied by the present invention which comprises a two-step process in which a skier's feet are first fitted to his boots and his boots thereafter are corrected to provide the correct orientation of the skier's calves with respect to the ski bottoms. In the preferred embodiment, a ski boot insert is first custom-fit to the skier's foot so that his weight distribution is correct. Then the correct orientation of his calves made with his boots and in his normal stance is determined. Apparatus is provided for gradually varying this angle until the calf orientation is correct. It is then relatively simple to permanently provide the proper correction. In the preferred embodiment shims are interposed between the skier's bindings and his skis. The amount of shim required can be directly read off upon achievement of the correct angle of tilt of the skier's boots.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be better understood if reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 shows four views of a skier's right leg and ski boot showing the various angles the ski boot and hence the skier's calf should make with respect to the horizontal. generally depending on the skier's skill level and his skiing habits;

Fig. 2 shows a desirable boot insert which can be used to correct the fit of the boot so as to insure the skier's proper weight distribution with respect to the boot:

Fig. 3 shows generally how a ski boot fits within ski boot bindings and how the bindings may be attached to the ski:

Fig. 4 shows schematically a device which can be used to provide a reference point on the user's knee for measurement;

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of apparatus for correction of the transverse calf angle according to the invention;

Fig. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the apparatus according to the invention taken along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 6a shows a detailed cross-sectional view of a portion of the drawing of Fig. 6 taken along the line 6a-6a;

Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken generally along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5, but with some additional details added; and

Fig. 8 shows a schematic view of a detail of Fig. 7.

Description of the Preferred Embodiments

As was discussed above, the present day state of the art in ski boots is such that once a ski boot has been selected and affixed to a ski by means of an intermediary binding, the angle the user's calf makes with respect to the bottom of the ski in the plane transverse to the direction of travel is fixed by the rigid nature of the ski boot in this plane. It has been realized that this angle is extremely critical in achieving good skiing performance, which is mainly a function of turning ability. It is believed that this angle is important because it affects distribution of the weight of the skier on the inner and outer edges of the skis, which is important to turning, because the inside edges of the skis are those against which the turning force is exerted. Accordingly, it is important that the skier put equal amounts of weight on both edges of his skis when they become the "inside" edges upon initiation of a turn. The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for achieving this correct angle of inclination of the calf. On the other hand, it should also be realized that the reason why this angle is significant may be more complicated than just outlined. For example, alignment of the boot with respect to the hip may also be significant. However, at present it appears that if the proper angle of the calf with respect to the bottom of the ski is achieved, this aids in correction of a wide variety of flaws in the skier's conformation.

More particularly, it has been realized that in the case of most skiers performing what is known generally as downhill skiing, it is found that the best results are obtained if the transverse angle of the calf is such that the center of the skier's knee is located generally over his big toe. This is shown in Fig. la. The bottom of the ski boot 10 in this particular case had to be shimmed slightly at the outside with respect to the ski 14 to create a slight angle ₁ before the center of the knee 12 lined up directly with the big toe. Of course, for some skiers wearing some boots, no shimming will be necessary to achieve this correct angle and for them the correc- tion applied according to this aspect of the invention is there- fore not required. However, the vast majority of skiers and their boots do not interact correctly to give this proper angle because boots are selected by consideration of fit, comfort and the like, not the transverse angle they provide, and therefore some correction according to the methods of the invention is usually desirable. Fig. lb shows the same skier, but in this case the knee 12 is lined up slightly inside his big toe by some distance d_, the angle between boot 10 and ski 14 being slightly greater than ₁. A distance d₁ of about one inch gives good results for skiers of fairly advanced skill who participate in "slalom" races during which they must turn sharply. It is generally thought that the increased weight on the inside edges of the boots is of value here, but the invention is not to be constrained by this theory. Clearly, if the boot and the individual of Fig. 1b are the same as in Fig. la an increased amount of shimming on the outside edge of the boot is required to achieve the angle ₂ than the corresponding angle ₁. Similarly, in Fig. 1c an increased distance d₂ from the big toe to the perpendicular intersecting the center of the knee is desired, and a greater angle ₃ accordingly results. Again, if the skier and boot are the same as in Figs, 1a and 1b, an increased amount of shimming is necessary on the outside of the boot. Distance d₂ may be on the order of two inches; this is found to be appropriate for "giant slalom" racing, in which high speeds and rather broader turns are used.

Finally, in Fig. 1d a situation is shown in which a relatively "knock-kneed" position was corrected by application of a shim to the inside of the boot to achieve the correct down-hill inclination shown in Fig. 1; hence, the angle ₄ between boot 10 and ski 14 appears on the other side.

It will be appreciated that due to the wide variety of boots on the market and the great variation in the conformation of each individual skier, even once it is determined that a particular alignment of knee center to big toe is desired, it is not necessarily simple to determine with precision how much shimming should be applied to each boot to achieve the correct alignment. The present invention relates to apparatus for achieving this correct alignment.

The present invention relates also to correction of another common fault, which is that most skiers do not properly fit into their boots. As discussed above, boots are selected on the basis of fit and comfort. However, just because a boot feels comfortable does not mean that it automatically is the right boot for the individual. In particular, fit and comfort are mainly determined on the basis of the fit of the foot and ankle within the upper portion of the boot, but proper skiing depends greatly upon the correct weight distribution within the boot. Typically, a boot will have a generally flat "floor" with perhaps a slight arch support. Needless to say, it would be unusual indeed if the boot floor fit the skier properly. Correction can be achieved in accordance with Fig. 2. Fig. 2 shows generally a skier's foot 20 fitting into a custom-made insole insert 22. This insole insert 22 in a preferred embodiment may be made using the machine sold by and according to the techniques developed by a company called "Sidas", which is located in Grenoble, Switzerland. Their equipment is available in the United States through the Tool Company of New Hampshire, Inc. of Concord, N.H. Generally what is done according to the Sidas method is that the skier stands on a horizontal glass pane supported above a mirror. The operator then looks in the mirror and sees a reflection of the undersides of the skier's feet. By looking at the areas where the skier's feet most heavily contact the glass, indicated by a relatively light color of the skin because the blood is driven out therefrom, the operator, once properly skilled, can determine whether or not the weight of the individual is properly distributed between the various areas of the foot. Having done so, he can then prepare a proper insole 22 for that individual, again using the teachings of the Sidas company. All this is spelled out in the Sidas company's literature and forms no part of the present invention except insofar as it is combined with the means for correcting the transverse angle of the skier's calf with respect to his ski as discussed above in connection with Fig. 1. Combination of the Sidas insole or other equivalent insole with correction of the transverse calf angle is decidedly within the present invention. Fig. 3 shows a perspective view of how a standard ski boot 10 is attached to a standard ski 14 by means of front bindings 18 and rear bindings 16. Skis, boots and bindings are all manufactured by a wide variety of manufacturers, and in order that their products can all be used interchangeably, the way in which the boot is held to the bindings at the front and rear must be the same in all cases. Presently, boots 10 are provided with front tongues which interact with mating, generally V-shaped, front members 18 and the rear of the boots 10 is provided with a shaped detail for similar interfitting within a rear binding 16. All this is conventional and forms no part of the present invention.

As a rule bindings 16 and 18 are attached to skis 14 by means of screws 19 which extend through holes in the binding into holes drilled in the material of the ski. The hole spacing is not standardized from binding to binding and accordingly the skis must be specially drilled when a new set of bindings is purchased. As the boot completely controls the angle of the skier's calf with respect to the binding, control of the angle at which the boot is held by the binding with respect to the ski 14 will similarly also control the skier's calf angle with respect to the plane of the bottom of the ski 14. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, control of the angle of the boot 10 can be accomplished simply by shimming under one side or the other of the front and rear bindings 18 and 16, respectively. A front shim is shown at 24 and a rear shim at 26. According to the present invention, once it has been determined what the proper angle of the calf of a given skier should be. the amount of shim needed is determined. This amount can be calculated or. as in a preferred embodiment, can be determined by iteratively raising or lowering one side of the boot 10 and noting the total amount of correction required to achieve the proper relation. A shim of equivalent thickness is then simply inserted between the binding and the ski and is held down by the screws 19. The description above is focused on use of the method of the invention in adjusting the angle the skier's calf makes with respect to the plane of the ski. However, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that this angle is relatively hard to measure and that a simpler expedient is to control the relative location of some fixed point on the calf, such as the center of the knee, with a similarly fixed point on the boot, such as the big toe. which then effectively serves to fix the angle of the calf relative to the ski.

In the discussion of Fig. 1 it was mentioned that the evidence to date indicates that the center of the knee joint should be aligned with the big toe for most skiers, specifically downhill skiers. However, it should be emphasized here that this is not considered to be at the heart of the invention but that this is merely an empirical fact which has been found useful in the practice of the invention. The real thrust of the invention relates to controlling the angle of the calf, and hence also, of course, the thigh, with respect to the plane of the ski, whether or not it happens to be alignment of the kneecap and toe which is dispositive. However, regardless of the scientific basis of the success achieved by the invention heretofore, it is desirable that some common points of reference be used in fitting various skiers to their boots according to the invention, so that over a time a statistically significant data base can be built up, which will aid in properly under-standing precisely why and by what mechanism these factors are significant. Fig. 4 shows a simple device for locating the center of a knee joint for purposes of alignment according to the invention. Four bars are mutually pivoted at their ends to form a parallelogram 28. This device 28 is simply held lightly over the skier's knee while it is bent slightly. A mark is made along a vertical line connecting the top- and bottom-most joints of the parallelogram device 28. If this is done similarly with respect to all skiers this can be used as an accurate reference point. lt will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the angle that the calf makes with respect to the skis is controlled not only by the angle of the calf as it is defined by the boot, but also by the spacing of the feet in the skier's stance, and the width of the skiers' hips. To date, the method of the invention has been practiced by permitting the skier to assume whatever foot spacing is comfortable for him or her and then adjusting the calf angle by shimming one side or the other of the skier's boots. However, it should be appreciated that control of the spacing of the feet may also be important, such that if, for example, a particular skier had unduly narrow foot spacing he or she could be encouraged to widen it by proper shimming of his or her boots. Presumably, development of better habits would then call for reshimming of the boots to achieve still further improvements.

Indeed, it should be mentioned at this time that the use of the method and apparatus of the invention will not necessarily only be done once for a given skier with a given pair of boots. Instead, as the improved balance and form obtainable by those who use the invention tends to improve their skiing habits, they may find further improvements and refinements desirable. Accordingly, repetitive use of the method and apparatus of the invention for a given skier with respect to a given pair of boots should be considered to be within the scope of the invention.

The requirements for successful apparatus for determination of the thickness of the shim to be put under one side or the other of a given ski boot includes the following.

As discussed above, it is desirable that a skier be allowed to assume his usual stance. This should be done while means are provided to allow each boot to be individually con- trollably rotated about an axis along the direction of travel of the ski, while the effect of rotation on deflection of the knee with respect to the boot must be readily observable. However, rotation of the boot about an axis central with respect to the boot will not suffice, because it would not be possible to duplicate this effect by shimming of one side only of the boot. Accordingly, it is desirable that the boots be alternatively pivotable about parallel axes on either side thereof so that only one side of the bindings need be shimmed to make permanent any desired degree of inclination. Further, it is desirable that apparatus be provided for directly indicating the thickness of shims required. Finally, it is desirable that the apparatus allow these adjustments to be made readily and efficiently, and that it provide that the result of any adjustment made can immediately be determined. In this way, one can immediately determine whether a given amount of tilt imparted to the boot is sufficient to properly line up the reference point, for example, the kneecap, perpendicularly with the desired points, e.g., over the big toe, or elsewhere, as discussed above in connection with Fig. 1.

Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of a machine designed to achieve this purpose. It comprises a generally rectangular box 30 having a top 32 in which are cut two windows 34. Protruding through the windows 34 are support structure for a pair of flat, elongated, generally U-shaped boot supports 36. The boot supports are movable towards and away from one another, in accordance with the skier's stance, i.e., usual foot spacing. After adjusting the stance, the skier stands on the boot supports 36, which are each individually rotatable about axes running along their length and along both sides thereof, so that any inclination desired can be achieved by rotation about one axis. In this way, only one set of shims needs to be placed under a skier's bindings to provide the inclination determined to be optimum for that skier, while the amount of shimming required relates directly to the amount of rotation. The amount of shim required is read directly off a pair of dial indicators 40 which are mounted on a transverse bar 42 at the front of the machine. When the skier's stance has been measured and the spacing of the U-shaped supports 36 has been set accordingly, the indicators 40 are placed over the U-shaped members as shown. When the proper inclination of each of these U-shaped boot supports 36 has been achieved, the total amount of shimming required to achieve that same inclination by shimming the boot can be read directly from the corresponding dial indicator 40.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in Fig. 5 and discussed hereinafter, the two boot support members 36 are mounted on "cars" which move in and out with respect to one another along an axis parallel to the support bar 42, in order to compensate for the width of stance of the individual skier. Their motion is controlled by a handle 46, rotation of which moves the cars in a manner detailed below. Not shown in Fig. 5 for clarity's sake is the means for evaluation of the alignment of a specified point on a skier's leg. for example, the point of the kneecap, and a given point on or near his boot, such as the big toe. This may simply be a vertical standard sliding horizontally in a track, to allow alignment with any chosen point. Adjusters 44 control the inclination of the boot supports 36 in a manner detailed below. Thus, one might align the vertical standard with the big toe, if that were desired, and rotate one or the other of the adjusters 44. lifting one side of the corresponding boot support 36. until the point marked on the kneecap exactly coincided with the big toe as indicated by the vertical standard. The vertical standard is shown at 72 in Figs. 6 and 7 so that its structure can be clearly understood.

Figs. 6 and 7 show details of the structure of the apparatus shown in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 is a cross-section taken generally along the line 6-6 of Fig. 5, while Fig. 7 is a cross-section taken generally along the line 7-7 of Fig. 5. The left and right halves of Fig. 7 are not identical because they are taken through different portions of the apparatus to show differing details. The basic structure of the device is a pair of linearly movable cars 50 which ride back and forth with respect to one another on bearings 52 riding in tracks which may simply be U-shaped beams 54. Mounted on each of the cars 50 are a pair of longitudinally extending shafts 56 which are sepa- rately journaled for rotation in supports 58 on the cars and in supports 60 which hold up the boot support 36 and thus the skier's boot 10, shown in phantom in Fig. 6. The shafts 56 are fixed to cam members 62 which are eccentric with respect to the support members 60, and journaled thereto by bearings 61 so that the rotation of the shaft 56 causes eccentric rotation of the cam member 62. This raises or lowers the side of the U-shaped support member 36 corresponding to the shaft 56 which is being rotated. As shown in Fig. 7 one side of the U-shaped member 36 is fixed transversely with respect to the shafts 56 while the other is floating. Clearly, if both were fixed with respect to the shafts 56, it would be impossible for one side or the other of the support 36 to be raised by rotation of the shaft 56 rotating the cam members 62. Also shown in Fig. 6 is a split clamp 64 by which the dial indicator 40 can be releasably affixed to the transverse rod 42; by loosening of a knob 66 connected to a screw, the clamp 64 can be loosened, permitting the dial indicator 40 to be moved as necessary to ride over the uplifted portions of the U-shaped members 36.

The support member 36 is provided with the U-shape shown to make it easy for an operator to ensure that the dial indicator is properly located with respect to the cam member 62 carried on the axle 56 so that the correct shim thickness is shown. In this connection it will be recalled that it was discussed above that not all ski bindings are mounted using the same mounting hole spacings. Therefore, the shims required to achieve a given angle of inclination will vary in thickness depending on the spacing of the binding hole. This difficulty can be compensated for by providing a horizontal scale (not shown) on the boot support 36 upon which the tip 40a of the indicator 40 rests. One could then measure the spacing of the binding holes and use this to set the indicator the same distance from the axis about which the boot support 36 is to be rotated. In this way. the indicator reading would correctly indicate the shim thickness required.

Fig. 7 and Fig. 8 show the way in which the two cars 50 move inwardly and outwardly with respect to one another upon rotation of the handle member 46 (Fig. 5). Each of the cars 50 is connected by a pair of chains 70 to a central sprocket member 68, which would typically be two sprockets on the same shaft, on which is also mounted handle 46. Fig. 8 schematically shows the connection of the chains 70 to the cars 50, which are fixed to the sprocket 68. As shown by the arrows in the diagram on the left side of Fig. 8, clockwise rotation of the sprocket 68 causes the cars 50 to move outwardly with respect to one another, while counter-clockwise rotation as shown on the right side of Fig. 8 causes them to be brought together. Other arrangements are. of course, within the skill of the art. This adjustment would simply be made by asking the skier to assume a comfortable stance, measuring the distance between his boots and rotating the handle 46 one way or the other until the corresponding points on the U-shaped boot support members 36 are that distance apart.

Figs. 6 and 7 also show how the vertical standard 72 may be mounted for sliding within a channel 74. As discussed above, after interview with a skier to determine his or her preferences and skill level, the operator will be able to determine the optimal point for location of the kneecap point with respect to the big toe; with respect to most skiers, direct vertical alignment will be best. Practice of the method of the invention would then proceed first with fitting of the boots to the skier, as discussed above in connection with Fig. 2 by making an insole insert. The supports 36 will then be made level by rotation of shafts 56 as necessary, the dial indicators 40 would then be zeroed, and the lower end of the vertical standard 72 be set, e.g., opposite the big toe. The corresponding adjuster 44 would then be turned, rotating the shaft 56 and corresponding cam member 62 and tilting the U-shaped boot support member 36 and the ski boot until they are tilted to a degree sufficient that the knee center point is observed to be in vertical alignment with the vertical standard 72. The same procedure would then be repeated for the other leg. The total amount of vertical correction required for each foot could then be read directly from the corresponding dial indicator 40 and a shim of that thickness inserted beneath the correct side of the binding on that one of the user's skis.

A problem which sometimes occurs is that persons are not built with horizontal hips, that is. one leg is shorter than the other. This leads to improper weight distribution and difficulty in making turns in one or the other direction. The hip imbalance or difference in leg length can be compensated for according to the present invention by using two dial indicators on one of the U-shaped boot support members and adjusting both of the adjusters 44 corresponding to that U-shaped member 36 equally until the skier's hips are parallel, thus compensating for the inequalities in the length of his leg. The remainder of the process of the invention would then proceed as above. Shims in this case would be inserted under both sides of the ski binding on the ski used on the shorter leg.

It is considered that the apparatus described would be most readily useful if a single handle could be applied to the four adjusters 44 and if these could be rotated gradually but in a detented, ratcheting fashion until the skier's knees corres- ponded properly with the selected position with respect to his toe. This is done in accordance with the present invention, in which a simple hex head bolt 76 (Fig. 6) would be welded or otherwise affixed to each shaft 56. The rear end of the shaft would be provided with a gear 78, detailed in Fig. 6a, which would interact with a piece of spring steel 80 or the like mounted on the car by means of a support 82. Use of the hex bolt 76 would allow adjustment to be made using a simple tool, e.g., a socket, box or open-end wrench. As shown in Fig. 6a the ratchet action of the piece of spring steel 80 acting on the gear 78 will hold the gear 78, shaft 56 and cams 62 in whatever position they have been caused to assume by torque applied to the hex bolt 76.

Other details of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown can readily be supplied by those skilled in the art, for example, the locations of idler sprockets 69 (Fig. 7) used to control the motion of chains 70. Similarly, in the embodiment shown, clearly the cams 62, which could simply be cylinders with offset holes for the insertion of shafts 56, would have to be keyed or otherwise affixed to the shafts 56. It will also be appreciated that wide variation in the design of the apparatus of the invention is nevertheless within its scope. For example, a number of different ways can be used to provide a cam action raising and lowering the boot support members 36 upon rotation of the shaft 56. The only real constraint is that undue effort not be required of the operator, who must be able to lift a relatively heavy skier. Hence, cams 62 should be mounted within bearings 61 if friction is not to raise the effort required to lift the entire skier upon rotation of the shaft 56 to an unacceptably high level. However, because the amount of lifting required is relatively small, on the order of 15mm maximum, the effort required should not be too great, and the size of the cams, bearings and other parts involved should not be so large as to be prohibitively expensive. Of course, motorization of the lifting of the boot support members is also possible. Other modifications to the apparatus of the invention would include such things as digital read-out of the required shim thickness. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that while there has been described a preferred embodiment of apparatus for practicing the method of the invention, a large number of other methods of achieving its goals are possible and are within its scope as defined by the appended claims. The invention thus should not be limited by the above disclosure but only by the following claims.

Claims

We claim;

1. A method for correcting the fit of a skier with respect to ski boots and skis, comprising the steps of: ensuring that the skier's foot is correctly supported within the ski boot so as to ensure proper distribution of the skier's weight over the inner bottom surface of the boot; measuring the horizontal displacement of a vertical line running through a predetermined point on the skier's upper leg from a predetermined fixed point on his foot; and controllably altering the angle of his boot sole with respect to the horizontal until the horizontal displacement between the predetermined points on the skier's upper leg and foot is equal to a predetermined distance, determined in accordance with the skier's proficiency and desired sporting event.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of permanently altering the mounting of the skier's boot to his ski, to permanently fix the angle of said boot sole with respect to said ski.

3. Apparatus for fitting a ski boot to a ski and to a particular skier comprising: means for determining the desired alignment of a point on an skier's upper leg with a point on his foot; means for controllably rotating a ski boot, while the skier is wearing said boot, about an axis parallel to the direction of travel of the ski. such that the point on the athlete's upper leg moves generally horizontally with respect to the point on his foot; and means for determining the correct amount of shimming material to be inserted between the skier's boot and his ski to maintain the desired orientation of the boot with respect to the horizontal.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising means for compensation for the normal stance of the skier.

5. Apparatus for adapting a particular pair of ski boots to a particular skier comprising: a pair of support cars, adapted for supporting the skier by his boots, movable with respect to one another in a direction generally transverse to the direction of the skier, each of said cars comprising means for pivoting said boots about an axis generally parallel to the direction of travel of the skier when skiing; and means for measuring the amount of said pivoting required to cause the legs of the skier to assume a particular predetermined orientation.

6. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said means for pivoting said boots comprises generally planar pivoted support members and cam means for controllably raising and lowering said support members.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said support members are each pivoted about plural parallel axes.

8. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said cam means comprises eccentric means mounted upon a shaft for rotation, said shaft being provided with detent means for holding said shaft in a particular angular position.

9. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for measuring the amount of said pivoting required to cause the legs of said skier to achieve a particular orientation comprises means for indicating the amount of shimming material required to be inserted between the boot of the skier and his ski to cause said boot to assume a particular transverse inclination with respect to the direction of travel of said ski.

10. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising means for symmetrically moving said pair of support cams towards or away from one another with respect to a center line position.

11. Method for ensuring that the angle of a skier's lower legs with respect to the horizontal in a plane transverse to his direction of travel are correct when he or she is wearing given ski boots, comprising the steps of: determining the amount of angularly corrective shim material required to be inserted beneath the foot of the skier in order to cause his or her lower legs to assume a desired orientation; and affixing said additional material to said ski boot whereby said orientation is achieved.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of ensuring that the weight of the skier is distributed correctly over the undersurface of his or her foot prior to attempting to determine the amount of angular correction required.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said step of ensuring comprises observation of the way in which the skier's weight is transferred to a flat surface by his or her feet and supplying insole insert means for controlling the distribution of his or her weight over the lower surface of his or her feet.

14. Method of correcting the fit of a skier's ski boots and the orientation given to his legs by said ski boots comprising the steps of: manufacturing an insert for each of the ski boots, said inserts being manufactured so as to ensure the correct weight distribution of the skier within the ski boots; determining the correct orientation of the skier's legs in a plane transverse to the direction of travel; measuring the amount of elevation of one edge of each of the ski boots required to urge the skier's legs into the correct transverse orientation; and providing shim means for insertion between the skier's ski boots and skis to achieve said correct orientation.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said shim means are inserted between the skier's ski boot bindings and skis.