Boots – shoes – and leggings – Boots and shoes – Ventilated
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-10
2001-01-30
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Boots and shoes
Ventilated
C036S029000, C036S043000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06178662
ABSTRACT:
THE FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to footwear, particularly to soles and footpads, and especially to ventilated and cushioned soles and footpads.
THE BACKGROUND ART
Makers of footwear strive to offer as many as possible of the desirable functions the consumer has come to expect. In addition to meeting the ancient needs for protection from heat, cold, and trauma, the modern consumer expects to take long walks without suffering foot fatigue or irritation, to walk, run, and jump with minimal impact upon joints and vertebrae, to stand comfortably for prolonged periods, and to be free of fungal infections and offensive foot odor. The consumer also expects footwear to be lightweight, durable, affordable, beautiful, and stylish. A designer's challenge in cultivating and meeting these expectations in a competitive market is limitless. A well-designed sole or footpad is central to meeting this challenge.
Many designs for soles and footpads reflect an attempt to cushion the body from the impact of footfalls by softening and thickening the sole or footpad. While effective at absorbing shock, such a solution might not always support the foot in a way which avoids fatigue and irritation. The softer materials used in these designs, especially foams, are sometimes less durable or more likely to retain moisture, dirt, and odor. Under some circumstances, a thick sole of solid rubber or a similar material would be too heavy. Finally, a thick sole or footpad is inappropriate for some styles of footwear.
Some proposed structures for soles and footpads reflect an attempt to ventilate the interior of the shoe. Ranging from simple to exotic, these structures have taken several different, although overlapping, approaches. One approach has been to employ various interconnected pumping chambers, bladders, valves, jets, tubes, orifices, and the like. Patents exemplifying this approach include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,180,039; 3,225,463; 4,215,492; 4,499,672; 4,654,982; 4,760,651; 4,776,109; 4,860,463; 5,010,661; 5,224,277; 5,282,324; 5,341,581; 5,606,806; 5,787,609; 5,809,665; 5,815,949; 5,813,141; and 5,826,349. The structures shown, for the most part, use the motion of walking to agitate or exchange air surrounding the foot. Some of the structures also are described as cushioning the foot. To varying degrees, these structures add to the thickness, complexity, or cost of the product. Also to varying degrees, these structures provide inaccessible spaces where water or dirt can accumulate. Finally, these structures may be prone to rupture or other failure.
A related approach to ventilation, and one which also sometimes described as cushioning the foot, employs compressible supporting structures situated in a space defined between upper and lower layers of a footpad or insole. Patents exemplifying this approach include U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,716,930; 4,223,455; 4,364,186; 4,590,689; 4,674,203; 4,910,882; 5,035,068; 5,619,809; 5,669,161; 5,675,914, and 5,845,418. To varying degrees, the structures shown experience some of the aforementioned drawbacks relating to thickness, complexity, cost, dirt, and failure.
A third approach to ventilation employs a sole or insole having ribs, beads, liquid cells, knobs, or nipples. Patents exemplifying this approach include U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,685,224; 4,831,749; 5,167,999; 5,607,749; and 5,694,705. The structures shown, for the most part, use the motion of walking to agitate or exchange the air that flows between the foot and the footpad, or between and around the ribs, nipples, or the like. Some of these structures are also described as supporting, cushioning, or massaging the foot. While some of these structures might provide less cushioning or less support than a wearer would like, they are, for the most part, simpler, lighter, and thinner than those taking the other two approaches. The versatility of these thinner, simpler structures suggests that it would be desirable to optimize the performance of products taking this general approach.
The need persists for improved soles and footpads which deliver superior combinations of the above-described desirable functions. What is especially needed is a relatively thin, simple, easily made, lightweight, durable, well ventilated sole or footpad which provides good support for walking, shock absorption, and comfortable static support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention generally to provide for the improved ventilation of footwear articles and, more particularly, to use cyclic weighting and unweighting of the footpad to agitate and exchange air beneath the foot bottom.
It is an additional object of the present invention generally to provide a superior combination of ventilation, cushioning, and comfortable static support and, more particularly, to provide both superior ventilation when the wearer is moving about and superior comfort when the wearer is stationary or carrying a heavy load.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide superior ventilation when the wearer is moving about and superior support when the wearer is engaged in vigorous activity or making sudden movements.
It is an additional object of the present invention to provide the aforementioned benefits in a simple, versatile footpad which may be a permanent or interchangeable part of a footwear article.
In accordance with these objects and with others which will be described and which will become apparent, an exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention includes a pad having size and shape for disposition beneath the foot of a person wearing a shoe, sock, or the like. The pad has an upper surface with a plurality of lugs disposed thereon. Each lug has a top surface, a plurality of side surfaces, and a plurality of edges defined by the intersection of said side surfaces with said top surface. A plurality of the edges are defined in mutually parallel relation on mutually proximate lugs. The lugs are capable of transmitting a downward pressure incident thereupon to the pad. The lugs are capable of transition between a first condition and a second condition. The first condition exists when said downward pressure does not exceed a predetermined transition value. The second condition exists when said downward pressure exceeds the transition value. The side surfaces of said lugs in the first condition, together with the upper surface of said pad, define therebetween a void. The edges of the lugs, when in the second condition, abut and form a substantially continuous and substantially uniformly supportive surface.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention, the volume of the void that is defined between the lugs decreases in volume as said downward pressure is initially applied and as that pressure begins to increase.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention, the edges of a plurality of the lugs define the top surfaces of the lugs as polygonal.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention, the edges of a plurality of the lugs define the top surfaces of the lugs as equiangular.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention, the edges of a plurality of the lugs define the top surfaces of the lugs as hexagonal.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention, the edges of a first plurality of the lugs define the top surfaces thereof as m-gonal, the edges of a second plurality of the lugs, interspersed among the first plurality of lugs, define the top surfaces thereof as being n-gonal, m and n being integers so chosen that all of the edges of the first and second pluralities of lugs are disposed in mutually parallel relation on mutually proximate lugs.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present invention, the dimensions of the edges of the plurality of lugs are uniform.
In another exemplary embodiment of a footpad in accordance with the present inv
Kleinberg & Lerner ,LLP
Lerner Marshall A.
Patterson M. D.
Simmensen Finn T.
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