Shoe ventilation

Details Shoe ventilation Shoe ventilation

1997-02-24

2001-10-23

Sewell, Paul T. (Department: 3728)

Boots, shoes, and leggings

Boots and shoes

Ventilated

C036S00300B, C036S029000, C036S027000, C036S03500R

Reexamination Certificate

active

06305100

ABSTRACT:

BACKGROUND-FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates, in general, to improvements in shoe ventilation and more particularly to shoes which allow for ventilation between the inner area of the shoe and its surrounding environment.
BACKGROUND-DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Currently available footwear provides little or no provision to expel foot heat and moisture from the immediate foot area. Moisture and heat tend to remain trapped in the interior toe and heel areas of conventional shoes. The foot is prone to this buildup of heat and moisture, leading to discomfort, odor, and possible foot disease.
In the past, various means of ventilation have been utilized. They range from simple modifications to the shoe upper, to complex forced air mechanisms embedded in the sole area of the shoe. These various attempts have had limited success in ventilating the entire interior of the shoe along with additional disadvantages referenced below;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,887 to Solow is directed to one-way valves that promote limiting one-way airflow and rely on foot pressure for operation; consequently, ventilation is minimal when a person is sitting, or standing in one position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,160 to Kuznetz is directed to an arrangement which also utilizes foot pressure to discharge moist foot air. This ventilation system design necessitates the use of air-restrictors at the ventilation port promoting one-way airflow. Additionally, the tube-shaped passageways through which ventilation takes place is narrow and inefficient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,982 to Lee is directed to an arrangement which utilizes spring-type one-way valves to promote air flow. These valves are prone to clogging moisture and dirt-buildup and subsequent malfunction.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,224,277 to Sang Do is directed to a waterproof system employing buoyancy plates and intricate air passageways eventually leading to one ventilation port in the heel area. This system is complex and difficult to manufacture and promotes inefficient ventilation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,086,572 to Lee is also directed to a complex system employing intricate ventilation passageways employing spring-actuated valves with questionable reliability.
All of the ventilated footwear of the related art heretofore known suffer from a number of disadvantages.
a) They utilize intricate and minimal volume ventilation passageways as the communication medium between the interior and exterior of the shoe, which result in decreased ventilation efficiency.
b) They utilize one-way valves that promote one-way ventilation flow within the shoe, which result in inefficient ventilation between the interior of the shoe and the outside environment.
c) They utilize bladder-pumping mechanisms actuated by foot pressure that discharge air into the interior of the shoe. This system is ineffective when sitting or standing on one spot.
d) They utilize mechanical valves, springs, and plates that are prone to malfunction.
e) They are difficult to clean and maintain for optimum ventilation efficiency.
f) They utilize a ventilation system that is complex and difficult to manufacture.
g) They provide no effective barrier against street penetrating heat.
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES
Accordingly, the objects and advantages of the present invention include, among others:
a) To provide a shoe with a large-volume air cavity acting as the communicating medium between the interior and exterior of the shoe, resulting in superior, efficient ventilation flow;
b) To provide ventilation ports with simultaneous two-way ventilation communication between the interior and exterior of the shoe;
c) To provide efficient shoe ventilation whether walking, standing, or sitting;
d) To provide reliable shoe ventilation;
e) To provide a shoe where the ventilation system is easily maintained;
f) To provide a shoe with a ventilation system that is easily manufactured.
g) To provide a shoe that effectively stops street penetrating heat from reaching the shoe interior.
Numerous other objects and advantages will become apparent from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the aforementioned, the present invention is directed to an article of footwear having a ventilated sole system, including a dual-layer sole system having an inner sole and an outer sole, the inner sole and the outer sole being integrated together and forming an air-cavity therebetween, the dual-layer sole system including a plurality of bi-directional ventilation ports, the bi-directional ventilation ports extending from the air-cavity to an area outside the article of footwear, the dual-layer sole system further comprising a plurality of conduits extending from a surface on the inner sole which receives a user's foot through the inner sole into the air cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
shows an outer sole with concave ridges outlining its periphery.
FIG. 1
a
shows an outer sole with a reinforcing member interconnecting two opposite concave ridges in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2
shows an inner sole with a plurality of perforations and cutouts.
FIG. 3
shows the inner sole of
FIG. 2
overlaying and fused to the outer sole of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
shows a frontal view of a shoe upper integrated with the inner sole of FIG.
2
and the outer sole of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 5
shows a variation of
FIG. 4
utilizing anvil shaped supports.
FIG. 5
a
shows a transverse view of an anvil-shaped support member along lines
5
a
—
5
a
of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 5
b
shows a view along a long axis of an anvil-shaped support member of FIG.
5
.
FIG. 6
shows a variation of
FIG. 1
, illustrating ridges and or columns extending across the outer sole.
FIG. 7
shows a variation of the inner sole of
FIG. 2
, illustrating a plurality of perforations.
FIG. 8
shows an additional variation of
FIG. 1
, illustrating a spring-wrapped outer sole.
FIG. 9
shows an additional variation of
FIG. 4
utilizing a free-floating outer sole.


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