U.S. patent application number 11/311473 was filed with the patent office on 2007-06-21 for inflatable sole for shoe.
Invention is credited to Orlando Vera.
Application Number | 20070137065 11/311473 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38171741 |
Filed Date | 2007-06-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070137065 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Vera; Orlando |
June 21, 2007 |
Inflatable sole for shoe
Abstract
An inflatable insole includes a hand-operated pump removably
attached to the aft end of the insole above the heel and a bleed
valve located just below the pump. The pump and the valve are used
to adjust air pressure in the insole so the comfort of the shoe can
be adjusted according to user preference as well as according to
terrain and use of the shoe. The insole is removably attached to
the shoe so the insole can be used on other shoes, such as a sandal
or the like. The valve can be manually adjustable as well as
automatically adjustable.
Inventors: |
Vera; Orlando; (Flushing,
NY) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUNG I. OH, PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION
710 QUAIL VALLEY LANE
WEST COVINA
CA
91791
US
|
Family ID: |
38171741 |
Appl. No.: |
11/311473 |
Filed: |
December 19, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/29 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/0081 20130101;
A43B 17/18 20130101; A43B 17/035 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/029 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/20 20060101
A43B013/20 |
Claims
1. A shoe comprising: A) an outer sole; B) an upper section, the
upper section encasing a wearer's foot when in use; C) an inner
sole that is located superadjacent to the outer sole, the inner
sole being releasably attached to the upper section and releasably
attached to the outer sole and interposed between the upper section
and the outer sole, the inner sole being flexible and inflatable;
D) hook-and-loop fastener releasably attaching the inner sole to
the outer sole and to the upper section; E) a toe section; F) a
heel section; G) an inlet valve unit mounted on the heel section
and fluidically connected to the inner sole; H) a pump fluidically
connected to the inlet valve, the pump being releasably mounted on
the upper section at the heel section; and I) a pressure release
valve fluidically connected to the inner sole and located
subadjacent to the pump.
2. A shoe comprising: A) an upper section; B) an outer sole; C) an
inner sole interposed between the upper section and the outer sole,
the inner sole being inflatable; D) a fastener unit releasably
attaching the inner sole to the upper section and to the outer
sole; E) a fluid inlet valve mounted on the upper section and
fluidically connected to the inner sole; F) a fluid pump mounted on
the upper section and fluidically connected to the fluid inlet
valve; and G) a pressure release valve mounted on the upper section
and fluidically connected to the inner sole.
3. The shoe according to claim 2, where the fluid pump is
releasable from the upper section of the shoe.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to the general art of
footwear, and to the particular field of customized footwear.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Footwear, especially athletic footwear, must provide stable
and comfortable support for the body while subject to various types
of stress. It is important that a shoe be comfortable and provide
support during various foot movements, especially those movements
associated with athletic activity which can be high impact
movements.
[0003] Articles of footwear typically include an upper and a sole,
and are sold in a variety of sizes according to the length and
width of the foot. However, even feet of similar length do not have
the same geometry. Still further, an individual may subject his
feet to a wider variety of situations, even while wearing the same
shoe. Therefore, a conventional upper should be adjustable to
provide support to various foot contours. Many different products
and designs have focused on the need for adjustable upper support.
For example, the upper may include an ankle portion which
encompasses a portion of the ankle region of the foot and thereby
provides support thereto.
[0004] In addition, it is well known to adjust the size and fit of
a shoe through lacing or through one or more straps reaching across
the throat of a typical shoe. With respect to fit and comfort,
lacing alone suffers from several disadvantages, for example, when
the shoe laces or strap is drawn too tightly, the fastening system
can cause pressure on the instep of the foot. It is observed that
lacing that is comfortable for one situation may be uncomfortable
for other situations. Such localized pressure is uncomfortable to
the wearer and can make it difficult for the shoe to be worn for
prolonged periods of time. Furthermore, while lacing allows the
upper of the shoe to be adjustable to accommodate varying foot and
ankle configurations, it does not mold the shoe to the contour of
individual feet. Moreover, there are areas of the foot which are
not supported by the upper, due to the irregular contour of the
foot. The ski boot industry has often resorted to using inflatable
insertable devices to improve the fit of the boots without the
pressure caused by lacing.
[0005] One of the problems associated with shoes has always been
striking a balance between support and cushioning. Throughout the
course of an average day, the feet and legs of an individual are
subjected to substantial impact forces. Running, jumping, walking
and even standing exert forces upon the feet and legs of an
individual which can lead to soreness, fatigue, and injury. These
problems are exacerbated if the individual participates in a
variety of activities, each of which places its own form of stress
on the individual's feet. This is still further exacerbated if the
activities are associated with a variety of terrains.
[0006] The human foot is a complex and remarkable piece of
machinery, capable of withstanding and dissipating many impact
forces. The natural padding of fat at the heel and forefoot, as
well as the flexibility of the arch, help to cushion the foot. An
athlete's stride is partly the result of energy which is stored in
the flexible tissues of the foot. For example, during a typical
walking or running stride, the achilles tendon and the arch stretch
and contract, storing energy in the tendons and ligaments. When the
restrictive pressure on these elements is released, the stored
energy is also released, thereby reducing the burden which must be
assumed by the muscles.
[0007] Although the human foot possesses natural cushioning and
rebounding characteristics, the foot alone is incapable of
effectively overcoming many of the forces encountered during
athletic activity. Unless an individual is wearing shoes which
provide proper cushioning and support, the soreness and fatigue
associated with athletic activity is more acute, and its onset
accelerated. This results in discomfort for the wearer which
diminishes the incentive for further athletic activity. Equally
important, inadequately cushioned footwear can lead to injuries
such as blisters, muscle, tendon and ligament damage, and bone
stress fractures. Improper footwear can also lead to other
ailments, including back pain.
[0008] In light of the above, numerous attempts have been made over
the years to incorporate into a shoe a means for providing improved
cushioning and resiliency to the shoe.
[0009] A shoe generally consists of two basic parts, an upper and a
sole. The upper is generally designed to enclose and provide
cushioning to the foot. The upper also typically includes an insole
to provide initial support and cushioning to the bottom of the
foot. The upper is attached to a sole which provides additional
protection and cushioning primarily to the bottom of the foot. The
sole also imparts stability to the shoe.
[0010] The increase in demand for shoes for sports and outdoor
activities such as walking, running, hiking, tennis, basketball and
numerous other high activity sports has prompted many advances in
shoe design to provide improved protection and comfort to the feet,
ankles, legs, hips, etc. Efforts to improve shoes have centered on
decreasing shoe weight and improving cushioning, flexibility, and
stability. In addition, shoe soles are desired with improved
memory, shock dispersion capabilities and energy return.
[0011] The effort to design improved shoes has prompted increased
study of foot dynamics in general and the study of foot dynamics as
it relates to particular activities such as running, basketball and
other specific activities. The combination of research and
research-responsive shoe design has resulted in shoes designed for
specific activities. For example, the pressures exerted by a foot
on a sole when walking are different from the pressures exerted by
a foot when running, or when playing tennis, etc. Accordingly, the
modern sport shoe design takes into account the specific
requirements of shoes used for particular activities. In addition,
modern sport shoe design attempts to take into account the specific
needs of the individual, such as weight, foot width and other
individual characteristics such as pronation and supination. Thus,
general considerations such as shoe weight, cushioning, flexibility
and stability are taken into account in designing sport shoes for
particular activities and individual needs. Although the functional
characteristics of the shoe are of primary importance, other
factors such as cost, appearance of the shoe and ease of use must
be taken into account for full consumer satisfaction.
[0012] Sport shoe refinements have concentrated particularly on the
sole. Sport shoe soles typically have two components, the midsole
and the outsole. The outsole is the ground-contacting portion of
the sole and provides traction and protection to the remainder of
the sole. Outsoles, accordingly, are composed of durable materials,
such as rubber, which provide both traction and high abrasion
resistance. The midsole contributes to foot stability and is the
primary shock absorption member of the sole. The midsole is
composed generally of a softer, more flexible material than the
outsole. Since the midsole is important to such factors as
stability and shock absorption, the design of the midsole has
received considerable attention by sport shoe manufacturers.
[0013] Typically, midsole construction centers around plastics
expanded into foams which are then shaped in a number of ways to
accommodate a shoe upper. The foam midsole is then covered with a
more durable sheet of outsole material, usually rubber, to provide
the sole with adequate abrasion resistance and traction. Attaching
an outsole to a foam midsole is generally a labor-intensive
process. For example, attaching a rubber outsole to a midsole
requires abrading the surface of the midsole, washing the surface
with a solvent, layering both the midsole and outsole surfaces with
cement where they are to be joined, then activating the treated
surfaces, usually with heat. This is followed by touch-up and
decoration processes.
[0014] A foam midsole material by itself is generally inadequate to
provide the stability and cushioning demanded for modern sport
shoes. The foams used in current soles have insufficient external
surface tension by themselves to provide the required stabilizing
forces in response to pressures exerted on a sole. This is
especially true with extremely low density foams employed to
minimize weight. Moreover, current foam midsoles quickly lose their
ability to adequately cushion, often after as little as 20% of the
shoe life.
[0015] The problems of stability and cushioning associated with the
use of foam midsoles has prompted several approaches for increasing
stability and prolonging the cushioning properties of midsoles.
Efforts to improve stability have centered on the use of inserts of
denser, more rigid materials than the main midsole component, such
as dense foam plugs or solid thermoplastic inserts. These are
either inserted directly into the foam midsole component before
curing or cemented into place afterwards in another labor-intensive
process. Efforts to improve cushioning while maintaining adequate
stability have centered on the use of flexible thermoplastic
inserts and liquid or gas filled inserts. These inserts also are
generally encapsulated in the main midsole component. Thus, modern
sole design has centered on constructing soles having varying
degrees of flexibility in selected areas of the sole. For example,
inserts can include foamed plugs of material harder or softer than
the main midsole component. As stated, the inserts are typically
encapsulated in the midsole material to provide areas in the
midsole of lesser flexibility where increased stability is desired,
and areas of greater flexibility where increased cushioning is
desired. Other approaches include the use of resilient spheres
embedded in the midsole by casting or injection molding the midsole
around the spheres. Trampoline devices incorporated into the heel
region of shoes have been attempted, but cost and appearance
factors have limited the use of this concept. Various gels and
gases have also been incorporated into midsoles in an attempt to
enhance and prolong cushioning and energy return. However, soles
incorporating gels or gases such as air are costly to manufacture
and relatively unpredictable in their functional
characteristics.
[0016] Midsoles have also been constructed of a shell of a
thermoplastic elastomer designed to encapsulate and protect low
density synthetic foams such as polyether, polyurethane or
polyester polyurethane. Increased rigidity along the periphery of
the sole is provided by convolutions in the shell material along
the edge of the sole. Plugs of denser foam are still incorporated
into the main foam component where more rigidity in the inner foam
component is desired. Moreover, such shells are generally made by
blow molding the thermoplastic material. Blow molding involves
costly molds, which limit the size and number of design changes.
Additionally mold costs become a significant factor when the number
of shoe sizes for each shoe model is taken into account. This is
reflected in higher sole unit costs. Thus, shoes manufactured by
blow molding techniques are limited to higher priced shoes although
the gain in performance over traditional sport shoes employing foam
midsoles is not particularly significant since the interior of the
shell sole is still composed of foam which breaks down and loses
its cushioning effect in a relatively short period of time. Because
of the cost involved in manufacturing such soles, their use has
been limited primarily to heel components. Accordingly, shoe sole
components are desired having improved performance and cost
effectiveness.
[0017] Still further, people often own several different shoes,
each of which can be used for one or more situations. To be most
comfortable, all shoes owned by a person should be as comfortable
as possible in any situation. However, if each shoe is specifically
designed for a particular use, the shoes may be too expensive and
may even require several of the same type of shoes, each of which
is designed for a different wearing situation. Therefore, there is
a need for a device that can be adapted for use with a variety of
shoes and which will make each shoe as comfortable as possible for
the particular wearing situation.
[0018] Presently available shoes have several problems. For
example, one of these problems is that often fluid filled devices
are not adjustable for physiological variances between people and
the variety of activities for which athletic shoes are warn. It has
been known to adjust fluids in the sole of footwear. However, under
foot devices, while providing cushioning to the sole, typically do
not aid in support for the sides, top and back of the foot.
Attempts to cushion the upper and sole of a shoe with air have
resulted in products that are either ineffective or, because of the
construction techniques used, are too heavy and cumbersome to be
used for a running shoe.
[0019] Furthermore, in some underfoot cushioning systems, when the
heel contacts the ground during the gait cycle, fluid is
transferred from the heel area of the foot and displaced to the
forefoot area of the foot, causing the pressure in the forefoot
area to increase. Because the underfoot portion of an inflatable
bladder is typically separate from the portions of an inflatable
bladder along the sides and top of the foot, downward pressure in
the heel of a conventional cushioning device has no effect on the
cushioning surrounding the sides and heel of a foot.
[0020] Inflatable shoe inserts known to the inventor are generally
designed to be used in conjunction with a conventional shoe upper.
A shoe with this type of design can be quite expensive because it
requires all the materials of the upper and the additional
materials of the inflatable insert. Often the inflatable inserts
also add bulk to the shoe because they require a system of complex
tubing between the inflation mechanism and the inflatable bladder.
With the present of an upper to completely surround the foot, there
is no need for the inflation inserts to completely surround the
foot. Many inserts may only support certain regions of the
foot.
[0021] Most inflatable shoes include either a hand-held inflation
mechanism, or an on-board inflation mechanism which is used to
selectively inflate only a portion of a shoe. Other inflatable
shoes are pre-inflated at the factory. Whether inflated at the
factory or inflated by the user, there is a problem with diffusion
of air out of the shoe. In the case of shoes inflated at the
factory, the problem of diffusion has been partially solved by
utilizing a large molecule gas as the fluid for inflating the shoe.
While the large molecule gas does not diffuse at the same rate as
air, the gas is more expensive which increases the costs of the
shoe, and a user is not capable of varying the amount of pressure
in the shoe to his individual preferences.
[0022] None of the devices known to the inventor provides a simple,
inexpensive, versatile solution to comfortable wear and walking in
a wide variety of footwear. Foam inner soles have only a limited
value and limited shock absorbency and other devices, including a
pressurization system for ski boots, are relatively complex and
costly and are often too bulky and cumbersome. Consequently, these
devices are not readily acceptable for everyday activities.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0023] The above-discussed disadvantages of the prior art are
overcome by an inflatable insole with a hand-operated pump
removably attached to the aft end of the insole above the heel and
a bleed valve located just below the pump. The pump and the valve
are used to adjust air pressure in the insole so the comfort of the
shoe can be adjusted according to user preference as well as
according to terrain and use of the shoe. The insole is removably
attached to the shoe so the insole can be used on other shoes, such
as a sandal or the like. The valve can be manually adjustable as
well as automatically adjustable.
[0024] Using the embodying the present invention will permit an
individual to have a single insole that can be used on a variety of
different shoes and which can be adjusted according to use for
maximum comfort. The pump and valve are located in an easily
accessible location so the insole can be easily modified according
to the particular situation.
[0025] Other systems, methods, features, and advantages of the
invention will be, or will become, apparent to one with skill in
the art upon examination of the following figures and detailed
description. It is intended that all such additional systems,
methods, features, and advantages be included within this
description, be within the scope of the invention, and be protected
by the following claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0026] The invention can be better understood with reference to the
following drawings and description. The components in the figures
are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon
illustrating the principles of the invention. Moreover, in the
figures, like referenced numerals designate corresponding parts
throughout the different views.
[0027] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe having an inflatable
insole embodying the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0028] Referring to the figure, it can be understood that the
present invention is embodied in a shoe 10 which comprises an outer
sole 12 which will contact a support surface, such as a sidewalk or
the like and an upper section 14 which encases a wearer's foot when
in use. The outer sole and the upper section can be formed of
materials common to wearing apparel.
[0029] An inner sole 16 is located superadjacent to the outer sole
and is releasably attached to the upper section and is also
releasably attached to the outer sole. The inner sole is interposed
between the upper section and the outer sole. The inner sole is
flexible and inflatable and is designed to contain fluid, such as
air and to maintain that fluid in the inner sole when a wearer
walks on the inner sole. Those skilled in the shoe art will
understand what sort of material will be suitable for the inner
sole based on the teaching of the present disclosure.
[0030] A fastener unit 20, such as a hook-and-loop fastener unit,
releasably attaches the inner sole to the outer sole and to the
upper section as indicated in the figure. If the wearer decides to
change shoes, he or she needs only to remove the inner sole from
the outer sole by releasing the fastener unit and then re-attaching
the inner sole to a new shoe. In this manner, the inner sole 16 can
be used in a wide variety of situations and with a wide variety of
shoe styles.
[0031] A toe section 30 is located on the front end of the shoe and
a heel section 32 is located on the aft end of the shoe.
[0032] An inlet valve unit 40 is mounted on the heel section and is
fluidically connected to the inner sole, and a pump 42 is
fluidically connected to the inlet valve to pump fluid, such as
air, into the inner sole when activate, as by hand manipulation of
a flexible bulb or the like. In one form of the invention, the pump
is releasably mounted on the upper section at the heel section,
while in a second form of the invention, the pump is permanently
mounted on the upper section at the heel section.
[0033] A pressure release valve 46 is fluidically connected to the
inner sole and is located subadjacent to the pump. The pressure
release valve can be set either manually or can be automatic to
maintain the fluid pressure in the inner sole at a level that is
desired and comfortable for the particular use being made of the
shoe. In this manner, the comfort of the shoe can be customized for
the particular application being made of the shoe by the
wearer.
[0034] Use of shoe 10 can be understood from the foregoing, and
thus will be only briefly reviewed. A wearer selects the particular
upper section he or she wishes to wear, then attaches the inner
sole to that upper section and then attaches an outer sole to the
inner sole. The wearer then inflates the inner sole to the level
desired for the particular use he or she will make of the shoe. The
inflation is achieved using the pump and the pressure release
valve. The pump can be removed in one form of the invention and
will remain attached in place in a second form of the invention. In
any event, the location of the pump on the aft end of the shoe
allows a user to inflate the sole without removing the shoe and
while maintaining his foot in a comfortable position.
[0035] While various embodiments of the invention have been
described, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
art that many more embodiments and implementations are possible
within the scope of this invention. Accordingly, the invention is
not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and
their equivalents.
* * * * *