U.S. patent application number 11/653683 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-20 for ventilated shoe sole construction with improved medical support.
Invention is credited to Zenon O. Smotrycz.
Application Number | 20070214682 11/653683 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38516249 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-20 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070214682 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Smotrycz; Zenon O. |
September 20, 2007 |
Ventilated shoe sole construction with improved medical support
Abstract
A ventilated shoe sole construction provides improved
ventilation in the sole area of a shoe or boot, while preserving
comfort and protection of the foot, as well as added support to the
arch of the shoe wearer. It employs four principal components: (1)
a footbed through which air may pass; (2) a sockliner through which
air may pass; (3) a channeled midsole or outsole; and (4) and an
air intake/exhaust device mating and communicating with the
channels in the midsole or outsole to allow outside air to pass
into the sole and then into the area adjacent the wearer's foot,
and in turn to allow air to exhaust from the foot area, through the
sole, and then to the outside of the shoe.
Inventors: |
Smotrycz; Zenon O.;
(Reading, MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LOWRIE, LANDO & ANASTASI
RIVERFRONT OFFICE, ONE MAIN STREET, ELEVENTH FLOOR
CAMBRIDGE
MA
02142
US
|
Family ID: |
38516249 |
Appl. No.: |
11/653683 |
Filed: |
January 16, 2007 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60783737 |
Mar 17, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/125 20130101;
A43B 7/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/3.B |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06 |
Claims
1. A shoe sole construction comprising: a midsole or outsole having
an upper surface with a plurality of ventilation channels formed
thereon; and an air intake/exhaust device having one or more device
channels formed therein that mate and communicate with a
corresponding one or more of the ventilation channels to allow air
to pass into said ventilation channels from outside the shoe via
said device channels, and to permit air to exit from said
ventilation channels to the outside.
2. The shoe sole construction of claim 1, in which the air
intake/exhaust device is located in the medial midfoot region of
the shoe.
3. The shoe sole construction of claim 2, in which intake/exhaust
device is constructed of substantially rigid material in order to
provide additional support to the medial midfoot region of the
wearer's foot.
4. The shoe sole construction of claim 3 in which the air
intake/exhaust device includes a port region through which air
enters and exits the device channels.
5. The shoe sole construction of claim 4 in which a breathable
membrane is attached over the port region of the intake/exhaust
device
6. The shoe sole construction of claim 5, in which air enters into
and exits from the air intake/exhaust device at a location
substantially at the upper edge of or above the sole of the
shoe.
7. The shoe sole construction of claim 1, further comprising a
perforated sockliner located above the midsole or outsole and
allowing air to travel between the ventilation channels and the
area adjacent the wearer's foot.
8. The shoe sole construction of claim 7, further comprising a
breathable insole located between the midsole or outsole and the
sockliner and allowing air to travel between the ventilation
channels and the area adjacent the wearer's foot.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Ser. No. 60/783,737 filed on Mar. 17, 2006, now
pending, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety
into this specification.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] For health and comfort reasons, it is desirable that
footwear both protects the foot and allows air to enter and leave
the enclosed internal environment of a shoe or boot. Many attempts
are made to make today's footwear both protective and breathable.
For example, there are many shoes and boots comprised of uppers
that are partially or completely lined with a breathable membrane,
such as products sold under the Gore-Tex.RTM. and Sympatex.RTM.
brand names. However, although the membrane is breathable, the
layers of material surrounding it, as well as the adhesives and
material waterproofing agents commonly used in the manufacture of
such types of uppers, can substantially impede breathability. Other
shoes include a breathable sockliner and holes punched in the
outsole bottom, but that construction may be effective only if the
shoe or boot is never worn on a surface that contains debris that
may clog the holes.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] The present invention provides improved ventilation in the
sole area of a shoe or boot, while preserving comfort and
protection of the foot. It employs four principal components: (1) a
footbed through which air may pass; (2) a sockliner through which
air may pass; (3) a channeled midsole or outsole; and (4) an air
intake/exhaust device mating and communicating with the channels in
the sole to allow outside air to pass into the sole, and to allow
air to exhaust from the sole. The air intake/exhaust device also
serves to provide added support to the arch of the wearer's
foot.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0004] The following description of the invention will make
reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
[0005] FIG. 1 is a medial side elevational view of a shoe
constructed according to one embodiment of the present
invention;
[0006] FIG. 2 is a top plan view of a channeled midsole
incorporated in the shoe of FIG. 1;
[0007] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the midsole and outsole
of FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0008] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the shoe of FIG. 1, taken
along line A-A of FIGS. 2 and 3;
[0009] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the air intake/exhaust
device as seen from the interior side;
[0010] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the device of FIG. 5 as seen
from the exterior side;
[0011] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 1, as seen
from the lateral side of the shoe;
[0012] FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the perforated insole;
[0013] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the breathable
sockliner;
[0014] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the channeled insole with
the air intake/exhaust device shown above its ultimate position on
the insole;
[0015] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the outsole.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] FIG. 1 depicts a shoe 10 having an upper portion 12, a
midsole 14, and an outsole 16. The upper end of the air
intake/exhaust device 20 of the present invention is seen at the
top edge of midsole 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper surface of
midsole 14 includes a grid of channels 18 preferably extending over
the width and length of the midsole. The position of intake/exhaust
device 20 relative to midsole 14 and channels 18 is shown by the
outline of device 20 superimposed over the grid of channels 18.
FIG. 3 depicts midsole 14 and the upper end of intake/exhaust
device 20. Channels 22 formed in device 20 are shown in dotted line
extending down from the upper end of the device. FIG. 4 is a
cross-sectional view as seen in the direction A-A depicted in FIGS.
2 and 3. Air intake/exhaust device 20, depicted more fully in FIGS.
5 and 6, includes L-shaped body portion 24 that extends downward
from the side of midsole 14 and across a portion of the midsole.
Channels 22 in device 20 mate and communicate with corresponding
channels 18 in midsole 14.
[0017] FIGS. 7, 8, 9, 10, and 11 provide an exploded view of the
shoe construction according to the present invention, depicting
upper 12, midsole 14, outsole 16, insole 26, and sock liner 28.
Insole 26 is perforated, and sock liner 28 is "breathable," so that
air may pass through them. Air intake/exhaust device 20 is
positioned on midsole 14 so that corresponding channels 18 of
midsole 14 mate and communicate with channels 22 of device 20.
Channels 22 are preferably shaped to sit within midsole channels
18, the channels 18 and 22 preferably being arcuate or
semi-circular in cross-section. The outline of device 20 is seen
projected onto midsole 14 in FIG. 10.
[0018] In the instant construction, the foot will sit on perforated
insole 26. This insole may be molded to be contoured or flat, may
be covered with a fabric, may be foam or solid, may be composed of
single or multiple densities, and may be made from a material like
polyurethane, EVA, leather, etc., that would allow it to function
as a insole or footbed.
[0019] The sockliner 28 may be a fabric that is woven, knit, or
non-woven, leather or any other material that would function as a
sockliner. The breathable sockliner (or a sockliner of which only
certain portions are breathable) is attached to the bottom of the
upper 12, in conventional fashion. The upper 12 and sockliner 28
are then attached to midsole 14, which may be made of solid or foam
polyurethane, EVA, rubber, or of any material that would function
as a midsole. The outsole may be leather, rubber, or any material
that would function as an outsole.
[0020] Air intake/exhaust device 20 may be made from injected or
formed plastic, such as TPU, PVC, EVA, Nylon, Pebax, Hytrel,
Delrin, etc. It is preferably rigid in order to provide added
support for the wearer's arch. The air intake/exhaust device
continues upwardly beyond the edge of the midsole or outsole, or
protrudes through an opening in the midsole or outsole. A portion
of the air intake/exhaust device maintains contact with the surface
of the upper to create a sealed environment. At the end of the
channels 22 the air intake/exhaust device is a port 30 through
which air and moisture vapor can pass (See FIG. 10). This port (or
series of holes) may be covered by a properly sealed breathable
membrane 32 such as those sold under the Gore-Tex.RTM. or
Sympatex.RTM. brand names, in order to allow air and moisture vapor
to pass into and out of the air intake/exhaust device while keeping
any liquids or debris from entering the internal environment of the
shoe.
[0021] The perforations in the insole 26, which sits above the
breathable sockliner 28, are preferably aligned with the channels
18 of the midsole or outsole in order to allow air from the
internal environment of the shoe to pass through the perforated
insole, through the breathable sockliner, and into the channels or
grooves of the midsole or outsole, one or more of which are in turn
connected to the channels in the air intake/exhaust device 20. This
internal air then may pass through the covered air intake/exhaust
opening or port 30.
[0022] During the wearer's walking motion, the downward motion of
the foot (in particular, when the shoe makes contact with the
ground) forces the air surrounding the foot (in particular under
the arch) through the perforation in the insole 26 and through the
breathable sockliner 28, into the midsole or outsole channels 18,
and then, via device channels 22, out of the port 30 of the air
intake/exhaust device 20. As the foot is lifted off the ground,
fresh air is drawn into the shoe passing first through the port 30,
then through the air intake/exhaust channel or channels 22, through
the channels in the midsole or outsole 18, through the breathable
sockliner 28, through the perforated insole 26, and into the
environment surrounding the foot.
[0023] Many types of footwear would benefit from a ventilation
system as described above. However, certain types of footwear do
not require that liquids or debris be kept from entering the
internal environment of the shoe: for example, athletic shoes and
tennis or basketball shoes generally do not require this additional
property. Therefore, another embodiment of this device may not have
a breathable membrane 32 covering its exhaust/intake opening or
port 30.
[0024] The air intake/exhaust device 20 also may be constructed to
provide additional support to the medial midfoot region of the
wearer's foot. Often times a metal or plastic element called a
`shank` is attached to the midfoot of an outsole or midsole in
order to rigidify the midsole or outsole in that area--specifically
in cases when there is a void in the bottom of a midsole and/or
outsole in between the heel and the ball of the shoe, creating a
situation in which the sole bottom in this area does not make
contact with the ground. This shank prevents the sole in this area
from collapsing from the weight of the shoe wearer's body when the
wearer steps down onto the ground, by supporting the foot, and
specifically the arch of the foot. The molded plastic air
intake/exhaust device 20 may be shaped and constructed to function
as such a shank, thereby providing the additional benefit of
support to the medial midfoot region of the foot.
[0025] The foregoing description is intended primarily for purposes
of illustration. This invention may be embodied in other forms or
carried out in other ways without departing from the spirit or
scope of the invention.
* * * * *