U.S. patent application number 12/050097 was filed with the patent office on 2008-09-18 for shoe sole combined with air chamber and air valve.
Invention is credited to Kwang Ji Jin.
Application Number | 20080222916 12/050097 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39080035 |
Filed Date | 2008-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080222916 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jin; Kwang Ji |
September 18, 2008 |
Shoe Sole Combined with Air Chamber and Air Valve
Abstract
A shoe sole for a shoe comprises: an air chamber formed of a
resilient material and defining an inner space for receiving air
therein; an air valve coupled to the air chamber; and a sole member
formed of a resilient material and coupled with the air chamber,
the sole member enclosing a substantially entire outer surface of
the air chamber except some portions of the air chamber and the air
valve such that a wearer of the shoe can selectively open and close
the air valve to adjust an air pressure of the air chamber, and
thus, to adjust an air cushioning degree of the shoe. The air
chamber can include a grooved structure on the generally planar
upper and lower surfaces and on side surfaces thereof, and one or
more through-holes formed through the upper and lower surfaces of
the chamber, and the sole member is filled in the
through-holes.
Inventors: |
Jin; Kwang Ji; (Busan,
KR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Hyun Jong Park;TUCHMAN & PARK LLC
41 White Birch Road
Redding
CT
06896-2209
US
|
Family ID: |
39080035 |
Appl. No.: |
12/050097 |
Filed: |
March 17, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/29 ;
36/35B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 21/285 20130101;
A43B 13/203 20130101; A43B 13/187 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/29 ;
36/35.B |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/20 20060101
A43B013/20; A43B 21/28 20060101 A43B021/28 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 16, 2007 |
KR |
10-2007-0025939 |
Claims
1. A shoe sole for a shoe, comprising: an air chamber formed of a
resilient material and defining an inner space for receiving air
therein; an air valve coupled to the air chamber; and a sole member
formed of a resilient material and coupled with the air chamber,
the sole member enclosing a substantially entire outer surface of
the air chamber except some portions of the air chamber and the air
valve such that a wearer of the shoe can selectively open and close
the exposed air valve to adjust an air pressure of the air chamber,
and thus, to adjust an air cushioning degree of the shoe.
2. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the air chamber includes
generally planar upper and lower surfaces and has a shape
resembling a heel portion of the shoe.
3. The shoe sole of claim 2, wherein the air chamber includes a
grooved structure on the generally planar upper and lower surfaces
and on side surfaces thereof.
4. The shoe sole of claim 3, wherein the air chamber further
includes one or more through-holes formed through the upper and
lower surfaces of the chamber, and the sole member is filled in the
through-holes.
5. The shoe sole of claim 4, wherein the through-hole and the
grooved structure are overlaid or in communication with each
other.
6. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the air valve is an on-off
control valve.
7. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the air chamber has an air
port disposed at a side of the air chamber, and an air passage
conduit is attached to the air port and with the air valve disposed
at an end of the air passage conduit.
8. The shoe sole of claim 1, further comprising an outer sole
attached at a bottom surface of the sole member.
9. The shoe sole of claim 8, wherein the outer sole has a property
of reducing slippage on the shoe sole.
10. The shoe sole of claim 9, wherein a plurality of grooves are
provided between the sole member and the outer sole for enhancing a
cushioning effect to the shoe sole.
11. The shoe sole of claim 8, wherein the outer sole is formed of a
material relatively harder than the sole member to reinforce the
shoe sole or to provide an enhanced strength and durability to the
shoe sole.
12. The shoe sole of claim 11, wherein a plurality of grooves are
provided between the sole member and the outer sole for enhancing a
cushioning effect to the shoe sole.
13. The shoe sole of claim 1, wherein the air chamber is formed of
rubber material or a polymer of a vinyl compound.
Description
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims priorities of Korean Patent
Application No. 10-2007-0025939, filed on Mar. 16, 2007, the entire
contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to a shoe sole combined with
an air chamber and an air valve, and more particularly, to a shoe
sole which has an air chamber formed of resilient material and an
air valve combined thereto, in which a portion of the air chamber
and the air valve are exposed externally and by which the wearer of
the shoe can adjust a cushioning degree of the shoe by adjusting or
controlling the air valve according to the user's desire or
selection or in consideration of the user's weight.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Various shoe soles with cushioning effects are introduced in
the art. For instance, a shoe sole can utilize a spring-activated
cushion in the sole and an air bag or air chamber coupled with the
shoe sole. Such air bags can provide cushioning effects or they can
optionally provide cooling effects and/or air circulations to the
shoes, and so on.
[0004] However, one known drawback associated in the prior art shoe
sole is that such air bags typically provide a uniform air cushion
to the soles. Accordingly, the cushioning degree of the shoe sole
is not adjustable by the user's selection to meet its desire or in
consideration of the user's weight.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, in order to solve the above-described and other
drawbacks or problems, the present invention provides a shoe with a
shoe sole, in which the shoe sole includes an air chamber formed of
resilient material and an air valve combined thereto. A portion of
the air chamber and the air valve are exposed externally, and thus,
the wearer of the shoe can adjust a cushioning degree of the shoe
by adjusting or controlling the externally-exposed air valve
according to the user's desire or selection or in consideration of
the user's weight. In addition, by having the shoe sole enclosing a
substantially the entire outer surface of the air chamber, but
leaving some of the outer surface thereof exposed externally, the
appearance of the shoe may provide more artistic appeals to the
wearers.
[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, the shoe sole for
a shoe comprises: an air chamber formed of a resilient material and
defining an inner space for receiving air therein; an air valve
coupled to the air chamber; and a sole member formed of a resilient
material and coupled with the air chamber, the sole member
enclosing a substantially entire outer surface of the air chamber
except some portions of the air chamber and the air valve such that
a wearer of the shoe can selectively open and close the exposed air
valve to adjust an air pressure of the air chamber, and thus, to
adjust an air cushioning degree of the shoe. It is preferable that
the air chamber of the shoe sole includes generally planar upper
and lower surfaces and has a shape resembling a heel portion of the
shoe. The air chamber preferably includes a grooved structure on
the generally planar upper and lower surfaces and on side surfaces
thereof. The air chamber preferably further includes at least one
through-hole formed through the upper and lower surfaces of the
chamber, and the sole member is filled with the through-hole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] The above described and other objects, features and
advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the
presently preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed in the
following description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings,
in which:
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating the air chamber
coupled with an air valve, constructed in accordance with one
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] FIG. 2 is a partially cross-sectional plan view of the air
chamber of FIG. 1, coupled with a sole member of the sole;
[0010] FIG. 3 is a side cross-sectional view of the air chamber of
the invention coupled with the sole member;
[0011] FIG. 4 is a side cross-sectional view of the shoe sole,
constructed in accordance with one preferred embodiment of the
present invention; and
[0012] FIG. 5 is a shoe coupled with the shoe sole, constructed in
accordance with the concept and principles of the present
invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0013] With reference to FIGS. 1-3 of the drawings, the shoe sole
of the present invention preferably includes an air chamber 5
formed of a resilient or elastic material, such as rubber,
resilient polymer or other elastic materials, and a sole member 6
securely coupled with the air chamber 5.
[0014] The air chamber 5 preferably resembles a heel shape of a
shoe to fit in the heel portion of the shoe sole, as shown in FIGS.
1 and 2. The air chamber 5 includes an air port 3 preferably at a
front side of the heel-shaped air chamber 5, to which an air
passageway or conduit 2 is coupled, extending in a lateral
direction. An air valve 1 is coupled at the terminal end of the air
conduit 2, in which a tip portion of the air valve 1 preferably
extends externally from the side surface of the shoe sole to allow
the wearer of the shoe to adjust or control the air valve.
[0015] According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the air chamber 5 includes one or more through-holes 4
formed through the upper and lower surfaces of the air chamber 5,
and one or more grooved channels 5-1 formed around the outer
surfaces of the air chamber 5, preferably including the upper,
lower and side surfaces thereof. The through-holes 4 and the
grooved channels 5-1 are preferably overlaid as shown in FIGS. 1
and 2. Due to this grooved structures 5-1, combined with
through-holes 4, the strength and air cushioning property of the
air chamber 5 can be greatly enhanced.
[0016] According to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the air chamber 5 is tightly and unitarily coupled with
the sole member 6. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the air chamber 5 is
covered by and unitarily enclosed within the sole member 6 formed
of suitable sole material such as polymer resins, except some
external surfaces thereof. According to one preferred embodiment,
the air chamber 5 formed according to the above described
disclosure is located within a mold (not shown) of suitable
configuration for forming the sole member 6, and a polymer or
rubber material, for example, such as urethane resin, is filled
within the mold and plasticized to form a sole shape. In this
manner, the air chamber 5 is unitarily and securely covered by the
sole member 6. As a result, the air chamber 5 is enclosed within
the sole member 6 except the protruded side areas and rear area as
shown in FIG. 5. The air valve 1, preferably along with the air
conduit 2, is also exposed to the out side. However, it is noted
that the grooved channel areas 5-1 and the through-holes 4 are
covered by and filled with the sole member 6.
[0017] The air chamber 5 is formed of a resilient resin, rubber, or
any other suitable elastic material with a sufficient strength and
durability under a repeating and extended load condition. In one
preferred embodiment, the air chamber 5 is formed of a polymer of a
vinyl compound. The sole member 6 is formed of a resin, rubber, or
any other suitable sole material. In order to allow the air chamber
5 to deform elastically, the enclosing sole member 6 should
preferably be formed of a relatively resilient material, rather
than a hard material.
[0018] Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, the sole of the present
invention may further comprise an outer sole member 13 attached at
a bottom surface of the sole member 6. In one preferred embodiment,
the outer sole member 13 has a property and quality for reducing
slippage of the shoe sole relative to the ground. In another
embodiment, the outer sole member 13 is formed of a material
relatively harder than the sole member 6 to reinforce the sole or
to provide an enhanced strength and durability to the shoe sole,
and is also capable of reducing slippage as well.
[0019] The shoe sole member 6 may preferably include a plurality of
cavities or grooves 6-1 disposed between the sole member and the
outer sole 13. These cavities 6-1 can enhance the cushioning
effects and provide comfortable feelings to the wearer of the shoe
12. The element 11 not described above depicts an upper 11 of the
shoe 12.
[0020] As described above, the shoe 12 comprises a shoe sole which
includes a partially exposed, elastic air chamber 5 and an exposed
air valve 1. The air valve 1 is preferably an on-off control
pneumatic valve for selectively controlling the valve between the
on and off positions by the user. With the air valve 1, the wearer
can adjust the air pressure of the air chamber 5 to a level of its
choice. In order to increase the air pressure in the air chamber 5,
the valve 1 is opened by the user and a compressed air is provided
through the valve 1 into the air chamber. After reaching a desired
level of the air pressure, the user can switch and leave the air
valve 1 in a closed position, and the air of desired pressure is
kept within the air chamber 5 and provides the cushioning effect to
the shoe. Likewise, the wearer can freely adjust the air pressure
level of the air chamber of the shoe sole, utilizing the externally
exposed valve 1 and connecting to a source of compressed air. The
manner of providing a compressed air is well known in the art. For
example, it can be in the same manner to pressurize a pneumatic
tire of an automobile by connecting a compressed air source, or can
be in the same manner as pressurizing a tire of a bike through a
manual pumping operation with a pneumatic pump.
[0021] As described above, the shoe sole of the present invention
have a user-controllable air valve exposed externally, and thus,
the wearer of the shoe can adjust a cushioning degree of the shoe
by adjusting or controlling the externally-exposed air valve
according to the user's desire or selection or in consideration of
the user's weight. In addition, by having the shoe sole enclosing a
substantially the entire outer surface of the air chamber, but
leaving some of the outer surface thereof exposed externally, the
appearance of the shoe may provide more artistic appeals to the
wearers.
[0022] While preferred embodiments of the present invention have
been shown and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that many changes and modifications may be made without
departing from the invention in its broader aspects. The appended
claims are intended to cover, therefore, all such changes and
modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
* * * * *