U.S. patent application number 12/522016 was filed with the patent office on 2010-02-04 for item of footwear with ventilated sole.
Invention is credited to Karim Oumnia.
Application Number | 20100024255 12/522016 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38865691 |
Filed Date | 2010-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100024255 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Oumnia; Karim |
February 4, 2010 |
Item of Footwear with Ventilated Sole
Abstract
This invention relates to an item of footwear comprising a
bottom structure located between the foot and the ground, formed by
several superimposed soles and one top (9), said shoe being
characterized in that each of the soles is perforated and able to
let water and air through, and in that each sole is made of a
washable synthetic material.
Inventors: |
Oumnia; Karim; (Nancy,
FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FROST BROWN TODD, LLC
2200 PNC CENTER, 201 E. FIFTH STREET
CINCINNATI
OH
45202
US
|
Family ID: |
38865691 |
Appl. No.: |
12/522016 |
Filed: |
April 28, 2008 |
PCT Filed: |
April 28, 2008 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FR08/50765 |
371 Date: |
July 2, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3B ; 36/28;
36/30R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/08 20130101; A43B
1/04 20130101; A43B 1/0045 20130101; A43B 17/08 20130101; A43B
13/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/3.B ; 36/28;
36/30.R |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06; A43B 13/18 20060101 A43B013/18; A43B 13/12 20060101
A43B013/12 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 10, 2007 |
FR |
0754966 |
Claims
1.-8. (canceled)
9. A sole for an item of footwear comprising: (a) an exterior
portion comprising at least one opening; (b) an interior portion
configured to contact an underside of a foot; and (c) an
intermediate portion located between the exterior portion and the
interior portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a
meshed membrane, wherein the meshed membrane is in communication
with the at least one opening of the exterior portion and in
communication with the interior portion.
10. The sole of claim 9, wherein the meshed membrane is in direct
communication with the at least one opening of the exterior
portion.
11. The sole of claim 9, wherein the intermediate portion further
comprises a netting membrane.
12. The sole of claim 11, wherein the at least one opening
comprises a width of less than about 8 millimeters.
13. The sole of claim 11, comprising a plurality of openings,
wherein at least a first opening of the plurality has at least one
dimension that is different than at least one dimension of a second
opening of the plurality.
14. The sole of claim 13, wherein the netting membrane is comprised
of metallic material.
15. The sole of claim 14, wherein the netting membrane is
positioned between the meshed membrane and the exterior
portion.
16. The sole of claim 15, wherein an insert is positioned between
the netting membrane and the meshed membrane, wherein the insert is
configured to absorb shocks.
17. The sole of claim 16, wherein the interior portion comprises:
(a) a lower layer comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein
the lower layer is positioned in contact with the meshed membrane
and further from the exterior portion; and (b) an upper layer
comprising a textile, wherein the textile is positioned in contact
with the lower layer and further from the exterior portion.
18. The sole of claim 17, wherein the textile is treated to reduce
the formation of bacteria and odors.
19. The sole of claim 18, wherein the associated item of footwear
is constructed of washable synthetic material.
20. A lower structure for an item of footwear comprising: (a) an
exterior portion comprising a plurality of openings; (b) an
interior portion configured to contact an underside of a foot; and
(c) an intermediate portion, located between the exterior portion
and the interior portion, wherein the intermediate portion
comprises a netting membrane, wherein the netting membrane is in
communication with at least one of the plurality of openings.
21. The sole of claim 20, wherein the netting membrane is in direct
communication with at least one of the plurality of openings of the
exterior portion.
22. The lower structure of claim 20, wherein the netting membrane
is comprised of metallic material.
23. The lower structure of claim 22, wherein the intermediate
portion further comprises a meshed membrane, wherein the meshed
membrane is positioned further from the exterior portion compared
to the netting membrane.
24. The lower structure of claim 23, wherein the interior portion
comprises: (a) a lower layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA)
positioned in contact with the meshed membrane and further from the
exterior portion; and (b) an upper layer comprising a textile,
wherein the textile is in contact with the lower layer and further
from the exterior portion.
25. The lower structure of claim 24, wherein the exterior portion
comprises a rigid polymer operable to absorb shock.
26. The lower structure of claim 25, wherein the plurality of
openings further comprise a first set of openings of the plurality
and a second set of openings of the plurality, wherein the first
set of openings of the plurality have at least one dimension that
is different than a least one dimension of the second set of
openings of the plurality.
27. The lower structure of claim 26, wherein the associated item of
footwear further comprises an instep constructed of perforated
washable synthetic materials.
28. A sole for an item of footwear comprising: (a) a plurality of
openings, wherein at least a first opening of the plurality has at
least one dimension that is different than at least one dimension
of a second opening of the plurality; (b) a netting membrane in
communication with at least one of the plurality of openings,
wherein the netting membrane is comprised of a metallic wire
material; (c) a meshed membrane in communication with at least one
of the plurality of openings; (d) a first layer comprising
ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) positioned further from the plurality
of openings compared to the meshed membrane and the netting
membrane; and (e) a second layer comprising a textile positioned
further from the plurality of openings compared to the first layer,
wherein the textile is treated to reduce the formation of bacteria
and odors.
Description
[0001] This application is a U.S. National Entry of
PCT/FR2008/050765, bearing the same or similar title and having an
international filing date of Dec. 11, 2008, and further claims
priority to French application number 0754966, bearing the same or
similar title, and filed May 10, 2007.
FIELD
[0002] The invention concerns an item of footwear with a ventilated
sole.
BACKGROUND
[0003] The processes of walking and standing up cause the feet to
swell and heat up, which usually causes pronounced discomfort as
time passes. In order to reduce this discomfort, the use of adapted
items of footwear and soles has been the subject of ongoing
research down the years.
[0004] Because of the clearly identified problem of heating, items
of footwear are more and more frequently provided with perforations
on the upper side. These developments, however, do not prevent
significant heating of the foot on the underside, which is
completely insulated from the exterior.
[0005] The sole of the footwear generally contains several layers
of wholly waterproof synthetic material, especially because of the
need to maintain intervening spaces to absorb shocks caused by
striking the ground.
[0006] These shock-absorbing spaces can, for example, be cushions
of air, gels kept in envelopes or specific types of polymer.
[0007] Most items of footwear available today present a structure
with openings allowing the instep of the foot to be aerated, while
the underside is hermetically confined within the sole mould. All
persons therefore encounter problems with heating of the plantar
arch with the corresponding discomfort factors, namely: [0008]
significant swelling of the foot with a sensation of excessive
heat, [0009] increased humidity and friction within the item of
footwear, [0010] increased sweating of the foot, 80% of this coming
from the underside, [0011] rapid loss of cleanness of the inner
sole, with development of bacteria and odors.
[0012] The aim of the invention is therefore to resolve these
principal difficulties by proposing an item of footwear that
contains not only classic aeration from the upper side, but
ventilation from the normally hermetic lower part.
SUMMARY
[0013] The present invention concerns an item of footwear
containing a lower structure located between the foot and the
ground, consisting of several superimposed soles and an upper part,
each of the soles being perforated so as to allow air and water to
pass, and made of a washable synthetic material, the superimposed
soles being respectively: [0014] an outer sole, in contact with the
ground, made of rubber and/or a rigid polymer that is good shock
absorber, [0015] an intermediate sole, [0016] a molded, fixed inner
sole that is also a shock absorber, preferably consisting of two
layers characterized in that the intermediate sole preferably
consists of at least one, and most advantageously of the full
range, of the following parts: [0017] one part consisting of a
metallic wire netting membrane, stuck and sewn to the outer sole,
[0018] one part consisting of a meshed membrane, held together with
the metallic wire netting membrane and placed above it in relation
to the ground, when the two parts are assembled together. This
meshed membrane is stuck and sewn to the outer sole if it is used
alone.
[0019] The term "item of footwear" must be understood to include
all forms of footwear, such as sport trainers, leisure footwear or
a classic shoe that may be worn together with a suit.
[0020] The advantages of the item of footwear according to the
invention are numerous: [0021] ventilation through part of the
footwear prevents excessive heating of the underside and keeps
humidity levels in the sole low, [0022] the underside of the foot
is kept dry and ventilated, thus allowing the walker greater
comfort, [0023] the removal of moisture both during the wearing of
the footwear and during walking, and when the footwear is not being
used, prevents the development of bacteria and unpleasant odors,
[0024] all the soles making up the item of footwear are washable
and dry rapidly, thus making maintenance easy, [0025] the structure
of the base of the footwear, consisting of different soles made of
different materials of various levels of porosity, helps keep dust
and debris out of the footwear while allowing air and moisture to
pass through, the multi layer structure being particularly
effective in this regard,
[0026] the footwear is adapted to consist, from the time of its
manufacture, of a sole and a set of materials that helps reduce
shocks, and there is therefore no need for the walker to add an
additional sole, as is frequently the case currently, to provide
satisfactory absorption levels for the shock that passes along the
spinal column when the heel strikes the ground.
[0027] Other characteristics and benefits of the invention are
evident in the description that follows, with regard to the
attached sketch, which is given only as a non-exhaustive
example.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0028] FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the item of footwear
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0029] The item of footwear as described below contains a lower
structure, that is, one located between the foot and the ground
when the footwear is worn, consisting of several superimposed
layers, preferably at least three. A footwear structure produced
through the assembly of several stuck or sewn layers is known in
itself. The upper part of the footwear, or top of the footwear, is
made according to a traditional method using pieces of textile sewn
and stuck together and presenting an opening on the front face so
as to allow lacing as usual.
[0030] This type of footwear is shown in FIG. 1, with the various
soles making up the invention.
[0031] According to the invention, the item of footwear is
characterized in that each of the soles is perforated and as such
allows the passage of water and air, and in that each sole is
manufactured using a washable synthetic material.
[0032] The water and air can circulate as shown by the arrow in
FIG. 1, between the exterior and interior of the footwear, and in
the opposite direction, through the soles.
[0033] Again according to the invention, and with reference to FIG.
1, the soles are arranged as follows: [0034] an exterior sole 1, in
contact with the ground, manufactured using a rubber and/or rigid
polymer that is good shock absorber, [0035] an intermediate sole 2,
[0036] an interior sole 3 that is molded and fixed and absorbs
shocks, preferably consisting of two layers.
[0037] According to the invention, the outer sole 1 contains at
least two openings or slits, and preferably a range of openings and
slits or smaller dimensions, the length of the said openings and
slits being typically 2 to 300 millimeters and their length being
limited to 8 millimeters maximum to prevent the passage of
pebbles.
[0038] This reduced dimension allows air and water to pass but
prevents debris and gravel from blocking the openings.
[0039] Preferably, the openings or slits are made in the hollow
sections 4 of the outer sole 1.
[0040] The outer sole should preferably be manufactured using a
rigid material resistant to abrasion, such as neoprene EVA or
polyurethane, or a combination of these materials. In order to
improve this resistance, the outer sole is reinforced in the areas
of increased wear by rubber sections, which may also be
carbon-reinforced. This composition also allows better absorption
of shocks while improving durability thanks to the pieces of
rubber.
[0041] The geometry of the openings and slits included in the sole
should preferably be defined so as to allow optimal passage of air
and water while preventing pebbles and other items from penetrating
through the exterior sole. The choice of geometry of the slits
takes account of the natural movements of the foot, facilitation
the flexion movements needed for such footwear. The geometry also
takes account of the overall solidity of the sole, in order to
prevent an excessive number of wrongly positioned slits from
weakening the outside sole. The dimension and shape of the slits
are designed to prevent tearing of the sole, which may aggravate
the more the footwear is used.
[0042] According to the invention, the intermediate sole 2 should
preferably consist of at least one, and preferably of the full
range, of the following parts: [0043] a part consisting of a
metallic wire netting membrane, stuck and sewn to the exterior sole
1, [0044] a part consisting of a meshed membrane 6 held together
with the metallic wire netting membrane 5 and placed above it in
relation to the ground, when the two parts are assembled together.
The said meshed membrane 6 is stuck and sewn to the exterior sole 1
if it is used alone.
[0045] The metallic wire netting membrane allows optimal passage of
air and water while protecting the foot from pebbles and other
outside objects.
[0046] One or the other membrane is stuck to the exterior sole so
that the adhesive does not cover the section of the membrane that
joins up the openings and slits of the outside sole, thus
preventing the membrane perforations from becoming blocked.
[0047] The meshed membrane 6, for aesthetic reasons and for
protection, allows the metallic wire netting membrane to be covered
while providing comfort during wearing. This intermediate sole can
also, where applicable, allow pieces of latex, a gel, or other
material that allows better absorption of shocks and/or
distribution of shock waves, to be inserted between the two
membranes, thus optimizing the comfort of the footwear.
[0048] It is thus possible, according to the invention, to
introduce between the metallic wire netting membrane 5 and the
meshed membrane 6 an insert that allows absorption of shocks and/or
distribution of shock waves.
[0049] The insert should preferably be equipped with perforations
to allow moisture and heat to circulate between the interior and
exterior of the footwear, through the various soles.
[0050] According to the invention, the interior sole 3, in contact
with the foot, contains the following layers: [0051] a lower layer
7, in contact with membrane located below it, consisting of EVA,
[0052] an upper layer 8, consisting of treated textiles on which
the foot rests, this part being stuck and/or sewn onto the lower
layer 7.
[0053] According to the invention, the upper layer 8, consisting of
textiles, is treated to reduce the formation of bacteria and odors.
The treatment can be carried out after manufacture of the textile
or on the textile fiber itself prior to weaving. This textile part
allows the evacuation of sweat.
[0054] The interior sole 3 is designed so as to improve comfort and
absorption of shocks, and should preferably be molded and consist
of EVA, with stuck sections consisting of latex, gel etc, according
to need, in order to improve shock absorption capacity and/or
comfort. It is obviously totally perforated.
[0055] The upper part of the footwear, its instep 9, is
manufactured using perforated tissues manufactured from washable
synthetic materials in order to allow moisture and heat to be
evacuated through the upper part, in the normal way.
[0056] Several variations on the item of the footwear are possible;
it may contain different materials although the synthetic
substances mentioned are preferable, and thickness of the various
soles and the constituent layers may vary without falling outside
the scope of the invention.
[0057] The number and size of the perforations in each sole may be
chosen from a wide range and adjusted according to the materials
used; the position, geometry and size of the perforations may be
made according to several different configurations without falling
outside the scope of invention.
[0058] The footwear may of course contain different method of
lacing on its instep as well as different coverings and
reinforcements, without falling outside the scope of the
invention.
[0059] The various soles and layers can be adjusted between each
other using different techniques known in the field, without
exclusion, for example by sticking or sewing.
[0060] The invention is of course not limited to the methods of
realization described and represented as example, but also covers
all the technical equivalents and combinations thereof.
* * * * *