U.S. patent application number 14/771363 was filed with the patent office on 2016-02-04 for shoe having active air ventilation.
The applicant listed for this patent is ATMOS AIRWALK AG. Invention is credited to Wilhelm Mohlmann.
Application Number | 20160029740 14/771363 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47779936 |
Filed Date | 2016-02-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160029740 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mohlmann; Wilhelm |
February 4, 2016 |
Shoe Having Active Air Ventilation
Abstract
The invention relates to a shoe, comprising a sole construction,
which has an upper sole part and a lower outsole part and an
air-pumping device having a pumping vol-ume, an air-supplying
device, which is connected to the air-pumping device, an
air-discharging device, which is connected to the air-pumping
device, wherein the upper sole part, the lower outsole part, and
the air-pumping device are de-signed in such a way that air in the
amount of the pumping volume can be sucked into the air-pumping
device through the air-supplying device from outside the shoe and
above the upper sole part due to the unloading of the sole
con-struction during the walking motion of a user, air in the
amount of the pumping volume can be discharged into the interior of
the shoe through the air-discharging device due to the loading of
the sole construction during the walking motion of the user, and
the pumping volume of the air-pumping device is at least 5 ml, in
particular at least 10 ml.
Inventors: |
Mohlmann; Wilhelm; (Zurich,
CH) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ATMOS AIRWALK AG |
Glattbrugg |
|
CH |
|
|
Family ID: |
47779936 |
Appl. No.: |
14/771363 |
Filed: |
February 21, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
February 21, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2014/053405 |
371 Date: |
August 28, 2015 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/08 20130101; A43B
13/203 20130101; A43B 7/081 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A43B 13/20 20060101
A43B013/20; A43B 7/08 20060101 A43B007/08 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 1, 2013 |
EP |
13157348.7 |
Claims
1. Shoe with a sole construction having an upper sole part, a lower
outsole part and an air-pumping device, where said air-pumping
device is formed either by a cavity substantially embedded in said
upper sole part or formed separately as an independent entity fully
or partially embedded in a cavity of said upper sole part; an
air-supplying device which is connected to said air-pumping device,
an air-discharging device which is connected to said air-pumping
device, wherein said upper sole part, said lower outsole part, and
said air-pumping device are configured in such a way that air can
from outside said shoe and above said upper sole part be sucked
into said air-pumping device by said air-supplying device due to
the unloading of said sole construction during the walking motion
of a user, air can be discharged into the interior of said shoe by
said air-discharging device due to the loading of said sole
construction during the walking motion of the user, and said
air-pumping device can there be compressed by a pumping volume
corresponding to the amount of air discharged, where said pumping
volume is at least 5 ml, in particular at least 10 ml.
2. Shoe according to claim 1 in which air guides, in particular
channels or mesh fabric, are formed in said sole construction and
are connected to said air-pumping device.
3. Shoe according to claim 2, where said air guides are formed in
said upper sole part.
4. Shoe according to claim 2 in which said air guides are channels
and openings are provided along said channels such that air flowing
through said channels can be discharged through said openings into
the interior of said shoe.
5. Shoe according to claim 1 in which openings are provided in said
upper sole part through which air can be discharged info the
interior of said shoe.
6. Shoe according to claim 2 comprising plastic tubes which are
arranged in said air guides, where said plastic tubes comprise
openings along their longitudinal axes.
7. Shoe according to claim 1, wherein a valve is arranged in said
air-supplying device such that air can be sucked into said
air-pumping device only in the direction from the outside of said
shoe and above said upper sole part; and/or a valve is arranged in
said air-discharging device which is configured such that air can
be discharged from said air-pumping device into the interior of
said shoe.
8. Shoe according to claim 1, in which a directional valve is
provided such that air can in a first direction of opening of said
directional valve be sucked into said air-pumping device from the
outside of said shoe and above said upper sole part and air can in
a second direction of opening of said directional valve be
discharged from said air-pumping device into the interior of said
shoe.
9. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said air-pumping device is
formed in a portion of said upper sole part and at least this
portion is configured more resilient than said lower outsole
part.
10. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said lower outsole part at
an outer tread area in the region of said air-pumping device
comprises a raised portion which is adapted to be pressed in the
direction of said upper sole part when being loaded by the user's
foot.
11. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said upper sole part and
said lower outsole part are formed separately.
12. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said upper sole part and
said tower outsole part are formed integrally together, in
particular as an injection-molded part.
13. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said air-pumping device is
formed by a cavity which is substantially embedded in said upper
sole part and which is filled with elastic filling material
permeable to air.
14. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said air-pumping device is
provided in the heel region or in the joint region of said
shoe.
15. Shoe according to claim 1 in which said air supply is provided
by use of a heel part attached by injection molding.
16. Shoe according to claim 1 further with an upper tor slipping in
a foot of a user of said shoe, where said upper comprises a sole
construction proximal part and a sole construction distal part, and
in which said air-supplying device extends from said proximal part
to said distal part partially along said upper, in particular,
separated by an inner lining of said upper from said foot of the
user of said shoe, such that air from said distal part can be
pumped into said air-pumping device.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe with a sole
construction which during every step of the walking motion of a
user enables efficient air circulation in the shoe, and thereby
directly at the foot of a user of the shoe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] A shoe is composed of two main parts, namely the upper part
called the upper, and the lower part called the base. The upper can
comprise an inner upper (lining), intermediate upper (interlining)
and outer upper (vamp). The base is composed of a sole and can
comprise an inner sole (insole) and an outsole. One or more
midsoles can be provided between the insole and the outsole.
[0003] Nowadays, shoes are known that are equipped with devices in
the sole which promote the circulation of air in the shoe, whereby
the internal moisture in the shoe is to be reduced to improve foot
comfort of the user of the shoe. This known type of shoe generally
provides hollow connections which are accommodated interconnected
in the interior of the sole. According to a common variant, the air
is in prior art via openings of the sole to be directed from the
outside to the interior. The openings are sealed with membranes to
protect against water. However, it has been found that no efficient
supply of fresh air is possible in this manner.
[0004] It can according to another variant be provided to suck in
air from the outside by an air-pumping device via an air guide
whose open end is led upwardly in an upper. The drawback of this
type of shoe is the lack of effectiveness of the air circulation in
the shoe due to inefficient air intake by use of the air-pumping
device. It is proposed in WO 00/01268 to incorporate an air-pumping
device in a cavity of a heel of an outsole which is to suck in air
from the exterior via an air supply which is led along the rear
upper of the shoe towards the top and to pump it through the sole
body. However, it has shown that the pumping mechanism by merely
having the heel of a user In the shoe load the air-pumping device
during the walking motion operates so inefficiently that no
significant ventilation of the interior of the shoe is
possible.
[0005] WO 2008/158880 proposes a ventilation device for insertion
into a shoe in which ventilation of an interior of the shoe into
which the ventilation device is inserted is to be achieved by use
of a rotatable pump hinged on a flange. The ventilation device,
however, is with the movable pumping device very complex and in
mechanical terms very susceptible to failure.
[0006] It is there the object of the present invention to provide a
shoe with a sole construction which ensures more efficient and more
continuous air circulation in a more simple structural
configuration than this could to date be achieved in prior art.
DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The above-mentioned object is satisfied by a shoe according
to claim 1, i.e. by a shoe comprising
[0008] a sole construction having an upper sole part, a lower
outsole part and an air-pumping device,
[0009] where the air-pumping device is formed either by a cavity
substantially embedded in the upper sole part, or formed separately
as an independent entity fully or partially embedded in a cavity of
the upper sole part;
[0010] an air-supplying device which is connected to the
air-pumping device,
[0011] an air-discharging device which is connected to the
air-pumping device,
[0012] wherein the upper sole part, the lower outsole part, and the
air-pumping device are configured in such a way that
[0013] air can from outside the shoe and above the upper sole part
be sucked into the air-pumping device through the air-supplying
device due to the unloading of the sole construction during the
walking motion of a user,
[0014] air can be discharged into the interior of the shoe through
the air-discharging device due to the loading of the sole
construction during the walking motion of the user, and where the
air-pumping device can be compressed by a pumping volume
corresponding to the amount of air discharged,
[0015] where the pumping volume is at least 5 ml, in particular at
least 10 ml.
[0016] The sole construction, or the upper sole part, the lower
outsole part and the air-pumping device, respectively, are
according to the invention configured such that it enables at least
5 ml, in particular at least 10 ml, of air (fresh air) to be sucked
in from the outside (outside the sole construction or the shoe with
the sole construction) during the expansion of the air-pumping
device and at least 5 ml, in particular at least 10 ml, air is
discharged into the interior of the shoe during the compressing of
the air-pumping device. Only in this manner can significant
ventilation of the interior of the shoe perceived by a user of the
shoe be achieved. In contrast to prior art, the shoe according to
the invention therefore enables efficient ventilation of the
interior of the shoe.
[0017] The pumping volume of an air-pumping device is there for a
respective predetermined sole construction determined as
follows:
[0018] A PC-controlled machine PFI DSPM H 3035 (PFI Hydraulic Shock
Absorption Testing Machine), to be acquired via the "Pruf-und
Forschungsinstitut Pirmasens", Marie-Curie-Stra.beta.e 19, 66953
Pirmasens, is used for the procedure. The contact pressure of the
annular plunger with a diameter of 40 mm during the measurement of
the pump volume according to the invention amounts to 1200 N. The
plunger is positioned as follows (see FIGS. 6a to 6d).
[0019] The straight line g1 along the lower outsole part with the
greatest length of all straight lines extending from the outermost
edge of the heel region of the lower outsole part to the outermost
edge of the toe region of the lower outsole part is first
determined. At 27-hundredth of its length, measured from point P1
at the outermost edge of the heel region through which the
determined line g1 runs, the line s1 perpendicular to the
determined straight line g1 is determined (FIG. 6a). The center M1
of this perpendicular line s1 with respect to points P2 and P3 at
which it cuts the lateral edges of the lower outsole member is then
determined (FIG. 6b). The distance of 27 hundredths is motivated by
the fact that the length of a foot of 270 mm (shoe size 42 EU)
according to DIN EN 12743: 1999 corresponds to a heel length of
72.5 mm (cf. Jens Heidenfeider, "Entwickiung eines dynamischen
Tests zur Prufung der Ruckfu.beta.dampfung von Laufschuhen mittels
biomechanischer Messmethoden", dissertation, Technical University
of Chemnitz, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, November
2010, page 97 et. seqq.).
[0020] Straight line g2 (first test axis) is then defined by points
P1 and M1. Half the distance from P1 to M1 on straight line g2
defines the center M2 (positioning point) (FIG. 6c). The test
plunger is positioned centrally on this center M2 (positioning
point). This is done, for example, by using a second test axis g3
drawn in in addition to the first test axis g2 and extending
perpendicular to the first test axis g2 and through its center M2
(positioning point). The radius of the test plunger can then be
marked on test axes g2 and g3 (FIG. 8d). By slowly lowering the
test plunger prior to the test, the outsole can be precisely
positioned, where care is to be taken that the test plunger does
not apply any pressure onto the material. If the position of the
plunger corresponds to the markings drawn in, then the outsole part
is fixed with brackets such that no movement of the outsole part is
any longer possible.
[0021] An air intake tube, Festo (pneumatic 10 bar at RT)
PUN-8.times.1.25 (inner diameter: 8 mm/outer diameter: 8 mm) is
introduced through an opening in the outsole part and completely
sealed at the outsole. An air-pumping device embedded in the heel
region sucks in air through the air intake tube via an air intake
valve. In the forefoot region, 8 cm from the outsole edge tip
(towards the heel), at the ball center, an air outlet tube, Festo
(pneumatic 10 bar at RT) PUN-8 .times.1.25 (inner diameter: 8
mm/outer diameter: 8 mm) is attached through a further opening
prepared in the outsole through which the air-pumping device
discharges air via a discharge valve. The forefoot region of the
sole construction is during the continuous load test sealed for
examining the amount of air flow. The air throughflow is measured
using a Burkert mass flow meter Type 8701 with a nominal flow rate
range from 1 l/min, to be acquired via Christian Burkert GmbH &
Co. KG, Christian-Burkert-Strasse 13-17, 74853 Ingelfingen.
[0022] The air can in exemplary developments of the shoe according
to the invention be discharged in particular along air guides, such
as channels or mesh fabric, of the sole construction which are
connected to the air-pumping device, and via openings of the air
guides (channels) in the interior of the shoe with the sole
construction. Mesh fabric is presently understood to be a textile
or plastic insert with a net-like structure, for example, a
so-called "MATATZEN" structure.
[0023] The air-pumping device can be formed substantially in the
upper sole part. The feature that the air-pumping device is formed
substantially in the upper sole part means that the air-pumping
device is at least by more than 50% formed in the upper sole part
(and less than 50% in the lower outsole part), even if it may be
overall formed by a cooperation of the upper sole part and the
lower outsole part. This feature can in particular indicate that
the air-pumping device is formed in the upper sole part by at least
more than 80%, in particular more than 90%, in particular more than
95%.
[0024] In the present application, the terms up, upper etc. refer
to positions that are further distanced from a ground being
contacted by the sole construction during use in a shoe than
positions which are referred to by terms such as down, lower,
etc.
[0025] In particular, the upper sole part can comprise channels
connected to the air-pumping device being connected to the channels
and formed substantially in the upper sole part. Air is then pumped
by the air-pumping device along the channels. Openings can be
provided along the channels in the upper sole part such that air
flowing through the channels can pass through the openings to above
the upper sole part, i.e. into the interior of a shoe. For example,
the air can pass through a perforated insole into the interior of
the shoe. Due to the pumping effect of the air-pumping device when
the user applies pressure with his foot, air (at least 5 ml, in
particular at least 10 ml) is then pumped through the channels and
the openings provided therein for ventilation of the foot in the
interior of the shoe in which the foot is located.
[0026] The lower surface of the lower outsole part therefore
contacts the ground trodden on by a user of the shoe when using a
shoe with the sole construction according to the invention. Said
first upper sole part and the lower outsole part of the sole
construction can be formed separately, but they can also form parts
of an integrally formed sole body so that they form an integral
block.
[0027] According to the invention, air is by the air-pumping device
sucked in from outside the sole construction and outside the shoe,
in particular from above the upper sole part, and distributed in
the channels. The air-supplying device can there be led upwardly
through a correspondingly provided opening of the upper sole part.
The air-pumping device is adapted to perform an air-pumping
function in response to a walking motion of a user of the shoe with
the sole construction according to the invention such that it
alternatingly sucks in air (at least 5 ml, in particular at least
10 ml) via at least one air guide (air-supplying device) from the
outside of the sole construction or the shoe, respectively, when
the foot of the user relieves a load, and distributes the air (at
least 5 ml, in particular at least 10 ml) via channels in the shoe
when the foot of the user loads (puts weight on) the air-pumping
device. The air-pumping device can be provided from the heel region
extending from the end of the foot to the Joint region, in the
central joint region and/or the bail region (forefoot region),
extending from the front end of the foot up to the joint
region.
[0028] In the sole construction, at least the portion of the upper
sole part, in which the air -pumping device is formed, can be
formed more resilient than the lower outsole part. This portion is
formed more resilient than the lower outsole part such that the
air-pumping device is well compressible when being loaded (weight
is put on) by the foot of a user. An efficient pumping effect can
be achieved by this resilient configuration.
[0029] An efficient pumping effect is achieved due to the fact that
the portion of the upper sole part in which the air-pumping device
is formed is formed more resilient than the lower outsole part.
When being loaded by the user's foot, this more resilient portion
is pushed downwardly (towards the tread area) and can thereby
operate the air-pumping device to the effect that it forces air
from the air-pumping device and through the channels.
[0030] The pumping effect can be further enhanced in that the lower
outsole part at the outer tread area (which in the course of a
walking motion is in contact with the ground on which a user of a
shoe with the sole construction according to the invention is
walking) in the region of the air-pumping device comprises a raised
portion which is adapted to be pressed in the direction of the
upper sole part when being loaded by the user's foot. The raised
portion can be formed thinner than the other regions of the lower
outsole part. Not only efficient air circulation is ensured by the
fact that the raised portion is compressed during loading, but
walking comfort is also increased due to the shock-absorbing
function of the air-pumping device.
[0031] For example, particularly efficient air ventilation of the
shoe is in fact achieved by a combination of a) providing the
air-pumping device, for example, substantially in the upper sole
part, b) providing the portion of the upper sole part in which the
air-pumping device is formed in such a way that it is more
resilient than the lower outsole part, and c) providing the raised
portion at the lower outsole part at the outer tread area in the
region of the air-pumping device.
[0032] According to alternative developments, the air-pumping
device is formed substantially by a cavity embedded into the upper
sole part, or the air-pumping device is formed separately as an
independent entity and is fully or partially embedded in a cavity
of the upper sole part. The volume content of the cavity formed in
the upper sole part is greater than that which is provided by the
lower outsole part when forming the cavity acting as the
air-pumping device. The cavity can in particular be formed in the
upper sole part by more than 80%, in particular more than 90%, in
particular more than 95%. According to one development, the
air-pumping device is provided in the form of a cavity filled with
resilient filling material permeable to air.
[0033] The use of only one cavity formed as an air-pumping device
simplifies the manufacturing process, reduces production costs and
can Increase reliability and durability of the air-pumping device.
The use of a separate air-pumping device formed as a separate
entity can improve efficiency of the air circulation.
[0034] For example, the air-pumping device as a separate entity can
comprise a plastic pump reservoir. When it is loaded by the user's
foot if is compressed whereby air is forced out of the plastic pump
reservoir. When the plastic pump reservoir is during the walking
motion again unloaded by the foot (weight is put off), then it
expands and, due to the negative pressure previously generated,
draws in air from the outside, which is then freshly available for
subsequent ventilation of the interior of the shoe and thereby of
the user's foot. Furthermore, the air-pumping device can be
integrally formed in one piece with the plastic pump reservoir and
the air guides. Forming the air-pumping device as a separate entity
allows selecting material and in particular material strength
independent of the sole construction or the sole body,
respectively.
[0035] According to one example, tubes can also be provided from
the air-pumping device along the channels in which air from the
air-pumping device flows. In this case, the tubes must have
openings corresponding to those which can be provided in the upper
sole part. The tubes can be manufactured, for example, from
silicone. Plastic tubes can generally be used having openings along
their longitudinal axes and being In fluid communication with the
air-pumping device.
[0036] As already mentioned, the upper sole part and the lower
outsole part can be formed separately, or the upper sole part and
the lower outsole part can be formed integrally, i.e. in one piece.
In the first case, the upper sole part and the lower outsole part
can be formed from different materials, or they can be formed from
the same material. In the latter case, the sole construction can be
formed around a separate independently formed air-pumping device
such that the upper sole part is more resilient at least in the
region of the air-pumping device (due to different thicknesses)
than the lower outsole part. The sole construction is in this case
produced from resilient material, for example, by plastic injection
molding.
[0037] The shoe described in the above examples can in the
air-supplying device comprise a first valve that is configured such
that it allows air to pass only in the direction from the outside
of the sole construction info the air-pumping device and/or a
second valve is arranged in the air-discharging device which is
configured such that if allows air to pass only in the direction
from the air-pumping device to the channels.
[0038] Depending on the walking phase, outside air can be sucked in
by the air-pumping device, and the previously sucked-in air can be
discharged to the air guides, for example, the channels. When, in
the corresponding walking phase, the user's foot is not pressing
down on the air-pumping device, the latter sucks in air (at least 5
ml, in particular at least 10 ml) from outside the sole
construction (in particular from above the upper sole part) via the
respective air-supplying device, when the foot is pressing down on
it, it pumps the air (at least 5 ml, in particular at least 10 ml)
via the respective air-discharging device into the channels from
where it is forced upwardly to the user's foot, for example,
through openings that are provided in the upward direction in the
channels for effective ventilation of the user's foot.
[0039] A shoe with a sole construction is thereby made available
which provides improved air circulation in a simple design merely
by the walking motion or the running motion without the need for
any significant increase in size as compared to conventional sole
constructions without air circulation. In this development, the
valves provided allow for efficient regulation of the air flow via
the air guides into the air-pumping device and out from there.
[0040] Instead of two valves regulating the air flow, a single
directional valve can be provided, so as to allow air to pass only
in the direction from outside the sole construction into the
air-pumping device and air only in the direction from the
air-pumping device to the air guides, for example, the channels.
The directional valve can in particular be an alternating check
valve that regulates the air flow depending upon the load
application by the user's foot as described above.
[0041] The air-discharging device can be embodied in the form of a
tube or a channel; it can also be provided only in the form of an
outlet of the air-pumping device, in particular, of an air
reservoir of the air-pumping device. In particular, the at least
one air-supplying device and/or the at least one air-discharging
device can comprise a flexible tube and/or a covered channel, or
respectively be made of a flexible tube, for example, be made of
plastic. If several air-supplying devices and/or air-discharging
devices are provided, then they can each comprise a tube or be made
thereof, or some and not all of the air guides can each comprise a
tube or be made thereof. Furthermore, the air guides can be formed
integrally with a plastic pump reservoir of the air-pumping device.
According to these examples, the air guides can continuously and in
an airtight manner in a simple and inexpensive way supply air to
the air-pumping device and from there lead to ventilating at least
a portion of the sole body, and ultimately of the interior of the
shoe.
[0042] The air-supplying device can be led upwardly so that air can
be sucked in from the outside from a position above the upper sole
part. For example, the air-supplying device can terminate in an
upper region of the shoe comprising the sole construction according
to the invention, to have fresh air be sucked in there by the
air-pumping device. When the air-supplying device terminates above
the upper sole part, it is substantially avoided that dirt and/or
moisture is sucked info the air-pumping device.
[0043] For example, particularly efficient air ventilation of the
shoe is in fact achieved by a combination of a) providing the
air-pumping device, for example, substantially in the upper sole
part, b) providing the portion of the upper sole part in which the
air-pumping device is formed in such a way that it is more
resilient than the lower outsole part, and c) providing the raised
portion at the lower outsole part at the outer tread area in the
region of the air-pumping device and d) providing the first air
guide such that it is led upwardly, in particular into a region of
the upper of a shoe so that air can be sucked in from the outside
from a position above the upper sole part.
[0044] The air-supplying device can be provided, for example, by
use of a heel part attached by injection molding. The heel region
attached by injection molding can comprise an outer and an inner
heel part. Air is then sucked in from outside the shoe by the
air-pumping device between the outer and the inner heel part
attached by injection molding. Air can then via an outer end of the
air-supplying device in the outer part of the heel part attached by
injection molding be sucked in between the outer and the inner part
of the heel part attached by injection molding and through a
respectively provided opening of the inner part of the heel part
attached by injection molding towards the air-pumping device.
[0045] Furthermore, the present invention provides a shoe with the
sole construction according to one of the previous examples with an
air-supplying and air-discharging device, where the shoe comprises
an upper for a foot of a wearer of the shoe to slip into, where the
upper comprises a sole construction proximal part and a sole
construction distal part, and in which the air-supplying device
extends partially along the upper, in particular, separated by an
inner lining of the upper from the foot of the wearer of the shoe,
extending from the proximal part to the distal part such that air
(at least 5 ml, in particular at least 10 ml) from the distal part
can be pumped into the air-pumping device.
[0046] Fresh air can thereby be sucked in by the air-pumping device
over a relatively large area. In particular, water ingress into the
shoe from the outside is prevented when the end of the first air
guide, through which air is sucked in from the outside, is from the
perspective of the outsole located higher than the lowest upper end
of the shoe.
[0047] Further features and advantages of the invention will become
apparent from the detailed but not restricting description of
embodiments which are illustrated using the accompanying drawings,
wherein;
[0048] FIG. 1 shows a sole construction with an air-pumping device
as well as an air-supplying and air-discharging device of a shoe
with an upper sole part and a lower outsole part according to one
example of the invention;
[0049] FIG. 2 shows an upper sole part of a sole construction with
an air-pumping device as well as an air-supplying and
air-discharging device of a shoe according to one example of the
invention;
[0050] FIG. 3 shows a cross section of a sole construction with an
air-pumping device as well as an air-supplying and air-discharging
device of a shoe according to different examples of the
invention;
[0051] FIG. 4 shows an air-pumping device with tubes that comprise
openings along their longitudinal axis; and
[0052] FIG. 5 shows a heel part attached by injection molding
showing an air-supplying device for one example of a shoe according
to the invention.
[0053] FIGS. 6a to 8d show how a positioning point for a plunger is
determined in a method for determining a discharged air volume.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 1, a sole construction of a shoe according
to one example of the present invention comprises an upper sole
part 1, which can be referred to as a midsole, and a lower outsole
part 2. In the example shown, upper sole part 1 is formed from more
resilient (more compressible) material than lower outsole part 2.
An air-pumping device is formed In the heel region, for example, in
the form of a cavity (illustration at the left) or a plastic pump
reservoir (view at the right). FIG. 2 illustrates upper sole part 1
from below (from the perspective of the lower outsole part 2). For
example, upper sole part 1 can be made from relatively soft
polyurethane whereas outsole part 2 can be made from
abrasion-resistant rubber. When loading (put load on) the heel
region, the air-pumping device is compressed whereby air is forced
out of it info channels 4 shown in FIG. 2 and comprising openings
3. The air forced through openings 3 then serves ventilation of an
interior of the shoe and thereby of the foot of a wearer of a shoe
comprising the sole construction with upper sole part 1 and lower
outsole part 2.
[0055] During the process when the air-pumping device sucks in
(when the heel region is unloaded) at least 5 ml of air, in
particular at least 10 ml of air are according to the invention
sucked in from the outside of the shoe. During the process when the
air-pumping device discharges (when the heel region is loaded) at
least 5 ml of air, in particular at least 10 ml of air are
according to the invention discharged by the air-pumping
device.
[0056] In the example of upper sole part 1 shown in FIG. 2, a
cavity 5 is provided in the heel region. This cavity can be the
air-pumping device, which according to this example of the
invention is provided in upper sole part 1. Alternatively a
separate air-pumping device can be provided in cavity 5 in the form
of a plastic pump reservoir 10, as it is shown at the right in FIG.
1 and at the top in FIG. 2. At least the heel region of sole part 1
is sufficiently compressible, so that it is compressed when being
loaded by the user's foot, i.e. when he during walking shifts his
weight onto the heel region, and thereby the volume of the cavity
is reduced and the air from the cavity or a plastic pump reservoir
arranged therein is forced into channels 4. The air passes, for
example, through a passage (in which a valve can be provided)
embedded in intermediate portion 6, and via outlet 7 into the
system of channels 4 (cf. FIG. 2).
[0057] According to one example, the air from cavity 5 or the
plastic pump reservoir disposed therein can be passed Into plastic
tubes that are provided in channels 4 and comprise openings being
provided in correspondence with openings 3 of upper sole part 1. A
passage embedded in intermediate portion 8 and an air guide (air
discharge) led through outlet 7 can connect the cavity or the
plastic pump reservoir embedded therein, respectively, to channels
4. The flow of air can be regulated by use of one-way valves 11. A
one-way valve can be arranged in the air guide to ensure that air
can flow only from the air-pumping device to channels 4 and can not
vice versa (see also the description of FIG. 3 at the bottom). A
single directional valve for regulating the air sucked in and
discharged by the air-pumping device can also be provided in the
passage which is provided in the intermediate portion 8.
[0058] In the example shown in FIG. 2, a further air guide 12 (air
supply) is led from the air-pumping device through passage 8 and
the upper sole part 2 upwardly in a upper of a shoe comprising the
sole construction with upper sole part 1, via which fresh air is
sucked into the air-pumping device during the walking motion of a
user when the heel region is unloaded. Passage 8 is connected by a
passage within the intermediate portion 8 to cavity 5 or the
plastic pump reservoir disposed therein, respectively. This
additional air guide can also be provided with a one-way valve
which ensures that air enters the air-pumping device when the heel
region is unloaded, but no air can escape to the outside through
this further air guide when the heel region is loaded. As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, the air guides can be in communication with the
air-pumping device via a connecting member 9. Valves 11 can be
arranged in connecting member 9.
[0059] The further air guide 12 led upwardly terminates at the
upper end in an air inlet element 13. This air inlet element 13 can
be visible in particular at the upper of the shoe and can be formed
as a logo, a pattern, a trade mark, or the like or comprise the
like.
[0060] FIG. 3 by way of example shows two embodiments of the sole
construction according to the invention in cross-section. In the
top drawing of FIG. 3, an upper sole part 1 and a lower outsole
part 2 form a sole construction. A cavity is in the heel region
formed substantially by upper sole part 1. The cavity is
substantially completely filled by an air-pumping device in the
form of a plastic pump reservoir 10. When being loaded by the foot
(the heel) of a user, the air-pumping device is compressed and air
is forced via one-way valve 11 into channels 4 illustrated in FIG.
2, from where it enters via openings 3 into the interior of the
shoe being provided with the sole construction.
[0061] To ensure this function of plastic pump reservoir 10, upper
sole part 1 must be configured such that it yields to the pressure
of the heel of a user's foot (inwardly). The material can be
selected according to the gender of a user. An elevation provided
in the heel region of lower outsole part 2 can also be pressed
inwardly under the user's weight, so that the pumping effect is
supported when the heel region is loaded. When the heel region is
during the walking motion unloaded, a negative pressure is created
in plastic pump reservoir 10, due to which air from the outside is
sucked in through air guide 12 and air inlet element 13 into
plastic pump reservoir 10. One-way valve 10 then prevents air from
being sucked in from the interior of the shoe through the channels
into plastic pump reservoir 10.
[0062] The lower drawing in FIG. 3 shows a construction similar to
that of the upper drawing, where plastic pump reservoir 10 is there
omitted. The air-pumping device is therefore only formed by cavity
5 which is compressed when being loaded by the user's foot, whereby
air is forced through one-way valve 11 into channels 4 illustrated
in FIG. 2, from where it via openings 3 reaches the interior of the
shoe equipped with the sole construction.
[0063] It should in general be noted that both channels with tubes
disposed therein as well as channels without tubes can be provided
in the embodiments shown in FIG. 3. A directional valve with two
one-way valves can also be provided for air guides connected to the
air-pumping device.
[0064] While the two embodiments illustrated in FIG. 3 comprise an
upper sole part 1 and a tower outsole part 2 connected thereto,
upper sole part 1 and lower outsole part 2 can alternatively in
both embodiments be formed integrally together. In such an
integrally formed sole construction, the upper sole part
corresponds to the separately formed upper sole part 1 and the
lower sole part to lower sole part 2 as shown respectively in FIG.
3.
[0065] The air-pumping device shown in FIG. 4 is formed by a
plastic pump reservoir 10 from which air can be pumped into tubes
14. Tubes 14 comprise openings 15 corresponding to openings 3 in
channels 4 of upper sole part 1 (as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3). A
directional valve 16 with two one-way valves is in the example
shown in FIG. 4 used to regulate the air guide. This directional
valve 16 can in dependency of the pressure operation of the
air-pumping device by the user's foot regulate the air flow such
that the air is pumped only from the outside into the air-pumping
device and only out into tubes 14. The configuration shown in FIG.
4 can also be used in the embodiment shown in the upper drawing of
FIG. 3.
[0066] The air-supplying device of the shoe of the present
invention can be provided, for example, by a heel part 30 attached
by injection molding, as illustrated in FIG. 5. FIG. 5 by way of
example shows a sole construction with a cavity. The cavity can
serve as an air-pumping device or receive a separately formed
air-pumping device. Air is sucked in from the outside via an
opening of heel part 30. Sucking in air is in this example
regulated by a one-way valve 11. A further one-way valve regulates
the discharge of air into channels 4 shown in FIG. 2. The heel part
comprises an element permeable to air as the outermost end of the
overall air-supplying device which comprises one-way valve 11. It
can be formed in the shape of a pattern, a logo, etc. Air is by
unloading (put load off) the heel region In the course of the
walking motion of a user through this element permeable to air
sucked into the cavity or a separate air-pumping device provided
therein. A relatively large amount of air can thereby be sucked in
with every step and provided for ventilation of the interior of the
shoe.
* * * * *