US1605408A - Air-cushion sole - Google Patents

Description

' Nov. 27, 1926.

J. HUISKAMP AIR CUSHION SOLE Filed Dec. 24. 1921 3 noauto@ Ms a's/m/a @EN ,4% y lq/"www1 Patented Nov. 2, 1926,.

UNITED STATESr JAMES HUISKAMP, F KEOKUK, IOWA.

AIR-CUSHION SLE.

Applcati'oniled December 24, 1921. Serial No, 524,672.

v This invention relates to new and useful improvements in' foot wear, and more particularly to an air cushion adapted to be disposed between the inner and outer sole of 5 the provision of an air cushion placed between the inner and outer soles of a shoe, especially of the welt type, said air cushion to be arranged. between the welt channel vto provide for a soft flexible air cushion and also a circulation of air beneath the foot of the wearer. l

Another object of the present invention is the provision of means for providing a comparatively dry space between the inner and outer soles of a shoe as in the present method of constructing welt shoes, it is the usual practice to fill the welt channel between the inner and outer soles with a substance mixed with glue which becomes more zo or less soggy in damp weather and does not dry out quickly, but with the use of my improved air cushion, a dry space isy always maintained between the inner and outer soles of a shoe and suitable means is provided whereby a thorough circulation is maintained between the interior of the shoe and the air cushion so as to cause a circuf lation of air between the two shoe soles at all times.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention consists in thel novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in the claims and shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a top plan viewof a shoe, portions of the upper being cut away to disclosel the upper face of the inner sole;

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View,y a portion of the outer sole being cut away to show the application of my improved air cushion;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional y view taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

`In applying my invention, it is understood that the construction of theA shoe is carried out in the usual manner and that .the invention is preferably to be applied to the welt type of shoe, although other types of shoes may be constructed in such a way that my improved air sole cushion can -be readily applied thereto. i

In Fig. 1, I have illustrated Aa top plan view 'of a shoe, the upper portion being broken away to show the inner sole gen erally indicated by the numeral 1. The

shoe in itself comprises the usual partsincluding the inner sole, the outer sole 2 and the upper portion 3. In forming a welt shoe, the inner sole is to a certain depth around the entire edges of the sole,l the material cut. therefrom beling extended outwardly at right angles to the sole to f rm a flange and the upper portion 3 of the shoe is arranged at its lower edge adjacent this flange andthe welt 4 usually cut inwardly is then placed in position around the outer l surface of thelower edge of the upper, the three pieces are then stitched together, the welt piece being disposed at right angles to the lower edge of the upper andthe flange formed by cutting the inner sole.

lAttention is called to Figs. 3 and 4:,

wherein the upper, the insole and the welt have been connected together by sewing and as the flange generally indicated at 5, which iS out out from the outer face of the inner sole, extends at right angles to the bottom of the inner sole, it forms a channel between the flanges upon opposite sides of the inner sole and'within this channel. Instead of placing the usual mixture, including glue, I prefer to arrange my improved air cushion sole within this channel formed by the strip 5 which is cut from the body of the inner sole. 0

My improved air cushion sole comgnses a sheet of rubber, leather or any suitab position'of material generally indicated at 5. Formed upon the outer face of this sheet are a plurality of protuberances 6 which are arranged in transverse and longltudinal alignment throughout the lentlre surface of the sheet 5 and extending cen- K trally through each of -these protuberances to the inner face of the shet 5 is an opening 7, which opens through y.from the top to the bottom, theseopenings providing for the proper circulation of air betwen the outer sole 2 and inner sole 1. In order to provide for the proper amount -of circulation beneath the foot of the wearer, an opening 8 is formed4 in the inner sole 1 and communicates with one face of the air cushion sole. This opening 8, if found desirable, may be reinforced by means of a metal eyelet By placing this air cushion sole within the channel formed by the connection between the welt,v the inner'sole and the upper instead of the usual mixed fillingY this /space between the outer and -inner soles Will be maintained in a dry condition at all times, as the proper amount of circulation of air will be caused to retain the same in this dry condition. During' the Walking movement of a person, the air is circulated between the bottom of the i'toot and the inner face of the outer sole. This is due to the tact that as the outer sole ot' the shoe begins to bend with the step, the air pockets are opened, yielding as the .toot bends and drawing in air just in advance of the pressure of the foot. lll/'hen the direct pressure of the foot is on the pockets, they are closed firmly at the top and bottom, sealed by pressure against the flat surface of the insole and the outer sole, but when the Jroot is in motion for Walking movement, the air pockets expand and the air beneath the foot Will be drawn inwardly between the tWo soles of the shoe and again forced out as the pressure of the foot is brought to bear upon each section of air pockets along the entire surface of the outer sole.

l wish it to be understood that vvhile l have shown and described this improved air cushion as merely applied to the ball of the shoe. it may be extended as Well under the ball, shank and heel of the shoe. As stated heretofore, it has been the usual custom to fill in this channel between the two selles With a substance mixed with glue, which becomes more or less soggy in damp Weather and does not dry out very quickly, thus retaining the inner sole of the shoe in a dampened condition :tor quite some time, but with the use of my improved air cushion sole between the inner and outer soles of the shoe, this chamber between these soles will be maintained in a dry condition at all times, and will provide the proper cushion or yielding eect to the shoe.

Attention is called to the fact that the regular shoe shank stay can be used and grooved or channelled to ive additional air passage to the opening 8 1f advisable.

It should be understood that the protu` berances 6 are preferably provided with air the openings beingk aeoaeoe pockets so as to increase the resiliency of the cushion sole 1n restoring' itself 'to normal condition when the foot pressure 1s relieved.

is above stated, when toot pressure is enerted the air pockets are closed firmly at the top and bottom, thus adding' to the resiliency oi the rubber sheet 5 in producing a cushioning elliect. llt Will be noted that the protuberances are separate and independent by being spaced apart and spread over a wide area of the bottom sole 2 under the inner sole l within the boundary of the welt 4L. `When foot pressure is exerted on the inner sole` l 'to compress the rubber sheet against the action of the protuberances and the air pockets therein, the air Within the chamber surrounding the protuberances will be 'forced out of the opening 8 into the inside of the shoe. When theV footv pressure is relieved the resiliency of the protuber ances, particularly when provided with the sealed air pockets, Will immediately cause the inner sole l to sprlng back to its original position, thereby drawing air to the opening 8 into the chamber surrounding the pretuberances. The bottom sole 2 being imperorate or sealed, the air circulation is confined Wholly Within the shoe and therefore onl warm air will be circulated and chilling of the toot prevented.

l claim:

A shoe comprising a sole, an upper secured thereto, an insole Within the upper and spaced from the sole and provided with a central opening, a sheet o' rubber arranged betvveen the sole and insole, and spaced projections on the underface of the sheet and contacting with the inner face et the sole forming parallel, longitudinal and transverse channels, the projections and sheet being provided with openings, each opening extending completely through both the sheet and projections, whereby air currents are forced through the opening in the insole upon the compression of the sheet incident to Walking.

In testimony whereof l anni m signature.

JS HUllgKAMP.

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