US3128566A - Ventilated boot - Google Patents

Description

April 1964' GQL. BURLISON ETAL VENTILATED BOOT Filed March 14, 1961 Garry L. Burl/son James P. .Savolr lNVENIbRs United States Patent 3,128,566 VENTILATED BOOT Garry L. Burlison, P.0. Box 594, and James P. Savok, P.O. Box 456, both of Nome, Alaska Filed Mar. 14, 1961, Ser. No. 95,555 1 Claim. (Cl. 363) The present invention generally relates to a shoe or boot construction having a novel structural arrangement which will enable air to be circulated through the interior of the boot and especially the toe area thereof for ventilating the boot and keeping the feet in a dry and cool condition.

Perspiration of the feet is a considerable problem when wearing boots such as insulated boots which have a layer of insulation on the inner surface thereof and usually a water-proof covering on the exterior surface or at least an exterior covering which is air impervious. In order to combat excessive perspiration of the feet, the present invention incorporates an air pump having inlet means at the top of the boot together with discharge means for discharging air under the toe area or region of the foot together with means venting the toe area of the boot to the atmosphere.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated boot having an air pump incorporated therein which will be operated during the normal walking operation wherein sequential application and release of pressure is applied to the heel region, the arch area and the toe area of a boot.

Still another feature of the present invention is to provide a ventilated boot which is simple in construction, easy to use, effective in operation and generally inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of the boot illustrating in dotted lines the various passageways incorporated into the insulation material;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical sectional view of the boot illustrating the construction thereof;

FIGURE 3 is a detailed sectional view illustrating the flat type check valve employed in the air inlet for the air pump.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral generally designates the ventilated boot of the present invention which includes the usual upper 12 attached to a sole 14 in any suitable manner. Interiorly of the upper, there is a layer of insulation material 16 which also extends over the sole 14 and this portion of the insulation is designated by numeral 18. The upper is provided with the usual slit '20, eyelets 22, lacing 24 and tongue 26- all of which cooperate in the usual manner of a shoe or boot. The particular construction of the boot may vary and the present invention may be employed with various types of shoes, boots and the like.

Combined with the conventional boot structure is an air pump generally designated by numeral 28 which includes a hollow cavity 30 in the heel portion of the insulation 18. Communicating with the cavity 30 is a plurality of air inlet passageways 3-2 having the upper ends thereof open to the atmosphere at the top edge of the upper 12. The lower ends of the passageways 32 communicate with the cavity 30 and each is provided with a resilient flap valve 34 which permits air to pass intothe cavity 30 from the passageway 32 but prevents egress of air from the cavity 30 back into the passageway.

Extending forwardly from the front of the cavity 30 is a passageway 36, the forward end of which is provided with laterally extending branches .38 which terminate in outlet openings 40 at the top surface of the insulation 18 whereby air will be discharged under the toe region of a persons foot.

The portion of the insulation 16 above the toe region is provided with a plurality of openings 42 communicating with passageways 44 interconnecting the openings 42 and a single passageway '46 which extends upwardly along the upper 12 and then downwardly to a discharge port or opening '48 for discharge of hot humid air.

The air pump 28 will be operated during the normal walking operation since weight placed on the heel portion will collapse the cavity 30. Inasmuch as the flap valves 34- will close, any air in the cavity 30' will be forced out through the passageway 36, branches 38 and openings 40 and the air within the interior of the toe portion of the shoe will be forced out through the openings 42, passageway 44 and passageway 46 and discharge opening 48. As the weight of the person moves forward during the normal walking operation, the weight will be placed on the insulation above the point of communication between the passageway 66 and the cavity 30 thus closing the passageway 36 so that air cannot return back into the cavity 30 from the passageway 36. When this occurs and further procedure is made in the walking step, all weight is removed from the cavity 30 whereupon the resilient material from which the insulation 18 is constructed will cause the cavity 30 to return to a normal position thus drawing in fresh air down through the inlet passageways 32, through the flap valves 34 and into the cavity .30. Thus, during the normal walking operation, air will be circulated through the boot with means for discharging of the air after it has evaporated perspiration and cooled the interior of the boot.

The intake air will be taken at the upper end of the boot thus assuring that nowater or other foreign material will pass into the interior of the boot through the intake opening. There also is a very important reason for having the outlet opening '48 disposed interiorly of the boot which as shown in FIGURE 1 is for the right boot. This orientation enables the outlet which is disposed by the arch of the foot to be kicked with the opposite foot or shoe thus enabling frost, ice or the like to be kicked off of the outlet thereby preventing the outlet from becoming clogged. This is especially desirable since the outlet will have warm humid air discharged therefrom which would tend to become frozen in areas having extremely low temperatures. The air pump or breather will keep the feet and socks relatively dry even when Wearing insulated boots which normally will cause excess perspiration. The breather or air pump is preferably constructed of rubber material having the necessary wear qualities and strength requirements for use in a boot of this nature so that the boot will be long lasting and will operate dependably.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

A ventilated boot comprising in combination, a sole, an upper attached to said sole, and a liner of insulating material contained within said upper and covering said sole, said liner being spaced above the sole in the heel portion of the boot to provide an air chamber therebetween,

a said chamber being collapsible upon application of weight to the heel portion of the liner, said liner being provided within the thickness thereof with an air inlet passage communicating with said chamber at one end thereof and having its other end open to the atmosphere at the upper edge of the liner, the sole covering portions of the liner being provided with an air delivery passage extending forwardly from said chamber and terminating in an opening communicating with the interior of the liner in the toe portion of the boot, said liner also being provided with an air outlet passage communicating at one end thereof 'With the interior of the liner in the top of the toe portion of the boot and having its other end open to the atmosphere at a point later-ally on the inside of the boot adjacent the sole, and a flap valve provided in said chamber for said air inlet passage.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 418,966 Welander Jan. 7, 1890 426,495 tE-alkner Apr. 29, 1890 702,600 Slater June 17, 1902 906,061 Nolen Dec. 8, 1908 1,213,941 Patrick Jan. 30, 1917 '1,417,517 Hajek May 30, 1922 1,809,323 Williams June 19, 1931 2,441,879 Gantt May 118, 1949 2,741,038 Eliassen Apr. 10, 1956

Images