WO2006027655A1

WO2006027655A1 - A system for air circulation in a shoe, in particular for children

Info

Publication number: WO2006027655A1
Application number: PCT/IB2005/002587
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giordano Gironacci
Original assignee: Melania S.P.A.
Priority date: 2004-09-10
Filing date: 2005-08-24
Publication date: 2006-03-16
Also published as: ES1060168U; ITBO20040556A1; ES1060168Y

Abstract

A system for air circulation in a shoe, in particular for children, includes: an upper (T) fastened to a sole (6), inside which a transversal recess (11), and a fore grooved area (21) are made, connected by a longitudinal recess (31). An intermediate insole (7) defines respectively: in combination with the recesses (11, 31) and with the fore grooved area (21), a rear chamber (1), a central chamber (3), and a fore chamber (2). A one-way valve (4) sets the transversal recess (11) in communication with outside, thus allowing ventilation of the user's foot by a flow of air (A). An upper insole (5), which receives the user's foot, has a plurality of through holes (50), which are passed through by the flow of air generated by a vacuum condition created inside the rear chamber (1).

Description

A SYSTEM FOR AIR CIRCULATION IN A SHOE, IN PARTICULAR FOR CHILDREN

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the production of footwear.

In this case, the present invention relates to a system for providing air circulation in a shoe for children.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There are shoes with ventilation systems, which allow an air circulation thereinside, and consequently the foot ventilation.

In particular, these ventilation systems are aimed at expelling the air present inside the shoe and are operated by the user's foot movement.

The Patent Application AR98A 000016 describes a shoe sole having, in its fore inner portion, a chamber, containing a structure with high flexibility and with a plurality of recesses, which deforms considerably, if subjected to compression.

The upper part of the sole has a first groove and a second groove, which set in communication respectively, the chamber with outside, by means of a first one-way valve, and the shoe inner portion with the chamber, by means of a second one-way valve.

The upper surface of the sole is coupled with an insole, having a plurality of holes, which set the shoe inside in communication with the second groove. The pressure performed by the user's foot on the structure during his walking, determines the so-called "pump effect", which creates a vacuum condition inside the recess and thus an aspiration of the air present inside the shoe through the holes, the second channel and the second valve.

Then, the air is expelled through the first channel and the first valve.

The document EP 0.732.067 relates to a shoe sole, which takes the air from the shoe inside and expels it through an aperture made in the heel.

This occurs due to a particular shape of the sole, which has, on the upper surface of the fore portion, a chamber, housing a cushion, whose lower part has a plurality of semispherical cavities .

The chamber communicates with the outside by a longitudinal channel, a one-way valve and an aperture made in the rear lateral portion of the shoe heel.

The pressure performed by the user's foot on the cushion creates a "pump effect", which determines the expulsion of the air from the shoe.

The document WO 2004/004502 describes a shoe sole, having a plurality of through holes, made along the sole side in positions corresponding to the heel and to the shoe fore part, and communicating with two peripheral channels made along the sole inner edge.

The channels set the shoe inside in communication with the outside.

Each of the channels has an elastic diaphragm, whose convexity is turned outwards and which has a micro-hole, allowing the air flow outward the shoe. The sole surface turned to the user's foot has a plurality of ridges, and a transpiring insole.

The pressure performed on the sole by the user's foot during his walking forces the passage of the air present inside the shoe through the transpiring insole and conducts it to the through holes by the peripheral channels .

Thus, the air is expelled through the micro-hole of each diaphragm. The document EP 1.127.505 describes a shoe, which has, in a region corresponding to its heel, a device moving vertically and normally protruding with respect to the heel surface, aimed at touching the ground.

Above the device, there is a deformable chamber, communicating with the shoe inside by a first valve, and with the outside by a second valve, made in the heel lateral portion.

During the walk, the device moves upwards compressing the chamber, due to the force performed on the user's foot heel.

When the pushing action performed on the heel ceases, the device returns to its original position, allowing the chamber to expand and to suck the air present inside the shoe through the first valve, and to expel it through the second valve.

It is obvious from the above that all the described systems for the air circulation in a shoe, remove the air from the shoe.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION - A -

The object of the present invention is to propose a system for air circulation in a shoe, which allows to obtain, thereinside, an always "new" air cushion wrapping the foot wearing the shoe. An additional object of the present invention is to propose a system for air circulation in a shoe, which keeps the foot wearing it fresh and dry by "clean" air taken from outside and put into the shoe.

A further object of the present invention is to propose a system for air circulation in a shoe, which allows to distribute uniformly the air flows thereinside, thus assuring best foot thermo-regulation.

Another object of the present invention is to propose a system for air circulation in a shoe, which not only obtains the previous objects, but also prevents water penetration into the shoe.

A still further object of the present invention is to propose a shoe, which allows to absorb the shocks, protecting the user's foot even from the particularly intense stresses.

The above mentioned objects are obtained, in accordance with the contents of the claims, by a system for providing air circulation in a shoe, in particular a shoe for children, the shoe including: a sole, having an upper part, with at least one grooved area and recesses made in the upper part, to define a sole inner space, a heel part and a lateral part, with at least one one-way valve situated in said heel part for setting the sole inner space in communication with outside, to allow ventilation for a user's foot; an upper fastened to the sole; and at least one intermediate insole connected to the upper part of said sole, the intermediate insole having a plurality of through holes for setting in communication areas located below and above said intermediate insole,- the system being characterized in that: the combination between said intermediate insole and said sole define a pair of chambers, a fore chamber and a rear chamber, connected by a central chamber,- and said one-way valve leads to said rear chamber for allowing the user's foot ventilation by a flow of air, coming from outside and generated by a vacuum condition created inside at least said rear chamber and passing through the through holes, made in said intermediate insole, interposed between said sole and an upper insole provided for receiving the user's foot.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristic features of the invention will be pointed out in the following description of a preferred but not exclusive only embodiment, with reference to the enclosed figures, in which:

Figure 1 is a schematic, lateral, exploded view of the shoe with the system for the air circulation proposed by the present invention,- - Figures 2 and 2A are schematic, section views, enlarged with respect to the previous one, respectively assembled and exploded, of a particularly significant element of the proposed shoe,- Figure 3 is a schematic, section view taken along III-III of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section view, enlarged with respect to the previous views, taken along IV-IV of Figure 2; - Figures 5, 6 and 7 are as many schematic, top views of particularly significant elements of the proposed shoe,-

Figure 8 is a schematic, prospective, exploded view of the shoe.

BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Regards Figures 1, 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, the reference letter C indicates the proposed shoe with the system for air circulation, including an upper T, connected to a sole 6, whose upper part has two recesses, a transversal recess 11 and a longitudinal recess 31, respectively.

The recesses 11, 31 communicate with each other in the shoe rear area, so as to form a kind of ^MT"-like recess, whose stem is turned toward the shoe fore area. The longitudinal recess 31, extending along the sole 6 center line, opens into a grooved area 21, made in the fore area.

The shoe sole 6 has a step profile 9 in the upper portion of the vertical walls defining the sole lateral edges. The profile 9 couples, e.g. by sealing with glue, with the outer edge of an intermediate insole 7, which is fastened to the sole 6 upper portion.

After having been fastened to the sole 6, the intermediate insole 7 defines respectively: a rear chamber 1, in combination with the transversal recess 11; a central chamber 3, in combination with the longitudinal recess 31; a fore chamber 2, in combination with the fore grooved area 21 (Figure 1) .

The rear chamber 1 is parallelepiped, the fore chamber 2 has a plurality of ridges 2A made integral with the sole 6 and arranged along two orthogonal directions D, Dl, so as to allow best passage of air between two adjacent ridges 2A (Figures 1 and 5) .

The side of the sole 6 has a one-way valve 4, situated in the area of the heel and connecting the rear chamber 1 with the outside.

The rear chamber 1 shape allows the injection of air into the rear chamber 1 from outside.

The one-way valve 4 includes a main body 33, with a cylindrical duct 33A, situated thereinside, for receiving a sliding hexagonal shutter 32, connected to a spring.

A head 34, having a respective inner cylindrical duct 34A, is connected by interference to one end of the main body 33. If there are no outer stresses, the cylindrical duct 34A is closed by the shutter 32, pushed by the spring against the head of the cylindrical duct 34A, to prevent the entrance of the air into the valve 4 (Figures 2, 2A) .

A flow of air A passes through the valve 4 only if a vacuum condition is created near the free end of the duct 33A.

The vacuum condition generates, on the shutter, a force which overcomes the force of the spring connected to the shutter 32 and moves the latter from the position, in which it closes the duct 34A, to a rearward position, in which the flow of air A, coming from outside, can pass through the ducts 33A, 34A of the valve 4, to the rear chamber 1.

The intermediate insole 7 has a plurality of through holes 70, aimed at being passed through by the flow of air A, and facing the central chamber 3, as well as the rear chamber 1 and the fore chamber 2.

In particular, the plurality of holes 70 includes a plurality of fore holes 7OA, aimed at allowing ventilation of the foot fore plantar area, a plurality of rear holes 7OP, aimed at allowing a ventilation of the foot rear plantar area, and a plurality of central holes 70M, for the ventilation of the foot plantar arch.

An upper insole 5 is connected to the upper surface of the intermediate insole 7, to receive the user's foot. The upper insole 5 has a plurality of holes 50, comprising a plurality of fore holes 5A, connected to the holes 7OA, and aimed at being passed through by a flow of air coming from the fore chamber 2 and at allowing ventilation of the foot fore plantar area, a plurality of rear holes 5P, connected to the holes 7OP, aimed at being passed through by a flow of air coming from the rear chamber 1 and at allowing ventilation of the foot rear plantar area, and a plurality of central holes 5M, connected to the holes 7OM, aimed at being passed through by a flow of air coming from the central chamber 3 and at allowing ventilation of the foot arch.

An insert 40, made of a shock absorbing material, is situated in the rear portion of the sole 6.

The way of producing the flow of air inside the shoe will be now described, although it is easy to realize. During the user's walking, the heel pushes the rear portion of the upper insole 5 and of the intermediate insole 7, and thus compresses the air contained in the rear chamber 1. The one-way valve 4, allowing only the inward passage of an air flow, prevents the outlet of the compressed air contained in the rear chamber 1.

The flow of air A generated by the compression created inside the rear chamber 1 is divided in three secondary flows Al, A2 , A3, which pass respectively through: the holes 7OP, 5M made in the rear portion of the intermediate insole 7 and of the upper insole 5, for ventilating the foot rear plantar area; the central chamber 3 and the holes 7OM, 5M, made in the central portion of the intermediate insole 7 and of the upper insole 5, for ventilating the foot plantar arch; the spaces between the ridges 2A of the fore chamber 2 and the holes 7OA, 5A made in the fore portion of the intermediate insole 7 and of the upper insole 5, for ventilating the foot fore plantar portion, thus assuring the best possible comfort.

The uniform distribution of the flow of air A3 inside the fore chamber 2 is assured by the particular conformation of the fore chamber 2 and by the presence of the ridges 2A, arranged along two orthogonal directions D, Dl (Figure 1) .

The air is expelled through the area of the upper T near the instep.

When the force performed by the heel ceases, the volume of the rear chamber 1 increases, due to the elastic proper return of the material, of which the upper insole 5 and the intermediate insole 7 are made. This expansion intakes, through the one-way valve 4, a prefixed quantity of "new" air, which is introduced into the shoe, due to the effect of the subsequent action performed by the heel on the rear chamber 1. In fact, the above mentioned expansion generates, at least inside the rear chamber 1, a vacuum condition, which overcomes the force of the spring present inside the valve 4 and thus moves the shutter 32 from the position, in which it closes the duct 34A, in order to allow the flow of air A to pass from the rear chamber 1, through ducts 33A, 34A of the valve 4.

In particular, the hexagonal shape of the shutter 32 allows the flow of air A, coming from outside, to pass through a series of apertures M, present between the inner, cylindrical surface of the main body 33 and the outer, hexagonal surface of the shutter 32.

The limited dimensions of the apertures M prevent water from penetrating into the shoe (Figure 4) .

It results obvious from the above description that the admission of air into the rear chamber 1 by the valve, and the subsequent distribution of air inside the shoe, generates a flow of air taken from outside, thus clear, which wraps the user's foot, assuring better comfort.

Moreover, the uniform distribution of flows of air inside the shoe assures best foot thermo-regulation.

It is also to be pointed out that the presence of the insert 40 in the sole rear area allows absorption of shocks, thus protecting the user's foot also from particularly strong stresses. Advantageously, the upper insole 5 and the intermediate insole 7 are antibacterial and have optimized flexibility, in order to increase the shoe user's comfort .

In particular, the upper insole 5 is self-forming, i.e. it adapts to the foot plant shape each time.

It is understood that the proposed invention has been described, with reference to the enclosed figures, as a mere, not limiting example. Therefore, it is obvious that any changes or variants applied thereto remain within the protective scope defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A system for providing air circulation in a shoe, in particular a shoe for children, the shoe including: a sole, having an upper part, with at least one grooved area (21) and recesses (11, 31) made in the upper part, to define a sole inner space, a heel part and a lateral part, with at least one one-way valve situated in said heel part for setting the sole inner space in communication with outside, to allow ventilation for a user' s foot; an upper fastened to the sole,- and at least one intermediate insole connected to the upper part of said sole, the intermediate insole having a plurality of through holes for setting in communication areas located below and above said intermediate insole,- the system being characterized in that: the combination between said intermediate insole (7) and said sole (6) define a pair of chambers, a fore chamber (2) and a rear chamber (1), connected by a central chamber (3) ; and said one-way valve (4) leads to said rear chamber (1) for allowing the user's foot ventilation by a flow of air (A) , coming from outside and generated by a vacuum condition created inside at least said rear chamber (1) and passing through the through holes (70) , made in said intermediate insole (7), interposed between said sole (6) and an upper insole (5) provided for receiving the user's foot.

2. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said intermediate insole (7) has a plurality of through holes (70) : respectively fore holes (70A) passed through by the flow of air (A3) coming from the fore chamber (2), to ventilate the foot fore plantar area, rear holes (70P) passed through by the flow of air (Al) coming from the rear chamber (1) to ventilate the foot rear plantar area,- central holes (70M) passed through by he flow of air (A2) coming from the central chamber (3) to ventilate the foot plantar arch.

3. A system, as claimed in claim 1 and 2, characterized in that said upper insole (5) has a plurality of holes (50) , with at least one part of said holes facing said plurality of holes made in the intermediate insole (7), respectively including: fore holes (5A) passed through by a flow of air (A3) coming from the fore chamber (2) to ventilate the foot fore plantar area,- rear holes (5P) passed through by a flow of air (Al) coming from the rear chamber (1) to ventilate the foot rear plantar area; central holes (5M) passed through by a flow of air (A2) coming from the central chamber (3) to ventilate the foot arch.

4. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the sole (6) has a step-like profile (9), situated in the upper portion of the vertical walls defining the sole lateral edges, and coupling at least with the edge of said intermediate insole (7) .

5. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said rear chamber (1) of said sole (6) is parallelepiped or cylindrical.

6. A system, as claimed in claim 1 or 2 or 3 , characterized in that the bottom of said fore chamber (2) includes a plurality of ridges (2A) for receiving the fore portion of the intermediate insole (7) resting thereonto.

7. A system, as claimed in claim 6, characterized in that said ridges (2A) are made integral with said sole (6) .

8. A system, as claimed in claim 6 or 7, characterized in that said ridges (2A) are arranged along two directions (D, Dl) , to allow best passage of air therebetween.

9. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said central chamber (3) extends substantially along the central line of the sole (6) .

10. A system, as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that said central chamber (3) extends in the inner space of the sole (6) , substantially facing the foot arch.

11. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said one-way valve (4) opens directly into said rear chamber (1) .

12. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said upper insole (5) is self-forming, i.e. it adapts to the foot shape each time.

13. A system, as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that said upper insole (5) is antibacterial and has optimized flexibility.

14. A system, as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that said intermediate insole (7) is antibacterial and has optimized flexibility.

15. A shoe, in particular for children, characterized in that it includes an insert (40), situated in the shoe rear part for absorbing shocks and protecting the user's foot.