WO2007032037A1

WO2007032037A1 - Aeration system and device for shoes

Info

Publication number: WO2007032037A1
Application number: PCT/IT2006/000559
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Ferretti
Original assignee: Springtime Development S.A.
Priority date: 2005-09-16
Filing date: 2006-07-24
Publication date: 2007-03-22
Also published as: CN101112259A; WO2007032037A8; WO2006021883A3; CN1819782A; WO2006021883A2; WO2006021883A8

Abstract

The present invention concerns an aeration system for shoes comprising an aeration device, specifically pumping means like a bellows pump, which constitutes a further object of the invention. More specifically, the present invention concerns an aeration system for shoes, comprising a hollow sole (1) having an aeration device in fluid communication both with the inside of the shoe and with the outside, at least one first and a second cavity (2, 3) being formed inside said hollow sole (1), pumping means (9) being housed in said at least one first cavity (2), in which said pumping means (9) comprise a shell (10) and a distribution nozzle (11), a flexible core (12) being housed inside said shell (10), and a bearing (18) is housed in said second cavity (3).

Description

DESCRIPTION

"Aeration system and device for shoes"

The present invention concerns an aeration system for shoes comprising an aeration device, specifically pumping means such as a bellows pump, which constitutes a further object of the invention. Both hygienic and medical reasons dictate the importance of keep-ing the foot dry and well aerated. Good aeration, as well as dissipating bad smells, promotes the evaporation of the sweat that inevitably forms, above all in hot weather or during physical effort . The sole of the foot is indeed one of the parts of the human body where the sweat glands are most concentrated. The problem of excessive sweating has become more serious with the appearance of the rubber sole replacing the leather sole. The rubber sole, indeed, whilst being advantageous in terms of both heat insulation and water-proofing of the foot and the possibility of modelling the tread to make it grip better on the ground, is nevertheless impermeable to air and does not allow sweat to transpire . Various attempts have been made to solve this problem. For example, hollow soles have been provided comprising outside release valves, but the amount of air exchanged is small and therefore does not allow effective aeration of the foot. A solution that has achieved substantial success is the one that foresees coating the inside of a perforated rubber sole with a microporous membrane, thus impermeable to water but permeable to air and sweat in the form of water vapour. However, this solution also has some drawbacks. First of all, it is a passive aeration system, since there is no device inside the shoe that promotes the circulation of air. The exchange of air only occurs when the sole is¹ lifted from the ground. Moreover, after a few uses the micropores can be blocked by dust and dirt and therefore are no longer able to carry out their aeration function. The problem forming the bases of the present invention is therefore that of providing an aeration system for shoes that allows an effective and efficient exchange of air and vapour between inside and outside of the shoe.

Such a problem is solved by an aeration system and device for shoes as outlined ;in the attached claims . Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention shall become clearer from the description of some example embodiments, made hereafter for indicating and not limiting purposes, with reference to the following figures:

Figure 1 represents a plan and^" section view of the sole according to the invention;

Figure 2 represents a section view according to the direction II-II of figure 1,- ^v

Figure 3 represents a side section view of the sole for shoes according to the invention;

Figure 4 represents a perspective view of the aeration device according to the invention;

Figure 5 represents a perspective view of the core of the aeration device of figure 4;

Figure 6 represents a plan view of the aeration device according to a different embodiment;

Figure 7 represents a side section view of a shoe comprising the aeration system according to the invention;

Figure 8 represents an exploded perspective view of a further embodiment of the present invention;

Figure 9 represents a perspective view of a detail of the embodiment of figure 8 in assembled condition; Figure 10 represents a perspective view of an insole according to a further embodiment of the invention; Figure 11 represents a plan view from below of the insole of figure 10;

Figure 12 represents a front side view of the insole of figure 11 according to the section XII-XIϊ. With reference to the figures, the aeration system object of the present invention shall now be described.

The aeration system of the invention comprises a hollow sole 1, typically but not exclusively a hollow sole made from rubber or another synthetic material . The sole can of course also be made from leather or comprise a leather tread.

The hollow sole 1 comprises ^la first cavity 2, formed substantially at the heel area, and a second cavity 3 , positioned substantially at the sole of the foot and defined by an edge Ia. Said cavities 2, 3 are open on top, i.e. at the inside of the shoe. The first cavity 2 and the second cavity 3 are in fluid communication through a channel 4 that is formed in the thickness of the sole and that continues, at the second cavity 3, in a groove 5. To the right and left of the groove 5, a plurality of ramifications 6 project, in a substantially transversal direction, which, similarly to the main groove 5, extend up to the edge Ia.

At the distal end of said main groove 5 and of said ramifications 6, the edge Ia of the sole 1 comprises transversal holes 7, which place the cavity 3 in fluid communication with the outside. At the mouth of the holes 7 towards the outside valve means 8 are arranged. The valve means 8 typically consist of a one-way valve for shoes. This type of valve is conventional and basically consists of a small cylinder inside which a flap is placed that only opens if the air flow is towards the outside, whilst it does not allow the entry of air from the outside. Said valve means 8 can also simply consist of a dividing wall or membrane made from microporous material (for example, GORETEX¹") , which allows air and water to pass, but is waterproof.

An aeration device is housed in the sole 1 according to the invention. Such an aeration device preferably comprises pumping means 9, typically a bellows pump, housed in the first cavity 2 of the sole 1. Such pumping means 9 comprise a shell 10, formed from two half-shells 10a, 10b, and a distribution nozzle 11. The opening of the nozzle 11 is placed at the channel 4. Said shell 10 is made from a plastic material that ensures a certain degree of flexibility. Preferably, the shell 10 shall have a Shore A hardness of over 80, more preferably equal to or greater than 90. In a preferred version, the shell 10 shall be made from polyurethane having the Shore A hardnesses outlined above .

The shell 10 houses an elastic core 12 inside of it. The main function of such an elastic core 12 is to increase resistance to stepping and to act as a "shock absorber" . Indeed, it has been seen that the provision of a hollow pump without inner core at the heel leads to excessive yielding of the footbed at that point and consequently causes an irregular and not very comfortable gait. Moreover, if the hollow pump collapses, it is no longer able to recover its initial shape and the pumping function is thus ended. The elastic core 12 can consist of conventional elastic means, like a spring. However, in the preferred embodiment shown in the drawings, such an elastic core comprises an elastic insert made from an elastomer, like for example polyethylene. Preferably, such an elastomer shall have a Shore D hardness of over 60, more preferably over 80, even more preferably over 90. In another preferred embodiment, the elastomer used for the elastic core 12 shall have a Shore A hardness of between 15 and 30_r more preferably about 20.

In order to avoid the elastic core 12 filling the entire volume inside the shell 10, drastically reducing the volume of air pumped, such an elastic core 12 is of a size, in particular a thickness, such as to create a gap between the core and the inner walls of the shell 10. In practice, the shape of the elastic insert substantially follows that of the shell 10, but it has smaller dimensions so as to create the gap described above.

For the same purpose, according to the preferred embodiment shown in figure 5, the elastic core is perforated on three sides, so that a network of small channels 13, 13', 13", 13"', 13"" is formed inside it. In this way, the elastic core 12 itself forms a bellows pump that is associated in action with that of the shell 10.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the elastic core 12 and/or the shell 10 shall contain perfume. Typically, a "compound" of the rubber/plastic material shall be made with the perfume, which shall thus be absorbed in the material and shall be released very gradually. Alternatively, the perfume can be contained in microspheres arranged inside and/or outside the elastic core 12 or on the surface of the shell 10, so as to have an even longer-lasting release, mediated by the mechanical action (rubbing) and not just by the normal evaporation of the perfume.

The shell 10 preferably has substantially flat base surfaces 14, 14' and a side surface 15 that has sides with concave profile joined by rounded corners. This shape allows the side surface 15 to be stiffened, keeping a good flexibility of the base surfaces 14, 14' . In this way the bellows pump can easily carry out its pumping action without collapsing, not even partially, under the weight of the heel. In another preferred version, shown in figures 8 and 9, the shell 110 has the long sides with a rectilinear profile and the end portions⁴ rounded.

Purely as an example, the shell 10 can have the following dimensions: length about 6 cm, width about 4 cm, thickness about 2 cm. In this case, it has been determined that the device of the invention allows the circulation of about 20 cc of air/vapour inside the shoe. Such a volume shall decrease according to the bulk of the elastic core 12 arranged inside the shell 10, but it shall in any case be between 5 and 10 cc. It is clear that it shall be possible to vary the dimensions of the shell 10 according to requirements, for example according to the type of shoe or the size.

As shown in figure 6, one or both of the base surfaces 14, 14' can comprise a pumping button 16 formed integrally in the thickness of the shell 10 by shaping a substantially C-shaped or horseshoe-shaped blind groove 17 on the base surface. In this way, the base surface 14, 14' is strengthened, since the groove 17 acts as a reinforcing rib, without for this reason losing pumping capacity.

As shown in figure 3, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention the second cavity 3 houses a bearing 18. Such a bearing 18, which has the function of supporting the sole of the foot increasing the comfort of walking, can preferably be made from an expanded synthetic material with open cells, like latex foam or polyester-based expanded polyurethane . Alternatively, the bearing 18 can be made from a needled material, like a needled non- woven fabric, preferably with continuous thread, a needled felt or a needled synthetic material (PE or PP) . Alternatively, the bearing 18 shall be made from an elastomer in which holes or microholes shall be made to make it porous. With the described materials, the bearing 18 shall be permeable to air/vapour and shall contribute to the pump effect created by the pumping means 9 arranged at the heel.

In another embodiment, shown in figure 8, the bearing 118 shall be made from rubber or another elastomer and shall comprise a perforated top surface 130 and a bottom surface from which a plurality of flexible flaps 131 project. The flaps 131 can be arranged perpendicular to the bottom surface of the bearing 118 or else in an inclined position and can have various shapes, for example with rectilinear or curved profile and so on. The function of the bearing 118 is totally similar to the one described above for the bearing 18, however the structure with flaps 131 allows a possible blockage of the groove 5 and/or of the ramifications 6 to be avoided when walking. The shape of the bearing 18, 118 shall basically follow the shape of the cavity 3 in which it is housed, but it shall preferably have slightly smaller dimensions, so as to create a gap along the perimeter of the cavity.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bearing 18, 118 shall contain a perfume. The same technologies, per se known, described above can be used for the elastic core 12 and for the shell 10 of the pumping means 9. Figure 7 shows the section of a shoe 19 that comprises the sole 1 according to the invention and a vamp 21. The vamp 21 can be made from any material normally used for shoes, even from a waterproof material .

As usual a footbed 20 is fixed on the sole 1, at the side facing towards the inside of the shoe. Such a footbed 20 shall preferably be a perforated footbed, so as to promote the passage of air/vapour. In any case, it must be a breathable footbed. It is also important that the footbed 20, if coupled with the sole by gluing, be fixed just along the edges, to avoid the layer of glue compromising the breathability of the footbed 20.

Such a footbed 20 can possibly also comprise a perfume, as described previously, or a sanitising, antibacterial substance, etc. Microsphere technology can be particularly preferred in this case. In the preferred embodiment of figure 7, the vamp comprises a breathable layer 22 of air/vapour~ permeable material inside it. Such a material can generally be one of the materials described above for the bearing 18 and can possibly contain a perfume or a sanitising or antibacterial substance. The inner side of said breathable layer 22 can in turn be coated with a thin layer of skin or another finishing material for shoes.

Figures 8 and 9 show a different embodiment of the sole 1 of the invention. The sole comprises a base body 101 on which an insole 132 is housed. The insole 132 is arranged on an impression 133 formed on the top surface of the base body 101 and having a shape- matching that of the bottom surface of the insole 132.

In turn, the insole 132 comprises a first cavity 102, arranged at the area of the heel, and a second cavity 103, arranged at the area of the sole of the foot, such cavities being totally similar to the cavities 2, 3 described for the embodiment of figure 1. A channel 104 joins the first cavity 102 with the second cavity 103. A second channel 134 places the second cavity 103 in communication with the outer edge of the insole 132 and therefore, through the corresponding hole 135a arranged on the side surface of the base body 101, with the outside. A further channel 136, together with the hole 135b arranged on the side surface of the base body 101, in the heel area, places the first cavity 102 in communication with the outside.

The sole 1 also in this case comprises an aeration device. Such an aeration device, as described previously, preferably comprises pumping means 109, typically a bellows pump, housed in the first cavity 102 of the insole 132. The pumping means 109 comprise a shell 110, also formed from two half-shells as described previously, in which an elastic core 112 totally similar to the one described previously is housed. The elastic core 112 shall therefore also have a plurality of channels 113, 113' , 113'', 113'", 113'"' formed inside it. The shape of the shell 110 and, correspondingly, of the elastic core 112 is as stated different to that of the .shell 10 and of the elastic core 12 described previously, but they can be used irrespectively.

The shell 110 also comprises two nozzles Ilia, 111b arranged at the two ends, intended to align with the channels 104, 136 that place the first cavity 102 in communication with the second cavity 103 and with the outside, respectively. The shell 110, on the joining line of the two half-shells, also has a projecting edge 137, intended to rest on a step 138 formed along the side walls of the first cavity 102. In a particular embodiment, at the nozzl-es Ilia, 111b and therefore at the hole 135b and the channel 104, respectively, valve means 108a, 108b shall be arranged, preferably consisting of a one-way valve as described previously. The valve means 108a can allow just the entry of air from the outside., whereas the valve means 108b shall allow the air sucked in to be sent to the second cavity 103 and from here, through the holes of the bearing 118, inside the shoe. This solution shall be particularly useful in hot weather conditions, since it allows fresh air to be introduced inside the shoe, avoiding overheating of the foot and thus increasing the feeling of comfort. Alternatively, preferably in cold weather conditions, the valve 108a shall just allow foul air to be ejected to the outside from inside the shoe, whereas the inner valve 108b shall allow the foul air to be sucked in from the cavity 103 and therefore from inside the shoe. In this way a forced circulation of air around the foot is obtained, without however injecting cold air that would cause excessive cooling of the foot. This solution, which we can define "winter system" in contrast with the so-called "summer system" described beforehand, can be obtained by simply mounting the valve means 108a, 108b in inverted position or even more simply by inverting the positioning of the pumping means 109. In this embodiment, unidirectional valve means 108c are also preferably arranged at the channel 134 and . the hole 135a, which for example shall allow air to be sucked in from the outside in the "summer system" and foul air to be ejected in the "winter system" described above.

It should be noted that the presence of the channel 134 and of the hole 135a, to place the second cavity 103 in communication with the outside, is not necessary and can therefore be left out, so as to allow just the exchange of air between the second cavity 103 and the inside

shoe. Advantageously, bearing 18, 118 is housed in the second cavity 103 as described previously. A perforated footbed 20 can advantageously be arranged on the insole 132.

Figures 10, 11 and 12 show a different embodiment of the present invention. The figures show an insole 232 to be inserted on a base body 101 of a sole suitably arranged and carrying a matching impression on top. The insole 232 is integral and comprises a thickened rear portion 232a, corresponding to the heel region, and a front portion 232b carrying a plurality of through holes .

The rear portion 232a comprises an opening 240 intended to house the pumping means 209, similar to those described previously and thus consisting of a shell 210 in which an elastic core 212 is housed. The shell 210, formed from two half-shells, has a perimetric edge 237 and a nozzle 211 that constitutes the air inlet/ejection opening in the area where they meet. The perimetric edge 237 snap inserts into a suitable groove 241 formed along the side wall of the opening 240. The elasticity of the elastomeric material from which the insole 232 is made allows its deformation and therefore the insertion or removal of the pumping means 209.

As shown in figure 12, the shell 210 projects on top and below from the thickness of the insole 232, so as to promote the pumping action through treading. As shown in figure 11, the bottom surface of the insole 232 has a plurality of ridges 242 defining empty spaces that, overall, form an air chamber between the bottom surface of the insole 232 and the inner surface of the sole on which the insole rests. Again on the bottom surface of the insole 232, at the area where the nozzle 211 of the pumping means 209 is arranged, two ribs 243a, 243b are arranged that go for a first portion substantially parallel and then diverge until they reach the edge of the insole. Such ribs 243a, 243b constitute ^ a channel for the air sucked in/ejected through the hole 244 arranged on the side edge of the insole 232. At such a hole 244, the bottom surface of the insole 232 also comprises a seat 245 for valve means of the type described previously.

In an embodiment not shown, the shell 210 shall be similar to the shell 110 and shall thus be equipped with two nozzles, the first nozzle 211 facing towards the inside and the second nozzle at a channel communicating with the outside in the region of the heel. Unidirectional valve means shall preferably be positioned at the nozzles; this embodiment is therefore similar to that which has been outlined above for the embodiment of figure 8 and shall not be described any further. In this case, the opening 244 and the relative unidirectional valve means can also be omitted.

The use of the insole 232 can also avoid the positioning of a footbed 20 inside the shoe. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the footbed 20 \and/or the vamp 21 shall comprise a phase-change material. Phase-change materials, known with the acronym PCM, are materials able to pass from solid state to liquid state and vice-versa when a particular temperature is reached that falls within the range of weather conditions of common use, in particular for an item of clothing. Such weather conditions, in the case of a shoe, correspond to a temperature in the order of 25°-30°C. PCMs exploit the physical principle that when a material changes its physical state, it maintains the temperature equivalent to its melting point until all of the material has changed state. If the material melts after the climatic temperature has risen, it absorbs heat, vice-versa if it solidifies following cooling, it releases heat and by doing so maintains its temperature constant. It is thus clear that by inserting a PCM in a shoe, it shall take care of avoiding overheating or cooling of the foot, absorbing the excess heat from inside the shoe or releasing heat in the case qf external cooling. PCMs used for the purpose of the present invention consist of mixtures of paraffins having different melting points and high heat of fusion, encapsulated in microcapsules that are used to coat a substrate or to be included in said substrate. In particular, the material used is known as Outlast Thermocules . Preferably, the PCM shall be present at least on the face of the footbed 20 and/or of the vamp 21 facing towards the foot.

The use of a PCM in the present invention is of particular value. Indeed, the active air circulation system described above has the limitation of only providing efficient ventilation during walking, whereas in still conditions it is reduced to a passive system. In these conditions a heating or cooling of the foot could therefore occur, according to the weather conditions. The phase-change material thus takes care of keeping the temperature of the foot constant when not moving. On the other hand, the use of just PCM, without . the active ventilation system, would not be sufficient: as has been stated, the ability of the PCM to keep the temperature constant runs out when all of the material has changed phase, and therefore lasts a limited amount of time. In the present case, when walking once again, the active ventilation system of the invention takes care of thermostatting the shoe and regenerating the PCM, i.e. heating the inside of the shoe in cold weather and cooling it down in hot weather. It goes without saying that with the alternation of stopping and moving, typical of normal daily use of the shoe, the system of the present invention allows perfect thermostatting. The aeration system of the invention works in the following way.

The inside of the shoe is in fluid communication, through the perforated footbed 20, with the cavities 2, 102 or opening 209 and cavities 3, 103 of the sole and therefore, through the holes 7, 135a, 135b, 244 and the valve means 8, 108a, 108c, 245, with the outside. In the embodiment of figure 7, a further way of communication with the outside consists of the breathable layer 22 that allows air to enter/exit from the neck of the shoe, as shown by the arrows. In practice, in each step the first thing to be placed down is the heel, therefore the pumping means 9, 109, 209 are compressed causing a flow of air/vapour from the first cavity 2, 102 or opening 209 to the second cavity 3, 103 and then towards the outside. Then the sole of the foot is placed down, with relative compression of the bearing 18, 118 and further pushing of air/vapour towards the outside. When the heel (first) and the sole of the foot (after) are raised, the aeration device - pumping means 9, 109, 209 and bearing 18, 118 - causes a sucking of air/vapour from inside the shoe 19, through the holes of the footbed 20, as schematised by the arrows . A continuous and consistent air circulation is thus created, which has the effect of taking away sweat, keeping the foot dry, and of thermostatting the inside *of the shoe, avoiding overheating of the foot above all in hotter weather and/or during physical effort.

In the embodiment of figures 8 and 9, the presence of the unidirectional valves 108a, 108b, as already explained, according to weather conditions, allows air to be taken in just from the outside and the circulation of such air inside the shoe; or else, in cold weather, the air present in the shoe to be ejected to the outside without substantial intake from the outside.

The advantages of the aeration system of the invention are clear and in part have already been highlighted in the previous description. The aeration system of the invention, in practice, constitutes an active and not passive system. Indeed, the air/vapour is not simply vented through aeration holes, as in many solutions of the prior art, but a sort of forced circulation is created that substantially increases the efficiency of aeration. The aeration device - pumping means 9, 109, 209 and bearing 18, 118 - acts as a lung, taking in and letting out air/vapour in each step, thus the volume of circulated fluid is high.

As well as the effect of keeping the foot dry and thermostatted, the preferential presence of perfume in a slow-release form allows the problem of bad smells to be solved for a long if not indefinite time.

The combination of the active ventilation system of the invention and a phase-change material (PCM) allows the advantages of the invention to last longer even when not walking.

The aeration device, i.e. the pumping means 9, 109, 209 and the bearing 18, 118, • also acts as a shock absorber, above all thanks to the provision of the elastic core 12, 112, 212 inside the pumping means 9, 109, 209. In this way the pumping effect is also associated with substantial comfort when walking, which allows the use of the aeration system of the invention also for sports and technical shoes. In particular, the aeration system of the invention can be used both in normal shoes and in tennis and/or athletics shoes, in hiking and walking shoes in general or in work shoes and anti-industrial accident shoes .

It is clear that only some particular embodiments of the aeration system for shoes object of the present invention have been described, to which the man skilled in the art shall be able to bring any modifications necessary to "_v adapt it to particular applications, without however departing from the scope of protection of the present invention. It shall, for example, be possible to foresee that the footbed 20 be removable, so as to allow access to the bellows pump 9 or to the bearing 18 to replace them or impregnate them with more perfume.

Claims

1. Aeration system fφr shoes, comprising a hollow sole (1) having an aeration device in fluid communication both with the inside of the shoe and with the outside, at least one first cavity (2, 102) or opening (209) being formed inside said hollow sole (1; 101, 132; 232), pumping means (9, 109, 209) being housed in said at least one first cavity (2, 102) or opening (209) , characterised in that said pumping means (9, 109, 209) comprise a shell (10, 110, 210) and one or more distribution nozzles (11; Ilia, 111b;

211) , a flexible core (12, 112, 212) being housed v inside said shell (10, 110, 210) .

2. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 1, in which said elastic core (12, 112, 212) comprises an elastic insert made from an elastomer.

3. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 2, in which said elastomer has a Shore D hardness of over 60, preferably over 80, more preferably over 90.

4. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 2, in which said elastomer has a Shore A hardness of between 15 and 30, preferably about 20.

⁵- Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 2 to 4, in which the shape of said elastic insert substantially follows that of the shell (10, 110, 210) in which it is housed, but it has smaller dimensions so as to create a gap between the core and the inner walls of said shell (10, 110, 210) .

6. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 2 to 5, in which said elastic insert is perforated on three sides, so that a network of small channels (13, 13', 13", 13'", 13""; 113, 113', 113", 113"', 113"") is formed inside it.

7. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 2 to 6, in which said elastic core (12, 112, 212) and/or said shell (10, 110, 210) contain a perfume.

8. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 7, in which said perfume is absorbed in the material of the elastic core (12, 112, 212) and/or of the shell (10, 110, 210) or- is associated with it in the form of microspheres.

9. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 1, in which said elastic core (12, 112, 212) is a spring.

10. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which said pumping means (9, 109, 209) are a bellows pump.

11. Aeration system for shoes according to any^¬ one of claims 1 to 10, in which said hollow sole (1) comprises at least one second cavity (3, 103), positioned substantially at the sole of the foot and defined by an edge (Ia, 101a) , said at least one second cavity (3, 103) being in fluid communication with said at least one first cavity (2, 102) through a channel (4, 104) .

12. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 11, in which said channel (4) continues, at said at least one second cavity (3) , in a groove (5) , with a plurality of ramifications (6) projecting to the right and left of βaid groove (5) , in a substantially transversal direction, said main groove (5) and said ramifications (6) extending up to said edge (Ia) .

13. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 12, in which, at the distal end of said main groove (5) and of said ramifications (6) , the edge (Ia) of the hollow sole (1) comprises transversal holes (7) , which place said at least one cavity (3) in fluid communication with the outside.

14. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 13, in which, at the mouth of said holes (7) towards the outside, valve means (8) are arranged.

15. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 11 to 14, in which said at least one second cavity (3, 103) houses a bearing (18, 118) .

16. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 15, in which said bearing (18, 118) is made from an expanded synthetic material with open cells, like latex foam or polyester-based expanded polyurethane, or else a needled material, like a needled non-woven fabric, preferably with continuous thread^", a needled felt or a needled synthetic material (PE or PP) , or else from a perforated or microperforated elastomer.

17. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 15 or 16, in which said bearing (18, 118) comprises a perfume.

18. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 1 to 17, in which said hollow sole (1) comprises a base body (101) and an insole (132, 232) , said base body (101) comprising an impression (133) of a shape matching the shape of the bottom surface of the insole (132, 232) and on which said insole (132, 232) is arranged.

19. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 18, in which said insole (132) comprises a first cavity (102) , arranged at the area of the heel and in which said pumping means (109) are arranged, and a second cavity (103) , arranged at the area of the sole of the foot, and in which a first channel (104) joins said first cavity (102) with said second cavity (103) ; a second channel (134) placing said second cavity (103) in communication with the outer edge of the insole (132) and therefore, through the corresponding hole (135a) arranged on the side surface of the base body (101) , with the outside.

20. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 19, in which a third channel (136), together with the hole (135b) arranged on the side surface of the base body (101) in the area of the heel, places said first cavity (102) in communication with the outside.

21. Aeration system according to any one of claims 18 to 20, in which said shell (110) comprises two nozzles (Ilia,. 111b) arranged at the two ends, intended to be aligned with said channels (104, 136) that place said first cavity (102) in communication with the second cavity (103) and with the outside, respectively.

22. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 21, in which, at said nozzles (Ilia, 111b) and therefore at the hole (135b) and the first channel (104) , respectively, first and second unidirectional valve means (108a, 108b) shall be placed, mounted so that said first valve means (108a) allow just the entry of air from the outside, whereas said second valve means (108b) allow air to be sent from the outside to said second cavity (103) and from here, through the holes of the bearing (118) , inside the shoe; or else said first and second valve means

(108a, 108b) are mounted so as to allow an inverse air circulation.

23. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 19 to 22, in which, at said channel (134) and at the hole (135a) unidirectional valve means (108c) are arranged, said valve means (108c) being mounted so as to allow air to be taken in from the outside; or else said valve means (108c) are mounted so as to allow air to be ejected from the inside .

24. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 18, in which said insole (232) is integral and comprises a thickened rear portion (232a) , corresponding to the region of the heel, and a front portion (232b) carrying a plurality of through holes.

25. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 24, in which said rear portion (232a) of said insole (232) comprises an opening (240) intended to house said pumping means (209) .

26. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 24 or 25, in which the shell (210) of said pumping means (209) has a raised perimetric edge

(237) and at least one nozzle (211) that constitutes the opening for taking in/ejecting air, said perimetric edge (237) being able to be snap inserted in a groove (241) formed along the side wall of the opening (240) .

27. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 24 to 26, in which the bottom surface of the insole (232) has a plurality of ridges (242) defining empty spaces that, overall, form an air chamber between the bottom* surface of the insole (232) and the inner surface of the base body (101)_ on which the insole rests.

28. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 24 to 27, in which two ribs (243a, 243b) are arranged on the bottom surface of the insole (232) , at the area in which the nozzle (211) of the pumping means (209) is arranged, which extend for a first portion substantially parallel and then diverge until they reach the edge of the insole

(232) , said ribs (243a, 243b) constituting a channel for the air taken in/ejected through a hole (244) arranged on the side edge of the insole (232) .

29. Aeration system for shoes according to any^¬ one of claims 24 to 28, in which, at said hole (244) , the bottom surface of the insole (232) comprises a seat (245) for unidirectional valve means.

30. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 1 to 29, in which said shoe (19) comprises said hollow sole (1) as described in the previous claims and a vamp (21) , a breathable footbed

(20) being arranged on said hollow sole (1) , at the side facing towards the inside of the shoe (19) .

31. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 30, in which said footbed (20) is perforated.

32. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 30 or 31, in which said footbed (20) is coupled with said hollow sole (1) by gluing just along the edges .

33. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 30 to 32, in which said footbed (20) comprises a perfume, a sanitising or an antibacterial substance.

34. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 30 to 33, in which said vamp (21) comprises a breathable layer (22) of air/vapour- permeable material inside it.

35. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 34, said breathable layer (22) being made from an expanded synthetic material with open cells, like latex foam or polyester-based expanded polyurethane, or else from a needled material, like a needled non- woven fabric, preferably with continuous thread, a needled felt or a needled synthetic material (PE or PP) , or else from a perforated or microperforated elastomer.

36. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 34 or 35, in which said breathable layer (22) comprises a perfume, a sanitising or an antibacterial substance .

37. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 30 to 36, in which said footbed (20) is removable, so as to allow access to the pumping means (9) and/or to the bearing (18) to replace them or to impregnate with perfume.

38. Aeration system for shoes according to any one of claims 30 to 37, in which the footbed (20) and/or the vamp (21) comprise a phase-change material .

39. Aeration system for shoes according to claim 38, in which said phase-change material comprises mixtures of paraffins having different melting points and high heat of fusion, encapsulated in microcapsules.

40. Aeration system for shoes' according to any one of claims 1 to 9, in which said shell (10) has substantially flat base surfaces (14, 14') and side surface (15) that has sides with concave profile joined by rounded corners .

41. Aeration system Vfor shoes according to claim 40, in which one or both of the base surfaces (14, 14') of said shell (10) comprise a pumping button (16) formed integrally in the thickness of said shell (10) by shaping a substantially C-shaped or horseshoe-shaped blind groove (17) on the -base surface .

42. Shoe (19) comprising an aeration system as outlined in any one of claims 1 to 41.

43. Aeration device comprising pumping means (9, 109, 209) as described in any one of the previous claims .