CA2084293A1 - Ventilated footgear - Google Patents

Abstract

The present ventilated footgear structure includes a mid-sole (2) with which a reinforcement (7) is associated; a first ventilation channel (15) is provided at the reinforcement at the heel region of an upper (12). The mi-sole is furthermore associated with a sole (20) with the interposition therebetween, in the heel region, of at least one resilient element (22, 23). The resilient element furthermore accomodates a pumping element (24) which is connected to the first aspiration channel and to the inside of the upper. An item of footgear is thus obtained which allows to achieve optimum ventilation while walking.

Description

WO 9?/171)81 PCr/EP92/00697 2~2~;~

VENTIL~TED FOOTGEAR
Technical FiPld -The present invention relates to ventilated fcotgear.
Background Art Items of footgear provided with devices suitable for allowing the ventilation of the foot inside them are currently known.
US patent 1,380,879 i5 thus known ~or this purpose and discloses an item of footgear which is internally provided with an inner sole which is superimposed on an underlying sole and is spaced therefrom by means of the interposition of adapted spiral springs.
This device thus allows, while walking, by virtue of the compression of the inner sole, to achieve a pumping effect, with the injection of air through adapted holes defined on the inner sole.
However, this solution has considerable problems both 15 as regards the constructive execution therPof and as regards the fact that .he entire foot rests at an inner sole which can move with respect to the sole which rests on the ground, and this creates an unnatural movement at the foot.
The French patent no. 1,295,561 is also known which 20 relates to an item of footgPar wherein ventilation is obtained by virtue of the presence of ridges which define channels which are connected to one another, to adapted spenings arranged externally on the upper part and, internally, to the sole of the foot.
In this solution, walking in practice creates an induced pumping effect, with aspiration and outward expulsion of the air.

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w092/17081 , PCT/EP92/~0691 ~J~t?~ ~ 2 However, even this solution is not optimum, since a limited ventilation is achieved and the possibility of a partial occlusio~ of the channels during use is furthermore observed.
US patent no. 3,029,530 is also known which relates to a ventilated boot wherein the outer sole, which is in contact with the ground, is provided, at the heel, with a seat which contains a U-shaped metallic insert made of resilient material, a spring, rubber pads and a bellows 10 which constitute, in com~ination, a pumping element which, during walking, allows to aspirate air ~rom outside and, alternatively, to deliver said air inside the boot.
However, this solution is constructively complicated and is subject to considerable wear at the sole.
Furthermore, since the bellows is adjacent to the ground, it can be subject to accidental breakages or to the accumulation of dirt or of other elements which limit its operation.
The Austrian patent no. 7184/72 is also known which 20 essentially relates to a sole which has, at the inner surface, recesses or channels which are delimited, in the central region, hy protruding parts made of resilient material.
In this solution, too, the pumping effect is achieved 25 as an induced effect due to the variations in the localized deformations on the elastically resilient elements during walking~
Patent ~E 29 02 784 is also known which relates to a boot whose peculiarity consists of the fact that it is 30 provided, in its front part, with at least one interspace - . ; , .
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WO92/17081 2 0 .~ .~ 2 ~ ~ PCT/E~9~/006')1 wikh air ventilation ducts through which air is ~irculated starting from the region of the boot which accommodates the foot.
In this solution, air circulation occurs presumably as 5 an induced effect due to the movement of the leg with respect to the quarter which constitutes the boot, so that this solution has very limited applications.
Italian patent no. 177278 is also known which relates to an item of footgear which comprises a ventilation device lO whose peculiarity consists of the fact that a compressible cham~er is provided in the heel region ~etween the sole and -the insole and is connected to a channel whose end reaches the inner front region of the i~em of footgear.
This solution provides circulation of the air which is 15 inside the item of footgear without producing an interchange thereof, and this is unhealthy for the foot and thus does not allow to achieve beneficial effects for said foot.
In any case, the presence of the bellows interposed between the sole and the heel makes said bellows subject to 20 accidental breakage or to the interposition of foreign bodies which compromise its optimum operation.
US patent 4,420,893 is also ~nown which describes a ski boot inside which there is, below the innerboot, a pumping element which is connected, by means of a delivery valve, to 25 an adapted duck which substantially ends at the sole of the foot.
Said pumping element is thus connected, by means of an intake valve, to a duct for drawing air from outside.
However, this solution provides the actuation of the 30 pumping element by means of the oscillating movement of the ,, WO92/170Xl PCr/EPg2/0~691 ~ ~ 4 quarter with respect to the shell; this actuation is achieved for example by means of an adapted traction element which is associated with said quarter and is connected, at its other end, to a lever which oscillates about an axis 5 which i5 transverse to the sole and interacts with the pumping element.
Therefore, this solution, besides being constructively very complicated and subject to possible jammings, finds a specific application at a ski boot and thus at an element 10 which has components which have mutual movements.
French patent no. 84 14030 is also known which discloses a ventilated sole for items of footgear; one or more compartments are provided on the surface thereof which is in contact with the sole of the foot and which is 15 connected to an air infeed duct, a terminal end whereof being arranged in a high point of the item of footgear.
Said compartments are furthermore connected to porous diffusion regions, so as to allow, during the movement of the foot and thus during walking, to achieve a pumping 20 effect which causes the introduction, inside the item of foo~g~ar, of air which is drawn from the outside in a high point of said item.
However, even this solution has problems, since essentially a very modest pumping effect is observed~
US patent 4,771,555 is also Xnown which relates to a ski boot on whose shell and sole there are adapted seats for elements which are permeable to air and impermeable to water.
This solution thus allows to achieve a non-forc~d and 30 accordingly very limited ventilation which is not suitable . .
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W~92/17081 PCT/EP92/~0691 2 ~ 2 ,'~ 3 for the requirement of achieving ventilation which provides greater healthiness for the foot.
US patent 4,823,482 is also known which relates to an internal item of footgear or to an innerboot to be inserted 5 in a ski boot, which is provided with a rigid lower sole which is in turn surmounted by an upper sole which delimits an inner chamber of the substantially bellows-like type.
Said inner sole, by virtue of appropriate connections, acts at a compressor which is accommodated above the outer lO sole and is connected to an evaporation circuit and to a condensation circuit.
A circulation of air which can be vaguely likened to a heat pump is thus hypothesized.
Howev~r, even this solution is speclfic for a 15 particular type of footgear and has a very complicated constructive solution which is subject to malfunctions and to consequent maintenance, due to the considerable stresses to which it can be s~bjected during walking.
Disclosure of tha Inven ion The aim of the present invention is therefore to 20 eliminate the problems described above in known types by providing a footgear structure which allows to achieve an optimum ventilation o~ the inside thereof, keeping the foot in a condition of healthiness allowed by continuous interchange of air.
Within the scope of the above aim, an important object is to provide a fsotgear structure wherein the foot can be accommodated in optimum conditions inside said structure without being subjected to relative movements in order to achieve ventilation.

: . , Wo~2/17081 pcT/Eps~/no6s1 ~s~?~ 6 Another object i5 to provide a ventilated footgear structure which is not substantially aesthetically different from non-ventilated items of footgear.
Another important object is to provide a footgear 5 structure which is structurally simple and easy to industrialize, and which can also be obtained, by means of slight modifications to non-ventilated items of footgear.
Not least object is to provide a footgear structure which is reliable and safe in use.
lo This aim, these objects and others which will become apparent hereinafter are achiaved by a ventilated footgear structure which is characterized in that it comprises a mid-sole with which a reinforcement is associable, a firstaspixation channel being associated with said reinforcement 15 and being connected to the outside, said reinforcement being arrangeable and associable at the heel region of an upper, said mid-sole being associable with à sole with the interposition, in the heel region, of at least one resilient means within which a pumping element can be accommodated, zo said pumping element being connected to said first aspiration channel and to the inside of said upper.
Brief description of the drawings Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the detailed description of some particular but not exclusive embodiments, illustrated only 25 by way of non-limitative example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:
figure 1 is an exploded view of the components of the ventilated ~ootgear structure according to a first aspect of the present invention;

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figure 2 is a further exploded view of the footgearstructure of figure 1 with some of the components assembled together;
figure 3 is a sectional view of the ventilated ~ootgear 5 structure of figures 1 and 2, taken along a longitudinal median plane;
figure 4 is a longitudinal section view of a ventilated footgear structure according to a further aspect of the present invention.
Ways of carrying out the invention lo With reference to the above figures, the reference numeral 1 designates a ventilated footgear structure, which comprises a mid-sole 2 which preferably but not necessarily has a semirigid structure; a reinforcement 7 which is provided with an adapted protruding annular flange 6 which 15 is ~ssociable at the lower surface 3 of said mid-sole in the region of the heel 4 at the perimetric edge 5 ther~of.
The connection of said reinforcement at the mid-sole 2 can occur by gluing, riveting, snap-together coupling, heat-welding or other known connection means.
In the particular embodiment, adapted mushroom-shaped studs 8 have been shown which protrude below the mid-sole 2 and are associable at adapted first holes 9 defined on the annular flange 6.
The reinforcement 7 protrudes beyond the upper surface 25 10 of the mid-sole 2 and embraces the heel region of the user.
The unit constituted by the mid-sole 2 and the reinforcemDnt 7 is thus associable at the lower perimetric edge 11 of an upper 12 in which th~ reinforcement 7 is ~ .

W~92/17081 PCT/~P~2/0~691 ~ 8 n3 k ~

arranged outside said upper and can be further associated therewith for example by gluing or other known means.
Advantageously, it is possible to provide, at the heel region 13 cf said upper 12, an adapted first seat 14 which S is suita~le for accommodating the reinforcement 7 so that there is continuity in passing from the outer surface of said upper to the outer surface of the reinforcement.
A first aspiration channel 15 is furthermore provided with said reinforcement, advantageously at the rear region, lO and is provided with one or more first openings 16 proximate to the upper perimetric edge 17 of the reinforcement 7 for connection to the outside and with one or more second openings 18 proximate to the lower perimetric edge 19 of the reinforcement.
lS Said first aspiration channel 15 can be defined during th2 molding of the reinforcement 7 or separately therefrom and subsequently coupled thereto.
The flow of air which enters at the first openings 16 can ~e ad~usted by means of adapted shoking devices 32 which 20 have one or more holes 33 which can ~e arranged or not at the first openings l6.
The ventilated footgear structure is furthermore constituted by a sole 20 which is associable, in a do~nward position, at the mid-sole 2 with the interposition 25 therebetween o~ at least one resilient means 21 which can be arranged at the region of the heel 4.
Said resilient means 21 is advantageously constituted by one or more springs or by a resilient element which, once compressed, tends to return to its original condition.
In the illustrated figures, said resilient element is .

W092/17081 PCT/~P~2/On6~1 9 ~ 0 ~ 3 essentially U-shaped having a base 23 and wings ~2; its width is approximately equal to that of the sole 20 and the longitudinal extension of its wings 22 is approximately equal to that of the annular flange 6, which approximately S does not extend beyond the heel region 4.
Advantageously, the width of said resilient element fuxthermore decreases progressively, starting from the base 23 thereof, until it becomes zero at the free end of the wings 22.
This configuration thus allows to accommodate, between the wings 22, at least one pumping element 24 which has a duct 25 which protrudes beyond the wings 22 and whose terminal end 26 is associable at an adapted and complementarily shaped hole 27 defined at the mid-sole 2.
: 15 The transfer Qf the flow of air from the first openings 16 to the second openinqs 18 and then to the pumping element 24 occurs by virtue of the presence of an adapted seat 28 which is defined transversely to the base 23 of the resilient means 21, said seat 28 being naturally arranged 20 below the second openings 18 and being connected to an adapted intake valve 29 which is associated at the pumping element 24~
Advantageously, said pumping element is retained in its position by virtue of the presence of an adapted lug or 25 shoulder 30 which protrudes above said underlying sole 20.
Advantageously, the pumping element 24 may have a delivery valve 31 interposed on the duct 25.
The use of the ventilated footgear structure is thus as follows: during walking, ventilation of the foot can be 30 activated by the movement of the foot itself, since the heel W0~2/i70XI PCr/~P~2/0069l - 3 lo rests at the mid-sole 2, which transmits force at the underlying annular flange 6 of the reinforcement 7 which in turn interacts with the resilient means 21 and compresses it.
Thus, advantageously, said annular flange 6 can be rigid in order to improve compression.
In this manner, a compression of the pumping element 24 is also performed; said pumping element 24, through the duct 25, forces the introduction of fresh air, drawn ~rom outside 10 by means of the first aspiration channel 15, into the item of footgear.
When the heel starts to rise from the ground, the resilient means 21 pushes the annular flange 6 and thus the mid-sole 2 so as to space it from the sole 20, so as to 15 aspirate fresh air from outside through the seat 28 and the first aspiration channel 15.
It has thus been observed that the invention has achieved the intended aim and objects, a ventilated footgear structure having been provided which allows to achieve an 20 optimum ventilation of the foot inside it, creating a continuous flow of ir drawn from outside which improves the comfort of the foot.
The inv ntion is furthermore structurally very simple and thus has modest manu~acturing costs and a conse~uent 25 simple and rapid industrialization as regards the assembly of the components.
AdvantageoUsly, the resilient means 21 al50 performs a shock-absorbing function, furthermore constituting a stroke limit for the compression of the pumping element 24; said 30 stroke limit can otherwise be obtained with the element 30 WO 92t17081 Pcr/~:Ps2/no6s ll 2 G ~, 12 Y ,,' which protrudes from the sole 20.
The invention is naturally susceptible to numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the same inventive concept.
Thus, for example, figure 4 illustrates a second embodiment, wherein the first aspiration channel 15 is constituted by an independent element which has a first opening 16 connected to the outside through adapted choking devices 32 and, at its other end, is directly connected, or 10 arranged proximate, to the intake valve 29 of the pumping element 24.
This embodiment has a further advantage, which is due to the possibility of providing universal application thereof to types of footgear not equipped with ventilation 15 means simply by means of slight modific~tions to be made thereto.
The materials and the dimensions which constitute the individual elements of the invention may also naturally be the most pertinent according to the specific requirements.
Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such re~çrence signs do not have any limiting effect on the scope 25 of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims (14)

1. Ventilated footgear structure, characterized in that it comprises a mid-sole (2) with which a reinforcement (7) is associated, a first aspiration channel (15) being associated with said reinforcement and being connected to the outside of the structure, said reinforcement being arranged and associated at the heel region (13) of an upper (12), said mid-sole being associated with a sole (20) with the interposition therebetween, in the heel region (4) thereof, of at least one resilient means (21) within which a pumping element (24) is accommodated, said pumping element being connected to said first aspiration channel and to the inside of said upper.

2. Footgear structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said mid-sole has a semirigid structure and a lower surface (3), said reinforcement having a protruding annular flange (6) which is connected to said lower surface in the heel region (4) and at the perimetric edge (5) of said mid-sole, said mid-sole and said flange of said reinforcement being associated by connection means.

3. Footgear structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said mid-sole and said reinforcement, which protrudes beyond the upper surface of said mid-sole so as to embrace the user's heel region, are associated at the lower perimetric edge (11) and at the lateral surface of said upper (12), said reinforcement being arranged outside said upper.

4. Footgear structure according to claim 3, characterized in that a first seat (14) is defined at the heel region (13) of said upper (12) and is suitable for accommodating said reinforcement (7), thereby defining continuity in the passage from the outer surface of said upper to the outer surface of said reinforcement.

5. Footgear structure according to claim 1, characterized in that a first aspiration channel (15) is associated with said reinforcement (7), preferably at the rear region thereof, and has one or more first openings (16), proximate to the upper perimetric edge (17) of said reinforcement (7), for connection to the outside and one or more second openings (18) defined proximate to the lower perimetric edge (19) of said reinforcement (7).

6. Footgear structure according to claim 5, characterized in that said sole (20) is associated, in a downward position, at said mid-sole (2) by means of the interposition therebetween of at least one resilient means (21) which is arranged at the heel region.

7. Footgear structure according to claim 6, characterized in that said resilient means is an essentially U-shaped resilient element with a width which is approximately equal to that of said sole (20) and a longitudinal extension of its wings (22) which is approximately equal to that of said annular flange (6) which does not extend beyond approximately said heel region, the width of said resilient element decreasing progressively starting from the base of said element until it becomes zero at the free end of said wings (22).

8. Footgear structure according to claim 7, characterized in that said resilient element accommodates, between said wings (22), at least one pumping element (24) which is provided with a duct (25) which protrudes beyond said wings (22) and whose terminal end is associable at an adapted and complementarily shaped hole (27) defined at said mid-sole (2).

9. Footgear structure according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one seat (28) is defined, transversely to said base (23) of said resilient element, for the transit of a flow of air from said first openings (16) to said second openings (18), said seat being arranged in a region underlying said second openings and being connected to an adapted intake valve (29) which is associated at said pumping element.

10. Footgear structure according to claim 9, characterized in that said pumping element is retained in its position by virtue of the presence of an adapted lug (30) or shoulder which protrudes above said underlying sole (20).

11. Footgear structure according to claim 10, characterized in that said lug or shoulder and/or said resilient element constitute a shock-absorber and a stroke limit for the compression of said pumping element (24).

12. Footgear structure according to claim 1, characterized in that said first aspiration channel (15) is constituted by an independent element which has a first opening (16), connected to the outside by means of adapted choking devices (32), and is, at its other end, directly connected or arranged proximate to an intake valve (29) of said pumping element (24).

13. Footgear structure according to claim 6, characterized in that said resilient means is constituted by one or more springs which, once compressed, tends to return to its original condition.

14. Footgear structure according to claim 5, characterized in that said first aspiration channel (15) is defined during the molding of said reinforcement (7) and subsequently coupled thereto, devices (32) for choking the air flow being advantageously associable with said aspiration channel (15).