EP0714611A1 - Ventilating device for shoes and method for making the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The ventilation comprises a compressible sealed chamber (1) in a flexible material constituted by a container with a cover. The cover consists of membranes forming non return valves allowing inlet and exhaust of air into the container in a single flow direction. The cover has a groove in its periphery into which the upper edge of the container is housed and sealed. The compressible chamber is encastred in an inner sole (14) which has on one face a network of air circulation channels (15) and holes (16). The channels communicate with the compressible chamber and the holes connect the channels to the internal sole opposite face. The container has at one end a flexible sloping tab (2') which lies on the wearing sole (20) and acts as a spring between this sole's upper surface and the inner sole lower face.

Description

The present invention relates to an internal ventilation device for footwear of the city or sport type allowing in particular the ventilation of the interior of the shoe as well as the evacuation of sweat.

When walking or, even more, when practicing a sport, the foot heats up inside a footwear and the user can then experience discomfort and a feeling of discomfort, linked by peculiar to sweating. Patent FR-B-2,472,354 proposed to limit this discomfort by proposing an article of footwear comprising compressible and deformable pneumatic chambers in the sole in communication with pneumatic chambers fitting the rear part of the foot. However, if this type of article considerably reduces the discomfort linked to heating by creating a certain flexibility of the footwear, it does not solve the problem linked to sweating itself. It is therefore advisable to propose a means making it possible to reduce both the inconveniences linked to this overheating but also those linked to sweating, by providing ventilation or air circulation inside the footwear.

It has been proposed in FR-A-2,594,305 to produce a first sole comprising a recess in its upper part, said recess being closed by a sockliner provided with perforations. Thus, during walking, the recess is compressed and the air it contains is evacuated through perforations towards the inside of the footwear; when the compression of this recess is released, air again enters the recess through the perforations. There is therefore an air circulation but this practically always remains the same and one cannot speak of real evacuation and renewal of the stale air inside the footwear. A sole of the same kind is also described in FR-A-2,052,268.

Document FR-A-1,019,374 proposes a boot provided with a pocket which extends along the upper and is interposed between the insole and the sole. At the top of the upper, the pocket is provided with an air intake orifice and at the end of the pocket under the arch, it has one or more perforations towards the inside of the boot through which the air is evacuated during walking. However, when fitting the heel, air can either be sent to the arch of the foot or returned to the top of the upper. The air circulation is therefore random and therefore not very efficient. Document US-A-2,741,038 proposes the same principle but by introducing valves into the pocket in order to circulate the air in one direction. Such an embodiment offers very limited walking comfort.

GB-A-2,189,679 describes a sole molded so as to constitute a pump, the air circulating in a direction according to the principle of compression / depression linked to the movement of movement thanks to valves provided in this sole. The realization of such a sole is difficult to implement work and there is a risk of the upper part of the sole being crushed inside the recess made in the sole after a certain period of use.

European patent application EP-A-0,319,968 describes, for its part, a sole comprising an internal recess opened by an air intake orifice at the heel and provided with perforations under the arch of the foot. During the fitting of the heel, the air intake orifice is closed by compression and the air is evacuated towards the perforations and from there towards the inside of the footwear. Such a sole has the drawback of risking sagging of the upper part of the sole in the recess during use over time.

Document FR-A-2,695,303 proposes an integrated air circulation device at the heel of a sole, consisting of a chamber comprising a compressible upper wall, a non-return valve for air intake at the heel level and an air evacuation channel leading towards the front of the sole. Despite the non-return valve, when the compression is released under the arch of the arch, nothing prevents the evacuated air from returning to said compressible chamber via the evacuation channel and thus preventing an effective circulation of air from the heel towards the arch.

WO-A-93/07774 proposes a sole which comprises an air intake orifice at the level of the arch of the foot, the air then being introduced, by means of a non-return valve into a cavity formed in the heel and escaping outward via a non-return valve by a conduit extending along the upper of the shoe. Here again, there is a particular implementation of the sole as well as the upper of the shoe and which cannot be adapted to different types of footwear.

In order to overcome these drawbacks of existing systems, the present invention provides a ventilation device independent of the footwear consisting of a first or wear sole and a rod, which allows one-way air circulation from the heel of the shoe. he article of footwear on the front part thereof which is easy and economical to make and assemble.

To this end, the ventilation device is characterized in that it comprises a compressible chamber made of flexible and waterproof material consisting of a reservoir provided with a cover, said cover comprising membranes forming a non-return valve allowing entry and the evacuation of air into the tank in a single direction of circulation, and an inner sole on which said compressible chamber is built-in, said inner sole comprising on one side a network of air circulation channels in communication with the compressible chamber and being provided with perforations communicating said channels with the opposite face of the insole.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cover has on its inner face a recess and a diametrically opposite orifice and on its outer face a recess in which ends the orifice of the inner face and an orifice which ends in the recess on the outside, the membranes forming a non-return valve being placed in said recesses in order to promote a single possible direction of air circulation.

Advantageously, this device is introduced into an article of footwear whose outsole has a cavity capable of accommodating the compressible chamber.

When the compressible chamber is placed in the cavity of the outsole, said compressible chamber advantageously has dimensions such that it must protrude slightly above the upper face of the outsole. Said compressible chamber being embedded in the insole, the latter is therefore also slightly raised above the heel area of the outsole and therefore does not rest completely on the sole. wear.

Thus, during the installation of the heel during walking, the compressible chamber undergoes a deformation of the walls of its reservoir under the effect of the compression exerted by the foot on the insole which comes to rest completely on the upper face. of the outsole while an abrasion-resistant pad, placed under the heel of the outsole slightly protruding from the surface of this heel in contact with the ground, contributes at the same time to the compression of the chamber in its lower part.

The compressed air then tends to escape from the compressible chamber and exerts pressure on the diaphragm forming a valve, at least one of which is mobile and allows the evacuation of the air.

The outer face of the cover of the compressible chamber advantageously has recesses on its edges which connect the air inlet and outlet orifices in the compressible chamber with the network of pipes present on one face of the inner sole.

The air expelled from the compressible chamber is evacuated towards the front of the insole by the circulation channels then, during the compression of the front part of the outsole and of the insole, the air is evacuated to the inside front part of the footwear. Advantageously, the air cannot return to the compressible chamber and is therefore expelled entirely towards the inside of the footwear.

During this time, the walls of the tank are replaced and a vacuum is created in the compressible chamber which tends to attract a current of air coming from outside the compressible chamber through the second diaphragm forming a valve. which admits air intake from the heel of the insole.

An air circulation device has therefore been produced in a simple design and which does not require a particular and complicated shape of the outsole as was the case in the prior art. In fact, in addition to the usual designs that the outsole may present, it is just necessary that the latter have on its upper face an open cavity for receiving the tank of the ventilation device.

The invention also relates to an article of footwear consisting of a outsole to which a rod is fixed by any means known per se, characterized in that said outsole has on its upper face, at the heel, a cavity open suitable for accommodating a ventilation device consisting of a compressible chamber provided with non-return valves and embedded in an insole comprising, on its face facing the outsole, a network of pipes in communication with the compressible chamber and provided with perforations opening onto the opposite surface of the insole.

The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing such footwear comprising this ventilation device.

• la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe latérale de la chambre compressible du dispositif de ventilation selon l'invention ;
• la figure 2 représente une vue schématique en coupe latérale du réservoir de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue schématique du dessus du réservoir de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 représente une vue schématique en élévation latérale du couvercle du réservoir de la figure 1 ;
• les figures 5a et 5b représentent respectivement des vues schématiques des faces intérieure et extérieure du couvercle de la figure 4 ;
• les figures 6a et 6b représentent, en vues respectivement en élévation latérale et du dessus les membranes formant clapet du réservoir de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 7 représente la face inférieure de la semelle intérieure selon l'invention ;
• la figure 8 représente une vue en coupe latérale de l'article chaussant dans lequel doit être disposé le dispositif selon l'invention ;
• la figure 9 représente une vue en coupe latérale de l'article chaussant muni du dispositif selon l'invention ; et
• les figures 10a et 10b représentent en vue en élévation latérale les formes de montage de l'article chaussant de la figure 8.

The invention will be described in more detail during the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing in which:

• Figure 1 shows a side sectional view of the compressible chamber of the ventilation device according to the invention;
• 2 shows a schematic side sectional view of the tank of Figure 1;
• Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the tank of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 shows a schematic side elevational view of the tank cover of Figure 1;
• Figures 5a and 5b respectively show schematic views of the inner and outer faces of the cover of Figure 4;
• Figures 6a and 6b show, in views respectively in side elevation and from above, the diaphragm valves of the reservoir of Figure 1;
• Figure 7 shows the underside of the insole according to the invention;
• Figure 8 shows a side sectional view of the footwear in which the device according to the invention is to be disposed;
• Figure 9 shows a side sectional view of the footwear provided with the device according to the invention; and
• FIGS. 10a and 10b show in side elevation view the mounting forms of the footwear of FIG. 8.

A compressible chamber 1 of the device according to the invention, preferably of oval cross section, comprises a reservoir 2 on which a cover 3 fits and which has a tongue 2 ', horizontal or oblique (see FIG. 9), at one of its ends. This cover 3 has a groove 4 at its periphery in which is housed the upper rim 5 of the reservoir 2 of the compressible chamber 1 so as to obtain a tight closure.

On its outer face E, the cover 3 has a recess 6 and an orifice 7 preferably located diametrically opposite. On its inner face I, the cover 3 has a recess 8 in which the orifice 7 ends, while it has an orifice 9 diametrically opposite the recess 8 and which ends in the recess 6.

The recesses 6 and 8 are made so as to respectively accommodate membranes forming a valve 10 and 11 which admit only one direction of air circulation respectively. The orifices 7 and 9 ending in the recesses 6 and 8 are closed by the membranes forming a valve 10 and 11.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the air can be evacuated from the compressible chamber 1 only by means of the valve 11 which can be moved under the effect of an air push due to compression of the chamber compressible 1. On the contrary, the air is admissible in said chamber only through the valve 10 displaced by the air entering the tank 2 when the pressure is released. There is thus thus a single direction of entry and exit of the air into the chamber 1.

Preferably, the cover 3 also has recesses 12 and 13 on its outer face. The recess 12 is located between the edge of the cover 3 and the orifice 7 while the recess 13 extends from the recess 6 towards the edge of the cover 3. These recesses 12, 13 provide air passages when the compressible chamber 1 is fitted on the insole 14.

The sole 14 has, on its underside, facing the outsole during fitting into a footwear item, a network of pipes 15 which allow the air coming from the compressible chamber 1 to circulate under the insole 14. In places, said sole 14 has perforations 16 which allow air to escape towards the interior of the article of footwear through said sole 14.

The rear of the sole 14 has a cavity 17 in which the compressible chamber 1 is built-in.

The ventilation device according to the invention, constituted by the compressible chamber 1 and the insole 14, is introduced into an article of footwear 19 consisting of a first wear sole 20 to which is fixed by any means known per se a rod 21.

The outsole 20 has on its upper face a cavity 22 in which is housed the compressible chamber 1. The dimensions of the compressible chamber 1 are such that the sole 14 on which it is embedded is not fully supported on the sole wear 20.

Preferably, a pad 23 made of a material having a high abrasion resistance, is disposed on the underside of the outsole 20, at the heel and facing the cavity 22, slightly protruding with respect to the surface of the sole 20. This increases the impact force of the heel when walking which allows to exert a compression on the lower part of the compressible chamber 1.

When walking, when putting the heel, pressure is exerted by the heel on the insole 14 and therefore on the compressible chamber 1 which is compressed in the cavity 22, which deforms the walls of the tank 2 while the abrasion-resistant pad 23 exerts at the same time a compression on the reservoir 2 in the lower part thereof.

The air contained in said compressible chamber 1 escapes, under the pressure thus exerted, by the valve 10 towards the network of pipes 15 of the insole 14. When it is the front of the shoe, on which one s then presses, which is compressed, the air then escapes through the perforations 16 towards the inside of the footwear. At the same time, the pressure being released on the heel, the walls of the compressible chamber 1 are put back in place and the chamber 1 admits, again an air inlet by means of the valve 11, the air being then collected at the heel in the footwear.

Preferably, the tongue 2 ′, made of flexible material, present at the end of the reservoir 2 of the compressible chamber 1 can be produced so as to be oblique so that when the compressible chamber is introduced into the cavity 22 of the sole d 'wear 20, the end of said tongue 2' rests on the outsole 20 as shown in FIG. 9.

When a pressure, exerted on the sole 14, compresses the compressible chamber 1, this tongue 2 'is also compressed and when the pressure is released, said tongue 2' acts as a spring between the upper surface of the outsole 20 and the underside of the sole 14 and thus helps the compressible chamber 1 to resume its original uncompressed shape.

Air circulation has therefore been achieved inside the footwear, the valves 10 and 11 operating only in one direction to admit or evacuate the air from the compressible chamber 1.

The invention also relates to a manufacturing method which uses a mounting form of the type shown in FIG. 10a and which includes a protrusion under the heel in order to produce a outsole 20 having a cavity 22.

This form is preferably used for an assembly of the so-called "slip" type, the first assembly having pre-cut slots so as to allow the protuberance of the form to pass, as can be seen in FIG. 10b. After injection, the outsole 20 obtained has the cavity 22 into which the compressible chamber 1 can be inserted.

Claims (11)

Ventilation device for a sport or city type footwear,
characterized in that it comprises a compressible chamber (1) made of flexible and waterproof material consisting of a reservoir (2) provided with a cover (3), said cover (3) comprising membranes forming a non-return valve (10 , 11) allowing the entry and evacuation of air into the tank (1) in a single direction of circulation, and an inner sole (14) on which the compressible chamber (1) is built-in, said sole (14) comprising on one face a network of air circulation channels (15) in communication with the compressible chamber (1) and being provided with perforations (16) making said channels (15) communicate with the opposite face of the insole (14 ). Device according to claim 1,
characterized in that the cover (3) has on its inner face I a recess (6) and an orifice (7) diametrically opposite and on its outer face E a recess (8) in which the orifice (7) of the inner face I and an orifice (9) which terminates in the recess (6) of the outer face E, the membranes forming a non-return valve (10, 11) being placed in said recesses (6, 8). Device according to either of Claims 1 and 2,
characterized in that the cover (3) has a groove (4) at its periphery in which is housed the upper rim (5) of the reservoir 2 of the compressible chamber (1) so as to obtain a tight closure. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the valve membranes (10, 11) are mounted in the recesses (6, 8) respectively of so as to each admit only one direction of air circulation. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
characterized in that the sole (14) comprises at the heel, a cavity (17) in which the compressible chamber (1) is fitted. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
characterized in that the reservoir (2) has, at one of its ends, a tongue (2 ') made of flexible and oblique material so that it rests on the outsole (20) and plays the role of a spring between the upper surface of the outsole (20) and the underside of the sole (14) when pressure is exerted on the sole (14). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
characterized in that the outsole (20) has on its underside, at the heel and facing the cavity 22, and slightly protruding from the surface of the sole 20, a pad 23 of a material with high abrasion resistance Footwear consisting of an outsole to which a upper is fixed by any means known per se,
characterized in that said outsole (20) has on its upper face, at the level of the heel, an open cavity (22) suitable for accommodating a ventilation device consisting of a compressible chamber (1) provided with non-return valves return and embedded in an inner sole (14) having on its face facing the outsole (20) a network of pipes (15) in communication with the compressible chamber (1) and provided with perforations (16) opening at the opposite surface of the insole (14). Footwear according to claim 8,
characterized in that said compressible chamber has dimensions such that it protrudes slightly above the upper face of the outsole (20) in the footwear. Method for manufacturing an article of footwear,
characterized in that it uses a mounting form which includes a projection under the heel in order to produce a outsole (20) having a cavity (22). Manufacturing method according to claim 10,
characterized in that it comprises an assembly of the "slip" type, the first assembly having precut slits so as to allow the passage of the protuberance of the form, after injection, the outsole (20) obtained comprising the cavity (22).

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