US3012342A - Sole assembly for footwear - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 12, 1961 E. L. RAMIREZ SOLE ASSEMBLY FOR FOOTWEAR Filed July 6, 1960 INVENTOR. ELISEQ LDZA RAMIREZ BYW I United States Patent ()fiiee 3,012,342 Patented Dec. 12, 1961 3,012,342 SOLE ASSEMBLY FOR FOOTWEAR Eliseo Loza Ramirez, 2211 Mount Vernon St., Philadelphia, Pa. Filed July 6, 1960, Ser. No. 41,195 6 Claims. (Cl. 36-3) This invention relates to footwear and, more particularly, to a sole assembly therefor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a sole assembly for various types of shoes and other articles of footwear which is extremely comfortable in all types of conditions, and which will provide adequate support to the various parts of the foot during use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sole assembly for footwear that can be readily attached to conventional shoes, used with sandals, or used in con junction with any other type of footwear in a simple and convenient manner.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a sole assembly for footwear having laterally outwardly opening ducts and a perforated inner sole which will accommodate the passage of air into and out of the interior of the article of footwear directly through the sole so as to provide air flow directly contiguous to the sole of the foot.

Still an additional object of the present invention is to provide a sole assembly of the above type which includes a detachable adhesive strip which can be used to close oif or provide access to such laterally opening ducts of the outer sole to facilitate the use of this outer sole in all types of weather.

An additional object of the present invention is to provide a sole assembly for footwear of the above type which may be readily worn in the rain, whereby any entry of moisture into the article of footwear through the ports in communication with the ducts is minimized, and when such adhesive strip is applied to the periphery of such outer sole assembly it completely blocks off any flow of air or water into the interior of the footwear.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a sole assembly for footwear in which an extremely comfortable cushion-like effect is obtained at all times, both with the adhesive strip applied and removed, thus facilitating the use of such sole assembly for all types of footwear and for all weather conditions.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a article of footwear having a sole assembly made in accordance with the present invention, with one of the parts partly removed;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded perspective view, with parts broken away, of the sole assembly for footwear made in accordance with the present invention removed from any other footwear structure;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged transverse cross sectional view taken along line 33 of FIGURE 1.

Referring now more in detail to the drawing, a sole assembly made in accordance with the present invention is shown to include an outer sole 12 of generally flexible sheet-like construction having an upstanding longitudinally extending rib 14 and a plurality of angularly related and laterally outwardly extending side ribs 16 which are also upstanding to define a substantially common plane with the uppermost surface of the longitudinal rib 14. The laterally extending ribs 16 define ducts 18 therebetween for transmitting air in a manner hereinafter more fully described.

At the toe end of the outer sole 12, an arcuate front rib 21 defines the front end of the sole. Between such arcuate front rib 21 and the front one of the laterally extending ribs 16 on the inboard side of the longitudinal rib 14, is a transversely extending rib 20 which terminates adjacent to the center longitudinal axis of the outer sole. This rib 20 serves as a support for the big toe of the foot which tends to exert maximum downward pressure upon the front end of the sole. Between the inner end of this rib 20, and the opposite lateral side of the sole, is a space 22 which is provided with no support, but which provides the depression for accommodating yieldable downward pressure of the other toes of the foot during use.

An inner sole 24 of suitable flexible material, is provided with a plurality of longtiudinally spaced apart and substantially V-shaped rows of ports 26 which coincide with the ducts 18 between the laterally extending ribs 16. These ports 26 provide communication between the interior of the article of footwear and the ducts 18 which open laterally outwardly toward the opposite lateral sides of the sole assembly. This inner sole 24 is sealingly mounted upon the top of the outer sole, in any desired manner, with the front end thereof overlying the front arcuate rib 21, and the rear end thereof overlying the rear arcuate rib 19. The rear arcuate rib 19 defines a depression 17 with the rearmost ones of the laterally extending ribs 16 which accommodates yieldable downward pressure of the heel of the foot during use.

With the inner sole 24 assembled with the outer sole 12, a flexible strip 28 having adhesive 30 on one side is placed around the entire periphery of the sole assembly, thus blocking communication between the interior of the ducts 18 and the atmosphere, while allowing air flow between the ports 26 and each of the ducts 18. While this strip 28 may be removed if desired, such as in hot weather, to provide air flow from the exterior of the shoe to the ducts 1'8, and thence through the ports 26 to the sole of the foot, such strip 28 may remain intact during inclement weather to prevent the entry of cold wind, air, and moisture, and thus making the shoe practically waterproof. However, it will be recognized that even with the strip 28 applied, there is circulation of air through the article of footwear through the ports 26 and respective ducts 18, which circulation serves to provide additional comfort to the wearer. Of course, with the strip 28 removed, exterior air is drawn directly into the interior of the article of footwear 32, thus increasing the comfort at all times.

It will also be recognized that with the parts assembled in the manner hereinbefore described, the longitudinal rib 14 adds suflicient body to the sole assembly to prevent discomfort, which is also facilitated by the laterally extending ribs 16. Nevertheless, the space between the respective ribs substantially adds to the overall flexibility and comfort of the sole assembly when applied to any article of footwear, or used substantially alone as a sandal.

While this invention has been described with particular reference to the construction shown in the drawing, it is to be understood that such is not to be construed as imparting limitations upon the invention, which is best defined by the claims appended hereto.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

1. A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprising, in combination, an outer sole, an inner sole, said outer sole having laterally outwardly extending air passageways, said inner sole having ports communicating with said air passageways, a continuous strip detachably mounted upon the periphery of said outer sole enclosing said passageways, said outer sole comprising a substantially continuous flexible sheet having a substantially continuous ground engaging surface, a plurality of upstanding laterally extending ribs defining said laterally opening air passageways, and said outer sole further comprising a substantially central longitudinal extending rib contiguous to all of said laterally extending ribs.

2. A sole assembly as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a transverse rib at one lateral side of said longitudinal rib inclined angularly with respect to said longitudinal rib adjacent to the toe end of said sole assembly, an arcuate rib defining the front end of said outer sole, said angular rib underlying the big toe of the foot and the side of said outer sole assembly opposite said angular rib defining an enlarged depression with said arcuate rib accommodating yieldable pressure of the re .maining toes ofthe foot.

3. A sole assembly as set forth in claim 2, further comprising an arcuate rib adjacent to the heel end of said outer sole defining the rear extremity of said sole assembly, and the space between said rear arcuate rib and the adjacent terminal one of said laterally extending ribs defining a depression for accommodating yieldable pressure ofthe heel of the foot.

4. A sole assembly as set forth in claim 3, wherein said laterally extending ribs on each side of said longitudinal rib extend in substantially spaced apart parallel relationship.

5. Asole assembly as set forth in claim 4, wherein said inner sole overlies all of said ribs, said inner sole having rows of said ports corresponding in general layout to the layout of said air passageways and accommodating the flow of air therethrough.

6. A sole assembly for an article of footwear comprising, in combinatioman outer sole, an inner sole, said outer sole having laterally outwardly extending air passageways, said innersole having ports communicating with said air passageways, and'a continuous strip detachably carried by the periphery of said outer sole enclosing 'said passageways, said outer sole comprising a substan:

tially continuous flexible sheet having a substantially continuous'grouncl engaging surface, a plurality of upstanding laterally extending ribs defining said laterally opening air passagewayga substantially central longitudinal rib contiguous to all of said ribs, a transvcrse'rib at one lateral side of said central rib inclined angularly with respect to said longitudinal rib' adjacent to the toe end of said sole assembly, an arcuate rib'defining the front end of said outer sole, said angular rib underlying the big toe of the foot, and the side of said outer sole assembly opposite said angular rib defining an enlarged depression with said arcuate rib accommodating yieldable downward pressure of the remaining toes of a foot, an arcuate rib adjacent to the heel end of said outer sole defining the rear extremity of said, sole assembly, the space between said rear arcuate rib and the adjacent terminal one of said laterally extending ribs defining a depression for accommodating yieldable downward pressure of the heel of the foot, said laterally extending ribs on each side of said longitudinal rib extending in substantially spaced apart parallel relationship, said inner sole overlying all of said ribs, and said inner sole having rows of said ports corresponding in general layout to the general layout of said air passageways and accommodating the flow of air therethrough in all positions of said continuous'strip detachably carried by the periphery of said outer sole assembly.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,932,557 Meucci Oct. 31, 1933 2,098,412 Bovay Nov. 9, 1937 2,239,211 Wylie Apr. 22, 1941 2,751,692 Cortina June 26, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 14,221 Great Britain July 15, 1852 256,994 Italy f Ian. 30, 1928 495,067 Germany Apr. 14, 1929 506,416 Great Britain Aug. 25, 1937 845,766 Germany Aug. 4, 1952 1,022,102 France Dec. 10, 1952 286,471 Switzerland Feb. 16, 1953 539,895 Italy Feb. 25, 1956 763,878 Great Britain ,Dec. 19, 6

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