[0001] The present invention relates to an improved system for the air circulation inside
shoes.
[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a system suitable to make perspiring
any shoe, which uses an insole, to which, some air pumping devices, which allow, during
normal gait action, a circulation of air inside the shoe, are fixed on the inner part
and at the metatarsus and the heel of the foot; a micro-punched plastic shaped element,
positioned at the plantar arch, which allows to expel air present inside the shoe,
is also associated with the insole.
[0003] Currently there are several shoes on the market which use mechanical and not systems
in order to allow a circulation of the air inside the shoe during normal gait.
[0004] Among these systems, a first type of aeration devices to be counted is that one related
to the provision of a series of small holes on the insole and sole of a shoe, from
the side of the tread, in correspondence of the areas of the sole of the foot with
the greatest concentration of sudoriparous glands of the sole of the foot (heel excluded);
furthermore, a perspiring and water-repellent membrane is inserted into the sole,
below a punched insole.
[0005] However, the use of a shoe equipped with an air circulation system of this type,
over time, tends to weaken the sole, on which, starting from the holes on it defined,
some real lacerations may arise, that can lead to consequent breakages of the water-repellent
membrane, allowing the unwanted entry of water into the shoe.
[0006] Moreover, the holes on the tread of the sole allow the passage of dust and other
debris possibly present on the trampled on ground, which may also occlude, partially
or completely, the holes themselves, reducing the passage of air through such holes
and reducing the perspiring capacity of the whole system.
[0007] A second type of devices, of known type, allowing the circulation of air inside a
shoe provides the use of a pump with a unidirectional double valve, positioned in
a special notch of the sole, in the heel area; such a pumping system draws air inside
the shoe (provided with a punched insole) and expels it outside, through a hole opened
towards the outside, present at one side of the sole.
[0008] The use of a shoe provided with this second type of devices may, however, wear and
tear the envelope of the pumping system, which also has a complex structure, with
many elements at risk of fracture, such as, for example, the membrane of the envelope
of the pump, which is of reduced thickness, the fastening means of the unidirectional
valves to the envelope and the same unidirectional valves, with an immediate loss
of the original functionality.
[0009] Furthermore, the holes of inlet and outlet of air, although arranged laterally with
respect to the shoe, are however subject to occlusion, being opened to the outside
of the sole and being in any case very close to the ground.
[0010] In a third type of device for air circulation of the traditional type, a series of
micro-valves made of rubber, placed in the sole, is used which, with the pressure
of the foot, are able to expel the air present in the shoe through a punched insole;
even in this case, however, the micro-valves are easy to occlusion, with an immediate
loss of their functionality, especially if the shoe is used on dusty grounds, since
the aforesaid valves are in direct contact with the ground.
[0011] There are also shoes which present a punched insole and in which the entire area
of the sole is carved in the shape of "igloo", in order to increase the comfort; in
this case, by means of a pumping function, a partial circulation of the internal air
is allowed, which, however, cannot be expelled outside.
[0012] In all these types of devices, the air enters from the top, pushed by atmospheric
pressure, and the sole and/or additional elements or special parts positioned on the
soles is the modified part.
[0013] In any case, all these systems, while carrying out the function for which they are
intended, do not operate on the double points of bending of the walking foot (heel
and metatarsus), but only on one of these areas, effectively halving the potential
aeration function.
[0014] Moreover, in all these systems, the structure of the sole is weakened towards the
outside by the presence of holes and/or cavities, resulting in a direct reduction
in the efficiency and, actually, with the possibility that the shoe will ruin itself
quickly, with a severe and rapid loss of value of the purchase carried out.
[0015] The purpose of the present invention is, then, to overcome the above complained technical
drawbacks and, in particular, to provide an improved system for the air circulation
inside shoes which allows to achieve a greater efficiency of aeration of the shoe
than the known type devices, while at the same time, safeguarding the integrity of
the sole and the whole shoe, in its specific function, and durability.
[0016] Another purpose of the present invention is to achieve an improved system for air
circulation inside shoes which can be installed into shoe models already under production,
without having to make substantial changes to the current productive investments.
[0017] Another purpose of the present invention is to indicate an improved system for the
air circulation inside shoes which can be carried out with known equipment and technologies
and at low costs, in respect to the achieved advantages.
[0018] A further purpose of the present invention is to achieve an improved system for the
air circulation inside shoes which allows to get an extremely comfortable shoe, using
an unlike rigid element placed on the sole, starting from the calcaneum area until
the metatarsal-phalange area, suitable to make it extremely flexible the shoe when
walking, while keeping at the same time the shoe substantially rigid to the lateral
torsion.
[0019] These and other purposes, which will appear more clearly in the following treatment,
are achieved by an improved system for the air circulation inside shoes, according
to the appended claim 1; further technical features of detail are contained in the
subsequent dependent claims.
[0020] In advantageous way, the improved system of air aeration and circulation inside shoes,
according to the present invention, uses:
- an insole having through openings in at least two areas, such as a substantially calcaneum
first zone and a substantially metatarsal-phalange second zone;
- an unlike rigid element (replacing the classical shank area), to be fixed on the insole
and/or sole, punched at the openings of the insole,
- a series of pumping elements, fixed below the unlike rigid element and composed of
a series of air chambers positioned in correspondence of the apertures provided on
the unlike rigid element and the insole,
- a sole having, on his part facing the inside of the shoe, a plurality of spaces for
housing the unlike rigid element and some related pumping devices,
- and a shaped and micro-punched element, sewn externally to the upper in the area of
the foot false, which includes a waterproof membrane and an inner lining.
[0021] Additional features and advantages of the improved system for the air circulation
inside shoes, according to the invention, will be more apparent from the description
of a preferred and illustrative, but not limiting, embodiment in the attached drawings,
in which:
- figure 1 represents an exploded and partially sectioned side view of a shoe provided
with an improved system for the air circulation, according to the present invention;
- figure 2 is a top view of an unlike rigid element, where the pumping devices are placed,
housed within specific seats made in the sole, in accordance with the present invention;
- figure 3 is a section made along the line III-III of figure 2;
- figure 4 shows a perspective view of a shoe provided with an improved system for air
circulation, according to the present invention;
- figure 5 is a sectional view made along the line IV-IV of figure 4.
[0022] With reference to the figures mentioned, the improved system for the air circulation
inside of shoes, according to the present invention, is overall indicated with 10
and comprises an insole 11, preferably made of leather or nylon, an unlike rigid support
element 17, which represents the classic shank area, preferably made of fibreglass,
two pumping devices 15, 16, fixed below the element 17, a sole 18 and a shaped element
30, preferably made of plastic material and/or rubber, micro-punched and sewn externally
to the upper 19 near the side arch of the foot (or false of the foot) of the shoe
10A.
[0023] In particular, the insole 11 presents a plurality of through openings 12A, 12B, grouped
mainly in two areas 13, 14 of the shoe 10A substantially corresponding to a first
calcaneum zone of the foot and a metatarsal-phalange second zone of the foot, while
the support element 17 to be fixed to the insole 11 and/or sole 18, presents a series
of through apertures 18A, 18B, which are made in correspondence of the openings 12A,
12B of the insole 11 (in the areas 13 and 14 of the shoe 10A).
[0024] The pumping devices 15 and 16 are also fixed below the element 17, which, in turn,
is punched near the centre of the air chambers 23, 24; the totality of the air chambers
23 constitutes the device pump 15, while the totality of the air chambers 24 constitutes
the pumping device 16.
[0025] Everything is arranged in correspondence of the openings provided on the insole 11
and, in particular, the pumping device 15 is positioned below the support element
17, in correspondence of the apertures 18A, and in the correspondence of the openings
12A of the insole 11, in the first zone 13, while the second pumping device 16 is
positioned in correspondence of the apertures 18B of the element 17 and the openings
12B of the insole 11, in the second zone 14.
[0026] The pumping device 15, 16 are also opened on the corresponding apertures 18A, 18B.
[0027] Finally, the sole 18 has, in its part facing the inside of the shoe 10A, depressed
seats or spaces 20, 21, 22 for housing, respectively, the pumping devices 15, 16 and
the support element 17.
[0028] In particular, each device pumping 15, 16, usually made of plastic material and obtained,
for example, by injection or thermoforming, consists of a plurality of air chambers
23, 24, opened towards the top, reciprocally connected through respective channels
25, 26 and held together in a single annular chamber in order to define each of the
two pumping devices 15, 16.
[0029] The unlike rigid support element 17 is preferably made of fibreglass, with the thickness
of 0.7 millimetres, while the insole 11 is preferably made of leather or nylon and
is secured to the upper 19 of the shoe 10A by sewing, gluing or through other equivalent
operations.
[0030] As shown in detail in the attached figure 5, the shaped element 30, which presents
a series of micro-holes 31, is sewn to the exterior of the upper 19 near the false
of the foot of the shoe 10A and, in the specific, consists of an inner lining 33,
a intermediate water-repellent membrane 32 and an outer portion 34 which has micro-holes
in correspondence of the water-repellent membrane 32.
[0031] The operation of the improved system 10 for the air circulation inside shoes, according
to the present invention, is as follows.
[0032] When, during normal gait or walking, the user pushes to the ground the calcaneum
zone 13, at the heel of the foot, the air present in the chambers 23 of the pumping
device 15 is pushed inside the shoe 10A through the corresponding apertures 18A and
openings 12A.
[0033] When, subsequently, the weight of the body moves to the metatarsal-phalange zone
14 of the foot, the air present in the chambers 24 of the pumping device 16 is pushed
inside the shoe 10A through the corresponding holes apertures 18B and openings 12B.
[0034] This action causes that the air already inside the shoe 10A, being hotter, can be
expelled outside through the micro-holes 31 present on the shaped element 30 sewn
to the upper 19 in the side area of the false of the foot; in addition, the special
shape of the of micro-holes 31 allows, beyond the exit of hot air from the shoe 10A,
the possible entry of fresh air inside the shoe 10A, what's more preventing the possible
entry of water.
[0035] In practice it has been observed how the invention as described solution leads to
solve the problems highlighted in the known types of systems for the air circulation
inside shoes.
[0036] In particular, the present invention provides an improved system for the air circulation
inside shoes, which safeguards the sole 18 in its specific function and life over
time.
[0037] Indeed, the system according to the invention does not provide a punched outsole,
in any its point, but it is sufficient to create at least two spaces 20, 21 in the
sole 18 for housing the pumping devices 15, 16, spaces whose depth, on the inner part
of the sole 18, is however very low and of the order of a few millimetres.
[0038] Still, with the present invention an air circulation system not less effective than
known type devices is carried out; in fact, the air pushed upward by the air chambers
23, 24 of the pumping devices 15, 16 is free to work around the foot inside the shoe
10A in order to exit both upwardly and laterally, causing a circulation suitable to
involve a significant volume of air, and not only that one which is between the foot
and the insole 11.
[0039] Furthermore, with the present invention a circulation system that can be arranged
economically on shoes 10A models yet in production is achieved, without having to
do significant changes to the ongoing productive investments, since it is necessary
and sufficient to slightly modify the sole 18 in its upper part.
[0040] Not least, with the present invention a system for the air circulation inside shoes
which can be produced with known equipment and technologies is carried out.
[0041] Moreover, the unlike rigid element 17, made of fibreglass, so shaped and positioned
between the insole 11 and the sole 18 allows a positive elastic recovery during gait
and, thanks to the positioning of the weft of the fibreglass fabric, reduces the risks
of dangerous lateral sprained foot.
[0042] The invention thus conceived is open to numerous changes and variants, all falling
within the scope of the inventive concept; furthermore, all details can be replaced
by other technically equivalent elements; finally, used materials, provided they are
compatible with the specific use, as well as sizes, could be any according to the
needs and the state of the art.
[0043] Where the characteristics and techniques 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 reference signs do not have
any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example
by such reference signs.
1. Improved system for air circulation inside shoes, comprising at least one insole (11),
arranged below the upper (19) of a shoe (10A) and having a plurality of through openings
(12A, 12B) made in predetermined areas (13, 14) of the insole (11), characterized in that, below said insole (11), at least one support element (17) is positioned, on which
one or more air pumping devices (15, 16) are fixed, each of which includes a series
of air chambers (23, 24), connected each other through pipes (25, 26) and each having
at least one aperture (18A, 18B), made in the part of the support element (17) facing
the insole (11) and at said predetermined areas (13, 14) of the insole (11), said
support element (17) and said pumping devices (15, 16), fixed to said support element
(17), being housed within one or more spaces (20, 21, 22), which are made on at least
one portion of sole (18) facing said insole (11) of the shoe (10A).
2. Improved system as claim 1, characterized in that at least one shaped element (30) having openings or micro-holes (31) for the passage
of air towards the inside and/or the outside of the shoe (10A) is fixed on said upper
(19), at a lateral portion of the shoe (10A) and the foot.
3. Improved system as claim 1, characterized in that said through openings (12A, 12B) made in said insole (11), are made in at least a
first area (13) of the shoe (10A), corresponding to a substantially calcaneum zone
of the foot, and/or in at least a second area (14) of the shoe (10A), corresponding
to a substantially metatarsal-phalange zone of the foot.
4. Improved system as claim 3, characterized in that said apertures (18A, 18B), made in said support element (17), are made at said first
and second zone (13, 14) of the shoe (10A).
5. Improved system as claim 3, characterized in that said pumping devices (15, 16) are fixed to said support element (17) in correspondence
of said first and second zone (13, 14) of the shoe (10A).
6. Improved system as claim 1, characterized in that said air chambers (23, 24) are contained in at least one annular chamber.
7. Improved system as claim 1, characterized in that each pumping device (15, 16) is made of plastic material and is obtained by injection
or thermoforming.
8. Improved system as claim 1, characterized in that said support element (17) is made of fibreglass.
9. Improved system as claim 2, characterized in that said shaped element (30) having a series of micro-holes (31) is sewn outside the
upper (19) of the shoe (10A) and is made of plastic material and/or rubber.
10. Improved system as claim 1, characterized in that said insole (11) is preferably made of leather or nylon.