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(11) | EP 2 233 022 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Improved system for the air circulation inside shoes |
| (57) An improved system for air circulation inside shoes, comprising an insole (11), arranged
below the upper (19) of the shoe (10A) and haring a plurality of through openings
(12A, 12B) made in predetermined areas (13, 14) of the insole (11), and a sole (18),
positioned below the insole (11); in particular, in one or more spaces (20, 21, 22)
of the sole (18) a support element (17) is housed, 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 an aperture (18A, 18B),
made in the part of the support element (17) facing the insole (11). Moreover, a 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 the upper (19), at a lateral
portion of the shoe (10A).
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[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.
[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.