GB2110520A - Ventilated athletic shoe - Google Patents

Abstract

A ventilated athletic shoe has an outsole 14, a resilient intermediate layer adhered to the outsole and comprising for example a heel wedge 16 and midsole 18, and an upper 12 bonded to the intermediate layer and to the outsole. At least a portion of the intermediate layer is exposed and an air passage through the intermediate layer connects the interior of the shoe with the outside, this passage including at least some of a plurality of horizontal transversely extending channels 26 formed in the intermediate layer. The shoe also includes a slipsole 22 into the bottom of which is cut horizontally a grid of intersecting longitudinal and transverse second air channels 44, 46 which communicate with the air passage, and with air holes 50 cut vertically into the slipsole at the intersection points on the horizontal and transverse grid, the top ends of the air holes communicating with the inside of the shoe. The outsole may extend upwardly around the intermediate layer and upper, except at the instep, for protection. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Athletic shoe This invention relates to athletic shoes.

In available athletic shoes, ventilating and shock cushioning mechanisms include transverse air channels in the heel portion of the intermediate layer (e.g., heel wedge and midsole), longitudinal slots open to the transverse air channels and vertical holes through the heel portion of the insole and intermediate layer to connect the transverse air channels to the inside of the shoe and, in some such shoes, the slipsole may have channels on its underside and holes through it to transmit air to the bottom of the user's foot. The orientations of the slipsole channels do not correspond with the vertical holes through the insole, the locations of the holes through the slipsole do not generally correspond with the locations of the slipsole channels, and for these and other reasons the extent to which such shoes ventilate and provide shock cushioning is not fully satisfactory.

To provide cushioning for the foot, running shoes have used resilient material, such as ethylene vinyl acetate, as the intermediate layer above the generally harder outsole. In such shoes the outsole is generally a flat slab and the resilient layer is exposed to the ambient. Unlike running shoes which have predominantly front to rear loading, court shoes also have substantial sideward loading due to the nature of the activities, such as basketball, in which they are used.

In general the invention features, in one aspect, an athletic shoe for ventilating the user's foot by providing an air passage extending through a resilient intermediate layer (e.g., composed of a heel wedge and midsole) and providing in communication with the air passage, and also in the intermediate layer, an enlarged air reservoir cavity adapted to pump air through the air passage into the shoe when the intermediate layer is compressed between the foot and the ground.

In preferred embodiments, a second air hole is cut into an insole board of the shoe and arranged to communicate with the first air hole, a second air channel is cut into the bottom of a resilient slipsole of the shoe and open to the second air hole, and at least two third air holes are cut vertically into the slipsole and arranged to communicate with the second air channel and with the inside of the shoe; the intermediate layer includes a midsole, a heel wedge and a sole cover with the air reservoir cut through the midsole and the heel wedge, the air slot cut through the heel wedge, and the first air hole cut into the midsole; the second air channels are arranged on a grid over the whole slipsole and the first air holes, second air holes and third air holes are located at the grid intersection points; and the first air holes, second air holes and third air holes are between about 1/16" and 3/16" in diameter.

In another aspect, the invention features a grid of second air channels over the whole bottom of the slipsole and air holes cut through the slipsole into the intersection points of the grid of second air channels, so that air is distributed along the channels to all points under the user's foot, and the user's foot is cushioned from shock.

The invention greatly increases the volume of air flowing into the shoe by providing larger and more numerous air holes and channels and arranging the air holes and channels in an effective grid pattern; provides an effective air pumping mechanism in the form of air reservoirs and air slots cut into resilient sole pieces which greatly enhances the flow of air into the shoe; assures the flow of air to all parts of the shoe by extending the air slots to a point more than halfway from the back end to the front end of the shoe and extending the grid of air channels under the slipsole to all points under the user's foot; and cushions the user's foot against shock by means of air held in the cavities inside the resilient sole pieces.

In another aspect, the invention features a court shoe with a resilient intermediate layer in which horizontal transverse channels are formed and a rubber outsole bonded to and extending upward around the outside of the intermediate layer to meet the upper. This construction provides shock absorption while also providing sufficient strength, as a result of the outsole rubber extending around and up to the upper, to permit the shoe to undergo the sideward loading of court play without any separation occurring between layers.

In some preferred embodiments, the rubber outsole covers the intermediate layer and meets the upper all around the periphery of the shoe.

In other preferred embodiments, the rubber outsole extends upward around the outside of the intermediate layer to meet the upper except at the instep where the intermediate layer remains exposed to provide entrances to the transverse channels.

Also in preferred embodiments, the horizontal transverse channels are formed in the intermediate layer from the instep part way transversely across the layer, and further holes in the intermediate layer and other parts of the shoe communicate between the channels and the shoe interior to provide an air path into the shoe interior. Because the transverse channels extend only part way across the layer, there is left on the outside of the intermediate layer a solid portion so as to provide strength and stability under the loading encountered by a court shoe. Also in preferred embodiments, the intermediate layer is divided into a heel wedge and a midsole, and preferred arrangements of channels, slots, and holes in the midsole, heel wedge, and other layers carry air from the channel entrances at the instep to the interior of the shoe.

In another aspect, the invention features a court shoe with a resilient intermediate layer without transverse channels and with a rubber outsole bonded to and extending upward around the outside of the intermediate layer to meet the upper except at the instep where the intermediate layer remains exposed. Exposing the intermediate resilient layer at the instep enhances the aesthetic appearance of the shoe and reduces its weight while still providing needed strength to resist sideward loading.

We turn now to a description of the preferred embodiments, after first briefly describing the drawings.

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a first said preferred embodiment, this one a running shoe.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the heel wedge of said running shoe.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the midsole of said running shoe.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the insole board of said running shoe.

Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the slipsole of said running shoe.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of said slipsole (at C-C' in Fig. 5).

Fig. 7 is a sectional view at the longitudinal midline (at A-A' in Fig. 1) of said running shoe.

Fig. 8 is a sectional view across the heel (at B-B' in Fig. 7) of said running shoe.

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the instep side of a second said preferred embodiment, this one a court shoe.

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of the other side of the second shoe.

Fig. 11 is a partial horizontal cross-sectional view taken at 11-11 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 1 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view (with a portion cut away to shorten the view) taken at 12-12 in Fig. 9.

Fig. 1 3 is a partial cross-sectional view taken at 13-13 in Fig. 12.

Fig. 1 4 is a perspective view of the instep side of a third said preferred embodiment, this one also a court shoe and identical to the second embodiment except for having channels in the intermediate layer exposed to the ambient at the instep.

Figs. 1 5-1 8 are identical types of views as Figs. 9 and 11-13, respectively, for a fourth said embodiment, a court shoe without channels but with an exposed intermediate layer at the instep.

There is shown in Fig. 1 a size 92 athletic shoe 10 having shoe upper 12, outsole 14, and a resilient intermediate layer composed of heel wedge 1 6 and midsole 18.

Heel wedge 16, as shown in Fig. 2, is a wedge of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) sponge tapered in thickness toward the front of the shoe with the back end of wedge 1 6 being 22 iron thick. Three parallel 9 wide slots 23 are cut longitudinally through the full depth of wedge 1 6 beginning at a distance of 1" from the back end of wedge 1 6 and continuing to the front end of wedge 1 6. The middle slot 23 lies on midline 25 of wedge 16, and the other two slots 23 lie a distance of 4/t on either side of the middle slot.Slots 23 may vary in width provided they are sufficiently wide to permit the flow of air but not so wide as to weaken substantially the structural integrity of wedge 1 6, e.g., between about " and about1,, wide. Two a" diameter air reservoirs 24 are cut through the full depth of wedge 16 and are located on midline 25 with their centers 1-" and 2 2+" respectively from the back end of wedge 1 6. Air reservoirs 24 may vary in diameter provided they are sufficiently large to hold a reasonable volume of air but not so wide as to weaken substantially the structural integrity of wedge 1 6, e.g., between about 41' and 1" in diameter.Five parallel channels 26 are cut transversely into the top surface of wedge 1 6 and are space 1" apart. The two rearmost channels 26 intersect the centers of air reservoirs 24. Channels 26 have U-shaped cross-sections and have depths of 7 mm, 7 mm, 6 mm, 5 mm and 3 mm, respectively, in order beginning with the rearmost channel.

Midole 18, as shown in Fig. 3, is a " thick slab of EVA sponge tapered in thickness toward the front of the shoe. Midsole 1 8 is pierced by 34 " diameter air holes 27. In the front part of midsole 18, 26 of the air holes 27 are arranged at the intersections of a grid of parallel longitudinal lines 28 and parallel transverse lines 30, as illustrated.

Adjacent transverse lines 30 are 1 7/1 6" apart and adjacent longitudinal lines 28 are 2'1 apart. One longitudinal line 28 is located on midline 32 of midsole 18. Through the full depth of the rear part of midsole 18 are cut two 3411 diameter air reservoirs 34 whose centers lie on midline 32 at distances of 1+" and 2 2+" respectively from the back end of midsole 1 8. Eight air holes 27 are arranged around air reservoirs 34, as illustrated.

Insole board 20, as shown in Fig. 4, is a 22" iron thick fiber board pierced by 38 8" diameter air holes 36 arranged at the intersections of a grid of parallel longitudinal lines 38 and parallel transverse lines 40, as illustrated. Adjacent transverse lines 40 are 17/16" apart and adjacent longitudinal lines 38 are +" apart. One longitudinal line 38 is located on midline 42 of insole board 20.

Slipsole 22, as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, is molded foam rubber having a thickness of 10 millimeters at its back end and 4 millimeters at its front end. A grid of seven parallel longitudinal channels 44 and ten parallel transverse channels 46 are molded into the bottom surface of slipsole 22. Longitudinal channels 44 are 8" wide and are spaced +" apart. One longitudinal channel 44 is located on midline 48 of slipsole 22. Parallel transverse channels 46 are 9" wide and are spaced 17/16" apart. Fifty-three +" air holes 50 pierce slipsole 22 at the intersections of the channels, as illustrated. Transverse channels 46 and longitudinal channels 44 vary in depth from 2 millimeters at the front of slipsole 22 to 4 millimeters at the back of slipsole 22. Air holes 27, 36 and 50 can vary in diameter provided they are large enough to permit free air flow but not so large as to weaken substantially the structural integrity of slipsole 22, insole board 20 and midsole 18, e.g., between about 1/16" and 3/16".

In the finished shoe, as illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8, the sole pieces and shoe upper 12 are assembled as follows. Wedge 1 6 is cemented to outsole 14 which effectively closes off the bottom openings in wedge 1 6. Midsole 18 is cemented to wedge 1 6 and outsole 14 with midsole midline 32 oriented above and in line with wedge midline 25, and with midsole air reservoirs 34 situated immediately above wedge air reservoirs 24.In this manner the upper openings of slots 23 are closed off, except that four air holes 27 lying on midsole midline 32 open into the middle slot 23 in wedge 1 6. The outsole-wedge-midsole assembly is cemented to insole board 20 and to shoe upper 12 with insole board midline 42 oriented above and in line with midsole midline 32, and with the insole board grid of longitudinal lines 38 and transverse lines 40 oriented immediately above and in line with the midsole grid of longitudinal lines 28 and transverse lines 30. In this manner the upper openings of air reservoirs 34 are closed off, and insole board air holes 36 open into midsole air holes 27 with three of insole board air holes 36 opening into three of the four midsole air holes 27 which open into middle slot 23.Slipsole 22 is placed or glued inside the shoe on top of insole board 20 with transverse channels 46 and longitudinal channels 44 oriented above and in line with the insole board grid of longitudinal lines 38 and transverse lines 40. Transverse channels 26 are bored into wedge 1 6 after the shoe is assembled.

In the assembled shoe fresh air is free to pass into channels 26 and then into slots 23 and air reservoirs 24 and 34. Air held in slots 23 and reservoirs 24 and 34 is free to pass into middle slot 23 and then up through three of midsole air holes 27 and insole board air holes 36 into the grid of slipsole channels 44 and 46 and then through slipsole air holes 50 into the shoe. Insole board air holes 36 and midsole air holes 27 which lie below and in line with slipsole air holes 50 also serve as air reservoirs for air passing along channels 44 and 46. Air which flows into the shoe cools and ventilates the foot and passes out through the breathable material of shoe upper 12.

Because wedge 16, midsole 18, and slipsole 22 are resilient sponge material, the repeated striking of the wearer's foot against the ground will cause a compression of all reservoirs 24 and 34, slots 23, midsole air holes 27, and slipsole channels 44 and 46, causing them to act as bellows to constantly force fresh air into the shoe, thereby vastly improving the cooling and ventilating effects, while at the same time providing shock absorption to cushion the impact of the user's foot against the ground.

There are shown in Figs. 9-1 8 court shoes 10 having upper 12, outsole 14, heel wedge 16, and midsole 1 8. The midsole and heel wedge together form a resilient intermediate layer.

In the embodiments of Figs. 9-1 4, heel wedge 16 (ethylene vinyl acetate, about 2 inch thick) has five horizontal slots 20 cut into its top, the ends of slot 20 being spaced from the instep side of wedge 1 6. Two longitudinally-extending slots 22 connect with slots 20. Slots 20 and 22 are generally similar to the heel wedge slots described in the embodiment of Figs. 1-8. Also in heel wedge 1 6 are three rows of five vertical holes 23 which extend through the entire thickness of the heel wedge. The two outer rows are aligned with the intersections of slots 20, 22. The inner row intercepts slots 20 midway between slots 22.

Midsole 18, a 5/32 inch slab of EVA sponge, has the same pattern of three rows of five holes 25 as in heel wedge 16, and the holes are aligned with those in the heel wedge. In addition there are similar holes 26 in the forward and rear sole which do not communicate with slots 20, 22 in the heel wedge. Forward there are four rows running left to right of these holes: a forwardmost row af three holes, two middle rows of four holes, and a rearmost row of three holes. The latter row is vertically over the forwardmost portion of the heel wedge and there is a corresponding row of three holes 27 in the heel wedge. These holes are not, however, in communication with slots 20, 22.

Holes 25, 26 in the midsole 18 and holes 23, 27 in the heel wedge can be cut simultaneously after the heel wedge and midsole have been joined together.

Above midsole 1 8 is insole board 28, which is a 2 2 iron thick fiber board. The bc ard has a pattern of holes 29 identical to and aligned with those in midsole 18.

Above insole board 28 is resilient slipsole 30, which has a grid of longitudinal and transverse channels 34 on its undersurface. In the rear and middle of the sole, there are three channels running longitudinally. In the forward portion of the sole there are added four additional channels, three on the inside and one on the outside. There are eleven transverse channels. Five rows of six holes 36 each are aligned with the rearmost five transverse channels. Holes 38 are aligned with the intersections of the longitudinal channels with the five most forward transverse channels; there are four holes in the forwardmost row, six the next back, six in the next, seven in the next, and six in the rearmost channel. There is one transverse channel in which no holes appear.The channels and holes are generally similar in dimension to those of the slipsole described in the embodiment of Figs. 1-8.

Outsole 14 (rubber) is molded so as to extend upward to and bond with upper 12. In the embodiment of Figs. 9--13, the outsole rubber covers midsole 1 8 and wedge 1 6 at oil points around the sole. In the embodiments of Figs.

14-1 8, the outsole rubber covers the midsole 1 8 and wedge 1 6 at all points except the instep, where the midsole and wedge are exposed to the ambient. Formed in the heel in the outsole are six voids.

Upper 12 is of conventional manufacture of breathable materials.

The court shoe of Figs. 1 5-1 8 is identical to that of Figs. 9-1 3 except that, like the shoe of Fig.14, the outsole rubber does not cover the intermediate layer at the instep, and except that the various air slots, holes, and channels are left out.

The various soles and layers of the shoe are manufactured and assembled in conventional manner. Slots 20, 22 in the heel wedge are formed in the wedge prior to any assembly. As mentioned holes in the wedge and midsole can be cut after the two pieces are adhered together.

In the assembled shoe of Fig. 14, fresh air is free to pass into slots 20, 22, and then through holes in the wedge, midsole and insole board into the shoe. Air flowing into the shoe cools and ventilates the foot and then passes out through the breathable material of shoe upper 1 2. The resiliency of the wedge, midsole, and slipsole provide, under the repeated striking of the wearer's foot against the ground, an air pumping action forcing fresh air into the shoe. In the assembled shoe of Figs. 9-1 3, in which the rubber outsole covers the intermediate layer entirely, ventilating air is also pumped past the foot and into and out of slots 20, 22 but, as air must enter and leave through the breathable material of the upper, the air flow is more bidirectional than in the Fig. 14 embodiment.

Other embodiments of the invention are within the following claims.

Claims (21)

1. An athletic shoe comprising an outsole, a resilient intermediate layer adhered to said outsole, said resilient intermediate layer including a plurality of horizontal transversely extending channels, and an upper bonded to said intermediate layer and said outsole, wherein at least a portion of said intermediate layer is exposed to the ambient and an air passage through said intermediate layer connects the interior of said shoe with the ambient, said passage including at least some of said horizontal channels, and wherein said intermediate layer further comprises an enlarged air reservoir cavity in communication with said air passage and wherein said layer is sufficiently resilient and said cavity so adapted that compression of said layer between the foot and the ground pumps air into the interior of said shoe.

2. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein said intermediate layer comprises a heel wedge and a midsole.

3. The athletic shoe of claim 1 wherein said upper comprises a resilient slipsole above an insole board, said air reservoir is cut vertically into said intermediate layer and spaced from the perimeter thereof, said reservoir being closed at its top and its bottom and open through its side wall to said air passage, at least one air slot is cut longitudinally into said layer and spaced from the perimeter thereof, said air slot being open in one section to said side wall of said air reservoir, at least one first air hole is cut vertically into the top of said layer at a point spaced from said air reservoir, saif first air hole open to said air slot, at least one second air hole is cut vertically into said insole board, said second air hole being arranged to communicate with said first air hole, at least one second air channel is cut horizontally into the bottom of said slipsole, said second air channel being arranged to communicate with said second air hole, and at least two third air holes are cut vertically into said slipsole, said third air holes arranged to communicate with said second air channel and with the inside of said shoe, whereby said surrounding air will flow through said first air channel into said air reservoir where a volume of air is held, then into said air slot, then into said first air hole, then into said second air hole, then into said second air channel, then into said third air holes and then into the inside of said shoe to ventilate said user's foot, the force of said user's foot against the ground will enhance the flow of air into said inside of said shoe, and the user's foot will be cushioned from shock.

4. The shoe of claim 3 in which said resilient layer comprises a midsole having its top surface attached to said insole board, a heel wedge extending at least halfway from the back end of said shoe to the front end of said shoe, said heel wedge having its top surface attached to the bottom surface of said midsole, and a sole cover having its bottom surface touching the ground and having its top surface attached to the bottom surface of said heel wedge and to a portion of the bottom surface of said midsole, said air reservoir is cut through said heel wedge and said midsole, said air slot is cut through said heel wedge, and said first air hole is cut through said midsole.

5. The shoe of claim 3 in which there are two of said air reservoirs, each between about a" and 1" in diameter, there are three of said air slots, each between about 88 and 41 wide, said second air channels comprise longitudinal second air channels and transverse second air channels arranged on a grid of intersecting lines, said longitudinal second air channels extending substantially the entire length of said shoe and said transverse second air channels extending substantially the entire width of the shoe, the midline of one of said longitudinal second air channels being in the same plane as said resilient layer midline, a plurality of said first air holes are arranged below the intersection points on said grid, a plurality of said second air holes are arranged below the intersection points on said grid, and a plurality of said third air holes are arranged above the intersection points on said grid.

6. The shoe of claim 3 in which said first air holes, said second air holes and said third air holes are between about 1/16" and 3/16" in diameter.

7. An athletic shoe comprising an outsole, a resilient intermediate layer adhered to said outsole, said resilient intermediate layer including a plurality of horizontal transversely extending channels, and an upper bonded to said intermediate layer and said outsole, wherein at least a portion of said intermediate layer is exposed to the ambient and an air passage through said intermediate layer connects the interior of said shoe with the ambient, said passage including at least some of said horizontal channels, wherein said shoe further comprises a resilient slipsole, wherein a grid of intersecting longitudinal and transverse second air channels is cut horizontally into the bottom of said slipsole, said second air channels being arranged to communicate with said air passage, said longitudinal second air channels extending substantially the entire length of said shoe and said transverse second air channels extending substantially the entire width of said shoe, and wherein air holes are cut vertically into said slipsole, said air holes arranged at the intersection points on said grid with the bottom ends of said air holes arranged to communicate with said second air channels and the top ends of said air holes arranged to communicate with the inside of said shoe, whereby air conveyed through said air passage into said show will be distributed to substantially all points of the bottom of said user's foot, and the user's foot will be cushioned from shock.

8. An athletic shoe comprising an outsole, a resilient intermediate layer adhered to said outsole, said resilient intermediate layer including a plurality of horizontal transversely extending channels, and an upper bonded to said intermediate layer and said outsote, wherein said shoe is for use in court play and the like where sideward loading is encountered, and wherein said outsole is made from rubber and extends upward around the periphery of said shoe, covering said resilient intermediate layer, and being bonded to said upper.

9. The athletic shoe of claim 8 wherein said rubber outsole covers said intermediate layer and is bonded to said upper at all points around the periphery of said shoe.

10. The athletic shoe of claim 8 wherein said rubber outsole covers said intermediate layer and is bonded to said upper except at the instep of said shoe so that only at said instep is said resilient intermediate layer left exposed to the ambient.

11. The athletic shoe of claim 10 wherein said plurality of horizontal transversely extending channels have entrances open to the ambient at said instep where said intermediate layer is not covered.

12. The athletic shoe of claim 9 or 11 wherein said horizontal channels extend from the instep only part way transversely across the layer.

13. The athletic shoe of claim 12 wherein said channels extend only part way transversely across said layer so as to leave at the outside surface of said layer a solid portion at least +" thick in the transverse dimension.

14. The athletic shoe of claim 13 wherein there are provided further passageways in said intermediate layer and in any additional layers above said intermediate layer, said passageways communicating with each other so as to form a path for air to travel from said instep entrances to the interior of said shoe.

1 5. The athletic shoe of claim 14 wherein said intermediate layer comprises a midsole and a tapered heel wedge which extends from the heel part way to the forward end of the shoe.

1 6. The athletic shoe of claim 1 5 wherein said transverse channels are in said heel wedge and wherein there are also in said wedge at least two additional channels running longitudinally and communicating with said transverse channels.

1 7. The athletic shoe of claim 1 6 further comprising an insole board adhered to said midsole and a slipsole above said insole board and wherein there are holes extending vertically from said channels through said midsole, through said insole board, and through said slipsole.

1 8. The athletic shoe of claim 1 7 wherein substantially the same pattern of holes extends through said midsole, heel wedge, and insole board.

1 9. The athletic shoe of claim 1 8 wherein a different pattern of holes and additional flow distributing channels are formed in said slipsole, which is loosely disposed in said shoe.

20. An athletic shoe for use in court play and the like where sideward loading is encountered, said shoe comprising a rubber outsole, a resilient intermediate layer adhered to said outsole, and an upper bonded to said intermediate layer and said outsole, said outsole extending upward around the periphery of said shoe covering said resilient intermediate layer and bonded to said upper except at the instep of said shoe so that only at said instep is said resilient intermediate layer left exposed to the ambient.

21. An athletic shoe substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and/or as shown in the accompanying drawings.