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GB2113972A - Improvements relating to footwear - Google Patents

Improvements relating to footwear Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2113972A
GB2113972A GB08301538A GB8301538A GB2113972A GB 2113972 A GB2113972 A GB 2113972A GB 08301538 A GB08301538 A GB 08301538A GB 8301538 A GB8301538 A GB 8301538A GB 2113972 A GB2113972 A GB 2113972A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cavities
unit
sole
sole unit
channels
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Granted
Application number
GB08301538A
Other versions
GB8301538D0 (en
GB2113972B (en
Inventor
Alfred Derek Radford
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Clarks Ltd
Original Assignee
Clarks Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Clarks Ltd filed Critical Clarks Ltd
Priority to GB08301538A priority Critical patent/GB2113972B/en
Publication of GB8301538D0 publication Critical patent/GB8301538D0/en
Publication of GB2113972A publication Critical patent/GB2113972A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2113972B publication Critical patent/GB2113972B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/06Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
    • A43B7/08Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
    • A43B7/081Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures the air being forced from outside
    • AHUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43FOOTWEAR
    • A43BCHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/18Resilient soles
    • A43B13/20Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

A boot or shoe 10 has its upper lasted to an insole 12 made from leather or a permeable plastics material, and a sole unit 13 is bonded to the lasted upper and the insole. The sole unit is moulded from a resilient plastics material and is formed with a multiplicity of cavities 15 opening to its top surface underlying the insole and open topped channels extending between the cavities. Bulges 17 are formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the locations of the cavities. The act of walking causes the bulges to be compressed and to pump air along the channels to others of the cavities so as to disperse perspiration from the insole. The cavities preferably have a restricted cross-sectional area 18 where they communicate with the channels. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to footwear This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to sole units for boots and shoes.
According to this invention there is provided a sole unit for an article of footwear which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities.
According to a preferred feature of the invention the mouth of each of the cavities has a reduced cross-sectional area where it opens to the associated channel or channels. The said reduced cross-sectional area may for example be approximately one-quarter of the maximum crosssectional area of the cavity.
The invention also provides an article of footwear comprising an upper, a sole unit to which the upper is connected, and a porous insole or sock overlying and bonded to the top surface of the sole unit, which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities.
One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a shoe having a sole unit according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a plan view of the sole unit of the shoe of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of one of the cavities.
Referring to the drawings there is shown a shoe 10 the upper 11 of which is lasted to an insole 12 made from leather, or a permeable plastics material or other suitable permeable material. A moulded sole unit 13 is bonded to the insole and lasting margin 14 of the upper.
The sole unit is moulded from a resilient plastics material such as foamed polyurethane and has a multiplicity of cavities 1 5 opening to the top surface of the unit and interconnected by a series of channels 1 6 which are also open to the top surface of the unit. The cavities are grouped chiefly in the middle of the sole area and the middle of the heel area of the unit, and at least two channels communicate with each cavity. The cavities are somewhat egg-shaped and there is a bulge 17 on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each cavity, so that the pressure exerted by the foot on any bulge expels air from the associated cavity, and the action of walking pumps air from one cavity to another along the channels and in this way absorbs the shocks of impact of the foot with the ground.At the same time perspiration from the foot of the wearer can pass through the pores of the insole and be evaporated by the air flow along the channels, so that improved dispersion of the perspiration is achieved.
Each cavity has a reduced cross-section where it joins the channels so that a neck 18 is formed which tends to restrict the rate of flow of air into and out of the cavities. In the illustrated construction the diameter of the cavity at the neck is approximately half of the maximum diameter of the cavity. The maximum diameter is typically in the range 8 to 12 mm.
The bulges on the underside of the sole unit may have a height of 6 to 8 mm.
1. A sole unit for an article of footwear which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities.
2. A sole unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cavities communicates with the channel system through a restricted opening.
3. A sole unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum crosssectional area of the cavity.
4. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a multiplicity of said cavities are provided and include concentrations in the fore part and in the heel portion.
5. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of said cavities has at least two channels of the channel system connected thereto.
6. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the maximum diameter of the cavities is in the range 8 to 12 mm.
7. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bulges on the bottom surface have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
8. An article of footwear comprising an upper, a sole unit to which the upper is connected, and a porous insole or sock overlying and bounded to the top surface of the sole unit, which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities.
9. An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the cavities communicates with the channel system through a restricted opening.
10. An article as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (14)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to footwear This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to sole units for boots and shoes. According to this invention there is provided a sole unit for an article of footwear which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities. According to a preferred feature of the invention the mouth of each of the cavities has a reduced cross-sectional area where it opens to the associated channel or channels. The said reduced cross-sectional area may for example be approximately one-quarter of the maximum crosssectional area of the cavity. The invention also provides an article of footwear comprising an upper, a sole unit to which the upper is connected, and a porous insole or sock overlying and bonded to the top surface of the sole unit, which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities. One embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings in which: Figure 1 is a sectional view of a shoe having a sole unit according to the invention, Figure 2 shows a plan view of the sole unit of the shoe of Figure 1, and Figure 3 shows an enlarged view of one of the cavities. Referring to the drawings there is shown a shoe 10 the upper 11 of which is lasted to an insole 12 made from leather, or a permeable plastics material or other suitable permeable material. A moulded sole unit 13 is bonded to the insole and lasting margin 14 of the upper. The sole unit is moulded from a resilient plastics material such as foamed polyurethane and has a multiplicity of cavities 1 5 opening to the top surface of the unit and interconnected by a series of channels 1 6 which are also open to the top surface of the unit. The cavities are grouped chiefly in the middle of the sole area and the middle of the heel area of the unit, and at least two channels communicate with each cavity. The cavities are somewhat egg-shaped and there is a bulge 17 on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each cavity, so that the pressure exerted by the foot on any bulge expels air from the associated cavity, and the action of walking pumps air from one cavity to another along the channels and in this way absorbs the shocks of impact of the foot with the ground.At the same time perspiration from the foot of the wearer can pass through the pores of the insole and be evaporated by the air flow along the channels, so that improved dispersion of the perspiration is achieved. Each cavity has a reduced cross-section where it joins the channels so that a neck 18 is formed which tends to restrict the rate of flow of air into and out of the cavities. In the illustrated construction the diameter of the cavity at the neck is approximately half of the maximum diameter of the cavity. The maximum diameter is typically in the range 8 to 12 mm. The bulges on the underside of the sole unit may have a height of 6 to 8 mm. CLAIMS
1. A sole unit for an article of footwear which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities.
2. A sole unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the cavities communicates with the channel system through a restricted opening.
3. A sole unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum crosssectional area of the cavity.
4. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a multiplicity of said cavities are provided and include concentrations in the fore part and in the heel portion.
5. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein each of said cavities has at least two channels of the channel system connected thereto.
6. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the maximum diameter of the cavities is in the range 8 to 12 mm.
7. A sole unit as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the bulges on the bottom surface have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
8. An article of footwear comprising an upper, a sole unit to which the upper is connected, and a porous insole or sock overlying and bounded to the top surface of the sole unit, which sole unit has a sole portion and a heel portion and is moulded from a resilient material, a plurality of cavities formed in the upper surface of the sole portion and heel portion of the unit, a system of channels formed in the unit, which channels interconnect the cavities, and a bulge formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the location of each of said cavities.
9. An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of the cavities communicates with the channel system through a restricted opening.
10. An article as claimed in claim 9, wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity.
11. An article as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein a multiplicity of said cavities are provided and include concentrations in the fore part and in the heel portion of the sole unit.
12. An article as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 11, wherein each of said cavities has at least two channels of the channel system connected thereto.
13. An article as claimed in any one of claims 8 to 12, wherein the maximum diameter of the cavities is in the range 8 to 12 mm.
14. An article as claimed in any one of claims E to 13, wherein the bulges on the bottom surface of the sole unit have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
1 5. A sole unit for an article of footwear, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
1 6. An article of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
GB08301538A 1982-02-05 1983-01-20 Improvements relating to footwear Expired GB2113972B (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB08301538A GB2113972B (en) 1982-02-05 1983-01-20 Improvements relating to footwear

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8203357 1982-02-05
GB08301538A GB2113972B (en) 1982-02-05 1983-01-20 Improvements relating to footwear

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB8301538D0 GB8301538D0 (en) 1983-02-23
GB2113972A true GB2113972A (en) 1983-08-17
GB2113972B GB2113972B (en) 1985-05-01

Family

ID=26281907

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB08301538A Expired GB2113972B (en) 1982-02-05 1983-01-20 Improvements relating to footwear

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2113972B (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2563979A1 (en) * 1984-05-10 1985-11-15 Mozayan Gaspard Air-cushion sole for various shoes and, particularly, for sports shoes
GB2245145A (en) * 1990-06-20 1992-01-02 Chu Hui Cheng Ventilated footwear
GB2487084A (en) * 2011-01-07 2012-07-11 Madison Trading Ltd Shoe with cavities and connecting passageways in the sole

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2563979A1 (en) * 1984-05-10 1985-11-15 Mozayan Gaspard Air-cushion sole for various shoes and, particularly, for sports shoes
GB2245145A (en) * 1990-06-20 1992-01-02 Chu Hui Cheng Ventilated footwear
GB2487084A (en) * 2011-01-07 2012-07-11 Madison Trading Ltd Shoe with cavities and connecting passageways in the sole

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB8301538D0 (en) 1983-02-23
GB2113972B (en) 1985-05-01

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee

Effective date: 20010120