WO2012172577A1

WO2012172577A1 - A perspiring shoe structure

Info

Publication number: WO2012172577A1
Application number: PCT/IT2011/000198
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Fiore
Original assignee: Ditta Francesco Fiore
Priority date: 2011-06-15
Filing date: 2011-06-15
Publication date: 2012-12-20

Abstract

The present invention concerns perspiring footwear (1). The footwear includes a superior part (6) and a sole (2) connected to the superior part (6) so as to form an internal housing (10) for the foot. The sole (2) further forms at least one internal cavity (3) and is further provided with a plurality of holes (7) that face from the internal housing (10) for the foot into the cavity (3) so as to create a passage of air from the inside of the footwear to the cavity (3) and vice versa. In accordance with the invention, the cavity (3) is placed in communication with the external part of the footwear (1) through one or more rising tubes (15) that from the cavity (3) rise along the superior part (6) of the footwear (1).

Description

TITLE

A PERSPIRING SHOE STRUCTURE Technical field

The present invention concerns the technical field relative to footwear.

In particular, the invention refers to an innovative type of shoe having a sole structured in such a way so as to result particularly perspiring but that, at the same time, does not allow the penetration of water.

Background art

Shoes with perspiring soles have been known for some time and, as everyone knows, they enhance the comfort and the health of the foot of their user. In fact, the more the foot perspires the less will be the reproduction of micro-bacteria that cause bad smell or even dermatitis or fungus .

A solution has been proposed, for example, in patent application EP0956789, wherein a sole with passing holes through its entire thickness is described. In this way, the holes face on one side the external part of the shoe and on the other side the internal part of the shoe. A perspiring but water-proof sole is glued on the sole on the internal part where the foot fits so as to cover all the holes. In this way, water does not penetrate since it encounters the barrier made up by the sole, while air is anyway allowed to circulate and enter in contact with the foot through said holes.

However, it is evident that such a solution is not very functional because, although the internal sole is water-proof, it is impossible to impede the complete penetration of water or humidity, above all when rainfall is intense and when the shoe is immersed in a water puddle. Accordingly, such shoes can be used almost with no problems in. summer time but they result rather uncomfortable in winter time.

Moreover, another technical problem of such a type of solution refers to the fact that, inevitably, the holes are obstructed during walking every time the sole rests on the ground, thus impeding any circulation of air whatsoever .

Another solution is described, for example, in patent application US2005/0217140. The sole of the shoe, in this case, is made of a flexible rubber material and includes an internal layer in contact with the foot, an external layer in contact with the ground, and an intermediate layer. The intermediate layer is configured so as to form a plurality of air chambers through a plurality of transversal ribs. The air chambers are in communication with the internal part of the shoe through holes that from the air chamber pass through the entire thickness of the internal layer. In the same way, other holes are included that from the air chambers pass through the entire thickness of the external layer. Each hole includes a valve system that adjusts the air flow passage from the outside towards the inside and vice versa thanks to the action of pressure/depression that is created during walking due to the elastic distortion of the air chambers.

It is therefore evident that, structurally, such a solution is extremely complex. Also in this case, in addition, it is almost impossible to prevent the water infiltrations that from the sole rise towards the inside of the shoe thanks to said holes. Moreover, also in this case, the circulation of air is impeded during walking since the holes that face on the sole on the side destined to the contact with the ground are obstructed every time the sole rests on the ground. A third solution has been proposed in International patent application WO9926504, wherein the sole of the shoe is made in such a way as to include an intermediate fibrous material, so as to result perspiring as regards the air, or in a drape forming plastic material but made in such a way as to have air circulation channels. Also in this case, such intermediate layer results below an internal layer in direct contact with the foot, provided with passing holes for the passage of air, and by an external layer in contact with the ground. In this case, differently from the other documents, the holes in the external layer for the passage of air towards the external part of the shoe are arranged laterally.

Although such a solution solves the technical problem of the obstruction of the holes during walking (since they are now arranged laterally) the problem of the infiltration of water during rainy conditions remains unsolved, above all in case of formation of big water puddles .

Brief description of the invention

It is therefore the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of perspiring shoe that solves at least in part said drawbacks.

In particular, it is the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of shoe, or footwear, which results perspiring for the foot, being at the same time perfectly liquid water-proof and therefore rainproof .

It is also the aim of the present invention to provide a new type of footwear wherein the holes are arranged in such a way as to impede at the same time their closure during walking.

These and other aims are obtained with the present footwear (1) as per claim 1. The footwear (1), as it is known, comprising a superior part (6) and a sole (2) connected to the superior part in such a way as to form an internal housing (10) for the foot. The sole is configured so as to form inside it at least one cavity (3) . Moreover, the sole is further provided with a plurality of holes (7) that put in communication the internal housing (10) with the cavity (3) so as to create a passage of air from the inside of the footwear into the cavity and vice versa.

In order to allow an efficient perspiration, but at the same time in order to guarantee the perfect waterproof condition, the traditional holes that from the sole face towards the external part of it have been eliminated.

In particular, the cavity has been now placed in communication with the external part of the footwear through one or more tubes (15) that from the cavity rise along the superior part (6) of the footwear (1).

In accordance with such a solution, not being present anymore holes for the passage of air that branch through the entire thickness of the sole, the amount of rain water that can penetrate is now significantly reduced, even when the sole of the shoe is completely immersed in a water puddle .

The sole is in fact perfectly isolated now and the only fluid communication with the outside is obtained through the tubes 15 that rise along the superior part of the footwear, that is the vamp 6, thus preventing any infiltration .

It is also evident that, with such an embodiment of one or more tubes that rise along the superior part 6, the technical problem of the obstruction of the holes during walking is also easily solved. Such a solution, last, results also constructively simple and .is adaptable to all types of footwear, including boots, sneakers, night shoes, working shoes and even combat boots.

Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention are inferred from the dependent claims.

Brief description of the drawings

Further characteristics and advantages of the present footwear, according to the invention, will result clearer with the description that follows of some embodiments, made to illustrate but not to limit, with reference to the annexed drawings, wherein:

— Figure 1 describes a transversal section of a shoe in accordance with the invention so as to highlight in section the components of the sole 2;

— Figure 2 describes a section of the shoe cut along a longitudinal plane parallel to the sole 2 and facing towards the holes 7 for the perspiration;

— Figure 3 shows a variant of the invention wherein the channels are obtained in correspondence of the superior surface instead of the inferior surface.

— Figure 4 shows a small manual pump 100 applicable to one of the tubes 15 for forcing a circulation of air inside the footwear.

Description of some preferred embodiments

The annexed figures show some embodiments of a shoe 1, the sole 2 of which is configured in such a way as to form inside it at least one cavity 3 for the circulation of air and one or a plurality of rising channels 15 placed in communication with the cavity on one part and that rise upwards along the shoe.

Going into the descriptive details, the shoe, as it is known in the background art, comprises a superior part 6, generally called vamp, and a sole 2 that closes the superior part 6 in such a way as to create the internal volume 10 into which the foot of the user fits. The connection between sole 2 and vamp 6 can take place with methods technically equivalent among them, known in the state of the art, among which, for example, gluing or stitching .

A first possible embodiment of the invention is described in detail in figures 1 and 2.

In particular, in accordance with said first embodiment of the invention, the sole 2 includes one superior layer 5, arranged inside the volume 10, and one inferior layer 8 having a surface 8' destined in use to the contact with the ground and an internal surface 8'' that faces the inside of the shoe and on which the superior layer 5 lies.

A sole 16, soft and perspiring, just for comfort purposes, can also eventually be arranged above the superior layer 5.

As shown in the section of figure 1 and in the top view of the section of figure 2, the inferior layer 8 presents a plurality of cavities 3 in the form of channels 3. In particular, the inferior layer is worked, for example incised or made by drape forming, in such a way so as to form a plurality of channels 3 for the circulation of air.

The superior layer 5 therefore includes a plurality of holes 7 which are passing through its entire thickness. In this way, on one part, such holes face directly below the soft sole in case it is included or directly into the internal volume 10 of the shoe when the sole is not included. On the opposite side, such holes 7 (preferably obtained in correspondence of the line of development of the channels) face directly the plurality of channels 3 obtained in the inferior layer 8 and well visible also in the section of figure 2.

Such an embodiment is particularly advantageous for the following reason. The presence of channels formed directly in the inferior surface (rather than a single cavity) makes that the superior layer 5 always result well supported by the inferior layer 8. In this way, the superior layer 5 is impeded from inflecting towards the inferior surface 8 under the effect of the weight of the user, thus causing a partial obstruction of the holes and not serving its perspiring function.

As shown in figure 1 and in figure 2, the channels 3 finish with one or more rising tubes 15 which rise from said channels 3 along the superior part 6 of the shoe upwards the shoe itself.

Such a solution is extremely advantageous since the water, even rain water, is now absolutely impeded from penetrating inside the shoe. In order to limit the penetration of rain water, in fact, it is enough to reduce the number of tubes (just one would be enough) and reduce as much as possible the diameter of the tube itself (for example so that it is of just one millimetre and even of half millimetre) .

A second embodiment of the invention is identical to the preceding one except for the fact that it includes the formation of a single cavity 3 rather than a plurality of channels 3.

However, such a solution, as said before, even if particularly simple from the structural point of view, can anyway cause a partial obstruction of the holes 7 due to the inflection of the surface 5, which rests only on the edges. Accordingly, it is necessary to include a construction material for the surface 5 that is particularly rigid or over-dimensioned as per its thickness . A third possible embodiment of the invention is shown in figure 3, which differs from the first embodiment in that the superior layer 105 has such an overall thickness d by which it rests directly on the underlying smooth sole 108, as indicated in figure 3. In this way, it is possible to incise directly on it the channels 3 and the holes 7 in correspondence of the channels. The channels are therefore obtained on the superior layer 105 and not on the inferior one 108. The superior layer itself can include the tubes 15 or the attachments for external small pipes integrated to it. In accordance with such a solution, the superior layer 105 rests now directly on a smooth sole 108 and is connected to it by gluing or stitching .

In all the embodiments described, as for example shown schematically in figure 4, a small manual pump 100 can be foreseen, provided with a spout suitable for being inserted inside one of the channels 15 described. In this way, it is possible to apply the small pump to any of the channels so that it is possible to pump air inside the shoe, generating a forced circulation. In this way, the inside of the shoe can be easily cooled or heated according to the amount of air that is pumped.

To improve the effect of circulation of air, it is also possible to obstruct the remaining channels with holed plugs so as not to obstruct them completely but only to reduce their section. In this way, by pumping air into a tube through said pump, a better mixing of new air with that internally present both for heating and for cooling (on the basis of the temperature of the air pumped) is generated .

Having structurally described the invention, we now pass onto a description of the functioning of it with reference, for simplicity purposes, to the first embodiments only since the functioning is the same also for the other embodiments mentioned.

The user, during walking, rests and lifts the weight from the sole 2. In particular, the foot of the user is in contact with the superior surface 5 directly or through the sole 6. In this way, the action of walking creates a slight inflection of the superior surface 5 towards the underlying channels 3. This implies in fact a cyclical reduction/increase of the volume of the underlying channels 3 that causes a circulation of air. When the user rests his own weight on the surface 5, the air contained in the channels is expelled from the channels 3 towards the outside of the shoe through the tubes 15 that rise along the shoe. When the foot is lifted, the weight is removed from the superior surface 5 and, therefore, the volume of the channels returns to be the original one. This creates an effect of sucking of the air from the outside towards the inside of the shoe through the tubes 15 and the channels 3.

In this way, a perspiration effect is created exempt from the problems mentioned in the background art since the sole has no more passing holes that face the external part at sole level and that can be subject to water infiltrations .

It is evident that the present invention is applicable to any kind of footwear, including boots.

Claims

CLAI S

Footwear (1) comprising a superior part (6) and a sole (2) connected to the superior part (6) so as to form an internal housing (10) for the foot, the sole (2) forming at least one internal cavity (3) and being further provided with a plurality of holes (7) that face from the internal housing (10) for the foot into the cavity (3) so as to create a passage of air from the inside of the shoe to the cavity (3) and vice versa and wherein, further, the cavity (3) is placed in communication with the external part of the footwear (1) and characterized in that said communication of the cavity (3) with the external part of the footwear (1) is obtained through one or more rising tubes (15) that from the cavity (3) rise along the superior part (6) of the footwear (1) .

Footwear (1), according to claim 1, wherein the sole

(2) comprises:

— A superior surface (5) provided with said holes (7) ;

— An inferior surface (8) worked so that said cavity (3) is in the form of a plurality of channels

(3) obtained directly in the inferior surface (8);

— and wherein the superior surface (5) is arranged on the inferior surface (8) so that at least a part of said holes result aligned along said channels (3) .

Footwear (1), according to claim 2, wherein the superior surface is connected to the inferior surface by gluing, stitching or vulcanization.

Footwear (1), according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said inferior surface (8) is worked in the form of channels by forming or incision. Footwear ' (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims from 2 to 4, wherein each rising tube (15) branches from an end of a channel (3) along the superior part (6).

Footwear (1), according to claim 1, wherein the sole (2) comprises:

— A superior surface (105) provided with said holes (7) and worked so as to include said cavity (3) in the form of a plurality of channels (3) in correspondence of at least one part of said holes;

— A flat inferior surface (108) on which said superior surface (105) lies.

Footwear (1), according to claim 6, wherein each rising tube (15) branches from an end of a channel (3) along the superior part (6).

Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a perspiring sole (16) is further included arranged on the superior surface (5; 105) so that said surface (5; 105) results comprised between the sole (16) and the inferior surface (8; 108) .

Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein one or more rising tubes (15) are included placed in the back part of the footwear in correspondence of the heel.

Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the rising tube (15) rises through the entire height of the footwear.

Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein said rising tubes (15) have a diameter variable from 0,5 mm to 3mm and, preferably, from 0,8 mm to 1 mm.

12. Footwear' (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the rising tube (15) is formed by a pipe.

13. Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the tube is in the shape of a silicone pipe.

14. Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein the rising tube (15) is detachable from the cavity to which it results connected on one part.

15. Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein a pump (100) is included having an exiting spout of the air of such a dimension as to be able to be inserted into a tube (15) so as to allow to force a circulation of air into the footwear.

16. Footwear (1) , according to claim 15, wherein the pump (100) is manual.

17. Footwear (1), according to one or more of the preceding claims, wherein plugs for obstructing at least partially the opening section of the tubes (15) are included.