BREATHING SHOE

Abstract

A sole assembly of a shoe includes an outsole (6); and a socklining (1) on top of the outsole (6) and comprising an air chamber (3) in a heel region; a airbag (2) in the air chamber (3), the airbag (2) including a plurality of front outlets (21) for expelling air from the airbag (2) forwardly, and a rear check valve (20) for permitting air to enter the airbag (2) but not to exit the airbag (2); and a resilient support (22) in the airbag (2).

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to footwear and more particularly to a shoe (e.g., sneaker) having an improved airbag and ventilation arrangement.

[0003] 2. Description of Related Art

[0004] It is known that shoes for protecting walker's feet are manufactured by using leather or synthetic materials that makes ventilation not so perfect. The shoes thus tend to accumulate moisture therein and this in turn can cause smell and even disease (e.g., athlete's foot or eczema) due to propagation of bacteria.

[0005] Recently, shoes having a ventilation arrangement have been commercially available. This shoe has been granted U.S. Pat. No. 6,434,858 B2. Typically, such shoes are so called breathing shoes and the shoe comprises a pump installed under an outsole only for expelling air, a one-way valve for allowing the introduction of air into the pump, and an air discharge tube connecting with the valve for purging air out of the shoe.

[0006] However, the conventional breathing shoe has the following drawbacks: Its air pumping operation is not active and functional. Further, the effect of airbag pumping is poor. It is often that a wearer in walking may easily feel tired due to the airbag inconsistent in hardness and no support for body weight lifting. Thus, the need for improvement still exists.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] It is therefore one object of the invention to provide a sole assembly of a shoe comprising an outsole; and a socklining on top of the outsole and comprising an air chamber in a heel region; an airbag in the air chamber, the airbag including a plurality of front outlets for expelling air from the airbag forwardly, and a rear check valve for permitting air to enter the airbag but not to exit the airbag; and a resilient support in the airbag.

[0008] The above and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a disassembling view of a breathing shoe according to the invention;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a top view in part section of the socklining;

[0011] FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the heel region of the socklining;

[0012] FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the top layer section of FIG. 2;

[0013] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the FIG. 4;

[0014] FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the resilient supports removed; and

[0015] FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 3 with the top layer section removed.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 7, a breathing shoe in accordance with the invention is shown. The shoe is shown as a sneaker but the character of the shoe could be superior to applied other kinds of shoes including dress shoes, casual shoes, golf shoes, sandals, slippers, etc. The shoe assembly comprises an upper 4 and a socklining 1, an insole 5, and an outsole 6. The socklining 1 is the subject of the invention as described in detail below.

[0017] An air chamber 3 is provided in a heel region. An airbag 2 is provided in the air chamber 3. Two outlets 21 are provided on a straight front end of the airbag 2 and a check valve 20 is provided on a curved rear edge thereof. The check valve 20 may communicate with air inside of the shoe. That is, the air only can be drawn into the airbag 2 but not exited therefrom.

[0018] An inlet 10 is formed integrally with an opening of the check valve 20 and communicates therewith. Two channels 11 are provided each having one end communicating with the outlet 21 and the other end open in the front portion of the channels 11. Which a plurality of perforations 12 are provided on the rear portion of the channels 11 is formed as a concealed passage 110 which is provided within the middle of socklining 1 and communicates with the outlet 21. The airbag 2 comprises a top layer section 23 and a bottom layer section 24 formed as the same material but different hardness. The check valve 20 is provided in a rear end of the bottom layer section 24 and the outlets 21 are provided on a straight front end of the top layer section 23.

[0019] The airbag 2 further comprises a resilient support 22 provided on a top layer section 23 and an upper of the bottom layer section 24. The resilient support 22, which construction as arched form when viewed from rear as shown in FIG. 3. The resilient support 22 is stiffer than the bottom layer section 24 so as to increase elastic strength and provide more cushion. The resilient support 22 may be either provided on the top layer section 23, and the bottom layer section 24, or between the top layer section 23 and bottom layer section 24 in other embodiments.

[0020] In operation (i.e., walking), as person wearing the breathing shoe places their weight on the ground, their weight at their heel applies pressure to the airbag 2. And the resistance of the resilient support 22 is working to support their weight till the air out of the airbag 2. When the airbag 2 is compressed, the air within the airbag 2 is forced outwardly through the outlets 21. The air in turn passes the passages 110 and the channels 11 to leave through the perforations 12. The flowing air may be circulating and substantially cooling down inside temperature of the shoe. When the compressive force is released (i.e., the shoe lifting the ground), both the resilient support 22 and the airbag 2 may retrieve to their respective normal states. The air is thus drawn into the airbag 2 through the inlet 10 and the check valve 20. Further, at the same time, the air within the socklining 1 is drawn back into the airbag 2 through the perforations 12, channels 11, and the passages 110. And the air is quick flowing back to the airbag 2 returning to its normal state.

[0021] It is an innovated invention that the repeated air purging effect will remove condensation, moisture, odor, etc. that might collect in the socklining 1. Therefore, the desired cooling effect and excellent airbag, shock absorption to the foot is achieved.

[0022] While the invention has been described in terms of preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention can be practiced with modifications within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A sole assembly of a shoe comprising an outsole; and a socklining on top of the outsole and comprising an air chamber in a heel region; an airbag in the air chamber, the airbag including a plurality of front outlets for expelling air from the airbag forwardly, and a rear check valve for permitting air to enter the airbag but not to exit the airbag; and a resilient support in the airbag.

2. The sole assembly of claim 1, wherein the airbag comprises a top layer section and a bottom layer section formed of a material the same as that of the top layer section but hardness different from the top layer section.

3. The sole assembly of claim 2, wherein the resilient support is disposed on the top layer section.

4. The sole assembly of claim 2, wherein the resilient support is disposed upper of the bottom layer section.

5. The sole assembly of claim 2, wherein the resilient support is disposed between the top layer section the bottom layer section.

6. The sole assembly of claim 1, further comprising an inlet formed integrally with the check valve for permitting air to enter the check valve.

7. The sole assembly of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of channel extending forward, each channel the air flowing in communication with the outlet.

8. The sole assembly of claim 7, wherein the channels comprises a plurality of perforations on the front portion thereof.

9. The sole assembly of claim 7, wherein the channels further comprises a concealed passage in the rear portion thereof, the passage the air flowing in communication with the outlet.

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