GB2401771A

GB2401771A - A sole for a shoe, boot or trainer that has compartments containing air

Info

Publication number: GB2401771A
Application number: GB0311773A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Paul William Dolby
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-05-22
Filing date: 2003-05-22
Publication date: 2004-11-24
Also published as: GB0311773D0

Abstract

A sole for a shoe, boot or trainer, where the sole has compartments that contain air that improves the stability of the shoe. The sole comprises an insole 10b that has several partitions 7, an upper sole 10a and a lower sole 10c that may be welded together or integrally formed to provide air tight compartments. An orifice 18 at the rim of the heel 4 enables the insertion of a conventional filing needle to allow air to be extracted and air to be pumped inside the sole. Orifice's 12 connect the partitions and allow the air to flow between the compartments. Air is kept inside the sole by the static equal air pressure inside and outside of the insole 10b and by sealing the orifice 18. An additional airtight orifice 14 may pass through the upper sole 10a, inner sole 10b and lower sole 10c and hold a stud/spike insert (15, Fig 4) to allow a grip mechanism 16 such as a stud/spike to be attached.

Description

PARTITIONED AIR INSOLE SHOE/BOOT/SPIKE/TR\INER The invention relates to a

partitioned air insole shoe/boot/spike/trainer Sports footwear comprises of shoes, boots, spikes and trainers, which are specific to the sport or activity chosen to participate in. Choices of purchase are influenced by specific style of design, weight, strength, durability, flexibility and player endorsement.

According to the present invention there is provided within the sole of each footwear an inner sole section that is hollow and partitioned (to give strength), and is filled with X-AIR'which flows through an orifice within each partition so saturating the inner sole with 'X-AIR'.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a plan view of the solid upper sole of the shoe/boot/spike showing the orifices that extend entirely through the sole of the present invention. There will be variations of type, position and quantity of orifices to accommodate the variety of studs/spikes required by the specific footwear.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the shoe/boot/spike inner sole or insole with the upper sole removed.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the solid lower sole of the shoe/boot/spike showing the ormces.

FIG. 4 is a x-section of the complete sole.

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the solid upper sole of the trainer.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the trainer's inner sole with the upper sole removed.

FIG. 7 is a plan view of the solid lower sole of the trainer.

Referring to Fig.1, a shoe/boot/spike sole is generally indicated by the number t0.

This section of the sole will be referred to as 10a as this is the upper sole section. The sole has a rim 2 with a toe portion 3 and a heel portion 4. The outer portion S of the sole is substantially smooth. The orifice 1 runs through the sole. The surface of the sole will accommodate the head of the screw inset 15.

As shown in Fig. 2 a plurality of partitions are formed across the inner sole or insole 10b between opposite inner surfaces 6 of the rim 2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the partitions 7 are integrally formed with the inner sole base 8 and rim 2.

Rim 2 is relative in thickness to allow stability and strength of sole 10.

Partitions 7 divide the inner sole into several longitudinally spaced sections that are filled with 'X-AIR'. The insole 10b is joined to the upper sole 10a and the lower sole 10c surfaces of partitions 7 and rim 2 to complete the sealed airtight pockets. The outer portion of the inner sole 10b is substantially smooth.

A filling orifice 18 is provided at the heel portion 4 of the rim 2. By inserting a conventional filling needle into the orifice 18, air within the inner chambers 13 is extracted through each internal orifice 12, and out through the filling needle. The 'X- AIR' is allowed into and completely filling the vacuum in inner chambers 13 through each orifice 12 in every partition 7. On extraction of the filling needle the 'X-AIR' i.e. kept inside the airtight inner sole 10b by static equal air pressure inside and outside the inner sole 10b through orifice 18. The sealing of orifice 18 with the same sole material exhibits the maker's seal of approval l9 - exploded view with manufacturer's initials.

A continuous hollow sealed unit 14 through the inner sole 10b joins the lower sole 10c and upper sole 10a to make a 'through orifice' 14 to fit the screw inset 15 for the grip mechanism.

As shown in Fig.3, this section of the sole will be referred to as 10c as this is the lower sole section. It is built the same as the upper sole 10a. The lower sole 10c will accommodate the screw inset 15 and the stud/spike/grip 16 needed.

As shown in Fig. 4 there is a complete x-section of the whole sole 10, comprising of the upper sole 10a, inner sole 10b and lower sole 10c welded together as one sealed airtight unit 10. The partitions 7 are positioned regularly in the inner sole 10b. Each hollow sealed unit 14 runs through the whole base 10 enabling the screw inset 15 to fit precisely in the hollow sealed unit 14. The grip mechanism 16 is attached at the base ofthe sole 17 into the screw inset 15.

As shown in Fig. 5 there is a solid upper sole 10a. This sole has a rim 2 with a toe portion 3 and a heel portion 4. The outer portion 5 of the trainer's upper sole 10a is substantially smooth.

As shown in Fig. 6 a plurality of partitions 7 are formed across the inner sole 10b between opposite inner surfaces 6 of rim 2. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the partitions 7 are integrally formed with the inner sole 8 and rim 2. Rim 2 is relative in thickness to allow stability and strength of base.

Partitions 7 divide the inner sole into several longitudinally spaced sections that are filled with 'X-AIR'. Inner base 10b is joined to upper sole 10a and lower sole 10c surface of partitions 7 and rim 2 to complete the sealed, airtight pockets.

A filling orifice 18 is provided at the heel 4 of the rim 2. By inserting a conventional filling needle into the orifice 18, air within the inner chambers 13 is extracted through each internal orifice 12, and out through the filling needle. The 'X-AIR'is allowed into, and completely filling the vacuum in inner chambers 13 through each orifice 12 in every partition 7. On extraction of the filling needle the 'X-AIR' is kept inside the airtight inner sole 10b by static equal air pressure inside and outside the inner sole lab through orifice 18. The sealing of orifice 18 with the stance sole material exhibits the maker's seal of approval 19 - exploded view with manufacturer's initials.

As shown in Fig. 7 there is a solid lower base lOc. The sole has a rim 2 with a toe portion 3 and a heel portion 4. The outer portion of the trainer's lower sole lOc is substantially smooth.

Claims

1 The insole comprising a partitioned body enables stability and strength to be maintained without losing ant aesthetic appeal of the shoe/boot/spike/trainer

2 Each partition having a minute orifice for flowing air through from one section to another section, and means joining the lower sole, the rim, upper sole and the partitions in air tight relationship.

3 The insole further comprising of an orifice positioned on the heel rim for admitting air through the orifice into a section adjacent the orifice.

4 The insole, lower sole and upper sole are all constructed of the same material accumulating to the standard shoe/boot/spike/trainer thickness.

For the shoe/boot/spike/trainer that requires grip mechanisms, e.g. studs, there is a sealed unit through the lower, inner and upper soles not allowing any air to escape from the inner sole.

6 The sealed unit varies according to the type of stud/spike required. A stud/spike inset sits inside the sealed unit ready to receive the stud/spike.

7 A conventional shoe/boot/spike/trainer upper can remain the same. It is the base that is unique to the manufacture.

8 The complete depth of the base may only be a minute fraction larger than the standard shoe/boot/spike/trainer - or the same if the exact strength and durability can be attained. The unique insole will not change or interfere with the weight/strength/durability of the standard shoe/boot/spike/trainer.

9 The outside of the sole will look like a conventional shoe/boot/spike/trainer but for one exception - it will have the manufacture's seal of approval imprinted within the heel.