EP0122985A1 - Improvements relating to footwear - Google Patents

Improvements relating to footwear Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0122985A1
EP0122985A1 EP83302279A EP83302279A EP0122985A1 EP 0122985 A1 EP0122985 A1 EP 0122985A1 EP 83302279 A EP83302279 A EP 83302279A EP 83302279 A EP83302279 A EP 83302279A EP 0122985 A1 EP0122985 A1 EP 0122985A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
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
EP83302279A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0122985B1 (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
Family has litigation
First worldwide family litigation filed litigation Critical https://patents.darts-ip.com/?family=8191128&utm_source=google_patent&utm_medium=platform_link&utm_campaign=public_patent_search&patent=EP0122985(A1) "Global patent litigation dataset” by Darts-ip is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Application filed by Clarks Ltd filed Critical Clarks Ltd
Priority to EP83302279A priority Critical patent/EP0122985B1/en
Priority to DE8383302279T priority patent/DE3369831D1/en
Priority to AT83302279T priority patent/ATE25497T1/en
Publication of EP0122985A1 publication Critical patent/EP0122985A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0122985B1 publication Critical patent/EP0122985B1/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/06—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
    • A43B7/08—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
    • A43B7/081—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures the air being forced from outside
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
    • A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
    • A43B13/18—Resilient soles
    • A43B13/181—Resiliency achieved by the structure of the sole

Definitions

  • This invention relates to footwear and more particularly to sole units for boots and shoes.
  • 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.
  • 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 cross-sectional 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.
  • FIG. 1 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 15 opening to the top surface of the unit and interconnected by a series of channels 16 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

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.

Description

  • 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 cross-sectional 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 15 opening to the top surface of the unit and interconnected by a series of channels 16 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 (10)

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 cross-sectional area of the cavity.
4. 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.
5. An article as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of the cavities communicates with the channel system through a restricted opening.
6. An article as claimed in claim 5, wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity.
7. An article as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, wherein a multiplicity of said cavities are provided and include concentrations in the fore part and in the heel portion of the sole unit.
8. An article as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, wherein each of said cavities has at least two channels of the channel system connected thereto.
9. An article as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 8, wherein the maximum diameter of the cavities is in the range 8 to 12 mm.
10. An article as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 9, wherein the bulges on the bottom surface of the sole unit have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
EP83302279A 1983-04-21 1983-04-21 Improvements relating to footwear Expired EP0122985B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP83302279A EP0122985B1 (en) 1983-04-21 1983-04-21 Improvements relating to footwear
DE8383302279T DE3369831D1 (en) 1983-04-21 1983-04-21 Improvements relating to footwear
AT83302279T ATE25497T1 (en) 1983-04-21 1983-04-21 SHOES.

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP83302279A EP0122985B1 (en) 1983-04-21 1983-04-21 Improvements relating to footwear

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0122985A1 true EP0122985A1 (en) 1984-10-31
EP0122985B1 EP0122985B1 (en) 1987-02-25

Family

ID=8191128

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP83302279A Expired EP0122985B1 (en) 1983-04-21 1983-04-21 Improvements relating to footwear

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0122985B1 (en)
AT (1) ATE25497T1 (en)
DE (1) DE3369831D1 (en)

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2844970A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2004-04-02 Bernard Favraud OUTSOLE FOR FOOTWEAR AND RESULTING FOOTWEAR
ES2257106A1 (en) * 2002-07-30 2006-07-16 Stoil Radkov Pochileev Shoe used in walking or running, has pair of pipes placed in interior of shoe heel for sucking air from upper part of shoe heel and for conducting air out of shoe through screen
ES2258872A1 (en) * 2003-02-05 2006-09-01 Jesus Soriano Galiana Improved sole for footwear has spheroidal formations that adapt to contour of user's foot by yielding to weight of user
US7234106B2 (en) 2002-09-10 2007-06-19 Simske Steven J System for and method of generating image annotation information
EP2082660A1 (en) 2008-01-25 2009-07-29 C & J CLARK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Footwear
US8375601B2 (en) 2009-12-14 2013-02-19 C. & J. Clark America, Inc. Footwear with air cavities
CN106263254A (en) * 2016-10-26 2017-01-04 吉林大学 The bionic sports shoes big end of high efficiency buffer

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP3892146A1 (en) 2015-05-26 2021-10-13 NIKE Innovate C.V. Foot support members that provide dynamically transformative properties
US11490679B2 (en) 2019-09-25 2022-11-08 Nike, Inc. Foot support components for articles of footwear

Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1918849A1 (en) * 1968-04-16 1969-12-18 Fukuoka Kagaku Kogyo Co Ltd Footwear
US4071963A (en) * 1976-04-14 1978-02-07 Sadao Fukuoka Ventilated footwear

Patent Citations (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE1918849A1 (en) * 1968-04-16 1969-12-18 Fukuoka Kagaku Kogyo Co Ltd Footwear
US4071963A (en) * 1976-04-14 1978-02-07 Sadao Fukuoka Ventilated footwear

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2257106A1 (en) * 2002-07-30 2006-07-16 Stoil Radkov Pochileev Shoe used in walking or running, has pair of pipes placed in interior of shoe heel for sucking air from upper part of shoe heel and for conducting air out of shoe through screen
US7234106B2 (en) 2002-09-10 2007-06-19 Simske Steven J System for and method of generating image annotation information
FR2844970A1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2004-04-02 Bernard Favraud OUTSOLE FOR FOOTWEAR AND RESULTING FOOTWEAR
WO2004028285A1 (en) 2002-09-27 2004-04-08 Bernard Favraud Outsole for item of footwear and resulting item of footwear
ES2258872A1 (en) * 2003-02-05 2006-09-01 Jesus Soriano Galiana Improved sole for footwear has spheroidal formations that adapt to contour of user's foot by yielding to weight of user
EP2082660A1 (en) 2008-01-25 2009-07-29 C & J CLARK INTERNATIONAL LIMITED Footwear
US8375601B2 (en) 2009-12-14 2013-02-19 C. & J. Clark America, Inc. Footwear with air cavities
CN106263254A (en) * 2016-10-26 2017-01-04 吉林大学 The bionic sports shoes big end of high efficiency buffer
CN106263254B (en) * 2016-10-26 2019-08-30 吉林大学 The bionic sports shoes outsole of high efficiency buffer

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
ATE25497T1 (en) 1987-03-15
DE3369831D1 (en) 1987-04-02
EP0122985B1 (en) 1987-02-25

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