EP0714611B1 - Ventilating device for shoes and method for making the same - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a ventilation device internal for city or sport footwear allowing in particular the ventilation of the interior of the shoe as well as the evacuation of sweat.

When walking or, even more so, when practicing a sport, the foot heats up inside an article footwear and the user may experience discomfort and a feeling of discomfort, particularly related to sweating. Patent FR-B-2,472,354 proposed to limit this discomfort by offering an article of footwear comprising compressible and deformable pneumatic chambers in the sole in communication with pneumatic chambers fitting the rear part of the foot. However, if this guy significantly reduces the discomfort associated with warming up by creating flexibility the article of footwear, it does not solve the problem related to the sweating itself. It is therefore advisable to propose a means to reduce both the inconvenience associated with this warming but also those related to sweating, providing ventilation or air circulation to inside the footwear.

It has been proposed in FR-A-2,594,305 to make a sole first having a recess in its upper part, said recess being closed by a sockliner provided with perforations. So when walking, the recess is compressed and the air it contains is evacuated through the perforations towards the inside of the article footwear; upon loosening the compression of this recess, air enters the recess again at the through perforations. So there is air circulation but this practically always remains the same and we don't can speak of real evacuation and renewal of stale air inside the footwear. A sole of the same kind is also described in FR-A-2,052,268.

Document FR-A-1.019.374 proposes a boot provided with a pocket which extends along the rod and is interposed between the insole and the sole. In the top of the rod, the pocket is provided with an inlet orifice air and at the end of the pocket under the arch, it has one or more perforations towards the inside of the boot through which air is evacuated when walking. However, when laying the heel, air can be sent either towards the arch or turned upwards the stem. The air circulation is therefore random and by therefore not very effective. Document US-A-2,741,038 proposes the same principle but by introducing valves in the pocket to circulate air in one direction. A such an embodiment offers very limited walking comfort.

GB-A-2,189,679 describes a sole molded so as to constitute a pump, the air circulating in one direction according to the principle of compression / depression linked to the movement of works thanks to valves provided in this sole. The making such a sole is difficult to implement work and we risk seeing the upper part crash of the sole inside the recess made in the sole after a certain time of use.

European patent application EP-A-0,319,968 describes, as for a sole with an internal recess opened by an air intake opening in the heel and provided with perforations under the arch. When installing the heel, the air intake opening is closed by compression and the air is evacuated towards the perforations and there towards the inside of the footwear. Such a sole has the disadvantage of risking sagging from the upper part of the sole in the recess at in use over time.

Document FR-A-2,695,303 proposes a device for integrated air circulation at the heel of a sole, consisting of a chamber with an upper wall compressible, a non-return air intake valve heel level and air exhaust channel leading towards the front of the sole. Despite the valve non-return, when the compression is released under the arch, nothing prevents the exhaust air from returning to said compressible chamber via the drainage channel and thus preventing circulation effective air from the heel to the arch of the foot.

WO-A-93/07774 proposes a sole which has an orifice air intake at the arch of the foot, the air then being introduced, via a valve non-return in a cavity in the heel and escaping to the outside via a non-return valve by a conduit extending along the shoe upper. Again, there is an implementation particular work of the sole as well as the upper the shoe and that cannot adapt to different types footwear.

EP-A-0 624 322 discloses a ventilated footwear in which a pump is housed in a recess in the portion of the heel of a outsole. The device ventilation also includes a first non-return valve housed in a duct leading out of the outsole and a second non-return valve housed in a duct in connection with air circulation channels in communication with the inside of the footwear in its front part. The pump is connected to these two valves via a conduit opening into a joint into which the other two conduits open, this gasket being housed in the middle part of the sole of wear. When walking, the pressure exerted on the pump causes air to be expelled through first non-return valve in communication with the outside while that the second non-return valve in communication with the interior is closed and the pressure is released causes air to be drawn in from inside the article of footwear through the second non-return valve, the first non-return valve being closed. Such ventilation device is the preamble to the claim 1.

By WO-A-8910073, there is known a ventilation device in which the compressible chamber is part of the sole in that it is defined between a lower part of the outsole and an upper part of it, the variable volume being defined by callbacks elastic. This compressible chamber is connected to a conduit leading outward and to conduits to inside the article, these conduits being provided respectively of a valve. So when you press exerted on the heel of the sole, it repels air contained in the chamber towards the inside of the article fitting through the valve which is open, the valve in communication with the outside being closed then during release of pressure, the valve in communication with the outside lets in air which is sucked in towards the compressible chamber while the valve in communication with the inside of the footwear closed. In this article of footwear, there is ventilation of the foot but it there is no evacuation of air and sweat from the inside outward of the footwear.

By FR-A-2 588 044, there is an article of footwear in which the compressible chamber is defined by a housing formed in the heel portion of the outsole, the upper portion of the outsole surmounting said housing being arranged projecting towards the inside of the article of footwear and kept projecting by an element elastic return such as a spring. This room compressible is connected inside the article footwear by a conduit provided with a first non-return valve and outside the footwear by a second duct provided with a second non-return valve. When pressure exerted on the heel, the second non-return valve is closed and the air is expelled, through the first non-return valve, towards the inside of the article footwear while, when the pressure is released, the first non-return valve is closed and the second valve non-return allows air to pass from outside into the compressible chamber.

In order to overcome these disadvantages of existing systems, the present invention provides a ventilation device independent of the footwear consisting of a sole or outsole and a rod, which allows a one-way air flow from the heel of the item fitting to the front part of it and which is of a easy and economical production and assembly.

To this end, the ventilation device, which includes a compressible chamber made of flexible and waterproof material consisting of a tank fitted with a cover, and non-return valves, is characterized in that said cover has membranes forming check valves allowing the entry and evacuation of air in the tank according to a single direction of circulation, and a insole on which said compressible chamber is recessed, said insole comprising on one side a network of air circulation channels in communication with the compressible chamber and being provided perforations communicating said channels with the opposite side of the insole.

According to one embodiment of the device according to the invention, the cover has on its inner face a diametrically opposite recess and orifice and on its outer face a recess in which the orifice ends of the interior face and an orifice which ends in the recess on the outside, the membranes forming non-return valve being placed in said recesses in order to promote a single possible direction of circulation of the air.

Advantageously, this device is introduced into a footwear whose outsole has a cavity capable of accommodating the compressible chamber.

When placing the compressible chamber in the outsole cavity, said compressible chamber advantageously has dimensions such as that it should protrude slightly above the face upper of the outsole. Said room compressible being embedded in the insole, it is therefore also slightly raised above the heel area of the sole wear and therefore does not rest completely on the outsole.

Thus, when laying the heel during walking, the compressible chamber undergoes deformation of the walls of its reservoir under the effect of the compression exerted by the foot on the insole which comes to rest fully on the upper side of the outsole while an abrasion-resistant disc, placed under the outsole heel slightly protrudes from the surface of this heel in contact with the ground, contributes to the same instant in the compression of the chamber in its part lower.

Compressed air then tends to escape from the chamber compressible and exerts pressure on the membranes forming a valve of which at least one is movable and allows air evacuation.

The outside of the compressible chamber cover advantageously has recesses on its edges which connect the inlet and outlet ports of the air in the compressible chamber with the network of piping on one side of the sole interior.

The air expelled from the compressible chamber is evacuated to the front of the insole through the channels of circulation then, during compression of the front part of the outsole and the insole, the air is evacuated towards the interior front part of the article footwear. Advantageously, the air cannot return to the compressible chamber and is therefore expelled entirely towards the inside of the footwear.

During this time, the walls of the tank are put back in place and a vacuum is created in the room compressible which tends to attract a current of air from from the outside of the compressible chamber through the second diaphragm forming a valve which admits admission air from the heel of the insole.

An air circulation device was thus produced in this way of a simple design and which does not require to realize a special and complicated shape of the outsole as was the case in the prior art. In Indeed, in addition to the usual drawings that the outsole, it suffices that it has on its upper side an open tank receiving cavity of the ventilation device.

The invention also relates to an article of footwear. consisting of a outsole to which is fixed a rod by any means known per se, said outsole having on its upper face, at the heel, an open cavity suitable for accommodating a ventilation device consisting of a chamber compressible in flexible and waterproof material made of tank fitted with a cover comprising membranes forming check valves and embedded in a insole comprising, on its face facing the outsole, a network of pipes in communication with the compressible chamber and provided with perforations leading to the opposite surface of the sole interior.

The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing such footwear comprising this device ventilation.

la figure 1 représente une vue en coupe latérale de la chambre compressible du dispositif de ventilation selon l'invention ;

la figure 2 représente une vue schématique en coupe latérale du réservoir de la figure 1 ;

la figure 3 représente une vue schématique du dessus du réservoir de la figure 1 ;

la figure 4 représente une vue schématique en élévation latérale du couvercle du réservoir de la figure 1 ;

les figures 5a et 5b représentent respectivement des vues schématiques des faces intérieure et extérieure du couvercle de la figure 4 ;

les figures 6a et 6b représentent, en vues respectivement en élévation latérale et du dessus les membranes formant clapet du réservoir de la figure 1 ;

la figure 7 représente la face inférieure de la semelle intérieure selon l'invention ;

la figure 8 représente une vue en coupe latérale de l'article chaussant dans lequel doit être disposé le dispositif selon l'invention ;

la figure 9 représente une vue en coupe latérale de l'article chaussant muni du dispositif selon l'invention ; et

les figures 10a et 10b représentent en vue en élévation latérale les formes de montage de l'article chaussant de la figure 8.

The invention will be described in more detail during the following description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawing in which:

Figure 1 shows a side sectional view of the compressible chamber of the ventilation device according to the invention;

2 shows a schematic side sectional view of the tank of Figure 1;

Figure 3 shows a schematic top view of the tank of Figure 1;

Figure 4 shows a schematic side elevational view of the tank cover of Figure 1;

Figures 5a and 5b respectively show schematic views of the inner and outer faces of the cover of Figure 4;

Figures 6a and 6b show, in views respectively in side elevation and from above, the diaphragm valves of the reservoir of Figure 1;

Figure 7 shows the underside of the insole according to the invention;

Figure 8 shows a side sectional view of the footwear in which the device according to the invention is to be disposed;

Figure 9 shows a side sectional view of the footwear provided with the device according to the invention; and

FIGS. 10a and 10b show in side elevation view the mounting forms of the footwear of FIG. 8.

A compressible chamber 1 of the device according to the invention, preferably of oval cross section, has a tank 2 to which a cover 3 fits and which has a 2 'tab, horizontal or oblique (see Figure 9), at one of its ends. This cover 3 comprises a groove 4 at its periphery in which the upper rim 5 of the tank 2 of the chamber compressible 1 so as to obtain a tight closure.

On its outer face E, the cover 3 has a recess 6 and an orifice 7 preferably located diametrically opposed. On its inner face I, the cover 3 has a recess 8 in which ends the orifice 7 while it has an orifice 9 diametrically opposite to the recess 8 and which ends in the recess 6.

The recesses 6 and 8 are made so as to accommodate respectively membranes forming valve 10 and 11 which admit respectively only one direction of circulation of the air. The orifices 7 and 9 ending in the recesses 6 and 8 are closed by the membranes forming a valve 10 and 11.

As can be seen in Figure 1, the air can be evacuated from compressible chamber 1 only through valve 10 which can be moved under the effect of a air push due to compression of the chamber compressible 1. On the contrary, air is admissible in said chamber only through the valve 11 moved by the air entering the tank 2 when the pressure is released. So we have a unique sense of entry and air outlet in room 1.

Preferably, the cover 3 also has recesses 12 and 13 on its outer face. The recess 12 is located between the edge of the cover 3 and the orifice 7 while that the recess 13 extends from the recess 6 towards the edge of the cover 3. These recesses 12, 13 provide passageways for air when the compressible chamber 1 is fitted on the insole 14.

The sole 14 has on its underside, facing the outsole when fitting into an article footwear, a network of pipes 15 which allow the air coming from the compressible chamber 1 of circulate under the insole 14. In places, said sole 14 has perforations 16 which allow air to escape to the interior of the article of footwear through said sole 14.

The rear of the sole 14 has a cavity 17 in which the compressible chamber 1 is built-in.

The ventilation device according to the invention, consisting by the compressible chamber 1 and the insole 14, is introduced into an article of footwear 19 consisting of a outsole 20 on which is fixed by all means known per se a rod 21.

The outsole 20 has on its upper face a cavity 22 in which the compressible chamber 1 is housed. The dimensions of the compressible chamber 1 are such that the sole 14 on which it is embedded is not fully supported on the outsole 20.

Preferably, a tablet 23 of a material having a high resistance to abrasion, is arranged on the underside of the outsole 20, at the level of the heel and opposite cavity 22, slightly protruding by compared to the surface of the sole 20. This increases the heel impact force when walking which allows to exert compression on the lower part of the compressible chamber 1.

When walking, when putting the heel, pressure is exerted by the heel on the insole 14 and of this done, on the compressible chamber 1 which is found compressed in the cavity 22, which deforms the walls of the tank 2 while the abrasion-resistant disc 23 exerts at the same time a compression on the tank 2 in the lower part of it.

The air contained in said compressible chamber 1 escapes, under the pressure thus exerted, by the valve 10 towards the network of pipes 15 of the insole 14. When it's the front of the shoe, which we rely on then, which is compressed, the air then escapes to the through perforations 16 towards the inside of the article footwear. At the same time, the pressure being released on the heel, the walls of the compressible chamber 1 are put back in place and room 1 admits, again a air inlet via the valve 11, the air then being collected at the heel in the footwear.

Preferably, the tongue 2 ′, made of flexible material, present at the end of the tank 2 of the chamber compressible 1 can be made so as to be oblique so that when the compressible chamber is introduced in the cavity 22 of the outsole 20, the end of said tongue 2 ′ rests on the outsole 20 as shown in Figure 9.

When a pressure, exerted on the sole 14, compresses the compressible chamber 1, this tab 2 'is located also compressed and when the pressure is released, said tongue 2 'acts as a spring between the upper surface of the outsole 20 and the face bottom of the sole 14 and thus helps the chamber compressible 1 to return to its original uncompressed form.

So we did a good air circulation inside of the footwear, the valves 10 and 11 operating only one way to admit or exhaust air from the compressible chamber 1.

The invention also relates to a manufacturing method using a mounting form of the type shown in Figure 10a and which includes a protrusion under the heel to create a sole wear 20 having a cavity 22.

This shape is preferably used for mounting the so-called "slip" type, the first mounting presenting pre-cut slots to allow passage of the outgrowth of the form as is visible from the Figure 10b. After injection, the outsole 20 obtained has the cavity 22 into which the compressible chamber 1.

Claims (11)

1. Ventilation device for an article of footwear of the sport or town type, comprising a compressible chamber (1) of flexible sealed material constituted by a reservoir (2) provided with a lid (3) and non-return valves (10,11), characterised in that the lid (3) comprises membranes forming said non-return valves (10,11) permitting entry and evacuation of air into and from the reservoir (2) in a single direction of circulation, and an interior sole (14) upon which the compressible chamber (1) can be embedded, said sole (14) comprising on one of its faces a network of air circulation ducts (15) communicating with the compressible chamber (1) and being provided with perforations (16) causing said ducts (15) to communicate with the opposite face of the interior sole (14).
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterised in that the lid (3) comprises on its interior force (I) a hollow (6) and an aperture (7) which are diametrically opposed and on its external face (E) a hollow (8) into which the aperture (7) of the internal face (I) leads, and an aperture (9) which leads into the hollow (6) of the external face (E), the members forming non-return valves (10,11) being placed in said hollows (6,8).
3. Device according to claims 1 and 2,
   characterised in that the lid (3) comprises a groove (4) on its periphery in which there is lodged the upper rim (5) of the reservoir (2) of the compressible chamber (1), so as to obtain a sealed closure.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3,
   characterised in that the membranes forming the valves (10,11) are mounted in the hollows (6,8) so that each of them permits only one direction of circulation of the air.
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4,
   characterised in that the sole (14) comprises, level with the heel, a cavity (17) in which the compressible chamber (10) is embedded.
6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5,
   characterised in that the reservoir (2) has at one of its ends, a tongue (2') made of flexible material, and obliquely disposed so that it rests on the wearing sole (20) and fulfils the function of a spring between the upper surface of the wearing sole (20) and the lower face of the sole (14) when a pressure is exerted on said sole (14).
7. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6,
   characterised in that the wearing sole (20) comprises on its lower face level with the heel and facing the cavity (22), and projecting slightly with respect to the surface of the wearing sole (20), a capsule (23) of a material having a high resistance to abrasion.
8. Article of footwear constituted by a wearing sole (20) upon which there is fixed a stem (21) by any means known per se, said wearing sole (20) having on its upper face, level with the heel, an open cavity (22) adapted to accommodate a ventilation device constituted by a compressible chamber (1) of a flexible sealed material constituted by a reservoir (2) provided with a lid (3) comprising membranes forming non-return valves (10,11) permitting entry of and evacuation of air into and from the reservoir (1) in a single direction of circulation and embedded in an internal sole (14) comprising on its face turned towards the wearing sole (20) a network of ducts (15) communicating with the compressible chamber (1) and provided with perforations (16) opening at the opposite surface of the interior sole (14).
9. Article of footwear according to claim 8,
   characterised in that the said compressible chamber has dimensions such that it projects slightly above the upper face of the wearing sole (20) in the article of footwear.
10. Method of manufacturing an article of footwear according to one of claims 8 and 9,
    characterised in that it uses an assembly mould which comprises an outgrowth beneath the heel in order to produce a wearing sole (20) having a cavity (22).
11. Method of manufacturing according to claim 10,
    characterised in that it comprises an assembly of the "slip" type, the primary assembly having pre-cut slots so as to permit passage of the outgrowth of the mould, after injection, the wearing sole (20) obtained comprising the cavity (22)

Images