EP0986968A2

EP0986968A2 - Plastic moulded shoe bottom provided with small ducts for water and sand evacuation

Info

Publication number: EP0986968A2
Application number: EP19990830564
Authority: EP
Inventors: Rino Conocchioli
Original assignee: Reg Srl
Current assignee: Reg Srl
Priority date: 1998-09-18
Filing date: 1999-09-10
Publication date: 2000-03-22
Also published as: ITAN980054V0; IT244876Y1; ITAN980054U1; EP0986968A3

Abstract

The present invention relates to a plastic moulded shoe bottom, of the type provided with an insole on the upper part and a network of channels on the upper side, preferably in the proximity of the external edge of the bottom, leading up to ducts with vertical axis affecting the whole thickness of the bottom; it being provided that the insole features a series of through holes with vertical axis, preferably aligned with the channels below.

Description

The present patent application relates to a plastic moulded shoe bottom, of the type provided with an insole and preferably designed for the realisation of beach sandals or slippers, whose main characteristic is represented by the presence of an internal network of channels for the evacuation of the water or sand picked up by the shoe while walking.
As a matter of fact, the bottom according to the present invention was designed to remedy the annoying inconvenience that occurs when walking in the water's edge or on dry sand with beach sandals.
In both situations the sole of the sandal inevitably lifts and picks up water and sand - just like if it was a shovel - that tend to remain inside the sandal, also because of the concavity typical of the upper side of any sole.
This problem, which obviously creates discomfort to the user while he walks, is more frequent in sandals provided with an insole over the bottom, especially if of soft, massaging type, with cell-like structure.
It appears evident that, when provided with insoles, bottoms need to feature a sort of tub on the upper part with upraised external edges, which undoubtedly favours the deposit of water or sand. It is also evident that the water or sand deposit is even more frequent in case of insoles provided with an extremely receptive cell-like structure.
The structural characteristics of the bottom according to the present invention ensure the instantaneous spontaneous evacuation of the water or sand deposited between the bottom and the insole above.
The present invention is based on the presence of a series of small channels on the upper surface of the bottom, used to convey the sand and the water towards the external edge of the bottom, where the channels lead up to corresponding ducts with vertical axis affecting the whole thickness of the bottom.
This means that the water or sand converges towards the opening of the vertical ducts located on the upper surface of the bottom through the above mentioned channels, flows inside the ducts along their whole height because of gravity, and finally evacuate on the walking surface of the bottom.
If present, the insole of the bottom according to the present invention is provided with through holes with vertical axis. In this way the water or sand is capable of going through the insole for the whole height and flowing in the upper surface of the bottom and finally outwards, as explained above.
For major clarity the description of the invention continues with reference to the enclosed drawing, which is intended for purposes of illustration and not in a limiting sense, whereby Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the bottom according to the present invention under the insole.
With reference to Figure 1, the bottom (1) according to the present invention features two main longitudinal channels (2) on the upper surface, which are connected with four shorter branches (3) orientated towards the external edge of the bottom.
Each short branch (3) leads up to the opening of a corresponding duct (4) with vertical axis affecting the whole thickness of the bottom (1) and having the exit hole on the walking surface of the bottom (1).
The insole (5) provided on the bottom (1) features a series of through holes with vertical axis (5a), preferably distributed so as to exactly lead up to the above mentioned channels (2 and 3) located on the upper side of the bottom (1).
Of course, this fact guarantees that the water or sand exiting from the lower side of the insole (5) through the two above mentioned series of through holes (5a) can directly flow into the channels (2) located on the upper side of the bottom and converge out of the sandal faster and more efficiently.
Moreover, it appears evident that, even in the absence of the exact alignment between the holes of the insole (5) and the channels of the bottom (1), the water or sand going through the whole thickness of the insole (5) from above downwards cannot avoid collecting in the channels (2 and 3) and successively converging outwards.

Claims

Plastic moulded shoe bottom, of the type provided with an insole on the upper part, characterised by the presence of a network of channels (2 and 3) on the upper side, preferably in the proximity of the external edge of the bottom (1), leading up to ducts (3) with vertical channels affecting the whole thickness of the bottom; it being provided that the insole (5) of the bottom (1) features a series of through holes (5a) with vertical axis, preferably aligned with the channels (2 and 3) below located on the bottom (1).