EP3345499B1 - Shoe with an air pump device with a spring element which surrounds a bellow - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a shoe with a sole construction and with an air pump device for blowing air into the interior of the shoe, the air pump device comprising a bellows made of an elastic plastic material and formed in the sole construction and arranged in the heel region of the shoe and enclosing a cavity, a suction channel for transporting of air from a suction opening into the bellows and an air supply device formed in the sole construction for conveying air from the bellows into the interior of the shoe, wherein the air pump device has a V-shaped or U-shaped spring element encompassing the bellows, which is essentially Extends over the entire area of the heel area, an upper leg of the spring element comprising an upper pressure plate arranged above the bellows and under an insole of the sole construction and a lower leg of the spring element one below the bellows and above a la The sole layer of the sole construction comprises a lower pressure plate, so that a connecting section of the spring element connecting the two legs is arranged in the sole construction next to the bellows in a joint region of the shoe and / or in an edge region of the heel region adjacent to the joint region of the shoe, the air pump device being such is arranged that during a running movement when the sole construction is loaded by the weight of the wearer of the shoe, the spring element is elastically deformed by compressing the pressure plates, the deformation taking place essentially at the connecting section or in the vicinity thereof, so that the pressure plates are above and below the Bellows essentially maintain their shape and the bellows arranged between the pressure plates is compressed.

Such a shoe is from the publication US 2013/0118028 A1 known.

Shoes with a sole construction and with an air pump device formed in the sole construction in the heel region of the shoe for blowing air into the interior of the shoe, the air pump device including a bellows made of an elastic plastic material enclosing a cavity, an intake duct for transporting air from an intake opening into the Bellows and an air supply device formed in the sole construction for conveying air from the bellows into the interior of the shoe are, for example, from the publications EP 2 218 348 A1 and WO 2012/126489 A1 known. In the case of these known shoes, the sole construction in the heel area can have a multilayer structure, an intermediate layer which contains the cavity being made of a material (for example soft polyurethane foam) which is supposed to be more elastic or compressible than the material of the outsole. The cavity and the compressible plastic layers surrounding it form a bellows. The air pump device is designed to alternately suck in air via the suction channel from outside the shoe into the hollow space of the bellows in response to a user's walking movement when relieving (lifting the shoe off the floor) and when under load (when the weight and weight of the User) to blow air from the bellows into the interior of the shoe via channels of an air supply device. A first valve is arranged in the intake duct and is designed such that it only allows air to flow into the cavity from outside the sole construction. A second valve is arranged in the air supply device, which is designed such that it only allows air to flow in the direction from the cavity to the channels. The pumping effect is further enhanced by the fact that the outsole has a raised area on the outer tread in the area of the bellows, which area is pressed towards the upper part of the sole when the user's foot is loaded. In the EP 2 218 348 A1 among other things, the midsole is stimulated between to arrange a hard outsole and another sole, the midsole should be made of a material that is more compressible (elastic / softer) than that of the outsole and that of the other sole.

To achieve good ventilation of the shoe interior, i.e. a high air flow rate, it is essential that a sufficient amount of air is sucked into the bellows from the outside and then blown into the shoe interior from the bellows. In order to inject the largest possible amount of air into the interior of the shoe at every step during loading, it is not only necessary to maximize the volume of the bellows; it must also be ensured that the bellows is compressed almost completely or at least for the most part when it is loaded, so that the air contained therein is pressed out. Complete or extensive compression can be achieved in that the sole construction surrounding the cavity is very compliant or soft, so that it is completely compressed by the action of the body weight. However, afterwards and before the next occurrence (in the next step), the bellows must expand again as completely as possible and fill with air. Such resetting can be achieved with the most elastically hard sole material that surrounds the cavity. However, this is a requirement contrary to the aforementioned requirement for a soft material.

To support the resetting of the bellows, it is for example from the EP 1 093 729 A1 and the EP 0 624 322 A1 known to arrange coil springs vertically within the cavity so that they are compressed when the bellows is compressed. These constructions are difficult to manufacture, require a relatively large amount of space and have a short lifespan when the shoe is subjected to heavy use.

The publication mentioned at the beginning US 2013/0118028 A1 recognizes the use of spiral springs as disadvantageous and, based on this, suggests arranging a foldable elastic element in the heel area, which in one embodiment consists of a folded leaf spring which comprises a support section arranged adjacent to the outsole and a swivel section arranged under the insole (ie the insole), the two sections being connected to one another along a fold section arranged transversely to the direction of travel at the front edge of the heel region. It is advantageous that the longevity and the production efficiency of the shoe can be improved considerably because the proposed foldable elastic element has a simple structure.

From the US 2015/0040435 A1 Various sole constructions for a sports shoe are also known. In some described embodiments, a rear-opening V-shaped elastic plastic insert with an upper and a lower element, which can be plate-shaped, is provided in the midsole region of the heel, the upper and lower elements of the V-shaped plastic insert when loading the heel be brought closer to each other. Elastic elongated bending elements in the form of plates or rods can be fastened to the mutually facing surfaces of the upper or the lower element in such a way that they extend obliquely in the direction of the respectively opposite lower or upper element, so that when the upper and lower element are bent and thus provide additional resistance to the compression of the V-shaped plastic insert.

Starting from this prior art, it is an object of the invention to provide a shoe with a sole construction and with at least one air pump device for blowing air into the interior of the shoe, which has the highest possible air flow rate with each step of a walking or running movement and a long service life even with heavy use (as occurs especially with running shoes) and which, despite the high compression and return paths that enable high air throughput, reduces the risk of the foot bending off (distortion). US3029530A discloses a shoe according to the preamble of claim 1.

This object is achieved by a shoe with the features of claim 1. Preferred embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the dependent claims.

In the shoe according to the invention with a sole construction and with an air pump device for blowing air into the interior of the shoe, the air pump device has a bellows made of an elastic plastic material and formed in the sole construction and arranged in the heel area of the shoe, a suction channel for transporting air from a suction opening in the bellows and an air supply device formed in the sole construction for conveying air from the bellows into the interior of the shoe. In some embodiments, the suction duct and / or the air supply device can have a plurality of lines (for example tubes or hoses) acting in parallel. On the other hand, in some embodiments, the intake duct and the air supply device can comprise a common line section which opens into the cavity. The intake duct and the air supply device preferably comprise one-way valves which ensure the desired direction of air transport. A “bellows” is to be understood functionally here as a device which encloses an air volume on all sides (with the exception of the openings to the intake duct and to the air supply device) and which expels air through at least one opening when the bellows is compressed and sucks in when expanding. The bellows can be formed, for example, solely by the walls of the cavity or by a bladder (for example made of a soft, elastic plastic) introduced into the cavity. Furthermore, the air pumping device of the shoe according to the invention has a V-shaped or U-shaped spring element encompassing the bellows, which extends essentially over the entire surface of the heel region. An upper leg of the V-shaped or U-shaped spring element comprises an upper pressure plate arranged above the bellows and under an insole of the sole construction, and a lower leg of the V-shaped or U-shaped spring element comprises one below the bellows and above an outsole layer of the Lower pressure plate arranged in the sole construction, wherein a connecting section of the spring element connecting the two legs in the sole construction is arranged next to the bellows in a joint region of the shoe and / or in an edge region of the heel region adjacent to the joint region. The term "V-shaped or U-shaped spring element" is not to be interpreted restrictively in such a way that the legs should always be exactly the same length and straight; they can also be of different lengths or slightly curved. Arranging "over an outsole layer" is also intended to include arranging over one of a plurality of outsole layers or within an outsole layer. The air pump device is arranged such that the V-shaped or U-shaped spring element is elastically deformed by compressing the pressure plates during a running movement when the sole construction is loaded by the weight of the wearer of the shoe, the deformation essentially at the connecting section or in the vicinity thereof takes place so that the pressure plates above and below the at least one bellows essentially maintain their shape and the bellows arranged between the pressure plates is compressed. The air pump device with bellows, intake duct, air supply device and spring element is thus embedded in the sole construction (in preferred exemplary embodiments with the exception of a part of the intake duct which is led upwards out of the sole construction, preferably in or along the shaft, to an intake opening or a plurality of intake openings ). This sole construction, in which the air pump device is embedded, can for example be made from a single plastic material. However, the sole construction preferably has a multilayer structure. This multilayer structure preferably comprises at least one insole, at least one intermediate layer containing the bellows and the spring element made of a compressible material (midsole) and at least one outsole layer arranged underneath. The "insole" should be understood here to mean any uppermost layer of sole between the interior of the shoe and the upper pressure plate. In some embodiments, the insole can be multi-layered. The insole is to be viewed functionally as part of the sole construction, although it is is usually part of the upper in terms of shoe technology. The connection between the insole and the upper can be of any design (e.g. pinched, sticky, stamped, welted or double-stitched). The intermediate layer (midsole) and outsole layer are preferably made of different materials (which are each adapted to their different functions), but in one embodiment can also be made of the same material. At least one stabilizer spring element (preferably one stabilizer spring element each) is arranged on either side next to the bellows. Each of the stabilizer spring elements is connected to the lateral edge regions of the upper and lower pressure plate in such a way that it is elastically compressed when the pressure plates are pressed together, the elasticity of the stabilizer spring elements arranged on both sides of the shoe being adjusted (dimensioned) so that they Compressing when the sole construction is loaded by the weight of the wearer of the shoe during a running movement is compressed approximately equally, so that rotation of the upper pressure plate relative to the lower pressure plate about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shoe is counteracted.

The solution according to the invention creates a shoe which enables a high air throughput with each step of a walking or running movement and a long service life even under heavy use (as occurs in particular with running shoes). The solution according to the invention not only ensures faster and more complete resetting when the bellows expands; it also supports the compression of the bellows due to the areal distribution of the pressure force by means of the upper and lower pressure plates, which essentially retain their shape when pressed together. The stabilizer spring elements stabilize the position of the foot during the compression of the sole construction in the heel area while running and reduces the risk of the foot bending off (distortion). Due to the fact that the on the outside of the shoe on the (or the) there Arranged stabilizer spring element (s) acting force from the force acting on the inside of the shoe on the stabilizer spring element (s) arranged there are the elasticities of the two Side of the shoe arranged stabilizer spring elements, if necessary, set differently. The required (different) elasticities of the outer and inner stabilizer spring elements can be calculated on the basis of models or determined experimentally.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that a support section is formed on the connecting section in the direction opposite to the legs, so that the spring element is Y-shaped, the support section in the joint area of the shoe up to a maximum of about 10 mm in front of a ball area in the Forefoot area protrudes. This stabilizes the position of the spring element in the sole construction and distributes the forces acting on the adjacent sole material when the spring element is deformed on the front edge of the spring element, so that there is less stress on the sole material and thus a longer service life of the shoe.

Each of the stabilizer spring elements is preferably connected in a torsion-resistant manner to lateral edge regions of the upper and lower pressure plate in such a way that relative movement of the upper and lower pressure plate in lateral directions is suppressed or at least hindered. This also helps to stabilize the position of the foot. In a preferred embodiment, the stabilizer spring elements arranged on the two sides of the bellows are connected to one another via a web arranged at the rear edge of the heel region. This stabilizes the torsion-proof connection with the lateral edge areas.

The stabilizer spring elements preferably each comprise at least one V-shaped or U-shaped spring section, which is arranged in such a way that its legs approach when the stabilizer spring element is compressed. In a simple embodiment, each of the stabilizer spring elements consist only of a V- or U-shaped spring element, the upper leg of which is connected to the upper pressure plate and the lower leg of which is connected to the lower pressure plate. Other embodiments can comprise webs arranged in a grid-like manner in a vertical plane, a plurality of pairs of such webs or web sections each forming V-shaped or U-shaped spring elements.

In one embodiment, the lateral edge areas of the upper and lower pressure plate, with which the stabilizer spring elements are connected, form contact surfaces for the upper and lower ends of the stabilizer spring elements. The ends of the stabilizer spring elements which abut these edge regions have corresponding contact surfaces which are glued to the contact surfaces of the edge regions or are firmly connected in some other way.

The edge regions arranged on both sides of the lower pressure plate are preferably separated from the central region of the lower pressure plate arranged under the bellows by a gap open to the rear of the shoe, so that the two edge regions of the lower pressure plate form separate spring legs. The middle area of the lower pressure plate arranged between the two gaps protrudes downward, so that the compression of the contact surfaces and thus the stabilizer spring elements only begins after the middle area of the lower pressure plate and the upper pressure plate have already been pressed together in a predetermined way. This enables a part of the bellows volume to be compressed even without the stabilizer spring elements acting, so that the bellows volume can be increased in part at the expense of stabilization. The optimum between a bellows volume to be maximized (wide protrusion of the middle area) and sufficient stabilization of the foot (early onset of the effect of the spring elements due to a slight protrusion of the middle area) can be calculated on the basis of models or determined experimentally.

A preferred embodiment is characterized in that the stabilizer spring elements are detachably or exchangeably attached. In a further preferred embodiment, the stabilizer spring elements have a device for adjusting the spring force. Both embodiments allow adaptation to the body weight of the wearer of the shoe.

An advantageous development of the shoe according to the invention is characterized in that folds are formed in the side walls of the bellows on the open sides of the V- or U-shaped spring element. The targeted arrangement of these folds enables a defined specification of the type of deformation of the bellows during its compression with a small wall thickness, which in turn enables a larger bellows volume.

The shoe according to the invention is preferably characterized in that the suction channel connected to the bellows has a minimum cross-sectional area of 3 mm ² for transporting air from a suction opening into the bellows, and a minimum cross-sectional area of 4 mm ² for shoe sizes from approximately 25 cm in length. This minimum cross-section ensures a lower flow resistance when the air is sucked in and thus contributes to a faster and thus (against the background of a reset time limited by the step duration) extensive recovery during the expansion of the bellows. In this case, the suction opening is preferably spanned with a dirt-repellent grille (for example plastic grille or mesh) and has an enlarged minimum area compared to the minimum cross-sectional area of the suction duct, in order to compensate for the increase in flow resistance caused by the dirt-repellent grille.

Advantageous and / or preferred developments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims.

• Fig. 1 eine schematische Ansicht einer Innenseite eines erfindungsgemäßen Schuhs;
• Fig. 2 eine separate Ansicht des in dem Schuh nach Fig. 1 enthaltenen, den Balg umgreifenden Federelements;
• Fig. 3 eine Unteransicht des Schuhs gemäß Fig. 1;
• Fig. 4 eine Rückansicht des Schuhs gemäß Fig. 1;
• Fig. 5 eine Perspektivansicht einer alternativen Ausführungsform eines Balgs, eines V-förmigen Federelements und von beidseitig des Balgs angeordneten Stabilisator-Federelementen einer Luftpumpeinrichtung;
• Fig. 6 eine separate Ansicht des Balgs gemäß Fig. 5;
• Fig. 7A bis 7C schematische Schnittansichten eines erfindungsgemäßen Schuhs in verschiedenen Belastungsphasen während einer Laufbewegung zur Veranschaulichung der Luftpumpfunktion; und
• Fig. 8A bis 8C schematische Seitenansichten einer Luftpumpeinrichtung mit einem Balg, einem V-förmigen Federelement und beidseitig des Balgs angeordneten Stabilisator-Federelementen in verschiedenen Belastungsphasen während einer Laufbewegung zur Veranschaulichung der Kompression des Balgs und des Einsetzens der Kompression der Stabilisator-Federelemente.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of preferred exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. The drawings show:

• Fig. 1 a schematic view of an inside of a shoe according to the invention;
• Fig. 2 a separate view of the in the shoe after Fig. 1 contained spring element encompassing the bellows;
• Fig. 3 a bottom view of the shoe according to Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 4 a rear view of the shoe according Fig. 1 ;
• Fig. 5 a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a bellows, a V-shaped spring element and of stabilizer spring elements of an air pump device arranged on both sides of the bellows;
• Fig. 6 a separate view of the bellows according to Fig. 5 ;
• 7A to 7C schematic sectional views of a shoe according to the invention in different loading phases during a running movement to illustrate the air pump function; and
• 8A to 8C schematic side views of an air pump device with a bellows, a V-shaped spring element and stabilizer spring elements arranged on both sides of the bellows in different loading phases during a running movement to illustrate the compression of the bellows and the onset of compression of the stabilizer spring elements.

A first preferred exemplary embodiment of the shoe 1 according to the invention is shown in FIGS Figures 1 to 4 shown. Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of the inside, Figure 3 a bottom view and Figure 4 a rear view of the shoe 1. Figure 2 shows a separate view of the spring element 9 contained in the shoe and encompassing the bellows. The shoe 1 comprises a sole construction and a shaft 2, an air pump device being provided for blowing fresh air into the interior of the shoe 1. The fresh air is preferably sucked in from outside the shoe 1, but can also be sucked in - in an embodiment not shown here - at a location on the inside of the shaft 2 that is remote from the sole. The air is preferably blown out through openings in the upper layer or layers of the sole construction, preferably in the region of the forefoot or toes. The components of the air pump device, with the exception of being attached to an intake opening 6 subsequent sections of the intake duct are arranged within the sole construction.

The air pumping device in the Figures 1, 3 and 4th The illustrated shoe 1 comprises a bellows 4 which surrounds a cavity and is made of an elastic plastic material and is accommodated in a heel area 17 of the shoe 1. The cavity enclosed by the plastic wall of the bellows 4 extends essentially over the entire length and a large part of the width of the heel region 17.

The bellows 4 is encompassed by a V-shaped spring element 9, which in the embodiment shown here is Y-shaped (see Figure 2 ). The V-shaped spring element 9 has an upper leg 10 and a lower leg 11, which are connected to one another and to a support section 19 at a connecting section 14. The position of the V-shaped spring element 9 within the sole construction of the shoe 1 is in Figure 1 shown. The upper leg 10 of the V-shaped spring element 9 comprises an upper pressure plate 12 arranged above the bellows 4 Figures 1 to 4 Insole not shown) arranged. Furthermore, additional sole layers can be arranged above the upper pressure plate and over the entire V-shaped spring element 9, for example intermediate layers between the V-shaped spring element 9 and the insole or cover layers above the insole. The lower leg 11 comprises a lower pressure plate 13, which is arranged under the bellows 4 and over an outsole layer 16. The outsole layer 16 can lie directly on the underside of the V-shaped spring element 9. However, it can also be provided that the lower leg 11 of the V-shaped spring element 9 is completely embedded in a midsole layer, on the underside of which the outsole layer is then applied. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the lower leg 11 of the V-shaped spring element 9 can also be completely embedded in the material of an outsole layer 16.

As especially in Figure 3 can be seen, the lower pressure plate 13 of the lower leg 11 in three areas divided, which are each separated by a gap, namely into a central region 33, an edge region 24 arranged on the inside of the shoe, which is separated from the central region 33 by the gap 31, and one arranged on the outside of the shoe 1 Edge region 25, which is separated from the central region 33 by the gap 32. The bellows 4 is located essentially between the central region 33 of the lower pressure plate 13 and the upper pressure plate 12. A first stabilizer spring element 22 is arranged between the edge region 24 of the lower pressure plate 13 and an edge region of the upper pressure plate 12 arranged above it. A second stabilizer spring element 23 is arranged between the edge region 25 of the lower pressure plate 13 and the edge region of the upper pressure plate 12 arranged above it. The stabilizer spring elements 22 and 23 have contact surfaces on their underside which are fastened, for example glued, to corresponding contact surfaces 29 of the edge regions 24 and 25, respectively. The upper sides of the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 are fastened to the edge regions of the upper pressure plate 12. On the back of the shoe, the two stabilizer spring elements 22 and 23 are connected by means of a web 26.

As in Figure 1 can be seen, the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 have V-shaped or U-shaped spring sections 27, the legs of which approach when the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 are vertically compressed. The stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 oppose the compression a predetermined force that corresponds to their elasticity. The elasticities of the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 arranged on both sides of the shoe are set such that the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 are compressed approximately equally when the sole structure is compressed by the weight of the wearer of the shoe 1 during a running movement, so that rotation of the upper pressure plate 12 with respect to the lower pressure plate 13 about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shoe 1 is counteracted. In addition, each of the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 with the associated lateral edge area 24, 25 of the lower pressure plate 13 and with the corresponding edge regions of the upper pressure plate 12 are connected in a torsion-proof manner such that a relative movement of the upper and the lower pressure plate in the lateral direction is suppressed or at least hindered. The already mentioned rear web connection 26 also serves to stabilize the position of the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23. The compression of the stabilizer spring elements under load is closer in FIG Figure 8C shown, which will be discussed below.

Like that Figures 1 and 2 can be seen, the middle region 33 of the lower pressure plate 13 protrudes downward from the edge regions 24 and 25. As a result, when the heel region 17 is loaded, only the middle region 33 of the lower pressure plate 13 is initially loaded, so that it is pressed in the direction of the upper pressure plate 12 and the bellows 4 is compressed in the process. Then, when the middle area has been pushed up so far that it is flush with the edge areas 24 and 25, all three areas 24, 33, 25 are subsequently pressed in the direction of the upper pressure plate 12. This is discussed in more detail in connection with the Figures 8A to 8C received.

The V-shaped spring element 9 has a connecting section 14 which connects the upper leg 10 and the lower leg 11 to one another. The V-shaped spring element 9 is deformed by compressing the pressure plates 13 and 12, this deformation taking place essentially at the connecting section 14 or in those regions of the legs 10 and 11 which are in the vicinity of the connecting section 14. The pressure plates essentially maintain their shape, so that the pressure plates 12 and 13 press as far as possible over the top and bottom of the bellows 4. The pressure plates 12 and 13 should not be deformed in those areas in which they act on the top or bottom of the bellows 4 in such a way that the bellows 4 can no longer be compressed over its entire horizontal extent. In particular, the pressure plates 12 should be pressed in at certain points and 13 can be avoided. The V-shaped spring element 9 additionally has a support section 19 which serves to support and stabilize the position of the V-shaped spring element 9 within a sole construction, in particular within a soft intermediate layer of the sole construction. As in Figure 1 can be seen, the connecting section 14 is located in the joint area of the shoe and the support section 19 extends in the direction of the forefoot area 20, ending approximately 1 cm in front of the ball area 21. The provision of the support section 19 reduces the load on the sole material due to the forces acting from the V-shaped spring element 9, so that the lifespan of the sole construction is extended.

The V-shaped spring element 9 is made of a resilient material, for example an elastic plastic material, in particular a thermoplastic elastic plastic material, for example a fiber-reinforced polyamide (for example nylon) or a polyether block amide (for example VESTAMID or PEBAX). In a preferred embodiment, the V-shaped spring element is made of a carbon fiber reinforced composite material. The plastic bladder enclosing the cavity of the bellows 4 is made, for example, of a polypropylene or a polyurethane. The air pump device with bellows, V-shaped spring element 9, air supply device and intake duct is preferably embedded in a soft-elastic (compressible) plastic material of an intermediate layer of the sole construction (midsole 38). The outsole layer 16 applied to the underside of the shoe is made of an abrasion-resistant plastic material. The materials of the bellows 4, the V-shaped spring element 9 as well as the intermediate layer of the sole construction and the outsole layer 16 are matched to one another and bonded to one another in such a way that detachment of the materials at their interfaces is largely avoided even under heavy permanent stress. The above-mentioned support section 19 serves to distribute the forces occurring in particular on the spring element 9.

In addition to the bellows 4, the air pump device comprises an intake duct for transporting air from an intake opening 6 into the bellows 4 and an air supply device formed in the sole construction for conveying air from the bellows 4 into the interior of the shoe 1. These ducts are shown in FIGS Figures 1, 3 and 4th not shown. In Figure 1 only the suction opening 6 can be seen, which is arranged above the sole construction on the shaft 2 of the shoe 1. This arrangement of the suction opening 6, which is higher than the sole, serves the purpose of reducing the likelihood of dirt and water being sucked from the running surface. In addition, the suction opening 6 with an in Figure 1 indicated grid covers what serves to repel dirt particles.

To manufacture the sole construction with an air pump device, for example, a plastic bladder of the bellows 4 (also called "lung") is first provided and this is then inserted between the upper leg 10 and the lower leg 11 of the spring element 9, the stabilizer spring elements also being fastened. The entire assembly is then overmolded with a flexible plastic material (which forms a midsole 38), after which the injection of further sole components (e.g. outsole layer) and the gluing of the shaft to the insole can follow. Alternatively, a prefabricated air pump device composed of bellows, intake duct, air supply device, V-shaped or U-shaped spring element and stabilizer spring elements can also be glued or connected in another way to a prefabricated midsole or several prefabricated midsole parts, which is followed by the application of the outsole layer and the shaft can connect with the insole.

The Figures 5 and 6 schematically show an alternative embodiment of the essential components of the air pump device, namely a bellows 4 (in Figure 6 shown separately), an alternative embodiment of the V-shaped spring element 9 'and arranged between the legs of the spring element 9 stabilizer spring elements 22. In this Embodiment of the V-shaped spring element 9 ', the support section adjoining the connecting section 14' is omitted. The bellows 4 has an opening on its upper side, which is part of the intake duct 5, and a duct, which is part of the air supply device 7, on its front side. Figure 5 it can be seen that the channel of the air supply device 7 is passed through an opening in the connecting section 14 'of the V-shaped spring element 9'. The upper pressure plate 12 'of the spring element 9' also has a bore through which the intake duct 5 is passed. The side walls of the bellows 4, which are exposed between the upper pressure plate 12 'and the central region 33' of the lower pressure plate 13 ', have folds 34 which allow a defined specification of the deformation during compression with a small wall thickness of the bellows 4.

Based on Figures 7A to 7C The air pump function of the shoe 1 according to the invention is to be explained in more detail. The Figures 7A to 7C show schematic longitudinal sectional views along the central axis of a shoe.

Figure 7A shows the unloaded shoe. The bellows 4, which surrounds the cavity 3, is fully expanded. The schematically illustrated inlet one-way valve 35 of the intake duct 5 is closed. Likewise, the schematically illustrated blow-out one-way valve 36 of the air supply device 7 is closed. The air supply device 7 extends from the opening of the bellows 4 closed by the one-way valve 36 through a cavity or channel within the intermediate sole layer 38 to below the openings 37 in the insole 15.

Figure 7B shows the shoe in a state of loading the heel area, in which the bellows 4 is compressed. When the bellows 4 is compressed, the cavity 3 is compressed, as a result of which the pressure in the cavity 3 increases. This keeps the inlet one-way valve 35 closed, but opens the blow-out one-way valve 36, whereupon air flows from the cavity 3 through the one-way valve 36 into the channels arranged in the intermediate layer 38 and continues therefrom through the openings 37 of the insole 15 into the interior 8 within the shaft 2 of the Shoe. The air flow is indicated by the dashed arrows. Figure 7B thus shows the state of the air being blown out into the shoe interior 8.

If the heel area is subsequently relieved, the condition according to results Figure 7C. Figure 7C illustrates the expansion of the bellows 4 due to its own restoring forces, but above all due to the restoring forces caused by the V-shaped spring element 9, ie due to the restoration of the upper pressure plate 12 and the lower pressure plate 13 to their original positions. The cavity 3 of the bellows 4 is enlarged, which results in a negative pressure in the cavity 3. Due to the negative pressure, the blow-out one-way valve 36 of the air supply device 7 closes and the inlet one-way valve 35 of the intake duct 5 opens, as schematically shown in FIG Figure 7C is shown. The intake duct 5 is guided upwards on the back of the shoe between the sole construction and the shaft 2 and has an in Figure 7C Intake opening 6, not shown, through which fresh air is drawn in from the outside.

During normal running movements, they change into Figure 7C and Figure 7B shown states, so that with every step air is pumped out of the cavity 3 of the bellows 4 via the air supply device 7 into the interior 8 of the shoe and every time the foot is lifted and the heel area is relieved, air from the bellows 4 via the suction channel 5 of is sucked in outside.

The Figures 8A to 8C illustrate three phases of the deformation of the air pump device, in particular the V-shaped spring element 9, the bellows 4 and the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 during a running movement.

Figure 8A first shows the unloaded state in which the bellows 4 has its maximum expansion. The bellows 4 is located between the upper pressure plate 12 'of the upper leg 10' and the central region 33 'of the lower pressure plate 13' of the lower leg 11 'of the V-shaped spring element 9'. The middle area 33 'of the lower pressure plate 13' projects downward relative to the edge area 24 'of the lower pressure plate 13'.

After the foot of the wearer of the shoe has appeared, the middle region 33 'of the lower pressure plate 13' is first moved upwards, the bellows 4 being compressed, which - as is shown in FIG Figures 7A to 7C was explained - an expulsion of the air from the bellows 4 into the shoe interior 8 results. After the central region 33 'has been pressed to the level of the edge region 24' as shown in FIG Figure 8B is shown, with further loading of the shoe, the lower pressure plate 13 'is pressed further against the upper pressure plate 12'. The further deformation compared to the state of the Figure 8B is in Figure 8C illustrated by the dotted lines 39. In Figure 8C the subsequent deformation of the stabilizer spring element 22 can be seen.

Numerous alternative embodiments are conceivable within the scope of the inventive concept. For example, the division of the lower pressure plate 13 of the V- or U-shaped spring element 9 into a central area 33 acting on the bellows 4 and two edge areas 24 and 25 acting on the stabilizer spring elements can also be omitted, in which case the stabilizer spring elements 22, 23 can be constructed in such a way that they first oppose a compression in a first section of the compression path with a relatively low force and this force increases continuously with further compression. The V- or U-shaped spring element 9 can have several different material layers. In other exemplary embodiments, the spring element 9 and the stabilizer spring elements 22 and 23 can also be formed in one piece.

Reference numbers of the drawings:

1

shoe

2nd

shaft

3rd

cavity

4th

bellows

5

Intake duct

6

Suction opening

7

Air supply device

8th

inner space

9

V-shaped or U-shaped spring element

10th

upper leg of the spring element

11

lower leg of the spring element

12th

upper pressure plate

13

lower pressure plate

14

Connecting section of the spring element

15

Insole

16

Outsole layer

17th

Heel area

18th

Joint area

19th

Support section of the spring element

20

Forefoot area

21

Bale area

22

Stabilizer spring element, inside

23

Stabilizer spring element, outside

24th

Edge area of the lower pressure plate, inside

25th

Edge area of the lower pressure plate, outside

26

web

27

V-shaped or U-shaped spring section

29

Contact surfaces of the pressure plates

31

Gap of the lower pressure plate, inside

32

Gap of the lower pressure plate, outside

33

middle area of the lower pressure plate

34

Folding the bellows

35

Inlet one-way valve

36

Blow-out one-way valve

38

Midsole

39

dashed - starting position according to Figure 8B

Claims (11)

1. A shoe (1) having a sole structure and having an air pump device for blowing air into the interior (8) of the shoe (1),
   the air pump device having
   a bellows (4) which is formed in the sole structure, is situated in the heel region (17) of the shoe (1), surrounds a cavity (3), and consists of an elastic plastic material,
   a suction channel (5) for transporting air from a suction opening (6) into the bellows (4), and
   an air supply device (7) which is formed in the sole structure for conveying air out of the bellows (4) into the interior (8) of the shoe,
   the air pump device having a V-shaped or U-shaped spring element (9; 9') which fits around the bellows (4) and extends substantially over the entire area of the heel region (17), an upper limb (10; 10') of the spring element (9; 9') comprising an upper pressure plate (12; 12'), which is arranged over the bellows (4) and below an insole (15) of the sole structure, and a lower limb (11; 11') of the spring element (9; 9') comprising a lower pressure plate (13; 13') which is arranged below the bellows (4) and over an outsole layer (16) of the sole structure such that a connection section (14; 14'), connecting the two limbs (10, 11; 10', 11'), of the spring element (9; 9') is arranged in the sole structure next to the bellows (4) in a joint region (18) of the shoe (1) and/or in an edge region of the heel region (17) adjacent to the joint region (18) of the shoe (1), the air pump device being arranged such that the spring element (9; 9') is elastically deformed by the pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') being pressed together when the sole structure is loaded by the weight of the wearer of the shoe (1) during a walking or running movement, the deformation occurring substantially at the connection section (14; 14') or in the vicinity thereof such that the pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') above and below the bellows (4) substantially retain their shape and the bellows (4) between the pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') is compressed,
   characterised
   in that at least one stabiliser spring element (22, 23) is arranged on both sides adjacently to the bellows (4), wherein each of the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) is connected to lateral edge regions (24, 25) of the upper and lower pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') such that it can be compressed elastically when the pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') are pressed together, wherein the elasticity of the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) arranged on both sides of the shoe is such that they are pressed together to approximately the same extent on being pressed together when the sole structure is loaded by the weight of the wearer of the shoe (1) during a walking or running movement, so that a rotation of the upper pressure plate (12; 12') relative to the lower pressure plate (13; 13') about an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction of the shoe (1) is counteracted.
2. The shoe according to claim 1, characterised in that a supporting section (19) is moulded on the connection section (14) in the opposite direction to the limbs (10, 11), so that the spring element (9) is Y-shaped, wherein the supporting section (19) protrudes into the joint region (18) of the shoe (1) up to a maximum of approximately 10 mm in front of a ball region (21) in the forefoot region (20).
3. The shoe according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that each of the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) is connected to lateral edge regions (24, 25) of the upper and lower pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') in a torsion-resistant manner such that a relative movement of the upper (12; 12') and lower (13; 13') pressure plates in lateral directions is prevented or at least inhibited.
4. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 3, characterised in that the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) arranged on the two sides of the bellows (4) are connected to each other via a bridge (26) arranged on the rear edge of the heel region (17).
5. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) each comprise at least one V-shaped or U-shaped spring section (27) which is arranged such that the limbs thereof come towards each other when the stabiliser spring element (22, 23) is compressed.
6. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 5, characterised in that the lateral edge regions of the upper and lower pressure plates (12, 13; 12', 13') with which the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) are provided form bearing faces (29; 29') for upper and lower ends of the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23).
7. The shoe according to claim 6, characterised in that the edge regions (24, 25; 24', 25') arranged on both sides of the lower pressure plate (13; 13') are each separated from the central region (33; 33'), situated under the bellows (4), of the lower pressure plate (13; 13') by a gap (31, 32) which is open towards the rear of the shoe, so that the two edge regions (24, 25; 24', 25') of the lower pressure plate (13; 13') form separate spring limbs, and
   the central region (33; 33') of the lower pressure plate (13; 13') protrudes downwards so that the bearing faces (29; 29') and thus the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) only start to be pressed together after the central region (33; 33') of the lower pressure plate (13; 13') and the upper pressure plate (12; 12') have already been pressed together a predefined distance.
8. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 7, characterised in that the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) are fastened in a removable or exchangeable manner.
9. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 8, characterised in that the stabiliser spring elements (22, 23) have a device for setting the spring force.
10. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 9, characterised in that folds (34) are formed in the side walls of the bellows (4) on the open sides of the spring element (9; 9').
11. The shoe according to any one of claims 1 - 10, characterised in that the suction channel (5) for transporting air from the suction opening (6) into the bellows (4) has a minimum cross-sectional area of 3 mm², and, for shoe sizes upwards of approximately 25 cm long, a minimum cross-sectional area of 4 mm².

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