US20070209233A1

US20070209233A1 - Footwear

Info

Publication number: US20070209233A1
Application number: US11/573,233
Authority: US
Inventors: Jong-sik Kim; Bong-Ho Kim; Ok-Tae Kim
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-08-04
Filing date: 2006-02-09
Publication date: 2007-09-13
Also published as: JP2008508927A; WO2006014046A1

Abstract

The present invention relates to a shoe having an outsole to form a bottom of the shoe, a mid-sole provided on the top of the outsole, and an insole provided on the top of the mid-sole, contacting the sole of a user's foot, comprising a cushion support part formed with a spring having a predetermined degree of elasticity, to relieve shocks applied to the user's foot; a receiving part formed by depressing one portion of the mid-sole, to receive the cushion support part; an air discharging passage communicating the receiving part with the outside of the outsole, through which partial air of the receiving part is discharged toward the outside of the outsole; and an air check valve provided in the air discharging passage, to prevent air discharged to the outside through the air discharging passage from flowing backward. Thus, the present invention provides shoes capable of improving the feeling of wearing them by effectively relieving the shock power transferred to a user's foot, and enhancing the user's health by discharging air closed within the shoes to the outside through air circulation and removing heat, sweat and stench generated inside the shoes.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to shoes and, more particularly, to shoes having an improved cushioning structure to relieve shocks applied to the sole of a user's foot.

BACKGROUND ART

Generally, shocks are applied to a user's foot while he or she is walking or exercising with wearing shoes. If shock power is continuously applied to the foot, the user wearing the shoes may suffer from uncomfortableness, fatigue or injury.
To absorb this shock power, shoes are usually provided with cushions for absorbing the shocks. The shock absorbing cushion is mounted on the mid-sole portion in the rear of the shoe.
In the case of a shock absorbing cushion made of synthetic resin, it is worn as it has been used for a long period of time, and the original shock absorbing capacity is lost due to the load continuously applied.
In addition, in the case of a shock absorbing cushion employing an airbag, the air filled in the airbag is leaked due to friction, or collision or abrasion with any sharp material, thereby posing a danger of losing the shock absorbing function.
According to this, the conventional shoes are incapable of continuously absorbing the shock power generated in the course of walking, whereby shocks caused when the user takes a step are directly transferred to the foot and also the user would have disagreeable feeling of wearing the shoes.

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

Accordingly, the present general inventive concept provides shoes capable of improving the feeling of wearing them by effectively relieving the shock power transferred to a user's foot, and enhancing the user's health by discharging air closed within the shoes to the outside through air circulation and removing heat, sweat and stench generated inside the shoes.
Additional aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the general inventive concept.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing a shoe having an outsole to form a bottom of the shoe, a mid-sole provided on the top of the outsole, and an insole provided on the top of the mid-sole, contacting the sole of a user's foot, comprising a cushion support part formed with a spring having a predetermined degree of elasticity, to relieve shocks applied to the user's foot; a receiving part formed by depressing one portion of the mid-sole, to receive the cushion support part; an air discharging passage communicating the receiving part with the outside of the outsole, through which partial air of the receiving part is discharged toward the outside of the outsole; and an air check valve provided in the air discharging passage, to prevent air discharged to the outside through the air discharging passage from flowing backward.
The air check valve may comprise a receiving part cap detachably coupled with the air discharging passage, being formed with an inlet through which the partial air of the receiving part flows into the air discharging passage; an external cap detachably coupled with the air discharging passage with a predetermined spacing from the receiving part cap, being formed with an air exhaust hole through which the air within the air discharging passage is exhausted to the outside of the outsole; an opening/closing rod provided between the receiving part cap and the external cap, to open and close the inlet hole by contacting and being separated from the receiving part cap; and a valve spring, to provide a predetermined degree of elasticity, so that the opening/closing rod closely contact the receiving part cap.
The cushion support part may comprise a plurality of springs; a lower cap having a plurality of spring supporters to respectively support one end of the spring, being received in the receiving part; a upper cap elevatably provided in the spring supporters, being formed with a plurality of elevating rods to respectively support the other end of each spring and being disposed oppositely to the lower cap; a screw screw-coupled with the elevating rod, to interconnect the lower cap and the upper cap; and an engaging hook formed on the spring supporter, and engaged with a head of the screw.
The receiving parts may be provided in each of a toe portion and a heel portion of the mid-sole, between which a plurality of grooves to communicate with each of the receiving parts, through which air within the receiving parts flows.
The foregoing and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept are achieved by providing a plurality of first air passing holes to communicate with the receiving parts may be formed on the insole, and a plurality of second air passing holes to communicate with the receiving parts are formed on the upper cap.
The shoe may further comprise an inlet formed by penetrating through the insole, through which a perfume and an anti-bacteria agent are inserted into the mid-sole; and an auxiliary receiving part provided in the mid-sole to communicate with the plurality of grooves, to receive the perfume and anti-bacteria agent injected from the inlet.
The cushion support part may comprise a plurality of springs; a lower cap having a plurality of spring supporters to respectively support one end of the spring, being received in the receiving part; a upper cap disposed oppositely to the lower cap, between which the spring is positioned; a clip comprising a main body to support the other end of the spring, and an engaging projection protected transversely to an axial line of the main body, which is coupled with the spring supporter, interconnecting the lower cap and the upper cap; and an engaging hook formed on the spring supporter, and engaged with the engaging projection of the clip.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects and advantages of the present general inventive concept will become apparent and more readily appreciated from the following description of the embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings of which:
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a shoe according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a side section view of FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a cushion support part of FIG. 1;
FIG. 4 is a side section view of FIG. 3;
FIG. 5 is a side section view of an air check value of FIG. 2;
FIG. 6 illustrates an operation state of the air check valve of FIG. 5 in an open state;
FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of a cushion support part of a shoe according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 8 is a side section view of FIG. 7.

MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Reference will now be made in detail to the embodiments of the present general inventive concept, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side section view of FIG. 1. Referring to these figures, a shoe 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention comprises an outsole 11 forming the bottom of the shoe 1, a mid-sole 13 provided on the top of the outsole 11, an insole 15 provided on the top of the mid-sole 13, contacting the sole of a user's foot, and a upper sole 17 provided along the upper circumference of the mid-sole, forming a space for receiving the user's foot.
In toe and heel portions of the mid-sole 13 are provided receiving parts 21 a and 21 b to receive cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b to be described later. The receiving parts 21 a and 21 b are depressed to a predetermined depth from the top face of the mid-sole 13. Between the receiving parts 21 and 21 b are formed a plurality of grooves 23 each having the shape of a hemisphere in section, mutually communicating the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b. Air within the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b flows along the grooves 23.
An auxiliary receiving part 25 to receive a perfume and/or an anti-bacteria agent therein is provided between the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b of the mid-sole. The auxiliary receiving part 25 is shaped with a square in section, being depressed to a predetermined depth from the top face of the mid-sole 23 so as to be able to communicate with the plurality of grooves 23. According to this, the perfume and anti-bacteria agent received in the auxiliary receiving part 25 are discharged into the inside of the shoe 1 through a first air passing holes 15 a formed in the insole 15 by way of each of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b along the grooves 23, thereby removing stench and bacteria generated inside the shoe 1 and enhancing the user's health.
In the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b of the mid-sole 13 are provided the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b respectively so as to relieve shocks applied to the user's foot.
As illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b each comprise a plurality of springs 33, a lower cap 35 to support one end of the spring 33, being received in each of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b, a upper cap 51 elevatably to support the other end of the spring 33, being coupled with the lower cap 35, and a screw 57 interconnecting the lower cap 35 and the upper cap 51.
The springs 33 stand between the lower cap 35 and the upper cap 51 with a predetermined interval, providing a predetermined degree of elasticity so as to allow the lower cap 35 and the upper cap 51 to be maintained with the predetermined interval. Here, the spring 33 is preferably made of a cone-shaped coil spring. It is more effective that a cone part of the spring 33 is directed toward the bottom of the upper cap 51.
The lower cap 35 has a plate-shaped main body 37, and a plurality of spring supporters 43 coupled with the main body 37 so as to support one end of the spring 33.
On the plane of the main body 37 directed toward the bottoms of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b are formed passing holes 39 through which the spring supporters 43 pass. On the circumference of each passing hole 39 is formed an engaging groove 41 with which an engaging part 45 of the spring supporter 43 is engaged.
The spring supporter 43 is substantially shaped with an inverse “U” in section, and it is mounted on the main body 37 in such a manner as to be projectable toward the upper cap 51. On the outer circumference of the spring supporter 43 is mounted an end of the spring 33, and an engaging part 45 engaged into the engaging groove 41 of the upper cap is formed on the circumference of an opening of the lower region of the spring supporter 43. In addition, on the top region of the spring supporter 43 is formed a passing hole 47 through which an elevating rod 53 to be described later, and an engaging projection 49 with which a head 57 b of the screw 57 to be described later is engaged is formed on the circumference of the passing hole 47.
The upper cap 51 is shaped with a cylinder, one side of which is opened. On the plane of the upper cap 51 are projected a plurality of elevating rods 53 to support the other end of the spring 33, which are directed toward the lower cap 35. Each of the elevation rods 43 is shaped with a rod, in the central region of which a female screw 53 a with which a screw shaft 57 a of the screw 57 is screw-coupled is formed. A free end of the elevation rod 53 is coupled with the lower cap 35 by passing through the passing hole 39, and elevatably coupled with the spring supporter 43.
In addition, on the plane of the upper cap 51 is formed a plurality of second air passing holes 51 a by passing through it, to communicate with the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b. It is preferred that the second air passing holes 51 a of the upper cap 51 are formed in such a manner that they are communicable with the first air passing holes 15 a formed on the insole 14, to thereby communicate with the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b. According to this, air in the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b is circulated through each of the air passing holes 51 a and 51 b of the upper cap 51 and the insole 15, to thereby discharge air closed inside the shoe 1 to the outside through air circulation, and removes heat, sweat and stench generated within the shoe 1, thereby serving to improve the user's health.
The screw 57 has the screw shaft 57 a on which a male screw is formed, and the head 57 b projected in one side of the screw shaft 57 a, transversely to a shaft line of the screw shaft 57 a. The screw shaft 57 a of the screw 57 is screw-coupled with the female screw 53 a of the elevating rod 53 and at the same time the head 57 b of the screw 57 is engaged with the engaging projection 49 of the spring supporter 43, whereby the lower cap 35 and the upper cap 51 are firmly coupled so as not to be detached from each other. Here, a pin having a head may be applicable, instead of the screw.
By the way, a plurality of first air passing holes 15 a are formed on the insole 15 by penetrating it, through which partial air of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b of the mid-sole 13 is discharged to the inside of the shoe 1. Further, an inlet 16 through which perfume and anti-bacteria agent are injected into an auxiliary receiving part 25 of the mid-sole 13 is formed on the insole 15, by penetrating it.
On one side of the shoe 1 according to the present invention is formed an air discharging passage 67 to communicate mutually the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b with the outside of the outsole 11, through which partial air of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b are discharged outwardly to the outsole 11.
On the air discharging passage 67 is provided an air check valve 71 to prevent air discharged to the outside through the air discharging passage 57 from flowing backward.
Referring to FIG. 5, the air check valve 71 comprises a receiving part cap 73 formed with an inlet hole 73 a through which the partial air of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b flows into the air discharging passage 67, an external cap formed with an exhaust hole 75 a through which the air within the air discharging passage 67 is exhausted to the outside of the outsole 11, an opening/closing rod 77 to open and close the inlet hole 73 a, provided between the receiving part cap 73 and the external cap 75, being contacted with and separated from the receiving part cap 73, and a valve spring to provide a predetermined degree of elasticity in order to allow the opening/closing rod 77 to be closely contacted with the receiving part cap 73.
The receiving part cap 73 is detachably screw-coupled with the air discharging passage 67. The inner circumferential face of the receiving part cap 73 is shaped with a cone in section, and is depressed.
One end of the opening/closing rod 77 takes the shape of a cone in section, being contacted with or separated from the inner circumferential face of the receiving part cap 73.
The valve spring 79 consists of a coil spring, elastically supporting the opening/closing rod 77 and the external cap 75.
With this configuration, the air check valve 71 can more effectively relieve the shock power transferred to the user's foot, together with the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b. Also, air closed within the shoe 1 is discharged to the outside through air circulation and heat, sweat and stench generated inside the shoe 1 are removed, thereby enhancing the user's health.
Operations of the shoe 1 according to the present invention will be described.
Whenever the shoe 1 contacts the ground under the condition that a user is wearing it, the shock power resulting from the load is transferred to the shoe 1.
The shock power due to the load is transferred to the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b respectively, the upper caps 51 of the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b are squeezed downward due to the pressure applied thereto, and a spacing between the upper cap 51 and the lower cap 35 is narrowed at the pressing point, whereby the force of compression is applied to air of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b. The compressed air is discharged to the outside of the shoe 1 through the air discharging passage 67, along with the perfume and anti-bacteria agent received within the auxiliary receiving part 25, or inside the shoe 1 through the first air passing holes 15 a of the insole 15. Air of the receiving part 21 a provided in the toe portion flows into the receiving part 21 b provided in the heel portion through the grooves 23, along with the perfume and anti-bacteria agent received in the auxiliary receiving part 25 and then discharged to the outside of the shoe 1 through the air discharging passage 67, or into the shoe 1 through the first air passing holes 15 a of the insole 15.
As illustrated in FIG. 6, the partial air of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b flows into the air discharging passage 67 by moving the opening/closing rod 77 which closes the inlet hole 73 a, being closely contacted with the receiving part cap 73 while it flows into the air discharging passage 67, toward the external cap 75. The air flowing into the air discharging passage 67 is exhausted to the outside of the outsole 11 through the air exhaust hole 75 a of the external cap 75. According to this, the partial air of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b is discharged to the outside of the shoe 1 through the air discharging passage 67 by way of the air check valve 71, thereby more effectively relieving the shock power transferred to the user's foot.
Where the shock power is not transferred to the shoe 1, that is, the shock power due to the load is not applied to the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b, a predetermined spacing between the upper cap 51 and the lower cap 35 is maintained owing to the elasticity of the springs 33 of the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b, whereby the cushion support parts 31 a and 31 b are restored to the original state.
The opening/closing rod 77 moves toward and closely contacts the receiving part cap 73 due to the elasticity of the valve spring 79, thereby closing the inlet hole 73 a as illustrated in FIG. 5. At this time, no foreign matters from the outside are inserted into the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b by way of the air discharging passage 67.
As described above, by providing cushion support parts to relieve shock power applied to the user's foot, receiving parts to receive the cushion support parts, an air discharging passage through which partial air of the receiving parts is discharged toward the outside of the outsole, and an air check valve to prevent air discharged to the outside through the air discharging passage from flowing backward, the shock power transferred to the user's foot is effectively relieved, the feeling of wearing the shoes is enhanced, air closed within the shoe is discharged to the outside through air circulation, and heat, sweat and stench generated within the shoe are removed, thereby serving to enhance the user's health.
FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate cushion support parts of a shoe according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Referring to these figures, cushion support parts 31 a′ and 31 b′ of the shoe according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention, differently from the above-described exemplary embodiment, comprises a plurality of springs 33, a lower cap 35 to support one end of each spring 33, being received in the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b, a upper cap 51 disposed oppositely to the lower cap 35, between which the spring 33 is positioned, and a clip 59 coupled with a spring supporter 43, to thereby interconnect the lower cap 35 and the upper cap 51.
The lower cap 35 comprises a planar shaped main body 37, and a plurality of spring supporters 43 to support one end of the spring 33, being coupled with the main body 37.
On the plane of the main body 37 directed toward the bottoms of the receiving parts 21 a and 21 b are formed passing holes 39 through which the spring supporters 43 penetrate. On the circumference of each passing hole 39 are formed engaging holes 41 into which engaging projections 45 of the spring supporter 43 are inserted for engagement.
The spring supporter 43 has substantially an inverse U-shaped section, being mounted on the main body 37 in such a manner that it is projected toward the upper cap 51. On the outer circumference of the spring supporter 43 is mounted one end of the spring 33, and engaging projections 45 inserted into and engaged with the engaging holes 41 of the lower cap 35 are formed on the circumference of an opening in the lower portion of the spring supporter 43. In addition, a passing hole 47 passing through a main body 61 of the clip 59 to be described later is formed on the upper portion of the spring supporter 43, and engaging hooks 49 engaged with the engaging projections 63 of the clip 59 to be described later are formed on the circumference of the passing hole 47.
Clip coupling holes 55 through which the main body 61 of the clip 59 passes for coupling, which correspond to the passing holes 37 of the spring supporter 45, are formed on the upper cap 51 by penetrating it.
The clip 59 comprises a rod-shaped main body 61 whereby the other end of the spring 33 is supported, engaging projections 63, projected on one end of the main body 61 transversely to an axial line of the main body 61, being engaged with the engaging hooks 49 of the spring supporter 43, and a flange 65 projected on the other end of the main body transversely to the axial line of the main body 61, to support the main body 61 to the upper cap 51.
According to this, the main body 61 of the clip 59 passes through the clip coupling holes 55 of the upper cap 51 and the passing holes 47 of the spring supporter 45 and at the same time the engaging projections 63 of the clip 59 are engaged with the engaging hooks 49 of the spring supporter 43, whereby the lower cap 35 and the upper cap 51 are firmly coupled, thereby preventing them from being detached from each other.
In the above-described, embodiments, the cushion support parts are provided in the toe portion and the heel portion of the foot. However, the cushion support parts may be provided in either of the toe portion or the heel portion.
As described above, the present invention provides a shoe capable of improving the feeling of wearing them by effectively relieving the shock power transferred to a user's foot, and enhancing the user's health by discharging air closed within the shoes to the outside through air circulation and removing heat, sweat and stench generated inside the shoes.
Although a few embodiments of the present general inventive concept have been shown and described, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes may be made in these embodiments without departing from the principles and spirit of the general inventive concept, the scope of which is defined in the appended claims and their equivalents.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A shoe having an outsole to form a bottom of the shoe, a mid-sole provided on the top of the outsole, and an insole provided on the top of the mid-sole, contacting the sole of a user's foot, comprising:

a cushion support part formed with a spring having a predetermined degree of elasticity, to relieve shocks applied to the user's foot;

a receiving part formed by depressing one portion of the mid-sole, to receive the cushion support part;

an air discharging passage communicating the receiving part with the outside of the outsole, through which partial air of the receiving part is discharged toward the outside of the outsole; and

an air check valve provided in the air discharging passage, to prevent air discharged to the outside through the air discharging passage from flowing backward.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the air check valve comprises:

a receiving part cap detachably coupled with the air discharging passage, being formed with an inlet through which the partial air of the receiving part flows into the air discharging passage;

an external cap detachably coupled with the air discharging passage with a predetermined spacing from the receiving part cap, being formed with an air exhaust hole through which the air within the air discharging passage is exhausted to the outside of the outsole;

an opening/closing rod provided between the receiving part cap and the external cap, to open and close the inlet hole by contacting and being separated from the receiving part cap; and

a valve spring to provide a predetermined degree of elasticity, so that the opening/closing rod closely contact the receiving part cap.

3. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the cushion support part comprises:

a plurality of springs;

a lower cap having a plurality of spring supporters to respectively support one end of the spring, being received in the receiving part;

a upper cap elevatably provided in the spring supporters, being formed with a plurality of elevating rods to respectively support the other end of each spring and being disposed oppositely to the lower cap;

a screw screw-coupled with the elevating rod, to interconnect the lower cap and the upper cap; and

an engaging hook formed on the spring supporter and engaged with a head of the screw.

4. The shoe according to claim 3, wherein the receiving parts are provided in each of a toe portion and a heel portion of the mid-sole, between which a plurality of grooves to communicate with each of the receiving parts, through which air within the receiving parts flows.

5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein a plurality of first air passing holes to communicate with the receiving parts are formed on the insole, and a plurality of second air passing holes to communicate with the receiving parts are formed on the upper cap.

6. The shoe according to claim 4, further comprising:

an inlet formed by penetrating through the insole, through which a perfume and an anti-bacteria agent are inserted into the mid-sole; and

an auxiliary receiving part provided in the mid-sole to communicate with the plurality of grooves, to receive the perfume and anti-bacteria agent injected from the inlet.

7. The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the cushion support part comprises:

a plurality of springs;

a upper cap disposed oppositely to the lower cap, between which the spring is positioned;

a clip comprising a main body to support the other end of the spring, and an engaging projection protected transversely to an axial line of the main body, which is coupled with the spring supporter, interconnecting the lower cap and the upper cap; and

an engaging hook formed on the spring supporter and engaged with the engaging projection of the clip.

8. The shoe according to claim 7, wherein the receiving parts are provided in each of a toe portion and a heel portion of the mid-sole, between which a plurality of grooves to communicate with each of the receiving parts, through which air within the receiving parts flows.

9. The shoe according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of first air passing holes to communicate with the receiving parts are formed on the insole, and a plurality of second air passing holes to communicate with the receiving parts are formed on the upper cap.

10. The shoe according to claim 8, further comprising: