US20140173837A1 - Method of producing sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear - Google Patents
Method of producing sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear Download PDFInfo
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- US20140173837A1 US20140173837A1 US14/040,959 US201314040959A US2014173837A1 US 20140173837 A1 US20140173837 A1 US 20140173837A1 US 201314040959 A US201314040959 A US 201314040959A US 2014173837 A1 US2014173837 A1 US 2014173837A1
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- Prior art keywords
- sole
- component
- producing
- recessed cavity
- assembly
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/14—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by the constructive form
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/06—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
- A43B7/08—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
- A43B7/081—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures the air being forced from outside
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/06—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
- A43B7/08—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
- A43B7/082—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures the air being expelled to the outside
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
- A43B7/06—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated
- A43B7/08—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures
- A43B7/084—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures characterised by the location of the holes
- A43B7/087—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements ventilated with air-holes, with or without closures characterised by the location of the holes in the bottom of the sole
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a method of producing a sole, midsole or insole for bending actuated aerated footwear in which a top layer contains an aperture for a valve or valve assembly and a flat membrane or layer of material serves as a pumping member for circulating air in response to bending or unbending of the sole.
- a method of producing a sole assembly comprises: fabricating a first sole component having a top surface and a bottom surface, the first sole component further having an aperture extending through the top surface, the first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of the bottom surface such that the aperture connects to the recessed cavity; attaching a material layer proximate an edge of the recessed cavity so as to partially close the recessed cavity; attaching an actuation member to the material layer; and covering the aperture with a valve so as to substantially close the recessed cavity.
- a method of producing a sole assembly or a midsole component for aerated footwear comprises: fabricating a first sole component having a surface, the first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of the surface; attaching a material layer proximate an edge of the recessed cavity so as to close the recessed cavity partially from a first side of the recessed cavity; attaching an elongate actuation member to the material layer; fabricating a second sole component having an aperture extending therethrough and attaching a valve to the aperture so as to close the recessed cavity from a second side of the recessed cavity; attaching the second sole component to the first sole component to produce the sole assembly, such that the material layer and the actuation member are enclosed between the first sole component and the second sole component.
- FIG. 1 shows a top view of a sole component having an aperture therethrough, in accordance with the present invention
- FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the sole component of FIG. 1 , showing a recessed cavity
- FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the sole component of FIG. 2 ;
- FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the sole component of FIG. 2 with a material layer disposed over the recessed cavity
- FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the sole component of FIG. 2 with an actuation member disposed on the material layer;
- FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the sole component of FIG. 2 with a bottom sole component disposed on the bottom surface of the sole component;
- FIG. 7 shows a top view of a complete sole assembly, with a valve disposed in the aperture
- FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the complete sole assembly of FIG. 7 ;
- FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of a complete sole assembly similar to that in FIG. 8 but as assembled from the top;
- FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of a complete sole assembly where an actuation member is attached above a thin layer of material
- FIG. 11 shows a boot having a molded sole with a complete sole assembly
- FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the boot of FIG. 10 ;
- FIG. 13 shows a boot having a complete sole assembly inserted into a prefabricated sole of an article of footwear.
- the present invention relates generally to a method of producing bending actuated aerated footwear that provide a high level of air circulation while comprising a relatively thin cross section, is inexpensive to produce, and provides for consistency in manufacture.
- the disclosure details production methods of producing or assembling soles for such types of footwear.
- a method for producing a sole assembly for bending-actuated, aerated footwear In a first embodiment, the sole is produced by a method denoted as “assembled from the bottom.” In a second embodiment, the sole is produced by a method denoted as “assembled from the top.” In a third embodiment, the assembled sole is configured as a subassembly, that is, configured as an insert for user or manufacturer placement over a conventional sole in an item of footwear, or provided as a component configured for insertion into a prefabricated sole, during fabrication of the corresponding article of footwear. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments provide for methods of achieving bending-actuated aeration within an item of footwear as the user walks or otherwise applied a bearing force to the sole.
- a first sole or midsole component is provided, and the remaining sole components are attached to the bottom surface of the first sole or midsole component.
- the first sole, or midsole component is generally the top-most component of the sole or the midsole component, and is preferably formed or molded such that the top of the first sole or midsole component has an aperture, and the bottom of the first sole or midsole component has a large recess or cavity along a length.
- the aperture connects through to the bottom of the cavity. More preferably this cavity is disposed at a midsection of the first sole or midsole component.
- the first sole or midsole component is fitted with at least two air passageways which are preferably molded into the first sole or midsole component.
- a first sole component or a midsole component is provided, with a recess or cavity at its top. Additional sole components are attached to the top surface of the first sole component or midsole component. Along the edges of the cavity or near the edges, a thin layer of material or membrane can be attached thus separating the cavity from the outside.
- An actuation member may be attached to the thin layer of material, on either an above surface or on a lower surface, on one end of the actuation member, and to the front of either lower or upper part of the sole on the other end of the actuation member.
- a valve or vale arrangement may be mounted or attached to an aperture in the first sole component or a midsole component to produce a completed sole assembly.
- a first sole component 100 comprises a generally circular aperture 106 and an elongated recessed cavity 108 .
- the first sole component 100 is formed or molded such that the aperture 106 is disposed in a top surface 102 of the first sole component 100 .
- a bottom surface 104 of the first sole component 100 contains the recessed cavity 108 disposed along the length of the first sole component 100 .
- the recessed cavity 108 is disposed in a midsection region 120 of the first sole component 100 , that is, the region located under the arch of a wearer's foot.
- the midsection 120 extends from a heel section 122 into a ball section 124 of the first sole component 100 , where the heel section 122 is the region located under the heel of a wearer's foot and the ball section 124 is the region located under the ball of the wearer's foot.
- the aperture 106 is positioned in the top surface 102 , generally opposite the recessed cavity 108 , such that at least a portion of the aperture 106 extends into the recessed cavity 108 .
- the recessed cavity has a cavity perimeter 126 generally in the shape of a paddle or trowel.
- FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the first sole component 100 as cut along section line 3 - 3 shown in FIG. 2 . It can be seen in the illustration that the aperture 106 extends downward from the top surface 102 into the recessed cavity 108 , and that the recessed cavity 108 extends upward from the bottom surface 104 .
- a material layer 110 is attached to the bottom surface 104 of the first sole component 100 .
- the material layer 110 has a material layer perimeter 128 generally in the shape of a rectangle with concave long sides. Accordingly, the material layer 110 is shaped and sized so as to cover essentially the entire cavity perimeter 126 of the recessed cavity 108 . This configuration functions to close off the aperture 106 (not shown) from the bottom surface 104 of the first sole component 100 .
- the material layer 110 includes a plurality of surface grooves 130 oriented and disposed in the material layer 110 so as to allow for the easy flexing of the material layer 110 in general conformance to the bending of the wearer's foot.
- An actuation member 112 shown in FIG. 5 , can then be attached to the material layer 110 .
- the actuation member 112 is configured as an elongated strip having approximately the length of the recessed cavity 108 such that, when placed over the material layer 110 , the actuation member 112 is disposed generally over the recessed cavity 108 .
- the actuation member 112 is an elongate member with its opposite end (the side not attached to the membrane above the cavity) residing in a front part of the sole 100 .
- a bottom sole component 114 can then be attached to the first piece of sole by gluing, cementing or stitching, such that the actuation member 112 and the material layer 110 are covered by the bottom sole component 114 , as shown in FIG. 6 .
- the actuation member 112 may comprise a springboard, a semi-rigid component, or a rigid component.
- a valve or valve arrangement 116 may be mounted into or onto the aperture 106 to form a complete sole assembly 140 , as shown in FIG. 7 .
- FIG. 8 A cross sectional view, across the section line 8 - 8 of the complete sole assembly 140 , is shown in FIG. 8 . It should be understood that the relative thickness of the complete sole assembly 140 has been exaggerated, relative to the width, to more clearly illustrate the component stack-up of the complete sole assembly 140 .
- the material layer 110 covers a first opening of the recessed cavity 108 so as to partially close the recessed cavity.
- the actuation member 112 may be disposed against the material layer 110 .
- the valve or valve arrangement 116 thus cooperates with the material layer 110 to substantially close the recessed cavity 108 by covering the aperture 106 . Accordingly, the valve or valve arrangement 116 , together with the material layer 110 , functions to control ambient air entering and being expelled from the recessed cavity 108 .
- the bottom sole component 114 is attached to the bottom surface 104 such that the actuation member 112 and the material layer 110 are covered by the bottom sole component 114 .
- the valve or valve arrangement 116 functions to: (i) allow ambient air to be expelled from the recessed cavity 108 when the user steps on a solid surface and applies a bearing force to the actuation member 12 by bending or flexing the footwear sole, and (ii) allow ambient air to re-enter the recessed cavity 108 when the item of footwear is raised from the solid surface.
- This repeated entry and expulsion of ambient air from the recessed cavity 108 functions to actuate air flow, that is, to provide bending-actuated aeration to the item of footwear, as the user walks or otherwise applied a bearing force to the complete sole assembly 140 .
- This feature and action are also provided by insertion of the complete sole assembly 150 or the complete sole assembly 160 , into any suitable item of footwear, as described below.
- the order of attachment for the actuation member 112 and the thin layer of material 110 or membrane can be reversed.
- the actuation member 112 may be attached at a first end 132 to the material layer 110 , and a second end 134 of the actuation member 112 may be attached to the bottom front part of the first sole component 100 .
- the actuation member 112 would be disposed above the material layer 110 when the actuation member 112 is subsequently sealed along its edges to the first sole component 100 .
- the relative thicknesses of the complete sole assembly 150 components have been exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the stack up of the components.
- FIG. 10 shows a complete sole assembly 160 , similar to the complete sole assembly 140 shown in FIG. 8 , but assembled from the top. It should be understood that the relative thicknesses of the individual components of the complete sole assembly 160 have been exaggerated to more clearly show assembly detail of the complete sole assembly 160 .
- a bottom sole component 154 has a recessed cavity 158 at the top of the bottom sole component 154 . Along the edges of the recessed cavity 158 , or near to the edges of the recessed cavity 158 , a thin layer of material 164 or membrane with surface grooves (similar to surface grooves 130 , described above) can be attached, thus separating the recessed cavity 158 from the outside of the complete sole assembly 160 .
- An actuation member 162 may be attached to the thin layer of material 164 do aid in the application of force from the foot of the user to deform the recessed cavity 158 and produce the expulsion of ambient air.
- valve or valve arrangement 166 may then be mounted or attached to an aperture 168 in a top sole component 156 , which is then attached to a top surface 172 of the bottom sole component 154 . Accordingly, the valve or valve arrangement 166 operates together with the thin layer of material 164 to substantially close off the recessed cavity 158 and provide aeration to an item of footwear via the actuation member 162 , as described above for the complete sole assemblies 140 and 150 .
- the complete sole assembly 140 , the complete sole assembly 150 , and the complete sole assembly 170 may each comprise a subsection, an insert, or a component of a larger sole or a shoe or other item of footwear.
- a shoe manufacturer can decide to assemble the complete sole assembly 140 from the bottom, or assemble the complete sole assembly 150 from the bottom, or assemble the complete sole assembly 160 from the top, as described above, and then mold a larger sole around either the complete sole assembly 140 , or the complete sole assembly 150 , or the complete sole assembly 160 .
- the selected assembly process may be followed to produce a rain boot 180 , for example, as shown in FIGS.
- the complete sole assembly 140 , the complete sole assembly 150 , or the complete sole assembly 160 could be utilized as a separate component, and then inserted into a boot 184 , as shown in FIG. 13 , or into a shoe (not shown), or into any similar item of footwear.
- the complete sole assembly 140 , the complete sole assembly 150 , or the complete sole assembly 160 may be separately inserted into a prefabricated sole in the corresponding item of footwear.
- Emplacement of the complete sole assembly 140 , or the complete sole assembly 150 , or the complete sole assembly 160 in either configuration shown, provides for the entry and expulsion of ambient air from the recessed cavity 108 or the recessed cavity 158 to actuate or provide aeration as the user walks in and flexes the corresponding item of footwear.
Abstract
A method of producing a sole assembly for manufacturing aerated footwear comprises: fabricating a sole component having an aperture extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and having recessed cavity along a length of the bottom surface, the aperture connecting to the recessed cavity; attaching a material layer to the recessed cavity; attaching an actuation member to the material layer; and closing the aperture with a valve so as to control the entry of and expulsion of air from the recessed cavity.
Description
- The present Application is related to Provisional Patent Application entitled “Method of Producing Sole for Bending Actuated Aerated Footwear” filed 11 Oct. 2012 and assigned filing No. 61/712,271, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
- The present invention relates to a method of producing a sole, midsole or insole for bending actuated aerated footwear in which a top layer contains an aperture for a valve or valve assembly and a flat membrane or layer of material serves as a pumping member for circulating air in response to bending or unbending of the sole.
- The concept of bending actuated aerated footwear is known in the present state of the art. Although producing a “functional” pair of bending actuated aerated footwear is not difficult, producing a pair at a low cost, with a thin profile and with consistent high performance is significantly more difficult.
- In one aspect of the present invention, a method of producing a sole assembly comprises: fabricating a first sole component having a top surface and a bottom surface, the first sole component further having an aperture extending through the top surface, the first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of the bottom surface such that the aperture connects to the recessed cavity; attaching a material layer proximate an edge of the recessed cavity so as to partially close the recessed cavity; attaching an actuation member to the material layer; and covering the aperture with a valve so as to substantially close the recessed cavity.
- In another aspect of the present invention, a method of producing a sole assembly or a midsole component for aerated footwear comprises: fabricating a first sole component having a surface, the first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of the surface; attaching a material layer proximate an edge of the recessed cavity so as to close the recessed cavity partially from a first side of the recessed cavity; attaching an elongate actuation member to the material layer; fabricating a second sole component having an aperture extending therethrough and attaching a valve to the aperture so as to close the recessed cavity from a second side of the recessed cavity; attaching the second sole component to the first sole component to produce the sole assembly, such that the material layer and the actuation member are enclosed between the first sole component and the second sole component.
- The additional features and advantage of the disclosed invention is set forth in the detailed description which follows, and will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the description or recognized by practicing the invention as described, together with the claims and appended drawings.
- The invention can be better understood by referencing the following figures and descriptions. Note that the figures are not necessarily to scale and are intended primarily to illustrate the concepts of the invention. The foregoing aspects, uses, and advantages of the present invention will be more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood from the following detailed description of the present invention when viewed in conjunction with the accompanying figures, in which:
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FIG. 1 shows a top view of a sole component having an aperture therethrough, in accordance with the present invention; -
FIG. 2 shows a bottom view of the sole component ofFIG. 1 , showing a recessed cavity; -
FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the sole component ofFIG. 2 ; -
FIG. 4 shows a bottom view of the sole component ofFIG. 2 with a material layer disposed over the recessed cavity; -
FIG. 5 shows a bottom view of the sole component ofFIG. 2 with an actuation member disposed on the material layer; -
FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the sole component ofFIG. 2 with a bottom sole component disposed on the bottom surface of the sole component; -
FIG. 7 shows a top view of a complete sole assembly, with a valve disposed in the aperture; -
FIG. 8 shows a cross sectional view of the complete sole assembly ofFIG. 7 ; -
FIG. 9 shows a cross sectional view of a complete sole assembly similar to that inFIG. 8 but as assembled from the top; -
FIG. 10 shows a cross sectional view of a complete sole assembly where an actuation member is attached above a thin layer of material; -
FIG. 11 shows a boot having a molded sole with a complete sole assembly; -
FIG. 12 shows a sectional view of the boot ofFIG. 10 ; and, -
FIG. 13 shows a boot having a complete sole assembly inserted into a prefabricated sole of an article of footwear. - The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention.
- The present invention relates generally to a method of producing bending actuated aerated footwear that provide a high level of air circulation while comprising a relatively thin cross section, is inexpensive to produce, and provides for consistency in manufacture.
- In particular, the disclosure details production methods of producing or assembling soles for such types of footwear. There are disclosed three general embodiments of a method for producing a sole assembly for bending-actuated, aerated footwear: In a first embodiment, the sole is produced by a method denoted as “assembled from the bottom.” In a second embodiment, the sole is produced by a method denoted as “assembled from the top.” In a third embodiment, the assembled sole is configured as a subassembly, that is, configured as an insert for user or manufacturer placement over a conventional sole in an item of footwear, or provided as a component configured for insertion into a prefabricated sole, during fabrication of the corresponding article of footwear. Accordingly, the disclosed embodiments provide for methods of achieving bending-actuated aeration within an item of footwear as the user walks or otherwise applied a bearing force to the sole.
- In the embodiment of assembling from the bottom, a first sole or midsole component is provided, and the remaining sole components are attached to the bottom surface of the first sole or midsole component. The first sole, or midsole component, is generally the top-most component of the sole or the midsole component, and is preferably formed or molded such that the top of the first sole or midsole component has an aperture, and the bottom of the first sole or midsole component has a large recess or cavity along a length. Preferably the aperture connects through to the bottom of the cavity. More preferably this cavity is disposed at a midsection of the first sole or midsole component. Additionally the first sole or midsole component is fitted with at least two air passageways which are preferably molded into the first sole or midsole component.
- In the embodiment of assembling from the top, a first sole component or a midsole component is provided, with a recess or cavity at its top. Additional sole components are attached to the top surface of the first sole component or midsole component. Along the edges of the cavity or near the edges, a thin layer of material or membrane can be attached thus separating the cavity from the outside. An actuation member may be attached to the thin layer of material, on either an above surface or on a lower surface, on one end of the actuation member, and to the front of either lower or upper part of the sole on the other end of the actuation member. A valve or vale arrangement may be mounted or attached to an aperture in the first sole component or a midsole component to produce a completed sole assembly.
- As shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2 , a firstsole component 100 comprises a generallycircular aperture 106 and an elongatedrecessed cavity 108. The firstsole component 100 is formed or molded such that theaperture 106 is disposed in atop surface 102 of the firstsole component 100. Abottom surface 104 of the firstsole component 100 contains therecessed cavity 108 disposed along the length of the firstsole component 100. - Preferably, the
recessed cavity 108 is disposed in amidsection region 120 of the firstsole component 100, that is, the region located under the arch of a wearer's foot. Specifically, themidsection 120 extends from a heel section 122 into aball section 124 of the firstsole component 100, where the heel section 122 is the region located under the heel of a wearer's foot and theball section 124 is the region located under the ball of the wearer's foot. - The
aperture 106 is positioned in thetop surface 102, generally opposite therecessed cavity 108, such that at least a portion of theaperture 106 extends into therecessed cavity 108. In the example provided, the recessed cavity has acavity perimeter 126 generally in the shape of a paddle or trowel. -
FIG. 3 shows a cross sectional view of the firstsole component 100 as cut along section line 3-3 shown inFIG. 2 . It can be seen in the illustration that theaperture 106 extends downward from thetop surface 102 into therecessed cavity 108, and that therecessed cavity 108 extends upward from thebottom surface 104. - As shown in
FIG. 4 , amaterial layer 110 is attached to thebottom surface 104 of the firstsole component 100. Thematerial layer 110 has amaterial layer perimeter 128 generally in the shape of a rectangle with concave long sides. Accordingly, thematerial layer 110 is shaped and sized so as to cover essentially theentire cavity perimeter 126 of therecessed cavity 108. This configuration functions to close off the aperture 106 (not shown) from thebottom surface 104 of the firstsole component 100. - The
material layer 110 includes a plurality ofsurface grooves 130 oriented and disposed in thematerial layer 110 so as to allow for the easy flexing of thematerial layer 110 in general conformance to the bending of the wearer's foot. Anactuation member 112, shown inFIG. 5 , can then be attached to thematerial layer 110. Theactuation member 112 is configured as an elongated strip having approximately the length of the recessedcavity 108 such that, when placed over thematerial layer 110, theactuation member 112 is disposed generally over therecessed cavity 108. Preferably theactuation member 112 is an elongate member with its opposite end (the side not attached to the membrane above the cavity) residing in a front part of the sole 100. - In a final step, a bottom
sole component 114 can then be attached to the first piece of sole by gluing, cementing or stitching, such that theactuation member 112 and thematerial layer 110 are covered by the bottomsole component 114, as shown inFIG. 6 . In an exemplary embodiment, theactuation member 112 may comprise a springboard, a semi-rigid component, or a rigid component. At a subsequent point, a valve orvalve arrangement 116 may be mounted into or onto theaperture 106 to form a complete sole assembly 140, as shown inFIG. 7 . - A cross sectional view, across the section line 8-8 of the complete sole assembly 140, is shown in
FIG. 8 . It should be understood that the relative thickness of the complete sole assembly 140 has been exaggerated, relative to the width, to more clearly illustrate the component stack-up of the complete sole assembly 140. Thematerial layer 110 covers a first opening of the recessedcavity 108 so as to partially close the recessed cavity. Theactuation member 112 may be disposed against thematerial layer 110. The valve orvalve arrangement 116 thus cooperates with thematerial layer 110 to substantially close the recessedcavity 108 by covering theaperture 106. Accordingly, the valve orvalve arrangement 116, together with thematerial layer 110, functions to control ambient air entering and being expelled from the recessedcavity 108. The bottomsole component 114 is attached to thebottom surface 104 such that theactuation member 112 and thematerial layer 110 are covered by the bottomsole component 114. - Accordingly, when a user is wearing an item of footwear (see
FIGS. 11-13 , below) containing the complete sole assembly 140, the valve orvalve arrangement 116 functions to: (i) allow ambient air to be expelled from the recessedcavity 108 when the user steps on a solid surface and applies a bearing force to the actuation member 12 by bending or flexing the footwear sole, and (ii) allow ambient air to re-enter the recessedcavity 108 when the item of footwear is raised from the solid surface. This repeated entry and expulsion of ambient air from the recessedcavity 108 functions to actuate air flow, that is, to provide bending-actuated aeration to the item of footwear, as the user walks or otherwise applied a bearing force to the complete sole assembly 140. This feature and action are also provided by insertion of the completesole assembly 150 or the completesole assembly 160, into any suitable item of footwear, as described below. - In an alternative embodiment, shown in
FIG. 9 , the order of attachment for theactuation member 112 and the thin layer ofmaterial 110 or membrane can be reversed. In a completesole assembly 150, theactuation member 112 may be attached at afirst end 132 to thematerial layer 110, and asecond end 134 of theactuation member 112 may be attached to the bottom front part of the firstsole component 100. In this manner, theactuation member 112 would be disposed above thematerial layer 110 when theactuation member 112 is subsequently sealed along its edges to the firstsole component 100. It should be understood that the relative thicknesses of the completesole assembly 150 components have been exaggerated to more clearly illustrate the stack up of the components. -
FIG. 10 shows a completesole assembly 160, similar to the complete sole assembly 140 shown inFIG. 8 , but assembled from the top. It should be understood that the relative thicknesses of the individual components of the completesole assembly 160 have been exaggerated to more clearly show assembly detail of the completesole assembly 160. A bottom sole component 154 has a recessedcavity 158 at the top of the bottom sole component 154. Along the edges of the recessedcavity 158, or near to the edges of the recessedcavity 158, a thin layer ofmaterial 164 or membrane with surface grooves (similar tosurface grooves 130, described above) can be attached, thus separating the recessedcavity 158 from the outside of the completesole assembly 160. Anactuation member 162 may be attached to the thin layer ofmaterial 164 do aid in the application of force from the foot of the user to deform the recessedcavity 158 and produce the expulsion of ambient air. - Just as in assembling from the bottom, described above, the order of the
actuation member 162 and the thin layer ofmaterial 164 is reversible. A valve orvalve arrangement 166 may then be mounted or attached to anaperture 168 in a topsole component 156, which is then attached to atop surface 172 of the bottom sole component 154. Accordingly, the valve orvalve arrangement 166 operates together with the thin layer ofmaterial 164 to substantially close off the recessedcavity 158 and provide aeration to an item of footwear via theactuation member 162, as described above for the completesole assemblies 140 and 150. - The complete sole assembly 140, the complete
sole assembly 150, and the complete sole assembly 170 may each comprise a subsection, an insert, or a component of a larger sole or a shoe or other item of footwear. For example, a shoe manufacturer can decide to assemble the complete sole assembly 140 from the bottom, or assemble the completesole assembly 150 from the bottom, or assemble the completesole assembly 160 from the top, as described above, and then mold a larger sole around either the complete sole assembly 140, or the completesole assembly 150, or the completesole assembly 160. The selected assembly process may be followed to produce arain boot 180, for example, as shown inFIGS. 11 and 12 with either the complete sole assembly 140, or the completesole assembly 150, or the completesole assembly 160, molded into therain boot 180. It should be understood that any type of footwear, in place of therain boot 180, may be manufactured using the disclosed processes. - Alternatively, the complete sole assembly 140, the complete
sole assembly 150, or the completesole assembly 160 could be utilized as a separate component, and then inserted into aboot 184, as shown inFIG. 13 , or into a shoe (not shown), or into any similar item of footwear. In still another alternative embodiment, the complete sole assembly 140, the completesole assembly 150, or the completesole assembly 160 may be separately inserted into a prefabricated sole in the corresponding item of footwear. Emplacement of the complete sole assembly 140, or the completesole assembly 150, or the completesole assembly 160, in either configuration shown, provides for the entry and expulsion of ambient air from the recessedcavity 108 or the recessedcavity 158 to actuate or provide aeration as the user walks in and flexes the corresponding item of footwear. - It is to be understood that the description herein is only exemplary of the invention, and is intended to provide an overview for the understanding of the nature and character of the disclosed method of producing a sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear. The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of various features and embodiments of the method and devices of the invention which, together with their description serve to explain the principles and operation of the invention.
Claims (18)
1. A method of producing a sole assembly or a midsole component for aerated footwear, said method comprising the steps of:
fabricating a first sole component having a top surface and a bottom surface,
said first sole component further having an aperture extending through said top surface, said first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of said bottom surface such that said aperture connects to said recessed cavity;
attaching a material layer proximate an edge of said recessed cavity so as to partially close said recessed cavity;
attaching an actuation member to said material layer; and
covering said aperture with a valve so as to substantially close said recessed cavity.
2. A method of producing a sole assembly for aerated footwear as in claim 1 wherein a second sole component is attached to said first sole component such that said material layer is covered by said second sole component.
3. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 1 wherein said actuation member comprises an elongate member.
4. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 3 wherein said elongate member comprises at least one of a springboard, a semi-rigid component, or a rigid component.
5. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 1 wherein said actuation member comprises a first end fixed to said sole component.
6. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 5 wherein said actuation member comprises a second end fixed to said material layer.
7. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 1 wherein said material layer comprises a plurality of surface grooves.
8. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 1 wherein said first sole component comprises part of a molded sole.
9. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 1 further comprising the step of inserting said sole assembly into a prefabricated sole of an article of footwear.
10. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 1 wherein said valve functions to control ambient air entering and being expelled from said recessed cavity.
11. A method of producing a sole assembly or a midsole component for aerated footwear, said method comprising the steps of:
fabricating a first sole component having a surface, said first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of said surface;
attaching a material layer proximate an edge of said recessed cavity so as to close said recessed cavity partially from a first side of said recessed cavity;
attaching an elongate actuation member to said material layer;
fabricating a second sole component having an aperture extending therethrough and attaching a valve to said aperture so as to close said recessed cavity from a second side of said recessed cavity;
attaching said second sole component to said first sole component to produce said sole assembly, such that said material layer and said actuation member are enclosed between said first sole component and said second sole component.
12. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 11 wherein said actuation member comprises an elongate member.
13. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 12 wherein said elongate member comprises at least one of a springboard, a semi-rigid component, or a rigid component.
14. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 12 wherein said actuation member has one end fixed to a front section of said first sole component.
15. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 11 wherein said material layer comprises a plurality of surface grooves.
16. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 11 wherein said first sole component comprises part of a molded sole.
17. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 11 further comprising the step of placing said first sole component and said second sole component into an item of footwear.
18. A method of producing a sole assembly as in claim 11 further comprising the step of inserting said sole assembly into a prefabricated sole of an article of footwear.
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/040,959 US20140173837A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2013-09-30 | Method of producing sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US201261712271P | 2012-10-11 | 2012-10-11 | |
US14/040,959 US20140173837A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2013-09-30 | Method of producing sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20140173837A1 true US20140173837A1 (en) | 2014-06-26 |
Family
ID=50973002
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
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US14/040,959 Abandoned US20140173837A1 (en) | 2012-10-11 | 2013-09-30 | Method of producing sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear |
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US (1) | US20140173837A1 (en) |
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Legal Events
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