WO2014022941A1

WO2014022941A1 - Shoe sole with ventilation, and shoe having such a sole

Info

Publication number: WO2014022941A1
Application number: PCT/CH2012/000183
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard KÜNG
Original assignee: Airfreak Ag
Priority date: 2012-08-08
Filing date: 2012-08-08
Publication date: 2014-02-13
Also published as: PL2882309T3; RS58056B1; PT2882309T; ES2705737T3; LT2882309T; HRP20190103T1; US20170143073A1; SI2882309T1; US20150265001A1; EP2882309A1; EP2882309B1; DK2882309T3

Abstract

The shoe sole (1) comprises a flexible chamber (6) arranged therein, with at least one inlet (5) and at least one outlet (9). The shoe sole (1) also comprises an inlet valve (15) assigned to the inlet (5), and an outlet valve (19) assigned to the outlet (9), wherein the flexible chamber (6) is arranged in the front region of the shoe sole (1), where an air inlet space (4) of the shoe sole (1) is also provided. The air inlet space (4) is connected by the inlet valve to the chamber (6) which is open to the environment via openings (2) in the insole (3). Moreover, the chamber (6) is connected by the outlet valve to the outlet (9) on the outer face of the shoe sole (1) outside the insole (3). The chamber (6) is filled almost completely with an elastically deformable material (16), which is such that, during its elastic expansion, it absorbs air and, during its compression, it releases air that has previously been absorbed. In this way, an air circulation that feels comfortable to the foot can be achieved in the shoe having this sole.

Description

Shoe sole with ventilation and shoe with such a sole area of the invention

The invention relates to a shoe sole with a compressible, containing an elastically deformable material chamber having at least one air inlet and at least one air outlet and in each case an inlet valve associated with the air inlet and an outlet valve associated with the air outlet, wherein the chamber via the inlet valve and an air inlet chamber with the upper side of the shoe sole arranged air passages is connected and wherein the chamber is connected via the outlet valve with an opening on the shoe sole outside of its upper side. Furthermore, the invention relates to a shoe with such a shoe sole and a method for adjusting the damping in a shoe with such a shoe sole.

background

From DE 199 24 256 Cl a shoe sole of the above type is known. This sole is intended to provide optimal shock absorption. In the heel area of this shoe sole damping elements made of plastic are arranged for damping of bumps. By choosing the damping elements, the degree of damping in the production of the shoe sole can be adjusted. The damping elements are arranged in a chamber. This additionally serves to ventilate the shoe equipped with the sole by sucking air into the chamber during walking out of the inside of the shoe and subsequently expelling this air. Another shoe sole with damping is known from DE 196 40 655, wherein in the ball area and in the heel area deformable cavities are provided which together and are connected to the outside area via lines. However, there is still a very great need to improve the wearing and walking comfort of shoes. Presentation of the invention

The object of the present invention is to improve the wearing and walking comfort of shoes by providing an improved shoe sole or an improved shoe sole

Shoe bottom to improve. In this case, primarily the Belüf ^¬ tion to achieve a good footwear climate can be improved. The shoe sole should be equally suitable for all everyday, work, leisure and sports shoes and be easy and inexpensive to produce and suitable for all styles of a shoe.

This object is achieved in the case of the shoe sole mentioned at the outset in that the chamber is arranged in the forefoot region of the shoe sole and is essentially completely filled with an elastically deformable material which is designed such that it absorbs air during its elastic expansion and absorbs air during its elastic expansion Compression releases previously taken air.

It turns out that the arrangement of the chamber in the forefoot area a particularly good ventilation can be achieved. Furthermore, there is a good walking comfort. The substantially complete filling of the chamber with the elastically deformable material that absorbs and releases the air, by the combination of its own elasticity and by the partial compression of the air contained in the delivery from the material a very good air circulation cycle, which will be explained in more detail below, and the stale or used and eg Moist air containing perspiration particles is carried away from the inside of the shoe with each occurrence and fresh air is drawn into the shoe during lifting

Shoe inside sucks. Furthermore, there is a damping for the foot when it comes to the feet, which is a very pleasant walk. feeling results. The chamber is loaded by the foot during walking at each step when it occurs on its upper side and is compressed and expands when the load is lifted when lifting the foot. As a result of the essentially complete filling of the chamber with the elastic material, that sole part, for example the insole, which closes the chamber upwards towards the foot and is deformed at each step, is uniformly stressed or filled by the filling Chamber with the material evenly supported and is thus subject to excessive material fatigue in the air circulation process. It prevents "breaking in" of the shoe sole from the inside of the shoe, which increases walking comfort and longevity of the insole.

The shoe bottom or sole of the present invention is suitable for all types of shoe. It may be a directly solicited style with molded shoe bottom or sole, in particular with a stiffened insole, or it may be a sewn finish. In a preferred embodiment, the shoe sole or the shoe bottom has a construction with an insole and an outsole, wherein the insole forms the outer top of the chamber and the passages to the air inlet space has which is connected to the chamber.

The design of the shoe bottom or the sole according to the invention is thus suitable for both a classic sole construction for high-quality shoes as well as for sneakers or other shoes. The desired ventilation function and also damping function are always achieved, whereby the insole in the forefoot area can be well supported thanks to the structure required and thus does not experience excessive load.

It is further preferred that the air inlet space is arranged in the front foot region of the shoe sole, in particular in front of the chamber. This results in a particularly good construction of the sole and allows one large area ventilation area and also damping area at the appropriate place to place. For the elastically deformable material, an open-cell plastic is preferred, which is foaming or sponge-like and absorbs in its elastic expansion air in and emits compressed air during compression, or when placing and loading the shoe sole previously absorbed air. Preferably, the elastically deformable material, or in particular the open-cell plastic, already itself has a sufficient restoring force or acts as a spring means, so that this material alone causes the expansion of the chamber and thus the suction of air in the discharge of the chamber top without To this end, another means, in particular a separate spring means, is needed. However, such a separate spring means may be provided, for example in the form of at least one plastic spring or at least one metal spring, which is arranged in addition to the elastic material in the chamber and which the expansion of the chamber after the compression and subsequent

Relief supported. The elastically deformable material may be disposed in an airtight envelope having at least one inlet port and at least one outlet port. This facilitates the so-called Shl- construction or production, since then the arranged in the sole chamber does not need to be airtight. Any existing spring is then housed in the case. If the elastic, air-absorbing or air-releasing material without shell is arranged in the chamber, then this chamber itself must be airtight (with the exception of the air inlet and the air outlet). The sole can be made so, but requires a corresponding structure or a corresponding production. The foam may contain known antibacterial additives.

The flexibly compressible chamber can also be made flexible by dividing walls or dividers into several be divided compressible chamber areas, preferably in the longitudinal and / or transverse direction of the shoe sole. Then, each chamber area is substantially completely filled with the material. In all embodiments of the invention, the term "substantially complete" can be understood to mean a filling of the chamber with the material, which results in no or only very small unfilled cavities, in particular to 90% or more, in particular to 95% or more of its chamber volume in rest position be filled with the material.

Preferably, a throttle is provided in the air outlet in addition to the exhaust valve. Thus, the damping can be better controlled than with a "free" air delivery via the exhaust valve, which usually already structurally conditioned has a certain throttling effect.But the throttling of the air can be determined with an explicitly explicitly provided in addition to the throttle or more accurate Constructively, the exhaust valve may be combined with the throttle, or the exhaust valve and the throttle may be separate components, Preferably, the throttle is an adjustable throttle or a throttle interchangeable in the shoe sole, allowing easy adjustment of the damping Advantageously, an opening for the outlet of the exhaust air is arranged laterally on the sole, ie not on its underside.In the case of an adjustable or interchangeable throttle this can then be arranged in the lateral opening of the sole, which provides good accessibility for setting or off - change of the Dro results in bowl. However, the opening for the exhaust air can also be arranged on the underside of the sole, when the exhaust air is discharged into an arranged under the sole heel of the shoe. This then usually has a side opening for discharging the air, which again may have the aforementioned throttle.

The term shoe sole is therefore used for the present en Invention of the whole shoe bottom with or without paragraph understood.

In a preferred embodiment of the shoe sole is in the heel area a second, also filled with elastic material of the same type chamber with valves (inlet valve and exhaust valve), and preferably also with a throttle in the outlet provided. This throttle can also be adjustable or replaceable. The second chamber is preferably also connected to an air inlet space. This air inlet space may, viewed in the longitudinal direction of the sole towards the ball area, be arranged in front of the second chamber. Preferably, the two chambers are not interconnected.

The invention further relates to a shoe with a shoe sole according to the invention. This results in the described benefits for the shoe. The shoe can be a men's or women's shoe or children's shoe and can be an everyday, work, leisure or sports shoe. The shoe can be a summer, winter or all-season boot. It is obvious to the person skilled in the art that the construction according to the invention of the shoe bottom or the shoe sole can be used for any type of construction, that is to say for the directly mentioned type, in particular with molded-on construction and in particular with a stiffened insole. But also for the sewed style.

The invention further relates to a method for adjusting the ventilation and also the damping in a shoe with a shoe sole having an adjustable or replaceable throttle for the air discharged through the outlet of the chamber, the ventilation and the

Damping is set by setting the adjustable throttle or by replacing the throttle with a throttle with different passage. This allows in a simple way the adaptation of the ventilation and also the adjustment of the damping to the body weight and the personal wishes of the wearer of the shoes in the finished shoe, for example, before its delivery or in the shoe store at the sale and also later at the owner of the shoes.

By adjusting the throttle cross-section, the adjustable throttle allows a change in the ventilation and damping, with the corresponding damping characteristic being linear, progressive or degressive, depending on the design. Here, adjusting the shoe sole to the corresponding body weight by hand is possible, e.g. with a coin or a screwdriver. Depending on the version, the adjustment takes place in individual stages or steplessly. The interchangeable throttle as an alternative embodiment also allows for adjusting the damping values by inserting one or more throttle (s) adapted to a particular body weight into the shoe sole, e.g. In increments of 40- 50kg, 50-60kg, 60-70kg etc.

The valves or throttles used are closed air and water tight. They are preferably designed to be quiet, oil resistant and fireproof and thus particularly suitable for work shoes with such soles.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Further embodiments, advantages and applications of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the following description with reference to the figures. Showing:

1 shows a vertical section through a shoe with a shoe sole or a shoe bottom according to the invention in a first embodiment;

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the lower part of the shoe sole of Figure 1;

FIG. 3 shows the elastic material arranged in a casing; Figure 4 shows an upper sole part or an insole with openings in the forefoot area, which form the passages to the air inlet chamber.

FIG. 5 shows a vertical section through a shoe with a shoe sole or a shoe bottom in a second embodiment;

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the lower part of the shoe sole of Figure 5;

Figure 7 shows the elastic material in an airtight envelope for use in the pump chamber of the heel region; and

8 shows an upper sole part or an insole with additional passages in the heel area. Ways to carry out the invention

Figures 1 to 5 show a first embodiment of a shoe sole or a shoe bottom according to the invention or a shoe equipped therewith. 1 shows a vertical section through a shoe 10 with the shoe sole 1. First, the air circulation is explained:

a) The exhaust air A located in the shoe is sucked through passages or openings 2 in the top of the shoe sole from the inside of the shoe via an air inlet 4 in the sole 1 and an air inlet 5 in the chamber 6 at that moment in which the previously compressed chamber 6 expands again, ie when lifting the shoe sole 1 from the ground and the resulting relief of the sole. In this case, an air inlet valve is effective between the space 4 and the chamber 6, which is not shown for the sake of clarity in Figure 1;

b) ^' at the same time thus by a negative pressure generated in the shoe interior at this moment

Fresh air Fr from the shoe house side into the inside of the shoe sucked, which replaces the exhaust air A. This causes the ventilation effect;

c) the exhaust air A is first temporarily stored in the chamber 6 until the next occurrence of the shoe sole 1; and

d) Finally, the exhaust air A at the next occurrence and rolling of the shoe sole 1 by the load and thus the compression of the chamber 6 through an outlet 8 through (which may be a channel or a line) on the sake of clarity also not shown exhaust valve by an air outlet 9 in the area of Schuhaussenseite delivered to the environment outside the shoe. The outlet valve can be arranged at any point in the air path between the chamber 6 and the air outlet 9, but in particular in the outlet 9, where the valve can be arranged accessible from the outside.

This is followed by a new lifting of the foot and the relief of the shoe sole 1, a new air circulation cycle begins with the step a).

The shoe sole 1 according to the invention also allows for the occurrence and rolling of the shoe sole 1 on the ground due to the compression of the chamber 6 filled with exhaust air A a shock absorption, which is represented by the arrow D in Figure 1. The chamber expands after the discharge in the direction of arrow F.

The combination of periodic air circulation in short sequence and damping / spring effect D / F results in a significantly improved well-being in the shoes over a comparatively long period of time. In addition, the described properties of the novel shoe sole 1 can result even in people with Rü ^¬ ckenbeschwerden extraordinarily positive effects.

FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic plan view of the lower part of the shoe sole 1. Here, the air inlet space 4, the chamber 6 and its air inlet 5 are and the air outlet 9 is shown on the outside of the shoe sole 1. The outlet 9 could also be arranged directly in the side wall of the chamber 6, but in the example shown, the outlet 9 is connected to the chamber 6 via a channel 8 arranged in the sole 1. The outlet can also open into a separate from the sole paragraph of the shoe, or the channel or line 8 leads directly into the paragraph, and the exhaust air is discharged in this case via an air outlet in the paragraph to the environment. In this case, an outlet valve may be arranged in the heel. For better clarity, FIG. 2 only indicates the inlet valve 15 at the corresponding inlet opening 5 and the outlet valve 19, which is inserted here directly in the opening of the sole or the air outlet 9 of the sole. These valves 15 and 19 may be conventionally constructed valves known to those skilled in the art. The function of the inlet valve 15 is to allow the passage of air from the air inlet space 4 into the chamber 6 via the air inlet 5, when there is a negative pressure in the chamber 6 with respect to the space 4. The valve 15, however, blocks the flow of air from the chamber 6 back into the room 4, if in the chamber 6 · the same or a higher air pressure prevails as in the space 4. The outlet valve 19 has the function of the air passage from the chamber 6 to the air outlet 9 and thus to allow the environment when in the chamber 6, an overpressure relative to the ambient pressure prevails. On the other hand, the valve 19 blocks the airway from the outlet 9 to the chamber 6 when in the chamber 6, a negative pressure relative to the ambient pressure outside the shoe prevails. In this way, allow the valves 15 and 19, the previously described air circulation and prevent another air flow. The valves are commercially available valves and are air and water tight in the closed position. They are preferably low-noise, oil-resistant and defined fireproof. Their color and shape can be chosen to match the shoe. As mentioned they can be combined with an adjustable or non-adjustable choke for the air outlet.

The chamber 6 is substantially completely filled with an elastically deformable material 16, which is designed such that it absorbs air when it expands elastically and releases compressed air when it is compressed. In Figure 2, the material 16 is shown only partially to make the figure clearer. The chamber 6 is completely filled with the material 16, which means that the chamber has virtually no voids that are not filled. Of course, filling of chamber 6 slightly different from 100% filling may also be sufficient with the material, e.g. a filling of 90% or more than 90% but less than 100%. The elastically deformable material 16 may in particular be a clear plastic. The foams of the type V16 B21 or MR 6290 or V10 B21 of the company Metzeler Schaum GmbH, Memmingen, Germany are suitable as filling of the chamber 6 or the foam AstiTech® of the company Beil GmbH, Peine, Germany as well as the foam with the article no. 110190 of the company Schaumstoff Härti AG, Switzerland.

In Figure 3, an embodiment is shown in which the elastic material is enclosed in an airtight sheath 17 which can be inserted into the chamber 6. The shell 17 is provided in this example with an inlet port 11, which forms the air inlet 5. The inlet valve, not shown here, can be arranged in the socket 11 or at its transition to the shell 17 in the shell. The sheath 17 is connected to the outlet 9 via a line 8 arranged here on the sheath 17. The line 8 can be inserted into the channel of the sole lower part of Figure 2. The outlet valve is then arranged, for example, in the outlet 9 or in the casing 17 during the transition from the casing to the pipe 8 or along the pipe 8. The advantage of the embodiment according to FIG. 3 is that the chamber 6 is not in the sole itself needs to be made airtight because the shell 17 encloses the elastic material airtight. This is particularly advantageous when the sole has a construction which is designed for the sewn construction of the shoe. FIG. 4 shows an insole 3 of the shoe sole with openings or with the passages 2 in the front foot area, which connect the inside of the shoe to the air inlet space 4. The openings 2 are formed by perforation holes, but can also be formed in other variants as slots or shaped differently.

Figures 5 to 8 show in a similar representation a second embodiment of a sole or a shoe equipped therewith. Same reference numerals as before are used for identical or functionally identical elements. The difference to the first variant according to FIGS. 1 to 4 is that, in addition to the chamber 6, a second chamber 6 'in the heel area is formed in the heel area with all of them for their function. necessary elements such as additional insole openings 2 ', a second air inlet space 4' in the heel area and inlet opening 5 'and outlet 9' or inlet and outlet, if the elastic material is not introduced directly into the chamber 6 'in the heel area, but previously in an airtight envelope has been included. In the embodiment shown, the air inlet chamber 4 'is upstream of the chamber 6'. In other variants, however, it could also be arranged laterally to or behind the chamber 6 '. Both chambers 6, 6 'could also be supplied via a single air chamber 4, which is not preferred. In addition, in contrast to the first variant, the outlet opening 9 is arranged laterally further forward and the second outlet opening 9 'is arranged at the rear in the heel region. The valves are not shown in the second variant but also available to determine the air circulation in the manner described above. Thus, with the second embodiment variant, a ventilation cycle is made possible in the fore foot region and in the heel region and, in addition, a cushioning / spring effect is ensured in the front foot region D / F and in the heel region D '/ F'. The exhaust air A 'is discharged in analogy to the first embodiment of the heel area, wherein the flow direction is again indicated by arrows.

FIG. 7 shows, analogously to FIG. 3, that the elastic material can also be arranged in the heel region in an airtight sleeve 17 '. Accordingly, the elements 5 ', 8' and 10 '(nozzle) are provided with the same function as in Figure 3. It is indicated at 19 'that the valve for the air outlet at the end of the short line 8' can be arranged. FIG. 8 shows the additional perforations 2 'in the sole upper part 3 for the air inlet into the chamber 4'.

Not shown is an additional throttle or additional throttling function of the respective outlet valve which is preferably provided for all variants of embodiment and which throttles the exit of air from the chamber during compression of the material in the chamber 6 (or possibly the chamber 6 ') by reducing the flow cross section slows down than the exhaust valve does. Thus, the damping effect is increased by the elastic material, which can deliver the air contained in it through the throttle only slower, increased Such a throttle allows, as mentioned, an individual adjustment of the damping to an individual body weight and / or individual preferences and / or on the shoe type. The throttle may be located anywhere between the elastic material and the outlet 9. It can form a structural unit with the outlet valve. The throttle can be adjustable or replaceable. Preferably, it is at or in the outlet 9 (and / or optionally the outlet 9 '). arranged so that it is easily accessible for the replacement / setting.

i

Claims

claims

A shoe sole (1) comprising a compressible chamber (6) containing an elastically deformable material and having at least one inlet (5) and at least one outlet (8) and one inlet valve (15) associated with the inlet (5) and one outlet (8) associated with the outlet valve (19), wherein the chamber via the inlet valve and an air inlet space (4) with at the top (13) of the shoe sole opening outlets (2) is connected and that the chamber (6) via the outlet valve with an outlet (9) on the outside of the shoe sole (1) outside of its upper side (13) is connected, characterized in that the chamber (6) in the front foot region of the shoe sole (1) is arranged and substantially completely with the elastically deformable material (16) which is designed such that it absorbs air when it expands elastically and releases compressed air when it is compressed.

2. Shoe sole according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises an insole (3) and an outsole (7), wherein the insole forms the top of the chamber and the passages (2) to Lufteinlass- space (4).

3. Shoe sole according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the air inlet space (4) in the front foot region of the shoe sole (1) is arranged, in particular in front of the chamber (6).

4. Shoe sole according to one of claims 1 to

4, wherein the elastically deformable material (16) is an open-celled plastic foam.

5. Shoe sole according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the elastically deformable material in an airtight envelope (17) is arranged, which has at least one inlet port (10) and at least one outlet port (8).

6. Shoe sole (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that it is provided with a said outlet (9) associated throttle.

7. Shoe sole according to claim 6, character- ized in that the throttle is an adjustable throttle or in the shoe sole interchangeably arranged throttle.

8. Shoe sole according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that filled in the heel area a second with elastic material of the same kind

Chamber (6 ') with inlet valve and outlet valve is formed, which is connected via the inlet valve with an air inlet space (4'), which communicates via passages with the upper side of the sole in air communication.

9. Shoe sole (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that the air inlet space (4 ') in the sole longitudinal direction in front of the second chamber (6') is arranged.

10. shoe with a shoe sole according to one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Shoe according to claim 10, characterized in that the shoe is formed with the sole in directly solicited style, in particular in molded with soles and in particular with entrobelter insole, or that the shoe is formed with the sole in sewn-on design.

12. A method for adjusting the damping in a shoe with a shoe sole according to claim 7, characterized in that the damping is set by adjusting the adjustable throttle or by replacing the throttle against a throttle with different passage.