WO2018234876A1

WO2018234876A1 - Footwear item with inner air circulation system

Info

Publication number: WO2018234876A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/052582
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pietro Toniolo; Tommaso ANDOLFATTO
Original assignee: Pietro Toniolo; Andolfatto Tommaso
Priority date: 2017-06-19
Filing date: 2018-04-13
Publication date: 2018-12-27
Also published as: IT201700067609A1

Abstract

The invention is a new footwear item with a sole (A) provided with a pumping element (A3) located within the sole (A) itself and connected to an opening (A2) for the inlet of air (W1) from the outside, at least one outlet opening (A9), and wherein the clean air flow (W1) sucked in through said inlet opening (A2) is conveyed into a duct (A4) towards said at least one outlet opening through at least one narrowed portion (A7), and wherein, as a result of the Venturi effect, humid air is sucked from the inside of the footwear item through said at least one secondary channel (A8) and ejected through said at least one outlet opening (A9).

Description

FOOTWEAR ITEM WITH INNER AIR CIRCULATION SYSTEM

DESCRIPTION

The present invention concerns footwear, and more specifically it concerns a new footwear item provided with an air circulation system which is integrated in the sole.

The footwear item can be of any type, especially a sports shoe, for example a running shoe. The new footwear item can also be a boot of any type, for men or ladies and suitable for any use. The footwear items of the known type are generally made up of an upper, a tread, meaning the part designed to rest on the ground, and a sole on which the foot rests and which is interposed between said tread and said upper.

Inside the upper there is often a sock which lines the inside of the upper and the top side of the sole in order to ensure greater comfort.

Inside the footwear item there is often also an additional sole.

Various types of so-called breathing footwear items are known, which ensure ventilation inside the footwear item when it is worn by the user.

The patent document EP 1127505 describes a footwear item comprising a sole in which a seat suited to house a pumping device is obtained.

The pumping device comprises a pumping chamber, which is filled with a porous and elastically yielding material and which, owing to the effect of the user's weight, is compressed and expanded at each step, thus alternately causing air to be let out and sucked in.

Said pumping chamber is connected, by means of a non-return valve, with a suction chamber which communicates with the inside of the shoe. When the pumping chamber expands, the humid air contained in said suction chamber is sucked into the pumping chamber, from which it is successively ejected towards the outside when the pumping chamber itself is compressed again.

The patent documents US 6196556 and WO 2006/109995 describe roller skates comprising an upper, a base and a frame provided with a plurality of wheels and mounted on said base, wherein inside said base one or more channels are obtained, which are arranged longitudinally and communicate both with the inside of the skate and with the outside through suitable openings, in such a way as to create a flow of ventilation air during movement. The effect of such ventilation, however, can be appreciated only when the user is moving, while it is practically almost completely absent when the user is stationary.

The patent document US 4640027 describes a type of motorcycle boots comprising ventilation channels obtained in the leg and in the sole and communicating with air intakes which are positioned at the sides of the upper part of the leg and with openings which in turn communicate with the inside of the boot and with the outside of the sole.

Due to the effect of motion, air flows into the channels, generating an air flow that produces a ventilation effect inside the boot.

Also in this case, the ventilation effect is almost completely absent when the user moves at reduced speed, for example when he/she is walking.

Footwear items are known, in which ventilation is obtained by exploiting the Venturi effect.

For example, footwear items are known, in which the sole is provided with holes suited to allow the passage of air towards the inside of the footwear item, wherein the sole comprises an inlet opening created in a front edge of the sole itself and an outlet opening positioned on one side of the rear part of the sole, as well as a system of channels that communicate with said inlet opening, with said outlet opening and with the inside of the footwear item through holes in the upper side of the sole.

Said channels are configured with narrowed portions, in such a way that the air flow generated when the shoe is moved forward, which is directed from said front inlet opening towards said rear outlet opening, produces a Venturi effect, as a consequence of which the humid air is sucked from the inside of the shoe and let out through said outlet opening.

Shoes are also known, which are provided with a holed shoe containing a membrane which is impermeable to liquids but permeable to gases, owing to the fact that it is provided with extremely small holes that, however, become clogged with use and thus prevent air from circulating between the inside and the outside of the shoe.

The subject of the present invention is a new type of shoe provided with an air circulation system integrated in the sole.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a footwear item with an effective ventilation system, wherein ventilation is generated during normal use, owing to the effect produced by the compression exerted by the user while walking or running.

It is another object of the present invention to guarantee maximum ventilation efficiency according to the morphology of the foot and to the type of gait of each individual user, as the sole can be shaped according to any need.

The new footwear item, in fact, can also be customized according to the specific characteristics of each individual user.

It is another object of the invention to provide a shoe which correctly absorbs the impacts with the ground.

An advantage offered by the new footwear item lies in that the overall weight of the footwear item is reduced, since the air circulation system can be obtained directly in the body of the sole, with no need to add further components.

This is preferably possible thanks to 3D printing, which makes it possible to control the internal architecture of the structure, and thus to define the channels and the elements of the circuit directly during the design stage.

These and other direct and complementary objects are achieved by the new type of footwear item having an air circulation system integrated in the sole and comprising an upper and a sole, wherein said sole in turn comprises:

- at least one pumping element positioned within the sole itself, wherein said pumping element comprises an elastically yielding chamber which is suited to be alternately compressed and expanded at each step of the user, due to the effect of the user' s weight;

- at least one inlet opening for the air flowing in from the outside, said inlet opening being obtained in an edge of the sole and communicating with the inside of said pumping element through at least one first non-return valve that allows air to flow only from the outside towards the inside of said pumping element;

- at least one air outlet opening, said outlet opening being obtained in an edge of the sole and communicating with the inside of said pumping element through at least one duct;

- said at least one duct between said pumping element and said at least one outlet opening, said duct in turn comprising a second non-return valve that allows air to flow only from the pumping element towards the outside, and at least one localized narrowed portion located downstream of said second non-return valve; - at least one secondary channel obtained between said at least one narrowed portion of the duct and said upper side of the sole, meaning the side facing towards the inside of the footwear item.

At each step, said pumping element is first compressed, due to the effect produced by the weight and the movement of the user, and then released, which causes the expansion of the pumping element itself.

The first step of the circuit cycle takes place with the compression of the pumping chamber. The air present inside said chamber is conveyed towards the suction points where, as a result of the Venturi effect, the air present inside the shoe is sucked and consequently expelled, by mixing it with the air moved by the pumping chamber.

At each expansion, a flow of clean air is generated, which is sucked from the outside through said inlet opening and introduced in said chamber of the pumping element through said first non-return valve.

At each compression, the clean air contained in the chamber of the pumping element is conveyed into said duct and then, through said second non-return valve, towards said outlet opening.

The outbound air that flows through said narrowed portion is subject to a pressure drop due to the Venturi effect, wherein said pressure drop causes air to be sucked from the inside of the footwear item through said at least one secondary channel.

The humid air is thus sucked from the inside of the shoe and, mixing with the air flow coming from the pumping element, is expelled through said outlet opening.

Said chamber of the pumping element serves also as a shock absorbing element.

Said second non-return valve is preferably and conveniently a Tesla valve, that is, a valve comprising a shaped duct which in turn comprises a substantially linear main duct defining a first substantially linear route in which air can flow in one direction meeting low resistance, and loop-shaped side ducts communicating with said main duct and suited to define a second route a second route in which the air flowing in the opposite direction with respect to the air flowing along said first route meets more resistance.

Said first non-return valve and said Tesla valve guarantee that the air flow is always directed towards said outlet opening.

In the preferred solution, said sole is produced by means of 3D printing, which makes it possible to obtain said pumping element, said duct, said Tesla valve and said secondary channels in a single body integrated in the sole itself.

More specifically, according to the invention said chamber of the pumping element is obtained within the sole and the latter is preferably deformed under the pressure exerted by the user's foot.

Said chamber comprises, for example, substantially parallelepiped cells which, when subjected to a load, become deformed and assume a flattened configuration.

The part which, instead, must feature a more rigid configuration is conveniently obtained by means of a plurality of cells braced through diagonal stiffening partitions.

The sole can consequently be produced from a single material, thus making the moulding operations much simpler and quicker.

Furthermore, since the circulation system is obtained by moulding the sole without substantially adding any other external components, except for the first non-return valve, the weight of the sole itself is reduced.

All the components that generate the ventilation air flow are integrated in the sole and are therefore less subject to wear and more durable.

The 3D printing process, furthermore, allows the footwear item to be designed and produced according to its intended use and to the data related to the user's foot: shape, gait, any pathology.

The air circulation system can work efficiently also in case of penetration of air drops through said inlet opening, since in any case the water is let out together with the outbound air flow. The characteristics of the new footwear item are illustrated in greater detail in the following description, with reference to the drawings which are attached hereto by way of non-limiting examples. Figure 1 shows a view from below of the sole (A) of the new footwear item (E), in which the internal components are visible.

Figure 2, instead, shows a top view of the sole (A). Figure 2a shows a detailed view of the second non-return valve (A5), while Figure 2b shows a detailed view of the narrowed portion (A7) through which, by exploiting the Venturi effect, the humid air is sucked from the inside of the shoe and expelled through the outlet valve (A9).

Figure 3 shows an exploded view of a possible embodiment of the new footwear item (E), in which the upper is not represented.

Figure 4 shows a sectional view of a possible embodiment of the sole (A), in which it is possible to see the internal structure of the chamber of the pumping element (A3) and of the rigid part of the body (Al) of the sole (A)

The new footwear item (E) comprises an upper, a tread (B) designed to rest on the ground and at least one sole (A) interposed between said tread (B) and said upper. According to the invention, said tread (B) and said sole (A) can in any case constitute a single element.

According to the invention, the new footwear item may comprise also at least one internal sock (C) and/or an additional sole (D)

Said sole (A) in turn comprises a substantially flat body (Al) having a lower surface or underside (Al 1) designed to face towards the ground, and an upper side (A12) designed to face towards the inside of the footwear item.

Within said sole (A) there is at least one pumping element (A3), in turn comprising an elastically yielding chamber (A31) which is suited to be alternately compressed and expanded at each step of the user, due to his/her weight.

According to the invention, in order to maximize the compression exerted by the foot, said pumping element is positioned on the distal portion of the sole (A), that is, on the portion corresponding to the outer part of the foot, which physiologically is one of the parts where most of the weight of the body is transferred at each step.

On the edge (A13) of said sole (A) there is at least one inlet opening (A2) for the air flowing in from the outside. For example, said inlet opening (A2) is obtained in the distal edge (A13) of the sole (A), for example in proximity to the heel. Said inlet opening (A2) communicates with said chamber (A31) of said pumping element (A3) through a channel (A21).

At the level of said inlet opening (A2) or inside said channel (A21) there is a first non-return valve (A22) which allows air to flow only from the outside towards the inside of said pumping element (A3).

Furthermore, in the edge (A14) of said sole (A) one or preferably more than one outlet openings (A9) are obtained, for example in the medial edge of the sole (A) and, in any case, preferably in proximity to its front part.

At least one duct (A4) places said chamber (A31) of said pumping element (A3) in communication with said outlet openings (A9).

Said duct (A4) comprises at least one second non-return valve (A5) which allows air to flow only from the pumping element (A3) towards said outlet openings (A9).

Downstream of said second non-return valve (A5), meaning between said non-return valve (A5) and said outlet openings (A9), the section (A6) of said duct (A4) comprises one or more branches (A61, A62, A63) suited to ensure communication with each one of said outlet openings (A9).

On each one of said branches (A61, A62, A63) there is at least one localized narrowed portion (A7).

Said sole (A) furthermore comprises at least one secondary channel (A8) created between each one of said narrowed portions (A7) and said upper side of the sole (A12).

As schematically represented by the arrows in Figure 2, the clean external air (Wl) is sucked into said chamber (A31) of the pumping element (A3) through said inlet opening (A2) and said non-return valve (A22) every time the chamber (A31) expands.

On each compression, the clean air contained in the chamber (A31) of the pumping element (A3) is conveyed into said duct (A4) and, through said second non-return valve (A5) and said branches (A61, A62, A63), towards said outlet openings (A9).

The outbound air (W2) that flows in said narrowed portion (A7) is subject to a pressure drop due to the Venturi effect, wherein said pressure drop causes the humid air to be sucked from the inside of the footwear item through said at least one secondary channel (A8). The humid air is thus sucked from the inside of the shoe and, mixing with the air flow (Wl) that comes from the pumping element, is expelled through said outlet openings (A9).

According to the invention, said secondary channels (A8) are preferably distributed in the front part of the sole (A), meaning the part corresponding to the fingers of the foot and to its front part. In this way, ventilation is maximized, especially in the area of the shoe where the production of heat and sweat by the user' s foot is higher.

Said second non-return valve (A5) is preferably and conveniently a Tesla valve, meaning a valve comprising a shaped duct (A51) in turn comprising a substantially linear main duct (A52) which defines a first substantially linear route in which air can flow in one direction meeting low resistance, and loop-shaped side ducts (A53) communicating with said main duct (A52) and suited to define a second route in which the air flowing in the opposite direction with respect to the air flowing along said first route meets more resistance.

In a possible embodiment of the invention, illustrated for example in the sectional view of Figure 4, said sole (A) is made in a single body and with the same material through a 3D printing process. As can be seen in Figure 4, said chamber (A31) of the pumping element (A3) is obtained within the body (Al) of the sole (A) and is preferably obtained by means of a plurality of hollow cells (A32), for example parallelepiped in shape, which become deformed under the pressure exerted by the user' s foot, as indicated by an arrow (F) in Figure 4.

The part that, instead, needs to feature a more rigid configuration is obtained by means of a plurality of cells (A15) braced by means of diagonal stiffening partitions (A26).

Therefore, with reference to the above description and the attached drawings, the following claims are expressed.

Claims

1. Footwear item (E) comprising at least one sole (A), characterized in that said sole (A) in turn comprises:

a substantially flat body (Al) provided with an upper side (A 12) facing towards the inside of the footwear item and an underside (Al l) intended to face towards the ground;

at least one pumping element (A3) located within the sole (A) itself, wherein said pumping element (A3) comprises an elastically yielding chamber (A31) suited to be alternately compressed and expanded at each step of the user; at least one opening (A2) for the inlet of air (Wl) from the outside, said inlet opening (A2) being obtained in an edge (A 13) of said sole (S) and communicating with said chamber (A31) of said pumping element (A3) through at least one first non-return valve (A22) that allows air (Wl) to flow only from the outside towards the inside of said pumping element (A3);

at least one outlet opening (A9) obtained in the edge (A14) of said sole (A) and communicating with said chamber (A31) of the pumping element (A3) through at least one duct (A4);

said at least one duct (A4) between said pumping element (A3) and said at least one outlet opening (A9), said duct (A4) in turn comprising a second nonreturn valve (A5) that allows air to flow only from the pumping element (A3) towards the outside and at least one localized narrowed portion (A7) downstream of said second non-return valve (A5);

at least one secondary channel (A8) obtained between said at least one narrowed portion (A7) of the duct (A4) and said upper side (A 12) of the sole (A),

and wherein the flow of clean air (Wl) sucked in through said inlet opening (A2) owing to the expansion of said chamber (A31) of the pumping element (A3) is conveyed into said duct (A4) towards said at least one outlet opening as a result of the successive compression, and wherein, as a result of the Venturi effect, the outbound air (W2) that flows through said narrowed portion (A7) causes humid air to be sucked from the inside of the footwear item through said at least one secondary channel (A8) and to be ejected through said at least one outlet opening (A9).

2. Footwear item according to claim 1, characterized in that said pumping element (A3) is positioned on the distal portion of the sole (A), meaning on the portion corresponding to the outer part of the foot, on which most of the weight of the user's body is transferred at each step.

3. Footwear item according to claim 1, characterized in that said inlet opening (A2) is obtained in the distal edge (A13) of the sole (A), in proximity to the heel.

4. Footwear item according to claim 1, characterized in that downstream of said second non-return valve (A5), meaning between said non-return valve (A5) and said outlet openings (A9), said duct (A4) comprises one or more branches (A61, A62, A63) for communication with a respective outlet opening (A9), at least one localized narrowed portion (A7) being created on each one of said branches (A61, A62, A63), and wherein said sole (A) furthermore comprises at least one secondary channel (A8) obtained between each one of said narrowed portions (A7) and said upper side (A12) of the sole.

5. Footwear item according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said outlet openings (A9) are obtained in the edge (A 14) of said sole (A) in proximity to its front part.

6. Footwear item according to the preceding claims, characterized in that said secondary channels (A8) are positioned in the front part of the sole (A).

7. Footwear item according to claim 1, characterized in that said second non-return valve (A5) is a Tesla valve, comprising a shaped duct (A51) in turn comprising a substantially linear main duct (A52) which defines a substantially linear first route through which air can flow meeting low resistance towards said at least one outlet opening (A9), and loop-shaped side ducts (A53) communicating with said main duct (A52) and suited to define a second route in which the air flowing in the opposite direction with respect to the air flowing along said first route meets more resistance.

8. Footwear item according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sole (A) is manufactured through a 3D printing process, and wherein said at least one pumping element (A3), said at least one duct (A4), said at least one Tesla valve (A5) and said secondary channels (A8) are made in a single body within said sole (A) itself.

9. Footwear item according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that said sole (A) is made in a single body and with a single material.

10, Footwear item according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said chamber (A31) of the pumping element (A3) is obtained within the body (Al) of the sole (A) and comprises a plurality of hollow cells (A32) which are deformable under the pressure exerted by the user's foot.

11, Footwear item according to claim 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that said body (Al) of the sole (A) comprises substantially rigid parts in turn comprising a plurality of cells (A15) braced by means of diagonal stiffening partitions (A26).