WO2007011093A1

WO2007011093A1 - Ventilation sole

Info

Publication number: WO2007011093A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/002906
Authority: WO
Inventors: Young Hwa Woo; Chang Sung Kwon
Original assignee: Young Hwa Woo; Chang Sung Kwon
Priority date: 2005-07-22
Filing date: 2005-09-02
Publication date: 2007-01-25
Also published as: CN101227843A; CN101227843B

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a ventilation sole. The ventilation sole includes an outsole (100), an insole (200), a pumping part (300), air inlet ports (400), an air flow passage (500), and air outlet ports (600). The pumping part (300) is provided in the posterior region of the insole (200). Air is fed from the exterior of a shoe through the air inlet ports (400) to the pumping part (300). By the pumping action of the pumping part, the air flows through the air flow passage (500). The air fed through the air flow passage (500) reaches the air outlet ports (600) and is discharged to holes (610) of the air outlet ports (600) and the exterior of the shoe. The present invention allows air to circulate from the interior to the exterior of the shoe when a wearer walks, thus keeping the interior of the shoe sanitary and clean.

Description

VENTILATION SOLE

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to a shoe sole and, more particularly, to a ventilation sole, which has a structure permitting the inflow and outflow of air and creating a pumping action in the sole, thus pumping air present in and outside of a shoe while a wearer walks. Background Art

[2] Generally, shoes are made of rubber or synthetic resin, which have poor ventilation.

Thus, when a person wears such shoes for a lengthy period of time, air does not circulate in the shoes, thus the temperature in the shoes increases. Thereby, moisture accumulates in the shoes due to sweat, and the shoes become moldy because of the moisture, thus resulting in bad smells and dermatophytosis.

[3] In order to address the problems, various air-circulating shoes have been proposed.

[4] Among them, some shoes will be described below in detail.

[5] An air-circulation structure for an outsole is disclosed in Korean U.M. Registration

No. 20-144133. According to the cited document, a pumping unit is separately provided to circulate external air in the outsole. However, the conventional shoe is problematic in that the structure is complicated, natural air circulation is impossible, and foreign materials may undesirably enter the shoe.

[6] Further, a shoe cushion having a plurality of ventilation holes is disclosed in Korean

U.M. Registration No. 20-218227. According to the cited document, air is circulated in a lower portion of an outsole using air tubes. However, such a shoe is disadvantageous in that the structure is complicated, natural air circulation is impossible, and foreign materials may undesirably enter the shoe, as in the above-mentioned shoe.

[7] A shoe having a ventilation device is disclosed in Korean U.M. Registration No.

20-229738. According to this document, the shoe includes a cushion layer having a pumping function and a check valve, thus circulating air in a lower portion of the shoe. However, the conventional shoe has the same problems as those of the above- mentioned shoes. That is, the structure of the shoe is complicated, natural air circulation is impossible, and foreign materials may undesirably enter the shoe. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[8] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, an object of the present invention is to provide a ventilation sole, which has a structure permitting the inflow and outflow of air and creating a pumping action in the sole, thus pumping air present in and outside of a shoe while a wearer walks. Technical Solution

[9] In order to accomplish the object, the present invention provides a ventilation sole, including an outsole having an anti-slip stud on a bottom thereof; an insole provided on top of the outsole, an upper portion of the insole being concavely formed to receive a foot therein; a pumping part provided in a posterior region of the insole and having a shape of a hemisphere that is upwardly recessed; air inlet ports laterally provided on opposite sides of the pumping part, so that external air is fed to the air inlet ports to reach the pumping part; an air flow passage provided in front of the pumping part and extending longitudinally, so that the air fed by a pumping action of the pumping part flows through the air flow passage; an air outlet port laterally provided in an anterior region of the insole and upwardly recessed, with a hole being formed vertically through the insole so that the air fed from the air flow passage reaches the air outlet port and is discharged to an outside of the shoe or the hole.

[10] Preferably, each of the air inlet ports is narrower than the air flow passage.

[11] Preferably, wherein the air outlet port comprises a plurality of air outlet ports which are laterally formed and spaced apart from each other, the air outlet ports being coupled via the air flow passage to communicate with each other. Advantageous Effects

[12] According to the present invention, a ventilation sole has a structure permitting the inflow and outflow of air and creating a pumping action in the sole, thus smoothly circulating air in and out a shoe when a wearer walks, therefore keeping the interior of the shoe sanitary and clean. [13] Further, the present invention smoothly circulates air using only a sole structure, so that the construction of the shoe is simple and the shoe is inexpensive. [14] Furthermore, such a sole structure absorbs shocks generated when the shoe contacts the ground, thus protecting a wearer's foot from the shocks.

Brief Description of the Drawings [15] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a ventilation sole, according to the present invention; [16] Fig. 2 is a bottom view of an insole of the ventilation sole, according to the present invention; and [17] Fig. 3 is a view illustrating the operation of the ventilation sole, according to the present invention. [18] A preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Thus, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiment shown in the drawings but is limited by the spirit and scope of the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[19] Hereinafter, the preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[20] As shown in the drawings, a ventilation sole according to the present invention includes an outsole 100, an insole 200, a pumping part 300, air inlet ports 400, an air flow passage 500, and air outlet ports 600. That is, the ventilation sole includes the outsole 100, the insole 200 coupled to the outsole 100, the pumping part 300 defined by the outsole 100 and the insole 200, the air inlet ports 400, the air flow passage 500, and the air outlet ports 600.

[21] The outsole 100 is usually made of rubber, and anti-slip studs 110 are formed on the bottom of the outsole 100. Raw rubber is put into a metal mold having parts corresponding the studs 110, and thereafter is processed at a high temperature and high pressure, thus forming the outsole 100.

[22] The insole 200 is provided on top of the outsole 100. Generally, a material, such as polyurethane (PU), is put into a metal mold and a foaming process is performed. The upper portion of the insole 200 is made concave to receive the feet.

[23] The pumping part 300 is formed in the posterior region of the insole 200. The pumping part 300 has the shape of a hemisphere which is recessed and concave toward the upper portion of the insole 200. The pumping part is coupled to the upper surface of the outsole 100, thus forming a space which is closed at upper and lower portions thereof. Thereby, the pumping action is performed in the space.

[24] Air flows through the air inlet ports 400, which will be described in detail below, and collects in the space. When the pumping part 300 is pressed down, the central portion of the pumping part 300 moves in a vertical direction, thus executing the pumping action.

[25] The air inlet ports 400 are laterally formed on opposite sides of the pumping part

300. Thus, one side of the shoe communicates with the opposite side of the shoe through the pumping part 300. The air inlet ports 400 are coupled to the upper surface of the outsole 100, thus forming spaces which are closed at upper and lower portions thereof. Each air inlet port 400 is formed to be lower than the pumping part 300, thus allowing the pumping action of the pumping part 300 to be smoothly executed.

[26] When the pumping part 300 is pressed down, air fed into the air inlet ports 400 flows into the air flow passage 500, which will be described below. Meanwhile, when the pumping part 300 is released, the internal pressure of the pumping part 300 becomes lower than that of the air inlet ports 400. Thereby, external air flows into the pumping part 300 again. [27] The air flow passage 500 is provided in front of the pumping part 300, and extends longitudinally from the posterior region of the shoe to the anterior region of the shoe. Since the air flow passage 500 is lower than the pumping part 300, the pumping action of the pumping part 300 is smoothly executed.

[28] The air flow passage 500 is somewhat wider than the air inlet ports 400, thus causing air fed by the pumping action of the pumping part 300 to flow into the air flow passage 500, while minimizing the amount of air discharged through the air inlet ports 400.

[29] The air outlet ports 600 are laterally formed on the anterior region of the insole 200 in such a way as to be upwardly recessed. Thereby, one side of the shoe communicates with the opposite side thereof through the air outlet ports 600. The air outlet ports 600 are coupled to the upper surface of the outsole 100, thus forming spaces which are closed at upper and lower portions thereof.

[30] A plurality of holes 610 is formed in the air outlet ports 600 and vertically passes through the insole 200. After air fed through the air flow passage 500 reaches the air outlet ports 600, the air is discharged to the outside of the shoe and the holes 610.

[31] Further, the air outlet ports 600 are laterally formed and spaced apart from each other, and are coupled to each other via the air flow passage 500 so as to communicate with each other. Thereby, external fresh air is supplied to the entire anterior region of the foot.

[32] The ventilation sole constructed as described above is operated as follows. That is, when the pumping action of the pumping part 300 is executed, namely, when a wearer walks with the shoe on, external air flows into the air inlet ports 400 and is fed to the air flow passage 500. The air fed into the air flow passage 500 flows to the air outlet ports 600, so that the air is fed into the shoe through the holes 610 and discharged to the outside of the shoe through the sides of each air outlet port 600. In this way, it is possible to supply fresh air into the shoe. Industrial Applicability

[33] As described above, the present invention provides a ventilation sole, which is adaptable to various kinds of shoes, so that it can be universally utilized, and which has a simple structure, so that it can be manufactured at low cost, thus being a highly competitive product, and having excellent industrial applicability.

Claims

[1] A ventilation sole, comprising: an outsole (100) having an anti-slip stud (110) on a bottom thereof; an insole (200) provided on top of the outsole (100), an upper portion of the insole being concavely formed to receive a foot therein; a pumping part (300) provided in a posterior region of the insole (200), and having a shape of a hemisphere that is upwardly recessed; air inlet ports (400) laterally provided on opposite sides of the pumping part

(300), so that external air is fed to the air inlet ports to reach the pumping part

(300); an air flow passage (500) provided in front of the pumping part (300) and extending longitudinally, so that the air fed by a pumping action of the pumping part (300) flows through the air flow passage; an air outlet port (600) laterally provided in an anterior region of the insole (200) and upwardly recessed, with a hole (610) being formed vertically through the insole (200) so that the air fed from the air flow passage (500) reaches the air outlet port and is discharged to an outside of the shoe or the hole (610).

[2] The ventilation sole according to claim 1, wherein each of the air inlet ports

(400) is narrower than the air flow passage (500).

[3] The ventilation sole according to claim 1, wherein the air outlet port (600) comprises a plurality of air outlet ports which are laterally formed and spaced apart from each other, the air outlet ports being coupled via the air flow passage (500) to communicate with each other.