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EP0814679B1 - Chaussure - Google Patents

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Publication number
EP0814679B1
EP0814679B1 EP96906833A EP96906833A EP0814679B1 EP 0814679 B1 EP0814679 B1 EP 0814679B1 EP 96906833 A EP96906833 A EP 96906833A EP 96906833 A EP96906833 A EP 96906833A EP 0814679 B1 EP0814679 B1 EP 0814679B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
footwear
article
perforation
region
air reservoir
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96906833A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Other versions
EP0814679A1 (fr
Inventor
Nigel John Middleton
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Publication of EP0814679A1 publication Critical patent/EP0814679A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0814679B1 publication Critical patent/EP0814679B1/fr
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • 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

Definitions

  • This invention relates to footwear and is, in particular, concerned with an article of footwear having a ventilated sole.
  • GB-A-2 165 439 describes an article of footwear having a resilient (e.g. rubber or plastic) sole, an internal air reservoir arrangement in the sole and a ventilation arrangement for venting the air reservoir arrangement externaly.
  • an article of footwear in which the sole is formed of a substantially impermeable resilient material, the sole having internally an air reservoir arrangement connected to the interior of the footwear via perforations, at least one (preferably each) said perforation having along its length a relatively wide region open to the interior of the footwear and a relatively narrow region connecting the relatively wide region to the air reservoir arrangement, the sole further having a ventilation arrangement serving for venting the air reservoir arrangement externally of the footwear.
  • the arrangement for venting the air reservoir arrangement externally of the footwear can include ventilation apertures opening to the outside of the footwear adjacent the sole, for example in the toe region of the footwear, or first ventilation apertures (again suitably in the toe region of the footwear) connecting the air reservoir arrangement to a zone between the upper outer of the footwear and a lining therefor, and second ventilation apertures remote from the first ventilation apertures and opening from said zone to the outside of the footwear, suitably at substantially the topmost part of the footwear.
  • each perforation itself is so formed as to restrict any tendency for air in the air reservoir arrangement to flow-back into the interior of the footwear through the perforation.
  • a restriction of back-flow of air is most suitably provided for by giving the inner surface of the relatively wide region of the perforation a substantially domed or conical configuration closing towards the relatively narrow region at the apex of the dome or cone, creating a structure whereby a back pressure from the air reservoir arrangement may tend to collapse the dome or cone, closing the relatively narrow region at the apex, whereas a forward pressure from the interior of the footwear tends to open the relatively narrow region of the perforation.
  • Each perforation in the sole part of the footwear is preferably generally circular when viewed along its length, and suitably has a minimum internal diameter D min from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm (e.g. about 1 mm) and a maximum internal diameter D max approximately 1.5 to 20 (e.g. about 1.5 to about 5) times greater than D min .
  • the centres of adjacent perforations may suitably be from about 10 mm to about 100 mm, typically approximately 20 mm, apart.
  • the relatively narrow region of the perforation is straight-sided and is preferably no more than about 3 mm in length (more suitably about 0.5 to 2 mm) and each reservoir chamber preferably begins no more than about 5 mm (e.g. about 1 mm to about 4 mm) below the top surface of the sole.
  • the perforations suitably taper in a domed configuration from the relatively wide regions to the relatively narrow regions, so that, for example, each perforation has up to approximately 50% of its length tapering from D max to D min , and approximately 50% of its length is at D min .
  • the perforation wall in the relatively narrow region is capable of resiliently expanding and contracting in use between a relatively closed condition, in which the perforation is sufficiently closed off to permit air to accumulate in the relatively wide region of the perforation under increased pressure, and a relatively open condition, in which the air accumulated in the relatively wide region can pass through the relatively narrow region into the air reservoir arrangement; it is believed that such an arrangement can lead to enhanced removal of moisture from the interior of the footwear, without significantly compromising the comfort and insulative properties of the footwear.
  • the lining be composed of a fabric such as is the subject of GB Patent No. 2,242,860, that is a fabric comprising a sheet formed of a substantially impermeable elastomeric (e.g.
  • closed-cell neoprene material having perforations provided therethrough, each perforation of the sheet (or at least of a portion thereof) having at least one relatively wide region and at least one relatively narrow region along its length to define an internal chamber open to a first side of the sheet (this being the side of the lining directed towards the interior of the footwear) and sufficiently closed to the other side of the sheet (the side of the lining directed towards the zone between the lining and the upper outer of the footwear) to permit air passing from the first to the other side of the sheet to accumulate in the chamber under increased pressure prior to passing to the other side of the sheet (that is into the zone between the lining and the upper outer).
  • TM STOMATEX
  • the air reservoir arrangement preferably comprises a series of interconnected chambers within the sole of the article of footwear, most preferably in the heel, intermediate and toe regions of the article of footwear.
  • Such chambers are compressed in sequence during the rolling motion of walking; the heel chamber(s) first as the walker's weight is initially placed on the heel of the foot, then the intermediate chamber(s) as the walker's weight is placed on the instep and ball of the foot, and finally the toe chamber(s) as the walker's weight is placed on the big toe.
  • This sequential compression forces air in the air reservoir arrangement forwards through the sole, towards the ventilation apertures of the footwear.
  • the chambers are suitably interconnected by air-flow passages of a dimension narrow relative to the chambers but wider than the narrow regions of the perforations connecting the arrangement to the interior of the article of footwear.
  • the perforations suitably connect between the top of each chamber and the upper surface of the sole in the interior of the article of footwear.
  • the sole part of the article of footwear is suitably constructed (e.g. by moulding and/or pressing) from conventional resilient materials used for forming footwear soles.
  • the uppers of the article of footwear (or, where appropriate, the outer portion thereof) are suitably constructed from materials conventionally used for footwear uppers.
  • the article of footwear suitably has similar feel and comfort properties to conventional footwear.
  • the wearer's foot can "breathe", as will be explained in more detail below, via the perforations and air reservoir arrangement in the sole, and via the lining, and so interference with the natural biological functions of the wearer's skin is minimised.
  • the sole 1 is formed of a substantially impermeable resilient material, for example natural or synthetic rubber, with, internally, an air reservoir arrangement consisting of a number (in the form illustrated five) of individual reservoir chambers 2 interconnected by ducts 3 of a ventilation arrangement which, from the reservoir chamber 2 nearest the front of the sole, continue to first ventilation apertures 4 of the ventilation arrangement, this arrangement serving for venting the air reservoirs 2 externally of the boot.
  • an air reservoir arrangement consisting of a number (in the form illustrated five) of individual reservoir chambers 2 interconnected by ducts 3 of a ventilation arrangement which, from the reservoir chamber 2 nearest the front of the sole, continue to first ventilation apertures 4 of the ventilation arrangement, this arrangement serving for venting the air reservoirs 2 externally of the boot.
  • the first ventilation apertures 4 open into a zone 5 between an upper outer 6 of the boot and a lining 7 therefor.
  • the ventilation arrangement is completed by second ventilation apertures 8 in the topmost part of the upper outer 6 that are remote from the first ventilation apertures 4 and which open to the outside of the boot from the zone 5.
  • the boot illustrated is a thermally insulating one for cold weather use.
  • the ventilation arrangement consists of the ducts 3 and a single set of ventilation apertures adjacent the sole, for example in the toe region of the boot or shoe, that are open to the outside of the boot or shoe.
  • Each air reservoir chamber 2 is open to the interior of the boot via perforations 9, each having a relatively wide region 9A open to the interior of the boot and a relatively narrow region 9B open to the air reservoir 2.
  • Each perforation 9 is preferably generally circular when viewed along its length, and suitably has a minimum internal diameter D min from about 0.01 mm to about 5 mm (e.g. about 1 mm) and a maximum internal diameter D max approximately 1.5 to 20 (e.g. about 1.5 to about 5) times greater than D min .
  • the centres of adjacent perforations may suitably be from about 10 mm to about 100 mm, typically approximately 20 mm, apart.
  • the relatively narrow region of the perforation is straight-sided and is preferably no more than about 3 mm in length (more suitably about 0.5 to 2 mm) and each reservoir chamber 2 preferably begins no more than about 5 mm (e.g. about 1 mm to about 4 mm) below the top surface of the sole 1.
  • the perforations suitably taper in a domed configuration from the relatively wide regions 9A to the relatively narrow regions 9B, so that, for example, each perforation has up to approximately 50% of its length tapering from D max to D min , and approximately 50% of its length at D min .
  • the air reservoir chambers 2, ducts 3 and perforations 9 are provided in the sole 1 by conventional moulding and/or pressing processes, as will be readily appreciated by one skilled in this art.
  • the lining 7, which provides thermal insulation, is composed of any of the fabrics forming the subject of GB Patent No. 2,242,860, to which reference is directed.
  • GB 2,242,860 contains full description of the fabric, and the nature of its thermal insulating properties, detailed description will not be given herein.
  • the fabric comprises a sheet 7A formed of substantially impermeable material having perforations 7B provided therethrough, each perforation of the sheet 7A (or at least a portion thereof) having at least one relatively wide region and at least one relatively narrow region along its length to define an internal chamber open to the first side of the sheet (this being the side of the lining 7 directed towards the interior of the boot) and sufficiently closed to the other side of the sheet (the side of the lining 7 directed towards the zone 5 between the lining 7 and the upper outer 6 of the boot) to permit air passing from the first to the other side of the sheet (from inside towards the outside of the boot) to accumulate in the chamber under increased pressure prior to passing to the other side of the sheet (that is into the zone 5 between the lining 7 and the upper outer 6).
  • STOMATEX TM closed-cell neoprene fabric
  • the lining 7 is free from attachments to the body of the boot except where it meets the sole 1, that is at 10 in Figure 4, and around the ankle opening.
  • FIG. 6 Figure 6 and Figures 7A, 7B and 7C in which the boot shown has its air reservoir chambers 2 shown diagrammatically arranged as a posterior or heel air reservoir chamber 2A, an intermediate or instep air reservoir chamber 2B and a forward or toe air reservoir chamber 2C, but which in practice would be as the boot of Figures 1 to 5, it will be seen that when the foot 11 wearing the boot is clear of the ground ( Figure 6), all the air reservoir chambers 2A, 2B and 2C, and all the ducts 3 are fully open.
  • moisture laden air tends to pass through the perforations 9 into the chamber 2 by virtue of (a) a positive vapour pressure gradient from the saturated vapour in the boot to the unsaturated wide region 9A of the perforations 9, that is by diffusion, (b) thermal convection from the high temperature region of the interior of the boot to the low temperature region of the chambers 2 and (c) saturated vapour naturally collecting in the wide regions 9A for forced convection into the chambers 2 when the sole is compressed.
  • the construction of the perforations 9 causes the relatively narrow regions 9B of the perforations to constrict against any air pressure in the chambers 2A, 2B and 2C, further to limit back-flow of moist "spent" air into the interior of the footwear.
  • the construction described is suitable for all types of cold weather boots with a substantial sole, the material selected for the sole being suitable for achieving the necessary compression and expansion of the air reservoir chambers.
  • the lining 7 can be omitted and ventilation apertures to the outside can be provided to replace the apertures 4.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Claims (20)

  1. Article formant chaussure dans lequel la semelle (1) est formée en un matériau élastique sensiblement imperméable, la semelle ayant intérieurement une disposition (2, 3) formant réservoir d'air reliée à l'intérieur de la chaussure par l'intermédiaire de perforations (9), la semelle ayant en outre une disposition (4, 5, 8) formant ventilation servant à ventiler l'air dans la disposition formant réservoir d'air à l'extérieur de la chaussure ; caractérisé en ce qu'au moins l'une des perforations le long de sa longueur comporte une région (9A) relativement large ouverte vers l'intérieur de la chaussure et une région (9B) relativement étroite reliant la région relativement large à la disposition formant réservoir d'air.
  2. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 1, dans lequel chaque perforation (9) a une région (9A) relativement large et une région (9B) relativement étroite.
  3. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la disposition (4, 5, 8) pour la ventilation pour ventiler la disposition formant réservoir d'air extérieurement à la chaussure comporte des ouvertures (4) de ventilation débouchant à l'extérieur de la chaussure à côté de la semelle.
  4. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 3, dans lequel les ouvertures de ventilation débouchent à l'extérieur dans la région de bout de la chaussure.
  5. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 1 ou 2, dans lequel la disposition (4, 5, 8) de ventilation pour ventiler la disposition formant réservoir d'air extérieurement à la chaussure comporte des premières ouvertures (4) de ventilation reliant la disposition formant réservoir d'air à une région (5) entre l'extérieur (6) supérieur de la chaussure et un revêtement (7) pour celle-ci, et des secondes ouvertures (8) de ventilation à distance des premières ouvertures de ventilation et s'ouvrant à partir de la zone (5) vers l'extérieur de la chaussure.
  6. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 5, dans lequel les premières ouvertures (4) de ventilation sont dans la région de pointe ou bout de la chaussure.
  7. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 5 ou 6, dans lequel les secondes ouvertures (8) de ventilation débouchent vers l'extérieur de la chaussure sensiblement à la partie la plus supérieure de la chaussure.
  8. Article formant chaussure suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la perforation (9) ou chaque perforation (9) soi-même est formée de manière à restreindre toute tendance de l'air dans la disposition formant réservoir d'air à s'écouler en retour vers l'intérieur de la chaussure par les perforations.
  9. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 8, dans lequel pour restreindre le retour d'écoulement d'air, la surface intérieure de la région (9A) relativement large de la perforation est sensiblement de configuration en dôme ou conique se fermant en direction de la région relativement étroite au sommet du dôme ou du cône, créant une structure selon laquelle une pression en retour provenant de la disposition formant réservoir d'air peut tendre à faire s'évanouir le dôme ou le cône, fermant la région (9B) relativement étroite au sommet, tandis qu'une pression vers l'avant provenant de l'intérieur de la chaussure tend à ouvrir la région (9B) relativement étroite de la perforation.
  10. Article formant chaussure suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la perforation (9) ou chaque perforation (9) est de préférence circulaire lorsqu'on la voit suivant sa longueur, et de manière appropriée a un diamètre Dmin interne minimum compris entre environ 0,01 mm et environ 5 mm et un diamètre Dmax intérieur maximum compris entre approximativement 1,5 et 20 fois Dmin.
  11. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 9, dans lequel le diamètre Dmin intérieur minimum est d'environ 1 mm et le diamètre Dmax intérieur maximum est compris entre environ 1,5 et 5 fois Dmin.
  12. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 10 ou 11, dans lequel la perforation ou chaque perforation est biseautée suivant une configuration en dôme à partir de la région relativement large vers la région relativement étroite de manière que jusqu'à approximativement 50% de sa longueur elle est en forme de biseau à partir de Dmax jusqu'à Dmin, et que, sur approximativement 50% de sa longueur, son diamètre est Dmin.
  13. Article formant chaussure suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la paroi de perforation dans la région (9B) relativement étroite est capable de s'étendre élastiquement et de se contracter élastiquement en utilisation entre un état relativement fermé, dans lequel la perforation (9) est suffisamment fermée pour permettre à de l'air de s'accumuler dans la région (9A) relativement large de la perforation sous une pression accrue, et un état relativement ouvert, dans lequel l'air accumulé dans la région (9A) relativement large peut passer à travers la région (9B) relativement étroite dans la disposition (2, 3) formant réservoir d'air.
  14. Article formant chaussure suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel les centres des perforations adjacentes sont à distance comprise entre environ 10 mm et environ 100 mm les unes des autres.
  15. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 14, dans lequel les centres sont approximativement à 20 mm de distance les uns des autres.
  16. Article formant chaussure suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la région de perforation ou chaque région de perforation relativement étroite est à côté droit et n'a pas une longueur supérieure à environ 3 mm.
  17. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 16, dans lequel chaque région de perforation étroite ou la région de perforation étroite a environ une longueur de 3 mm.
  18. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 5 ou l'une quelconque des revendications 6 à 17 telles que dépendantes directement ou indirectement de la revendication 5, dans lequel le revêtement (7) est un tissu comportant une feuille formée d'un matériau élastomère sensiblement imperméable ayant des perforations formées à travers lui, chaque perforation d'au moins une partie de la feuille ayant au moins une région relativement large et au moins une région relativement étroite le long de sa longueur pour définir une chambre intérieure débouchant vers un premier côté de la feuille (ceci étant le côté du revêtement dirigé en direction de l'intérieur de la chaussure) et suffisamment fermé vers l'autre côté de la feuille (le côté du revêtement dirigé en direction de la zone entre le revêtement et l'extérieur supérieur de la chaussure) pour permettre à de l'air passant du premier côté vers l'autre côté de la feuille de s'accumuler dans la chambre sous une pression accrue avant de passer vers l'autre côté de la feuille (c'est-à-dire dans la zone entre le revêtement et l'extérieur supérieur).
  19. Article formant chaussure suivant la revendication 18, dans lequel le matériau élastique sensiblement imperméable est du néoprène à cellules fermées.
  20. Article formant chaussure suivant l'une quelconque des revendications précédentes, dans lequel la disposition formant réservoir d'air comporte une série de chambres (2) interconnectées à l'intérieur de la semelle de l'article formant chaussure disposées de manière à être comprimées en séquence pendant le déplacement en roulement de marche.
EP96906833A 1995-03-14 1996-03-13 Chaussure Expired - Lifetime EP0814679B1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GBGB9505081.1A GB9505081D0 (en) 1995-03-14 1995-03-14 Footwear
GB9505081 1995-03-14
PCT/GB1996/000581 WO1996028054A1 (fr) 1995-03-14 1996-03-13 Chaussure

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0814679A1 EP0814679A1 (fr) 1998-01-07
EP0814679B1 true EP0814679B1 (fr) 2000-07-26

Family

ID=10771146

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96906833A Expired - Lifetime EP0814679B1 (fr) 1995-03-14 1996-03-13 Chaussure

Country Status (7)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0814679B1 (fr)
JP (1) JPH11511669A (fr)
AT (1) ATE194904T1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2248607A1 (fr)
DE (1) DE69609495D1 (fr)
GB (1) GB9505081D0 (fr)
WO (1) WO1996028054A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB9827412D0 (en) * 1998-12-11 1999-02-03 Middleton Nigel J Breathable articles and fabrics
CN104172654A (zh) * 2013-05-24 2014-12-03 曹晶晶 一种空气循环式防水透气鞋
US10786035B2 (en) 2016-10-13 2020-09-29 Under Armour, Inc. Article of footwear with cooling features

Family Cites Families (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2050961A5 (fr) * 1969-06-25 1971-04-02 Androsiglio Raphael
GB8426317D0 (en) * 1984-10-18 1984-11-21 Caldwell K Pump
GB2238706A (en) * 1989-10-11 1991-06-12 Shoemakers Ltd A breathing sole for footwear
GB2240254A (en) * 1990-01-24 1991-07-31 Ian Derek Cook Footwear
GB9004428D0 (en) * 1990-02-28 1990-04-25 Middleton Nigel John Fabric
GB2245145A (en) * 1990-06-20 1992-01-02 Chu Hui Cheng Ventilated footwear
GB2262024A (en) * 1991-12-03 1993-06-09 David Alan Pearse Ventilated footwear

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1996028054A1 (fr) 1996-09-19
CA2248607A1 (fr) 1996-09-19
GB9505081D0 (en) 1995-05-03
ATE194904T1 (de) 2000-08-15
DE69609495D1 (de) 2000-08-31
EP0814679A1 (fr) 1998-01-07
JPH11511669A (ja) 1999-10-12

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