EP0441779B1

EP0441779B1 - Shoe with an inflatable sole lining

Info

Publication number: EP0441779B1
Application number: EP89904493A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Nikola Lakic
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1988-04-04
Filing date: 1988-11-01
Publication date: 1996-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 2008-11-01
Also published as: WO1989009552A1; EP0441779A4; ATE139886T1; DE3855396T2; EP0441779A1; CA1341244C; DE3855396D1

Abstract

A boot (10) has an internal forced air circulation system and an inflatable lining (64). The boot can also be used to circulate air through protective clothing and can have a footwarmer mechanism. In one embodiment, the footwarmer mechanism includes an electrical resistance heater (394), an electrical generator (64), a mechanical transducer (60) to translate vertical movements of the wearer's heel into unidirectional rotational movement of a flywheel (123), and a gear box (62) mechanically coupling the flywheel to the electrical generator. Optional features include a rechargeable storage battery (65) and a radio transmitter (67) for generating a signal useful for locating the wearer. In another embodiment (326, 328) the footwarmer mechanism can be a pair of sole plates which are in sliding frictional engagement and generate frictional heat.

Description

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a shoe with an inflatable sole lining and, in particular, with a simple inflatable lining, which includes an on-board inflation system with a wearer accessible air pump and release valve.

Brief Statement of the Prior Art

U.S. patent 3,000,616 discloses a body warmer having an air bag which lies over the wearer's abdomen and is connected with flexible tubing to inflatable sole linings in the wearer's shoes. Normal walking circulates the air through the shoes and tubing. European patent 0 229 273 discloses an inflatable bladder between the inner and outer boots of a ski boot including an air pump and two release valves.

Brief Description of the Invention

This invention comprises a sporting shoe such as a basketball or tennis shoe with an inflatable sole lining as defined in claim 1, said sole lining having a vertical tab which extends to the upper portion of the shoe to support the air pump and release valve. The sole lining has discontinuous transverse seams forming internal tubular passageways. Unseamed areas at the heel and arch form supporting pillows. The sole lining can be combined with an inflatable side lining which is received against the inside of the upper of the shoe.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The invention will be described with reference to the FIGURES, of which:

FIGURE 1 is a view of an inflatable lining for a shoe with an air pump included with the lining;
FIGURE 2 is a view of an alternative inflatable lining of the shoe with air pump and air bag;
FIGURE 3 is another alternative inflatable lining of the shoe with an air pump and air pillows;
FIGURE 4 illustrates the inflatable lining of FIGURE 3 installed in a shoe;
FIGURE 5 illustrates an inflatable sole lining for a shoe; and
FIGURE 6 is a sectional view of an air pump and release valve used with the inflatable linings.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The inflatable lining for a shoe which is shown in FIGURE 1 is formed as a laminate of two flexible sheets of plastic which are laminated together by bonding a continuous seal about their peripheral edges also forming interconnecting tubular passageway 62. The channels are formed in the laminated lining by heat bonded seams 109 which extend laterally of lining 64 and longitudinally of lining 58. The seams could also be arranged vertically in lining 64, however, the illustrated lateral alignment is preferred. If desired, the heat bonded seams 109 of lining 58 can be discontinuous over the instep region to provide an air pillow 91 that will give additional comfort to the wearer. Discontinuous seams 109 form internal tubular passageways and which provide channels for air passage.
At the toe end, channel 73 is formed to communicate with the air bag 68 through the distributor 65. The air bag 68 functions to maintain a sense and feeling of tight lacing or binding of the shoe, while permitting a limited freedom of movement within the shoe.
The lining has an air pump 92 on the base 22 on the upper rear part of the side lining 64. On the sole lining 58, bonded seams 109 are interrupted to provide an unseamed area 91 which will form an arch-supporting air pillow. A second unseamed area 71 can be provided to form an air pillow at the heel area for shock absorbance and wearer comfort. The inflatable lining can have an air bag 68 which will lie over the wearer's foot. Air from sole lining 58, especially from air pillow 71, when pressured by wearer's foot, will flow between the air bag 68 and the lining 58.
The lining is seamed together in a flat sheet configuration, as shown, and then folded into a shape conforming to the inside of the shoe. For this purpose, a triangularly shaped cutout 74 is made in the lining 64 to permit bending it to be folded across the toe portion of the shoe.
If desired, the lining can be provided without the lining 64 for the sides of the shoe. This embodiment is shown in FIGURE 2, and comprises sole lining 58 which communicates with an air bag 68 and a passageway 193 which communicates with an air pump 92 to provide an inflatable lining for a shoe. The air pump is shown in FIGURE 6 and includes a flexible bulb 92 mounted on a base 102 with the check valves 87 and 89 and release valve 85. The inflatable sole lining 58 can have unseamed areas 91 and 71 at to provide an air pillow for wearer comfort.
Referring now to FIGURE 3, sole lining 58 is similar to that shown in FIGURE 2 except that it is provided with two air pillows 114 and 116 which are formed on top of two lateral wings 117 and 119. This lining is very useful for any shoe, particularly for sporting shoes such as tennis or basketball shoes, for the purpose of comfort.
If desired, the linings which can be provided with a radiant heat barrier such as a laminate of a film of polypropylene film bonded between outer layers of aluminum foil. This barrier can also be glued inside the shoe or just inserted into the shoe, rather than being bonded to the outside of the air inflatable linings.
FIGURE 4 illustrates the lining of FIGURE 3 folded together and positioned within a shoe. In this installation, the lateral wings 117 and 119 are folded under the instep area of the upper of the shoe, thus over the instep of the wearer. The vertical tab 102 extends upwardly to the top of the shoe to provide access to the air pump 92.
If desired, the inflatable lining can be provided only for the sole of a shoe, as shown in FIGURE 5. In this embodiment, the sole 58 is substantially as previously described, however, it does not communicate with the lateral wings such as shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Instead, it only communicates with an air pump 92 which is mounted on a vertical tab 102 at the heel end of the inflatable sole lining. As with the previously described embodiments, the tab has a passageway 193 formed therein which communicates between the sole 58 and air pump 92.
Referring now to FIGURE 6, the air pump 92 comprises a flexible bulb 95 which is received over the end of conduit 193. The bulb 95 receives air through the inlet valve 89 and discharges the air under pressure through outlet valve 87. The air system is also provided with a relief valve 85, which when depressed will relieve the air pressure within the the inflatable lining.

Claims

A shoe, in particular a sporting shoe such as a basketball or tennis shoe having a sole, an upper, and an inflatable sole lining (58) characterized in that said sole lining (58) comprises a laminate of upper and lower sheets of plastic film having the size and shape of the sole of said shoe and bonded together about their peripheral edges by seams to provide a sealed interior and having a plurality of discontinuous seams (109) traversing their opposed surfaces to divide said sealed interior into tubular passageways, including passages in open communication between adjacent tubular passageways, an air pump (92) carried on a tab (102) attached to said inflatable lining, said tab comprising a tubular passage (193) connecting the discharge of said air pump with the tubular passageways of said lining (58), and an adjustable pressure release valve (85) in said passage, said tab extending upwardly from said inflatable lining to the top of said shoe to provide access to said air pump and release valve, whereby said air pump and relief valve can be used to adjust the inflation pressure of the sealed interior of said sole lining for shock absorbency and the comfort of the wearer.
A shoe according to claim 1 with a side lining (64) of the size and shape of the inside walls of the upper of said shoe and formed of opposite sheets of plastic film bonded together about their peripheral edges to form a sealed interior, and with at least one tubular passageway (62) communicating between the sealed interiors of said sole lining (58) and side lining (64).
A shoe according to claim 1 or 2 wherein the discontinuous seams are interrupted to provide an unseamed area (71) of said sole lining which forms an air pillow at the heel of said sole lining for shock absorbency and wearer comfort.
A shoe according to any of the preceding claims wherein the discontinuous seams are interrupted to provide an unseamed area (91) of said sole lining at the arch area of said sole lining which forms an arch inflatable pillow.
A shoe according to any of the preceding claims including at least one air bag (68) to be positioned over the foot of a wearer and having an inlet port which is in communication with said tubular passageways of said sole lining.
A shoe according to claim 1 or 3, or 4, or 5 wherein said sole lining (58) includes a pair of lateral wings (117, 119) disposed at opposite sides of said sole lining, each having an unseamed area (114, 116) in communication with the tubular passageways of said sole lining to form air pillows located over the foot of the wearer.