WO2005110140A1

WO2005110140A1 - A shoe

Info

Publication number: WO2005110140A1
Application number: PCT/KR2005/001345
Authority: WO
Inventors: Bum-Yong Kwak
Original assignee: Bum-Yong Kwak
Priority date: 2004-05-13
Filing date: 2005-05-09
Publication date: 2005-11-24
Also published as: KR200357916Y1

Abstract

Disclosed is a shoe in which at least one vent hole, formed in an upper of the shoe for ventilation, is prevented from being clogged by foreign substances. The shoe of the present invention includes a sole (60) and an upper (50) coupled to the sole (60). A plurality of vent holes (51) is formed in the upper (50) to allow air to enter and exit the shoe. A protection band (70) is attached to an outer surface of the upper (50) to form an air passage (71) between the upper (50) and the protection band (70) through which the vent holes (51) communicate with each other. Air entrances (72) and (73) are defined on ends of the protection band (70) such that the air passage (71) communicates with the atmosphere. A downward bent part (75) is provided at an end of the protection band (70) so that the end of the protection band (70) faces towards the ground.

Description

Description A shoe having a ventilation structure Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates, in general, to shoes and, more particularly, to a shoe which has an improved structure such that a plurality of vent holes is formed in an upper for ventilation and the vent holes are prevented from being clogged by foreign substances.

[2] Background Art

[3] Recently, shoes having various functions promoting the health of feet as well as having a basic function of protecting the feet during walking have been developed. In particular, various kinds of shoes, which have superior ventilations to dissipate odor caused by foot sweat and to prevent athlete's foot fungus from spreading, have been proposed.

[4] A representative example of such shoes having superior ventilation is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[5] The disclosed shoe includes an upper 10 and a sole 20. Transverse first vent holes 30 are formed through the sole 20. Vertical second vent holes 40 are vertically formed through the sole 20 such that they communicate with the first vent holes 30.

[6] As such, in the conventional shoe, the first and second vent holes 30 and 40, which communicate with the interior of the shoe, are formed in the sole 20. Therefore, air can enter and exit the shoe while a user walks, thus dissipating sweat and smells. However, because the first vent holes 30 extend to a sidewall of the sole 20, the vent holes may be clogged by foreign substances such as soil during walking. As a result, to remove the clogged substances, frequent cleaning is required.

[7] Furthermore, the conventional shoe is problematic in that water enters the shoe through the vent holes 30 and 40 while the user walks during rain or on wet ground.

[8] Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[9] Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the prior art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe which has an improved structure such that air may smoothly enter and exit the shoe through a vent hole without foreign substances clogging the vent hole.

[10] Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe which prevents water from entering the shoe despite walking on wet ground during rain. Technical Solution

[11] In order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a shoe, including a sole and an upper coupled to the sole to define a foot receiving space into which a foot is inserted. The shoe further includes: at least one vent hole formed in the upper to allow air to enter and exit the foot receiving space; and a protection band attac hed to an outer surface of the upper to form an air passage, which communicates with the vent hole, between the upper and the protection band, with an air entrance defined on at least one end of the protection band such that the air passage communicates with an atmosphere.

[12] The protection band has a downward bent part provided at an end of the protection band so that the end of the protection band faces towards a ground, thus preventing the vent hole from being clogged by foreign substances.

[13] The shoe may further include an air passage maintaining member provided in the air passage to maintain the shape of the air passage. Preferably, the air passage maintaining member comprises a coil spring. Advantageous Effects

[14] In a shoe of the present invention, at least one vent hole is formed through an upper of the shoe, and the vent hole communicates with an air passage defined by a protection band. Therefore, smell and sweat are efficiently dissipated while a user walks thanks to superior ventilation. In addition, the protection band prevents the vent holes from being clogged by foreign substances. Brief Description of the Drawings [15] The description of attached drawings to more clearly understood the following detailed description of the present invention is as follows. [16] FIG. 1 is a partially broken perspective view showing a conventional shoe having a ventilation function; [17] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the shoe of FIG. 1 ;

[18] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a shoe having a ventilation function, according to an embodiment of the present invention; [19] FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line A- A of FIG. 3;

[20] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a shoe, according to another embodiment of the present invention; and [21] FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the shoe of FIG. 5. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [22] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. [23] A shoe according to each embodiment of the present invention allows air to smoothly enter and exit a foot receiving space defined by an upper of the shoe, and prevents a vent hole from being clogged by foreign substances. Furthermore, even if a user walks while wearing the shoes of the present invention during rain, water does not enter the shoes through the vent hole.

[24] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 showing a shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention, the shoe includes a sole 60 and an upper 50 which is coupled to the sole 60 to define a foot receiving space, into which a foot is inserted, similarly to typical shoes.

[25] As a characteristic construction of the embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of vent holes 51 is formed through the upper 50 to allow air to enter and exit the foot receiving space. A protection band 70 is attached to an outer surface of the upper 50 to form an air passage 71 between the upper 50 and the protection band 70 through which the vent holes 51 communicate with each other. Air entrances 72 and 73 are defined at ends of the protection band 70 such that the air passage 71 communicates with the atmosphere.

[26] Furthermore, a downward bent part 75 is provided at an end of the protection band 70 so that the end of the protection band 70 faces towards the ground so as to prevent the vent holes 51 from being clogged by foreign substances.

[27] On the front part of the shoe, the vent holes 51 are formed at regular intervals in an upward direction, and the protection band 70 is bent downwards at an upper end thereof such that the entrance 72 faces downwards, thereby enhancing the effect of preventing the entry of foreign substances.

[28] On the sides of the shoe, the vent holes 51 are formed at regular intervals in a longitudinal direction, and they are disposed at upper positions from the front of the shoe to the back, so that the entrance 73 of the protection band 70 substantially faces upwards. Thereby, water or foreign substances are effectively prevented from entering the shoe.

[29] Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 showing a shoe according to another embodiment of the present invention, the shoe according to this embodiment includes an air passage maintaining member which is provided in the air passage 71 to maintain the shape of the air passage 71. In this embodiment, a coil spring 80 is used as the air passage maintaining member.

[30] The coil spring 80 serves to maintain the constant shape of the air passage 71 without closing the vent holes 51, thus ensuring superior ventilation. In this case, because the air passage 71 maintains its shape despite wrinkles occurring in the upper 50 during walking, air is able to smoothly enter and exit the shoe through the vent holes 51.

[31] In each embodiment of the present invention, the protection band 70 is made of a waterproof fabric or waterproof leather. Furthermore, the protection band 70 is bonded at opposite side edges thereof to the upper 50 by an adhesive.

[32] In the shoe according to each embodiment having the above-mentioned structure, air enters and exits the shoe through the vent holes 51 and the air passage 71 due to a change in the pressure of the foot receiving space when the user walks. Therefore, smell and sweat, which exist in the foot receiving space, are easily dissipated, thus preventing the occurrence of athlete's foot.

[33] Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible. For example, in this specification, only a coil spring is described as an exemplary embodiment of the air passage maintaining member, but those skilled in the art will easily understand that a thin tube or the like may be used as the air passage maintaining member. As another example, in this specification, the plurality of vent holes 51 is formed on the shoe, but if only one vent hole is formed in the shoe, it can ensure the effect of the present invention. Accordingly, the bounds of the present invention must be determined from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.

[34] Industrial Applicability

[35] A shoe of the present invention described above has the following advantages.

[36] First, because a vent hole is formed on an upper of the shoe, smell and sweat are easily dissipated during walking, thus preventing the occurrence of athlete's foot.

[37] Second, the present invention has a protection band which forms an air passage communicating with the vent hole, thereby air can smoothly enter and exit the shoe without foreign substances clogging the vent hole. As well, even when a user walks on damp ground or during rain, water is prevented from entering the shoe.

[38] Third, the protection band has a downward bent part, which is provided by bending an end of the protection band downwards. Thus, the present invention efficiently prevents foreign substances from entering the shoe.

[39] Fourth, because an air passage maintaining member is provided in the air passage defined by the protection band, the present invention makes it possible for air to smoothly enter and exit the shoe through the vent hole despite wrinkles occurring in the upper when walking.

Claims

[1] A shoe, comprising a sole and an upper coupled to the sole to define a foot receiving space into which a foot is inserted, wherein the shoe further comprises: at least one vent hole (51) formed in the upper (50) to allow air to enter and exit the foot receiving space; and a protection band (70) attached to an outer surface of the upper (50) to form an air passage (71), which communicates with the vent hole (51), between the upper (50) and the protection band (70), with an air entrance (72, 73) defined on at least one end of the protection band (70) such that the air passage (71) communicates with an atmosphere, wherein the protection band (70) comprises a downward bent part (75) provided at an end of the protection band (70) so that the end of the protection band (70) faces towards a ground.

[2] A shoe, comprising a sole and an upper coupled to the sole to define a foot receiving space into which a foot is inserted, wherein the shoe further comprises: at least one vent hole (51) formed in the upper (50) to allow air to enter and exit the foot receiving space; a protection band (70) attached to an outer surface of the upper (50) to form an air passage (71), which communicates with the vent hole (51), between the upper (50) and the protection band (70), with an air entrance (72, 73) defined on at least one end of the protection band (70) such that the air passage (71) communicates with an atmosphere; and an air passage maintaining member provided in the air passage (71) to maintain a shape of the air passage (71).

[3] The shoe according to claim 2, wherein the air passage maintaining member comprises a coil spring (80).