Patent ID: 6370799
Filing Date: 2002-04-16
Classification: A43B

Abstract:
A ventilated footwear assembly comprising:a piece of footwear adapted for securing to a human foot, said piece of footwear having a sole portion and an upper portion forming an interior adapted for receiving the human foot; a pumping chamber positioned in said sole portion; an inlet duct extending between said pumping chamber and an exterior surface of said piece of footwear; an inlet valve for preventing air from flowing from said pumping chamber into said inlet duct; an outlet duct assembly extending between said pumping chamber and an interior surface of said piece of footwear for providing air from said pumping chamber to said interior of said piece of footwear; an outlet valve for preventing air from flowing from said outlet duct assembly into said pumping chamber; and said inlet duct having a distal end portion extending outwardly from said upper of said piece of footwear such that an inlet opening into said inlet duct is positioned above said upper of said piece of footwear, said distal end portion being generally L-shaped such that said inlet opening into said inlet duct is adapted for facing away from the human foot when the human foot is engaged to said piece of footwear for facilitating environmental communication between said inlet duct and air surrounding said piece of footwear.