Abstract:
A combination shock absorbing and ventilating apparatus for a foot bed of a shoe, comprises an air chamber having at least one flexible wall located in the foot bed of the shoe, an air intake to the air chamber, an air outlet from the air chamber, a one-way valve on at least one of the air intake or the outlet, at least one of the intake or outlet being connected to the foot bed of the shoe and operative to circulate air with the foot bed, at least one resilient member within the chamber operative to re-inflate the air chamber, and a turbine on a sidewall of the shoe, the turbine having a wheel, one of the air inlet or the air outlet being connected to the turbine for directing air flow to spin the wheel.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE  
       [0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/538,130 filed Jan. 21, 2004 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/554,657 filed Mar. 19, 2004, which applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     This invention relates to shock absorbing and active heat management/moisture control apparatus for footwear.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Various materials and devices have been developed for absorbing shock in footwear. However, such materials and devices have been entirely satisfactory. The footwear industry continues to seek improved shock absorbing and cushioning systems.  
         [0004]     Various proposals have been made to improve ventilation in footwear. In particular, ventilation is important in athletic footwear. As with shock absorption, demand continues for improved ventilation systems.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     An embodiment of the shock absorbing apparatus of the invention comprises an air chamber having at least one flexible wall located in the foot bed of a shoe, an air intake to the air chamber, a one-way valve in the intake, an outlet from the air chamber, a one-way valve in the outlet, and means to re-inflate the air chamber. The downward force of a person&#39;s weight when walking, running or jumping causes the air chamber to compress, forcing air out of the outlet. When the person lifts his/her foot, weight is removed from the air chamber, and the re-inflation means re-inflates the air chamber, drawing air in from the inlet.  
         [0006]     Preferably the air inlet draws air from the interior of the shoe, or the air outlet expels air into the interior of the shoe to thereby circulate air within the shoe. In one embodiment air is drawn from the shoe interior thereby removing hot and/or humid air from the shoe and creating an active heat management system. It is preferred that the inlet be connected to air passages in the upper portion of the midsole, and the shoe further comprises a ventilated foot bed. Thereby air is drawn inward from the foot bed of the shoe.  
         [0007]     Preferably, the shoe comprises a turbine assembly having a rotating wheel connected to at least one of the inlet or outlet from the air chamber. The air forced from the air chamber by the person&#39;s weight, spins the turbine wheel.  
         [0008]     Shock absorption is accomplished in multiple ways. One, the airflow out from the air chamber is restricted. Thereby, the rate at which the air chamber compresses is controlled to provide shock absorption. Second, the re-inflation means, e.g., the spring or other resilient biasing device, provides resistance to compression of the air chamber, thereby absorbing and storing energy for re-inflation of the air chamber. Third, the outlet air is forced through a turbine providing further resistance to airflow and absorbing energy. In addition, a gel or foam pad may provide cushioning.  
         [0009]     Another preferred feature of the invention is to locate the turbine or wheel on the exterior of the shoe, and to illuminate the same.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the turbine of the disclosure mounted on a lateral side of a shoe.  
         [0011]      FIG. 2  is a side view of the apparatus of the invention mounted in the foot bed of the shoe.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3  is a plan view of one embodiment of an air chamber of the invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 4  is a cross-section taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 .  
         [0014]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of the turbine assembly of the disclosure.  
         [0015]      FIG. 6  is an exploded side view of the turbine assembly.  
         [0016]      FIG. 7  is a plan view of a foot bed of the shoe.  
         [0017]      FIG. 8  is a plan view of one embodiment of a sock liner of the shoe.  
         [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a cover for the turbine assembly.  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a side view of the cover.  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a cross-section taken along line  11 - 11  of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0021]      FIG. 12  is a cross-section taken along line  13 - 13  of  FIG. 9 .  
         [0022]      FIG. 13  is a plan view of a second embodiment of the air chamber component of the apparatus of the disclosure.  
         [0023]      FIG. 14  is cross-section taken along line  15 - 15  of  FIG. 14 .  
         [0024]      FIG. 15  is a front view of the second embodiment of the air chamber.  
         [0025]      FIG. 16  is a rear view of the second embodiment of the air chamber.  
         [0026]      FIG. 17  is a third embodiment of the air chamber.  
         [0027]      FIG. 18  is a cross section taken along line  18 - 18  of  FIG. 17 .  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0028]      FIGS. 1-8  show one embodiment of the shock absorbing and ventilating apparatus  10  of the invention. The apparatus is installed in shoe  12 . The apparatus comprises an air chamber  14  located in the midsole of the shoe, below the wearer&#39;s heel. An air intake line  16  is connected to the air chamber. A one-way valve  18  is installed in the intake line. The one-way valve, as is well known in the art, allows air to enter into the chamber, but does not allow reverse airflow. An outlet line  20  is connected to the air chamber. A second one-way valve  22  is installed in the outlet line. The outlet valve, allows air to flow out of the intake chamber, but does not allow reverse, inward airflow. Although two one-way valves are preferred on the intake and outlet, respectively, the apparatus can operate with no valves or one valve. A spring  24  is installed within the air chamber to re-inflate the air chamber. The downward force of a person&#39;s weight when walking, running or jumping causes the air chamber to compress, forcing air out of the outlet. When the person lifts his/her foot, weight is removed from the air chamber and the spring re-inflates the air chamber, drawing air in from the inlet line.  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the air chamber  14 . The air chamber preferably comprises a flexible upper shell  26  and a flexible lower shell  28 . The upper and lower shells are preferably highly durable thermoplastic material. Preferably, the material is flexible, but has limited elastic properties, i.e., it does not stretch appreciably when subjected to loads during use. The shells are fused or welded together at their respective marginal edges  30  to form an airtight chamber. Inside the air chamber are a pad  32 , lower plate  34 , spring  24 , and upper plate  36 . The pad is comprised of shock absorbing material, such as TPR Supremesorb™, to provide cushioning. Plates  34 , 36  spread the force of the spring over a larger surface area of the shells  26 , 28 . Spring  24  preferably comprises plural coils, e.g., a heavy coil and a light coil.  
         [0030]     Another embodiment for shock absorption is shown in  FIGS. 13-16 . In this embodiment, the apparatus is comprised of an upper sheet  66 , a lower sheet  68 , a plurality of molded columns  70  formed from and protruding inward from sheets  66 , 68 , an air intake  67  and an air outlet  69 . The upper and lower sheets are preferably highly durable thermoplastic material. The upper sheet  66  and lower sheet  68  are fused or welded together at the tips of the columns  70 , and are fused together at their respective marginal edges, forming an airtight chamber  72 . Columns  70  are resilient biasing members, i.e., providing spring like qualities. When the wearer&#39;s weight compresses the chamber  72 , the columns  70  collapse, thereby storing energy. Because of the durable thermoplastic material of the columns, they automatically return (“spring back”) to their normal shape when the wearer&#39;s weight is removed, thus returning the energy to re-inflate the chamber  72 .  
         [0031]      FIGS. 17 and 18  show a further embodiment of the air chamber  114  comprised of two compartments  127 ,  129 . One compartment  127  performs a ventilation function while the other compartment  129  is used to drive a turbine. The air chamber preferably comprises a flexible upper shell  126  and a flexible lower shell  128 . The upper and lower shells are bifurcated and fused or welded together at their respective marginal edges  130  to form two airtight compartments  127  and  129 . Inside each compartment are a lower plate  134 ,  135  spring  124 , 125  and upper plate  136 , 137 . Optionally a pad is comprised of shock absorbing material may be provided. An air intake line  16  is connected to the air chamber. A one-way valve  118  is installed in the intake line  116  to compartment  127 . An outlet line  120  is connected to the compartment  127 . A second one-way valve  122  is installed in the outlet line. One of the intake or outlet lines are connected to the inside of the shoe (preferably the inlet) and the other line is connected to exterior of the shoe (preferably the outlet). Thereby compartment  127  functions to ventilate the shoe. The remaining line  131  is connects the compartment  129  with the turbine. The line  131  does not have a one-way valve, thus it draws air into and expels air from compartment  129  to drive the turbine wheel as further explained below.  
         [0032]      FIGS. 5 and 6  show one embodiment of the air turbine assembly  38 . The turbine assembly comprises a housing  40 , optional disk  42 , wheel  44  and hub  46 . The housing includes a spindle  48 , one or more ports  50 , and outer flange  52 . The flange can be molded with a black resin (or painted black) to represent an automobile tire. It is not necessary for the housing  40  to be an enclosed structure as seen in  FIG. 6 . Rather, it is contemplated in another embodiment that the housing comprise an open frame for mounting one or more ports  50 , and the outer flange  52 . An open frame housing would allow air to flow more freely through the housing  40 .  
         [0033]     The wheel  44  is mounted for rotation on the spindle  48  and held in place with the hub  46 . The outlet airline  16  is adapted for connection to port  50 . Port  50  is set at an angle to direct the air in an at least partly tangential direction relative to the wheel  44 . Wheel  44  has a multiplicity of fins or blades  54 . Air directed against the blades causes the wheel to rotate. Although a multiplicity of blades is shown, the invention is not limited to any number or shape of blades. It is contemplated in another embodiment that fewer blades will operate more efficiently, increasing the speed at which the wheel  44  spins and also reducing noise. Desirably, the housing has two ports, one for use on the left shoe and the other for use on the right shoe, to thereby rotate both wheels in a forward direction. The optional plate  42  is largely decorative. For example, the plate  42  may be chrome or have a high gloss finish. Alternatively, the disk may be phosphorescent. In one embodiment the disk is an electrically powered light emitting material, such as a light emitting diode.  
         [0034]     Another embodiment of the air turbine or wheel assembly includes a clear plastic cover  64 , seen in  FIGS. 9-12 . The cover  64  is placed over the wheel  44  and is attached to the wheel assembly  38  by the hub  46 . The cover  64  has a bulbous shape, which causes the wheel  44  to rotate at a greater speed. After the air is directed against the blades, it rises to the surface of the cover  64 , remaining within the wheel assembly, forming a whirlpool of air. The continuous circular movement of the air will catch blades  54  and outer edges of spokes  55 , causing the wheel to continue spinning. Because the air is trapped within the cover  64  and has not escaped to the atmosphere, wheel  44  spins at a greater speed and/or duration. To reduce fogging of the cover due to moist, trapped air, it is desirable to vent the housing  40  out to the atmosphere. In addition or alternatively, the cover can be provided with an anti-fog coating.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 7 and 8  are plan views of one embodiment of the top of the midsole  56  of shoe  12  and insole or sock liner  58 , respectively. Preferably, the inlet tube  16  (or outlet tube  20 ) to air chamber  14  is connected to a pattern of channels  60  in the top of midsole  56 . The insole  58  is provided with a pattern of openings  62  in communication with channels  60 . Thereby, air is drawn from the planter surface of the wearer&#39;s foot, through the insole, channels, inlet tube and into the air chamber. Accordingly, an active heat management system is created, and the wearer&#39;s foot is ventilated.  
         [0036]     The apparatus of this embodiment provides shock absorption in several ways. One, the air chamber provides shock absorption when the wearer applies load to the chamber. Air is released from the air chamber at a controlled and restricted rate. Specifically, the outlet tube has a relatively small diameter, e.g., 2 mm internal diameter, thereby allowing a limited flow. Additional energy is dissipated in the one-way valve, where the flow path is further restricted, e.g., 1 mm. Further flow restriction may be provided at the port into the housing, e.g., 0.5 mm. The restricted outflow provides shock absorption.  
         [0037]     Second, energy is stored in spring  24  or other biasing means when the wearer&#39;s weight compresses the air chamber, which energy is returned to re-inflate the air chamber when the wearer&#39;s weight is removed.  
         [0038]     Third, the wheel provides further shock absorption, as energy is required to spin the wheel  44 . The relative amount of shock absorption can be controlled by increasing the size and/or weight of the wheel, or by adjusting the amount of rotational friction between the wheel and housing.  
         [0039]     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it is to be understood that these are merely examples for practicing the invention that the inventor foresees at the present time, and that various modifications and changes could be made thereto. In particular, various other spinning wheel assemblies could be designed by persons skilled in the art; and different passageways could be designed for ventilating the shoe.