Shoe sole with tunnel-type air chambers

A main body of a shoe sole includes a recess formed at an upper surface thereof and a non-slip cushion sheet attached to a bottom surface thereof, wherein pluralities of air chamber grooves are formed in the recess at a front portion of the main body and an air chamber groove is formed in the recess at a rear portion of the main body. A shoe liner covers open upper portions of the air chamber grooves so as to provide pluralities of tunnel-type air chambers. An outer periphery of the shoe liner is attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body and other portions of the shoe liner are inserted into the recess. The binding line between the shoe liner and the main body is snugly positioned within the interior boundary of the main body.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a shoe sole having tunnel-type air chambers, and more particularly to a shoe sole having tunnel-type air chambers capable of good elastic air cushioning and shock-absorbing effects for relieving foot pressure during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer by providing the shoe sole with the tunnel-type air chambers at the boundary between a shoe liner and a main body of the shoe, which is capable of providing the shoe sole with good appearance by preventing the combining line between the shoe liner and the main body from being exposed to the outside, and by preventing foreign substances from being introduced through the binding line, and which is capable of enhancing the functionality and the feelings to wear by providing the shoe liner with pluralities of through holes and by providing the shoe liner with an arched supporting portion and by providing the main body with a center air chamber. In the shoe sole according to the present invention, the main body includes a recess formed at an upper surface thereof and a non-slip cushion sheet attached to a bottom surface thereof, wherein pluralities of air chamber grooves are formed in the recess at a front portion of the main body and an air chamber groove is formed in the recess at a rear portion of the main body. The shoe liner covers open upper portions of the air chamber grooves so as to provide pluralities of tunnel-type air chambers. An outer periphery of the shoe liner is attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body and other portions of the shoe liner are inserted into the recess. The binding line between the shoe liner and the main body is snugly positioned within the interior boundary of the main body in a manner that it has an extended warranty to give good appearance to the shoe sole. The through holes are fluid-communicated with the tunnel-type air chambers of the main body. Furthermore, the arched supporting portion is formed at the center portion of the upper surface of the shoe liner and it bulges out at the upper surface of the shoe liner. In addition, the center air chamber is provided between the center portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner and the center portion of the upper surface of the main body. Due to this structure, it can give pleasant and refreshing feeling to a wearer during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer at the summer season. Further, the arched supporting portion may uniformly support the sole of wearer's foot during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer. Consequently, it is possible to enhance the functionality and the feelings to wear.

2. Description of the Prior Art

A variety of shoe soles for providing a wearer with comfortable feelings, elastic air cushioning effects and shock-absorbing effects for relieving foot pressure during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer have been proposed.

One approach is, a shoe sole according to the prior art having shock-absorbing effects has been proposed on Korean Pat. No. 10-724466 issued to S. Y. Cho on the date of May 28, 2007. As shown inFIG. 1, the shoe sole10according to the prior art comprises an upper sole11and a lower sole13, which are divided into two half-pieces. A cutaway surface12is formed on a bottom surface of the upper sole11, thereby resulting in the formation of a recess11a. Likewise, a cutaway surface14is formed on an upper surface of the lower sole13, thereby resulting in the formation of a recess13a. The cutaway surface12of the upper sole11corresponds to the recess13aof the lower sole13and the cutaway surface14of the lower sole13corresponds to the recess11aof the upper sole11. In order to combine the upper sole11and the lower sole13, an adhesive agent may be applied to the cutaway surfaces12,14. When the upper sole11is engaged with the lower sole13, pluralities of lateral through holes may be provided in the shoe sole10.

In the shoe sole according to the prior art as described above, if any impact force caused by the weight of a wearer during walking or running on the uneven road is applied to the shoe sole, the through holes may be elastically transformed. As a result, it is possible to absorb the impact force, thereby resulting in good elastic air cushioning and shock-absorbing effects for relieving foot pressure.

One drawback of such known shoe sole is that the combining line between the upper sole11and the lower sole13may be exposed to the outside, thereby resulting in the deterioration of an appearance. Another drawback of such known shoe sole is that some objects such as foreign materials may be locked at the combining line of the shoe sole during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer. Another drawback of such known shoe sole is that the combining surfaces between the upper sole11and the lower sole13is apt to be separated from each other due to the penetration of water or foreign materials and thereby it may shorten the life of shoe sole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In consideration of the above-mentioned disadvantages or inconveniences of the conventional shoe sole, an object of the present invention is to provide a shoe sole having tunnel-type air chambers capable of good elastic air cushioning and shock-absorbing effects for relieving foot pressure during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer by providing the shoe sole with the tunnel-type air chambers at the boundary between a shoe liner and a main body of the shoe, which is capable of providing the shoe sole with good appearance by preventing the combining line between the shoe liner and the main body of the shoe sole from being exposed to the outside, and by preventing foreign substances from being introduced through the binding line, and which is capable of enhancing the functionality and the feelings to wear by providing the shoe liner with pluralities of through holes and by providing the shoe liner with an arched supporting portion and by providing the main body with the center air chamber.

In order to achieve the object, according to one aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a shoe sole having a tunnel-type air chamber, the shoe sole comprising:a main body including a recess formed at an upper surface thereof and a non-slip cushion sheet attached to a bottom surface thereof, in which pluralities of air chamber grooves are formed in the recess at a front portion of the main body and an air chamber groove is formed in the recess at a rear portion of the main body, and they horizontally extend through both side walls of the main body; anda shoe liner for covering open upper portions of the air chamber grooves so as to provide pluralities of tunnel-type air chambers, in which an outer periphery of the shoe liner is attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body, and other portions of the shoe liner is inserted into the recess.

Pluralities of air chamber grooves are arranged on a front portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner and an air chamber groove is arranged on a rear portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner, in which the air chamber grooves correspond to the air chamber grooves of the main body, respectively.

Pluralities of through holes are formed through the shoe liner. The through holes are formed at the front portion and the rear portion of the shoe liner and they are fluid-communicated with pluralities of air chamber grooves.

An arched supporting portion is formed at a center portion of the upper surface of the shoe liner and it bulges out at the upper surface of the shoe liner and it corresponds to the shape of the sole of the foot.

An air chamber groove for providing a center air chamber in the shoe sole is formed at a center portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner, wherein a sealing protrusion is formed at a circumferential outer periphery of the air chamber groove and it protrudes downwards from the lower surface of the shoe liner. An air chamber groove for providing the center air chamber in the shoe sole is formed at a center portion of the upper surface of the main body and it corresponds to the air chamber groove of the shoe liner. An engaging groove is formed at a circumferential outer periphery of the air chamber groove and it corresponds to the sealing protrusion of the shoe liner.

According to the other aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides a shoe sole having a tunnel-type air chamber, the shoe sole comprising:

a main body including a recess formed at a rear portion of an upper surface thereof and a non-slip cushion sheet attached to a bottom surface thereof, in which one air chamber groove is formed in the recess, and it horizontally extends through both side walls of the main body; and

a shoe liner for covering an open upper portion of the air chamber groove, in which an outer periphery of a lower surface of the shoe liner is attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body and other portions of the shoe liner are inserted into the recess, in which an air chamber groove is also formed at the lower surface of the shoe liner, in which the air chamber groove corresponds to the air chamber groove formed at the main body.

As described above, in the shoe sole having the tunnel-type air chambers according to the present invention, the recess for receiving a part of the shoe liner is formed in the upper surface of the main body and the non-slip cushion sheet is attached to the bottom surface of the main body. Pluralities of air chamber grooves are formed in the recess at the front portion of the main body. Also, one air chamber groove is formed in the recess at the rear portion of the main body. All of air chamber grooves horizontally extend through both side walls of the main body. The outer periphery of the shoe liner may be attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body, and other portions of the shoe liner are inserted into the recess of the main body. Accordingly, the shoe liner covers the open upper portion of the air chamber groove, thereby resulting in the formation of the tunnel-type air within the shoe sole.

Due to this structure, since the binding line between the shoe liner and the main body is snugly positioned within the interior boundary of the main body, the shoe sole becomes to have a good appearance. Further, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from being introduced through the binding line, and thereby resulting in great enhancement of the durability of the shoe sole.

Furthermore, in the shoe sole having the tunnel-type air chambers according to the present invention, pluralities of through holes are formed through the shoe liner. These through holes are fluid-communicated with the tunnel-type air chambers of the main body. Furthermore, the arched supporting portion is formed at the center portion of the upper surface of the shoe liner and it bulges out at the upper surface of the shoe liner.

In addition, the center air chamber is provided between the center portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner and the center portion of the upper surface of the main body. Due to this structure, it can give pleasant and refreshing feeling to a wearer during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer at the summer season.

Further, the arched supporting portion may uniformly support the sole of wearer's foot during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer. Consequently, it is possible to enhance the functionality and the feelings to wear.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, the constitution and the operation of a shoe sole according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawingsFIGS. 1 to 8.

Prior to proceeding to the more detailed description of the preferred embodiment according to the present invention, it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity and understanding of the invention identical components which have identical functions have been identified with identical reference numerals throughout the different views which are illustrated in each of the attached drawing Figures.

FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate a shoe sole having a tunnel-type air chamber according to a preferred first embodiment of the present invention.

As will be best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, this invention relates to the shoe sole1has a substantially arc shape on the whole of which front and rear portions are slanted upwards at a predetermined angle of inclination. The shoe sole1comprises a hardened reinforcement main body4of which a recess2is formed therein and a non-slip cushion sheet3is attached to a bottom surface of the main body4. Pluralities of air chamber grooves2aare formed in the recess2at a front portion of the main body4. Preferably, one air chamber groove2bis formed in the recess2at a rear portion of the main body4. At the front and the rear portions of the main body4, all of air chamber grooves2a,2bhorizontally extend through both side walls of the main body4. The shoe sole1also comprises a shoe liner6made of a soft material, which is detachably positioned onto an upper surface of the main body4. An outer periphery of the shoe liner6may be attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body4, and other portions of the shoe liner6is inserted into the recess2of the main body4. Accordingly, the shoe liner6covers the open upper portions of the air chamber grooves2a,2b, thereby resulting in the creation of pluralities of tunnel-type air chambers5a,5bin the shoe sole1.

In the meantime, the shoe liner6is made of a soft synthetic resin or a synthetic rubber material softer than that used for the main body4, and the outer periphery thereof is arranged on the upper surface of the main body4around the recess2. For example, if the main body4is made of urethane foam, the shoe liner6may be made of urethane foam which is more foamable than that used for the main body4.

The non-slip cushion sheet3for preventing a wearer from slipping on a road surface during walking of the user is attached to the bottom surface of the main body4. The non-slip cushion sheet3further prevents the bottom surface of the main body4from being worn out as time goes on. The non-slip cushion sheet3is made of a synthetic resin or a synthetic rubber material harder than that used for the main body4. For example, if the main body4is made of urethane foam, the non-slip cushion sheet3may be made of a urethane material that is not foamed.

As shown inFIG. 2, the front air chamber grooves2aare formed to have a semicircle-shaped groove and they are uniformly arranged on the toe portion of the main body4. Likewise, the rear air chamber groove2bis formed to have a semicircle-shaped groove and it is arranged on the heel portion of the main body4. Preferably, the diameter of the rear air chamber groove2bis larger than the diameter of the front air chamber grooves2a.

According to the preferred first embodiment of the present invention as described above, the shoe liner6is engaged with the main body4in a manner that the outer periphery of the lower surface of the shoe liner6is attached to the outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body4by using an adhesive agent and other portions of the shoe liner6are inserted into the recess2of the main body4. Accordingly, the shoe liner6covers the open upper portions of the air chamber grooves2a,2b, thereby resulting in the creation of pluralities of tunnel-type air chambers5a,5bin the shoe sole1. At this time, the binding line between the shoe liner6and the main body4is not exposed to the outside. Since the binding line between the shoe liner6and the main body4is snugly positioned within the interior boundary of the main body4, the shoe sole1becomes to have a good appearance. In addition, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from being introduced through the binding line, thereby resulting in the great enhancement of the durability of the shoe sole1.

FIGS. 4 and 5illustrate a shoe sole having a tunnel-type air chamber according to preferred second to fourth embodiments of the present invention.

At first, the shoe sole1according to the second embodiment of the present invention is constituted in the same manner as the shoe sole1according to the first embodiment of the present invention, except for a structure of the air chamber grooves. Accordingly, herein below the difference of the structure of the air chamber grooves in relation to the tunnel-type air chamber will be mainly described.

As will be best seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, in the shoe sole1according to the preferred second embodiment of the present invention, the shoe liner6has pluralities of air chamber grooves6awhich are formed at a bottom surface thereof. These air chamber grooves6aare formed at a front portion of the bottom surface of the shoe liner6. The air chamber grooves6aof the shoe liner6correspond to the air chamber grooves2aformed at the front portion of the main body4. Likewise, the shoe liner6has pluralities of air chamber grooves6bwhich are also formed at a bottom surface thereof. These air chamber grooves6bare formed at a rear portion of the shoe liner6. The air chamber grooves6bcorrespond to the air chamber groove2bformed at the front portion of the main body4.

According to the preferred second embodiment of the present invention as described above, the shoe liner6is engaged with the main body4in a manner that the outer periphery of the lower surface of the shoe liner6is attached to the outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body4by using an adhesive agent and other portions of the shoe liner6are inserted into the recess2of the main body4. Accordingly, the shoe liner6covers the open upper portions of the air chamber grooves2a,2b, thereby resulting in the creation of pluralities of oval tunnel-type air chambers5a,5bin the shoe sole1. As a result, the shoe sole1according to the preferred second embodiment of the present invention becomes to have good elastic air cushioning and shock-absorbing effects. Consequently, the shoe sole1according to the preferred second embodiment of the present invention gets an advantage over the shoe sole1according to the preferred first embodiment of the present invention of which the bottom surface of the shoe liner6is flat.

In the meantime, as will be best seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, in the shoe sole1according to the preferred third embodiment of the present invention, the shoe liner6has pluralities of through holes6cwhich are formed through thereof. These through holes6care formed at a front portion and a rear portion of the shoe liner6. The through holes6cformed at the front portion of the shoe liner6are fluid-communicated with the front air chamber grooves6a. Likewise, the through holes6cformed at the rear portion of the shoe liner6are fluid-communicated with the rear air chamber groove6b.

According to the preferred third embodiment of the present invention as described above, a certain fluid such as air or water has free access to the shoe sole1via the through holes6cand the tunnel-type air chambers5a,5b. Accordingly, it can give pleasant and refreshing feeling to a wearer during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer at the summer season.

In the meantime, as will be best seen inFIGS. 4 and 5, in the shoe sole1according to the preferred fourth embodiment of the present invention, the shoe liner6has an arched supporting portion7which is formed at a center portion of an upper surface thereof. This arched supporting portion7bulges out at the upper surface of the shoe liner6and it corresponds to the shape of the sole of the foot.

According to the preferred fourth embodiment of the present invention as described above, the arched supporting portion7may uniformly support the sole of wearer's foot during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer. Accordingly, some people with a low arch are able to walk in a more convenient and easier way. Furthermore, it is possible to obtain an acupressure effect at the arch portion of the sole of the foot so that the wearer can have a good circulation of blood. Consequently, this shoe sole enables a convenient stepping on walking to remarkably mitigate a fatigue with a massage effect produced from a proper stimulation of the flow of energy to prevent flat-foot walks and promote metabolism and blood circulation, and disperses the impact force caused by the weight to prevent diseases such as arthritis, back pain, muscle pain, or the like.

FIGS. 6 and 7illustrate a shoe sole having a tunnel-type air chamber according to a preferred fifth embodiment of the present invention. As will be best seen inFIGS. 6 and 7, in the shoe sole1according to the preferred fifth embodiment of the present invention, the shoe liner6has an air chamber groove8afor providing a center air chamber8in the shoe sole1. This air chamber groove8ais formed at a center portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner6. A sealing protrusion9is formed at a circumferential outer periphery of the air chamber groove8aand it protrudes downwards from the lower surface of the shoe liner6. The main body4has an air chamber groove8bfor providing the center air chamber8in the shoe sole1. This air chamber groove8bis formed at a center portion of the upper surface of the main body4and it corresponds to the air chamber groove8aof the shoe liner6. An engaging groove9ais formed at a circumferential outer periphery of the air chamber groove8band it corresponds to the sealing protrusion9of the shoe liner6.

If the shoe liner6is engaged with main body4, the sealing protrusion9formed at the center portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner6is fitted into the engaging groove9aformed at the center portion of the upper surface of the main body4. As a result, the center air chamber8may be created due to the integration of the air chamber grooves8a,8b. The air contained in the center air chamber8may not be leaked due to the airtight engagement between the sealing protrusion9and the engaging groove9a. Although a wearer uses the shoe sole1according to the present invention for a long time, the air contained in the center air chamber8may not be leaked, thereby resulting in the prevention of poor shock damping effect.

According to the preferred fifth embodiment of the present invention as described above, the impact force caused by the weight of the wearer during walking or running of the wearer on the uneven road can be absorbed due to operation of the center air chamber8, thereby resulting in the great enhancement of feelings to wear.

FIG. 8is a side sectional view of the shoe sole having a tunnel-type air chamber according to a preferred sixth embodiment of the present invention. Referring toFIG. 8, in the shoe sole1according to the preferred sixth embodiment of the present invention, a recess2is only formed at the rear portion of the upper surface of the main body4. An air chamber groove2bis formed in the recess2. The shoe liner6has an air chamber groove6bfor providing the tunnel-type air chamber5bin the shoe sole1at the lower surface of the shoe liner6. The air chamber groove6bcorresponds to the air chamber groove2bof the main body4. If the shoe liner6is engaged with the main body4, an outer periphery of the lower surface of the shoe liner6may be attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body4, and other portions of the shoe liner6are inserted into the recess2of the main body4. Accordingly, the shoe liner6covers the open upper portion of the air chamber groove2b, thereby resulting in the formation of the tunnel-type air chamber5bonly at the heel portion of the shoe sole1in which a great foot pressure may be applied thereto during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer.

As described above, in the shoe sole having the tunnel-type air chambers according to the present invention, the recess for receiving a part of the shoe liner is formed in the upper surface of the main body and the non-slip cushion sheet is attached to the bottom surface of the main body. Pluralities of air chamber grooves are formed in the recess at the front portion of the main body. Also, one air chamber groove is formed in the recess at the rear portion of the main body. All of air chamber grooves horizontally extend through both side walls of the main body. The outer periphery of the shoe liner may be attached to an outer periphery of the upper surface of the main body, and other portions of the shoe liner are inserted into the recess of the main body. Accordingly, the shoe liner covers the open upper portion of the air chamber groove, thereby resulting in the formation of the tunnel-type air within the shoe sole. Due to this structure, since the binding line between the shoe liner and the main body is snugly positioned within the interior boundary of the main body, the shoe sole becomes to have a good appearance. Further, it is possible to prevent foreign substances from being introduced through the binding line, and thereby resulting in great enhancement of the durability of the shoe sole.

Furthermore, in the shoe sole having the tunnel-type air chambers according to the present invention, pluralities of through holes are formed through the shoe liner. These through holes are fluid-communicated with the tunnel-type air chambers of the main body. Furthermore, the arched supporting portion is formed at the center portion of the upper surface of the shoe liner and it bulges out at the upper surface of the shoe liner. In addition, the center air chamber is provided between the center portion of the lower surface of the shoe liner and the center portion of the upper surface of the main body. Due to this structure, it can give pleasant and refreshing feeling to a wearer during the entire walking gait cycle of the wearer at the summer season. Further, the arched supporting portion may uniformly support the sole of wearer's foot during the entire walking gait cycle of a wearer. Consequently, it is possible to enhance the functionality and the feelings to wear.