Ventilation sole for footwear

A ventilation sole for footwear, the sole including: a communicating vent-hole through which the inside and outside of footwear communicate with each other to allow air to flow; and a valve selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole, wherein the valve includes: a housing module configured to have opposite ends being open such that a channel is provided therein to communicate with the communicating vent-hole; an open-close module configured with a first closing surface and a first through-hole; and a rotation module configured with a second closing surface and a second through-hole, and rotating to move a position of the second through-hole. Accordingly, a wearer can easily open and close the valve by rotating the rotation module according to the intention of the wearer, whereby air inside and outside the footwear can be circulated selectively and optimal foot conditions can be improved.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2017-0138159, filed Oct. 24, 2017, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to a ventilation sole for footwear. More particularly, the present invention relates to a ventilation sole for footwear, the sole including a communicating vent-hole through which the inside and outside of footwear communicate with each other to allow air to flow, and a valve selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole. In addition, the valve of the ventilation sole is provided with a rotation module such that a wearer can easily open and close the valve by rotating the rotation module according to the intention of the wearer, whereby air inside and outside the footwear can be circulated selectively and optimal foot conditions can be improved.

Description of the Related Art

In general, footwear collectively refers to an item that is worn on the foot when a person stands or walks on the ground. Footwear is worn on the feet to protect the feet, to facilitate easy movement, and in certain cases, to be utilized as an item of decoration.

Various kinds of footwear have been manufactured in order to meet the functional aspects of the footwear required in accordance with diversification of activity areas and living environments of people as well as the improvement of the living standard in recent years. Examples of footwear are sneakers, dress shoes, safety shoes, rain boots, hiking boots, and the like.

Footwear is able to provide convenience, efficiency, and protection to people, but it is difficult to ventilate the footwear due to the structure of the footwear that covers the feet in a closed manner.

In addition, the temperature inside the footwear is increased due to the friction between the feet and a lining of the footwear. Furthermore, the humidity inside the footwear is increased due to the sweat generated from the foot such that odor is generated and the wearer may suffer from chronic diseases such as tinea pedis.

For these reasons, when a sole for footwear is configured with a vent-hole such that the inside and outside of the footwear communicate with each other to allow air to flow, contaminants or water outside the footwear flows into the footwear such that the foot protection performance is deteriorated and the foot is wet by liquid such as water, causing discomfort to the wearer.

In addition, when the footwear contacts the ground, air of the sole for the footwear is discharged to the outside due to the weight of the person, whereby it is difficult to effectively absorb the impact generated while the wearer is walking.

Accordingly, a solution for such problems is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made keeping in mind the above problems occurring in the related art, and the present invention is intended to propose a ventilation sole for footwear, the sole including a communicating vent-hole through which the inside and outside of footwear communicate with each other to allow air to flow and a valve selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole. In detail, the valve of the ventilation sole is provided with a rotation module such that a wearer can easily open and close the valve by rotating the rotation module according to the intention of the wearer, whereby air inside and outside the footwear can be circulated selectively and optimal foot conditions can be ensured.

In order to achieve the above object, there is provided a ventilation sole for footwear according to the present invention, the kit including: a communicating vent-hole through which the inside and outside of footwear communicate with each other to allow air to flow; and a valve selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole, wherein the valve includes: a housing module inserted in the communicating vent-hole and configured to have opposite ends being open such that a channel is provided therein to communicate with the communicating vent-hole; an open-close module inserted in the housing module, configured with a first closing surface closing the channel, and with a first through-hole at the first closing surface to communicate with at least a part of the channel; and a rotation module provided inside the housing module while coming into contact with the first closing surface of the open-close module, configured with a second closing surface closing the channel, and with a second through-hole at the second closing surface to communicate with at least a part of the channel and to correspond to the first through-hole, the rotation module rotating to move a position of the second through-hole.

The open-close module may be configured such that the first through-hole has an area smaller than a half of a cross-sectional area of the channel.

The valve may be provided at a portion where the communicating vent-hole of the sole communicates with the outside of footwear.

The rotation module may be disposed such that the second closing surface is exposed at a portion where the communicating vent-hole communicates with the outside.

The rotation module may be configured with a grip recess in the second closing surface for manipulating rotation of the rotation module.

The rotation module may be configured with a protruding portion protruding toward the first closing surface of the open-close module.

The open-close module may be configured with a recessed portion corresponding to the protruding portion of the rotation module.

The open-close module may be configured to be an elastic body.

The valve may further include an immobilizing module, which is coupled with the housing module, prevents the open-close module from rotating with the rotation module, and immobilizes the open-close module.

A ventilation sole for footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention has the following effects.

A wearer rotates a rotation module according to the intention to open and close a valve, whereby air inside and outside footwear can be selectively circulated.

Thus, it is possible to circulate air inside and outside the footwear according to needs of the wearer or external environment to improve foot protection and optimal foot conditions.

In addition, the valve is provided at a portion where a communicating vent-hole of the sole communicates with the outside of the footwear, and a grip recess for manipulating the rotation module is disposed to be exposed at a portion where the communicating vent-hole communicates with the outside of the footwear, whereby the wearer easily manipulates the rotation module while wearing the footwear to selectively circulate air inside and outside the footwear.

The effects that may be gained from the embodiment of the present invention will not be limited only to the effects described above. Accordingly, additional effects of the present application will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the present application. More specifically, unintended effects obtained upon the practice of the present invention may also be derived by anyone having ordinary skill in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Hereinbelow, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in the following description, it is to be noted that, when the functions of conventional elements and the detailed description of elements related with the present invention may make the gist of the present invention unclear, a detailed description of those elements will be omitted.

Further, in the description of the present invention, terms indicating directions, for example, “front”, “rear”, “upper”, or “lower” are intended to enable those skilled in the art to clearly understand the invention, and are merely relative directions, thus the scope of the invention is not limited thereby.

A configuration and use of a ventilation sole for footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference toFIGS. 1A to 5.

The ventilation sole for footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention can be applied to various kinds of footwear, but the present embodiment is of a case in which a ventilation sole is applied to safety shoes.

FIGS. 1A and 1Bare diagrams illustrating a communicating vent-hole configured on a ventilation sole for footwear according to an embodiment of the present invention;FIG. 2is a diagram roughly illustrating a valve of the ventilation sole for footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 3is a cross-sectional view illustrating the valve of the ventilation sole for footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 4A and 4Bare diagrams illustrating that communicating vent-hole is opened and closed according to a rotation of a rotation module of the valve of the ventilation sole for footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention; andFIG. 5is a diagram illustrating a ventilation sole for footwear provided with the valve according to the embodiment of the present invention.

In the ventilation sole for footwear according to the embodiment of the present invention, a communicating vent-hole2through which the inside and outside of footwear communicate with each other to allow air to flow is provided on a sole1as shown inFIGS. 1A, 1B, and2. With regard to a ventilation sole for footwear provided with a valve10selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole, the valve10includes a housing module100, an open-close module300, and a rotation module200as shown inFIG. 2.

The housing module100is inserted in the communicating vent-hole2, and configured to have opposite ends being open such that a channel110is provided therein to communicate with the communicating vent-hole2.

For example, in the present embodiment, the housing module100is configured as a cylindrical shape, configured to have the open ends such that the channel110is provided therein to communicate with the communicating vent-hole2. In addition, the housing module100is configured in which air introduced through one of the ends of the channel110is discharged through a remaining end.

That is, the housing module100is configured to allow air to flow through the channel110, the air introduced and discharged through the ends of the communicating vent-hole2of the sole for footwear.

Here, the inside of the housing module100is configured to have a space for storing the open-close module300and the rotation module200which will be described later.

The open-close module300is inserted in the housing module100and provided with a first closing surface310closing the channel110, and with a first through-hole320at the first closing surface310to communicate with at least a part of the channel110.

In detail, the open-close module300is coupled with the housing module100by being inserted therein. The circumferential shape of the first closing surface310is configured to be same with the circumferential shape of a cross-sectional area of the channel110such that the first closing surface310closes the channel110. The first closing surface310is configured with at least one first through-hole320such that air introduced and discharged through the ends of the communicating vent-hole2of the sole for footwear flows through the channel110and the first through-hole320.

Here, the open-close module300inserted in the housing module100is configured with a protruding portion at an outer side surface thereof and the housing module100is configured with a recessed portion at a position on an inner surface corresponding to the open-close module300. Thus, the protruding portion of the open-close module300is configured to be inserted in the recessed portion of the housing module100such that the open-close module300stays immobilized inside the housing module100. A shape and a configuration of this are not limited, provided that the open-close module300is configured to be coupled inside the housing module100.

The rotation module200is provided inside the housing module100while coming into contact with the first closing surface310of the open-close module300. In addition, the rotation module200is configured with a second closing surface210closing the channel110and configured with a second through-hole220at the second closing surface210to communicate with at least a part of the channel110and to correspond to the first through-hole320. Furthermore, the rotation module200rotates to move a position of the second through-hole220.

In detail, the rotation module200is inserted into the housing module100, and provided to come into contact with the first closing surface310of the open-close module300inserted inside the housing module100. It is preferable that the circumferential shape of the second closing surface210is configured to be same with the circumferential shape of the first closing surface310to close the channel110firmly. The rotation module200is configured in which the second through-hole220is provided at a position corresponding to the position of the first through-hole320.

That is, as shown inFIG. 3, the housing module100is configured with the channel110therein and configured to have the open ends to allow air flowing through the communicating vent-hole2to flow and communicate through the open ends of the channel110. The rotation module200is configured to be inserted into the housing module100for coupling and disposed at an end of the housing module100. The open-close module300is configured to be inserted into the housing module100for coupling and come into contact with the rotation module200.

In addition, the first through-hole320of the open-close module300, which is configured to communicate with at least a part of the channel110, and the second through-hole220of the rotation module200are configured to correspond to each other such that air introduced and discharged through the ends of the channel110flows through the first through-hole320and the second through-hole220.

Here, multiple second through-holes220may be provided. Provided that air introduced or discharged through the ends of the channel110is allowed to flow through the first through-hole320and the second through-hole220, the multiple second through-holes220may be provided, and shapes and configurations of this are not limited.

According to such configuration, it is possible to allow air inside and outside footwear to flow and circulate through the communicating vent-hole2.

Meanwhile, the open-close module300may be configured such that the first through-hole320has an area smaller than a half of a cross-sectional area of the channel110.

In addition, the second through-hole220corresponding to the first through-hole320also may be configured to have an area smaller than a half of the cross-sectional area of the channel110. Here, provided that the second through-hole220is configured to have an area smaller than that of the first through-hole320and the area of the second through-hole220is configured to be superimposed onto and included in the area of the first through-hole320, the shapes and the number of the second through-hole220are not limited and can be provided in various ways.

According to such configuration, when rotating the second through-hole220which corresponds to the first through-hole320with a predetermined degree, the second through-hole220is located where the first through-hole320is not provided, whereby it is possible to close the channel110effectively.

A detailed description will be provided with reference toFIGS. 4A and 4B. As shown inFIG. 4A, when the second through-hole220of the rotation module200and the first through-hole320of the open-close module300are positioned at a corresponding position, the valve10stays in an opened state such that air flows through the communicating vent-hole and the inside and outside air of footwear is circulated.

On the other hand, as shown inFIG. 4B, when the second through-hole220is moved by rotation of the rotation module200such that the second through-hole220of the rotation module200and the first through-hole320of the open-close module are not positioned at a corresponding position, the valve10stays in a closed state such that air is impossible to flow through the communicating vent-hole2, whereby air circulation between the inside and outside of footwear is impossible.

Meanwhile, the valve10may further include an immobilizing module400, which is coupled with the housing module100, prevents the open-close module300from rotating with the rotation module200, and immobilizes the open-close module300.

For example, in the present embodiment, the immobilizing module400is configured as a cylindrical shape and the immobilizing module400is inserted into the open-close module300such that a protruding portion of the immobilizing module400and a recessed portion of the open-close module300are configured to couple to each other. However, provided that the immobilizing module400is coupled to the housing module100, configured to have ends both being opened in order to allow air introduced or discharged through the ends of the communicating vent-hole2of the sole for footwear to flow through the channel110of the housing module100and through the first through-hole320of the open-close module300, and configured to prevent the open-close module300from rotating with the rotation module200, a shape and a configuration thereof are not limited and can be provided in various ways.

Meanwhile, the rotation module200may be configured with a protruding portion212configured to protrude toward the first closing surface310of the open-close module300.

In addition, the open-close module300may be configured with a recessed portion312corresponding to the protruding portion212of the rotation module200.

According to such configuration, it is possible to prevent arbitrary rotation of the rotation module200regardless of the intention of the wearer.

Provided that the second through-hole220is configured to correspond to the first through-hole320, that the protruding portion212is configured to be coupled with the recessed portion312, and that the recessed portion312is configured to intersect lengthwise with the first through-hole320, it is possible to allow air flowing through the channel110to flow through the first through-hole320and the second through-hole220.

In the above-described configuration, when no external force for rotation is transmitted to the rotation module, the rotation of the rotation module200is impossible without an external force of the wearer because the protruding portion212and the recessed portion312are coupled with each other. Thus, the valve10selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole2stays in an opened state, thereby allowing air to flow.

Meanwhile, the open-close module300may be configured to be an elastic body.

In the above-described configuration, when the wearer applies a force to rotate the rotation module200, the protruding portion212is easily detached from the recessed portion312of the open-close module300which is configured to be an elastic body, the protruding portion212is rotated toward the first through-hole320which is formed spaced apart from the recessed portion312such that the protruding portion212itself is coupled with and closes the first through-hole320and the channel110is closed. Thus, the valve10selectively opening and closing the communicating vent-hole2stays in a closed state, thereby not allowing air to flow.

Meanwhile, as shown inFIG. 5, the valve10may be provided at a portion where the communicating vent-hole2of the sole communicates with the outside of footwear.

In addition, the rotation module200may be disposed such that the second closing surface210is exposed at a portion where the communicating vent-hole2communicates with the outside of footwear.

In the above-described configuration, the wearer easily rotates the rotation module200while wearing the footwear, whereby it is possible to circulate air inside the footwear with the outside air by opening and closing the valve10according to the intention of the wearer.

Here, the rotation module200may be configured with a grip recess230in the second closing surface210for manipulating rotation of the rotation module200.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible for the wearer to easily rotate the rotation module200.

In the present embodiment, the grip recess230is configured in the second closing surface210in a recessed manner. However, provided that the grip recess230is configured such that the wearer easily rotates the rotation module200by manipulation, the shape and the configuration of the grip recess230are not limited.

According to the above-described configuration, it is possible to selectively circulate air inside and outside the footwear through a simple manipulation in which the wearer rotates the rotation module200of the valve10.

In other words, when concerning about inflow of external contaminants or water, it is easy to keep the valve10in a closed state. On the other hand, when air circulation between the inside and outside of footwear is required due to the increases of the humidity, temperature, and the like inside the footwear, it is possible to selectively circulate air inside and outside the footwear by opening the valve10. Accordingly, it is possible to provide effective foot protection against shock and optimal foot conditions.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Thus, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, the present invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, equivalents and other embodiments that may be included within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.