Abstract:
A shoe, such as an athletic shoe, includes a pump assembly integral therewith. The pump assembly includes a pump which produces a stream of pressurized air and a delivery assembly which operates to deliver the stream of pressurized air to an end use location exterior of the shoe. The shoe may comprise an athletic shoe and may be utilized to inflate sports balls such as basketballs, footballs, and volleyballs.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application 61/565,023 filed Nov. 30, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates generally to athletic equipment, and more particularly to athletic shoes. Specifically, the invention relates to an athletic shoe having an inflation pump integral therewith which pump may be used for inflating basketballs, footballs, and the like. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Many athletic games such as basketball, football, soccer, volleyball, and the like rely upon the use of an inflated, resilient ball. Improper inflation of the ball adversely affects the play and quality of the game. Typically, game balls are inflated through the use of a separate pump employed in combination with an inflation needle. However, it very often occurs that in the course of play, a player will find that a game ball is not properly inflated; and very often, such a traditional pump/needle assembly is not available, particularly if play is taking place in an informal location. 
         [0004]    The prior art has recognized this problem and has developed game balls which include an integral, manually operated pump. Such ball/pump assemblies are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,618, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. While such combination ball/pump assemblies do address the problem of improperly inflated game balls, they rely upon the use of integral pump assemblies which are expensive and do not address the problem of improper inflation with regard to presently existing balls. In addition, it has been found that in some instances inclusion of the integral pump affects the balance and play of the 
         [0005]    As will be explained hereinbelow, the present invention comprises an athletic shoe which includes an integral air pump configured and operable to use for the inflation of game balls or other items at a location exterior of said shoe. The pump of the present invention does not affect the comfort or action of the shoe. These and other advantages of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, discussion, and description which follow. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    Disclosed is a shoe having a pump assembly integrally incorporated therein. The pump assembly includes a pump portion which is operable to produce a stream of pressurized air and a delivery assembly which is operable to deliver said stream of pressurized air to an end use location exterior of the shoe. In specific embodiments, the pump assembly is manually activatable. The delivery assembly may also include an inflation needle for pressurizing an inflatable body such as a sports ball. The delivery assembly may further include a pressure hose for conveying said pressurized air to an end use location, and an inflation needle may be affixed either permanently or removably to the pressure hose. In some embodiments, the shoe may include a pocket or other storage compartment integral therewith which is configured to retain portions of the delivery assembly such as a pressure hose and/or inflation needle therein. 
         [0007]    In some embodiments, the pump may include an activation handle and this handle may be lockable into a storage position. In particular embodiments, the delivery assembly may include a rotary valve, and an inflation needle may optionally be connected to the rotary valve. In yet other embodiments, the shoe may further include a pressure gauge for indicating pressurization of an item. The pressure gauge may be integral with the pump or it may be integral with a portion of the shoe. Further disclosed are methods for using the shoe/pump device. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]      FIG. 1  is a right side perspective view of a shoo of the present invention; 
           [0009]      FIG. 2  is a left side perspective view of the shoe of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0010]      FIG. 3  is an illustration of a portion of the shoe of  FIG. 2  showing an inflation needle extended therefrom; 
           [0011]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of  FIG. 1  taken through line  4 - 4 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of another embodiment of a shoe of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 6  is an enlarged view of a portion of the shoe of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the shoe of  FIG. 5  showing the inflation needle in a first position; and 
           [0015]      FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the shoe of  FIG. 5  showing the inflation needle in a stored position. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    Referring now to  FIG. 1 , there is shown a perspective view of an athletic shoe  10  of the present invention incorporating an integral inflation pump therein. While  FIG. 1  shows a shoe of a particular design, it is to be understood that the present invention may be implemented utilizing footwear of any design including high-top designs as well as low-top designs. Also, the shoe may comprise a sandal as well as a dress shoe. The shoe of  FIG. 1  includes an integral pump, and a portion of an actuator handle of the pump is shown in  FIG. 1  at reference numeral  12 . 
         [0017]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is shown a perspective view of the opposite side of the shoe  10  of  FIG. 1 . Illustrated in  FIG. 2  is an inflation portion  14  of the pump assembly. In this regard, the inflation portion includes an inflation hose  16  having an inflation needle  18  either permanently or removably affixed thereto. As will be seen from the figure, when the pump is not being utilized the inflation needle  18  and a portion of the inflation hose  16  are stowed in a pocket  20  which is affixed to the shoe. It is to be understood that in other embodiments of the invention, the inflation hose and/or needle may be otherwise configured, and the pocket may be otherwise disposed or it may be eliminated. 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 3 , there is shown a view of a portion of the shoe of  FIG. 2  illustrating the inflation hose  16  and associated needle  18  as being deployed from the pocket  20  to a use position for the inflation of a ball. 
         [0019]    Referring now to  FIG. 4 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe of the foregoing figures taken along through line  4 - 4  in  FIG. 1 , in a direction generally parallel to the sole of the shoe. Specifically shown in  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view of the pump  22 . As will be seen, this pump  22  includes the actuating handle  12  as seen in  FIG. 1 , an inflation piston  24 , and the inflation hose  16 . The pump also includes a valve assembly  26 . 
         [0020]    In a typical pump assembly, the actuating handle  12  is retained in a locked, storage position by an integral detent/slot assembly  28  which in particular embodiments is configured so that a slight rotation of the handle  12  will release the detent  28  allowing the handle  12  to be withdrawn from the pump assembly  22  thereby moving the piston assembly  24  to a first position spaced from the inflation hose  16  and valve assembly  26 . 
         [0021]    As will be appreciated from the drawing, the valve assembly  26  includes a resilient sealing member such as a body of elastomer disposed so as to cover an opening  30  in the pump housing. When pump handle is withdrawn, the valve assembly  26  opens allowing air to be drawn into the pump housing. Thereafter, the pump handle  12  is depressed thereby compressing the resilient member so as to seal the opening  30  thereby closing the valve assembly  26  and allowing air to be driven out of the inflation hose  16  and through the associated needle  18 , and into a ball affixed to the needle. The pump will typically include a check valve assembly  33  which operates to prevent pressurized air from flowing back out of the ball and into the pump housing. As is known in the art, one such check valve comprises a ball  33   a  disposed in a tapered seating member  33   b,  wherein back pressure will seal the ball  33   a  against the seating member  33   b.  Other check valve configurations are known in the art and may be incorporated into this invention. The pumping cycle is repeated so as to further inflate the ball. After proper inflation is achieved, the pump handle is again locked and the inflation needle stowed. 
         [0022]    The foregoing illustrates one specific embodiment of pump, and it is to be understood that this invention may be practiced with pumps of other designs. Some specific designs of pumps which may be utilized herein are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,409,618 referenced above; however, other embodiments of pump may also be employed. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIG. 5 , there is shown yet another embodiment of the present invention as incorporated into an athletic shoe  50 . In this embodiment the inflation assembly portion  52  of the pump differs from that of  FIG. 2  insofar as it does not include a separate inflation hose  16 . In this embodiment, the inflation needle  18  is rotatably affixed to the remainder of the pump by a rotary valve  54 . In this regard, the drawing of  FIG. 5  shows the rotary valve  54  in a first inflation position wherein the needle  18  projects from the sole of the shoe  50 .  FIG. 6  shows the valve  54  in a storage position wherein the needle  18  is disposed in a recess  56  formed in the sole of the shoe  50 . 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIG. 7 , there is shown a cross-sectional view of a portion of the shoe  50  of  FIG. 5  as taken generally parallel to the sole. In this drawing the major portion of the pump assembly  22  is generally similar to that shown in  FIG. 4 , and like structures are referred to by like reference numerals. Where the embodiment of  FIG. 7  differs from that of  FIG. 1  is that it includes the rotary valve  54  having the needle  18  projecting therefrom. As will be seen from  FIG. 7 , the rotary valve  54  is rotatably supported in a valve body  54   a  and includes an air passage which, when the valve is in its first position as shown in  FIG. 7 , is in communication with the interior portion of the pump assembly. Although not illustrated, the embodiment of  FIGS. 5-8  may also include a check valve assembly as shown and described with regard to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0025]    As will be seen in  FIG. 8 , when the valve  54  is in a second, storage position, the air passage is no longer in communication with the interior of the pump. 
         [0026]    Other embodiments, modifications and variations of the invention may be implemented. For example, while a manually activatable pump is shown in the figures, the invention may also be practiced utilizing a battery-powered pump. A pressure gauge may be included in other embodiments. This pressure gauge may be integral with the shoe itself, and may be molded into the sole. Alternatively, the gauge may be integral with the pump. For, example, the pressure gauge may be disposed on the pump handle. In yet other embodiments, the pump may be further modified so as to permit depressurization of the inflated ball. This may be accomplished by including a control which deactivates the check valve  33  of  FIG. 4 . In other instances, depressurization may be achieved through the use of a separate depressurization valve (not shown) which is in fluid communication with the inflation needle. 
         [0027]    The foregoing represents some specific embodiments of the present invention, and it is to be understood that the invention may be implemented in yet other configurations. Such modifications and variations thereof will be readily apparent to those of skill in the art in view of the drawings, discussion, and description, presented herein. The foregoing is illustrative of specific embodiments of the invention but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. It is the following claims, including all equivalents, which define the scope of the invention.