Patent Publication Number: US-2021177088-A1

Title: Shoe component

Description:
The present invention relates to a shoe component. 
     As is known, a shoe is generally composed of an upper that wraps the foot and a sole which is joined to the upper. 
     Among its principal functions, the sole supports the weight of the user. 
     Generally, the sole comprises a tread, the function of which is to ensure traction on various different types of terrain, and which must be wear-resistant. 
     Such sole often also comprises a midsole made of a lighter and more shock-absorbing material with respect to the tread, which is located above the tread, for the purpose of deadening the impact of the foot of the user on the ground. 
     As an alternative, the sole can comprise a tread that has one or more cavities in an upward region which are delimited by the walls of the tread itself, and one or more inserts, made of a lighter and more shock-absorbing material than the tread, which are located in the cavity or cavities. 
     Nowadays soles are known that make shoes comfortable, not only by deadening the impact of the foot of the user on the ground and providing a support that is sufficient to support the weight of that user, but also by allowing, through openings and/or channels, a ventilation inside the shoe so as to keep the foot dry. 
     The use is known, for example, of the shoe described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,186, which is provided with a sole which comprises a tread which has a cavity formed on its upper surface and extending over the entire area of the foot. 
     The cavity is surmounted by an insert so as to define air chambers that are in communication with the inside of the shoe by way of ventilation openings. 
     Such air chambers are compressed by virtue of the weight of the user and the air is forced through holes provided in an insole, thus entering inside the shoe. 
     The above mentioned insert can also be made with a spongy material which is provided with vertical through holes that allow air to enter the shoe and which are in communication with each other through channels, which are arranged on the lower surface, which faces onto the tread. 
     This solution, although advantageous in certain aspects, is susceptible of improvements. 
     Consider, for example, that the holes in the insole are made over the entire surface in contact with the sole of the foot, without distinction, for example, between the forefoot and the heel. 
     This entails a movement of the air that is substantially undifferentiated between the forefoot and the heel, even though these two regions have completely different needs: the forefoot in fact is provided with a larger quantity of sweat glands and requires greater ventilation, while the heel is substantially lacking these glands. 
     Furthermore, even though there are the channels that connect the holes, the movement of the air inside the channels from the heel toward the forefoot is not particularly efficacious in that some holes in the heel region remain always open, so preventing the air from being forced into the channels. 
     Also known is the sole taught by U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,875, which comprises a tread, an intermediate layer and an insole. 
     The intermediate layer, made of a resilient material, is provided with a plurality of cavities arranged over the entire length of the sole, which are interconnected through passages that are V-shaped in cross-section and which close up under the effect of the weight of the user. 
     The aim is to prevent a reflux of the air pumped by the cavities of the heel toward the cavities of the toe, thus promoting a stream of air directed from the heel toward the toe of the foot. 
     The insole is used to facilitate assembly and to maintain the correct form of the assembled pieces. 
     This solution too, although advantageous, exhibits aspects that could be improved. 
     For example, the presence of passages with such a configuration structurally weakens the intermediate layer, subjecting it to the risk of deformations, so much so that an insole is necessary to ensure that the correct shape is maintained. 
     Furthermore, with the passing of time, the insole tends to subside, even only partially, into the passages that join the cavities, causing a reduction in comfort. 
     The aim of the present invention is to provide a shoe component that overcomes the drawbacks of the cited known art. 
     Within this aim, an object of the invention is to provide a shoe component that is capable of ensuring an optimal exchange of air inside the shoe that contains it while remaining structurally solid. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a component that is capable of ensuring a ventilation that is differentiated according to the different regions of the foot. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a component that is highly functional, easily and practically implemented and obtainable at low cost. 
     This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a shoe component, comprising a base structure which is substantially shaped so as to reproduce at least partially the sole of a foot of a user, said base structure having an upper surface which is designed to be directed toward said foot and a lower surface which is opposite said upper surface, said component comprising one or more through holes and one or more blind holes provided in said base structure, said component being characterized in that one or more of said through holes is in communication with one or more of said blind holes through one or more channels provided in said base structure. 
    
    
     
       Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a shoe component according to the invention, which are illustrated for the purposes of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a view from above of a first embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2 a    is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the component of  FIG. 1 , taken along the line II-II; 
         FIG. 2 b    is a view of a first variation of the portion of  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 2 c    is a view of a second variation of the portion of  FIG. 2   a;    
         FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the component of  FIG. 1 , taken along the sectional plane III-III; 
         FIG. 4  is a view from below of the component of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is another view from below of the component of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a view from above of a second embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 7 a    is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the component of  FIG. 6 , taken along the sectional plane VII-VII; 
         FIG. 7 b    is a view of a first variation of the portion of  FIG. 7   a;    
         FIG. 7 c    is a view of a second variation of the portion of  FIG. 7   a;    
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of a portion of the component of  FIG. 6 , taken along the sectional plane VIII-VIII; 
         FIG. 9 a    is a view from below of a third embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 9 b    is a side view from the inner foot side of a third embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 10 a    is a view from above of a third embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 10 b    is a side view from the outer foot side of a third embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIGS. 11 a  and 11 b    are views of a variation of the third embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 12 a    is a view from above of a detail of a component, according to the invention, in a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 12 b    is a cross-sectional view of a component, according to the invention, in a fourth embodiment; 
         FIG. 13 a    is a view from above of a detail of a component, according to the invention, in a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 13 b    is a cross-sectional view of a component, according to the invention, in a fifth embodiment; 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of a sixth embodiment of a component according to the invention; 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional view of the component of  FIG. 14 , not exploded, taken along the sectional plane XV-XV; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the component of  FIG. 14 , not exploded, taken along the sectional plane XVI-XVI. 
     
    
    
     With reference to  FIGS. 1 to 5 , a shoe component according to the invention, provided according to a possible first embodiment, is generally designated with the reference numeral  10 . 
     The component  10  comprises a base structure  11  which is substantially shaped so as to reproduce at least partially the sole of the foot of a user. 
     The base structure  11  is preferably made of polymeric material that is highly resilient, soft and light, for example constituted by expanded polyurethane (PU) and/or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), with thicknesses that vary preferably between approximately 3 mm, in the forefoot region, and approximately 100 mm, in the region of the rear foot. 
     Such base structure  11  has an upper surface  12 , which in use is directed toward the foot of the user, and a lower surface  13 , which is opposite thereto. 
     Advantageously, in the base structure  11  one or more through holes  20  are provided which pass through its entire thickness from the upper surface  12  to the lower surface  13 , and one or more blind holes  30  are provided which extend only for part of the thickness of the base structure  11  and which open toward the lower surface  13 . 
     The through holes  20  and the blind holes  30  are distributed on the base structure  11  according to a predefined pattern that follows differently the anatomy of the foot according to the embodiment being considered. 
     In this regard, it should be noted that the base structure  11  can ideally be subdivided into three portions which are delimited by a first imaginary line  14 ′ and by a second imaginary line  14 ″, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
     More precisely, in the base structure  11  the following can be distinguished: 
     a front portion  11   a,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  11  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the forefoot, 
     a median portion  11   b,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  11  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the midfoot, 
     a rear portion  11   c,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  11  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the rear foot. 
     The front portion  11   a,  the median portion  11   b  and the rear portion  11   c  each extend for approximately one-third of the entire length of the base structure  11 . 
     The median portion  11   b,  in turn, can ideally be subdivided along a third imaginary line  14 ′″, which makes it possible to distinguish: 
     an internal median portion  11   b′,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  11  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the inner, or medial, part of the midfoot, 
     an external median portion  11   b″,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  11  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the outer, or lateral, part of the midfoot. 
     The internal median portion  11   b′,  and the external median portion  11   b″  have substantially the same area. 
     Given the above, as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , in this first embodiment the through holes  20  are arranged at the front portion  11   a  and at the internal median portion  11   b′,  i.e. they substantially affect the forefoot and the medial part of the midfoot, while the blind holes  30  are arranged at the rear portion  11   c  and at the external median portion  11   b″,  i.e. they substantially affect the rear foot and the lateral part of the midfoot. 
     The example illustrated here refers to through holes  20  and blind holes  30  that are substantially cylindrical and extend transversely to the upper surface  12  and to the lower surface  13 . 
     However, it will be evident to the person skilled in the art that the shape and the direction of extension of such holes may be manifold. 
     According to necessity and to technical requirements, the through holes  20  can be constant in cross-section  21 , or almost so, along the entire thickness of the base structure  11 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2   a,  or they can comprise a first portion  22 , with a reduced cross-section, which has a substantially circular cross-section  22   a  arranged proximate to the upper surface  12 , and a second portion  23 , constant in cross-section, or almost so, which has a substantially circular cross-section  23   a  and has a larger diameter than the diameter of the cross-section  22   a  of the first portion  22 , defined proximally to the lower surface  13 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2   b.    
     Alternatively, the through holes  20  can be substantially frustum-shaped, as illustrated in  FIG. 2   c,  having a substantially circular upper cross-section  20 ′ with a smaller diameter proximate to the upper surface  12 , and a substantially circular lower cross-section  20 ″ with a larger diameter proximate to the lower surface  13 . 
     Embodiments like the ones illustrated in  FIGS. 2 b  and 2 c    are particularly advantageous, for example, in shoes that use particularly thin components  10 , since they make it possible to reduce the risk that the user might experience a sensation of giving way, and therefore of reduced comfort. 
     Furthermore, such embodiments, where the through holes  20  have a reduced cross-section, are also particularly advantageous because the reduction in cross-section contributes to locally accelerating the air flow, further improving the ventilation proximate to the upper surface  12  of the base structure  11 . 
     In this case, the diameter of the portion that is substantially constant in cross-section  21 ,  23  is preferably comprised between approximately  5  mm and approximately 18 mm, while the diameter of the portion with a reduced cross-section  22  is preferably comprised between approximately  2  mm and approximately 18 mm, with thicknesses of the portion with a reduced cross-section  22  that vary preferably between approximately 2 mm and approximately 4 mm. 
     If the upper cross-section  20 ′, shown in  FIG. 2   c,  is substantially frustum-shaped, it has a diameter preferably comprised between approximately 2 mm and approximately 4 mm, while the lower cross-section  20 ″ has a diameter preferably comprised between approximately 4 mm and approximately 18 mm. 
     The blind holes  30 , on the other hand, have a cross-section that is predominantly constant, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , and their diameter varies preferably between approximately 5 mm and approximately 18 mm; they are separated from the upper surface  12  by way of a wall  31  of thickness preferably comprised between approximately 2 mm and approximately 4 mm. 
     According to the invention, the component  10  comprises one or more channels  40  provided in the base structure  11 , which place one or more through holes  20  and one or more blind holes  30  in communication with each other, in such a manner as to create, while walking, an almost continuous air flow from the rear foot toward the forefoot, as better explained below. 
     Such channels  40  open out toward the lower surface  13  of the base structure  11 , i.e. toward the surface that when in use is arranged away from the foot of the user, as shown in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . 
     This solution is particularly advantageous in that it makes it possible to reduce to the minimum the points of discontinuity on the upper surface  12  of the base structure  11 , thus increasing the surface that can be used for gluing an optional insole, and decreasing the risk of its collapsing, even only partially, under the weight of the user causing a reduced feeling of comfort. 
     The channels  40  are preferably semicylindrical and their diameter is preferably comprised between approximately 3 mm and approximately 10 mm. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, as an alternative to the preceding embodiment, not shown in the figures, the channels  40  have a quadrangular cross-section of which the short sides and the long sides measure respectively from approximately 1 mm to approximately 3 mm and from approximately 3 mm to approximately 6 mm. 
     During the gait, the weight of the user acts first on the rear portion  11   c,  which is provided almost exclusively with blind holes  30 , and, while the gait action proceeds, the weight is shifted toward the median portion  11   b  and toward the front portion  11   a,  where the through holes  20  are located. 
     In practice, a compression is carried out of the air contained in the blind holes  30 , which, under the thrust of the foot, is conveyed in the direction of the forefoot through the channels  40 . 
     Given the characteristics of the blind holes  30 , there is practically no outflow of air at the resting region of the rear foot, therefore the pressure losses of the stream of air pushed from the rear foot toward the forefoot are substantially negligible. 
     When the air reaches the front portion  11   a  and the internal median portion  11   b′  it can rise, through the through holes  20 , toward the upper surface  12  of the base structure  11 , where the forefoot and the inner part of the midfoot rest, i.e. the areas of the foot that are richest in sweat glands and therefore more subject to sweating. 
     Since at the rear portion  11   c  and at the external median portion  11   b″  the air cannot exit through the blind holes  30 , except in negligible amounts, in such regions there can be multiple channels  40  that branch out from, or converge in, a single blind hole  30 , with respect to the arrangement in the front portion  11   a  and in the internal median portion  11   b′  for the through holes  20 . 
     Such contrivance allows a better distribution of the air, while avoiding local pressure increases that could cause unsightly swellings and cause a feeling of reduced comfort and/or of instability during the gait. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 5 , a part of the channels  40  extends substantially from the external median portion  11   b″  toward the front portion  11   a,  according to a predominant direction of extension  15  which is oriented substantially from the resting region of the lateral side of the foot toward the resting region of the medial side of the foot, basically following the second and third steps of the natural walking movement of the foot. 
     In this regard, consider that for a walking user, there are substantially three phases in placing the foot on the ground: 
     a first phase, in which the rear heel makes contact with the ground, also known as the taligrade phase; 
     a second phase, which corresponds to the classic resting on the rear and front heels, and on the lateral margin of the foot, also known as the plantigrade phase; 
     a third phase, of resting only on the front heel, with progressive release of the resting on the metatarsal heads from the outside inward, also known as the digitigrade phase. The distribution of the channels  40  along the predominant direction of extension  15  is therefore found to be particularly advantageous, in that it favors the outflow of the air contained in them through the through holes  20  gradually, following the natural gait of the foot. 
     Otherwise, local buildups of air could occur, with consequent local pressure increases that could cause unsightly swellings and cause a reduction in comfort and/or instability during the gait. 
     In this first embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 1 to 5 , all the through holes  20  and the blind holes  30  are connected by the channels  40 . 
     However, in embodiments not shown it is possible that one or more through holes  20  and/or one or more blind holes  30  are isolated, i.e. are not connected to adjacent holes through the channels  40 . 
     This could be done, for example, in order to simplify the construction of the molds by means of which the component  10  is made, while still ensuring an efficacious ventilation. 
     In such cases, it is possible that at least approximately 60% of the through holes  20  and of the blind holes  30  are connected by the channels  40 . 
     Alternatively, at least approximately 70% of the through holes  20  and of the blind holes  30  can be connected by the channels  40 . 
     Alternatively, at least approximately 80% of the through holes  20  and of the blind holes  30  can be connected by the channels  40 . 
     Alternatively, at least approximately 90% of the through holes  20  and of the blind holes  30  can be connected by the channels  40 . 
     Advantageously, the component  10  also comprises a surrounding element  50  that covers at least partially the perimeter of the base structure  11 . 
     Advantageously the surrounding element  50  can also cover below the base structure  11 , that is to say that the element  50  can comprise a tread for contact with the ground. 
     This solution is advantageous since it makes it possible to produce the base structure  11  with the minimum possible density, for example comprised between approximately 0.2 and approximately 0.6 g/cm 3 , and/or the minimum possible hardness, for example comprised between approximately 30 and approximately 80 Asker C, and join it to the surrounding element  50  which is made of a more rigid material, for example polyurethane or thermoplastic polyurethane, for short PU and TPU, of hardness comprised between approximately 60 and approximately 90 Shore A and/or density comprised between approximately 0.9 and approximately 1.3 g/cm 3 . 
     In this manner, an assembled component  10  can be obtained for use for example as a midsole, which already comprises a tread or to which a tread is subsequently to be joined in order to form a sole for shoes, which is extremely comfortable but at the same time sufficiently solid. 
     In any case, it is also possible to make a midsole with just the base structure  11  conveniently dimensioned. 
     It is furthermore possible to make the component  10  with a base structure  11  which has different hardnesses and/or densities in the various regions, according to necessity and technical requirements. 
     In particular, it is possible to have a greater hardness and/or density at the portions where the blind holes  30  are provided and a lesser hardness and/or density at the portions where the through holes  20  are provided. 
     For example, in a preferred embodiment, the base structure  11  has a hardness: 
     comprised between approximately 60 and approximately 80 Asker C at the portions where the blind holes  30  are provided, 
     comprised between approximately 30 and approximately 50 Asker C at the portions where the through holes  20  are provided. 
     In a possible second embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 6 to 8 , the shoe component according to the invention is generally designated with the reference numeral  110 , while the elements substantially corresponding to elements of the first embodiment have been designated with the same reference numerals increased by 100. 
     In the component  110 , a first imaginary line  114 ′ and a second imaginary line  114 ″ delimit ideally: 
     a toe portion  111   a,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  111  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the toe of the foot, 
     an internal central portion  111   b,  i.e. a portion of the base structure  111  that substantially corresponds to the resting region of the internal plantar arch of the foot, 
     a complementary portion  111   c,  i.e. the remaining part of the base structure  111 . 
     In this second embodiment, the through holes  120  are provided in the toe portion  111   a  and in the internal central portion  111   b,  while the blind holes  130  are provided in the complementary portion  111   c.    
     The toe portion  111   a  and the internal central portion  111   b  can be present simultaneously, or only one of the two can be present. 
     These embodiments are advantageous because they make it possible to maximize the ventilation in one or more of the aforementioned portions, where the load applied owing to the weight of the user is lighter. 
     As is known, in fact, the foot rests mainly on the heel, at the calcaneus, and along the external plantar arch up to the head of the fifth metatarsal, therefore the toe portion  111   a  and the internal central portion  111   b  support a lighter load and therefore are particularly indicated for maximizing ventilation. 
     In a possible third embodiment, the shoe component according to the invention is substantially a removable insole, illustrated in various views in  FIGS. 9   a,    9   b,    10   a  and  10   b.    
     With reference to those figures the shoe component, designated by the reference numeral  210 , comprises a base structure  211  in which one or more through holes  220  are provided which pass through its entire thickness from the upper surface  212  to the lower surface  213 , and one or more blind holes  230  are provided which extend only for a part of the base structure  211  and which open toward the lower surface  213 . 
     In particular, at the heel on the base structure  211  there is a single blind hole  231 , the diameter of which is preferably comprised between approximately 10 and approximately 25 mm. 
     Advantageously the blind hole  231  is delimited, toward the lower surface  213 , by a rounded surface  232 , for example convex. 
     This embodiment is advantageous because it makes it possible to take advantage of the maximum load available to promote the air flow. 
     At the heel, in fact, the load applied by the weight of a user reaches the maximum value. 
     The rounded shape of the surface  232  is, on the other hand, advantageous because it makes it possible to avoid points where the air can stagnate and because it confers greater comfort, avoiding the perception of edges during the gait. 
     A variation of the third embodiment is shown in a view from below in  FIG. 11 a    and in a side view from the inner foot side in  FIG. 11   b.    
     With reference to those figures, the shoe component, designated by the reference numeral  210 ′, comprises a base structure  211 ′ in which one or more through holes  220 ′ are provided which pass through its entire thickness from the upper surface  212 ′ to the lower surface  213 ′, and one or more blind holes  230 ′ are provided which extend only for part of the base structure  211 ′ and which open toward the lower surface  213 ′. 
     This variation is particularly advantageous, for example, when the thickness of the base structure  211 ′ is not sufficiently high to be able to provide a single blind hole at the heel. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9 a    and  11   a,  a part of the channels  240  and  240 ′ extends advantageously according to a predominant direction of extension  215  and  215 ′ which is oriented substantially from the resting region of the lateral side of the foot toward the resting region of the medial side of the foot. 
     Furthermore the blind holes  230 ,  230 ′ and the through holes  220 ,  220 ′ can have the same shape described above with reference to the first embodiment. 
       FIG. 12 a    is a view from above of a possible embodiment of the surrounding element  50 . 
     In such embodiment, the surrounding element  50  comprises one or more tabs  60 , made in a single piece with the rest of the element  50  and arranged substantially proximate to the external perimeter thereof. 
     The hardness of the tabs  60  is, therefore, substantially equal to the hardness of the element  50  and greater than the hardness of the base structure  11 . 
     In the above mentioned embodiment, the tabs  60  correspond to support columns. 
     The tabs  60  are particularly advantageous because they limit the lateral movement of the base structure  11  owing to the shear component of the load bearing thereon. 
     Furthermore the tabs  60  limit the overall lowering of the set constituted by the base structure  11  and by the element  50  subjected to the action of a vertical load. 
     As a consequence greater stability is obtained along with a greater level of comfort perceived by the user. 
       FIG. 12 b    is a cross-sectional view proximate to the heel of the component  10  for a shoe that comprises the element  50  provided with tabs  60  of  FIG. 12   a,  the base structure  11 , with the blind holes  30  and an additional upper element  70 , which is particularly advantageous for aesthetic reasons and/or to give additional stability to a shoe that comprises such component  10 . 
     In a variation of embodiment, illustrated in  FIGS. 13 a    and  13   b,  each tab  60  is joined to the internal side wall of the perimetric edge of the element  50 , the one directed toward the base structure  11 , by a first crossmember  61 , which is also made in a single piece with the rest of the element  50 . 
     The first crossmember  61  is particularly advantageous because it keeps the perimetric edge of the element  50  joined to the tab  60 , preventing it from excessive distancing, a possible cause of detachment between the element  50  and the base structure  11  under conditions of high load. 
     The first crossmember  61  constitutes, with the respective tab  60 , a ramification of the surrounding element  50  that penetrates into the base structure  11 , rendering the coupling between the latter and the element  50  more solid and durable even in presence of numerous cycles of application and removal of the load. 
     In this manner the lateral movement of the surrounding element  50  is limited when the latter is subjected to the thrust of the base structure  11  on which the weight of the user bears. 
     Also, there can be a plurality of second crossmembers  62 , each one for connection between two respective tabs  60 . 
     In particular, such second crossmembers  62  are also made in a single piece with the rest of the surrounding element  50  and are adapted to provide additional support to the latter, for example when the hardness of the material that constitutes the surrounding element  50  is much lower with respect to the hardness of the material that constitutes the base structure  11 . 
     These second crossmembers  62  make it possible for the tabs  60  to regain the inactive position, i.e. when no loads are applied, once the load applied decreases or ceases altogether. 
     The tabs  60  and the first crossmembers  61  are advantageously arranged in the places that are most adapted according to the use of a shoe that comprises the component  10  with the base structure  11  and the surrounding element  50 . 
     For example, the tabs  60  and the first crossmembers  61  can be arranged substantially proximate to the perimetric edge of the surrounding element  50 , leaving free a neighborhood of the toe of the foot and the inner region of the midfoot, as shown in  FIG. 13   a.    
     Such tabs  60  are preferably cylindrical or frustum-shaped, with: 
     a diameter, at the point closest to the upper surface of the base structure  11 , preferably comprised between approximately 1.5 and approximately 5 mm, 
     a height that is determined so that their upper surface is located at not less than approximately 2 mm from the upper surface of the base structure  11 . 
     Such a height ensures that, even under conditions of maximum load, the tabs  60  are not felt by a user, who otherwise could notice a sensation of discomfort or of pain. 
     The thickness of the first crossmembers  61  and of the second crossmembers  62  is preferably comprised between approximately 1.5 and approximately 4 mm. 
     The first crossmembers  61  and the second crossmembers  62  have a height extension that is preferably lower than the height of the tabs  60 . 
     More preferably the difference between the height extension of the tabs  60  and that of the first crossmembers  61  and of the second crossmembers  62  is comprised between approximately 1 and approximately 4 mm. 
     This makes it possible not to increase the weight of the surrounding element  50  too much, since it is constituted by polymeric material that usually has a specific weight that exceeds that of the polymeric material of which the base structure  11  is constituted. 
       FIG. 14  shows a sixth embodiment of the component  10 , according to the invention, which comprises the base structure  11  and the surrounding element  50 . 
     In such embodiment, the surrounding element  50  comprises one or more tabs  60 , arranged proximate to the external perimetric edge and located on the surface of the element  50  that faces the perimetric edge of the base structure  11 . 
     The tabs  60  are made in a single piece with the surrounding element  50  and therefore have substantially the same hardness. 
     In the above mentioned embodiment, the tabs  60  correspond to strengthening wings. 
     At such tabs  60  there are, on the base structure  11 , corresponding seats  91  for accommodating the latter, which are shaped complementarily thereto. 
     In order to provide the element  50 , it is possible, for example, to use a first mold and subsequently place it in a second mold, pouring into it the thermally stable polymeric material such as for example polyurethane (PU) which constitutes the base structure  11 . 
       FIGS. 15 and 16  show two different cross-sections of the component  10 , respectively taken along the sectional planes XV-XV and XVI-XVI of  FIG. 14 . 
     In practice it has been found that the invention fully achieves the intended aim and objects by providing a shoe component that makes it possible to create, during the gait, an almost continuous air flow from the rear foot toward the forefoot, in this manner ensuring an optimal exchange of air inside the shoe that contains it. 
     In particular, at the forefoot a flow of air is created that promotes ventilation right at the areas of the foot that are richer in sweat glands and which therefore are more subject to sweating. 
     Furthermore, the presence of through holes and blind holes of reduced dimensions with respect to the width of the component itself, which are distributed evenly from the forefoot toward the rear foot, makes it possible to move a volume of air that is not negligible while avoiding, with respect to known solutions, having cavities of dimensions such as to expose the foot arranged above to the component to the risk of subsiding under the action of the weight of the user. 
     The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, all the details may be substituted by other, technically equivalent elements. 
     In practice the materials employed, provided they are compatible with the specific use, and the contingent dimensions and shapes, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art. to The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. 102019000024036 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference. 
     Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly, such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.