Improvements in and relating to Combined Shoe Ventilators and Cushions.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Shoe Ventilators and
Cushions.
We, SAMUEL ARNSFIELD and JOHN KOLLER, both of Johnstown, in the County of
Fulton and the State of New York, of the United States of America, Gentlemen,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
This invention relates to foot gear and is designed to prevent foot scald and
burn, to cushion the impact of the foot when traveling over any hard or unyield-
ing surface, to keep the feet dry and provide an escape for any moisture that may
find its way into the shoe from below, to obviate sweating by setting up and
maintaining a circulation of air which cools the foot and carries off heated and
vitiated air and vapors, and to devise a means of simple construction which can
be readily applied to any make, style, size or nature of boot or shoe without
adding appreciably to the weight thereof or detracting in the least from its shape,
flexibility or comfort to the wearer.
The invention consists of a combined ventilator and cushion interposed between
the outer and inner soles of a boot or shoe, the top side of the device being
channeled or formed with spaced ribs or projections forming passages for the
circulation of air, and the insole having a plurality of openings establishing
communication between the interior of the shoe and the air or ventilating passages.
The invention also consists in forming and combining with the sole ventilator
a supplementary ventilator located in the rear of the heel and placed between
the counter and counter step and having openings leading through the counter
for the ingress and egress of air when the shoe is worn, said openings being at
such a height as to prevent the entrance of water therein, stoppage thereof by
mud or dirt, or interference therewith when rubbers or overshoes are worn.
The invention further consists of the novel features of construction and com-
binations of the parts which hereafter will be more fully described and claimed.
In the drawings:
Fig. is a side elevation of a shoe having the invention applied thereto, the
ower portion being in section to show the relative arrangement of the parts.
Fig. 2 is a horizontal or plan section about on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a cross-section on the line y-y of Fig. 1, looking in the direction
f the arrow.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of the combined ventilator and cushion, the rear portion
cing extended to show more clearly the passages formed therein.
Fig. 5 is a detail perspective view of the rear ventilator, the covering strip
eing removed and set to one side so as to show a series of passages.
Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the following description and
dicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.
The invention is shown applied to a shoe of ordinary form, although it is to be
nderstood that it is to be used in connection with boots or foot covering of any
riety.

page_text: The upper 1 of the shoe is lasted to the insole 2 and outer sole 3 in any of the
usual ways, the usual space formed by the welt 4 being occupied by the cushion
and ventilating device. The insole 2 is provided throughout its extent with a
plurality of openings 5 by means of which communication is established between
the interior of the shoe and the ventilating passages of the device as illustrated.
These openings are reinforced by eyelets so as to prevent their closing after the
shoe has been in service.
The combined cushion and ventilator consists of a base 6 of rubber, leather or
like flexible material so as to conform readily to the shape of the shoe and various
movements of the foot, and which is sufficiently firm to prevent the closing of the
ventilating passages by spreading of the ribs or projections. after the device has
been in use. The base conforms to the outline of the sole of the shoe and is
provided at its top side or the face adjacent to the insole with a series of ribs 7
and projections 8 which are spaced apart so as to form channels or passages for
the circulation of air when the shop is worn. In the heel and shank portions of
the base which are somewhat contracted, the air passages are preferably formed
by projections 8 and in the front or ball portion by the ribs 7, which are spaced
a short distance from one another forming a plurality of channels extending
lengthwise of the shoe and communicating with one another at their outer or
extreme ends. The projecting portions 7 and 8 may be applied to or formed
with the base 6 and are possessed of a degree of elasticity so as to cushion the
force or impact of the foot with a hard surface when the wearer is passing there-
over. The base 6 is thin and pliable so as to occupy a small space and readily
conform to the shape of the shoe and not interfere with the free movements of
the foot, and when in position is supported by the outer sole 3. The ribs 7 and
projections 8 bear directly against the lower side of the insole 2 and the latter
extends over and closes the upper side of the various air passages. The openings
are disposed so as to communicate with the ventilating passages throughout the
extent of the insole, thereby ensuring a rapid carrying off of heated and vitiated
air and the cooling of the foot at all points. The rear ventilator 9 is of approxi-
mately concavo-convex form so as to fit comfortably against the rear portion of the
heel and is located between the counter 10 and the counter step 11, and may be
molded or pressed into the required shape. The outer edge portion of the venti-
lator 9 is so as to obviate the formation of a welt or projecting part which would
exert injurious pressure against the foot. The ventilator 9 occupies a position at
right angles to the sole ventilator and is provided upon its inner side with one
or more channels 12 communicating with the ventilating passages of the sole venti-
lator so as to supply fresh air to the foot and carry off heated and foul air.
Outlets 13 extend from the upper end of the channel 12 through the counter 11
and are reinforced by eyelets which serve to connect the ventilator 9 with the
counter or rear portion of the shoe. The ventilator 9 like the sole ventilator is
flexible so as to conform to the shape of the heel portion of the shoe and prevent
uncomfortable pressure upon the heel. A strip 14 is attached to the inner side
of the base portion of the ventilator 9 and extends over the projecting portions
thereof so as to close the inner or upper side of the passage or channel -12. Any
number of outlets 13 may be provided according to the size and required capacity
of the ventilator and the number and capacity of the ventilating passages may be
varied to suit the make and style of shoe.
The shauk portion of the sole ventilator is stiffened by means of a curved
spring 15 applied to the lower side of the base 6. This spring or shank 15 is
arranged so as to come opposite the hollow or shank portion of the shoe and
stiffen the latter and is secured at its ends to the parts 6. The shank 15, is
supported on the central projections 8 of the base 6 which are contracted towards
their ends and which are located intermediate of the spaces formed by cutting
away the inner corners of the outer or marginal projections. The terminal por-
tion of the spring 15. adjacent to the ball portion of the venti-

page_text: nrust into a
(
and confined between said base and the projection opposite and adjacent to the
transverse slit 16 formed in the base
extremity of the shank. The other end of the shank 15 is attached to the
lower side of the base by a fack or like fastening 17 passing through an opening
thereof and entering the projection directly opposite the terminal of the spring.
It is preferred to construct the device of a size to occupy the space commonly
provided between the insole and the outer sole of welted, machine sewed or turned
shoes usually filled in with some other material; but it may be of a size corre-
sponding to either sole. The shank stiffener is not new, per se, but combined
with the cushion and ventilator in the manner set forth gives beneficial results
and preserves the shape of the parts longer. Within the scope of the invention
the ventilating channels or spaces may be formed by projections of any style,
either continuous in character or interrupted.
From the foregoing it is obvious that changes in the form and minor details of
construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or nature of
the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A shoe having its insole provided with a series of openings, in combination
with a combined cushion and ventilator interposed between the outer sole and
insole and comprising a pliable base having a series of ribs and projections upon
its top side, the ribs extending lengthwise of the ball portion and the projections
extending along the heel and shank portions, the spaces formed by the projected
parts being closed at their top sides by the insole, substantially as set forth.
2. In a shoe or the like having openings in its insole, a ventilator interposed
between the insole and the outer sole and having a series of spaced ribs and
projections upon its top side forming passages which are closed at their upper
sides by the insole, the spaced ribs being longitudinally disposed upon the front
or hall portion of the base, and the series of passages formed thereby communi-
eating at their ends, substantially as described.
3. A shoe having its insole formed with openings, in combination with a
entilator interposed between the outer sole and insole, and having a series of
paced openings upon its top side, the outer or marginal projections having their
nner corners cut away and the medial projections being located in the spaces
ormed by cutting away the corners of the outer or marginal projections, and having
heir corner portions cut away, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
4. A combined cushion and ventilator for shoes and the like, consisting of a
liable base provided upon its upper side with a series of spaced ribs and pro-
ctions to form ventilating channels and having a slit opposite one of the medial
rojections, and a spring shank applied to the bottom side of the base and having
terminal portion thrust into said slit and confined between the base and the
ojection opposite the said slit, substantially as set forth.
5. A shoe or the like having openings in its insole, in combination with a
ntilator interposed between the outersole and insole, and a rear ventilator in
mmunication with the passages of the sole ventilator and having an outlet
tending through the counter of the shoe.
6. In a shoe having its insole formed with openings, the combination with a
tilator located between the outer sole and the insole, and a rear ventilator
lied to the sole ventilator and having closed passages communicating there-
h and formed with upper outlets registering with corresponding outlets in the
nter of the shoe, and eyelets reinforcing the registering outlets and connecting
rear ventilator with the counter of the shoe, substantially as set forth.
In combination, a shoe having its insole provided with openings, a ventilator.
ted between the outer sole and the insole and having a rear extension of

page_text: approximately concavo-convex form and formed upon its inner side with one or
more air passages in communication with the ventilating channels of the sole
ventilator, eyelets connecting the upper portion of the rear extension with the
counter of the shoe and forming outlets, and a covering strip applied to the
inner side of the rear extension and closing the passages thereof, substantially
as set forth.
8. A shoe or the like having openings in its insole, in combination with a
ventilator interposed between the outer and the insole and having a series of
spaced projections on the side adjacent to the insole forming a plurality of
passages, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 7th day of December 1899.
JENSEN & SON,
77, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.