Patent ID: 8919011

Claim:
A shoe with an air circulation system, comprising: an upper having an outer layer, a porous middle layer formed of a porous material, and an inner layer, the inner layer having one or more inner layer openings for venting an inside of the upper to the middle layer, the outer layer having one or more vent openings for venting air out of the porous middle layer to outside of the upper; a sole including an outsole, midsole, and an insole, and having: an external air intake port, a compressible pumping chamber located in a heel area of the shoe, an inlet fluid passageway connecting the external air intake port and the pumping chamber, an inlet check valve between the pumping chamber and the external air intake port, an air distribution pad located within the shoe, an outlet fluid passageway connecting the chamber and the air distribution pad, an outlet check valve between the pumping chamber and the air distribution pad, one or more peripherally and upwardly extending channels provided in the insole or midsole to provide fluid communication between the pumping chamber and the porous middle layer of the upper, and the pumping chamber being operable by periodic pressure applied thereto by walking in the shoe by a wearer, which causes air to be drawn into the pumping chamber from the external air intake port through the inlet fluid passageway and expelled from the chamber through the outlet fluid passageway to the air distribution pad and from the upper through the porous middle layer of the upper to the outer layer vent openings.