Patent Document

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to a shoe having vent or drain holes, more particularly, to a shoe having lids for covering vent or drain holes. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Athletic shoes such as canvas sneakers and fishing shoes are usually provided with through holes below shank parts of an upper. These holes serve to ventilate the shoe, when the shoe is used in a dry area. When the shoe is used for activities such as, sailing and fishing, a large amount of water entering the shoe from the top of the shoe can be drained rapidly out of the shoe through the through-holes. However, since the through holes cannot be closed, water cannot be prevented from flowing into the shoe when the wearer walks in an area where the level of water is low, or cannot prevent sand or mud from entering the shoe when walking in a sandy or muddy area. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a shoe with a lid which can be attached removably to a ventilating or draining hole for preventing undesirable solid particles from entering the shoe. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a shoe with a lid which can be attached removably to a ventilating or draining hole and which also serves to carry a logo or an advertisement. 
     Accordingly, a shoe according to the present invention comprises: a shoe body including at least one through-hole extending from an inside to an outside of the shoe body; at least one hollow base fixed in said through hole and having an inner end at the inside of the shoe body and an outer end opposite to the inner end, the hollow base being hollow from the inner end to the outer end for passage of a fluid; and a lid attached removably to the hollow base so as to block the hollow base. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe embodying the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a fragmentary perspective view of the shoe of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 2A is a plan view of a lid used in the shoe of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line  3 — 3  of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a portion within a circle (A) in FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the shoe of FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line  6 — 6  of FIG. 5; 
     FIG. 7A is a perspective view of an alternative hollow base according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 7B is a perspective view of another alternative hollow base according to the present invention; 
     FIG. 8 is a sectional view showing the hollow base of FIG. 7A and a lid unit used therein; 
     FIG. 9 is the same view as FIG. 8 but with the lid unit inserted completely into the hollow base; 
     FIG. 10 is a sectional view showing an inside lid disposed inside a shoe body to close the hollow base; 
     FIG. 11 is a sectional view illustrating a lid having a lid body having a stem connected to a screen; 
     FIG. 12 is the same view as FIG. 11 but with the lid body being pulled outward; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view illustrating a lid having a lid body connected to a ring via a strap; 
     FIG. 14 is the same view as FIG. 13 but with the lid body plugged in a hollow base; 
     FIG. 15 is the same view as FIG. 13 but with the lid body plugged in a cavity of a stud; and 
     FIG. 16 shows an outsole provided with a hollow base and a stud according to the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated with reference to FIGS. 1 to  10  in which like elements are represented by like numerals. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1,  2 ,  2 A and  3 , a shoe embodying the present invention is shown to include a shoe body  10  which includes an upper  11  and an out sole  21 . The upper  11  is formed with three through-holes  12  each of which extends from an inside to an outside of the shoe body  10 . Two hollow bases  13  are fitted respectively in two of the through holes  12 . Each hollow base  13  has a tubular wall  130  which is hollow from an inner end to an outer end thereof. The tubular wall  130  is formed with a flange  131  which abuts an inner surface of the upper  11  and which is fixed to the upper  11  via a sewing process, an end rim  133 , and an integral screen member  132  extending across the hollow base  13 . Instead of sewing, adhesive bonding may be used to fix the flange  131  to the upper  11 . Numeral  30  represents a lining disposed inside the shoe body  10 . A non-hollow or solid stud  14  is fitted in the remaining through-hole  12  and includes a lateral rim  143  and an inner flange (not shown) similar to the flange  131  of the hollow base  13 . The two hollow bases  13  and the stud  14  are arranged at three locations which define substantially three vertices of an equilateral triangle. 
     Since the hollow bases  13  are hollow, they serve to provide passages  135  (only one is shown in FIG. 3) for air ventilation or water drainage. The screen members  132  of the hollow bases  13  function to prevent solid particles from entering the shoe body  10 . A lid  15  is provided to block or close the passages  135  of the hollow bases  13 . The lid  15  is elongated and includes two closure parts  151  which are circular and which are interconnected via a connection part  152 . Each closure part  151  is formed with a looped or annular groove  153  which is defined by an outer flange  154  and an inner circular raised part  155 . The lid  15  can be press fitted simultaneously to both of the hollow bases  13 , or to one of the hollow bases  13  and the stud  14 . The annular groove  153  of each closure part  151  is to receive fittingly the lateral rim  143  of the stud  14 , or the end rim  133  of one of the hollow bases  13 . 
     The length of the lid  15  is arranged such that the lid  15  can be attached in a bridging manner to any two of the hollow bases  13  and the stud  14 . In particular, the closure parts  151  of the lid  15  can be press-fitted respectively and removably to the end rims  133  of the two hollow bases  13 , as shown by phantom lines in FIG.  1 . In this situation, the two hollow bases  13  are blocked and closed by the lid  15 . Alternatively, the closure parts  151  of the lid  15  may be attached removably and respectively to the end rim  133  of one of the hollow bases  13  and the lateral rim  143  of the stud  14 , as shown in solid lines of FIG.  1 . In this situation, the other hollow base  13  is in an open state and permits ventilation or water drainage. In order to drain water effectively, the lid  15  may also be removed from both of the hollow bases  13  and attached to the stud  14  with only one closure part  151  thereof. When it is desired to prevent water or solid particles from entering the shoe body  10 , both hollow bases  13  may be closed by attaching the lid  15  to the hollow bases  13 . 
     Referring to FIG. 4 in combination with FIG. 1, the upper  11  further includes one non-hollow or solid stud  14  and one hollow base  13  mounted on a tongue  111 . When the hollow base  13  is to be placed in an open state, the stud  14  serves to retain a lid  15 A which has a construction similar to one of the closure part  151  of the lid  15 . Specifically, the lid  15 A is circular and has an annular groove  152 A defined by an annular flange  154 A and a raised part  155 A. The lid  15 A can be press-fitted removably to the stud  14 . When it is desired to close the hollow base  13 , the lid  15 A may be detached from the stud  14  and attached to the hollow base  13 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 5 and 6 in combination with FIG. 1, the outsole  21  is provided with a stud  14 , a hollow base  13 , and a lid  15 A for attachment to the stud  14  or the hollow base  13 . The hollow base  13  has a flange  131  abutting an inner surface of the outsole  21 . The hollow base  13  may be assembled with the outsole  21  by bonding the hollow base  13  to the outsole  21  with an adhesive, or by placing the hollow base  13  in a mold during molding of the outsole  21 . 
     FIGS. 7A and 7B show respectively two alternative hollow bases  13 A and  13 B usable in the present invention. The hollow base  13 A differs from the hollow base  13  in that it does not include any screen member extending across the hollow base  13 A. The hollow base  13 B differs from the hollow base  13  in that it has an integral screen member  132 B which is defined by two intersecting ribs  1321 B. 
     Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, the hollow base  13 A may be closed by a lid which includes a lid body  15 C and a lid holder  15 D. The lid holder  15 D is hollow and can be press-fitted in the hollow base  13 A. The lid body  15 C is hinged to the lid holder  15 D. When the lid body  15 C is plugged in the lid holder  15 D, the lid holder  15 D is closed. When the lid body  15 C and the lid holder  15 D are removed from the hollow base  13 A, the hollow base  13 A is opened. 
     Referring to FIG. 10, a hollow base  13  is inserted into and fixed to an upper  11  and a lining  30 . A lid  15 E is press-fitted to the hollow base  13  from the inside of a shoe body (not shown) for closing the hollow base  13 . A pocket  17  is attached to the lining  30  to cover the lid  15 E or to prevent the wearer&#39;s foot from contacting directly the lid  15 E. The hollow base  13  is opened when the lid  15 E is removed from the hollow base  13 . 
     Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, the upper  11  may be provided with a hollow base  13 C which is covered by a lid  15 F. The hollow base  13 C has a narrow open end part  133 C at an outer open end thereof and an annular shoulder  134 C formed inwardly of the narrow open end part  133 C. The lid  15 F includes a lid body  151 F having an integral knob  152 F projecting from one side of the lid body  151 F, a stem  153 F projecting from an opposite side of the lid body  151 F, and a screen  154 F held by a bottom end of the stem  153 F. The lid body  151 F can be plugged in the narrow open end part  133 C to block the hollow base  13 C. When the lid body  151  is pulled out via the knob  152 F from the narrow open end part  133 C, the screen  154 F abuts against the shoulder  134 C. In this situation, the hollow base  13 C is opened to permit passage of water or air through the screen  154 F. 
     Referring to FIGS. 13,  14  and  15 , the upper  11  is provided with a hollow base  13 D and a stud  14 A. The hollow base  13 D has an annular recess  134 D extending in an outer face of an annular wall  135 D. The stud  14 A has a blind hole  141 A. A lid  15 G has a lid body  151 G plugged in the hollow base  13 D. The lid  15 G further includes a cap plate  152 G formed integrally with the lid body  151 G, an attachment ring  154 G received movably in the annular recess  134 D and connected to the cap plate  152 G via a strap  156 G. When the lid body  151 G is plugged in the hollow base  13 D, the hollow base  13 D is closed. When the lid body  151 G is removed from the hollow base  13 D and fitted in the blind hole  141 A of the stud  14 A, the hollow base  13 D is opened. 
     Referring to FIG. 16, like the outsole  21  shown in FIG. 5, a heel section  211 A of a midsole  21 A may be provided with a lid  15 A, a stud  14  and a hollow base  13 . 
     As described hereinbefore, the lids  15 ,  15 A,  15 C,  15 E,  15 F,  15 G according to the present invention can block fluid passages provided by the hollow bases  13 ,  13 A,  13 B,  13 C. In addition, these lids  15 ,  15 A,  15 C,  15 E,  15 F,  15 G can also serve to hold advertising logos or teams&#39; logos. The logos may be changed when desired since the lids are removable. These lids may be made of a transparent material or a luminescent material for decorative purposes. When the lids are provided at the bottom of an outsole, they may be fabricated from a high abrasion-resistant material. When the lids are made of rubber having a high coefficient of friction, the lids may be used as traction members for an outsole. 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Technology Category: 1