There is disclosed an
inflatable lining for selected inner surfaces of footwear, such as a shoe, boot or sandal. The
inflatable lining is formed of first and second plastic sheets having the shape and size of the selected inner surfaces, e.g., a sole, or any portion of the upper surfaces of the footwear. The sheets are bonded together in a continuous seam about their
peripheral edges thereby forming a sealed interior chamber. A plurality of discontinuous seams are formed between the first and second sheets to create within the sealed interior chamber a plurality of interconnecting tubular passageways, and at least one continuous seam can also be provided that subdivides the interior chamber into two or more subdivided interior chambers. The
inflatable liner is provided with an
air pump that preferably is a flexible
bulb with an
inlet valve which discharges into a flexible tube which extends to a
pressure control valve and then to the interior chamber of the inflatable inner sole. Preferably the flexible
bulb is mounted at the
heel of the inner sole. The pressure
relief valve is manually adjustable to control the pressure within the inflatable inner sole. Excess air from the
pressure control valve can be directed into channels formed on the undersurface of the inner sole where it discharges through sealed apertures in the inner sole thereby providing
forced air circulation in the footwear. Alternatively, manually operated air pumps can be provided.