Footwear

Abstract

The present invention provides footwear capable of alleviating the effects of sweating feet. The footwear A includes: an outsole 1 including a chamber 1a having a recessed portion at a site to be located under a heel; an elastic member 4 for closing an upper surface of the chamber 1a having the recessed portion into an air-tight state, and including an expanded portion 4a expanding upward; an insole 2 having a covering portion 2a which is a recessed portion for covering the expanded portion of the elastic member 4, and having an opening 2b on its upper surface; an outside-air intake opening 1b provided on a side wall of the outsole 1; an outside-air passage 1c provided to the outsole 1 and establishing communication between the outside-air intake opening 1b and the chamber 1a; a first check valve G1 for incorporating outside air, provided inside the outside-air passage 1c to allow the air to flow toward the chamber la and to enter therein, whereas to block the flow of the air from the chamber 1a to the side of outside air; a discharge passage P for establishing communication between the chamber 1a and the opening 2b; and a second check valve G2 for exhausting the air, provided inside the discharge passage P to allow the air to flow out of the chamber 1a, whereas to block the flow of the air into the chamber 1a.

Description

BACKGROUD OF THE INVENTION[0001]1. Field of the Invention[0002]The present invention relates to footwear, and especially relates to footwear capable of alleviating the effects of sweating feet.[0003]2. Description of the Related Art[0004]Conventionally, there has been footwear capable of alleviating the effects of sweating feet (for example, see Patent Document 1).[0005]This is “footwear capable of ventilation during walking”, wherein the volume inside a pump chamber is changed by utilizing the change in loads applied to a heel during walking so as to force the air out of the footwear to the outside.[0006]However, the footwear described above has problems as follows. That is, since the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (elastic member) is exposed outside from the insole, the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (elastic member) is easy to wear out from use. Further, a clearance is formed between the insole and the surrounding of the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009]According to the footwear recited in claim 1, since the elastic member has an expanded portion expanding upward, a large amount of deformation is created to increase the pumping action by incorporating and exhausting air into and from the chamber. Further, the expanded portion of the elastic member does not project beyond the insole unlike the conventional footwear, and the insole has a covering portion which is a recessed portion covering the expanded portion of the elastic member. Due to this structure, the expanded portion of the elastic member can be protected. In addition, since the expanded portion never projects beyond the insole unlike the conventional footwear, the appearance is not degraded.

[0010]Further, according to the footwear recited in claim 2, in addition to the effect of the invention recited in claim 1 described above, unlike the conventional check valve in which the pipe is closed at the closed middle portion, and a slit and an opening are provided on one side of the closed middle portion whereas another slit and another opening are provided on the other side thereof with the closed middle portion interposed therebetween, one and the same check valve can alone serve as a first check valve for incorporating outside air and also as a second check valve for exhausting air by changing the orientation of the check valve.

[0011]Further, according to the footwear recited in claim 3, in addition to the effect of the invention recited in claim 2 described above, one end of the pipe accommodated in the guide groove is inserted so as to be in contact with the outer wall of the second′ cylinder of the second check valve for exhausting air, whereas the other end of the pipe is structured so as to face the branched groove branched from the guide groove into the left and right sides. Thus, outside air can be introduced in an air-tight state.

[0012]If the outside-air intake opening is always open, when rain falls, the rain will enter the footwear via the outside-air intake opening. According to the footwear recited in claim 4, in addition to the effect of the invention recited in claim 1 described above, by covering the outside-air intake opening with the cover, entry of rain into the footwear can be prevented.

[0013]When the site of the heel is put onto the elastic member, the elastic member will be depressed into the chamber having the recessed portion, and this causes uncomfortable feeling during walking. However, according to the footwear recited in claim 5, in addition to the effect of the invention recited in claim 1 described above, even if the site of the heel is put onto the elastic member, the supporting member receives the elastic member as it descends, and reduces the descending amount of the elastic member. As a result, the uncomfortable feeling during walking can be reduced.

[0014]Further, according to the footwear recited in claim 6, in addition to the effect of the invention recited in claim 2 described above, the other end of the pipe faces the enlarged groove, and said enlarged groove faces the opening of the insole. Further, the opening of the insole is enlarged toward the top end located at the toe side. Thus, the resistance to the air supplied from the pipe is reduced, and sufficient outside air can be introduced into the footwear.

Problems solved by technology

However, the footwear described above has problems as follows.

That is, since the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (elastic member) is exposed outside from the insole, the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (elastic member) is easy to wear out from use.

Further, a clearance is formed between the insole and the surrounding of the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (elastic member), and dusts and the like easily come into the clearance.

Further, since the expanded portion of the air-tight cover (elastic member) is projected from the insole, the appearance is not good.

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