Cushioning device with ventilation

Inactive Publication Date: 2013-07-18
SKYSOLE
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The patent text explains how male molds can be used to create products with undercuts and cushioning elements. These features are difficult to achieve with other molding methods. Using male molds allows for the inexpensive production of objects that align precisely with contoured objects such as body parts. Additionally, male molds can mold an entire layer of plastic over an insert or layer, making the finished product stronger and protecting the insert.

Problems solved by technology

This has obvious disadvantages, including malfunction if the bellows mechanism fails and also that the insert must be designed to accommodate this single, large air receptacle.
Further, to fill such a cavity quickly requires a vent that can easily get clogged, rendering the entire device ineffective.
In reality, most of these bellows systems are complex and cannot distribute air throughout the insole.
These devices are complex and require a great deal of assembly.
Along with prohibitive labor costs, the complexity of these mechanisms also results in high defect rates in manufacturing as well as at the consumer level.
Thus there has been virtually no commercial success with this approach.

Method used

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  • Cushioning device with ventilation
  • Cushioning device with ventilation
  • Cushioning device with ventilation

Examples

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Embodiment Construction

[0020]A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4. An insert 10 is characterized by a cushioning device that circulates air between an bottom layer 12 and an upper layer 14. The air is directed to designated areas of the insert 10 via apertures 16, which circulate air to and over the foot of a user. The bottom layer 12 and the upper layer 14 are separated by an air layer 18, or alternatively the middle layer can be a foam or other light weight but breathable material. The insert is shaped to contour to a human foot and fit snugly inside a shoe, although other cushioning embodiments such as gloves, knee pads, and the like could also be incorporated into the present invention. The bottom surface 20 of the insert 10 includes a multitude of deformable geometries, such as inverted, dome shaped elements 22 generally uniformly spaced across the bottom surface as shown in FIG. 3. The dome shaped structures 22, which can serve as tack points to connect the adjacent laye...

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Abstract

An insole for a shoe is characterized by a cushioning device that circulates air between a plastic bottom layer and a soft, porous upper layer. The air is directed to designated areas of the insole via vertical apertures, which circulate air to and over the foot of a user. The bottom layer is formed with air capturing structures that when collapsed expel air that is forced through the apertures and to the surface of the user's foot. The bottom layer and the upper layer are separated by a porous middle layer that may be foam or other light weight but breathable material.

Description

BACKGROUND[0001]The present invention relates to foot wear, and more particularly to a novel insole for insertion into a shoe, or other cushioning applications, that provides padding and forced ventilation using a unique multi-layer layer composition.[0002]There is a wide variety of shoe inserts and pads on the market today that are intended to be placed inside a shoe for the purpose of providing comfort to the foot. It has long been known that shoe inserts and pads can provide a softening mechanism to absorb the shock as the foot bears the weight of the user, and the result of this shock absorbing function provides many orthopedic-related beneficial results. By way of example, the following references provide background into the current art of shoe insert devices.[0003]Huiskamp, U.S. Pat. No. 1,605,588, discloses a sole of a shoe with a pneumatic cushion captured between a lower sole and an upper surface. The pneumatic cushion extends between the ball and the toe, and the device fu...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): A41D13/06A43D11/00A41D13/015
CPCA43B17/08A43B1/0045B29D35/142A43B17/02A43B17/023A43B17/006A43B17/14
InventorGROSS, JEROMESKAJA, JOSEPH
OwnerSKYSOLE