Forced air ventilation system for footwear

• US 20060053655A1
• Filed: 07/14/2005
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/14/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Weglin Technologies LLC
• Original Assignee: Ronald G. Weglin
• Inventors: Weglin, Ronald G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,493,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/3.B
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/081 the air being forced from outside

Abstract

A shoe ventilation system for footwear that includes a shoe and a shoe ventilation device. The shoe includes a fitting for connecting to a pressurized air or gas source, such as refrigerated air from a refrigeration source, and the shoe ventilation device includes a fitting to connect to the shoe and a user-actuated valve for controlling the flow of air or gas.

Claims

1. A ventilation device for providing pressurized gas to the footwear of a user while worn by the user, the device comprising:

an input for receiving pressurized gas;

an output for distributing the pressurized gas received from the input, the output configured to provide the pressurized gas to the footwear; and

a user-actuated device for controlling the output of pressurized gas to the footwear.

2. The device of claim 1, further comprising a source of pressurized gas.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the source of pressurized gas comprises a device for storing pressurized gas.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the device comprises a base on which the input and output and device for storing pressurized gas are mounted.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a fitting fixedly mounted on the base for coupling to the footwear and delivering pressurized gas through the output to the interior of the footwear.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the output comprises a delivery device coupled to the output via a flexible conduit for delivering pressurized gas.

7. A ventilation device for providing pressurized gas to the shoe of a user while worn by the user, the device comprising:

an input for receiving pressurized gas;

an output for delivering pressurized gas; and

a user-actuated valve for controlling the supply of pressurized gas from the input to the output.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the output comprises a fitting mounted on a base and the valve is mounted on the base and in fluid communication with the fitting.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the output comprises a hand-held delivery device coupled via a flexible conduit to a base, and the valve comprises a hand-actuated device associated with the hand-held device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the valve is mounted in the hand-held delivery device.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the valve comprises an electro-mechanical valve controlled by a switch mounted in the hand-held delivery device.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein the electromechanical valve is mounted in a base that is coupled to the hand-held delivery device via the flexible conduit.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the output comprises a housing configured to receive the toe of a shoe, and the valve is mounted in the housing for supplying the pressurized gas to the shoe.

14. The device of claim 7, wherein the output comprises a fitting mounted on a base and configured to deliver the pressurized gas to the shoe, and the output further comprises a hand-held delivery device coupled to the base via a flexible conduit for delivering pressurized gas through the hand-held delivery device.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the hand-held delivery device comprises a valve mounted therein that is actuated by a hand-actuated device in the hand-held delivery device.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the valve mounted in the base is actuated by an electromechanical device that is controlled by a switch mounted in the hand-held delivery device.

17. The device of claim 7, wherein the output comprises a housing for receiving the toe of a shoe and the valve is mounted in the housing for supplying air through the toe of the shoe.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein the valve is actuated by a sensor in the housing that detects the presence of the shoe.

19. A shoe ventilation system, comprising:

a shoe ventilation device for providing pressurized gas to the shoe of a user while worn by the user, the shoe ventilation device comprising;

an input for receiving pressurized gas;

an output for delivering pressurized gas; and

a user-actuated valve for controlling the supply of pressurized gas from the input to the output;

the system further comprising a shoe having an input for receiving the pressurized gas, the input formed on a portion of the shoe and in fluid communication with an interior of the shoe, the input configured to prevent introduction of water and dirt to the interior of the shoe while selectively admitting the pressurized gas to the interior of the shoe.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the output comprises a fitting mounted on a base and the valve is mounted on the base and in fluid communication with the fitting.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the output comprises a hand-held delivery device coupled via a flexible conduit to a base, and the valve comprises a hand-actuated device associated with the hand-held device.

22. The device of claim 21, wherein the valve is mounted in the hand-held delivery device.

23. The device of claim 22, wherein the valve comprises an electro-mechanical valve controlled by a switch mounted in the hand-held delivery device.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the electromechanical valve is mounted in a base that is coupled to the hand-held delivery device via the flexible conduit.

25. The system of claim 19, wherein the output comprises a housing configured to receive the toe of a shoe, and the valve is mounted in the housing for supplying the pressurized gas to the shoe.

26. The system of claim 19, wherein the output comprises a fitting mounted on a base and configured to deliver the pressurized gas to the shoe, and the output further comprises a hand-held delivery device coupled to the base via a flexible conduit for delivering pressurized gas through the hand-held delivery device.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the hand-held delivery device comprises a valve mounted therein that is actuated by a hand-actuated device in the hand-held delivery device.

28. The device of claim 27, wherein the valve mounted in the base is actuated by an electromechanical device that is controlled by a switch mounted in the hand-held delivery device.

29. The system of claim 19, wherein the output comprises a housing for receiving the toe of a shoe and the valve is mounted in the housing for supplying air through the toe of the shoe.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the valve is actuated by a sensor in the housing that detects the presence of the shoe.