Shoe construction with a sole formed of pneumatic tubes

• US 5,117,566 A
• Filed: 05/02/1991
• Issued: 06/02/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amie J. Lloyd, Angela D. Lloyd
• Original Assignee: Amie J. Lloyd, Angela D. Lloyd
• Inventors: Lloyd, Angela D., Lloyd, Amie J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sewell, Paul T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hilliard, Thomas P.
• Application Number:
  US07/694,916
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/29, 36/35 B, 36/30 R, 36/59 C, 36/89, 36/44, 36/59 A, 36/30 A, 36/103, 36/3 R
• US Class Current: 36/29
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/20 Pneumatic soles filled with a compressible fluid, e.g. air, gas inflatable linings for skiboots A43B5/0407
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/206 provided with tubes or pipes or tubular shaped cushioning members

Abstract

The present invention provides a shoe upper formed of a polymeric fabric mesh, with an ankle portion formed of an elastomeric polymeric material to provide support to an ankle portion of an individual. The upper includes ventilation apertures directed through a forward end of the shoe, with a first row of pneumatic tubes directed parallel to one another and coextensively with a bottom surface of the shoe, with a first resilient polymeric layer positioned interiorly of the first row of pneumatic tubes and a second row of pneumatic tubes positioned above the first resilient layer. A second polymeric layer and a third polymeric layer are respectively mounted to an interior surface in a laminated configuration, wherein each of the first, second, and third polymeric layers are of decreasing durometer of hardness to provide support and cushioning to an individual. A fluid absorbent fabric liner is formed coextensively about an interior surface of the shoe construction.

Claims

1. A shoe construction, comprising in combination,

a shoe upper, the shoe upper formed of a flexible fabric polymeric mesh, and

a shoe upper ankle portion mounted to the shoe upper to define an elliptical entrance opening directing access into the shoe construction, wherein a sole member is mounted coextensively to a bottom surface of the shoe upper, and

the shoe upper and sole member are defined along a longitudinal axis, and

a forward terminal end of the shoe upper at a forward terminal end of the longitudinal axis includes a matrix of ventilation apertures directed therethrough, and

a rear vertical upper portion is mounted to a rear terminal end of the shoe at a rear terminal end of the longitudinal axis and extends upwarddly from the sole, with the shoe upper ankle portion including an ankle portion upper terminal end, wherein the rear vertical upper portion extends to the ankle portion upper terminal end, and

wherein the entrance opening is defined by an elliptical configuration defined by a minor axis and a major axis, and the rear vertical upper portion extends to the upper terminal end from an upper portion right side to tan upper left side, wherein the upper portion right side and upper portion left side define right and left sides of the entrance opening bisecting by the minor axis of the entrance opening, and

wherein the sole member includes an outer row of pneumatic tubes, the pneumatic tubes are arranged in a parallel contiguous relationship extending coextensively along the sole member and along the rear vertical upper portions, and a first resilient polymeric layer defined by a first durometer of hardness laminated to an interior surface of the outer row of pneumatic tubes, and an inner row of pneumatic tubes arranged in a parallel contiguous relationship relative to one another and extend coextensively and interiorly of the outer row of pneumatic tubes and the first resilient ploymeric layer, and

wherein the inner row of pneumatic tubes include a central inner row chamber positioned medially within the sole member to provide support for an arch of an individual'"'"'s foot positioned within t he shoe construction, and

including a second polymeric layer defined by a second durometer hardness less than the first durometer of hardness and extends coextensively to an interior surface of the inner row of pneumatic tubes along the sole member, and a third polymeric layer defined by a third durometer of hardness less than the second durometer of hardness impregnated with a charcoal material and mounted coextensively to an interior surface of the second polymeric layer, and

including a fluid absorbent fabric liner mounted coextensively within an interior surface of the shoe construction, and

wherein the outer row of pneumatic tubes includes a forward matrix of traction tubes mounted orthogonally to the outer row of pneumatic tubes, and a rear matrix of traction tubes mounted orthogonally relative to the outer row of pneumatic tubes, wherein the forward and rear traction tubes are in a spaced relationship and mounted completely within the outer row of pneumatic tubes.