Inflatable sole lining for shoes and boots

• US 6,014,823 A
• Filed: 08/17/1992
• Issued: 01/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1987
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nikola Lakic
• Original Assignee: Nikola Lakic
• Inventors: Lakic, Nikola
• Primary Examiner(s): KAVANAUGH, JOHN T
• Application Number:
  US07/931,025
• Time in Patent Office: 2,710 Days
• Field of Search: 36/28, 36/29, 36/3 R, 36/3 B, 36/117.6, 36/43, 36/44, 36/93, 36/117.1, 36/88, 36/71, 36/25 R, 36/11.5, 36/54, 36/153, 36/154, 36/114
• US Class Current: 36/93
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 19/01523 absorbing shocks or vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/203 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/035 provided with a pump or valve
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/029 Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/16 made of impregnated fabrics, plastics or the like A43B23/086 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/34 with electrical or electronic arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0407 inflatable
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/20 Ankle-joint supports or holders
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/12 Producing parts thereof, e.g. soles, heels, uppers, by a moulding technique

Abstract

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.

Claims

1. The combination of footwear having an outer sole and an attached outer upper with an inflatable lining received within said footwear for support therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, and comprising:

an air enclosure having flexible walls and being formed of first and second sheets sealed together by a peripheral seam and having a plurality of discontinuous seams forming passageways within said lining and provided with at least one continuous transverse seam to subdivide said sealed interior into at least two sealed chambers, a respective relief valve having an user adjustable valve member in communication with each of said chambers to permit the user to adjust the pressures within said sealed interior chambers independently of each other, an air pump supported on said lining and having an air pump discharge passageway connecting the discharge of said air pump with said sealed interior chambers of said lining, whereby said pump can provide inflation pressure within said chambers of said sealed interior and connector means connecting said air pump discharge passageway to said sealed interior chambers of said lining to apply inflation pressure thereto whereby the user can adjust the resiliency, shock absorbency and comfort of the lining, with said lining, upon inflation, forming exterior air channels between the outer surface of said inflatable lining and the opposite inner surface of said footwear and having said air pump discharge passageway extending from said air pump to said exterior air channels, thereby permitting said air pump to circulate air through said footwear.

2. The combination of an inflatable lining and footwear which has a sole and a flexible upper, said lining received within said footwear and supported therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, said lining comprising:

an air enclosure having flexible walls formed of plastic film surrounding a sealed interior and provided with at least one continuous transverse seam to subdivide said sealed interior into at least two sealed chambers, a respective relief valve in communication with each of said chambers to permit the user to adjust the pressures within said sealed interior chambers independently of each other, an air pump supported on said lining and having an air pump discharge passageway with each of said relief valves including a valve housing, an outlet port, an inlet port, and an user adjustable valve member which is received within said housing and positioned between said valve ports to provide a controlled air pressure at said outlet port and a flexible tube connecting said outlet port to a respective one of said sealed chambers, whereby the user can adjust the pressure within each respective chamber independently of each other to adjust the resiliency, shock absorbency and comfort of the lining, and connector means operable to connect said air pump discharge passageway to said inlet ports of said relief valves whereby said pump can provide inflation pressure within said chambers.

3. The combination of an inflatable lining and footwear having a sole and a flexible upper, with said lining received within footwear for support therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, which lining comprises:

an air enclosure having flexible walls formed as a laminate of first and second flat sheets of plastic film having a size and shape of said selected interior surfaces and bonded together about their peripheral edges and including a sole portion to provide an inflatable inner sole, with at least two continuous transverse seams to subdivide said inner sole into rear, front and arch chambers, an air pump having a discharge port supported on said lining, three relief valves, one each, in communication with a respective one of said chambers to permit the user to adjust the pressures within said sealed interior chambers independently of each other, and connector means connecting said air pump discharge port to said sealed interior chambers of said lining to apply inflation pressure thereto with each of said relief valves including a valve housing, an outlet port, an inlet port, and a valve member which is received within its respective valve housing and positioned between said valve ports to provide a controlled air pressure at said outlet port and a plurality of flexible tubes, one each connecting the outlet port of its respective valve to a selected one of said sealed chambers, and wherein said connector means includes at least one air pump flexible discharge tube to connect the discharge of said air pump to the inlet ports of said valves.

4. The combination of claim 3 wherein each of said valves also includes an excess air discharge port and said plurality of valves are serially connected with the first valve thereof having its inlet port connected to said air pump flexible discharge tube and having its excess air discharge valve port connected to the inlet port of the succeeding valve, and with the controlled pressure discharge ports of each of said valves being connected with respective flexible tubes to its respective sealed chamber of said inflatable lining.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said lining has a plurality of discontinuous seams forming tubular passageways within said lining, and forming exterior air channels between the outer surface of said inflatable lining and the opposite inner surface of said footwear and including a flexible discharge tube extending from the excess air port of the last of said serially connected plurality of valves to said exterior air channels, thereby permitting said air pump to circulate air through said footwear.

6. The combination of claim 3 wherein said air pump discharge passageway is an air pump flexible discharge tube and wherein each of said relief valves includes a sleeve which removably receives said air pump flexible discharge tube whereby said discharge tube may be connected to any selected one of said relief valves.

7. The combination of footwear having an outer sole and an attached outer upper with an inflatable lining received within said footwear for support therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, and comprising an air enclosure having flexible walls formed of plastic film surrounding a sealed interior and being formed of first and second flat sheets sealed together by a peripheral seam and having a plurality of discontinuous seams forming passageways within said lining, and forming indentations in the exterior surfaces of said lining between said passageways, and provided with at least one continuous transverse seam to subdivide said sealed interior into at least two sealed chambers, at least one relief valve having an user adjustable valve member, said relief valve being in communication with a respective one of said chambers to adjust the pressure within said respective one chamber whereby the user can adjust the resiliency, shock absorbency and comfort of the lining, and an air pump supported on said lining and having an air pump discharge passageway connecting the discharge of said air pump with said sealed interior chambers of said lining, whereby said pump can provide inflation pressure within said chambers of said sealed interior and with said seams forming exterior air channels between the outer surface of said inflatable lining and the opposite inner surface of said footwear and including a flexible tube with a sleeve extending to said exterior air channels, whereby said air pump discharge passageway may be connected to said sleeve and flexible tube to circulate air through said footwear.

8. An inflatable lining to be received within footwear for support therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, which comprises:

an air enclosure having flexible walls formed as a laminate of first and second sheets of plastic having a size and shape of said selected interior surfaces and bonded together about their peripheral edges and including a sole portion to provide an inflatable inner sole, with continuous transverse seams to subdivide said inner sole into at least rear, front and arch chambers, an air pump supported on said lining and having an air pump discharge passageway, relief valves, one each, in communication with a respective one of said chambers to permit the user to adjust the pressures within said sealed interior chambers independently of each other, with each of said valves also including an excess air discharge port and said relief valves being serially connected with the first valve thereof having its inlet port connected to said air pump discharge passageway and having its excess air discharge valve port connected to the inlet port of the succeeding valve in said series, and with the controlled pressure discharge ports of each of said valves being connected with respective flexible tubes to its respective sealed chamber of said inflatable lining.

9. The combination of footwear having an outer sole and an attached outer upper with said inflatable lining of claim 8 received within said footwear as an internal lining thereof and being formed of first and second sheets sealed together by a peripheral seam and having a plurality of discontinuous seams forming passageways within said lining, and forming indentations in the exterior surfaces of said lining between said passageways, thereby forming exterior air channels between the outer surface of said inflatable lining and the opposite inner surface of said footwear and including a flexible discharge tube extending from the excess air port of the last of said serially connected plurality of valves to said exterior air channels, thereby permitting said air pump to circulate air through said footwear.

10. The combination of footwear having a sole and attached flexible upper with an inflatable lining received within said footwear for support therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, which lining comprises:

an air enclosure having flexible walls formed as a laminate of first and second flat sheets of plastic film having a size and shape of said selected interior surfaces and bonded together about their peripheral edges and including a sole portion to provide an inflatable inner sole, with continuous transverse seams to subdivide said inner sole into rear, front and arch chambers, an air pump supported on said lining and having an air pump discharge passageway, relief valves, one each, in communication with a respective one of said chambers to permit the user to adjust the pressures within said sealed interior chambers independently of each other, with each of said relief valves including a sleeve which removably receives said air pump discharge passageway whereby said discharge passageway may be connected to any selected one of said pressure relief valves.

11. The combination of claim 10 wherein said lining has a plurality of discontinuous seams forming passageways within said lining, and forming indentations in the exterior surfaces of said lining between said passageways, thereby forming exterior air channels between the outer surface of said inflatable lining and the opposite inner surface of said footwear and including a flexible tube with a sleeve extending to said exterior air channels, whereby said air pump flexible passageway may be connected to said sleeve and flexible tube to circulate air through said footwear.

12. The combination of claim 10 wherein said continuous seams subdivide the lining into medial and lateral rear, medial and lateral front, and arch chambers.

13. The combination of an inflatable lining and footwear which has a sole and a flexible upper, said lining received within said footwear and supported therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, which comprises:

first and second flat sheets of plastic film having the shape and size of the selected inner surfaces including sole portions to provide an inflatable inner sole, with said first and second sheets being bonded together in a continuous seam about their peripheral edges to form an air enclosure having flexible walls surrounding a sealed interior and provided with at least one continuous transverse seam to subdivide said sealed interior into at least two sealed chambers, at least one relief valve having an user adjustable valve member, said relief valve being in communication with a respective one of said chambers to adjust the pressure within said respective one chamber whereby the user can adjust the resiliency, shock absorbency and comfort of the lining, and including an opening through said first and second sheets and surrounded by a closed circular loop seam located at a preselected position in said lining, and a flexible bulb air pump received within said opening said air pump having an inlet port and air pump inlet check valve and an air pump discharge port with an air pump discharge check valve, an air pump discharge passageway connecting the discharge of said air pump with said sealed interior chambers of said lining, whereby said air pump can provide inflation pressure within said chambers of said sealed interior.

14. The combination of claim 13 wherein said opening and closed circular loop seam are located at the heel of the sole, whereby the normal walking activities of a wearer of footwear fitted with said inflatable lining will operate said air pump and pressurize said inflatable lining.

15. The combination of claim 14 wherein said inflatable lining is formed as a complete assembly which is inserted into said footwear.

16. The combination of claim 14 including spring means contained within said flexible bulb to bias said bulb into an extended position, and to increase the resiliency and shock absorbency of said lining.

17. An inflatable lining to be received within footwear for support therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, and combinations thereof, which comprises:

an air enclosure having flexible walls formed of a laminate of first and second sheets of plastic having a size and shape of said selected interior surfaces including a sole portion, and bonded about their peripheral edges to form a sealed interior and provided with at least one continuous transverse seam to subdivide said sealed interior into at least two sealed chambers, at least one relief valve having an user adjustable valve member, said relief valve being in communication with a respective one of said chambers to adjust the pressure within said respective one chamber whereby the user can adjust the resiliency, shock absorbency and comfort of the lining, and an air pump supported on said lining and comprising a flexible bulb having an air puma inlet port and air pump inlet check valve and an air pump discharge port with an air pump discharge check valve communicating with an air pump discharge passageway connecting the discharge of said air pump with said sealed interior chambers of said lining, whereby said pump can provide inflation pressure within said chambers of said sealed interior, with said sole portion having an opening through said first and second sheets and surrounded by a closed circular loon seam located at the heel of the sole with said flexible bulb received within said opening whereby the normal walking activities of a wearer of said footwear will operate said air pump and pressurize said inflatable lining, and including spring means within said flexible bulb to bias said bulb into an extended position, with an aperture in the undersurface of said flexible bulb, and including a sealing plug removably received within said aperture, thereby providing access to permit removal and replacement of said spring means with spring means of varied compression strengths.

18. An inflatable liner for footwear which has a sole and a flexible upper, said lining to be received within said footwear and supported therein against selected flexible, interior surfaces of said footwear comprising the tongue, the sole, the rear and opposite interior sides of the footwear, said liner comprising first and second flat sheets of plastic film having the shape and size of the selected inner surfaces and bonded together in a continuous seam about their peripheral edges to form a sealed interior and a plurality of discontinuous seams between the first and second flat sheets to create within the sealed interior a plurality of interconnecting passageways, and at least one continuous seam to subdivide the sealed interior into at least two subdivided, sealed chambers;

means to supply pressured air to said sealed chambers comprising an air tube connected to each of said chambers, a pressure relief valve and a connector sleeve carried on each of said tubes whereby a source of pressured air can be connected to said tubes and wherein said relief valves are pressure relief valves each having a valve housing, an outlet port, an inlet port, an excess air discharge port, and an user adjustable valve member which is received within said housing and positioned between said valve ports to provide a controlled air pressure at said outlet port and a tube connecting said outlet port to a respective one of said sealed chambers, with a tube connecting the excess air discharge port of one of said valves to the inlet port of the next valve, whereby the user can adjust the pressure within each respective chamber.

19. A combination of footwear comprising a sole and a flexible upper and an inflatable lining within said footwear, said lining comprising:

first and second flat sheets of plastic film sealed about their periphery to form a sealed enclosure and including a flexible bulb having inlet and outlet check valves to permit its use to pump air under pressure and a passageway communicating from said outlet check valve of said bulb to said enclosure, said bulb being located at the heel of said footwear;

spring means received within said flexible bulb to increase the resiliency and shock absorbency of said lining, a through aperture in the sole of said footwear also at the heel thereof and communicating with the interior of said flexible bulb, a sealing plug removably received within said aperture and sealing said flexible bulb, to provide access to the interior of said flexible bulb, thereby permitting removal and replacement of said spring means with spring means of varied compression strengths.

20. The inflatable lining of claim 19 wherein said spring means is a helical coil compression spring.