Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

A ventilation apparatus including a pump, a switching unit, and a fluid diffuser is provided. The pump attached to the footwear pumps fluid into and exhausts fluid from a cavity of the footwear. The switching unit in communication with the pump selectively changes modes of operation of the pump. The fluid diffuser connected to the pump within the cavity of the footwear includes a feed pipe for transferring the fluid pumped from the pump to the cavity of the footwear during a pump mode of operation and to transfer the fluid in the cavity of the footwear to an ambient environment external to the footwear during an exhaust mode of operation, for ventilating the footwear. In one or more embodiments, the fluid diffuser includes a diffusing member with one or more openings and/or a fluid distribution channel member for transferring the fluid to and from the cavity of the footwear.

A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, including: a first contoured element including at least one hollow lower portion in the plantar region, delimited by a border and including at least one through opening, at least one second contoured and flat element, which is joined in a lower region with respect to the first element; at least one functional element substantially in sheet form, which is waterproof and vapor-permeable and is joined in an upper region to provide a seal to the first element. The second element has a shorter extension than the respective hollow lower portion to define with the border a surrounding slot.

The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear effective to regulate the temperature of the feet of a wearer. In an embodiment, the article of footwear includes an upper and an insole with a thermal effect membrane. The thermal effect membrane contains a plurality of system-reactive components selectively engaged heat and/or moisture. In an embodiment, the printed coating includes a cooling agent, a phase change material, and a heat dissipation material. The bottom of the sole structure of the article of footwear further includes a multiple openings in the forefoot, midfoot, and hindfoot regions. The multiple openings promote airflow into the interior of the upper. In operation, the article of footwear is effective to delay/diminish the rise in skin temperature (compared to footwear lacking the membrane and/or openings), increasing wearer comfort.

Footwear assembly comprising a foot bed in an interior area defined by an upper and positioned atop a sole assembly, wherein the foot bed has a plurality of air holes through the forefoot and/or arch portions, and has air channels connected to the air holes. A compressible convex pump in the foot bed's heel portion faces the sole assembly and is movable between expanded and compressed positions. In the expanded position, the pump supports a portion of the heel portion apart from the sole assembly to define an air chamber coupled to the air channels. Movement of the pump member from the expanded position to the compressed position causes the air chamber to collapse and forces air from the air chamber through the air channels and upwardly through the air holes into the interior area of the upper, wherein the pump member is biased toward the expanded position.

A breathable sole, including a midsole and an outsole; a bottom surface of the midsole has an air chamber, an air inlet channel and a single-way air outlet channel; the air chamber is provided at a heel position; the air inlet channel comprises a dispersed air-collecting channel and an air-guiding channel; the dispersed air-collecting channel is provided at the sole and is provided with air inlet holes; the air-guiding channel is connected with a rear position of the dispersed air-collecting channel and the air chamber; the single-way air outlet channel is a Tesla Valve which has an end connecting to a front position of the air chamber, and has another end provided with an air outlet hole penetrating the upper surface of midsole; the single-way air outlet channel imposes a higher resistance against air flowing from the air outlet hole to the air chamber.

A waterproof breathable sole for shoes, which comprises, for at least part of its extension, at least two structural layers, a lower one provided with a supporting structure so as to form the tread, and an upper one that is permeable to water vapor. The lower layer has portions that are open onto the upper layer. A coating obtained by means of a plasma deposition treatment for waterproofing is provided on the upper layer. A layer is thus obtained that has structural functions and characteristics of resistance to damage and is at the same time waterproof and breathable.

A sole structure for a sport shoe can increase accelerating force during activities and achieve quick movements. A sole assembly 1 for an indoor shoe includes a sole body 2 formed of a soft elastic member and a plate-like member or planar sheet member 3 that is disposed at a position under the first to fourth distal phalanx DP.sub.1-DP.sub.4 of the wearer's foot on a foot sole contact surface 2A of the sole body 2, and that has a higher hardness than that of the sole body 2. The plate-like member 3 extends arcuately substantially in the foot width direction along the toes of the wearer's foot and has a narrow part 3C of a short length in the foot length direction, or a spacing gap, at a region between the first toe and the second toe.

A multi-ply shockproof, hygroscopic and breathable shoe pad includes, from bottom to top in succession: a support bottom layer (1), wherein a lower end face of the support bottom layer (1) is provided with a plurality of protruding portions (5), an upper end face of the support bottom layer (1) is provided with air holes (6), and the protruding portions (5) and the air holes (6) are alternately arranged; an elastic interlayer (2), wherein the elastic interlayer (2) is provided with air holes (6), and is coated with an antibacterial deodorization layer; a hygroscopic interlayer (3), wherein the hygroscopic interlayer (3) is provided with air holes (6), and is coated with an antibacterial deodorization layer; and a breathable waterproof layer (4) coated with an antibacterial deodorization layer; and the support bottom layer (1), the elastic interlayer (2), the hygroscopic interlayer (3), and the breathable waterproof layer (4) are successively bonded.

Systems and devices are described for creating a more effective mechanical ventilation system for footwear. For example, a mechanical ventilation system can include an air reservoir that is almost as large as the entire shoe under the footwear's foot bed. In some examples, the air reservoir can be connected to an area that includes a foot of a user in the footwear. The air reservoir can be compressed using a movable part that circulates air in the footwear with every step. The movable part can be relatively small, extending into the air reservoir, and able to compress and inflate the air reservoir. Movement of the movable part can cause a large effective compressible area of the air reservoir to release fresh air near the toes of a foot to flush stale air out of the footwear.