The invention relates to a method for producing a shoe with an air pump device bellows which is arranged in the heel region, wherein an upper (2), a midsole (3), and an outsole (4) are first provided. The lower face (32) of the midsole (3) has a recess (36) for forming a cavity for the bellows and a surface which surrounds the recess on all sides and which comprises a surface profile, and the upper face (41) of the outsole (4) has a surface with a surface profile which complements the surface profile of the lower face of the midsole. The horizontal extension of the upper face (41) of the outsole (4) and of a sole section (22) of the upper (2) is greater than the horizontal extension of the midsole (3) such that the outsole (4) and the upper (2) protrude beyond the centered midsole (3) on all sides. In order to connect the upper (2), the midsole (3), and the outsole (4), the midsole (3) is first adhered onto the sole section (22) in a centered manner, and the upper (2) together with the midsole (3) are pressed onto the outsole (4) which is provided in the base element (6) of an injection mold. In the process, the complementary surfaces are adhered such that the cavity of the recess (36) is completely enclosed. The upper (2), the midsole (3), and the outsole (4) are then enclosed by an injection mold, and the outsole (4) upper face (41) surface regions which are not covered by the midsole (3), the outer surfaces of the midsole (3), and the lower face and adjacent lateral surface regions of the upper (2) are overmolded with an edge sole region plastic.

A closable drainage system for a sole of a shoe, the closable drainage system including a drain configured to communicate between sole top and bottom surfaces of the sole, the drain having opposing drain upper and lower faces; at least one drainage aperture element disposed within the drain, the drainage aperture element defining a drainage channel which communicates between the drain upper and lower faces; and a movable member overlaying the drain upper face, the movable member movable over the drain upper face to provide open and closed conditions of the drainage channel; whereby in the open condition, the movable member disposes to allow passage through the drainage channel and correspondingly, between the sole top and bottom surfaces; and whereby in the closed condition, the movable member disposes to preclude passage through the drainage channel and correspondingly, between the sole top and bottom surfaces.

Various embodiments of protective footwear are disclosed with improved ventilation characteristics. The protective footwear includes a toe cap having a ventilation channel, and various other ventilation structures to improve heat-transfer properties of the footwear.

Various embodiments of protective footwear are disclosed with improved ventilation characteristics. The protective footwear includes a toe cap having a ventilation channel, and various other ventilation structures to improve heat-transfer properties of the footwear.

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 shoe sole, to which an upper member is joined, the shoe sole including a bottom receiving part corresponding to a bottom of the upper member, and a rising part that is formed to rise upwardly from an upper side of the bottom receiving part so as to cover an outer surface of a side of the upper member, wherein the bottom receiving part is formed with vent grooves each recessed in a thickness direction from the upper surface of the bottom receiving part, wherein the rising part is formed with vent holes each penetrating therethrough in a thickness direction of the rising part, and wherein the vent hole is formed to have a vertically elongated shape extending from an upper end side to a lower end side of the rising part, and to be in communication with the vent groove.

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.

Under normal usage condition, wearing any pair of shoes especially for extended amount of time regardless of the type of shoe, makes feet sweaty and uncomfortable which potentially results in an exhausted foot. By circulating air inside a pair of shoes and around one's feet inside such shoe one can have a more hygienic/healthy and a more pleasant experience throughout the day. Exposure to fresh air not only makes feet more relaxed and comfortable it allows for less odor trapped inside such shoes due to less sweating. I have invented a means of ventilating men's, women's, or kids' shoes to remove heat and objectionable odors normally caused by sweating of one's feet inside a pair of shoes being worn, by means of circulating fresh outside air inside such pair of shoes and around one's feet wearing such shoes.

A shoe includes a sole, an upper, and a welt. The sole and upper define a seam. The welt overlies the seam. The sole includes flex grooves. The upper includes perforations. The welt includes flex slits.

Disclosed is a self-ventilating shoe that is comprised of at least one tube running along an outer surface of a wall of the shoe. The tube contains an inlet opening outside the show and an outlet opening pointing into the cavity of the shoe. The up and down motions of a foot will cause a circulation of air as air is extruded into the cavity from the tubes during the downward motions and sucked back into the tubes through upward motions. Debris is excluded from the system through utilization of filters on one or all openings of the tubes.