Abstract
A shoe, and production methods for such a shoe, having a single-piece sole construction, in which efficient air circulation in the shoe and thereby directly on the foot of the user of the shoe is made possible with every step of the walking movement of the user.
Claims
1. A method for producing a shoe, having the steps of: providing a mounted upper with a perforated insole having openings in a joint region and/or a ball region of the shoe; providing a single-piece sole construction with a solid sole body with one or more recesses in the solid sole body on the side that faces the insole by injection-molding in a corresponding injection mold; providing an air pump device in a heel region of the shoe in one recess of the one or more recesses in the solid sole body; providing a first air channel, which extends at least partially within the upper and is configured for feeding air to the air pump device, and a first valve, which is associated with the first air channel and is configured for allowing air to pass through only in the direction from outside of the sole construction to the air pump device, and affixing the first air channel to the upper; providing a second air channel, which is configured for conducting air away from the air pump device, and a second valve, which is associated with the second air channel and is configured for allowing air to pass through only in the direction away from the air pump device; and connecting the single-piece sole construction with the mounted upper by directly gluing the single-piece sole construction to the underside of the upper with the perforated insole in such a manner that the air pump device, the second air channel, and the second valve are positioned between the insole and the single-piece sole construction, in the one or more recesses, the second air channel being positioned between the insole and the single-piece sole construction so that the air pump device is connected to the openings in the insole via the second valve.
2.-6. (canceled)
7. The method according to claim 1, in which the first air channel is connected with the air pump device by way of the first valve, by means of connecting the single-piece sole construction with the mounted shaft.
8. The method according to claim 1, in which the second air channel comprises one or more conduits that are formed by means of one or more recesses in the sole construction, and/or plastic hoses having openings along the longitudinal axis of the same, and/or a woven mesh.
9.-15. (canceled)
16. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing an air pump device in a heel region of the shoe in one recess of the one or more recesses in the solid sole body comprises setting a lung plastic device into the one recess in the solid sole body.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0040] Further properties and advantages of the invention are evident from the detailed but non-restrictive description of embodiments, which are shown using the attached drawings.
[0041] FIGS. 1a and 1b show a shoe according to an embodiment having a single-piece sole construction, an air pump device in the form of a cavity, and an air intake device that is provided laterally in the upper,
[0042] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a shoe according to an embodiment having a single-part sole construction, an air pump device in the form of a lung, and an air intake device that is provided laterally in the upper,
[0043] FIGS. 3a and 3b show a shoe according to an embodiment having a single-part sole construction, an air pump device in the form of a lung, and an air intake device that is provided in a heel part,
[0044] FIGS. 4a and 4b show a shoe according to an embodiment having a single-part sole construction, an air pump device in the form of a lung, and an air intake device that is provided in a heel part,
[0045] FIG. 5 shows an embodiment similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 2a, wherein the sole construction has a defined heel.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0046] A shoe having a single-piece sole construction, which is directly connected with an upper with an insole, is disclosed in the present invention. The sole construction comprises a solid body without inner cavities, with one or more recesses being provided on the side that faces the insole. These recesses, which can be directly injection-molded with the sole construction, by means of selecting a corresponding injection mold, can serve for accommodating/forming an air pump device, for accommodating at least one valve, and for accommodating/forming an air channel, by way of which air is guided by the air pump device. The air guided in this way can get into the shoe interior by way of openings in the insole, which is perforated in the joint region or ball region of the shoe, and thereby provide the desired ventilation. The said valve and the said air channel can be positioned directly between the insole and the single-piece sole construction, in one or more recesses of the same.
[0047] In the following, embodiments of the shoe according to the invention and production methods for a shoe, according to the invention, will be described with reference to FIGS. 1a to 4b and 5. The same or equivalent elements are indicated with the same reference symbols in the figures. In FIGS. 1a, 2a, 3a, and 4a, the finished shoe is shown, and in FIGS. 1b, 2b, 3b, and 4b, a mounted upper and a single-piece sole construction before these parts are connected are shown.
[0048] As is shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b, a shoe according to an example of the present invention comprises an upper 1 having an insole 2 connected with it by means of strobel-lasting or board-lasting, for example, and a sole construction 3. The insole 2 is designed as a two-component sole, for example, and comprises a harder material in the heel region, for example a rigid cardboard, than in the ball region, in which a textile material or leather, for example, can be provided. The relatively hard material provided in the heel region guarantees that the foot of a user of the shoe does not sink into the air pump device 5. Furthermore, an insole with paperboard and a steel joint, wherein the steel joint can be covered with Texon, a textile insole having a region reinforced with paperboard, or a textile insole having a region reinforced with paperboard and a steel joint can be provided. An insole structured in this manner can also be used in the embodiments described below with reference to the following figures.
[0049] The single-piece sole construction 3 is cast as a solid body/mono-block and has no cavities in its interior. In the heel region, it possesses an elevated region 4. This elevated region can be configured on a heel (in other words in addition to this heel). The single-piece sole construction 3 has one or more recesses, which can fundamentally be configured geometrically in any manner, in the upper region (in other words on the side facing the insole 2).
[0050] An air pump device 5 in the form of a cavity is configured in a recess of the single-piece sole construction 3, in the heel region. When stress on the heel region is relieved during the course of the walking movement of a user of the shoe, air is drawn into the air pump device 5 by way of an air intake device 6, an air channel 7 connected with this device, by way of a one-way valve 8. The air channel 7 can be passed through a corresponding opening in the insole 2. In particular, the air intake device 6 can be partially visible on the upper of the shoe, and can be configured in the form of a logo, pattern, trademark or the like, or comprise the latter. The air channel 7 can run between an inner lining and an upper leather of the upper 1, and can be configured in the form of a plastic hose, for example. The channel is passed through an opening in the insole 2 and is connected with the valve 8 (see FIG. 1a).
[0051] When stress is placed on the heel region, the air pump device 5 is compressed, thereby pressing air out of the device into the air conduits 10 by way of the one-way valve 9. While the one-way valve 8 allows air to pass through only in the direction toward the air pump device 5, the valve 9 allows air to pass through only in the direction away from the air pump device 5. The air conduits 10 form an air channel, by way of which air is pressed out of the air pump device 5 and finally through the openings 11 in the insole 2 into the shoe interior. The air pressed through the openings 11 then serves to ventilate a shoe interior and thereby the foot of a wearer of the shoe. In addition or alternatively to the air conduits, plastic hoses having openings along their longitudinal axis, which are connected with the valve 9, or a woven mesh can be provided in a corresponding recess of the sole construction 3 here, and also in the embodiments described with reference to FIGS. 2 to 4.
[0052] The shoe shown in Figure la can be produced as follows. The perforated insole 2 is connected with the upper 1 by means of strobel-lasting or board-lasting. The air intake device (air intake) 6 with the air channel 7 is affixed in the upper 1. The valves 8 and 9 are affixed (see FIG. 1b). The air channel 7 is connected with the valve 8 by means of an opening in the insole 2. The upper 1 with insole 2, which is finished in this way, can then be directly connected, by means of gluing, with a single-piece sole construction 3, which was injection-molded. In this way, a simple and cost-advantageous production method for the shoe is achieved.
[0053] In FIGS. 2a and 2b, an alternative embodiment is shown, which differs from the one shown in FIGS. 1a and 1b in that the air pump device 5 from FIGS. 1a and 1b is configured in the form of a lung (a separate plastic pump reservoir). When stress is placed on the heel region, the lung 15 is compressed, thereby pressing air out of the lung into the air conduits 10, by way of the one-way valve 9.
[0054] The shoe shown in FIG. 2a can be produced as follows. The perforated insole 2 is connected with the upper 1 by means of strobel-lasting or board-lasting. The air intake device 6 with the air channel 7 is affixed in the upper 1. The lung 15 and the valves 8 and 9 are affixed to the underside of the insole 2. This can take place, for example, in such a manner that these elements are attached to the underside of the insole 2 using an attachment layer, for example composed of plastic. The upper 1 with insole 2 and affixed lung 15, finished in this way, is drawn onto a last, centered in a sole application machine, and connected/soled with the single-piece sole construction 3 by means of injection-molding. In this way, the shoe composed of the finished, assembled upper 1 with the lung 15 and the injection-molding material of the sole construction 3 can be finished using an injection-molding process.
[0055] Alternatively, as is also shown in FIG. 2b, the single-piece sole construction 3 is injection-molded first, and the lung 15 is laid into a recess of the injection-molded single-piece sole construction 3. Afterward, the sole construction 3, with the lung 15, is directly connected, by means of gluing, with the finished, assembled upper 1, on the underside of which the valves 8 and 9 can be situated, which valves can also, alternatively, be provided in a corresponding recess of the sole construction 3 before connection takes place; as a result, a simple and cost-advantageous production method for the shoe is also achieved.
[0056] A further embodiment of the present invention is illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b. In this embodiment, an air intake device 6 in the form of a heel part is provided. The heel part can be injection-molded or glued onto the heel region of the upper 1, and can comprise an element that allows air to pass through. Using the heel part, a relatively large amount of air per step can be drawn in and provided for ventilation of the shoe interior.
[0057] The air pump device 5, which is provided by a cavity in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3a, draws air in from the outside by way of the air intake device 6. Drawing in air is regulated by means of a one-way valve 8. The heel part can comprise the air intake device 6 at one end of an air channel, the other end of which is connected with the one-way valve 8.
[0058] The shoe shown in FIG. 3a can be produced as follows. The perforated insole 2 is connected with the upper 1 by means of strobel-lasting or board-lasting. The heel part, as an air intake device, is affixed on the upper 1, for example injection-molded or sewn on, so that it comprises the air channel that lies on the inside. The valves 8 and 9 are also affixed (see FIG. 3b). The valve 8 can fundamentally be situated within or outside of the heel part. The upper 1 with insole 2, finished in this way, is directly connected, by means of gluing, with the single-piece sole construction 3, which is first injection-molded, thereby achieving a simple and cost-advantageous production method for the shoe. The valve 8 is connected with the air channel that extends in the heel part 6, before gluing takes place.
[0059] In FIGS. 4a and 4b, an alternative embodiment is shown, which differs from the one shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b in that the air pump device 5 from FIGS. 3a and 3b is configured in the form of a lung (plastic pump reservoir) 15. In the embodiment shown, the lung 15 is connected with an air channel that runs within the heel part 6, by way of the valve 8. It is connected with the air conduits 10 by way of the valve 9. As in the case of the embodiment described with reference to FIGS. 2a and 2b, air is drawn into the lung 15 from the outside, through the air intake device (the heel part in this embodiment) 6 during the course of a walking movement of the user of the shoe, when stress is placed on the heel region, and when stress on the heel region is relieved, the air drawn in by the lung is expelled into the shoe interior, for effective ventilation of the same, by way of the valve 9, the air conduits 10, and the openings 11 of the insole 2.
[0060] The shoe shown in FIG. 4a can be produced as follows. The perforated insole 2 is connected with the upper 1 by means of strobel-lasting or board-lasting. The heel part 6 is affixed to the upper 1, for example injection-molded on, so that it comprises the air channel that lies on the inside. The lung 15 and the valves 8 and 9 are affixed to the underside of the insole 2. This can take place in such a manner, for example, that these elements are attached to the underside of the insole using an attachment layer, for example one made of plastic, so that the lung 15 is connected with the air channel within the heel part by way of the valve 8. The upper 1 with insole 2 and affixed heel part 6 and affixed lung 15, finished in this way, is drawn onto a last, centered in a sole application machine, and connected/soled with the single-piece sole construction 3 by means of injection-molding. In this way, the shoe composed of the finished, assembled upper with the lung 15 and the injection-molded material of the sole construction 3 can be finished in simple and cost-advantageous manner.
[0061] Alternatively, as is also shown in FIG. 4b, the single-piece sole construction 3 is first injection-molded, and the lung 15 is laid into a recess of the injection-molded single-piece sole construction 3. The valve 8 can be provided in such a manner that it projects downward beyond the heel part. Afterward, the sole construction 3 with the lung 15 is directly connected, by means of gluing, with the finished, assembled upper 1, on the underside of which the valve 9 can also be situated, which valve can alternatively also be provided in a corresponding recess of the sole construction 3, before connection takes place, thereby also achieving a simple and cost-advantageous production method for the shoe. In this regard, the valves 8 and 9 are connected with the lung 15.
[0062] The embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1a to 4b can be implemented with a single-piece sole construction that comprises a (wedge) flat sole. Alternatively, the sole construction in these embodiments can have a distinct heel. As an example, the embodiment shown in Figure la is shown in modified form in FIG. 5 with a distinct heel 14. The heel 14 of the sole construction 3 additionally has an elevated region 4. Furthermore, a recess is provided in the region of the heel, to accommodate the lung 15. Of course, other sole profiles can also be used.
[0063] In the embodiments described above with reference to FIGS. 1a to 4b and 5, the single-piece sole construction 3 can be injection-molded from EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). This material demonstrates a relatively low friction-wear value and great resilience, and therefore it is suitable for the embodiments described. Alternatively, a PU (polyurethane) material or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) can be used. Furthermore, the sole construction comprises a solid body with recesses, particularly at the upper surface (facing the insole). The solid body can also have recesses on the lower side, into which plastic elements/rubber inserts for forming a profile on the running surface can be inserted.
[0064] As described above, the finished, assembled upper can be drawn onto a last and centered in a sole application machine, and connected/soled with the single-piece sole construction by means of injection-molding. This injection-molding process can take place at a pressure in a range from 1.0 to 4.0 bar. The openings in the perforated insole are covered by the last, which has a rubber-like covering. It can be advantageous to put the lung under pressure before injection-molding the single-piece sole construction on, so that it can better withstand the injection-molding process. The pressure that is applied to the lung can amount to about 70% or 80% of the injection-molding pressure.
[0065] Although the present invention was described with reference to special embodiments, it should be noted that the embodiments are merely of an illustrative nature and do not restrict the scope of protection of the invention. The method steps described can be carried out in any suitable sequence. Any possible variants, modifications, and additions and improvements in the embodiments described are possible. These variations, modifications, additions, and improvements lie within the scope of protection of the invention, as this invention is indicated in the following claims.
REFERENCES
[0066] The contents of the following references are incorporated by reference herein: [0067] WO 2000/001266 [0068] WO 2008/156860 [0069] WO 2012/126489
