# US 12,004,596 B2 · Shoe component > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,004,596 B2 - Document ID: US12004596B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/123,432 - Filed: 2020-12-16 - Published: 2021-06-17 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-12-16 - Assignees: GEOX S.p.A. - Applicants: GEOX S.p.A. - Inventors: Mario Polegato Moretti; Gianni Buratto; Massimo Zilio; Ivano Barbiero; Livio Poloni - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12004596B2 ## CPC - A43B 7/06: ventilated - A43B 7/081: {the air being forced from outside} - A43B 7/08: with air-holes, with or without closures - A43B 7/084: {characterised by the location of the holes} - A43B 7/087: {in the bottom of the sole} - A43B 13/04: Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre - A43B 13/122: {characterised by the outsole or external layer} - A43B 13/14: characterised by the constructive form - A43B 17/08: ventilated - A43B: CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR ## Abstract A shoe component includes a base structure which is substantially shaped so as to reproduce at least partially the sole of a foot of a user, the base structure having an upper surface which is designed to be directed toward the foot and a lower surface which is opposite the upper surface, the component comprising one or more through holes and one or more blind holes provided in the base structure. The one or more through holes are in communication with one or more of the one or more blind holes through one or more channels provided in the base structure. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A shoe component, comprising: a base structure which is substantially shaped so as to reproduce at least partially the sole of a foot of a user, said base structure having an upper surface which is designed to be directed toward said foot and a lower surface which is opposite said upper surface; and one or more through holes and one or more blind holes provided in said base structure, wherein one or more of said one or more through holes is in communication with one or more of said one or more blind holes through one or more channels provided in said base structure, wherein the base structure includes a front portion, a median portion, and a rear portion, wherein only through holes are arranged at the front portion of said base structure, wherein only blind holes are arranged at the rear portion of said base structure, and wherein the median portion includes both blind holes at an external median portion of said base structure and through holes at an internal median portion of said base structure. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein one or more channels at the front portion of the base structure are oriented at an angle between 0 degrees and 90 degrees with respect to a longitudinal axis direction of the shoe component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1, wherein each one of said one or more through holes comprises at least one portion that is constant in cross-section. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The shoe component according to claim 3 wherein said portion that is constant in cross-section has a substantially cylindrical shape, a diameter of said portion that is constant in cross-section being between approximately 5 mm and approximately 18 mm. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein part of said one or more through holes have a reduced cross-section which is defined proximally to said upper surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The shoe component according to claim 5 wherein said reduced cross-section has a diameter between approximately 2 mm and approximately 18 mm. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein each one of said one or more blind holes has a substantially cylindrical shape, a diameter of said one or more blind holes being between approximately 5 mm and approximately 18 mm, said one or more blind holes being separated from said upper surface by a wall having a thickness between approximately 2 mm and approximately 4 mm. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein said one or more blind holes are arranged at a rear portion of said base structure and at an external median portion of said base structure. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein each one of said channels has a substantially semicylindrical shape with the concavity directed toward said lower surface, the diameter of said channels being between approximately 3 mm and approximately 10 mm. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein a percentage by number of said one or more through holes that are in communication with said one or more blind holes through one or more of said channels varies between at least approximately 60% and at least approximately 90%. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The component according to claim 1 wherein a part of said channels extends along a predominant direction of extension which is oriented substantially from a resting region of a lateral side of said foot toward a resting region of a medial side of said foot. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1 wherein at least one from among said front portion, and said internal median portion, at which said one or more through holes are defined, has a different hardness and/or density with respect to at least one from among said rear portion, said external median portion, and said complementary portion, at which said one or more blind holes are defined. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The shoe component according to claim 1, further comprising at least one surrounding element which is adapted to cover at least partially a perimetric region of said base structure, said surrounding element being made of a material with a hardness and/or density that is different with respect to the material of which said base structure is made.