Waterproof boot with internal convection system
AssigneeTBL Licensing LLC
InventorsRyan Dulude, Brian Lee Strother, James McLain, Stephen Douglas Ammon, Thomas Yeh, Emily V. Miller
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Abstract
Disclosed is a waterproof shoe with an improved ventilation mechanism, designed to circulate air from the outside environment through the shoe in order to provide convective cooling to a wearer's foot. In a desired embodiment, the shoe may incorporate a pump-ventilation mechanism which, coupled with airflow channels incorporated in the upper, acts to establish continuous substantially one-way airflow through the shoe in a heel-to-toe direction while a user walks.
Claims12
A ventilation mechanism for a boot, comprising:
- an intake reservoir positioned toward a heel section of a midsole;
- an exhaust reservoir positioned near a toe section of the midsole and comprising a directional flow channel configured to facilitate air flow in a direction from the exhaust reservoir to an outside environment;
- and
- a connecting channel connecting the intake reservoir to the directional flow channel of the exhaust reservoir, the connecting channel being elongated along an entire length of the connecting channel and running longitudinally through a midfoot section of the midsole,
- wherein the directional flow channel comprises a main channel extending in a longitudinal direction and a plurality of angled conduits extending from longitudinal edges of the main channel, the plurality of angled conduits having a dead end configuration,
- wherein the connecting channel terminates at the main channel so that air flowing from the intake reservoir and exiting the connecting channel directly enters the main channel,
- wherein the main channel further comprises a first channel and a second channel, and
- wherein the plurality of angled conduits extend from opposed longitudinal edges of the first and second channels.
A ventilation mechanism for a boot, comprising:
- an intake reservoir;
- an exhaust reservoir comprising a directional flow channel configured to facilitate air flow in a direction from the exhaust reservoir to an outside environment, the exhaust reservoir having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a perforation extending through the top surface;
- and
- a connecting channel connecting the intake reservoir and the exhaust reservoir,
- wherein the directional flow channel comprises a main channel extending in a longitudinal direction and angled conduits extending from longitudinal edges of the main channel, and each of the angled conduits have a dead end configuration, wherein the connecting channel terminates at the main channel so that air flowing from the intake reservoir and exiting the connecting channel directly enters the main channel, and
- wherein the air entering the main channel is expelled out of the exhaust reservoir only through the perforation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.