Air-permeable tongue for shoes, comprising a rigid yet flexible tongue part

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the areas of the material bridges (5) have a lower material strength than the overall material strength of the rigid tongue part (1), so as to avoid breaking of the material bridges (5).

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior longitudinal slit (6) of the rigid tongue part (1) is formed along the central longitudinal axis of the rigid tongue part (1) and starts substantially below the proximal end (2) of the rigid tongue part (1) and terminates above the distal end (3) of the rigid tongue part (1) and wherein starting from the interior longitudinal slit (6), interior transverse slits (7) extend to respective edges of the rigid tongue part (1).

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid tongue part (1) has one or more openings (9, 11) and/or perforations (17) which provide a ventilation function for the shoe and/or which can partly also be used, for sewing, riveting, adhesive bonding or the like to other parts of the tongue and/or the shoe.

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid tongue part (1) consists of a stiff, but flexible material, such as a plastic or a metal or a composite material of both, wherein for a plastic, preferably a PU material with a Shore hardness of about 45 to about 55, ABS or a carbon fiber composite material is used.

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior longitudinal slit (6) and the interior transverse slits (7) of the rigid tongue part (1) are filled with a different, elastic and softer material than that of the rigid tongue part (1), such as preferably with an elastic, stretchable, soft PU material with a Shore hardness of about 25 to about 35.

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid tongue part (1) has a recess and/or a fastening possibility for a Tanka at its proximal end (2).

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the padding (14) is also embodied tongue-like and substantially adapted to the rigid tongue part (1), the padding (14) thickening from the lateral edges of the tongue toward the interior longitudinal slit (14b) of the padding (14).

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the interior longitudinal slit (14b) of the padding (14) extends from a distal quarter to a proximal quarter of tongue and/or wherein the padding (14) consists of an air-permeable material.

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the padding (14) is fastened by injection-molding to the bottom of the rigid tongue part (1) and/or extends around the rigid tongue part (1) from its bottom face to its upper face and preferably therefore substantially encloses the rigid tongue part (1) in its entirety.

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, the rigid tongue part (1) comprising a first rigid tongue part (1a) and a second rigid tongue part (1b), the first rigid tongue part (1a) and the second rigid tongue part (1b) substantially having a same shape and being kept spaced in a flat on top of each other manner by spacing elements (15) therebetween in the center and along the longitudinal axis of the tongue, so as to produce in this manner one or more channels for ventilation towards the proximal end (2) of the tongue between the first rigid tongue part (1a) and the second rigid tongue part (1b).

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, with a right tongue for a right shoe and a left tongue for a left shoe accordingly being shaped differently.

Air-permeable tongue for shoes according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the rigid tongue part (1, 1a, 1b) and the padding (14) are partially or entirely covered by a covering consisting preferably of leather, imitation leather, fabric or a different material having a preferably aesthetic surface.