Footwear insert providing air circulation
OwnerRaymond V. Sessainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A footwear sole insert with a plurality of downwardly extending pumping channels. The pumping channels extend transversely across the insert and include opposite longitudinal edges that simultaneously undulate toward and away from each other to provide the channels with alternating wide and narrow portions. The channels are positioned such that the narrow portions of one channel are generally aligned with the wide portions of the adjacent channels, and vice versa. Also, adjacent channels are separated from each other by an undulating, tapered recess that is narrowest at the bottom surface of the insert.
Claims13
A footwear sole assembly comprising:
- an outsole defining a recess;
- and
- an insert fitted within said recess, said insert including a plurality of transversely extending pumping channels, said channels having a concave bottom surface and opposed longitudinal edges that undulate across said insert, said edges simultaneously undulating toward and away from each other to define alternating narrow portions and wide portions, said insert defining air passages extending from said pumping channels to permit air to vent from said pumping channels when said insert is compressed, said insert defining a recess separating adjacent pumping channels.
A insert for a sole assembly comprising:
- a body portion;
- and
- a plurality of pumping channels extending downwardly from said body portion, said channels extending transversely across said body portion and having a concave bottom surface, said channels each including opposed longitudinal edges that undulate across said body portion, adjacent channels spaced apart from another to define an undulating recess extending transversely across the insert, said recess including a base and an open end, said recess being tapered such that its width is greater at said base then at said open end, said edges simultaneously undulating toward and away from each other to define alternating narrow portions and wide portions, said body portion defining air passages extending from said pumping channels to permit air to vent from said pumping channels when said insert is compressed.
A sole assembly comprising:
- an outsole body defining first and second insert recesses;
- a first insert fitted within said first recess;
- and
- a second insert fitted within said second recess,
- wherein said inserts each include a body portion and a plurality of downwardly extending pumping channels, said channels extending transversely across said inserts and each including opposed longitudinal edges that simultaneously undulate toward and away from each other to define alternating narrow and wide portions, said pumping channels disposed such that said narrow portions of one channel are generally aligned with said wide portions of an adjacent channel, said channels spaced apart from one another to define a recess between adjacent channels, said recess undulating across said insert in correspondence with the undulations of said edges, said pumping channels each including a concave bottom surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.