Back to results
US 6,553,691 B2Granted
Self-inflatable air cushion for shoes
OwnerIng-Chung Huanginventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Support is provided to the foot of a shoe wearer by an air cushion that includes a support chamber surrounding a collapsible pump operable by the foot of the wearer for directing compressed air into the support chamber and varying the firmness of the chamber. The support chamber is of a preformed three-dimensional configuration of sufficient rigidity to provide stable support to the foot prior to receiving compressed air from the pump.
Claims7
A self-inflatable air cushion for providing foot support in a shoe, the air cushion comprising:
- a) a hollow support chamber being formed from a first material and having a preformed three-dimensional structure, the support chamber defining an open space and forming an assembly therewith, and the support chamber being adapted for receiving compressed air from a pump;
- b) a hollow pump disposed within the open space, the pump being formed from a second material that is less rigid than the first material and is collapsible by the foot of a user for compressing air within the pump;
- c) a passage connecting the support chamber to the pump for adjusting the firmness of the support chamber, and a one-way valve in the passage for limiting flow of compressed air in one direction from the pump to the support chamber;
- and
- d) the first material forming the support chamber having a sufficient rigidity to maintain the support chamber as a preformed three-dimensional structure and providing stable support to the foot of the wearer prior to the support chamber receiving compressed air from the pump.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.