Ventilated footwear

Abstract

The ventilated footwear comprises a lower part incorporating a sole, an upper part coupled to the lower part and shaped to receive a foot of a wearer. The upper part has an arch portion and is provided with an inside surface adapted to permit air circulation therethrough, and an outside surface provided with ventilation holes located in the arch portion of the upper part of the footwear. A waterproof and breathable membrane is sandwiched between the inside and outside surfaces in the arch portion of the upper part of the footwear across the holes. Furthermore, an insole is preferably disposed into the footwear. The insole has an arch portion adjacently located to the arch portion of the upper part of the footwear. The upper layer of the insole is adapted to permit air circulation therethrough. The insole has a bottom layer provided with transverse intersecting channels extending inwardly from a peripheral edge of the insole. At least one of the channels is adjacent to the holes located in the arch portion of the outside surface of the upper part of the footwear. The channels are provided with openings in communication with the upper layer.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a lower part incorporating a sole,    an upper part coupled to said lower part and shaped to receive a foot of a wearer, said upper part having an arch portion with a plurality of openings providing communication between the exterior of the upper part and the interior of the upper part,    a waterproof, breathable membrane across the openings, and    a compressible insole having a plurality of channels on the underside which are in communication with the openings in the arch area of the upper part.    
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear according to    claim 1   , wherein said insole further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical openings in register and communication with said channels.  
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear according to    claim 1   , wherein said insole further comprises a textile lining disposed on the upper side.  
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear according to    claim 1   , wherein said insole further comprises a upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area.  
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear according to    claim 4   , wherein said upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area has a plurality of channels in communication with one or more of said channels on the underside of said insole.  
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear according to    claim 5   , wherein said channels in said upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area are in register and communication with said openings in said upper part.  
     
     
         7 . A kit for providing ventilation in an article of footwear, said kit comprising: 
 an insole,    an air permeable and water impermeable membrane,    adhesive means for securing said membrane to said article of footwear.    
     
     
         8 . The kit of    claim 7   , further comprising a pattern for making openings in the upper part of said article of footwear.  
     
     
         9 . The kit of    claim 7   , wherein said insole comprises a compressible material having a plurality of channels on the underside for communication with the openings in the arch area of the upper part of said article of footwear.  
     
     
         10 . The kit of    claim 9   , wherein said insole further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical openings in register and communication with said channels.  
     
     
         11 . The kit of    claim 9   , wherein said insole further comprises a textile lining disposed on the upper side.  
     
     
         12 . The kit of    claim 9   , wherein said insole further comprises a upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area.  
     
     
         13 . The kit of    claim 12   , wherein said insole wherein said upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area has a plurality of channels in communication with one or more of said channels on the underside of said insole.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear according to    claim 13   , wherein said channels in said upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area are to register and communicate with openings in said upper part.  
     
     
         15 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a lower part incorporating a sole,    an upper part coupled to said lower part and shaped to receive a foot of a wearer,    said part being provided with a plurality of openings providing communication between the exterior of the upper part and the interior of the upper part, and a water proof, breathable membrane across the openings.    
     
     
         16 . An article of footwear according to    claim 15   , wherein said openings are located in a predetermined area.  
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear according to    claim 16   , wherein said article further comprises a compressible insole having a plurality of channels on the underside which are in communication with the openings in the upper part.  
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear according to    claim 17   , wherein said insole further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical openings in register and communication with said channels.  
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear according to    claim 17   , wherein said insole further comprises a textile lining disposed on the upper side.  
     
     
         20 . A compressible insole for a shoe, the insole having an upper side and an underside, the underside being provided with a plurality of channels.  
     
     
         21 . A compressible insole according to    claim 21   , wherein at least some of said channels intersect each other.  
     
     
         22 . A compressible insole according to    claim 21   , wherein said insole further comprises a plurality of substantially vertical openings in register and communication with said channels.  
     
     
         23 . A compressible insole according to    claim 22   , wherein said insole further comprises a textile lining disposed on the upper side.  
     
     
         24 . A compressible insole according to    claim 23   , wherein said insole further comprises an upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area.  
     
     
         25 . A compressible insole according to    claim 24   , wherein said upwardly extending portion in the medial arch area has a plurality of channels in communication with one or more of said channels on the underside of said insole.