Article of footwear with channel drainage system

Abstract

An insole for use in constructing a channel drainage component includes a top surface and a bottom surface, and the insole defines a first drainage canal that runs through the insole from the top surface of the insole to the bottom surface of the insole. The bottom surface of the insole defines a first drainage network that includes a first groove that spirals outward from a first central region in the bottom surface of the insole. The first drainage canal runs from the top surface of the insole into the at least first groove of the first drainage network. A channel drainage component includes an insole and a midsole. The insole has a top surface and a bottom surface and defines a first drainage canal running from the top surface to the bottom surface. The bottom surface of the insole defines a first drainage network that includes a first groove, and the first drainage canal runs from the top surface of the insole into the first groove of the first drainage network defined in the bottom surface of the insole. The midsole includes a top surface having a toe portion with an end-of-toe region, and the midsole defines at least one discrete channel having an inner end and an outer end connected to an orifice on an exterior side surface of the midsole. The inner end of the channel is closer to the end-of-toe region of the midsole than is the outer end of the channel, and water entering the first drainage canal from the top surface of the insole will enter the groove in the bottom surface of the insole, drain into the channel in the midsole, and exit the channel drainage component through the orifice on the exterior side surface of the channel drainage component.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An insole for use in constructing a channel drainage component, the insole comprising: a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the insole defines at least a first drainage canal that runs through the insole from the top surface of the insole to the bottom surface of the insole, further wherein the bottom surface of the insole defines at least a first drainage network that comprises at least a first groove that spirals outward from a first central region in the bottom surface of the insole, and further wherein the at least first drainage canal runs from the top surface of the insole into the at least first groove of the first drainage network.  
     
     
         2 . The insole according to    claim 1   , wherein the insole further comprises a toe portion and the first drainage network is defined by the bottom surface of the toe portion of the insole.  
     
     
         3 . The insole according to    claim 1   , wherein the insole further comprises a heel portion and the first drainage network is defined by the bottom surface of the heel portion of the insole.  
     
     
         4 . The insole according to    claim 1   , wherein the insole defines a plurality of drainage canals and each drainage canal runs from the top surface of the insole into a groove of a drainage network defined by the bottom surface of the insole.  
     
     
         5 . The insole according to    claim 1   , wherein the insole defines at least a second drainage canal that runs through the insole from the top surface of the insole to the bottom surface of the insole, further wherein the bottom surface of the insole defines at least a second drainage network that comprises at least a second groove that spirals outward from a second central region in the bottom surface of the insole, and further wherein the at least second drainage canal runs from the top surface of the insole into the at least second groove of the second drainage network.  
     
     
         6 . A channel drainage component for use in constructing an article of footwear that prevents water from remaining around the foot of a wearer, the channel drainage component comprising: 
 (a) an insole comprising: a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the insole defines a first drainage canal running from the top surface of the insole to the bottom surface of the insole, further wherein the bottom surface of the insole defines a first drainage network that comprises a first groove, and further wherein the first drainage canal runs from the top surface of the insole into the first groove of the first drainage network defined in the bottom surface of the insole; and    (b) a midsole comprising: a top surface having a toe portion with an end-of-toe region, wherein the midsole defines at least one discrete channel having an inner end and an outer end connected to an orifice on an exterior side surface of the midsole, wherein the inner end of the channel is closer to the end-of-toe region of the midsole than is the outer end of the channel, and further wherein water entering the first drainage canal from the top surface of the insole will enter the groove in the bottom surface of the insole, drain into the channel in the midsole, and exit the channel drainage component through the orifice on the exterior side surface of the channel drainage component.    
     
     
         7 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 6   , further comprising an outsole attached to a bottom surface of the midsole, wherein the outsole comprises an exterior bottom surface and the orifice on the exterior side surface of the midsole is at least about 0.5 cm from the closest part of the exterior bottom surface of the outsole.  
     
     
         8 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 7   , wherein the orifice is at least about 0.7 cm from the closest part of the exterior bottom surface of the outsole.  
     
     
         9 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 8   , wherein the orifice is at least about 1.0 cm from the closest part of the exterior bottom surface of the outsole.  
     
     
         10 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 7   , wherein the outsole comprises a material selected from the group consisting of a fibrous material suitable for use in a wader and rubber.  
     
     
         11 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 6   , wherein the insole defines a plurality of drainage canals running from the top surface of the insole to the bottom surface of the insole.  
     
     
         12 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 6   , wherein the bottom surface of the insole defines a second drainage network comprising a second groove.  
     
     
         13 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 12   , wherein the first groove spirals outward from a first central region in the bottom surface of the insole and the second groove spirals outward from a second different central region in the bottom surface of the insole.  
     
     
         14 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 6   , wherein the first groove spirals outward from a first central region in the bottom surface of the insole.  
     
     
         15 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 6   , wherein the midsole defines at least two separate discrete channels and each channel has an inner end and an outer end connected to an orifice on the exterior side surface of the midsole, wherein the inner end of each channel is closer to the end-of-toe region of the midsole than is the outer end of each channel.  
     
     
         16 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 6   , wherein the midsole defines a plurality of separate discrete channels and each channel has an inner end and an outer end connected to an orifice on the exterior side surface of the midsole, wherein the inner end of each channel is closer to the end-of-toe region of the midsole than is the outer end of each channel.  
     
     
         17 . The channel drainage component according to    claim 16   , wherein each channel is arcuate.  
     
     
         18 . An article of footwear, comprising: an upper main body attached to the channel drainage component according to    claim 7   .  
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear, comprising: an upper main body attached to the channel drainage component according to    claim 14    and an outsole attached to a bottom surface of the midsole.  
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear, comprising: an upper main body attached to the channel drainage component according to    claim 15    and an outsole attached to a bottom surface of the midsole.