Flow regulator adaptable to ventilating systems inside shoes

Abstract

A flow regulator formed by a three way valve and by an external adapter. The valve is joined to the pump located in the heel area of the shoe soles, as normally used in ventilating systems, and the adapter basically permits the adjustment of the whole system to a wide number of sizes.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 ) A flow regulator adaptable to ventilating systems inside shoes composed by a three-way valve and by an external adapter, said three-way valve is formed-by a central part ( 30 ) which has an internal hole ( 32   a ) terminating with an orifice ( 33   a ) and a lateral part ( 31 ) which has an internal hole ( 32   b ) terminating with an orifice ( 33   b ), into the internal hole ( 32   a ) of the central part ( 30 ) the ball ( 34 ), the spring ( 35 ) and the cap ( 36 ) are inserted, into the lateral part ( 31 ), the ball ( 34 ) and the cap ( 36 ) are inserted, said external adapter ( 37 ) which has a central hole for entering the lateral part ( 31 ) of the three-way valve and a smaller internal hole made into its head ( 40 ) which allows the air flow.  
     
     
         2 ) A flow regulator, according to  claim 1  which is adaptable to various sizes of shoes through the external adapter ( 37 ) whose central hole has a diameter smaller than the diameter of the lateral part ( 31 ) of the three-way valve in order to slide over it only with a pressure just to seal it, this sliding movement makes the adaptation of the whole pumping system to various sizes of soles.  
     
     
         3 ) A flow regulator, according to  claim 1 , which is inserted into a sole which has a pre-formed hole made with three diameters: the external one ( 12   c ) lodges the head ( 40 ) of the adapter, the intermediate one ( 12   b ) lodges the collar ( 39 ) of the adapter and the internal one ( 12   a ) lodges the central body of the adapter, said position makes a joint which does not allow to the head ( 40 ) any movement.  
     
     
         4 ) A flow regulator, according to  claim 1 , where the spring inserted into the central hole ( 32   a ) of the three-way valve is replaced by a plastic insert ( 41 ) having the same dimension and the same function.  
     
     
         5 ) A flow regulator, according to  claim 1 , where the two caps ( 36 ) of the three-way valve, which obviously have an internal hole, have the internal top made with an inclined spout ( 36   a ) in this case it is possible to avoid the use of the spring for keeping the ball in the right position, its length allows very little movements of the ball which, when is sucked, closes the hole ( 33   b ) and when is expelled touches the cap ( 36 ) but does not close its hole because its surface is inclined and the air can flow out.  
     
     
         6 ) A flow regulator, according to  claim 1 , where the two balls ( 34 ) of the three-way valve used for closing the orifice ( 33   a ) of the central hole ( 32   a ) and the orifice ( 33   b ) of the lateral hole ( 32   b ) are produced with rubber.