Footwear

Abstract

The invention relates to a footwear sole component and to an article of footwear 2 comprising such a sole component. A sole component is suitably an insole 1 with toe and heel portions 30, 20 connected by an arch portion 40 , the sole component being arranged to form part of a sole of a closed article of footwear 2 having a foot chamber 90 . The sole component includes at least one compressible passage 11 arranged, in use, to have an opening into a first region of the foot chamber 90 and an opening into a second region of the foot chamber 90 such that air can be caused to travel from passage 11 into a second region of the foot chamber 90 , by a pumping effect caused by compression of the passage 11 along at least a part of its extent during a stage of a wearers walking cycle.

1 . A footwear sole component comprising a toe portion and a heel portion connected by an arch portion, the sole component being arranged, in use, to form a part of a sole of a closed article of footwear having a foot chamber, wherein the sole component comprises at least one compressible passage extending between a first portion of the sole component and a second portion of the sole component, which passage is arranged, in use, to have a first opening into a first region of the foot chamber and a second opening into a second region of the foot chamber such that air can be caused to travel from said passage into a second region of the foot chamber, by a pumping effect caused by compression of the passage along at least a part of its extent during a stage of a wearers walking cycle.  
     
     
         2 . A footwear sole component which comprises an insole having a toe portion and a heel portion connected by an arch portion, the sole component being arranged, in use, to form a part of a sole of a closed article of footwear having a foot chamber, wherein the sole component comprises at least one compressible passage extending between a first portion of the sole component and a second portion of the sole component, which passage is arranged, in use, to have a first opening into a first region of the foot chamber and a second opening into a second region of the foot chamber such that air can be caused to travel from said passage into a second region of the foot chamber, by a pumping effect caused by compression of the passage along at least a part of its extent during a stage of a wearers walking cycle.  
     
     
         3 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole component has a thickness of about 10 mm or less and can be cut to size.  
     
     
         4 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole component is arranged such that, in use, air can be caused to travel from the first region of the foot chamber to the second region via at least one passage therein.  
     
     
         5 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein the first portion of the sole component comprises a heel portion thereof and the second portion of the sole component comprises a toe portion thereof.  
     
     
         6 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole component comprises a plurality of passages.  
     
     
         7 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein said passage has substantially the same cross section throughout its extent.  
     
     
         8 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein said passage is arranged to be compressed by the weight of part of a wearer's foot acting on the passage during a stage of the wearers walking cycle.  
     
     
         9 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein said passage is able to provide an active pumping action when compressed at any point along its longitudinal extent.  
     
     
         10 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein said passage is arranged, in use, to convey air to a second region of a foot chamber by means of a peristaltic pumping action.  
     
     
         11 . A sole component according to  claim 2 , wherein the sole component does not comprise any pumping means in addition to the one or more passages.  
     
     
         12 . A closed article of footwear comprising an upper and a sole forming a foot chamber therebetween wherein the sole comprises a sole component comprising a toe portion and a heel portion connected by an arch portion and comprises at least one compressible passage extending between a first portion of the sole component and a second portion of the sole component, which passage is arranged to have a first opening into a first region of the foot chamber and a second opening into a second region of the foot chamber such that, in use, air can be caused to travel from said passage into a second region of the foot chamber, by a pumping effect caused by compression of the passage along at least a part of its extent during a stage of a wearers walking cycle.  
     
     
         13 . An article of footwear according to  claim 11 , wherein the sole component comprises an insole.  
     
     
         14 . A method of manufacturing a sole component according to  claim 1 , which method comprises forming a sole component by an extrusion process.  
     
     
         15 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear according to  claim 11 , which method comprises forming a sole component by an extrusion process.  
     
     
         16 . A kit of parts comprising: 
 (i) two insoles according to  claim 2;  and    (ii) instructions for cutting the insoles to each fit an article of footwear of a specific standard size.