Item of Footwear with Ventilated Sole

Abstract

This invention relates to an item of footwear comprising a bottom structure located between the foot and the ground, formed by several superimposed soles and one top ( 9 ), said shoe being characterized in that each of the soles is perforated and able to let water and air through, and in that each sole is made of a washable synthetic material.

1 .- 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A sole for an item of footwear comprising:
 (a) an exterior portion comprising at least one opening;   (b) an interior portion configured to contact an underside of a foot; and   (c) an intermediate portion located between the exterior portion and the interior portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a meshed membrane, wherein the meshed membrane is in communication with the at least one opening of the exterior portion and in communication with the interior portion.   
     
     
         10 . The sole of  claim 9 , wherein the meshed membrane is in direct communication with the at least one opening of the exterior portion. 
     
     
         11 . The sole of  claim 9 , wherein the intermediate portion further comprises a netting membrane. 
     
     
         12 . The sole of  claim 11 , wherein the at least one opening comprises a width of less than about 8 millimeters. 
     
     
         13 . The sole of  claim 11 , comprising a plurality of openings, wherein at least a first opening of the plurality has at least one dimension that is different than at least one dimension of a second opening of the plurality. 
     
     
         14 . The sole of  claim 13 , wherein the netting membrane is comprised of metallic material. 
     
     
         15 . The sole of  claim 14 , wherein the netting membrane is positioned between the meshed membrane and the exterior portion. 
     
     
         16 . The sole of  claim 15 , wherein an insert is positioned between the netting membrane and the meshed membrane, wherein the insert is configured to absorb shocks. 
     
     
         17 . The sole of  claim 16 , wherein the interior portion comprises:
 (a) a lower layer comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the lower layer is positioned in contact with the meshed membrane and further from the exterior portion; and   (b) an upper layer comprising a textile, wherein the textile is positioned in contact with the lower layer and further from the exterior portion.   
     
     
         18 . The sole of  claim 17 , wherein the textile is treated to reduce the formation of bacteria and odors. 
     
     
         19 . The sole of  claim 18 , wherein the associated item of footwear is constructed of washable synthetic material. 
     
     
         20 . A lower structure for an item of footwear comprising:
 (a) an exterior portion comprising a plurality of openings;   (b) an interior portion configured to contact an underside of a foot; and   (c) an intermediate portion, located between the exterior portion and the interior portion, wherein the intermediate portion comprises a netting membrane, wherein the netting membrane is in communication with at least one of the plurality of openings.   
     
     
         21 . The sole of  claim 20 , wherein the netting membrane is in direct communication with at least one of the plurality of openings of the exterior portion. 
     
     
         22 . The lower structure of  claim 20 , wherein the netting membrane is comprised of metallic material. 
     
     
         23 . The lower structure of  claim 22 , wherein the intermediate portion further comprises a meshed membrane, wherein the meshed membrane is positioned further from the exterior portion compared to the netting membrane. 
     
     
         24 . The lower structure of  claim 23 , wherein the interior portion comprises:
 (a) a lower layer of ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) positioned in contact with the meshed membrane and further from the exterior portion; and   (b) an upper layer comprising a textile, wherein the textile is in contact with the lower layer and further from the exterior portion.   
     
     
         25 . The lower structure of  claim 24 , wherein the exterior portion comprises a rigid polymer operable to absorb shock. 
     
     
         26 . The lower structure of  claim 25 , wherein the plurality of openings further comprise a first set of openings of the plurality and a second set of openings of the plurality, wherein the first set of openings of the plurality have at least one dimension that is different than a least one dimension of the second set of openings of the plurality. 
     
     
         27 . The lower structure of  claim 26 , wherein the associated item of footwear further comprises an instep constructed of perforated washable synthetic materials. 
     
     
         28 . A sole for an item of footwear comprising:
 (a) a plurality of openings, wherein at least a first opening of the plurality has at least one dimension that is different than at least one dimension of a second opening of the plurality;   (b) a netting membrane in communication with at least one of the plurality of openings, wherein the netting membrane is comprised of a metallic wire material;   (c) a meshed membrane in communication with at least one of the plurality of openings;   (d) a first layer comprising ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) positioned further from the plurality of openings compared to the meshed membrane and the netting membrane; and   (e) a second layer comprising a textile positioned further from the plurality of openings compared to the first layer, wherein the textile is treated to reduce the formation of bacteria and odors.