Ventilated footwear

Abstract

Embodiments of a ventilated footwear are generally described herein. The ventilated footwear generally includes a shoe and a sock insertable into the shoe. The shoe includes an upper and an outsole mounted to the upper. The upper and outsole are collectively associated with a toe portion, a heel portion opposite the toe portion, and a flexible joint portion extending between the toe and heel portions. The flexible joint portion includes at least one ventilation port. The sock includes a toe portion, a heel portion opposite the toe portion, and a flexible joint portion extending between the toe and heel portions. The flexible joint portion of the sock includes a plurality of moisture wicking panels that are separated from one another. At least one of the moisture wicking panels is superposable to and in fluid communication with the ventilation port of the shoe.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilated sock comprising:
 a toe portion;   a heel portion opposite the toe portion; and   a flexible joint portion extending between the toe and heel portions, wherein the flexible joint portion includes at least one moisture wicking panel.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilated sock of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible joint portion includes an inner foot portion and an outer foot portion, and wherein each of the inner and outer foot portions includes a respective moisture wicking panel. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilated sock of  claim 1  further comprising an instep portion extending between the toe and heel portions, wherein the instep portion includes a moisture wicking panel. 
     
     
         4 . The ventilated sock of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible joint portion includes a plurality of moisture wicking panels, and wherein the moisture wicking panels are separated from one another. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilated sock of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible joint portion includes an instep portion, a sole portion opposite the instep portion, and wherein the moisture wicking panel is positioned on an interface extending between the instep and sole portions. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilated sock of  claim 1 , wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the toe and heel portions, and wherein the moisture wicking panel extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         7 . A ventilated shoe comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole mounted to the upper; and   at least one ventilation port positioned approximately on an interface extending between the upper and the outsole, the at least one ventilation port configured to engage at least one of a plurality of moisture wicking panels associated with a sock, wherein the moisture wicking panels are separate from one another.   
     
     
         8 . The ventilated shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the upper and the outsole are collectively associated with a toe portion, a heel portion opposite the toe portion, and a flexible joint portion extending between the toe and heel portions, and wherein the ventilation port is positioned substantially within the flexible joint portion. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilated shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the interface is associated with an inner foot portion and an outer foot portion, and wherein a respective ventilation port is positioned substantially within each of the inner and outer foot portions. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilated shoe of  claim 7  further comprising a tongue extending between the toe and heel portions, wherein the tongue includes a single-layer waterproof and breathable panel. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilated shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the upper and the outsole are collectively associated with a toe portion and a heel portion opposite the toe portion, wherein a longitudinal axis extends between the toe and heel portions, and wherein the ventilation port extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilated shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the interface is associated with a shoe thickness, and wherein the ventilation port extends through the entire shoe thickness of the interface. 
     
     
         13 . The ventilated shoe of  claim 7 , wherein the outsole includes at least one cleat. 
     
     
         14 . A ventilated footwear comprising:
 a shoe including an upper and an outsole mounted to the upper, wherein the upper and outsole are collectively associated with a first toe portion, a first heel portion opposite the first toe portion, and a first flexible joint portion extending between the first toe and first heel portions, and wherein the first flexible joint portion includes at least one ventilation port; and   a sock insertable into the shoe, wherein the sock includes a second toe portion, a second heel portion opposite the second toe portion, and a second flexible joint portion extending between the second toe and second heel portions, wherein the second flexible joint portion includes a plurality of moisture wicking panels, wherein the moisture wicking panels are separated from one another, and wherein at least one of the moisture wicking panels is superposable to and in fluid communication with the ventilation port of the shoe.   
     
     
         15 . The ventilated footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the first flexible joint portion is associated with a first inner foot portion and a first outer foot portion, wherein a respective ventilation port is positioned substantially within each of the first inner and first outer foot portions, wherein the second flexible joint portion is associated with a second inner foot portion and a second outer foot portion, and wherein each of the second inner and second outer foot portions includes a respective moisture wicking panel. 
     
     
         16 . The ventilated footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the shoe includes a tongue extending between the first toe and first heel portions, wherein the tongue includes a single-layer waterproof and breathable panel, wherein the sock includes an instep portion extending between the second toe and second heel portions, and wherein the instep portion includes a moisture wicking panel. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilated footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the second flexible joint portion includes a plurality of moisture wicking panels, and wherein the moisture wicking panels are separated from one another. 
     
     
         18 . The ventilated footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the ventilation port is positioned approximately on an interface extending between the upper and the outsole, wherein the second flexible joint portion is associated with an instep portion, a sole portion opposite the instep portion, and wherein the moisture wicking panel is positioned on an interface extending between the instep and sole portions. 
     
     
         19 . The ventilated footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the shoe is associated with a shoe thickness, and wherein the ventilation port extends through the entire shoe thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The ventilated footwear of  claim 14 , wherein the outsole includes at least one cleat.