Air exhaust outsole for safety footwear

Abstract

An air exhaust outsole, for safety footwear having an upper with an air permeable insole having a top insole surface for supporting a foot of the wearer, the air exhaust outsole comprising: a midsole, with a top midsole surface engaging a bottom insole surface of the upper, the midsole including at least one ventilation channel between a side midsole surface and the top midsole surface; a puncture resistant layer with a top surface bonded to a bottom midsole surface, the puncture resistant layer comprising a puncture resistant core bonded about at least a peripheral edge in a flexible coating; and a tread layer with: a top surface bonded to a bottom surface of the puncture resistant layer; and a bottom tread surface.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An air exhaust outsole, for safety footwear having an upper with an air permeable insole having a top insole surface for supporting a foot of the wearer, the air exhaust outsole comprising:
 a midsole, with a top midsole surface engaging a bottom insole surface of the upper, the midsole including at least one ventilation channel between a side midsole surface and the top midsole surface;   a puncture resistant layer with a top surface bonded to a bottom midsole surface, the puncture resistant layer comprising a puncture resistant core bonded about at least a peripheral edge in a flexible coating; and   a tread layer with: a top surface bonded to a bottom surface of the puncture resistant layer; and a bottom tread surface.   
     
     
         2 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein each ventilation channel includes an inlet port in the top insole surface and a pair of outlet ports in opposing left and right side midsole surfaces, the inlet and outlet ports being in communication via an internal passage formed within the midsole. 
     
     
         3 . The outsole of  claim 2  wherein the inlet port has a central inlet opening to the internal passage and a coaxial peripheral recess about the inlet opening. 
     
     
         4 . The outsole of  claim 2  wherein the midsole includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart ventilation channels. 
     
     
         5 . The outsole of  claim 4  wherein each inlet inlet port has an inlet opening to the internal, passage, and wherein each inlet opening is joined to at least one adjacent inlet opening with a connecting groove in the top insole surface. 
     
     
         6 . The outsole of  claim 5  wherein the top insole surface includes a ventilating groove in a ball area of the insole. 
     
     
         7 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the midsole comprises a flexible compressible material. 
     
     
         8 . The outsole of  claim 7  wherein the flexible compressible material comprises injection molded ethylene vinyl acetate (IMEVA). 
     
     
         9 . The outsole of  claim 7  wherein the ventilation channel has an internal passage between an inlet port in the top insole surface and a pair of outlet ports in opposing left and right side midsole surfaces, wherein the internal passage has a top wall that flexes toward a bottom wall thereof under foot pressure and returns to an initial position when foot pressure is removed, thereby alternately decreasing and restoring an air volume within the internal passage to pump air within the internal passage. 
     
     
         10 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the midsole in a heel area includes one of: a fluid filled bag; and a compression spring. 
     
     
         11 . The outsole of  claim 2  wherein the top midsole surface includes an air permeable water resistant membrane covering the inlet port. 
     
     
         12 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the puncture resistant core comprises one of: a puncture resistant woven fabric composite; and a sheet metal plate. 
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 12  wherein the puncture resistant woven fabric composite comprises multiple layers of woven fabric bonded together with a resilient, layer therebetween, and wherein the resilient layer comprises rubber. 
     
     
         14 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein at least one of: the puncture resistant core; and the flexible coating, are resistant to at least one of: electric conduction; and thermal conduction. 
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the flexible coating covers the bottom surface of the puncture resistant layer. 
     
     
         16 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the flexible coating comprises thermoplastic urethane (TPU). 
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 16  wherein the flexible coating is transparent. 
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 12  wherein the puncture resistant woven fabric comprises threads spun from para-aramid synthetic fiber (Kevlar™). 
     
     
         19 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the tread layer comprises rubber (RB). 
     
     
         20 . The outsole of  claim 16  wherein tread layer is opaque and includes windows through which the flexible coating and puncture resistant core are visible.