Self-ventilating shoe

Abstract

A self-ventilating shoe is disclosed having an insole, an outsole, and a permeable middle layer disposed between the insole and the outsole. The shoe further includes a ventilation system having a plurality of apertures defined by the insole and operably configured to allow air to flow in one direction from a foot-receiving cavity of the shoe toward the outsole; at least one one-way valve defined by the outsole; at least one collecting chamber disposed within the outsole; and the permeable middle layer operably configured such that exertion of a downward force from a user's foot as the user steps forces the air from the foot-receiving cavity to the at least one collecting chamber within the outsole and from the at least one collecting chamber to an outside environment through the at least one one-way valve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A self-ventilating shoe, comprising:
 an insole, an outsole, and a permeable middle layer disposed between the insole and the outsole; and   a ventilation system having:
 a plurality of apertures defined by the insole and operably configured to allow air to flow in one direction from a foot-receiving cavity of the shoe toward the outsole; 
 at least one one-way valve defined by the outsole; 
 at least one collecting chamber disposed within the outsole; and 
 the permeable middle layer operably configured such that exertion of a downward force from a user's foot as the user steps forces the air from the foot-receiving cavity to the at least one collecting chamber within the outsole and from the at least one collecting chamber to an outside environment through the at least one one-way valve. 
   
     
     
         2 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of apertures has a circumference that is between approximately 0.1 cm to approximately 0.5 cm.   
     
     
         3 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the plurality of apertures are arranged within a ball area and a heel area of the insole.   
     
     
         4 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit port of the one-way valve is defined by a side wall of the outsole, the exit port operably configured to allow the air to exit to the outside environment through the side wall.   
     
     
         5 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit port of the one-way valve is defined by a side wall of the outsole, the exit port operably configured to allow the air to exit to the outside environment through the side wall in a direction perpendicular to a direction of the air flow through the plurality of apertures defined by the insole.   
     
     
         6 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 an exit port of the one-way valve is defined by a ground-contacting portion of the outsole, the exit port operably configured to allow the air to exit to the outside environment.   
     
     
         7 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the permeable middle layer is formed as a bladder layer.   
     
     
         8 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outsole has a sidewall portion, a top wall, and a bottom wall that collectively define the at least one collecting chamber, the at least one collecting chamber including at least two collecting chambers.   
     
     
         9 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 8 , wherein:
 the top wall of the outsole defines a plurality of apertures that allow air to flow into the at least two collecting chambers.   
     
     
         10 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 9 , wherein:
 the sidewall portion of the outsole defines an exit port of each of the at least two collecting chambers, the exit port configured to allow air to flow from the corresponding collecting chamber to the outside environment.   
     
     
         11 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein:
 the outsole has a top wall, and a bottom wall; and   the at least one collecting chamber includes at least one resilient barrier member extending from an inner surface of the bottom wall towards an inner surface of the top wall of the outsole.   
     
     
         12 . The self-ventilating shoe in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a flap at least partially obstructing an exit port of the at least one one-way valve.   
     
     
         13 . A ventilation system for a shoe, comprising:
 a plurality of apertures defined by an insole of a shoe and operably configured to allow air to flow in one direction from a foot-receiving cavity of the shoe toward an outsole of the shoe;   at least one one-way valve defined by the outsole;   at least one collecting chamber disposed within the outsole; and   a permeable middle layer operably configured such that exertion of a downward force from a user's foot as the user steps forces the air from the foot-receiving cavity to the at least one collecting chamber within the outsole and from the at least one collecting chamber to an outside environment through the at least one one-way valve.   
     
     
         14 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 each of the plurality of apertures has a circumference that is between approximately 0.1 cm to approximately 0.5 cm.   
     
     
         15 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 the plurality of apertures are arranged within a ball area and a heel area of the insole.   
     
     
         16 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 an exit port of the one-way valve is defined by a side wall of the outsole, the exit port operably configured to allow the air to exit to the outside environment through the side wall.   
     
     
         17 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 an exit port of the one-way valve is defined by a ground-contacting portion of the outsole, the exit port operably configured to allow the air to exit to the outside environment.   
     
     
         18 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein:
 the outsole has a sidewall portion, a top wall, and a bottom wall that collectively define the at least one collecting chamber, the at least one collecting chamber including at least two collecting chambers.   
     
     
         19 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 18 , wherein:
 the top wall of the outsole defines a plurality of apertures that allow air to flow into the at least two collecting chambers.   
     
     
         20 . The ventilation system in accordance with  claim 19 , wherein:
 the sidewall portion of the outsole defines an exit port of each of the two collecting chambers, the exit port configured to allow air to flow from the corresponding collecting chamber to the outside environment.