Air exhaust outsole for safety footwear

Abstract

An puncture resistant outsole, for safety footwear having an upper with a vapor permeable insole wherein a top insole surface supports a foot of the wearer, the air exhaust outsole comprising: a ventilated midsole, with a top midsole surface engaging a bottom insole surface of the upper, the midsole including a 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, the puncture resistant core being vapor impermeable comprising one of: a sheet metal plate; and multiple layers of woven fabric bonded together with a resilient rubber layer therebetween; and a tread layer with: a top surface bonded to a bottom surface of the puncture resistant layer; and a bottom tread surface.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A puncture resistant outsole, for safety footwear having an upper with a vapor permeable insole wherein a top insole surface supports a foot of the wearer, the air exhaust outsole comprising:
 a ventilated midsole, with a top midsole surface engaging a bottom insole surface of the upper, the midsole including a 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, the puncture resistant core being vapor impermeable comprising one of: a sheet metal plate; and multiple layers of woven fabric bonded together with a resilient rubber layer therebetween; 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 midsole surface and a pair of outlet ports in opposing left and right side midsole surfaces, the inlet and outlet ports being in communication via the ventilation channel formed within the midsole. 
     
     
         4 . The outsole of  claim 2  wherein the midsole includes a plurality of longitudinally spaced apart ventilation channels. 
     
     
         5 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the midsole comprises a flexible compressible cushioning material. 
     
     
         6 . The outsole of  claim 5  wherein the flexible compressible material comprises injection molded ethylene vinyl acetate. 
     
     
         7 . The outsole of  claim 5  wherein the ventilation channel extends between an inlet port in the top midsole surface and a pair of outlet ports in opposing left and right side midsole surfaces, wherein the ventilation channel 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 ventilation channel to pump air through the ventilation channel. 
     
     
         8 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the midsole in a heel area includes one of: a fluid filled bag; and a compression spring. 
     
     
         9 . The outsole of  claim 2  wherein the top midsole surface includes an air permeable water resistant membrane covering the inlet port. 
     
     
         10 . 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. 
     
     
         11 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the flexible coating covers the bottom surface of the puncture resistant layer. 
     
     
         12 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the flexible coating comprises thermoplastic urethane. 
     
     
         13 . The outsole of  claim 12  wherein the flexible coating is transparent. 
     
     
         14 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the puncture resistant woven fabric comprises threads spun from para-aramid synthetic fiber. 
     
     
         15 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the tread layer comprises rubber. 
     
     
         16 . The outsole of  claim 13  wherein tread layer is opaque and includes windows through which the flexible coating and puncture resistant core are visible. 
     
     
         17 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the tread layer has a thickness no greater than a thickness of the puncture resistant layer. 
     
     
         18 . The outsole of  claim 1  wherein the puncture resistant layer has a width that is greater than a width of the bottom insole surface of the upper.