Ventilated footwear construction

Abstract

A ventilation system for an article of footwear including a ventilated midsole and a ventilated wing for routing warm/moist air from around a wearer's foot to at least one vent in the upper. The ventilated midsole and wings may be integrally formed from a sheet of ventilated material. Alternatively, the ventilated midsole and the ventilated wing are separately formed and fitted together within the article of footwear. When formed separately, the ventilated midsole may be molded with a cavity in the bottom surface to receive the wing. The wing may include a first portion disposed in the cavity and a second portion providing a flow path to the vent. The ventilation system may be used with a waterproof/breathable bootie. The ventilation system may be positioned inside or outside the bootie. The tongue may also include a tongue ventilation system with a tongue ventilation insert and a tongue vent.

1 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper defining an interior and at least one vent;   a sole secured to said upper;   a ventilation system fitted within said interior of said upper, said ventilation system including a ventilation insert having a ventilated midsole and at least one ventilated wing, said ventilated midsole and said ventilated wing being one piece and defining air flow passages that provide fluid communication between said ventilated midsole and said ventilated wing.   
     
     
         2 . The article of footwear of  claim 1  wherein said upper includes an outer layer and a waterproof/breathable bootie, said bootie fitted into said outer layer. 
     
     
         3 . The article of footwear of  claim 2  wherein said ventilation insert is disposed between said bootie and said outer layer. 
     
     
         4 . The article of footwear of  claim 3  wherein said ventilation insert is further defined as including at least two ventilated wings and at least two vents. 
     
     
         5 . The article of footwear of  claim 4  wherein one of said ventilated wings extends from a lateral side of said ventilated midsole and another of said ventilated wings extends from a medial side of said ventilated midsole. 
     
     
         6 . The article of footwear of  claim 5  wherein one of said vents is disposed on a lateral side of said upper and another of said vents is disposed on a medial side of said upper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of footwear of  claim 6  wherein at least one of said vent includes a frame and a cover, said frame secured to said upper and defining a central opening, said cover secured to said frame over said central opening. 
     
     
         8 . The article of footwear of  claim 6  wherein said upper includes a tongue including an inner layer and an outer layer; and
 further including a tongue ventilation system fitted into said tongue, said tongue ventilation system including a ventilated tongue insert and a tongue vent, said ventilated tongue insert disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer, said tongue vent secured to said outer layer. 
 
     
     
         9 . The article of footwear of  claim 8  wherein said tongue include a cushioning layer disposed between said inner layer of said tongue and said outer layer of said tongue, said ventilated tongue insert having a lower portion disposed between said cushioning layer and said inner layer, said ventilated tongue insert having an upper portion disposed between said cushioning layer and said outer layer. 
     
     
         10 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper defining an interior foot-receiving space and at least one vent;   a sole secured to said upper; and   a ventilation system having a ventilated midsole and a ventilated wing, said ventilated midsole defining a cavity, said wing having a first portion fitted into said cavity and a second portion extending upwardly from said first portion to said vent.   
     
     
         11 . The article of footwear of  claim 10  wherein said ventilated midsole includes longitudinal top channels and lateral bottom channels, said top channels and said bottom channel intersecting to define openings providing fluid communication between said top channels and said bottom channels. 
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein said top channels are in direct fluid communication with said cavity. 
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  wherein said upper includes an outer layer and a waterproof/breathable bootie, said bootie fitted into said outer layer. 
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 13  wherein said ventilated midsole is disposed between said bootie and said sole. 
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 14  wherein said ventilated wing is disposed between said bootie and said outer layer, said ventilated wing providing fluid communication between said ventilated midsole and said vent. 
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 15  wherein said vent includes a frame and a cover, said frame secured to said outer layer and defining a central opening, said cover secured to said frame and filling said central opening. 
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 16  wherein said upper includes a tongue including an inner layer and an outer layer; and
 further including a tongue ventilation system fitted into said tongue, said tongue ventilation system including a ventilated tongue insert and a tongue vent, said ventilated tongue insert disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer, said tongue vent secured to said outer layer. 
 
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 17  wherein said tongue include a cushioning layer disposed between said inner layer of said tongue and said outer layer of said tongue, said ventilated tongue insert having a lower portion disposed between said cushioning layer and said inner layer, said ventilated tongue insert having an upper portion disposed between said cushioning layer and said outer layer. 
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper having a tongue, said tongue having an inner layer and outer layer;   a sole secured to said upper; and   a tongue ventilation system fitted into said tongue, said tongue ventilation system including a ventilated tongue insert and a tongue vent, said ventilated tongue insert disposed between said inner layer and said outer layer, said tongue vent secured to and defining an opening through said outer layer.   
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 19  wherein said ventilated tongue insert having an inner surface and an outer surface, said ventilated tongue insert defining a plurality of flow passages providing fluid communication between said inner surface and said outer surface. 
     
     
         21 . The article of  claim 19  wherein said ventilated tongue insert having an inner surface and an outer surface, said ventilated tongue insert defining a plurality of inner channels in said inner surface and a plurality of outer channels in said outer surface, said inner channels and said outer channels intersecting to define a plurality of openings providing fluid communication between said inner surface and said outer surface. 
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21  wherein said tongue include a cushioning layer disposed between said inner layer of said tongue and said outer layer of said tongue, said ventilated tongue insert having a lower portion disposed between said cushioning layer and said inner layer of said tongue, said ventilated tongue insert having an upper portion disposed between said cushioning layer and said outer layer of said tongue. 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 22  wherein said upper includes a waterproof/breathable bootie disposed within said interior, said inner layer of said tongue being defined by a portion of said bootie. 
     
     
         24 . The article of  claim 22  wherein said cushioning layer defines a slit, said ventilation insert fitted through said slit.