Ventilated article of footwear

Abstract

A structure ( 2 ) and a removable component ( 10 ) for an article of footwear are disclosed. A structure comprises an outsole component ( 3 ) comprising resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements ( 6 ) for generation of pumping action for forcing air towards the removable component placed in a holding recess ( 7 ). The removable component comprises cavities ( 11 ) facing the outsole component and arranged to receive air from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements, air circulation channels ( 12 ) extending substantially laterally from the cavities for distributing air from the cavities to the air circulation channels, and sealing areas adjacent to the cavities and air circulation channels. The sealing areas are arranged to prevent air from escaping the cavities and air circulation channels when the removable component is inserted in the holding recess. Air circulation channels ( 12 ) may be provided with expanded areas ( 16 ). The expanded areas may have varying shapes and number of perforations.

1 . A structure for an article of footwear, the structure comprising:
 an outsole component and a removable component, wherein the outsole component comprises resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements at the bottom thereof for generation of pumping action for forcing air towards the removable component, and the removable component comprises cavities facing the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements and arranged to receive air from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements;   air circulation channels extending substantially laterally from the cavities between the removable component and the outsole component for distributing air forced into the cavities by the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements to the interior of the article of footwear via perforations extending from the air circulation channels through the removable component;   a holding recess configured to receive and hold the removable component on top of the outsole component; and   sealing areas adjacent to the cavities and air circulation channels, the sealing areas being configured to prevent air from escaping the cavities and air circulation channels when the removable component is inserted in the holding recess.   
     
     
         2 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of the sides of the holding recess comprise upper material of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         3 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable component comprises-side grooves extending from the air circulation channels to the upper side of the removable component. 
     
     
         4 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable component comprises at least one expanded perforated area for enhanced air circulation. 
     
     
         5 . The structure according to  claim 4 , wherein the at least one expanded perforated area is provided on the underside of the removable component and comprises a pattern of perforations for connecting the respective air circulation channel with the upper side of the removable component. 
     
     
         6 . The structure according to  claim 1 , the removable component comprising perforations or side grooves connected to the air circulation channels for distributing air within the mid and front sections of the article of footwear, wherein the heel section of the article of footwear is free of such perforations. 
     
     
         7 . The structure according to  claim 1 , comprising at least one further element between the removable component and the outsole component, the at least one further element being configured for airflow from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements to air circulation channels provided on the underside of the removable component. 
     
     
         8 . The structure according to  claim 7 , further comprising a strobel sock attached to upper material of the article of footwear and perforated at locations aligned with the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements. 
     
     
         9 . The structure according to  claim 8 , wherein the strobel sock is cemented or stitched to the outsole component or to the upper material. 
     
     
         10 . The structure according to  claim 7 , comprising a shank or a heel element configured to allow airflow from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements to the air circulation channels of the removable component. 
     
     
         11 . The structure according to  claim 10 , wherein the shank or the heel element comprises openings tapering from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements towards the cavities at the removable component. 
     
     
         12 . The structure according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one further element is configured to provide at least one air circulation channel. 
     
     
         13 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the outsole component is side stitched or corner stitched to upper material of the article of footwear. 
     
     
         14 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the outsole component is configured to provide at least a part of the air circulation channels. 
     
     
         15 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cavities are configured to cause pumping action of air into the air circulation channels. 
     
     
         16 . The structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable component comprises an integrated midsole and footbed structure. 
     
     
         17 . An article of footwear comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole component and a removable component, wherein the outsole component comprises resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements at the bottom thereof for generation of pumping action for forcing air towards the removable component, and the removable component comprises cavities facing the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements and configured to receive air from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements;   air circulation channels extending substantially laterally from the cavities between the removable component and the outsole component for distributing air forced into the cavities by the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements to the interior of the article of footwear via perforations extending from the air circulation channels through the removable component;   a holding recess configured to receive and hold the removable component on top of the outsole component; and   sealing areas adjacent to the cavities and air circulation channels, the sealing areas being configured to prevent air from escaping the cavities and air circulation channels when the removable component is inserted in the holding recess.   
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear according to  claim 17 , wherein the sides of the holding recess are provided by the upper. 
     
     
         19 . A removable component for an article of footwear, the removable component being configured for insertion in and removal from a holding recess on top of an outsole component of the article of footwear, the removable component comprising:
 cavities facing resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements of the outsole component for receiving air pumped by the diaphragm elements towards the cavities and distribution of air flows from the cavities within the removable component;   air circulation channels on the side of the removable component facing the outsole component and extending substantially laterally from the cavities for distributing air flows from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements within the article of footwear via perforations extending from the air circulation channels through the removable component; and   sealing areas adjacent to the cavities and air circulation channels, the sealing areas being configured to prevent air from escaping the cavities and air circulation channels when the removable component is inserted in the holding recess above the outsole component.   
     
     
         20 . The removable component according to  claim 19 , wherein the removable component comprises side grooves extending from the air circulation channels to the upper side of the removable component. 
     
     
         21 . The removable component according to  claim 19 , wherein at least one of the air circulation channels comprises an expanded perforated area for enhanced air circulation. 
     
     
         22 . The removable component according to  claim 21 , wherein the expanded perforated area is provided on the underside of the removable component and comprises an enlarged pattern of perforations for connecting the air circulation channels with the upper side of the removable component. 
     
     
         23 . The removable component according to  claim 19 , comprising perforations or side grooves connected to the air circulation channels for distributing air within the mid and front sections of the article of footwear while the heel section of the removable component is free of such perforations. 
     
     
         24 . The removable component according to  claim 19 , wherein the cavities are configured to cause pumping action of air into the air circulation channels. 
     
     
         25 . An article of footwear, comprising:
 an upper;   an outsole comprising resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements at the bottom thereof for generation of pumping action of air;   a holding recess provided by the upper and the outsole and configured to receive a removable component on top of the outsole, the removable component comprising cavities configured to receive air forced by the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements towards the removable component;   air circulation channels extending between the outsole and the removable component substantially laterally from the cavities for distributing air flows from the cavities within the article of footwear to perforations of the removable component extending from the air circulation channels through the removable component; and   sealing areas adjacent to the cavities and air circulation channels, the sealing areas being configured to prevent air from escaping the cavities and air circulation channels when the removable component is inserted in the holding recess above the outsole.   
     
     
         26 . The article of footwear according to  claim 25 , comprising a strobel sock between the removable component and the outsole, the strobel sock being attached to the upper and perforated at locations aligned with the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements for airflow from the resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements to the air circulation channels of the removable component. 
     
     
         27 . A method of arranging circulation of air within an article of footwear, the article of footwear comprising an upper, an outsole and a removable component, the method comprising:
 inserting the removable component into a holding recess above the outsole;   forcing air towards cavities in the removable component facing the outsole by pumping action of resiliently deflecting diaphragm elements at the bottom of the outsole;   distributing air from the diaphragm elements by air circulation channels extending substantially laterally from the cavities between the removable component and the outsole to perforations of the removable component extending from the air circulation channels through the removable component; and   applying pressure to sealing areas of the removable component to maintain engagement of sealing areas of the removable component with the surface of the holding recess to prevent escaping of the air forced into the cavities of the removable component.   
     
     
         28 . The method according to  claim 27 , comprising distributing air only within the mid and front sections of the article of footwear through perforations or side grooves disposed in said mid and front sections. 
     
     
         29 . The method according to  claim 27 , comprising enhancing flow of air into the air circulation channels by compressing the cavities. 
     
     
         30 . The method according to  claim 27 , comprising changing properties of the article of footwear by replacing the removable component with a different removable component.