Systems and methods for ventilation of footwear

Abstract

A ventilation system for an article of footwear has a gas-motive device, an inlet line to the gas-motive device, and an outlet line to the gas motive device, the outlet line communicating to an inner volume of the article of footwear. The system is characterized in that gaseous material is drawn from the inlet line and pumped via the outlet line into the inner volume of the article of footwear, which has a cooling effect as well as pumping away noxious odors and eliminating a bacteria-friendly environment.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A ventilation system for a shoe, comprising: 
 a gas-motive device;    an inlet line to the gas-motive device; and    an outlet line to the gas motive device, the outlet line communicating to an inner volume of the shoe;    characterized in that gaseous material is drawn from the inlet line and pumped via the outlet line into the inner volume of the shoe.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the gas-motive device is a hollow and deformable bladder device with structural integrity to return the bladder after deformation to an un-collapsed condition.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the inlet line communicates to outside the shoe, and the gaseous material is ambient air.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the outlet line communicates through a manifolding system to several points into the interior of the shoe.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the outlet line communicates through porous inner panels for distributing air into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 2  further comprising one or more one-way valves in the inlet or the outlet lines for controlling the direction of pumping action.  
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 2  wherein the inlet and the outlet lines are the same line, and gaseous material is alternately drawn from the inner volume of the shoe, and urged into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2  arranged to place the bladder under the heel of the shoe, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the heel area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 2  arranged to place the bladder under the forward area of the shoe toward the toe region, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the forward area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising a reservoir connected to the inlet line to the gas motive device, the reservoir holding one or more of a solid, semi-solid or liquid perfume, deodorant, fungicide, or anti-bacterial agent, such that gaseous material drawn into the gas-motive device for transfer into the inner volume of the shoe is integrated with the contents of the reservoir.  
     
     
         11 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 a sole region for underlying a user's foot;    an upper region for engaging a user's foot in use, to stabilize the footwear on the user's foot, and defining an inner volume around the user's foot; and    a ventilation system including a gas-motive device, an inlet line to the gas-motive device, and an outlet line to the gas motive device, the outlet line communicating to an inner volume of the shoe;    characterized in that gaseous material is drawn from the inlet line and pumped via the outlet line into the inner volume.    
     
     
         12 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the gas-motive device is a hollow and deformable bladder device with structural integrity to return the bladder after deformation to an un-collapsed condition.  
     
     
         13 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the inlet line communicates to outside the shoe, and the gaseous material is ambient air.  
     
     
         14 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the outlet line communicates through a manifolding system to several points into the interior of the shoe.  
     
     
         15 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  wherein the outlet line communicates through porous inner panels for distributing air into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         16 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  further comprising one or more one-way valves in the inlet or the outlet lines for controlling the direction of pumping action.  
     
     
         17 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  wherein the inlet and the outlet lines are the same line, and gaseous material is alternately drawn from the inner volume of the shoe, and urged into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         18 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  arranged to place the bladder under the heel of the shoe, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the heel area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         19 . The article of footwear of  claim 12  arranged to place the bladder under the forward area of the shoe toward the toe region, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the forward area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         20 . The article of footwear of  claim 11  further comprising a reservoir connected to the inlet line to the gas motive device, the reservoir holding one or more of a solid, semi-solid or liquid perfume, deodorant, fungicide, or anti-bacterial agent, such that gaseous material drawn into the gas-motive device for transfer into the inner volume of the shoe is integrated with the contents of the reservoir.  
     
     
         21 . A method for ventilating a shoe, comprising the steps of: 
 (a) incorporating a gas-motive device having an inlet line and an outlet line into the shoe, the outlet line communicating to an inner volume of the shoe; and    (b) operating the gas motive device to move gaseous material drawn from the inlet line into the inner volume of the shoe.    
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the gas-motive device is a hollow and deformable bladder device with structural integrity to return the bladder after deformation to an un-collapsed condition, such that shifting a user's weight onto an off an area over the bladder operates the bladder as a bellows pump.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the inlet line communicates to outside the shoe, and the gaseous material is ambient air.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the outlet line communicates through a manifolding system to several points into the interior of the shoe.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the outlet line communicates through porous inner panels for distributing air into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising one or more one-way valves in the inlet or the outlet lines for controlling the direction of pumping action.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 22  wherein the inlet and the outlet lines are the same line, and gaseous material is alternately drawn from the inner volume of the shoe, and urged into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 22  arranged to place the bladder under the heel of the shoe, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the heel area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22  arranged to place the bladder under the forward area of the shoe toward the toe region, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the forward area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 31  further comprising a reservoir connected to the inlet line to the gas motive device, the reservoir holding one or more of a solid, semi-solid or liquid perfume, deodorant, fungicide, or anti-bacterial agent, such that gaseous material drawn into the gas-motive device for transfer into the inner volume of the shoe is integrated with the contents of the reservoir.  
     
     
         31 . A ventilating insert for an article of footwear, comprising: 
 a region shaped for insertion into the article of footwear, and having a portion for underlying at least a part of a user's foot; and    a ventilation system including a gas-motive device, an inlet line to the gas-motive device, and an outlet line to the gas motive device positioned in the portion underlying at least a part of the user's foot, the outlet line communicating through the region shaped for insertion into the article of footwear;    characterized in that the gas-motive device is operated by the user in walking or running, such that gaseous material is drawn from the inlet line and pumped via the outlet line through the insole-shaped region.    
     
     
         32 . The insert of  claim 31  wherein the gas-motive device is a hollow and deformable bladder device with structural integrity to return the bladder after deformation to an un-collapsed condition.  
     
     
         33 . The insert of  claim 31  wherein the inlet line communicates to outside the article of footwear, and the gaseous material is ambient air.  
     
     
         34 . The insert of  claim 31  wherein the inlet line communicates through a breathing tongue connected and positioned to lie behind a user's heel with the insert in an article of footwear.  
     
     
         35 . The insert of  claim 11  wherein the outlet line communicates through a porous inner panel of the insole-shaped region.  
     
     
         36 . The insert of  claim 32  further comprising one or more one-way valves in the inlet or the outlet lines for controlling the direction of pumping action.  
     
     
         37 . The insert of  claim 32  wherein the inlet and the outlet lines are the same line, and gaseous material is alternately drawn from the inner volume of the article of footwear, and urged into the inner volume of the shoe.  
     
     
         38 . The insert of  claim 32  arranged to place the bladder under a user's heel, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the heel area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         39 . The insert of  claim 32  arranged to place the bladder under the forward area of a user's foot, such that walking or running action placing a user's weight on the forward area alternately collapses and un-collapses the bladder.  
     
     
         40 . The insert of  claim 31  further comprising a reservoir connected to the inlet line to the gas motive device, the reservoir holding one or more of a solid, semi-solid or liquid perfume, deodorant, fungicide, or anti-bacterial agent, such that gaseous material drawn into the gas-motive device for transfer into the inner volume of the article of footwear is integrated with the contents of the reservoir.