Ventilation systems for shoes and methods

Abstract

The present invention generally relates to forced ventilation systems for various shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to forced ventilation systems each including at least two air pumps disposed in preset areas of the shoes and capable of providing ventilation through the shoes during different steps of walking and running. Such ventilation systems typically includes at least one air pump in a shoe rear and at least another air pump in a shoe front such that the first pump provides the ventilation as an user presses the shoe rear area, while the second pump provides the ventilation as the user presses the shoe front, thereby maximizing the ventilation and minimizing a dead space in the shoe. The present invention also relates to various methods of operating such systems, disposing multiple air pumps thereof, and actuating such pumps. The present invention further relates to various processes for providing such systems, air pumps, and actuator units.

1 . A ventilation system for ventilating a shoe which defines a plurality of longitudinal areas along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of said shoe extending along a direction from a shoe toe to a shoe back, defining a plurality of lateral areas horizontally across said axis from an outer edge to an inner edge of said shoe, and also defining a plurality of vertical areas vertically across said axis from a shoe heel to a shoe neck of said shoe comprising:
 a plurality of airways which are configured to transport said air therethrough; and   a plurality of air pumps which are configured to be disposed in at least partly opposite areas of said shoe and to transport air from one of an interior and exterior of said shoe to the other thereof and each of which is fluidly coupled to at least one of said airways,   wherein each of said airways is configured to be disposed on at least one of said air pumps.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said air pumps are configured to transport said air during different periods in each of which said shoe contacts ground with one of said at least partly opposite areas of said shoe during at least one of walking and running. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said air pumps are configured to be not fluidly coupled to each other. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least portions of at least two of said airways are configured to be shared by at least two of said air pumps. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said airways is disposed over one of said air pumps to which said one of said airways is fluidly coupled to. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said airways is disposed over one of said air pumps to which another of said airways is fluidly coupled to. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one of said airways is disposed over one of said air pumps to which none of said airways are fluidly coupled to. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said airways are configured to be disposed on at least a substantial portion of all of said longitudinal areas of said shoe. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said airways are configured to be disposed on at least a substantial portion of all of said lateral areas of said shoe. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said air pumps are configured to be disposed in at least partly opposite longitudinal areas of said shoe. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein at least two of said air pumps are configured to be disposed in at least partly opposite lateral areas of said shoe. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one actuator unit which is disposed in one of said areas which is not said first and second areas of said shoe and which is configured to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to at least one of said air pumps. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least one actuator unit which is disposed in one of said first and second areas and to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to one of said air pumps to which said actuator unit is coupled. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising at least two actuator units a first of which is placed in a first of said areas and configured to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to a first of said air pumps therethrough and a second of which is configured to be disposed in a second of said areas and to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to a second of said air pumps therethrough. 
     
     
         15 . A ventilation system for ventilating a shoe defining a plurality of areas including a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear along a direction which extends from a shoe toe to a shoe back along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of said shoe, defining another plurality of areas including a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner in a horizontal direction across said longitudinal axis, and also defining another plurality of areas including a shoe heel, a shoe side, and a shoe upper from a shoe heel to a shoe neck along a vertical direction across said longitudinal axis, wherein an user walks or runs by sequentially repeating a first step of stepping on ground with said shoe heel and at least one of shoe middle and shoe rear, a second step of pivoting said shoe and stepping on said ground primarily with said shoe front and shoe heel, and a third step of detaching said shoe from said ground and engaging said first step in another location of said ground thereafter, said system comprising:
 a plurality of air pumps each of which is configured to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of said shoe to the other thereof and wherein at least two of said air pumps are disposed in (or across) different areas of said shoe and configured to transport said air during at least a portion of each of said first and second steps.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 15 , wherein at least one of said air pumps is disposed in at least one of said areas and configured to receive energy from said user during at least a portion of said first step so as to transport said air during said portion of said first step, and wherein at least another of said air pumps is disposed in at least another of said areas and configured to receive energy from said user so as to transport said air during at least a portion of said second step. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein at least one of said air pumps is configured to include at least one compliant portion therealong and to transport said air during at least a portion of said third step. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 15  further comprising at least one compliant chamber which is configured to be fluidly couple to at least one of said air pumps and to store said air therein supplied thereto by said at least one of said air pumps, whereby said ventilating system is configured to transport said air during at least a substantial portion of each of said first and second steps and to also transport said air during at least a portion of said third step. 
     
     
         19 . A method of improving ventilation through a shoe comprising the steps of:
 providing at least two air pumps each capable of providing said ventilation through said shoe;   disposing at least one of said air pumps in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of said shoe; and   covering at least substantial portions of said areas therewith, thereby maximizing an amount of energy which is supplied by an user and received through said areas.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising the step of:
 actuating said air pumps by different energies which are supplied by an user in said different angles, thereby maximizing an amount of energy which is used in said actuating.