Air circulating footbed and method thereof

Abstract

An air circulating footbed adapted for insertion into a shoe including first and second layers of material shaped and attached to each other so as to define at least two cavities therebetween, the first cavity being disposed generally in the forefoot region of a shoe and the second cavity being disposed generally in the heel region of a shoe, the first and second cavities being in fluid communication with each other whereby foot pressure exerted by a wearer's foot in the forefoot and heel regions of the footbed during a wearer's walking or running gait will circulate air flow back and forth between the at least two cavities. The cavities may also include low density polyurethane (PU) foam in the density range of 0.20 to 0.50 pounds per cubic foot.

1 . A footbed adapted to be removably inserted into a shoe comprising:
 a first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface;   a second layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said second layer being attached to said first layer so as to define a sealed air circulating area therebetween;   said air circulating area including:   a first cavity disposed at a location corresponding to a location where a forefoot of a wearer's foot would sit on said footbed;   a first low density foam insert disposed within the first cavity;   a second cavity disposed at a location corresponding to a location where a heel of a wearer's foot would sit on said footbed;   a second low density foam insert disposed within the second cavity; and   said second cavity being in fluid communication with said first cavity for allowing air to circulate between said first and second cavities.   
     
     
         2 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein said air circulating area comprises an interconnecting air transfer channel disposed between said first and second cavities for allowing air to communicate between said first cavity and second cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The footbed of  claim 2  wherein the interconnecting air transfer channel has a height in the range of about 3-5 mm. 
     
     
         4 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second cavities has a height in the range of about 5-8 mm. 
     
     
         5 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein said first and second low density foam inserts comprise a polyurethane (PU) foam with a density between 0.20 and 0.50 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         6 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein at least one of said first and second cavities is sealed in fluid-proof manner by a heat sealing method. 
     
     
         7 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein said first and second cavities are substantially filled with said first and second low density foam inserts. 
     
     
         8 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein the volume of said first low density foam insert is less than the volume of said first cavity. 
     
     
         9 . The footbed of  claim 1  wherein the second layer is formed of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA). 
     
     
         10 . A footbed adapted to be removably inserted into a shoe, said footbed having a forefoot region and a heel region, said footbed comprising:
 a first layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said lower surface defining at least two concave surfaces formed therein;   a second layer having an upper surface and a lower surface, said second layer being attached to said first layer so as to define at least two cavities therebetween, wherein a low density foam insert is disposed within each of said at least two cavities;   said first cavity being disposed at a location corresponding generally to the forefoot region and being defined by one of said concave surfaces and the upper surface of said second layer;   said second cavity being disposed at a location corresponding generally to the heel region and being defined by one of said concave surfaces and the upper surface of said second layer; and   an interconnecting channel disposed between said first and second cavities for allowing air to communicate between said first cavity and second cavity;   whereby foot pressure exerted on the forefoot region and the heel region of the footbed will circulate air between said first and second cavities through said interconnecting channel.   
     
     
         11 . The footbed of  claim 10  including a plurality of cavities and a plurality of interconnecting channels disposed between said first and second layers. 
     
     
         12 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein the interconnecting air transfer channel has a height in the range of about 3-5 mm. 
     
     
         13 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein each of said first and second cavities has a height in the range of about 5-8 mm. 
     
     
         14 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein said first and second low density foam inserts comprise a polyurethane (PU) foam with a density between 0.20 and 0.50 pounds per cubic foot. 
     
     
         15 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein at least one of said first and second cavities is sealed in fluid-proof manner by a heat sealing method. 
     
     
         16 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein said first and second cavities are substantially filled with said first and second low density foam inserts. 
     
     
         17 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein the volume of said first low density foam insert is less than the volume of said first cavity. 
     
     
         18 . The footbed of  claim 10  wherein the second layer is formed of ethyl vinyl acetate (EVA).