Method of producing sole for bending-actuated aerated footwear

Abstract

A method of producing a sole assembly for manufacturing aerated footwear comprises: fabricating a sole component having an aperture extending from a top surface to a bottom surface, and having recessed cavity along a length of the bottom surface, the aperture connecting to the recessed cavity; attaching a material layer to the recessed cavity; attaching an actuation member to the material layer; and closing the aperture with a valve so as to control the entry of and expulsion of air from the recessed cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of producing a sole assembly or a midsole component for aerated footwear, said method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a first sole component having a top surface and a bottom surface,
 said first sole component further having an aperture extending through said top surface, said first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of said bottom surface such that said aperture connects to said recessed cavity; 
   attaching a material layer proximate an edge of said recessed cavity so as to partially close said recessed cavity;   attaching an actuation member to said material layer; and   covering said aperture with a valve so as to substantially close said recessed cavity.   
     
     
         2 . A method of producing a sole assembly for aerated footwear as in  claim 1  wherein a second sole component is attached to said first sole component such that said material layer is covered by said second sole component. 
     
     
         3 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said actuation member comprises an elongate member. 
     
     
         4 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 3  wherein said elongate member comprises at least one of a springboard, a semi-rigid component, or a rigid component. 
     
     
         5 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said actuation member comprises a first end fixed to said sole component. 
     
     
         6 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 5  wherein said actuation member comprises a second end fixed to said material layer. 
     
     
         7 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said material layer comprises a plurality of surface grooves. 
     
     
         8 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said first sole component comprises part of a molded sole. 
     
     
         9 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 1  further comprising the step of inserting said sole assembly into a prefabricated sole of an article of footwear. 
     
     
         10 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 1  wherein said valve functions to control ambient air entering and being expelled from said recessed cavity. 
     
     
         11 . A method of producing a sole assembly or a midsole component for aerated footwear, said method comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a first sole component having a surface, said first sole component further having recessed cavity along a length of said surface;   attaching a material layer proximate an edge of said recessed cavity so as to close said recessed cavity partially from a first side of said recessed cavity;   attaching an elongate actuation member to said material layer;   fabricating a second sole component having an aperture extending therethrough and attaching a valve to said aperture so as to close said recessed cavity from a second side of said recessed cavity;   attaching said second sole component to said first sole component to produce said sole assembly, such that said material layer and said actuation member are enclosed between said first sole component and said second sole component.   
     
     
         12 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 11  wherein said actuation member comprises an elongate member. 
     
     
         13 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said elongate member comprises at least one of a springboard, a semi-rigid component, or a rigid component. 
     
     
         14 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 12  wherein said actuation member has one end fixed to a front section of said first sole component. 
     
     
         15 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 11  wherein said material layer comprises a plurality of surface grooves. 
     
     
         16 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 11  wherein said first sole component comprises part of a molded sole. 
     
     
         17 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising the step of placing said first sole component and said second sole component into an item of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . A method of producing a sole assembly as in  claim 11  further comprising the step of inserting said sole assembly into a prefabricated sole of an article of footwear.