US4547978A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Footwear
Assignee: Clarks Ltd
•
Filing: 1983-01-27
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Granted: 1985-10-22
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Expires: 2003-01-27
Abstract
Abstract A boot or shoe 10 has its upper lasted to an insole 12 made from leather or a permeable plastics material, and a sole unit 13 is bonded to the lasted upper and the insole. The sole unit is moulded from a resilient plastics material and is formed with a multiplicity of cavities 15 opening to its top surface underlying the insole and open topped channels extending between the cavities. Bulges 17 are formed on the bottom surface of the sole unit at the locations of the cavities. The act of walking causes the bulges to be compressed and to pump air along the channels to others of the cavities so as to disperse perspiration from the insole. The cavities preferably have a restricted cross-sectional area 18 where they communicate with the channels.
Inventors
- 👤 Alfred D. Radford
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 18:36
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/06; A43B7/08; A43B7/081; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 13
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A sole unit for an article of footwear, which sole unit is formed in one piece from a resilient moldable material, comprising: a sole portion and a heel portion molded integrally with each other and having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of cavities formed in each of said portions, a system of channels formed in the top surface of said portions, each of said cavities having a restricted opening through which the cavity is individually in communication with the system of channels, a bulge formed on the bottom surface below each of said cavities wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity, and wherein the maximum diameter of the cavities is in the range 8 to 12 mm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A sole unit for an article of footwear, which sole unit is formed in one piece from a resilient moldable material, comprising: a sole portion and a heel portion molded integrally with each other and having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of cavities formed in each of said portions, a system of channels formed in the top surface of said portions, each of said cavities having a restricted opening through which the cavity is individually in communication with the system of channels, a bulge formed on the bottom surface below each of said cavities wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity, and wherein the maximum diameter of the cavities is in the range 8 to 12 mm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
28 words
A sole unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a multiplicity of said cavities are provided and include concentrations in the sole portion and in the heel portion.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A sole unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of said cavities has at least two channels of the channel system connected thereto.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sole unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bulges on the bottom surface have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
A sole unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein a majority of the cavities has at least three channels of the system of channels connected thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
A sole unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the system of channels interconnecting the cavities includes channels directed substantially laterally as well as longitudinally.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
13 words
A sole unit as claimed in claim 1 wherein the cavities are egg-shaped.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
132 words
A sole unit for an article of footwear, which sole unit is formed in one piece from a resilient moldable material, comprising: a sole portion and a heel portion molded integrally with each other and having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of cavities formed in each of said portions, a system of channels formed in the top surface of said portions, each of said cavities having a restricted opening through which the cavity is individually in communication with the system of channels, a bulge formed on the bottom surface below each of said cavities wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity, and wherein the bulges on the bottom surface have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
132 words
A sole unit for an article of footwear, which sole unit is formed in one piece from a resilient moldable material, comprising: a sole portion and a heel portion molded integrally with each other and having top and bottom surfaces, a plurality of cavities formed in each of said portions, a system of channels formed in the top surface of said portions, each of said cavities having a restricted opening through which the cavity is individually in communication with the system of channels, a bulge formed on the bottom surface below each of said cavities wherein the cross-sectional area of said restricted opening is substantially one-quarter of the maximum cross-sectional area of the cavity, and wherein the bulges on the bottom surface have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
31 words
An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein a multiplicity of said cavities are provided and include concentrations in the sole portion and in the heel portion of the sole unit.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
23 words
An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein each of said cavities has at least two channels of the channel system connected thereto.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
28 words
An article as claimed in claim 8, wherein the bulges on the bottom surface of the sole unit have a height in the range 6 to 8 mm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1988-10-21 | 1989-04-22 | 1989-10-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1992-10-21 | 1993-04-22 | 1993-10-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1996-10-21 | 1997-04-22 | 1997-10-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |