US6519873B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Plastic bellows inserted into soles
Assignee: Yamamoto Ltd
•
Filing: 2000-10-10
•
Granted: 2003-02-18
•
Expires: 2020-10-10
Abstract
Abstract A plastic bellow system inserted into the sole of a shoe. The system having a first pair and a second pair of side-by-side plastic bellows in the forward portion and the rear portion of the shoe sole. The bellows placed in hollows formed in a midsole. The first pair of bellows having two convolutions with an opening formed in the lower convolution. The second pair of bellows having three convolutions with an opening formed in the lower convolution. A pneumatic valve associated with each bellows and the exterior of the midsole. The user can modify foot position by operating the valve of each bellows of the first and second pair of plastic bellows to inflate or deflate each bellows to thereby modify the volume of each bellows.
Inventors
- 👤 Carmel Buttigieg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 04:02
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/14; A43B13/18; A43B13/20; A43B13/206; A43B1/00; A43B1/0018; A43B13/181; A43B13/186; A43B13/203; A43B3/00; A43B3/10; A43B3/108; A43B7/00; A43B7/14; A43B7/1405; A43B7/1455; A43B7/147
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim
259 words
A plastic bellows system inserted into the sole of a shoe, said shoe sole including a midsole ( 4 ) and an outer sole ( 5 ) attached to midsole ( 4 ), said plastic bellows system comprising: a) a first pair of side by side plastic bellows each formed with two convolutions and arranged in the forward portion of the shoe sole in hollows formed in said midsole ( 4 ); b) a second pair of side by side plastic bellows each formed with three convolutions and arranged in the heel portion of the shoe sole in hollows formed in said midsole ( 4 ); said first and second pairs of plastic bellows being formed by blow molding or rotational molding of engineering thermoplastic elastomers having high elastic modulus so that said bellows have instantaneous recovery following compression; c) an opening formed in the lower convolution of each of said bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows communicating via a tube ( 3 , 7 ) to the exterior of said midsole ( 4 ); and d) a pneumatic valve ( 6 ) associated with each of said bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows and arranged in the tube communicating between each said bellows and the exterior of said midsole ( 4 ), whereby the user can modify foot position by operating the pneumatic valve of each bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows to inflate or deflate each bellows to thereby modify the volume of each bellows.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
259 words
A plastic bellows system inserted into the sole of a shoe, said shoe sole including a midsole ( 4 ) and an outer sole ( 5 ) attached to midsole ( 4 ), said plastic bellows system comprising: a) a first pair of side by side plastic bellows each formed with two convolutions and arranged in the forward portion of the shoe sole in hollows formed in said midsole ( 4 ); b) a second pair of side by side plastic bellows each formed with three convolutions and arranged in the heel portion of the shoe sole in hollows formed in said midsole ( 4 ); said first and second pairs of plastic bellows being formed by blow molding or rotational molding of engineering thermoplastic elastomers having high elastic modulus so that said bellows have instantaneous recovery following compression; c) an opening formed in the lower convolution of each of said bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows communicating via a tube ( 3 , 7 ) to the exterior of said midsole ( 4 ); and d) a pneumatic valve ( 6 ) associated with each of said bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows and arranged in the tube communicating between each said bellows and the exterior of said midsole ( 4 ), whereby the user can modify foot position by operating the pneumatic valve of each bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows to inflate or deflate each bellows to thereby modify the volume of each bellows.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
The plastic bellows system inserted into the sole of a shoe as defined in claim 1 , wherein said opening in the lower convolution of each bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows is disposed on a longitudinal side of each said bellows arranged adjacent an exterior edge of said midsole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The plastic bellows system inserted into the sole of a shoe as defined in claim 1 , wherein said opening in the lower convolution of each bellows of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows is disposed on a head side of each said bellows.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
162 words
The plastic bellows system inserted into the sole of a shoe as defined in claim 1 , wherein said pneumatic valve ( 6 ) associated with each of said bellows comprises a ring shaped seat ( 11 ) inserted into the tube ( 3 , 7 ) communicating with said bellows, a push button ( 12 ) having an inner head and movable in said tube to seat against a gasket ( 14 ) of said ring shaped seat ( 11 ), and a spring ( 15 ) acting against the inner head of said push button to bias said push button against said ring shaped seat ( 11 ), said spring being disposed in said tube ( 3 , 7 ) between inner teeth ( 10 ) formed in said tube ( 3 , 7 ) and the inner head of said push button, whereby the depression of said push button allows air to enter into or exit from said bellows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
45 words
The plastic bellows system inserted into the sole of a shoe as defined in claim 1 , wherein said midsole ( 4 ) is formed of foamed plastic material and during the molding of said first and second pairs of plastic bellows is amalgamated therewith.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US1568405A
Cited
DE3031818A1
Cited
US4462171A
Cited
US4446634A
Cited
US5295314A
Cited
US4918838A
Cited
US5068981A
Cited
US5222312A
Cited
EP0576734A1
Cited
US5673498A
Cited
US5794361A
Cited
US5813142A
Cited
US5655315A
Cited
WO1998054996A1
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-02-17 | 2006-08-19 | 2007-02-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-02-17 | 2010-08-19 | 2011-02-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-02-17 | 2014-08-19 | 2015-02-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |