Shoe sole with a bladder and molds for making the sole

Abstract

A shoe sole includes a body made of Polyurethane and a bladder is integrally connected to the body by molding. An inlet tube and an outlet tube are respectively connected to the bladder. The bladder, the inlet tube and the outlet tube are put in the mold assembly and the Polyurethane is ejected into the concavity to form a one-piece sole with the bladder.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a shoe sole that includes a bladder embedded in the heel portion of the sole and two tubes are respectively connected to the bladder which inhales and exhales via the two tubes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] A conventional sport shoe sole 10 is shown in FIG. 1 and generally includes a recess 11 defined in an under side thereof and a bladder 12 is glued to an inside of the recess 11. The bladder 12 is connected to an inlet tube (not shown) and an outlet tube 121 which communicates with a one-way valve 121A. A plate 14 is glued to the underside of the sole 10 so as to position the bladder 12. The one-way valve 121 communicates with a chamber 13 in a front of the sole 10 and at least one aperture 131 is defined through the top of the sole 10 so that when the bladder 12 is pressed, air is expelled out from the bladder 12 and enters the chamber 13 via the one-way valve 121. The air then blows toward the fingers of the wearer via the at least one aperture 131 to cool the temperature of the foot of the wearer. The bladder 12 and the plate 14 could be peeled off from the sole 10 because the vibration and the humidity so that the functions are reduced.

[0003] The present invention intends to provide a sole wherein the bladder is connected to the sole as one piece so that the bladder can be firmly connected with the sole and the sole can be used for a longer period of time.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0004] In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe sole which comprises a body made of Polyurethane and a bladder with an inlet tube and an outlet tube are integrally connected to the body by molding.

[0005] The primary object of the present invention is to provide a one-piece shoe sole that includes a bladder which includes two tubes.

[0006] The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a cross sectional view to show a conventional shoe sole;

[0008] FIG. 2 shows the steps of the molding for making the shoe sole of the present invention;

[0009] FIG. 3 shows the mold assembly for making the shoe sole of the present invention;

[0010] FIG. 4 is an exploded view to show two stop members pivotably connected to two sides of the second mold;

[0011] FIG. 5A shows two stop members pivotably connected to two sides of the second mold;

[0012] FIG. 5B shows the two tubes are positioned in the second concavity of the second mold;

[0013] FIG. 6 is an exploded view to show the bladder and the two molds;

[0014] FIG. 7 shows that Polyurethane is ejected into the concavity of the two molds;

[0015] FIG. 8 shows a side view of the shoe sole of the present invention;

[0016] FIG. 9 shows the shoe sole of the present invention is received in a shoe;

[0017] FIG. 10 is an exploded view to show the shoe including shoe sole of the present invention;

[0018] FIG. 11 is a side view to show the shoe sole of the present invention in the shoe;

[0019] FIG. 12A is a perspective view to show the sole of the present invention'

[0020] FIG. 12B shows air is expelled out from the orifices in the extension tube when the bladder is pressed;

[0021] FIG. 13 shows a flexible block is received in the bladder;

[0022] FIG. 14 shows the groove in the second mold is replaced with a tube, and

[0023] FIG. 15 is a perspective view to show the shoe sole with the tube as shown in FIG. 14.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0024] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 10, the steps for making the shoe sole 30 of the present invention comprises step of preparing a bladder 31 connected with an inlet tube 33 and an outlet tube 34; step of putting the bladder 31 and a fabric 32 in the mold assembly 40; step of injecting foaming material 35 in the mold assembly 40 to integrally connect the bladder and the fabric 32, and step of obtaining a shoe sole 30.

[0025] Referring to FIGS. 3, 4, 5A, 5B, 6 and 7, the mold assembly 40 includes a first mold 41 and a second mold 42 which is pivotably connected to the first mold 41 at an end. The first mold 41 has a first concavity 411 and a plurality of pins 411 A extending from an inside of the first concavity 411. The second mold 42 has a second concavity 421 and a receiving concavity 421A is defined in an inside of the second concavity 421 so as to receive a bladder 31 therein. Two sets of positioning lugs 421 are located beside the receiving concavity 421 A so as to position an inlet tube 33 and an outlet tube 34, both of which are connected to the bladder 31. The inlet tube 33 and the outlet tube 34 are extended below the two stop members 422 which are pivotably connected to two sides of the second mold 42. A plurality of holes 421C are defined in the inside of the second concavity 421 and each hole 421 is tapered to form an orifice 371 through the sole 30. The pins 411A on the first mold 41 may extend through the holes 421C and the orifices 371 when the two molds 41, 42 are overlapped with each other. A groove 421D is defined in the inside of the second concavity 421 and a Thermo-plastic rubber or a plastic plate is inserted in the grove 421D.

[0026] Further referring to FIGS. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12A and 12B, Polyurethane is injected in the cooperated first concavity 411 and the second concavity 421 and integrally connects the fabric 32, the bladder 31, the inlet tube 33 and the outlet tube 34 so as to form a body 35. The body 35 is received in a shoe 50 as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. A passage or an extension tube 36 is defined by the groove 421D and a plurality of apertures 361 are defined through the Thermo-plastic rubber or a plastic plate. In other words, the apertures 361 are defined through a top of the body 35 of the sole 30. The orifices 371 are defined through the body 35. The holes 421C form a plurality of recesses 37 defined in an under side of the body 35 and respectively communicating with the orifices 371.

[0027] Each inlet tube 33 and the outlet tube 34 is connected to a one-way valve 331/341 so that when the bladder 31 is pressed, air in the bladder 31 is expelled from the one-way valve 341 and blows out from the apertures 361 so as to cool the foot of the wearer in a large area. After the pressure on the bladder 31 is released, air is sucked into the bladder 31 via the inlet tube 33 to inflate the bladder 31.

[0028] As shown in FIG. 13, a flexible block 311 made of air-permeable sponge is received in the bladder 31 and includes a plurality of recesses 311A defined therein. The flexible block 311 has a density of 80 Kg/M3 so that it has better buffering feature.

[0029] Referring to FIGS. 14 and 15, the groove in the second mold 42 can be replaced with a longer outlet tube 34 so as to simplify the structure of the mold assembly 40.

[0030] The bladder 31 is embedded in the body 35 of the sole 30 so that it improves the shortcoming of the connection between the conventional bladder and the sole.

[0031] While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A shoe sole comprising:

a body and a bladder integrally connected to the body by molding, an inlet tube and an outlet tube respectively connected to the bladder.

2. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an extension tube formed in the body and communicating with the outlet, a plurality of apertures defined through the extension tube, the apertures defined through a top surface of the body.

3. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of orifices defined through the body.

4. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 3 further comprising a plurality of recesses defined in an under side of the body and respectively communicating with the orifices.

5. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a flexible block received in the bladder.

6. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flexible block includes a plurality of recesses defined therein.

7. The shoe sole as claimed in claim 5, wherein the flexible block has a density of 80 Kg/M3.

8. A mold assembly for making a shoe sole, comprising:

a first mold having a first concavity and a plurality of pins extending from an inside of the first concavity, and

a second mold having a second concavity and a plurality of holes for receiving the pins, a receiving concavity defined in an inside of the second concavity and being adapted to receive a bladder therein, two sets of positioning lugs located beside the receiving concavity and being adapted to position an inlet tube and an outlet tube.

9. The mold assembly as claimed in claim 8 further comprising a groove defined in the inside of the second concavity and being adapted to communicate with the outlet tube.