Ventilated shoe with protection sheet
An upper of a shoe is provided with a first ventilating opening which extends through the inner and outer surfaces of the upper. A flexible protection sheet is disposed over the first ventilating opening and is fixed to the upper. A second ventilating opening is defined at least by the protection sheet for cooperating with the first ventilating opening so as to ventilate the shoe, and is staggered with respect to the first ventilating opening. The protection sheet prevents contaminants from entering the shoe through the first ventilating opening while still permitting effective ventilation through the first ventilating opening.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a shoe, more particularly to a ventilated shoe which includes a ventilating opening formed in an upper and a flexible protection sheet disposed over the ventilating opening.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the art to provide an upper of a shoe with perforations to permit ventilation and perspiration.
An object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated shoe which not only possesses good ventilating property but also is effective in preventing foreign matters from invading the shoe directly.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated shoe with a protection sheet which can hide ventilating openings to enhance the outer appearance of the shoe while still permitting effective ventilation through the ventilating openings.
Accordingly, the present invention provide a shoe which comprises: an outsole; an upper connected to the outsole, the upper having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one first ventilating opening extending through the inner and outer surfaces; a flexible protection sheet disposed over the first ventilating opening and fixed to the upper; a second ventilating opening which is defined at least by the protection sheet and which is staggered with respect to the first ventilating opening, the second ventilating opening being cooperative with the first ventilating opening to ventilate the shoe; and a fastening unit to fix the protection sheet to the upper.
Preferably, the protection sheet has a marginal end and an interior part surrounded by the marginal end, wherein the fastening unit is attached solely to the marginal end so that the interior part is movable relative to the upper.
Alternatively, the protection sheet covers entirely the first ventilating opening, and the fastening unit is attached to a portion of the marginal end so that the marginal end has another portion which is movable relative to the upper, wherein the second ventilating opening is defined between said another portion of the marginal end and the outer surface of the upper.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSOther features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Before the present invention is described in greater detail, it should be noted that same reference numerals have been used to denote like elements throughout the specification.
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According to the present invention, a flexible protection sheet 30 is disposed over the first ventilating opening 23 and fixed to the upper 20 in order to protect the first ventilating opening 23. The protection sheet may be made of a material selected from natural leather, plastic leather, and rubbery leather. Other materials suitable for making the protection sheet 30 are plastics, rubbers and composite materials. In addition, a combination of two or more of the aforesaid materials may be used to make the protection sheet 30. For example, when the protection sheet 30 is made from a combination of leather and an elastic fabric material, the protection sheet 30 not only can flutter resiliently when subjected to air currents but also is effective in providing protection.
As shown in
When the user who wears the shoe (A) is walking or running, the shoe (A) is flexed or pressed intermittently due to the movements of the foot. As a result, the protection sheet 30 deforms or becomes bulged. The second ventilating openings 37 are therefore enlarged so that air and vapors inside the shoe (A) can flow easily outward through the first ventilating opening 23.
Due to the use of the first ventilating opening 23 having an enlarged size and the protection sheet 30 which covers the first ventilating opening 23, the shoe (A) not only provides efficient ventilation but also is effective to prevent dust, sandy substances and other contaminants from entering the inside of the shoe (A). Furthermore, the protection sheet 30 which covers the first ventilating opening 23 can provide an improved appearance as compared with the prior art.
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In all of the above mentioned preferred embodiments, although the first ventilating opening 23, 231′, 232′, 233′ 240, 241, 230′, or 631, according to the present invention are provided in the inner shank part 130 (see
While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretations and equivalent arrangements.
Claims
1. A shoe comprising:
- an outsole;
- an upper connected to said outsole, said upper having an inner surface, an outer surface, and at least one first ventilating opening extending through said inner and outer surfaces;
- a flexible protection sheet disposed over said first ventilating opening and fixed to said upper;
- a second ventilating opening which is defined at least by said protection sheet and which is staggered with respect to said first ventilating opening, said second ventilating opening being cooperative with said first ventilating opening to ventilate the shoe; and
- a fastening unit to fix said protection sheet to said upper.
2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said protection sheet has a marginal end and an interior part surrounded by said marginal end, said fastening unit being attached solely to said marginal end so that said interior part is movable relative to said upper.
3. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protection sheet covers entirely said first ventilating opening, said fastening unit being attached to a portion of said marginal end so that said marginal end has another portion which is movable relative to said upper, said second ventilating opening being defined between said another portion of said marginal end and said outer surface of said upper.
4. The shoe as claimed in claim 2, wherein said protection sheet is polygonal and has a plurality of sides which define said marginal end, said sides including two first sides which are substantially opposite to each other, and second sides connected to said first sides, said fastening unit being attached to said first sides, said second ventilating opening being defined between each of said second sides and said outer surface of said upper.
5. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes stitches which fasten said protection sheet to said upper.
6. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes an adhesive which cements said protection sheet to said upper.
7. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper includes a plurality of said first ventilating openings.
8. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first ventilating opening is configured as a slit.
9. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper is formed of a plurality of sheet parts which are assembled together, said first ventilating opening being defined by more than one of said sheet parts which are adjacent to each other, said more than one of said sheet parts having respective edges which are indented to cooperatively define said first ventilating opening.
10. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes hook-and-loop fasteners.
11. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fastening unit includes a plurality of studs.
12. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second ventilating opening is formed in said interior part of said protection sheet at a position which is staggered with respect to said first ventilating opening.
13. The shoe as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an air permeable sheet which covers said first ventilating opening and which is disposed inwardly of said protection sheet.
14. The shoe as claimed in claim 13, wherein said air permeable sheet is disposed between said upper and said protection sheet.
15. The shoe as claimed in claim 14, wherein said air permeable sheet is provided with screen openings.
Type: Application
Filed: Jan 23, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 28, 2005
Inventor: Eddie Chen (Taichung City)
Application Number: 10/764,035