Ventilation systems for shoes and methods

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Various shoes have been used since the prehistoric era in order to protect feet of users from sharp objects. As humans began to make and wear waterproof shoes, ventilation through the shoes has become another issue. Accordingly, various shoe ventilation devices and ventilating shoes have been proposed, although none of them have been able to gain popularity.

For precise description of various areas of the shoes and those of human foot, however, it is to be understood that following nomenclature is to be used throughout this description, where FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary shoe, while FIG. 1B is a top view of the exemplary shoe of FIG. 1A. As shown in FIG. 1A, a typical shoe 10 defines a curvilinear longitudinal axis which extends from a front area (to be referred to as a “shoe front” or “SF” hereinafter), through a middle area (to be referred to as a “shoe middle” or “SM” hereinafter), to its rear area (to be referred to as a “shoe rear” or “SR” hereinafter). Contrary to the areas, SF, SM, and SR, defined horizontally along the longitudinal axis, such a shoe 10 further defines, vertically with respect to the longitudinal axis, a top area (to be referred to as a “shoe upper” or “SU” hereinafter), a middle area (to be referred to as a “shoe side” or “SS” hereinafter), and a bottom area (to be referred to as a “shoe heel” or “SH” hereinafter). It is also appreciated that the shoe upper specifically includes an opening and adjacent areas (to be referred to as a “shoe neck” or “SN” hereinafter), that such a shoe side specifically includes a front area (to be referred to as a “shoe toe” or “ST” hereinafter) and a rear area (to be referred to as a “shoe back” or “SB” hereinafter), and that the shoe heel specifically collectively includes one or more soles (such as an inner sole, a middle or center sole, an outer sole, and the like) (to be referred to as a “shoe sole” or “SS” hereinafter). As described in FIG. 1B, the shoe 10 further defines, at least partially parallel to the longitudinal axis, an outer area (to be referred to as a “shoe outer” or “SO” hereinafter), a center area (to be referred to as a “shoe center” or “SC” hereinafter), and then an inner area (to be referred to as a “shoe inner” or “SI” hereinafter).

It is to be understood that the above nomenclature may be applied to various areas of a foot of an user and that each area of the above shoe corresponds to each area of the foot to be referred to by a similar term. Thus, a typical foot is deemed to define a curvilinear longitudinal axis which extends from a front area (to be referred to as a “foot front” hereinafter), through a middle area (to be referred to as a “foot middle” hereinafter), to its rear area (to be referred to as a “foot rear” hereinafter). Such a foot also defines, vertically with respect to such a longitudinal axis, a top area (to be referred to as a “foot upper” hereinafter), a middle area (to be referred to as a “foot side” hereinafter), and a bottom area (to be referred to as a “foot heel” hereinafter). It is appreciated that the foot upper also includes an opening and adjacent areas (to be referred to as a “foot neck” hereinafter), that the foot side also includes a front area (to be referred to as a “shoe toe” hereinafter) and a rear area (to be referred to as a “foot back” hereinafter), and the like. The foot may further define, at least partially parallel to the longitudinal axis, an outer area (to be referred to as a “foot outer” hereinafter), a center area (to be referred to as a “foot center” hereinafter), and then an inner area (to be referred to as a “foot inner” hereinafter).

As described hereinabove, the foregoing nomenclature is generally based upon classifying the shoe into three areas along three different curvilinear and generally orthogonal directions, e.g., along the longitudinal axis of the shoe, vertically with respect to such an axis, and horizontally with respect to such an axis. Accordingly, it is appreciated that, unless otherwise specified, one area along one of the above directions may collectively encompass all other areas which are defined by other directions and which also lie in such one area along such one direction. For example, the shoe rear collectively includes the rear areas of the shoe upper, shoe side, and shoe heel as well as the rear areas of the shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner. By the same token, the shoe outer collectively includes the outer areas of the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear, as well as those areas of the shoe upper, shoe side, and shoe heel. In contrary, other specific areas such as the shoe toe and shoe back may only refer to the front and rear areas of the shoe side, the shoe neck may only refer to the opening or top area of the shoe upper, and the shoe sole may only refer to the sole(s) of the shoe.

As used herein, “opposite” areas of a shoe typically refer to various areas of the shoe which are disposed at least partially opposite to each other in a direction along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe which extends from a shoe toe toward a shoe back and/or which are disposed at least partially opposite to each other in another direction which is vertical and at least partially perpendicular to the above longitudinal axis. For example, an “opposite” area of a shoe front generally corresponds to a shoe rear, while some portions of a shoe middle disposed away from the shoe front may qualify as such. Similarly, an “opposite” area of the shoe rear typically corresponds to the shoe front, while some portions of the shoe middle disposed away from the shoe rear may quality as such. In another example, an “opposite” area of a shoe upper generally corresponds to a shoe heel and an “opposite” area of the shoe heel generally corresponds to the shoe upper, while some portions of a shoe side may qualify as such when such portions of the shoe side may be disposed away from the shoe heel or upper along the longitudinal axis. However, another axis which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis but horizontal may not be used to define such “opposite” areas of the shoe. Accordingly, a shoe outer and shoe inner are not generally “opposite” areas within the scope of the present invention.

Adopting the above nomenclature, various shoe ventilation devices or ventilating shoes have been disclosed in the prior art, more specifically in the U.S. utility patents and publications thereof.

First of all, many U.S. Patent Application Publications (to be abbreviated as U.S. pat. App. Pubs. hereinafter) describe various shoes which incorporate therein numerous types of positive (or forced) ventilation devices. Examples of such shoes may include, but not be limited to, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2005/0005473 A1 by Phillip J. Oh, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0088882 A1 by Carmel Buttigieg, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0068891 A1 by Guohua Wang, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2004/0010939 by C. Y. Liu et al., U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2003/0188451 by Chien-I Wu, U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2002/0170203 by Walter Sanner, and U.S. Pat. App. Pub. No. 2002/0011009 A1 by Wan Fu Pan, all of which teach to incorporate air pumps or air chambers inside such shoes and provide ventilation into and/or out of the shoes using compression applied by heels of users as driving forces therefor, and all of which are to be incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

Many U.S. Patents describe such shoes incorporating numerous types of positive (or forced) ventilation devices as well. Examples of the issued patents may include, but not be limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,679 to Carmel Buttigieg, U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,529 to Daniel D. Kelley, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,247,248, 6,079,123, and 6,044,577 all issued to Gregory Clark, U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,519 to Peter S. C. Cheng, U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,250 to Rusty A. Reed et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,975,861 to Bongseop Shin et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,835 to Taek M. Kwon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,332 to Cheng K. Lain, U.S. Pat. No. 5,845,417 to Rusty A. Reed et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,349 to Chauncey D. Goss, U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,438 to A. S. Wanniarachchi, U.S. Pat. No. 5,813,140 to Abdelhakim R. Obeid, U.S. Pat. No. 5,809,665 to Tatsuhiko Suenaga, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,171 to Elbert O. Phillips, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,170 to Mark D. Murrell et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,675,914 to Arthur G. Cintron, U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,314 to Alfonso Petracci, U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,806 to James M. O'Dwyer, U.S. Pat. No. 5,515,622 to Sang Y. Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,505,010 to Sadao Fukuoka, U.S. Pat. No. 5,477,626 to Joong T. Kwon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,760 to Steven Tse et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,526 to Raymond Sessa, U.S. Pat. No. 5,375,345 to Zoran Djuric, U.S. Pat. No. 5,353,525 to Tracey Grim, U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,581 to Kinger Huang, U.S. Pat. No. 5,333,397 to Duane Hausch, U.S. Pat. No. 5,295,313 to Kuyn C. Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 5,195,254 to Liou Y. Tyng, U.S. Pat. No. 5,138,775 to Hui-Cheng Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 5,068,981 to In Soo Jung,U.S. Pat. No. 5,025,575 to Nikola Lakic, U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,661 to Chi-Kong Chu, U.S. Pat. No. 4,993,173 to James T. Gardiner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,883 to Edward J. Tetrault et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,110 to Joung-Lin Shiang, U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,672 to Sand Do Kim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,137,653 to Joseph P. Famolare, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,963 to Sadao Fukuoka, and other U.S. and/or foreign patents and/or publications cited therein, all of which suggest to incorporate similar air pumps or air chambers inside such shoes and provide ventilation into and/or out of the shoes using compression applied by heels of users as driving forces therefor, and all of which are to be incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

Other older prior arts also seem to disclose incorporation of similar air pumps or air chambers into the shoes for ventilation, where examples of which may include, but not be limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 4,999,932 to Grim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,995,173 to Spier, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,991,317 and 4,845,338 to Lakic, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,342 to Nakamura et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,939,851 to Miller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,912,858 to Mochizuki, U.S. Pat. No. 4,888,887 to Solow, U.S. Pat. No. 4,860,463 to Pin, U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,861 to Moumdjian, U.S. Pat. No. 4,831,749 to Tsai, U.S. Pat. No. 4,813,160 to Kuznetz, U.S. Pat. No. 4,776,109 to Sacre, U.S. Pat. No. 4,763,426 to Polus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,760,651 to Pon-Tzu, U.S. Pat. No. 4,744,157 to Dubner, U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,203 to Goller, U.S. Pat. No. 4,674,200 to Sing, U.S. Pat. No. 4,654,982 to Lee, U.S. Pat. No. 4,633,597 to Shiang, U.S. Pat. No. 4,619,055 to Davidson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,610,099 to Signori, U.S. Pat. No. 4,602,441 to El Sakkaf, U.S. Pat. No. 4,546,555 to Spademan, and the like. Other relevant prior art may also include, but not be limited to, U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,195 to Onoda, U.S. Pat. No. 4,547,978 to Radford, U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,634 to Johnson, U.S. Pat. No. 4,438,573 to McBarron, U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,893 to Stephan, U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,189 to Bates, U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,186 to Fukuoka, U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,969 to Vermonet, U.S. Pat. No. 4,309,831 to Pritt, U.S. Pat. No. 4,237,625 to Cole et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,224,746 to Kim, U.S. Pat. No. 4,219,945 to Rudy, U.S. Pat. No. 4,217,705 to Donzls, U.S. Pat. No. 4,102,061 to Saaristo, U.S. Pat. No. 4,078,321 to Famolare, Jr., U.S. Pat. No. 4,063,371 to Batra, U.S. Pat. No. 4,016,662 to Thompson, and so on. Other older, relevant prior arts may include, but not be limited to U.S. Pat. No. 3,973,336 to Ahn, U.S. Pat. No. 3,791,051 to Kamimira, U.S. Pat. No. 3,754,339 to Terasaki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,716,930 to Brahm, U.S. Pat. No. 3,533,171 to Motoki, U.S. Pat. No. 3,475,836 to Brahm, U.S. Pat. No. 3,410,006 to Vogel, U.S. Pat. No. 3,335,505 to Stec, U.S. Pat. No. 3,331,146 to Karras, U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,930 to Baldwin, U.S. Pat. No. 3,225,463 to Bumham, U.S. Pat. No. 3,180,039 to Burns, U.S. Pat. No. 3,128,566 to Burlison, U.S. Pat. No. 3,120,712 to Menken, U.S. Pat. No. 3,060,599 to Okuyama, U.S. Pat. No. 3,050,875 to Robbins, U.S. Pat. No. 3,029,530 to Eaton, U.S. Pat. No. 3,027,659 to Gianola, and other U.S. or foreign patents and/or publications cited therein, all of which are to be incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

It is understood that almost all ventilation devices of these prior art teach to incorporate the air pumps or air chambers on or in the planter areas of the shoes in order to utilize the compression force applied by the user. For example, FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a prior art shoe ventilation device incorporating an air pump in a shoe rear and a shoe heel of a shoe, where a ventilation device 20 has an air pump 21 disposed in a shoe rear and heel of a shoe 10. An airway 22 is fluidly coupled to such an air pump 21 toward a shoe front and heel and terminates at an air inlet 23, while an one-way valve 251 is disposed therealong. To another end of the air pump 21 is coupled an air outlet 24 which has an optional one-way valve 250. Depending upon disposition of such valves 251, 250, ambient air may be pumped into the shoe 10 or damp air may be sucked out from the shoe as an user walks or runs while a foot of the user compresses the air pump 21. As manifest in this figure, such an air pump may only operate when a wearer or user steps on the ground with the shoe rear and heel of the shoe. Only a few other prior art patents such as U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,250 to Rusty, U.S. Pat. No. 5,953,835 to Kwon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,697,170 to Phillips, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,408,760 to Tse teach to dispose the air pumps or chambers in the front areas of the shoes. For example, FIG. 2B shows a schematic diagram of a prior art shoe ventilation device incorporating an air pump in a shoe front and a shoe heel of a shoe. Such a ventilation device 20 similarly has an air pump 21 disposed in a shoe front and a shoe heel of a shoe 10. An airway 22 is fluidly coupled to the air pump 21 toward a shoe rear and heel and terminates at an air outlet 24, while an one-way valve 25O is disposed therealong. To another end of the air pump 21 is coupled an air inlet 23 which has an optional one-way valve 25I. Depending upon disposition of such valves 25I, 25O, ambient air may be pumped into the shoe 10 or damp air may instead be sucked out from the shoe as an user walks or runs while a foot of the user compresses the air pump 21. As is also manifest in the figure, this air pump may only operate as the wearer steps on the ground with the shoe front and heel of the shoe. In addition, U.S. Pat. No. 5,819,438 appears to be the only prior art teaching that the air pumps or chambers may be disposed on the upper portion of the shoes.

It is also appreciated that almost all ventilation devices of these prior art disclose to dispose a single air pump or chamber inside the shoes. Some exceptions include, e.g., U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,845,417 and 5,845,417 to Reed et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,826,349 to Goss. However, the Reed patents teach to dispose a cluster of multiple air pumps or chambers only in middle areas of the shoes such that all of such pumps or chambers may provide ventilation in response to energy applied by a middle area of a foot of the user. The Goss patent similarly discloses to dispose multiple air pumps or chambers in a shoe rear of the shoes and operate such air pumps or chambers by energy applied by a rear area of the foot of the user. Other exceptions include, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,400,526 to Sessa and U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,963 to Fukuoka which seem to be the only prior art teaching multiple air pumps or chambers to be distributed in series along a sole heel (more specifically, inside a sole of the shoes). For example, FIG. 2C shows a schematic diagram of a prior art shoe ventilation device incorporating a series of air pumps in a shoe heel of a shoe. Such a ventilation device 20 includes multiple air pumps 21 along an airway 22 which extends between an air inlet 23 and an air outlet 24 each of which may also include a valve 25I, 25O. However, these multiple air pumps or chambers are fluidly coupled in series, while subjecting those air pumps or chambers to be compressed sequentially. Therefore, it is manifest that such air pumps or chambers may suffer from air leak between adjacent air pumps or chambers when energy is applied sequentially to unrecruited air pumps or chambers as the user walks or runs.

Therefore, one objective of the present invention is to provide various ventilation systems for shoes which may provide the ventilation through the shoes when the foot of the user may be in more than one posture during walking or running. Another objective of the present invention is to provide the ventilation systems each including multiple air pumps each of which may provide the ventilation in response to energy applied thereto in different directions, thereby enabling such a system to provide the ventilation during different steps of walking or running. Another objective of the present invention is to incorporate various actuator units to such ventilation systems so that at least one of its air pumps may be able to provide the ventilation asynchronously with respect to a timing of the energy applied to such an actuator unit or air pump. Another objective of the present invention is to provide multiple air pumps at least two of which are not fluidly coupled to each other and, therefore, operate independent of each other. Yet another objective of the present invention is to incorporate multiple air pumps into the ventilation system such that at least two of such pumps may provide the ventilation sequentially as the user walks or runs.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to forced ventilation systems for various shoes. More particularly, the present invention relates to various forced ventilation systems each including at least two air pumps disposed in preset areas of the shoes and capable of providing ventilation through the shoes during different steps of walking and running. Such ventilation systems may typically include at least one air pump in a shoe rear and at least one another air pump in a shoe front so that the first air pump may provide the ventilation when an user steps on the ground with a rear area of the shoe and that the second air pump may provide the ventilation when the user steps on the ground with a front area of the shoe, thereby maximizing such ventilation through the shoe while minimizing a dead space formed inside or around the shoe. Such a ventilation system may also include at least two air pumps disposed in preset areas of the shoe such that those air pumps may sequentially operate and provide the ventilation. The ventilation system may also include at least one actuator unit which may be able to alter a spatial distribution of the energy applied by the user, a temporal pattern of such energy, and/or both of such spatial and temporal characteristics. More particularly, such an actuator unit may allow at least one of the air pumps to provide the ventilation even after the user ceases to apply the energy to such a pump. The ventilation system may further include at least one compliant chamber in order to similarly provide the ventilation through the shoes after the user ceases to apply the energy thereto. The air pumps, airways, air inlets, and/or air outlets of such a system may also be arranged to alter an amount or extent of ventilation in response to the same amount of energy applied thereto. The present invention also relates to various methods of fabricating such ventilation systems, disposing multiple air pumps of such systems, actuating the air pumps of such systems, and manipulating spatial distribution and/or temporal pattern of the ventilation. The present invention further relates to various processes for providing such ventilation systems, air pumps thereof, actuator units thereof, and the like.

As will be described herein, various ventilation systems of the present invention offer various benefits over their prior art counterparts. First of all, the ventilation system for shoes of this invention is characterized by incorporating multiple air pumps therein and, therefore, such a system may be able to provide such ventilation through the shoes when an user is in different postures during walking or running. For example, the user walks or runs by sequentially repeating a first step of stepping on the ground by the rear and heel areas of the shoes, a second step of pivoting such a shoe and stepping on the ground by the front and heel areas of the shoes, and a third step of detaching the shoe from or off the ground so as to engage the above first step on another location of the ground thereafter. The ventilation system of this invention allows multiple air pumps disposed in different areas of the shoes to receive energy from the user and to provide such ventilation when the user is engaged in different steps during walking or running. Secondly, the ventilation system of the present invention may include multiple air pumps in different (or opposite) areas of the shoes with respect to the longitudinal axis or other landmarks of the shoes such that each air pump may receive such energy from the user as he or she may step on the ground with different areas of the shoes while engaging in different steps of walking or running. Thirdly, such a system of the present invention may dispose multiple air pumps in different orientations with respect to the longitudinal axis or other landmarks of the shoes so that each air pump may receive the energy from the user when the user steps on the ground by different areas of the shoes along different directions. Fourthly, multiple air pumps of such a system of this invention may be disposed in strategic areas of the shoes such that those air pumps may provide the ventilation alternatingly or sequentially as the user walks or runs while repeating the above steps. It is noted that incorporating multiple air pumps inside and/or around the shoes may minimize the dead space which is commonly formed inside the conventional ventilating shoes and which typically amounts to as much as one half and, at the same time, maximize an efficiency of utilizing the energy applied to various areas of the shoes by the user while walking or running. In addition, the ventilation system of this invention may also be arranged to change the spatial distribution and/or temporal pattern of the energy applied to the air pumps through various actuator units. For example, such an actuator unit may be arranged to alter the temporal pattern of the energy applied thereto and to manipulate at least one of the pumps to provide the ventilation after the user ceases to apply the energy to the pump, thereby extending a period of ventilation beyond a period of the application of the energy. In another example, the actuator unit may be arranged to manipulate multiple air pumps such that at least one air pump which may not directly receive the energy from the user may provide the ventilation. In another example, the actuator unit may be arranged to manipulate the air pumps such that at least one of the pumps may provide the ventilation even during the above third step when the foot of the user is off the ground.

The ventilation systems of the present invention may be incorporated into various conventional shoes such as, e.g., dress or formal shoes, casual shoes, athletic or sport shoes (e.g., tennis shoes, golf shoes, basketball shoes, volleyball shoes, running shoes, skate shoes, ski shoes or boots, cross training shoes, and the like), dancing shoes, ballet shoes, platforms, flats, slippers, boots (e.g., hiking boots, dress boots, western boots, and the like), military boots, mechanical or other protection boots, walking or running shoes, sneakers, space shoes, diver shoes, loafers, galoshes, sandals, clogs or mules, coguettes, shoes including heels of a variety of heights, shoes having single or multiple soles therein, and so on. Other examples of such “shoes” may be found in various shoe-related web sites such as, e.g., www.shoes.com, www.payless.com, www.ebay.com, and so on.

In one aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may be provided to ventilate a shoe which may define multiple longitudinal areas along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe extending along a direction from a shoe toe to a shoe back, defining multiple lateral areas horizontally across the axis from an outer edge to an inner edge of such a shoe, and defining multiple vertical areas vertically across the axis from a shoe heel to a shoe neck of the shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two airways which may be arranged to transport the air therethrough as well as at least two air pumps which may be disposed in different (or opposite) areas of the shoe and to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of such a shoe to the other thereof and each of which may be fluidly coupled to at least one of the airways. In one example, each of such airways may be arranged to be disposed on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps to which the each of such airways may be fluidly coupled to. In another example, each of such airways may be arranged to be disposed on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps to which such each of the airways may not fluidly couple with. In another example, the airways may be arranged to cover (or to be disposed on, over, above or across) at least a substantial portion (or more than one half) of all of such longitudinal areas of the shoe. In another example, at least one of the airways may be arranged to cover (or to be disposed on, over, above or across) at least a substantial portion (or more than one half or two thirds) of such longitudinal, lateral, and vertical areas of the shoe.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two airways which may be arranged to transport the air therethrough as well as at least two air pumps which may be disposed in different (or opposite) longitudinal areas of the shoe and which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to another thereof and each of which may be fluidly coupled to at least one of the airways. In one example, each of the airways may be arranged to be disposed on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps to which such each of the airways may be fluidly coupled to. In another example, each of the airways may be arranged to be disposed on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps to which such each of the airways may not be fluidly coupled to. In another example, the airways may be arranged to cover (or to be disposed on, over, above or across) at least a substantial portion (or more than one half of all of the longitudinal areas of the shoe.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two airways which may be arranged to transport the air therethrough as well as at least two air pumps which may be disposed in different (or opposite) lateral areas of the shoe and which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of such a shoe to the other thereof and each of which may be fluidly coupled to at least one of the airways. In one example, each of the airways may be disposed on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps to which such each of the airways may be fluidly coupled to. In another example, each of the airways may instead be arranged to be disposed on (or over, above) at least one of such air pumps to which such each of the airways may not be fluidly coupled to. In yet another example, the airways may be arranged to cover (or to be disposed on, over, above or across) at least a substantial portion (or more than one half) of all of the longitudinal areas of the shoe.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps which may be arranged to provide ventilation through the shoe, in which a first of the air pumps may be disposed in a first of the areas and where a second of the air pumps may be disposed in a second of the areas which may be different from (or opposite) to the first area. In one example, the system may also include at least one actuator unit which may be disposed in one of the areas which may not be the first and second areas and which may be arranged to transmit energy to at least one of the air pumps. In another example, the system may also include at least one actuator unit which may be disposed in one of the first and second areas and then to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to one of the first and second air pumps with which the actuator unit may couple. In another example, the system may also include at least two actuator units a first of which may be arranged to be disposed in the first area and to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to the first air pump therethrough, while a second of which may be arranged to be disposed in the second area and to transmit energy applied thereto by an user to the second air pump therethrough.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may be provided for ventilating a shoe which may define multiple areas including a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear along a direction from a shoe toe to a shoe back along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe, which may define other multiple areas including a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner along a horizontal direction across the longitudinal axis from an outer edge to an inner edge of the shoe, and which may define other multiple areas including a shoe heel, a shoe side, and a shoe upper in a vertical direction across the longitudinal axis from a shoe heel to a shoe neck of the shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of this invention, a system may include a first air pump and a second air pump. The first air pump may be arranged to be disposed in a first of such areas of the shoe and to generate ventilation through the shoe in response to first energy supplied by an user in a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. The second air pump may be arranged to be disposed in a second of such areas of the shoe and then to generate ventilation through the shoe in response to second energy supplied by the user in a second angle with respect to the longitudinal axis. In one example, the first and second angles may be arranged to correlate with different angles formed between ground and the longitudinal axis of the shoe as the user may contact his or her foot on the ground in different postures during walking and/or running, whereby such a system may be arranged to provide the ventilation during the different postures. In another example, the first angle may be formed while the user contacts ground with the shoe rear during walking and/or running and where the second angle may be formed while the user contacts the ground with the shoe front during walking and/or running, whereby the system may be arranged to provide the ventilation while the user contacts the ground with either of the shoe front and shoe rear. In another example, the first angle may be formed while the user may contact ground with the shoe outer during walking and/or running, while the second angle may be formed while the user contacts the ground with the shoe inner during walking and/or running, whereby the system may be arranged to provide the ventilation while the user contacts the ground with either of the shoe outer and shoe inner.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least one first air pump and at least one second air pump. Such a first air pump may be arranged to be incorporated into (or adjacent to) the shoe front and to generate ventilation through such a shoe by energy applied to the shoe front through a foot front of an user, while such a second air pump may be arranged to be incorporated into (or adjacent to) the shoe rear and to generate ventilation through the shoe by energy applied to the shoe rear through a foot rear of the user, whereby such a system may be arranged to provide the ventilation through the shoe as the foot of the user may contact ground by either of the foot front and foot rear and may supply the energy to either one of such air pumps during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least one first air pump and at least one second air pump. The first air pump may be arranged to be incorporated into (or adjacent to) the shoe outer and to provide ventilation through the shoe by energy applied to the shoe outer through a foot outer of an user, while the second air pump may be arranged to be incorporated into (or adjacent to) the shoe inner and to generate ventilation through the shoe by energy which is applied to the shoe inner through a foot inner of the user, whereby the system may be arranged to provide the ventilation through the shoe when the foot of the user may contact ground by either of the foot outer and foot inner of the user and may supply the energy to either one of the air pumps during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least one first air pump and at least one second air pump. The first air pump may be arranged to be incorporated into (or adjacent to) the shoe heel and/or shoe side and to generate ventilation through the shoe by energy applied to such a shoe heel and/or shoe side through a foot heel and/or foot side of an user. The second air pump may be arranged to be incorporated to (or adjacent to) the shoe side and/or shoe upper and to provide ventilation through the shoe by energy applied to such a shoe side and/or shoe upper through a foot upper and/or foot side of the user, whereby such a system may be arranged to provide the ventilation through the shoe as the foot of the user may contact ground with either of the foot heel and foot side and may supply the energy to either one of the air pumps during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof. At least one of such air pumps may be disposed in the shoe upper and/or shoe toe, while at least another of such air pumps may be disposed in an area of such a shoe which may be neither the shoe upper nor the shoe toe, whereby the ventilation system may be arranged to provide the ventilation through the shoe as an user may contact ground with either of one of the shoe upper and shoe toe or such an area of the shoe and may supply energy to either one of such air pumps during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof. At least one of such air pumps may be disposed in the shoe back and in the shoe side and/or shoe upper, while at least another of the air pumps may be disposed in an area of the shoe which is not the shoe back, whereby the ventilation system may be arranged to provide the ventilation through the shoe when an user contacts ground with either of one of the shoe side and shoe upper or such an area of the shoe and supplies energy to either one of such air pumps during walking and/or running.

Any of the foregoing embodiments of such an aspect of the present invention may also include one or more of the following features. In one example, the air pumps may be arranged to provide the ventilation through the shoe at least substantially sequentially as the foot of the user may sequentially supply the energy to such at least one of the areas of such a shoe during walking and/or running. In another example, the air pumps may also be arranged to not fluidly couple with each other, to receive energy from a foot of an user, and then to provide such ventilation in response to the energy at least substantially independently of each other during walking and/or running. In another example, one of such air pumps may be arranged to at least partially dispense air out from the shoe while the other of the air pumps may be arranged to at least partially supply air into the shoe when the shoe supplies the energy to each of the areas of such a shoe during walking and/or running.

In another example, the system may include a first airway and a second airway each of which may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to one of the air pumps, to provide the ventilation therethrough, and to not fluidly couple with each other. In another example, the system may have a first airway and a second airway each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and then to provide the ventilation therethrough, where the first airway may be disposed closer to one of such air pumps to which the first airway may be fluidly coupled, while the second airway may be disposed closer to the other of the air pumps to which such a second airway may be fluidly coupled. In another example, the system may include a first airway and a second airway each of which may arranged to be fluidly coupled to one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where the first airway may be disposed closer to one of the air pumps to which the first airway is not fluidly coupled, and where the second airway may be disposed closer to the other of the air pumps to which such a second airway is not fluidly coupled. In another example, the system may include a first airway and a second airway each of which is arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where at least portions of the airways are arranged to be interwoven (or interconnected, disposed one over the other). In another example, such a system may also include a first airway and a second airway each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where at least portions of the airways may also be arranged to fluidly couple with each other, while the air pumps may be arranged to share the portions of the airways.

In another example, the system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to operatively couple at least one of the air pumps with one of the areas of the shoe in which such at least one of the air pumps may not be disposed, to receive the energy applied thereto by the user, and to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such at least one of the air pumps, thereby enabling such at least one of the air pumps to provide the ventilation in response to the energy which may be applied to the actuator unit. In another example, the system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to operatively couple to at least two of the air pumps, to be disposed in one of the areas of the shoe, to receive the energy applied thereto by the user, and then to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such air pumps simultaneously or sequentially, thereby enabling such at least two of the air pumps to provide the ventilation simultaneously or sequentially. In another example, such a system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to operatively couple with at least one of the air pumps, to receive the energy applied thereto by the user, and to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such at least one of the air pumps according to a preset temporal pattern such as, e.g., a lag of time after receiving the energy, an extended duration which is longer than a duration in which the energy is applied thereto, and a temporal distribution of energy amplitudes which is different from that of the energy applied thereto.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may be provided for ventilating a shoe which may define a curvilinear longitudinal axis from a shoe front to a shoe rear.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof and to be disposed in different areas of the shoe which may be arranged to be at least partially opposite to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis and/or other landmarks of the shoe, whereby each air pump may be arranged to transport the air through the shoe when a foot of an user may supply energy to each of the areas which may be at least partially opposite to each other with respect to the longitudinal axis during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof, to be not fluidly coupled to each other, and to be disposed in different areas of the shoe, whereby each of the air pumps may then be arranged to transport the air at least substantially independently of the other of the air pumps when a foot of an user may supply energy to each of the different areas of the shoe during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof and to be disposed in different areas of the shoe so that each of the air pumps may be arranged to transport the air during at least a substantial portion of a period in which such a shoe may contact ground with each of such different areas of the shoe during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least two air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof, where one of the air pumps may be disposed across at least one half (or a third, a quarter, two thirds, three quarters) of a shoe heel and where the other of the air pumps may also be arranged to be disposed across at least one half (or a third, a quarter, two thirds, three quarters) of a shoe side, thereby maximizing a number of the areas of the shoe through which an user may supply energy to the air pumps.

Any of the foregoing embodiments of such an aspect of the present invention may also include one or more of the following features. In one example, the system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the above air pumps, to provide the ventilation therethrough, and to not fluidly couple with each other. In another example, the system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the above air pumps, to provide the ventilation therethrough, to be disposed closer to such one of the air pumps, and then to be disposed away from the rest of the air pumps. In another example, the system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to one of such air pumps, to provide the ventilation therethrough, to be disposed closer to at least another of the air pumps, and to be disposed away from such one of the air pumps. In another example, such a system may also include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, while at least portions of the airways may be arranged to be interwoven (or interconnected, disposed one over the other). In another example, such a system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where at least portions of the airways may be arranged to fluidly couple with each other so that at least two of the air pumps may be arranged to share the portions of the airways to transport air therethrough.

In another example, the system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to operatively couple one of the air pumps disposed in one of the areas of the shoe to another of the areas of the shoe which is not such one of the areas, to receive the energy applied to such another of the areas, and to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such one of the air pumps, thereby enabling such one of the air pumps to provide the ventilation in response to the energy which may be applied to such another area of the shoe but not such one of the areas thereof. In another example, the system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to be operatively coupled to such at least two of the air pumps, to be disposed in any one of the areas of the shoe, to receive the energy which is applied thereto by the user, and then to transmit at least a portion of such energy to such at least two of the air pumps simultaneously or sequentially, whereby enabling such at least two air pumps to provide the ventilation one of simultaneously and sequentially. In another example, such a system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to operatively couple with at least one of the air pumps, to receive the energy applied thereto by the user, and to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such at least one of the air pumps based on a preset temporal pattern such as, e.g., a time lag after receiving the energy, an extended duration which is longer than a duration in which the energy may be applied thereto, and a temporal distribution of energy amplitudes which may be different from that of the energy applied thereto.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may be provided for ventilating a shoe which may form multiple areas such as a shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear in a direction extending from a shoe toe to a shoe back along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe, which may define other multiple areas such as a shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner in a horizontal direction across the longitudinal axis, and which may also form other multiple areas such as a shoe heel, shoe side, and shoe upper from a shoe heel to a shoe neck along a vertical direction across the longitudinal axis, where an user walks or runs by sequentially repeating a first step of stepping on ground with the shoe heel and at least one of shoe middle and shoe rear, a second step of pivoting the shoe and stepping on the ground primarily with the shoe front and shoe heel, and a third step of detaching the shoe from the ground and engaging the first step in another location of the ground thereafter.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, such a system may have multiple air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and exterior of the shoe to the other thereof, where at least two of the air pumps may be disposed in (or across) different areas of the shoe and arranged to transport the air during at least a portion of each of such first and second steps.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include multiple air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and exterior of the shoe to the other thereof, where at least one of the air pumps may be disposed in at least one area of such a shoe and arranged to receive energy from the user during at least a portion of the first step so as to transport the air during the portion of the first step, and where at least another of the air pumps may be disposed in at least another area of the shoe and arranged to receive energy applied thereto by the user so as to transport the air during at least a portion of the second step.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include multiple air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and exterior of the shoe to the other thereof, where at least one of such air pumps may be disposed in one of the areas of the shoe and arranged to receive energy from the user during at least a portion of the first step, while at least another of the air pumps may be disposed in another of the areas of the shoe and arranged to receive energy therefrom during at least a portion of the second step, whereby such air pumps may be arranged to transport the air alternatingly during walking and/or running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include multiple air pumps each of which may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and exterior of the shoe to the other thereof and at least one of which may be arranged to have therealong at least one compliant portion, where at least two of such air pumps may be disposed in (or across) different areas of the shoe and may be arranged to transport the air during at least a portion of each of the first and second steps, and where such at least one of the air pumps may be arranged to transport the air during at least a portion of the third step.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include multiple air pumps and at least one compliant chamber. Each of multiple air pumps may be arranged to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof, while at least two of the air pumps may be disposed in (or across) different areas of the shoe. The compliant chamber may be arranged to be fluidly couple to at least one of the air pumps and to store the air therein which is supplied thereto by such at least one of the air pumps. In one example, the ventilating system may be arranged to transport air during at least a substantial portion of each of the first and second steps and to transport the air during at least a portion of the third step. In another example, the ventilating system may be arranged to transport the air during at least a portion of each of the first, second, and third steps.

Any of the foregoing embodiments of such an aspect of the present invention may also include one or more of the following features. In one example, the system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to one of multiple air pumps, to provide the ventilation therethrough, and to not fluidly couple with each other. In another example, such a system may have multiple airways each of which may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where at least one of the airways may be disposed closer to one of the air pumps with which such at least one of the airways may fluidly couple. In another example, the system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where at least one of such airways may be arranged to be disposed closer to one of the air pumps to which such at least one of the airways may not be fluidly coupled. In another example, the system may have multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough and where at least portions of at least two of the airways may be arranged to be interwoven. In another example, the system may include multiple airways each of which may be arranged to fluidly couple with one of the air pumps and to provide the ventilation therethrough, where at least portions of such airways may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to each other so that at least two of the air pumps may be arranged to share the portions of the airways.

In another example, the system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to operatively couple one of the air pumps disposed in one of the areas of the shoe to another of the areas of the shoe which is not the one of the areas, to receive the energy applied to such another of such areas by the user, and to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such one of the air pumps, thereby enabling such one of the air pumps to transport the air in response to the energy applied to such another but not such one of the areas of the shoe. In another example, the system may include at least one actuator unit which may be arranged to be operatively coupled to at least two of such, air pumps, to be disposed in any of such areas of the shoe, to receive the energy applied thereto by the user, and then to transmit at least portions of the energy to such at least two of the air pumps either simultaneously or sequentially, thereby enabling such at least two of the above air pumps to provide the ventilation either simultaneously or sequentially. In another example, such a system may include at least one actuator unit which is arranged to operatively couple with at least one of the air pumps, to receive the energy applied thereto by the user, and to transmit at least a portion of the energy to such at least one of the air pumps according to a preset temporal pattern such as, e.g., a lag of time after receiving the energy, an extended duration which is longer than a duration during which such energy is applied thereto, and a temporal distribution of energy amplitudes which is different from that of the energy applied thereto.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may be provided for ventilating a shoe which may define multiple longitudinal areas along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of such a shoe extending along a direction from a shoe toe to a shoe back, which also may form multiple lateral areas horizontally across the axis from an outer edge to an inner edge of the shoe, and which may define multiple vertical areas vertically across the axis from a shoe heel to a shoe neck of the shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least one air pump, at least one airway, as well as at least one air outlet (or inlet). Such an air pump may be arranged to be disposed in one of the areas of the shoe, to receive energy from an user, and to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof in response to the portion of the energy. The airway may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to the air pump and then to transport the air therethrough to and/or from the air pump. The air outlet (or inlet) may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to one end of the airway and to dispense the air into (or take in the air from) the interior of the shoe. In one example, the airway may be arranged to be disposed on (or over, above, beside, under) at least a substantial portion of such an air pump. In another example, the airway may be arranged to cover (or to be disposed on, over, above, across, under, beside) at least a substantial portion (or more than one half, two thirds) of all of the above longitudinal areas. In another example, the airway may be arranged to cover (or to be disposed on, over, above, across, under, beside) at least a substantial portion (or more than one half, two thirds) of the vertical, lateral, and/or longitudinal areas of the shoe.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least one actuator unit and at least one air pump. The actuator unit may be arranged to be disposed in one of the areas of the shoe and to receive energy applied thereto from an user, while at least one air pump may be arranged to be disposed in another of such areas of the shoe which is away from such one of the areas of the shoe, to receive at least a portion of the energy from the actuator unit, and to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof in response to the portion of the energy.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include multiple air pumps and at least one actuator unit. At least one of the air pumps may be disposed in one of the areas of the shoe, while all of such air pumps may be arranged to receive energy from an user and to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to the other thereof in response to the energy. The actuator unit may be disposed in one of the above areas of the shoe, to receive the energy from the user, and to transmit at least portions of the energy to such at least one of the air pumps and at leas another of the air pumps.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a system may include at least one actuator unit and at least one air pump. Such an actuator unit may be arranged to receive energy from an user and to change at least one temporal pattern of the energy, and the air pump may be arranged to receive from the actuator unit at least a portion of the energy and to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to another of the interior and exterior in response to the portion of the energy. In addition, the actuator unit may be arranged to manipulate such a portion of the energy to have at least one temporal pattern which is different from that of the energy.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for ventilating an interior of a shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: incorporating at least one air pump into at least two of multiple longitudinal areas including a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear each of which may be defined along a longitudinal axis of the shoe which may in turn extend from a shoe toe to a shoe back; applying energy to the longitudinal areas of the shoe in a preset order during different steps of walking and running; and ventilating the shoe by the air pumps in the order during the different steps of walking and running by the air pumps. Alternatively, such last two steps may be replaced by the steps of; applying energy to the longitudinal areas of the shoe in different directions during different steps of walking and running; and ventilating the shoe with at least one of the air pumps during each of the different steps of walking and running by the air pumps.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one air pump into at least two of multiple lateral areas including a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner each of which is defined horizontally across a longitudinal axis of the shoe which in turn extends from a shoe toe to a shoe back; applying energy to the lateral areas of the shoe according to a preset order during different steps of walking and running; and ventilating such a shoe by the air pumps in the order during the different steps of walking and running by the air pumps. In the alternative, the last two steps may be replaced by the steps of: applying energy to the lateral areas of such a shoe in different directions during different steps of walking and running; and ventilating the shoe with at least one of the air pumps during each of such different steps of walking and running by the air pumps.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one air pump in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of a shoe; applying energy to the air pumps in different directions with respect to a preset axis of the shoe during different steps of walking and running; and then ventilating the shoe with at least one of the air pumps during each of the different steps of walking and running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one air pump in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of a shoe; applying energy to another of the areas; transmitting at least a portion of such energy to the air pumps; and ventilating the shoe with at least one of such air pumps during different steps of walking and running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one air pump in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of a shoe; fluidly uncoupling the air pumps from each other; applying different energies to the air pumps in different steps of walking and running; and ventilating the shoe with at least one of such air pumps at least substantially independent of each other during each of the above different steps of walking and running.

In another aspect of the present invention, a method may be provided for improving ventilation through a shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two air pumps each capable of providing the ventilation through the shoe; disposing at least one of the air pumps in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of such a shoe; and covering at least substantial portions of the areas therewith, thereby maximizing an amount of energy which is supplied by an user and received through the areas.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two air pumps each capable of providing the ventilation through such a shoe and fluidly coupling with at least one air outlet (or inlet) through which air is transported into (or out of) the shoe; disposing at least one of the air pumps in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of the shoe; and disposing at least a portion of at least one of the air outlets (or inlets) over (or above, under, below, beside) the air pumps, thereby maximizing portions of the areas of such a shoe provided with the air outlets (or inlets).

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two air pumps each capable of providing the ventilation through such a shoe; disposing the air pumps in different (or opposite) areas of such a shoe in different angles; and actuating the air pumps by different energies which may be applied by an user in the different angles, thereby maximizing an amount of energy which is used in the actuating.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing multiple air pumps each capable of providing the ventilation through the shoe in response to energy supplied by an user; disposing at least one of such air pumps in each of at least two different (or opposite) areas of the shoe; disposing at least one actuator unit over at least two areas of the shoe; operatively coupling at least one actuator unit with at least one of the air pumps; receiving the energy applied thereto by the user onto at least one of such at least two areas of such a shoe through the actuator unit; and transmitting at least portions of the energy to such at least one of the air pumps coupled to the actuator unit, thereby actuating such at least one of the air pumps by the energy supplied onto either of such at least two areas.

In another aspect of the present invention, another method may be provided for ventilating a shoe which forms multiple areas including a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear in a direction from a shoe toe to a shoe back along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe, which defines another multiple areas including a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner in a horizontal direction across the longitudinal axis from an outer edge to an inner edge of the shoe, and which also defines another multiple areas including a shoe heel, a shoe side, and a shoe upper along a vertical direction across the longitudinal axis from a shoe heel to a shoe neck of the shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing a first air pump in a first of the areas of the shoe; disposing a second air pump in a second of the areas of the shoe; and providing ventilation through such a shoe by the first air pump in response to energy supplied in a first angle with respect to the longitudinal axis and by the second air pump in response to energy supplied in a second angle with respect to the axis, thereby ventilating the shoe by at least one of the air pumps when the energy is applied to at least one of the air pumps in one of the angles.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one first air pump in (or adjacent to) the shoe front; disposing at least one second air pump in (or adjacent to) the shoe rear; and providing ventilation through such a shoe by the first air pump in response to energy supplied by a foot front of an user and by the second air pump in response to energy supplied by a foot rear of the user, thereby ventilating such a shoe by at least one of the air pumps as the energy may be applied by either of the foot front or foot rear during different steps of walking and running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one first air pump in (or adjacent to) the shoe outer; disposing at least one second air pump in (or adjacent to) the shoe inner; and providing ventilation through the shoe by the first air pump in response to energy supplied by a foot outer of an user as well as by the second air pump in response to energy supplied by a foot inner of the user, thereby ventilating the shoe by at least one of the air pumps when the energy is applied by either of the foot outer or foot inner during different steps of walking and running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one first air pump in (or adjacent to) at least one of the shoe heel and shoe side; disposing at least one second air pump in (or adjacent to) at least one of the shoe upper and shoe side; and providing ventilation through the shoe by the first air pump in response to energy supplied by at least one of a foot heel and foot side of an user as well as by the second air pump in response to energy supplied by at least one of a foot upper and foot side of such an user, thereby ventilating the shoe by at least one of the air pumps as the energy is applied by either of such at least one of a foot heel and foot side or such at least one of the shoe upper and shoe side during different steps of walking and running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one first air pump in (or adjacent to) one of the shoe upper and shoe toe; disposing at least one second air pump in (or adjacent to) another of the areas which is not the shoe upper and shoe toe; and providing ventilation through the shoe by the first air pump in response to energy supplied by one of a foot upper and toe of an user and by the second air pump in response to energy supplied by any area of a foot of the user which may not be the foot upper and toe, thereby ventilating the shoe by at least one of the air pumps when the energy is applied by either of one of the foot upper and toe or such any area during different steps of walking and running.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: disposing at least one first air pump in (or adjacent to) the shoe back; disposing at least one second air pump in (or adjacent to) any of such areas which is not the shoe back; and providing ventilation through the shoe by the first air pump in response to energy supplied by a foot back of an user as well as by the second air pump in response to energy supplied by any area of a foot of the user which is not the foot back, thereby ventilating the shoe by at least one of the air pumps when the energy may be applied by either of the foot back or such any area during different steps of walking and running.

A method for ventilating a shoe which defines multiple areas including a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear along a direction extending from a shoe toe to a shoe back along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe, which defines other multiple areas including a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner in a horizontal direction across the longitudinal axis, and which defines other multiple areas including a shoe heel, a shoe side, and a shoe upper from a shoe heel to a shoe neck along a vertical direction across the longitudinal axis, where an user walks or runs by sequentially repeating a first step of stepping on ground with the shoe heel and at least one of shoe middle and shoe rear, a second step of pivoting the shoe and stepping on the ground primarily with the shoe front and shoe heel, and a third step of detaching such a shoe from the ground and engaging the first step in another location of the ground thereafter.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two of the air pumps each capable of providing ventilation in the shoe as a response to energy supplied by at least one area of a foot of an user; selecting at least two of such areas one of which may receive such energy during the first step and another of which may receive the energy during the second step; and disposing air pumps in the at least two of the areas, thereby providing the ventilation with such air pumps during at least a portion of each of the first and second steps.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two of the air pumps each capable of providing ventilation in the shoe as a response to energy supplied by at least one area of a foot of an user; disposing at least one of such air pumps in (or near, adjacent to) at least one area of the shoe, thereby receiving such energy during at least a portion of the first step; and disposing at least one another of the above air pumps in (or near, adjacent to) at least one another area of the shoe, thereby receiving such energy during at least a portion of the second step.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two of the air pumps each capable of providing ventilation in the shoe as a response to energy applied by at least one area of a foot of an user; disposing the air pumps in at least two of the areas of the shoe to provide the ventilation during at least a portion of each of the first and second steps; and providing at least one of the air pumps with at least one compliant portion, thereby storing air therein and providing such ventilation thereby during at least a portion of the third step.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a method may include the steps of: providing at least two of the air pumps each capable of providing ventilation in the shoe as a response to energy applied by at least one area of a foot of an user; disposing the air pumps in at least two of the areas of the shoe; and fluidly coupling at least one compliant chamber with at least one of such pumps, thereby storing air therein and providing such ventilation thereby during at least a portion of the third step, whereby providing the ventilation during at least a substantial portion of each of the first and second steps by such air pumps and during at least a portion of the third step by such a chamber.

In another aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may be provided for ventilating a shoe defining multiple longitudinal areas along a curvilinear longitudinal axis of the shoe extending along a direction from a shoe toe to a shoe back, defining multiple lateral areas horizontally across the axis from an outer edge to an inner edge of the shoe, and also forming multiple vertical areas vertically across the axis from a shoe heel to a shoe neck of the shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, such a system made by a process including the steps of: providing at least two airways for transport the air therethrough; including at least two air pumps in different (or opposite) longitudinal areas of the shoe; arranging the air pumps to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to another thereof; fluidly coupling each of the air pumps with at least one of the airways; and disposing each of the airways on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps with which the each of the airways does not fluidly couple.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, such a system made by a process including the steps of: providing at least two airways for transport the air therethrough; incorporating at least two air pumps in different (or opposite) lateral areas of the shoe; arranging the air pumps to transport air from one of an interior and an exterior of the shoe to another thereof; fluidly coupling each of the air pumps with at least one of the airways; and disposing each of the airways on (or over, above) at least one of the air pumps with which the each of the airways does not fluidly couple.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, such a system made by a process including the steps of: providing at least two air pumps for providing ventilation through the shoe; disposing a first of the air pumps in a first of the areas; disposing a second of the air pumps in a second of the areas different from (or opposite) to the first area; disposing at least one actuator unit in one of the first and second areas; and arranging the actuator unit to transmit energy applied by an user to one of the first and second air pumps with which the actuator unit couples.

More product-by-process claims may be constructed by modifying the foregoing preambles of the systems claims and/or method claims and by appending thereto such bodies of the method claims. In addition, such process claims may include one or more of the above features of the systems and/or methods claims of the present invention as described herein.

As used herein, the term “fluidly couple” is synonymous with “fluidly communicate” or “provide fluid communication” between at least two articles. Therefore, when a first article is fluidly coupled to or fluidly couples with a second article, it means that there exists at least one airway which allows an unidirectional flow from one to the other of such articles or which allows a bilateral flow between the articles. Accordingly, when a first article is not fluidly coupled to a second article, it means that there is no airway which allows the above unidirectional or bilateral flow, regardless of whether such first and second articles may be mechanically coupled to each other. When the first and second articles may be coupled by a valve which may occasionally open to allow the above unidirectional or bilateral flow therebetween upon occurrence of a specific preset event, such articles are deemed to be fluidly coupled to each other within the scope of the present invention.

The term “shoe” is to be defined in a broad sense throughout this description. Accordingly, the “shoe” may collectively refer to any footware and/or any other articles which may be disposed under or around at least a portion of a foot of an user. Examples of such “shoes” may therefore include, but not be limited to, conventional dress shoes, casual shoes, athletic or sport shoes (e.g., tennis shoes, golf shoes, basketball shoes, volleyball shoes, running shoes, skate shoes, ski shoes or boots, cross training shoes, and the like), dancing shoes, ballet shoes, platforms, flats, slippers, boots (e.g., hiking boots, dress boots, western boots, and the like), military boots, mechanical or other protection boots, walking or running shoes, sneakers, space shoes, diver shoes, loafers, galoshes, sandals, clogs or mules, coguettes, shoes including heels of a variety of heights, shoes having single or multiple soles therein, and so on. Other examples of such “shoes” may be found in various shoe-related web sites such as, e.g., www.shoes.com, www.payless.com, www.ebay.com, and so on.

Unless otherwise defined in the following specification, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention belongs. Although the methods or materials equivalent or similar to those described herein can be used in the practice or in the testing of the present invention, the suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and/or other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety. In case of any conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control. In addition, the materials, methods, and examples are illustrative only and not intended to be limiting.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description, and from the claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a top view of the exemplary shoe of FIG. 1A according to the present invention;

FIG. 2A is a schematic diagram of a prior art shoe ventilation device incorporating an air pump in a shoe rear and a shoe heel of a shoe;

FIG. 2B is a schematic diagram of a prior art shoe ventilation device incorporating an air pump in a shoe front and a shoe heel of a shoe;

FIG. 2C is a schematic diagram of a prior art shoe ventilation device incorporating a series of air pumps in a shoe heel of a shoe;

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary ventilation system which includes a first air pump in a shoe front and shoe heel and a second air pump in a shoe rear and shoe heel according to the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a top view of the exemplary ventilation system of FIG. 3A including multiple airways according to the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary ventilation system which incorporates a first air pump in a shoe front and shoe side (or shoe toe) and a second air pump in a shoe rear and shoe side (or shoe back) according to the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of exemplary areas of a shoe in which multiple air pumps of a ventilation system is to be disposed according to the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a top view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating one air pump in each of a shoe front, shoe middle, and/or shoe rear according to the present invention;

FIG. 4C is a top view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating one air pump in each of a shoe outer, shoe center, and/or shoe inner according to the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating at least two air pumps in one area of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary ventilation system incorporating an air pump extending across at least two different areas of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 5C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary ventilation system incorporating an air pump extending across more than two different areas of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 5D is a top view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating at least two air pumps in one area of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 5E is a top view of another exemplary ventilation system incorporating an air pump which extends across at least two different areas of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 5F is a top view of another exemplary ventilation system including at least two air pumps in one area of a shoe or an air pump extending more than two different areas of the shoe according to the present invention;

FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump deforming vertically and in its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIG. 6C is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary air pump of FIGS. 6A and 6B which has a cover thereon according to the present invention;

FIGS. 6D and 6E show cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump deforming horizontally and in its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIG. 6F is a cross-sectional view of a similar exemplary air pump coupling to a distal airway as well as a proximal airway which are axially misaligned according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7A and 7B are cross-views of an exemplary air pump which defines multiple pleats and deforms vertically between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a cross-sectional view of the exemplary air pump of FIGS. 7A and 7B which has a cover thereon according to the present invention;

FIGS. 7D and 7E show cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump having multiple pleats and deforming horizontally between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIG. 7F is a cross-sectional view of a similar exemplary air pump coupling to a distal airway as well as a proximal airway which are axially misaligned according to the present invention;

FIG. 7G is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary air pump having pleats defined in both of horizontal and vertical directions and capable of deforming along both directions according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump which includes at least one cylinder and at least one matching piston translating through the cylinder between its unstressed (or intake) and stressed (or discharge) states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8C and 8D are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8A and 8B which couples with a proximal airway according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8E and 8F are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8A and 8B which includes a proximal airway at least a portion of which is stationarily disposed inside a cylinder according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8G and 8H are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8E and 8F having a piston with multiple portions coupled to each other according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8I and 8J are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8A and 8B including only a single opening in fluid communication with both of a proximal airway and a distal airway according to the present invention;

FIGS. 8K and 8L are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump similar to that of FIGS. 8A and 8B and disposed in an upright arrangement according to the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary airway defining a single path according to the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway bifurcating into multiple paths according to the present invention;

FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway defining multiple paths directly from an air pump according to the present invention;

FIG. 9D is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway which forms an elongated path according to the present invention;

FIG. 9E is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway at least a portion of which is to be shared by multiple air pumps according to the present invention;

FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary actuator unit which operatively couples with a deformation-type air pump and transmits an axial input force along the same direction, where the air pump deforms between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIG. 10C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit which also couples with a deformation-type air pump and which transmits an axial input force in a parallel but off-axis direction according to the present invention;

FIGS. 10D and 10E are cross-sectional views of another exemplary actuator unit coupling with a deformation-type air pump and converting an axial input force to a transaxial driving force normal or transverse to such an input force, where the air pump deforms between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention;

FIG. 10F is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupling with a deformation-type air pump and converting an off-axis input force to a transaxial driving force normal or transverse to the input force according to the present invention;

FIG. 11A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary actuator unit which is operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and transmits an axial input force along the same direction according to the present invention;

FIG. 11B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and converting an axial input force into a transaxial driving force transverse or normal to the input force according to the present invention;

FIG. 11C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and converting an axial input force to a transaxial driving force according to the present invention;

FIG. 11D is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that shown in FIG. 11C and including additional actuators according to the present invention;

FIG. 11E is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and transmitting an axial input force in a parallel but off-axis direction according to the present invention;

FIG. 11F is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and converting an off-axis input force to a transaxial driving force transverse or normal to the input force according to the present invention;

FIG. 12A is a schematic view of an exemplary actuator unit including a pair of actuators fixedly coupled to each other according to the present invention;

FIG. 12B is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but including actuators with different sizes according to the present invention;

FIG. 12C is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but including one actuator defining an indentation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12D are cross-sectional views of other exemplary actuator units with actuators coupling with each other in different angles according to the present invention;

FIG. 12E is a schematic view of an exemplary actuator unit with three actuators each of which is fixedly coupled to each other according to the present invention;

FIG. 12F is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12E but including actuators with different sizes according to the present invention;

FIG. 12G is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but including two actuators extending in opposite directions according to the present invention;

FIG. 12H are cross-sectional views of other exemplary actuator units with actuators coupling with each other in different angles according to the present invention;

FIG. 12I is a schematic view of an exemplary actuator unit with a planar actuator rotating about a center of rotation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12J is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit including a curvilinear actuator rotating about a center of rotation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12K is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but rotating about centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12L is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but rotating about other centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12M is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12E but rotating about centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12N is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12G but rotating about centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention;

FIG. 12O is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12K but coupling with an air pump through another actuator according to the present invention; and

FIG. 12P is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12I but coupling with an air pump through another actuator according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects and/or embodiments of various systems, methods, and/or processes of this invention will now be described more particularly with reference to the accompanying drawings and text, where such aspects and/or embodiments thereof only represent different forms. Such systems, methods, and/or processes of this invention, however, may also be embodied in many other different forms and, accordingly, should not be limited to such aspects and/or embodiments which are set forth herein. Rather, various exemplary aspects and/or embodiments described herein are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and fully convey the scope of the present invention to one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Unless otherwise specified, it is to be understood that various members, units, elements, and parts of various systems of the present invention are not typically drawn to scales and/or proportions for ease of illustration. It is also to be understood that such members, units, elements, and/or parts of various systems of this invention designated by the same numerals may typically represent the same, similar, and/or functionally equivalent members, units, elements, and/or parts thereof, respectively.

In one aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system of this invention may incorporate at least two identical, similar or different air pumps in different areas of a shoe such that each of the air pumps may provide ventilation through the shoe when an user of the shoe may step the ground with different areas of the shoe, in different directions, and/or in different orientations. In general, such air pumps may be disposed in at least two of a shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear, in at least two of a shoe upper, a shoe side, and a shoe heel, and/or in at least two of a shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner.

One exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3A which is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary ventilation system which includes a first air pump in a shoe front and a shoe heel and a second air pump in a shoe rear and a shoe heel according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 includes a pair of air pumps 31F, 31R, a pair of airways 32F, 32R, a pair of air inlets 33F, 33R, multiple outlets 34F, 34R, and a pair of valves 35F, 35R. More particularly, a first or front air pump 31F is disposed in a shoe front and shoe heel of a shoe 10, typically under an inner sole thereof, whereas a second or rear air pump 31R is disposed in a shoe rear and shoe heel, typically between the inner sole and a heel of the shoe 10. A first or front airway 32F fluidly couples with one end of the front air pump 31F, extends toward a middle of the shoe 10, turns upward toward the inner sole, and then extends toward a rear of the shoe 10, where multiple front air outlets 34F are provided therealong in order to discharge fresh ambient air therethrough, thereby providing ventilation through the shoe 10. Another first or front airway fluidly couples with an opposite end of the front air pump 31F and terminates at a shoe toe through which the fresh ambient air is provided into the front air pump 31F. A front one-way valve 35F may be disposed in either portion of the front airway 31F in order to direct the ambient air from the inlet 33F to the outlet 34F, while preventing retrograde air flow therethrough. Similarly, a second or rear airway 32R is fluidly coupled to one end of the rear air pump 31R, also extends toward the middle of the shoe 10, turns upward toward the inner sole, and extends toward the front of the shoe 10, where multiple rear air outlets 34R are provided therealong in order to discharge fresh ambient air therethrough, thereby providing ventilation through the shoe 10. Another second or rear airway fluidly couples with an opposite end of the rear air pump 31R and terminates at a shoe back through which the fresh ambient air is provided into the rear air pump 31R. A rear one-way valve 35R may be disposed in either portion of the rear airway 31R in order to direct the ambient air from the inlet 33R to the outlet 34R, while preventing retrograde flow of air therethrough.

In operation, an user wears the shoe 10 and begins walking or running. As a foot of the user lands on the ground with the shoe heel, the rear air pump 31R receives energy through the user's foot and becomes squeezed toward its stressed state while dispensing air stored therein through the rear airway 32R and out of the rear outlet 34R, thereby providing ventilation to the shoe front and a portion of the shoe middle. During this first step of walking or running, the front air pump 31F is not generally actively recruited in ventilation. As the user pivots a foot and shifts his or her weight toward the shoe middle, the rear air pump 31R receives less and less energy and gradually restores its shape and size toward its unstressed state, while taking in the ambient air thereinto through the rear inlet 33R. At the same time, the front air pump 31F begins to receive energy from the user's foot. When the user steps on the ground with the shoe front, the front air pump 31F receives energy and gets squeezed toward its stressed state while dispensing air stored therein through the front airway 32F and the front outlet 34F, thereby providing the ventilation to the shoe rear and at least a portion of the shoe middle. During this second step of walking or running, the rear air pump 31R is not generally actively recruited in the ventilation. As the user takes his or her foot off the ground, the front air pump 31F ceases to receive the energy and begins to restore its shape and size toward its unstressed state, while taking in the ambient air through the front air inlet 33F. During this third step of walking or running, neither air pump 31F, 31R is engaged in the ventilation. As the user puts her foot in another location of the ground, the above steps of walking or running are repeated, while the rear and front air pumps 31R, 31F provide the ventilation through the shoe sequentially or in an alternating mode.

Another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention is described in FIG. 3B which is a top view of the exemplary ventilation system shown in FIG. 3A including multiple airways according to the present invention. Such a ventilation system 30 is generally similar to that of FIG. 3A and includes a pair of air pumps 31F, 31R, a pair of air inlets 33F, 33R, and a pair of valves 35F, 35R. However, each air pump 31F, 31R is coupled to multiple airways 32F, 32R which are arranged around or over the other of such air pumps 31R, 31F. For example, the front air pump 31 F is fluidly coupled to a front center airway 32F extending toward and terminating in a shoe middle while forming multiple air outlets 34F therealong. Such a front air pump 31F is also fluidly coupled to a front inner airway 32F which extends along a shoe inner to a shoe rear while forming multiple air outlets 34F therealong. In particular, at least a portion of such a front inner airway 32F is disposed on, over or above a rear air pump 31R. The rear air pump 31R is fluidly coupled to a rear center airway 32R extending toward and terminating on, over or above the front air pump 31F while forming multiple air outlets 34R therealong. The rear air pump 31R also fluidly couples with a rear outer airway 32R which extends along a shoe outer to a shoe front while forming multiple air outlets 34R therealong. In particular, at least a portion of the rear outer airway 32R is disposed along, alongside or beside the front air pump 31F. The rear air pump 31R also forms multiple air outlets 34R thereon as well. Other configurational characteristics of this ventilation system 30 are generally similar or identical to those of the system of FIG. 3A.

In operation, an user wears the shoe 10 and begins walking or running. As a foot of the user lands on the ground with the shoe heel, the rear air pump 31R receives energy through the user's foot and becomes squeezed toward its stressed state while dispensing air stored therein through various air outlets 34R provided along the outer and center rear airways 32R and formed on the rear air pump 31R itself, thereby providing ventilation to the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear. During this first step of walking or running, the front air pump 31F is not actively recruited in ventilation and, therefore, constriction and/or collapsing of the portion of the front center airway 32F disposed over the rear air pump 31R may not compromise the ventilation by the rear pump 31R. When the user pivots his or her foot and shifts the weight toward the shoe middle, the rear air pump 31R begins to receive less and less energy and gradually restores its shape and size toward its unstressed state, while taking in the ambient air thereinto through the rear inlet 33R. The front air pump 31F then begins to receive energy from the user's foot. When the user steps on the ground with the shoe front, the front air pump 31F receives energy and becomes squeezed toward its stressed state while dispensing air stored therein through such air outlets 34F provided along the front center and inner airways 32F, thereby providing the ventilation to the shoe rear and at least a portion of the shoe middle. During such a second step of walking or running, the rear air pump 31R is not to be actively recruited in the ventilation. Accordingly, constriction and/or collapsing of the portion of the rear center airway 32R disposed over the front air pump 31F may not compromise the ventilation by the front pump 31F. As the user takes his or her foot off the ground, the front air pump 31F ceases to receive energy and begins to restore its shape and size toward its unstressed state, while taking in the ambient air through the front air inlet 33F. During this third step of walking or running, neither air pump 31F, 31R is typically engaged in such ventilation. As the user sets her foot in another location of the ground, the above steps of walking or running are repeated, and the rear and front air pumps 31R, 31F may provide such ventilation sequentially or in an alternating mode.

Another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention is described in FIG. 3C which is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary ventilation system which incorporates a first air pump in a shoe front and shoe side (or shoe toe) and a second air pump in a shoe rear and shoe side (or shoe back) according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 also incorporates a pair of air pumps 31F, 31R, a pair of airways 32F, 32R, a pair of air inlets 33F, 33R, multiple outlets 34F, 34R, and a pair of valves 35F, 35R. Contrary to the air pumps of FIGS. 3A and 3B primarily disposed in the shoe heel, a front air pump 31F of this embodiment is disposed in a shoe front and shoe side (or shoe toe) of an interior of a shoe 10, whereas a rear air pump 31R of this embodiment is disposed in a shoe rear and shoe side (or shoe back) of the interior of the shoe 10. A front airway 32F is fluidly coupled to one end of the front air pump 31F and extends toward a rear of the shoe 10 while being exposed in or over an inner sole or, alternatively, serving as the inner sole. Multiple front air outlets 34F are also provided along at least a substantial portion of the front airway 32F so as to discharge fresh ambient air therethrough, thereby providing ventilation through the shoe 10. The front air pump 31F also fluidly couples with a front air inlet 33F provided in a shoe front and shoe upper, and a front one-way valve 35F is disposed therebetween so as to direct the ambient air from the inlet 33F to the outlet 34F, while preventing retrograde air flow therethrough. Similarly, a rear airway 32R is fluidly coupled to one end of the rear air pump 31R and extends toward a front of the shoe 10 while being exposed in or over a middle or center sole or, alternatively, below the inner sole or front airway 32F, where multiple rear air outlets 34R are provided therealong so as to discharge the ambient air therethrough, thereby providing ventilation through the shoe 10. The rear air pump 31R is also fluidly coupled to a rear air inlet 33R provided in a shoe neck, and a rear one-way valve 35R is disposed therebetween so as to direct the ambient air from the inlet 33R to the outlet 34R, while preventing retrograde flow of air therethrough.

In operation, an user wears the shoe 10 and begins walking or running. As a foot of the user lands on the ground with the shoe heel, the rear air pump 31R receives energy through the user's foot and becomes squeezed toward its stressed state while dispensing air stored therein through various air outlets 34R provided along the outer and center rear airways 32R and formed on the rear air pump 31R itself, thereby providing ventilation to the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear. During this first step of walking or running, the front air pump 31F is not actively recruited in ventilation and, therefore, constriction and/or collapsing of the portion of the front airway 32F disposed in the shoe rear may not compromise the ventilation by the rear pump 31R. When the user pivots his or her foot and shifts the weight toward the shoe middle, the rear air pump 31R begins to receive less energy and restores its shape and size toward its unstressed state, while taking in the ambient air through the rear inlet 33R. As the user steps on the ground with the shoe front, the front air pump 31F begins to receive energy and becomes squeezed toward its stressed state while dispensing air stored therein through such air outlets 34F provided along the front center and inner airways 32F, thereby providing the ventilation to the shoe rear and at least a portion of the shoe middle. During this second step of walking or running, the rear air pump 31R is not to be actively recruited in the ventilation. Accordingly, constriction and/or collapsing of the portion of the rear airway 32R which may be disposed under the front air pump 31F may not compromise the ventilation by the front pump 31F. When the user takes his or her foot off the ground, the front air pump 31F ceases to receive the energy and begins to restore its shape and size toward its unstressed state, while taking in the ambient air through the front air inlet 33F. During this third step of walking or running, neither air pump 31F, 31R is typically engaged in such ventilation. As the user sets her foot in another location of the ground, the above steps of walking or running may be repeated, and the rear and front air pumps 31R, 31F may provide such ventilation sequentially or in an alternating mode.

In another aspect of the present invention, such a ventilation system may include at least two identical, similar or different air pumps in different areas of a shoe so that each of the air pumps may provide ventilation through the shoe as an user of the shoe may step the ground with different areas of the shoe, in different directions, and/or in different orientations. Following FIGS. 4A to 5F describe exemplary dispositions and/or arrangements of such air pumps of such a ventilation system. It is to be understood in the following figures that details of airways, air inlets, air outlets, and valves are to be omitted for simplicity of illustration and that such details will be provided in greater detail below.

As described above, the shoe within the scope of the present invention is typically divided into three areas along three different curvilinear and/or generally mutually orthogonal directions, e.g., along the longitudinal axis of the shoe, vertically with respect to such an axis, and horizontally with respect to such an axis. According to this classification, a typical shoe is deemed to consist of about twenty-seven different areas, in addition to the specific regions such as the shoe toe, shoe back, shoe neck, and shoe sole. Accordingly, it is appreciated that, unless otherwise specified, one area along one of the above directions may collectively encompass all other areas which are defined by other directions and which also lie in such one area along such one direction. For example, the shoe rear collectively includes the rear areas of the shoe upper, shoe side, and shoe heel as well as the rear areas of the shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner. By the same token, the shoe outer collectively includes the outer areas of the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear, as well as those areas of the shoe upper, shoe side, and shoe heel. In contrary, other specific areas such as the shoe toe and shoe back may only refer to the front and rear areas of the shoe side, the shoe neck may only refer to the opening or top area of the shoe upper, and the shoe sole may only refer to the sole(s) of the shoe.

In one exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of this invention, air pumps may be disposed in at least two of a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear, in at least two of a shoe upper, a shoe side, and a shoe heel, and/or in at least two of a shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner. FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional view of exemplary areas on, in, and/or around a shoe in which multiple air pumps of a ventilation system may be disposed according to the present invention. It is appreciated that various areas designated in this figure generally correspond to: the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear of a shoe upper; the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear of a shoe side; the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear of a shoe heel; and the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear of a shoe sole. The air pumps may also be disposed in the shoe toe, shoe neck, shoe back, and so on. It is appreciated that, although not shown in the figure, each of the above designated areas may be disposed in one of the shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner. It is further appreciated that each of such air pumps may be typically shaped and/or sized to fit into each of the above areas, whether or not such air pumps may be disposed within each of the areas or may be disposed along a border between two or more of the areas.

As described hereinabove, the ventilation system of this embodiment may include at least two air pumps disposed in at least two of the above areas, whether or not more than one air pump may be disposed in the same area. It is preferred, however, that at least two air pumps also be disposed in at least partially opposite areas in order to receive the energy from the user when she or he is engaged in different steps during walking or running. Accordingly, when one air pump is disposed in the shoe front, another air pump is preferably disposed in the shoe rear or middle. Similarly, when one pump is disposed in the shoe rear, another air pump is preferably disposed in the shoe front or middle. By the same token, when one air pump is disposed in the shoe outer, another one is preferably disposed in the shoe inner or center and, alternatively, when one air pump is disposed in the shoe inner, another one is disposed in the shoe outer or center, such that the air pumps may receive the energy from the user in different steps of walking or running when he or she steps on the ground with the shoe outer and inner alternatingly.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may include multiple air pumps each of which may be disposed in one of a shoe front, a shoe middle, and a shoe rear, in one of a shoe upper, a shoe side, and a shoe heel, and/or in one of a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner. FIG. 4B shows a top view of an exemplary ventilation system which incorporates one air pump in each of a shoe front, shoe middle, and/or shoe rear, whereas FIG. 4C is a top view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating a single air pump in each of a shoe outer, shoe center, and/or shoe inner according to the present invention. It is appreciated that, although not shown in the figure, each of the above designated areas may be disposed in one of the shoe upper, shoe side, shoe heel, and shoe sole. It is also appreciated that each of the air pumps may be typically shaped and sized to fit into each of the above areas, whether or not such air pumps may be disposed within each of the areas or may be disposed along a border between two or more of the areas.

As described hereinabove, the ventilation system of this embodiment may include at least two air pumps disposed in at least two of the above areas, whether or not more than one air pump may be disposed in the same area. It is preferred, however, that at least two air pumps also be disposed in at least partially opposite areas in order to receive the energy from the user when she or he is engaged in different steps during walking or running as described in conjunction with FIG. 4A. Accordingly, as a first air pump is provided in the shoe front and inner as shown in FIG. 4B, a second air pump may be provided in the shoe rear or middle, preferably in the shoe outer or center, so that two air pumps may not be clustered in the shoe front or shoe inner. When desirable, multiple air pumps may be disposed in the first area, where at least another air pump may be provided in another area which may also be at least partially opposite to the first area. Other characteristics of such air pumps and arrangements thereof in FIGS. 4B and 4C are similar or identical to those of FIG. 4A.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may include multiple air pumps in at least one of two different areas which may correspond to two of a shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear, two of a shoe upper, shoe side, and shoe heel, and/or two of a shoe outer, a shoe center, and a shoe inner. FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating at least two air pumps in one area of a shoe according to the present invention. As exemplified in the figure, at least two identical or different air pumps may be disposed in a first area, while such a ventilation system includes at least one another air pump in another area of the shoes, where such an another area may preferably be at least partially opposite to the first area with respect to the longitudinal axis of the shoes or another landmark thereof. Other characteristics of such air pumps and arrangements thereof in FIG. 5A may be similar or identical to those of FIGS. 4A through 4C.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may include at least one air pump which may be arranged to extend over or across multiple areas of a shoe. FIG. 5B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary ventilation system including an air pump which is disposed across at least two different areas of a shoe according to the present invention. Such an air pump may generally define an elongated shape and/or a greater internal volume in order to more efficiently exploit the input force or energy supplied thereto by an user during a single or multiple steps of walking or running. In addition, the air pump may be able to receive the input force or energy during different steps of walking or running, thereby providing the ventilation through the shoes for an extend portion of a cycle of walking or running. Accordingly and in one example, an air pump may be disposed in a shoe toe and extend down to a shoe heel, while another air pump may extend laterally from a shoe front to a shoe middle. An air pump may be disposed in a shoe back and extend down to a shoe heel, while another air pump may be disposed in the shoe rear and heel and extend upwardly through at least one sole, and so on. Other characteristics of such air pumps and their arrangements in FIG. 5B are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIG. 5A.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may further include at least one air pump which may be arranged to extend over or across more than two areas of a shoe. FIG. 5C shows a cross-sectional view of another exemplary ventilation system incorporating an air pump extending across more than two different areas of a shoe according to the present invention. Similar those of FIG. 5B, such an air pump may define an elongated shape and/or a greater internal volume in order to more efficiently exploit the input force or energy supplied thereto by an user during a single or multiple steps of walking or running. In addition, the air pump may receive the input force or energy during different steps of walking or running, thereby providing the ventilation through the shoes for an extend portion of a cycle of walking or running. Other characteristics of the air pumps and arrangements thereof in FIG. 5C may be similar or identical to those of FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIGS. 5A and 5B.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may include multiple air pumps in one area of a shoe and at least one another air pump in another area as well. FIG. 5D is a top view of an exemplary ventilation system incorporating at least two air pumps in a single area of a shoe according to the present invention. For example, multiple air pumps may be disposed in a shoe front (e.g., one in a shoe outer, while another in a shoe center), in a shoe middle (e.g., one in a shoe outer and another in a shoe inner), in a shoe rear (e.g., one in a shoe center and another in a shoe inner), and the like. It is appreciated that, when multiple air pumps are disposed in a single area, at least one another air pump is to be disposed in another area. Other characteristics of such air pumps and arrangements thereof in FIG. 5D are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIGS. 5A to 5C.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may include at least one air pump occupying at least a substantial portion of a preset area of a shoe and at least one another air pump in at least one another area thereof. FIG. 5E describes a top view of another exemplary ventilation system incorporating an air pump which extends across at least two different areas of a shoe according to the present invention. For example, one air pump may be sized to fit into at least a substantial portion of a shoe front by extending from a shoe inner to a shoe outer, where such an air pump may be vertically confined to a shoe heal, side or upper, may extend across two or more of such vertical areas, and the like. In another example, an air pump may also be sized to fit into a substantial portion of a shoe middle, where the air pump may similarly be vertically confined in one area or extending over multiple areas. It is appreciated that, when such an air pump is disposed in one area of the shoe, at least one another air pump is to be disposed in another area thereof. Other characteristics of such air pumps and arrangements thereof in FIG. 5E are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIGS. 5A to 5D.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a ventilation system may include multiple air pumps which may occupy at least a substantial portion of one area of a shoe. FIG. 5F is a top view of another exemplary ventilation system including at least two air pumps in one area of a shoe or an air pump extending more than two different areas of the shoe according to the present invention. In general, characteristics of such air pumps and arrangements thereof in FIG. 5F are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 4A to 4C and FIGS. 5A to 5E.

Various air pumps employing a variety of pumping mechanisms may be utilized to transport air into and out of the air pumps and to ventilate the shoe. For example, any conventional air and/or gas transporting devices may be used as the air air pumps of the present invention, although their shapes, sizes, configurations, and/or driving mechanisms may have be modified, when desirable, so as to be incorporated into the shoe ventilation systems of this invention. It is appreciated in following FIGS. 6 through 8 that an air pump represented by a numeral 31 couples with a proximal airway represented by a numeral 32P and couples with a distal airway represented by a numeral 32D on opposing ends thereof, that the proximal airway terminates at a single air inlet represented by a numeral 33, that the distal airway terminates at a single air outlet represented by a numeral 34, and that a single one-way valve represented to by a numeral 35 is disposed along either airway such as, e.g., along the proximal pathway in order to direct air from the inlet to the outlet through the air pump.

In another aspect of the present invention, an exemplary air pump may have at least one body or chamber at least a portion of which may be arranged to be deform and change its internal volume in response to energy (or input force associated therewith) applied thereto either directly or indirectly by an user. A main feature of this aspect of the present invention is that deformation of such a chamber or body of the air pump may be typically localized to its deformable portion. Such air pumps may also be provided in various embodiments, typical examples of which are described in following FIGS. 6A to 6F.

In one exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to deform in a direction at least partially transverse to a direction of the airways. For example, FIGS. 6A and 6B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump which may deform vertically between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 has an air pump 31. A body of the air pump 31 includes a top portion which is arranged to move or operate between at least one unstressed state and at least one stressed state in response to an input force or energy and to deform along a vertical direction in response thereto. As described hereinabove, an internal volume of the air pump 31 also changes due to its deformation and air may be pumped into and out of the air pump 31 through the inlet and outlet 33, 34, respectively. It is noted that the deformation-type air pump 31 of this embodiment may be installed in any areas of the shoe, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through an outer surface of the shoe, at least partially or entirely hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces thereof, entirely hidden over their inner surfaces, and so on. Similarly, the deformable portion may also be provided in any location over the air pump 31, e.g., on its top, bottom, and/or side. When desirable, multiple deformable portions having similar or different deformabilities or elasticities may also be provided on or over the air pump 31 or at least a substantial portion of such an air pump 31 may be made of an elastic material.

In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to receive an input force indirectly through a cover and to deform along a direction at least partially transverse to a direction of the airways. FIG. 6C shows a cross-sectional view of the exemplary air pump of FIGS. 6A and 6B which has a cover thereon according to the present invention. An air pump 31 is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6A and 6B, except that it has an additional cover 36C disposed on or over a deformable portion of the air pump 31 and arranged to receive the input force thereby. This embodiment offers the benefits of protecting the deformable portion of the air pump 31 from excessive mechanical impact, normal wear and tear, and the like, and of distributing the input force thereacross such that the deformable portion of the air pump 31 may indirectly receive the input force which may generally be evenly distributed throughout the cover 36C. The cover 36C may also be fixedly coupled to the deformable portion of the air pump 31 or movably coupled over such a portion of the pump 31. In addition, the cover 36P may be made of rigid or elastic materials which deform while delivering such input force to the deformable portion of the air pump 31. Other characteristics of the air pump of this embodiment may be typically similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to deform along another direction at least partially parallel to a direction of the airways. FIGS. 6D and 6E show cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump which deforms horizontally between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention. Such an air pump 31 is typically similar to those of FIGS. 6A to 6C, except that at least a substantial portion thereof may be made of an elastic or deformable material. Accordingly, the air pump 31 may operate or deform between at least one unstressed state and at least one stressed state in response to various energy or input forces. The airways 32P, 32D are generally similar to those of FIGS. 6A to 6C, except that these airways 32P, 32D are typically arranged to translate along a horizontal direction in response to various input forces. Thus, when the input force is applied to one or both of the airways 32P, 32D in a direction which is at least partially parallel to a direction(s) of one or both the pathways 32P, 32D, the deformable air pump 31 may be stretched horizontally, its internal volume changes because of its deformation, and the air may be pumped into or out of its body through the airways 32P, 32D. It is noted that the deformation-type air pump 31 of this embodiment may be installed in any areas of the shoe, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through an outer surface of the shoe, at least partially or entirely hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces thereof, entirely hidden over their inner surfaces, and so on. Similarly, the deformable portion may also be provided in any location over the air pump 31, e.g., on its top, bottom, and/or side. When desirable, multiple deformable portions having similar or different deformabilities or elasticities may also be provided on or over the air pump 31 or at least a substantial portion of the air pump 31 may be made of an elastic material. Other characteristics of the air pump of this embodiment may be typically similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A and 6B.

In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to deform along other directions which are defined by misaligned airways. FIG. 6F represents a cross-sectional view of a similar exemplary air pump which couples with a distal airway and a proximal airway which are axially misaligned according to the present invention. An air pump 31 is typically similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6D and 6E, except that a proximal airway 32P and a distal airway 32D are coupled to a body of the air pump 31 in an off-axis configuration so that such a body may be stretched and at the same time rotated when an input force is applied along one or both of the airways 32P, 32D. Such an embodiment offers the benefit of providing flexibility in constructing the ventilation system 30 because the airways 32P, 32D may not have to be aligned and because the airways 32P, 32D may tend to be misaligned or arranged to be off-axis during three-dimensional movements of the shoe regardless of their original arrangements. Other characteristics of the air pump of such an embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 6E.

In another aspect of the present invention, an exemplary air pump may have at least one body or chamber at least a portion of which may include multiple pleats therealong and may be arranged to be folded and unfolded along the pleats and change its internal volume in response to energy (or input force associated therewith) along such pleats applied thereto either directly or indirectly by an user. A main feature of this aspect of the present invention is that deformation of such a chamber or body of the air pump may be typically localized to its portion with such pleats. Such air pumps may also be provided in various embodiments, typical examples of which may be described in following FIGS. 7A through 7G.

In one exemplary embodiment, an air pump may be arranged to deform with respect to pleats in a direction at least partially transverse to the airways. For example, FIGS. 7A and 7B describe cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump defining multiple pleats and deforming vertically between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention. Such a ventilation system 30 includes an air pump 31 having a body, defining multiple horizontal pleats therearound, and deforming, folding or otherwise moving vertically between at least one unstressed state and at least one stressed state responsive to an input force or energy applied vertically thereto by an user. Thus, at least a portion or an entire portion of the air pump 31 vertically deforms or folds through such input force. Such deformation changes an internal volume of the air pump 31 and, as a result, air is pumped into and out of the body respectively through the inlet and outlet 33, 34, respectively. It is appreciated that the bellow-type air pump 31 of this embodiment may be incorporated into any areas of the shoe in any arrangement, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through an outer surface of the shoe, at least partially or entirely hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces thereof, entirely hidden over their inner surfaces, and so on. Similarly, the pleats may also be provided in any location over the air pump 31, e.g., on its top, bottom, and/or side. When desirable, multiple pleats with similar or different shapes, sizes, deformabilities, and/or elasticities may also be provided on or over the air pump 31 or at least a substantial portion of the air pump 31 may be made of an elastic material. In addition, such pleats may also be provided in any number and/or in any arrangement. For example, the pleats may be formed along a portion or an entire portion of one or more sides of the air pump 31, the pleats may be arranged at uniform or different distances, the pleats may form acute angles therebetween or the edges may be rounded, and so on. In addition, the air pump 31 may be made of an elastic or semi-rigid material and may be made to have recoil properties when desirable. Other characteristics of the air pump of this embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of FIGS. 6A through 6F.

In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to receive an input force indirectly through a cover and to deform along a direction at least partially transverse to a direction of the airways. FIG. 7C shows a cross-sectional view of the exemplary air pump of FIGS. 7A and 7B which has a cover thereon according to the present invention. An air pump 31 is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 7A and 7B, except that it has an additional cover 36C disposed on one side of the air pump 31 so as to receive the energy or input force thereby. The cover 36C offers the benefits of protecting the pleats of the pump 31 from excessive mechanical impact, normal wear and tear, and the like, and of distributing the input force or energy thereacross such that the air pump 31 may indirectly receive the input force or energy which may be evenly distributed across the cover 36C than otherwise. Other characteristics of the air pump of such an embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of FIGS. 6A through 7B.

In another exemplary embodiment, an air pump may be arranged to deform along multiple pleats along a direction at least partially parallel to a direction of the airways. For example, FIGS. 7D and 7E are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump which has multiple vertical pleats and deforms at least partially horizontally between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention. Such a ventilation system 30 includes an air pump 31 which forms multiple vertical pleats therealong and which may deform, fold or otherwise move horizontally between at least one unstressed state and at least one stressed state in response to an input force and/or energy applied thereto horizontally by an user. At least a portion or an entire portion of the air pump 31 then deforms or folds horizontally thereby, and an internal volume of the air pump 31 may change in response to the deformation, and air may be transported into and out of the air pump 31 through the inlet 33 and outlet 34, respectively. It is noted that such a bellow-type air pump 31 may be incorporated into any areas of the shoe in any arrangement, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through an outer surface of the shoe, at least partially or entirely hidden between the outer and/or inner surfaces thereof, entirely hidden over their inner surfaces, and so on. Similarly, the pleats may also be provided in any location over the air pump 31, e.g., on its top, bottom, and/or side. When desirable, multiple pleats with similar or different shapes, sizes, deformabilities, and/or elasticities may be provided on or over the air pump 31 or at least a substantial portion of the air pump 31 may be made of an elastic material. In addition, such pleats may also be provided in any number and/or in any arrangement. Because the air pump 31 of this embodiment is driven by a horizontal input force, at least a portion of a side of the air pump 31 may be typically arranged to receive the input force applied thereto in the horizontally direction. In the alternative, an actuator unit which will be described in greater detail below may be incorporated in order to convert a non-horizontal input force into a horizontal driving force. Other characteristics of the air pump of such an embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of FIGS. 6A through 7C.

In another exemplary embodiment, at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to deform along other directions which are defined by misaligned airways. FIG. 7F is a cross-sectional view of a similar exemplary air pump coupling to a distal airway as well as a proximal airway which are axially misaligned according to the present invention. An air pump 31 is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 7D and 7E, except that a proximal airway 32P and a distal airway 32D are coupled to the air pump 31 in an off-axis configuration so that the pump 31 may fold or deform at an angle with respect to pleats when an input force is applied along one or both of the airways 32P, 32D. This embodiment offers the benefit of providing flexibility in fabricating the ventilation system 30. Other characteristics of the air pump of this embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of FIGS. 6A through 7E.

In another exemplary embodiment, pleats may be formed on at least a substantial portion of an air pump such that the pump may be arranged to deform along multiple directions. FIG. 7G is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary air pump having pleats defined in both of horizontal and vertical directions and capable of deforming along both directions according to the present invention. Such an air pump 31 defines multiple pleats on its sides as well as it top and bottom portions. Therefore, upon receiving an input force, the air pump 31 may deform along a direction of the input forces and/or along a direction at an angle with respect to the input force. Thus, the air pump 31 may deform horizontally, vertically, and/or at preset angles. Other characteristics of the air pump of such an embodiment may be typically similar or identical to those described in one or more of FIGS. 6A through 7F.

In another aspect of the present invention, an air pump may have at least one cylinder or body which defines an internal cavity through which a piston may be arranged to translate or reciprocate in response to an input force or energy applied thereto directly or indirectly by an user. A main feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the piston changes an amount of air contained inside the cavity during its translating or reciprocating movements, although a size and/or a shape of the internal cavity of the air pump may not change. Accordingly, such a syringe-type air pump does not generally involve deformation thereof. Such an air pump may also be fabricated in various embodiments typical examples of which are described in following FIGS. 8A through 8L.

In one exemplary embodiment, an air pump includes a cylinder and a piston, and airways may fluidly couple with different portions of the air pump so that air may be transported into and out of the cylinder therethrough and that the airways may fixedly couple with the air pump in order not to move in response to various input forces. For example, FIGS. 8A and 8B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump which includes at least one cylinder and at least one matching piston translating or reciprocating in the cylinder between its unstressed (or intake) and stressed (or discharge) states, respectively, according to the present invention. An air pump 30 has a cylinder or a body 31C and a piston 31P, where the cylinder 31C defines a cavity therein and the piston 31P is shaped and sized to movably fit inside the cavity of the cylinder 31C and to reciprocate therealong. A proximal airway 32P is fluidly coupled to the cylinder 31C along a side of the cylinder 31C in one end and terminates at an inlet 33 in the other end, while a distal airway 32D fluidly couples with the cylinder 31C along a bottom thereof in one end and terminates at an outlet 34 in the other end. Such a piston 31C may be arranged to receive an input force directly thereby. Alternatively and as shown in the figure, a handle 31H may be attached to the piston 31P, receive the input force thereby, and deliver the input force to the piston 31P therethrough. Such a piston 31P may be arranged to reciprocate or otherwise move between at least one unstressed (or intake) state and at least one stressed (or discharge) state as a response to the input force and then to take air into the cylinder 31C and/or to discharge air therefrom in response to the input forces. An amount of air contained in the cylinder 31C changes depending upon a location of the piston 31P therein, and air may be transported into and out of the cylinder 31C through the inlet 33 and outlet 34, respectively. It is appreciated that the syringe-type air pump 31 of this embodiment may be incorporated into various areas of the shoe, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through an outer surface of the shoe, at least partially or entirely hidden between the outer and inner surfaces thereof, entirely hidden over their inner surfaces, and so on. Other characteristics of such a syringe-type air pump of this embodiment are typically similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 7G.

In another exemplary embodiment, an air pump has a cylinder and a piston, and airways may fluidly couple with different portions of the air pump, where at least one of such airways is arranged to be movably coupled to the cylinder and to move therewith in response to an input force or energy. For example, FIGS. 8C and 8D are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8A and 8B coupling with a proximal airway according to the present invention. Such a ventilation system 30 includes an air pump 31 with a cylinder or body 31C and a piston 31P, and also includes a proximal airway 32P as well as a distal airway 32D, all of which are similar or identical to those shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B. In contrary to the stationary proximal inlet of FIGS. 8A and 8B which is fixedly coupled to the stationary cylinder, a proximal airway 32D of this embodiment is preferably arranged to movably couple with the cylinder 36 and to receive the input force or energy directly or indirectly from an user. In addition, one end of the proximal airway 32P is arranged to fluidly couple with the cylinder 31C through an aperture 31A provided through a portion of the piston 31C so that the air may be transported into or out of the cylinder 31C by reciprocating movements of the piston 31C. Accordingly, such a proximal airway 32P may preferably be made of at least partly rigid materials to deliver the input force onto the piston 31C. It is to be understood that either or both of the cylinder 31C and piston 31P may be arranged to move in response to the input force and that either or both of the airways may also be arranged to movably couple with the mobile cylinder 31C and/or piston 31P. Such an embodiment may offer the benefit of constructing a more compact air pump and, therefore, saving spaces. The syringe-type air pump 30 of such an embodiment may also be installed in various areas of the shoe. Other characteristics of the syringe-type air pump of such an embodiment are typically similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6A through 8B.

In another exemplary embodiment, an air pump has a cylinder and a piston, and airways may fluidly couple with different portions of the air pump, where at least one or both airways are arranged to be stationarily disposed in the cylinder, while the piston may be arranged to move over such one or both airways while maintaining airtight sealing therearound in response to the input force or energy. For example, FIGS. 8E and 8F are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8A and 8B including a proximal airway at least a portion of which is stationarily disposed inside a cylinder according to the present invention. Such a ventilation system 30 includes an air pump 31 with a cylinder or body 31C and a piston 31P, and also includes a proximal airway 32P as well as a distal airway 32D, all of which are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 8A and 8B. However, the piston 31P defines an aperture 31A thereon, and at least a portion of the proximal airway 32P is fixedly or stationarily disposed inside the cylinder 31C through the aperture 31A of the piston 31P. Accordingly, the piston 31P may translate or reciprocate over the proximal airway 32P while maintaining an airtight sealing inside the cylinder 31C, thereby transporting air into and out of the cylinder 31C through the proximal and distal airways 32P, 32D. It is appreciated that either or both of the proximal and distal airways 32P, 32D may be disposed inside the cylinder 31C over which the piston 31C may translate or reciprocate. It is further noted that the syringe-type air pump 31 of this embodiment may also be incorporated into various areas of the shoe, e.g., at least partially or entirely exposed through an outer surface of the shoe, at least partially or entirely hidden between its outer and inner surfaces, entirely hidden over their inner surfaces, and so on. Other characteristics of such a syringe-type air pump of this embodiment are generally similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 8D.

In another exemplary embodiment, an air pump includes a cylinder and a piston, while airways may fluidly couple with different portions of the air pump, where at least one or both the airways are arranged to be stationarily disposed in the cylinder and where the piston may consist of multiple parts or portions coupled to each other and move in unison over such one or both airways while keeping airtight sealing therearound in response to the input force or energy. For example, FIGS. 8G and 8H are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8E and 8F including a piston with multiple portions coupled to each other according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 has an air pump 31 with a cylinder or body 31C and a piston 31P, and includes a proximal airway 32P and a distal airway 32D, all of which are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 8E and 8F, except that its piston 31P includes multiple portions which are mechanically coupled to each other by at least one coupler 31U such that such portions of the piston 31C may move in unison while maintaining an airtight sealing therearound and preventing leakage of air therethrough. Other characteristics of such a syringe-type air pump of this embodiment are generally similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 8F.

In another exemplary embodiment, an air pump includes a cylinder and a piston, while airways may fluidly couple with a single portion of the cylinder of the air pump and transport air into and out of the cylinder therethrough. For example, FIGS. 8I and 8J are cross-sectional views of the air pump of FIGS. 8A and 8B including a single opening in fluid communication with both of a proximal airway and a distal airway according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 includes an air pump 31 with a cylinder or body 31C and a piston 31P, where the cylinder 31C defines an opening or manifold 32M in a preset location. The ventilation system 30 also includes a proximal airway 32P and a distal airway 32D which are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 8A and 8B, except that such airways 32P, 32D are arranged to merge at and fluidly couple with the manifold 32M of the cylinder 31C. By incorporating at least two one-way valves 35 along the airways 32P, 32D, air may be transported into and out of the cylinder 31C. Such an air pump 31 typically requires at least one handle 31H to allow an user to move the piston 31P through the cylinder 31C or, conversely, to move the cylinder 31C with respect to such a piston 31P. When desirable and as shown in the figures, a pair of handles may be incorporated into the cylinder 31C and piston 31P. Such an embodiment may offer the benefits of reducing a length of the proximal and/or distal airways 32P, 32D and enabling construction of a more compact ventilation system. Other characteristics of such a syringe-type air pump of such an embodiment are generally similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 8H.

In another exemplary embodiment, an air pump similarly has a cylinder and piston, and airways may fluidly couple with a single or different portions of the cylinder of the air pump so as to transport air into and out of the cylinder, where the cylinder and airways are disposed so that the cylinder may move along a direction transverse to one or both airways. For example, FIGS. 8K and 8L are cross-sectional views of an exemplary air pump similar to that of FIGS. 8A and 8B and disposed in an upright arrangement according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 includes an air pump 31 with a cylinder or body 31C and a piston 31P, a proximal airway 32P, and a distal airway 32D all of which are similar or identical to those of FIGS. 8A and 8B. However, such airways 32P, 32D are disposed in a direction perpendicular or transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder 31C. Thus, the piston 31P may move vertically with respect to such airways 32P, 32D in response to the input forces or energy applied thereto by an user. Other characteristics of such a syringe-type air pump of this embodiment are generally similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 8J.

Configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications of the above embodiments of the exemplary ventilation systems and various parts thereof described in FIGS. 6A through 8L also fall within the scope of this invention.

First, the foregoing air pumps and airways may be arranged to have any shapes and/or sizes as long as they may be incorporated into various shoes within the scope of the present invention. In addition, the air pumps and/or airways may be made of and/or include various materials such as, e.g., plastics, metals, and/or laminated fabrics as long as air may not leak therethrough. Moreover, such air pumps and/or airways may be arranged in different configurations as far as the ventilation system of this invention may pump air into and out of the shoes. Therefore, the above exemplary figures may be construed as top views, front views, side views, and so on.

Secondly, the ventilation system of this invention may include any number of multiple air pumps therein. In one example, such a system may include a pair of air pumps disposed in at least partially opposite areas of the shoes, where each air pump may occupy only a portion or entire portion of the area. In another example, the system may also include at least one additional air pump which may be disposed adjacent to one of the above air pump or may instead be disposed in another area which is located inbetween the above at least partially opposite areas. Other variations are also possible as far as multiple pumps may be able to provide the ventilation through the shoes during different steps of walking or running. Accordingly, in another example, multiple area pumps may be disposed in order to cover at least substantial or entire portions of the shoe front, shoe middle, and shoe rear, to cover at least substantial or entire portions of the shoe upper, shoe side, and shoe heel, to cover at least substantial or entire portions of the shoe outer, shoe center, and shoe inner, to cover entire portions of all areas of the shoes, and the like.

Such proximal and/or distal airways may be made of and/or include various materials as well. For example, such airways may be made of and/or include a flexible material and/or to define slacks in order to accommodate various movements of the air pumps. Alternatively, the airways may be made of and/or include a rigid material when such airways are to receive the input force or energy thereby and/or to transmit such therethrough. Multiple flexible and/or rigid inlet and/or outlet airways may also be used to meet both requirements. These airways may be arranged to define various configurations as well. For example, the airways may have a tubular configuration or enclosed planar configuration. When desirable, such airways may be arranged to collapse as air pressure therein falls below that of atmosphere. Such a ventilation system may also include multiple proximal and/or distal airways and/or multiple inlets and/or outlets. Similarly, the airways may fluidly couple with more than one inlet and/or outlet. In addition, at least a portion or an entire portion of the airways may be fixedly coupled to such a ventilation system and, therefore, may not move in response to the input forces. In this embodiment, the airways may couple with non-mobile portion of the air pump or, in the alternative, a mobile airway may be incorporated between the air pump and the stationary airway(s). Furthermore and as will be described below in greater detail, multiple airways may be provided such that the user may select one or more of such airways for different purposes.

Various bodies or cylinders of the above air pumps may be arranged to have various shapes or sizes. In general, such bodies or cylinders may have almost any arbitrary shapes and/or sizes as far as they may contain a preset amount of air in their unstressed and/or stressed states. Therefore, the body or cylinder may be shaped as any three-dimensional figures, whether rounded in its corners or not, as long as it may move or deform to take in air and dispense air therefrom in a direct or indirect response to various input forces or energy. When desirable, the body or cylinder may include multiple chambers which may be coupled to each other in a series and/or parallel arrangement or which may be arranged to be separate (i.e., not fluidly coupled to each other) and to operate at least substantially independent of each other. A difference therebetween or a stroke volume of the body or cylinder of the air pump may be determined at a wide range, depending upon various design considerations. For example, the body or cylinder may be arranged to extensively deform such that a single application of the input force or energy may result in a great stroke volume. Alternatively, the body or cylinder may be arranged to deform to a lesser extent but a frequent application of various input forces or energy may result in a sum of stroke volumes equivalent thereto.

As described herein, the ventilation system of the present invention is characterized by having multiple air pumps in strategic areas in and/or around the shoes in order to exploit as much a portion of the input force or energy applied thereto during walking or running. Such air pumps may be disposed in various areas as exemplified in FIGS. 4A through 5F and/or in various combinations of at least two of such areas as long as such air pumps may exploit the input force or energy applied thereto during at least two of various steps of walking or running. Such air pumps may also be disposed in various areas of the shoes in order to receive greater portions of the input force or energy supplied thereto in different areas of the shoe, in different directions, and/or in different orientations

It is to be understood that dispositions such as locations and orientations of multiple air pumps in and/or around the shoe are the single prime factor determining what types of input force or energy may be exploited thereby. For example, an air pump disposed in a shoe front may operate on the input force or energy supplied thereto by a foot front of an user, another air pump disposed in a shoe back may operate on the input force or energy supplied thereto by a foot back, another air pump disposed in a shoe center may then operate on the input force or energy supplied thereto by a foot center, and so on. Hence, dispositions of the air pumps may be determined accordingly. For example, the casual shoes may incorporate at least one air pump in the shoe rear and absorb such input force or energy applied thereto when the user steps on the ground with his or her foot rear, and at least one air pump in the shoe front and absorb the input force or energy applied thereto as the user steps on the ground with his or her foot front. The casual shoes may also include at least one air pump in the shoe middle so as to exploit bending or stretching of the foot and/or shoes while the user shifts his or her weight from the foot rear to the foot front. When the user tends to step on the ground longer on the foot rear than on the foot front, the air pump in the shoe rear may be bigger than the one in the shoe front so as to exploit the greater input force or energy applied by the foot rear. When the user wants to achieve an even ventilation in such a case, the air pump in the shoe front may have a greater capacity and/or stroke volume in order to provide at least similar ventilation as the air pump disposed in the shoe rear. To the contrary, the running shoes, jogging shoes or other athletic shoes may incorporate a different arrangement, for the user tends to step on the ground more often on the foot front than the foot rear during running and mechanical impact received by the foot front tends to surpass that received by the foot rear. Therefore, at least one air pump has to be disposed in the shoe front in order to exploit the input force or energy, while at least one another air pump may be disposed in the shoe middle or rear, and so on. In another example, at least one air pump may be disposed in the shoe outer, while at least one another air pump may be incorporated into the shoe center or inner, whether in the shoe front or middle. Other dispositions are also possible as far as multiple air pumps may be disposed and provide the ventilation through the shoe during different steps of running or jogging. Another factor is the type of activity the user is engaged in. For example, when it is important to make a stop in a precise timing as frequently required in sports such as tennis, volleyball, basketball, and the like, dispositions of such air pumps may be tailored in order to prevent or at least minimize deformation or movements of the air pumps before, during or after the user makes the stop on the ground. To this end, the air pumps may be disposed away from the shoe center, shoe front, and the like. In another example where the user has to kick a ball with the shoes such as in soccer, the air pumps are disposed away from the shoe front and upper in order to prevent the deformation or movement of the air pump during the kick with the shoe front and upper. In short, dispositions of multiple air pumps may preferably be determined at least partially based on the application of such shoes.

Such air pumps may be incorporated into the shoes in various configurations. For example, an air pump may be disposed inside the shoes so as to allow at least a portion thereof to directly contact at least one area of a foot of an user and to receive input force or energy directly therefrom. Such an air pump may be disposed over an inner sole and/or inner surface of the shoes. In another example, an air pump may be disposed between the inner and middle or outer sole, between the inner and outer surfaces of the shoes, and the like, in order to indirectly receive the input force or energy through the sole(s) and/or surfaces(s) from at least one area of the foot. In another example, an air pump may be disposed under, inside or above a heel of the shoes and indirectly receive the input force or energy through the above sole(s) and/or surfaces(s). In yet another example, an air pump may be arranged to receive the input force or energy through an actuator unit which may change an amplitude, a spatial distribution, a temporal pattern, and other static and/or dynamic characteristics of the input energy or energy. Further details of such an actuator unit will be provided below.

Such air pumps may be fixedly, movably, and/or releasably disposed in or around the shoes in various modes. For example, the air pump may be fixedly or releasably incorporated into at least one area of the shoes, where such an area may also optionally define indentations, grooves, protrusions, and/or other structures in order to house and/or support the air pump. In another example, such an air pump may be fixedly or releasably coupled to at least one area of the shoes by at least one coupler or other articles. In another example, an air pump may be embedded inside or between multiple soles or surfaces of the shoes. As long as such air pumps may effectively receive the input force or energy, detailed modes of incorporating or coupling the air pumps to various areas of the shoes are a matter of choice of one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

At least one air pump of the ventilation system of the present invention may operate through an actuator unit which may be arranged to manipulate and/or change an amplitude, a spatial distribution, a temporal pattern, and other static and/or dynamic characteristics of the input force or energy supplied by an user. Through this actuator unit, the air pump disposed in the first area of the shoe may operate on the input force or energy applied to the second area of the shoe, the air pump disposed in the first area of the shoe may continue to operate when the input force or energy ceases to be applied to the first area of the shoe. Further details of such an actuator unit will be provided in greater detail below.

The ventilation system of this invention may also include multiple identical pumps in at least two of such areas. In the alternative, such a ventilation system may also incorporate different air pumps in different areas in and/or around the shoes and exploit a greater portion of such input force or energy applied by the user. Therefore, a ventilation system of the present invention may incorporate different air pumps which defines different shapes and/or sizes, different internal or stroke volumes, different dispositions between, over or below the inner and/or outer surfaces of the shoes, different exposure through such inner and/or outer surfaces, different elevations above or below the inner and/or outer surfaces thereof, different stressed and/or unstressed volumes, different compliances or elasticities, different types (such as, e.g., a deformation-type, a bellow-type, a syringe-type, and so on), different extents of deformation or movement, different deformation or movement directions, and so on. It is to be understood that, once the number of such air pumps as well as their dispositions are determined, a selection of suitable air pumps for a specific ventilation system is generally a matter of choice of one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Such a ventilation system of the present invention may also be characterized by its multiple air pumps which are disposed in different or at least partially opposite areas of the shoes and which are generally not fluidly coupled to each other such that each air pump may transport air into and/or out of the shoes at least partially independent of the other. Such an embodiment ensures that each air pump may provide the ventilation as the user applies the input force or energy to a preset area of the shoes but not to other areas thereof. Thus, various shoes including such a ventilation system of the present invention may be able to provide the ventilation for a longer period of a walking or running cycle than its prior art counterparts which incorporate multiple air chambers in the same area and/or which allow fluid coupling therebetween. It is to be understood, however, that multiple air pumps of the ventilation system of the present invention may form an at least minimal fluid coupling therebetween as long as the system incorporates a checking mechanism (e.g., through a conventional check valve, regulator or other means) for allowing such fluid coupling between such air pumps only when pressure of one air pump exceeds or falls below a preset threshold. In this latter embodiment, at least two air pumps may be arranged to operate at least partially parallel to each other so that they may provide the ventilation in different steps of the walking or running.

The air pumps may be arranged to take in and/or dispense air at least substantially temporally simultaneous with the input forces or energy, except slight time lags for air to travel through the above airways with finite internal volumes. In the alternative, the ventilating system 10 may have an optional elastic or compliant chamber which may be arranged to receive air from the air pump, to store at least a portion thereof even after the input force or energy ceases to apply, and to dispense air therefrom due to a pressure difference developed between itself and the interior of the shoe. Such a temporally delaying embodiment may offer a benefit of supplying air into the shoe over a preset prolonged period. Configuration of such a chamber and incorporating such into the ventilating system generally depend upon their dynamic characteristics examples of which may include, but not be limited to, unstressed volumes of the chambers, elasticities or Young's moduli of the chamber, shapes and/or sizes thereof, and the like.

The body or cylinder of any of the above air pumps may define only one opening or manifold which may serve both as the inlet and outlet. However, in order to pump air into and out of the shoes, the inlet and/or outlet may incorporate at least two valves to direct air along preset directions. Such a body or cylinder of the air pump may be arranged to have recoil properties so that it may return to its unstressed state by itself without any extra external force. Accordingly, such a body or cylinder may deform to its stressed state while the external input force is being directly or indirectly applied thereto, and may return to its unstressed state as such an input force ceases to apply. In the alternative, an optional conventional recoil units such as, e.g., springs and coils, may be incorporated into such an air pump in order to provide a recoil force to move the air pump from one to the other of such unstressed and stressed states.

As briefly described above, various input forces or energy may be applied to various parts of the foregoing air pumps either directly or indirectly. For example, at least a portion of the body of the deformable-type or bellow-type air pumps and/or such a portion of the piston of the syringe-type air pump which is either exposed through or hidden under the outer surface of the shoe may directly or indirectly receive such input force or energy from an user. In the alternative, at least a portion of the airways which may be either exposed through or hidden under the outer surface of the shoe may be also arranged to directly or indirectly receive the input force or energy from the user. In addition, such portions of the air pumps and/or airways may be disposed to receive the input force or energy along various directions as long as the air may be transported into and out of the body or cylinder of the air pump. Therefore, such portions of the air pumps and/or airways may be arranged to receive the input force or energy horizontally, vertically, at a preset constant angle or at varying angles. Moreover, the portions of the air pumps and/or airways may be arranged to deform or move along a direction which may coincide with or may differ from a direction of the input force or energy by, e.g., arranging such portions to move or deform only along a preset direction, converting a direction and/or a magnitude of the input force or energy by various actuator units which will be described in greater detail below, and so on. In addition, various portions of the foregoing pumps and/or airways may move or deform in response to the input force or energy. For example and as exemplified in the above embodiments, the portions of the air pumps or airways directly receiving the input force or energy may move and/or deform in response thereto. Alternatively, other portions of the above air pumps and/or airways may deform even though such portions do not directly receive the input forces. For example, the exposed or hidden portions of the deformation- and/or bellow-type air pumps may be arranged to first receive the input force, not to move or deform thereby, but to instead deliver the input force to other adjacent portions which are arranged to deform or to move by the input force or energy. In another example, the piston or another part of the syringe-type air pump may also be arranged to first receive the input forces, not to move thereby, but to deliver such input forces to other parts which move or deform by the input force or energy. As far as the air pump may transport air into and out of its body, details of such mobile arrangements may not be material to the present invention.

The above air pumps may also be arranged to pump air into and out of their bodies or cylinders by various embodiments. For example, the air pump may be arranged to transport air out of its body or cylinder into the interior of the shoe while the input force or energy is applied thereto and to suck fresh air into its body or cylinder as the user stops to apply the input force or energy. Conversely, the air pump may be arranged to suck fresh air into its body or cylinder as the user applies the input force or energy thereto and to pump the fresh air out of its body or cylinder into the shoe as no input force or energy is applied thereto. Alternatively, the air pump may be arranged to dispense air therefrom into the shoe and to suck fresh air thereinto while the input force or energy is applied thereto, and to suck more fresh air thereinto and to dispense the fresh air therefrom into the shoe through its return movement when no input force or energy is applied thereto. In order to construct a specific air pump operating according to one of the foregoing embodiments, the air pump may be arranged to move or to deform from one of the unstressed and stressed states to the other thereof in response to such input force or energy, e.g., from its unstressed state to its stressed state as depicted in the above figures, from the stressed state to the unstressed state as the air pump is coupled to a recoil unit which may keep the pumping unit in the biased, stressed state when no input force or energy is applied thereto.

The above air pumps may also be arranged to move or to deform in response to various input force or energy applied by the user and/or various movements thereof. As described above, various portions of the above air pumps and/or airways may deform or move in response to the input force or energy applied directly thereto or indirectly through the outer surfaces of the shoe. In addition, when various input force or energy may be applied indirectly to one of such air pumps and/or airways, their magnitudes, directions, and/or temporal pattern may be altered such that resulting driving forces may be arranged to actually drive one of the above air pumps. In the alternative and as will be described in greater detail below, movements of various parts of the foot of the user along various directions may be converted into various driving forces by various actuator units.

Because the air pumps generally deform or move while discharging air therefrom, the areas of the foot applying the input force or energy to the air pumps may also move during such deformation or movement. Such foot movement may be more exaggerated when the air pumps are disposed below such areas of the foot, and may not be preferable when the user is required to put a precise step on a specific target point on the ground. Such foot movement may further make the user feel insecure or unstable in each step he or she makes. The above air pumps may then be modified in order to obviate such problems. For example, an air pump which is to be disposed in the shoe front or shoe rear may be shaped as an annular article or a ring so that the user's foot front or foot rear may directly contact the sole and supported thereby through a center aperture of the air pump, while a surrounding portion of the air pump may be arranged to receive the input force or energy from the surrounding portion of the foot front or foot rear. In the alternative, a center portion of such an air pump may be arranged to not deform or to deform to a minimal extent to achieve the same effect. Other arrangements may also be applied to such air pumps to be disposed under the foot front or foot rear, to be disposed beside the foot side, and the like.

In another aspect of the present invention, various airways, air inlets, and/or air outlets may be incorporated into the foregoing air pumps in order to serve as paths for air transported into and out of the air pumps. FIGS. 9A to 9E describe several exemplary embodiments of such airways, inlets, and outlets. It is appreciated that following FIGS. 9A through 9E only include distal airways (i.e., airways extending from the air pumps to the air outlets) and air outlets for ease of illustration but that similar or identical arrangements may be applied to proximal airways (i.e., airways extending from air inlets to the air pumps) as well as to air inlets. It is also appreciated that following FIGS. 9A to 9E incorporates at least one valve disposed along each distal airway in order to transport air from the air pump to an air outlet but that such a valve may be disposed along the proximal airway and perform the identical function.

In one exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, an air pump may be fluidly coupled to a single distal air way which forms a single curvilinear path of air. FIG. 9A shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary airway having a single path according to the present invention. A distal airway 32D fluidly couples with an air pump, extends along a curvilinear path therefrom, and then terminates at a single air outlet 34. Such an embodiment is generally similar to those exemplified in FIGS. 6A to 8L.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a distal airway may be arranged to bifurcate to multiple curvilinear air paths. FIG. 9B is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway which branches or bifurcates into multiple paths according to the present invention. A distal airway 32D fluidly couples with an air pump, extends for a preset length, and then bifurcates into multiple paths each of which terminates at its own air outlet 34. A valve 35 is disposed onto such an airway 34D before it bifurcates and directs air flow through each path of the airway 34D.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, an air pump may also be fluidly coupled to multiple airways. FIG. 9C is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway defining multiple paths directly from an air pump according to the present invention. Such an air pump may couple with multiple distal airways 32D in different portions thereof so as to transport air through each distal airway 32D which in turn terminates at its own air outlet 34. At least one valve 35 may be disposed along each distal airway 32D in order to direct air along a preset direction.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, a distal airway may terminate at an end defining a planar shape. FIG. 9D is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway which forms an elongated path according to the present invention. A distal airway 32D fluidly couples with an air pump, extends for a preset length, and then terminates at a planar or pad-shaped air distributor which may define thereon multiple air outlets 34.

In another exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, two or more air pumps may be arranged to share a common portion of one or more airways. FIG. 9E shows a cross-sectional view of another exemplary airway at least a portion of which is to be shared by multiple air pumps according to the present invention. A distal airway 32D may be disposed between multiple air pumps and fluidly couple with such pumps in order to direct air theretoward. Valves 35 are disposed in each air pump so that air may be transported from the air pumps to the airway 32D but not the other way around. Accordingly, such air pumps are deemed to not fluidly couple with each other, although such air pumps are mechanically coupled to each other through the airway 32D.

Configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications of the above embodiments of the exemplary airways, air inlets, air outlets, and valves described in FIGS. 9A to 9E also fall within the scope of this invention.

Such proximal and/or distal airways may be arranged to have various cross-sectional shapes and/or sizes as far as the airways may transport air therethrough. When desirable, at least a portion of the airway may be arranged to collapse to a preset extent in response to the input force or energy supplied thereto by the user. Such airways may be made of or and/or include various rigid or elastic materials in order to exhibit desirable mechanical characteristics such as, e.g., strength, elasticity, and so on.

The proximal and/or distal airways may be disposed in various areas of the shoe as described in FIGS. 1A and 1B, where exact disposition of such airways may generally depend on various design criteria such as, e.g., disposition of the air pumps, number of air pumps, shapes and/or sizes of such air pumps, disposition to the air inlets and/or outlets, amount of air to be transported therethrough, and so on. Such airways or at least portions thereof may be exposed through the outer surfaces and/or soles of the shoe, may be disposed between the inner and outer surfaces and/or between the inner and outer soles, and so on. As long as such airways may be able to transport air in preset directions within a preset limit, exact dimensions and disposition of such airways may be a matter of choice for one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

Each air pump may be arranged to be fluidly coupled to a single proximal airway and a single distal airway. In the alternative, at least one of such air pumps may be arranged to fluidly couple with multiple proximal and/or distal airways, where multiple airways may be arranged to have the identical shape, size, and/or length or to have different shapes, sizes, and/or lengths. In addition, such multiple airways may be arranged to have the same or different pneumatic resistances, elasticities, and so on. Such airways may be arranged to run individually or may be clustered to run through or around such a shoe in a cluster. The same may apply to multiple paths which may be formed through bifurcation or branching of any of the foregoing airways.

Whether a single or multiple, such proximal and distal airways may be mechanically coupled to each other or isolated from each other. It is to be understood that, when the airways for different air pumps are mechanically coupled to each other, they may not necessarily fluidly couple such different air pumps. For example and as exemplified in FIG. 9E, multiple air pumps may be mechanically coupled to each other, while such air pumps may not be fluidly coupled to each other by multiple valves. This embodiment ensures that multiple air pumps may be able to provide the ventilation through the shoe at least independently of each other, while preventing the leakage of air flow and/or pressure between multiple air pumps as have been a problem with the prior art ventilating shoes. When desirable, such multiple air pumps may instead be fluidly coupled to each other, only when such pumps are disposed in the same area of the shoe. In the alternative, such multiple air pumps may also be fluidly coupled to each other on the conditions that at least one valve is disposed between such air pumps and that the valve opens and forms the fluid coupling between the air pumps when air pressure of one air pump is to exceed a preset upper limit or to fall below a lower limit. As described above, at least a portion of the airway may be arranged to be collapsible in response to the input force or energy. The collapsible airway may be incorporated to control an air flow rate through a specific airway or path thereof.

As exemplified in the above figures, each proximal airway may fluidly couple with a single air inlet, while each distal airway may fluidly couple with a single air outlet. There may be exceptions so that each proximal or distal airway may fluidly couple with multiple air inlets and/or outlets. In general, the shapes and/or sizes of the inlets and/outlets may be determined by various factors such as, e.g., disposition of the air inlets and/or outlets, number of the air inlets and/or outlets, preset areas of such a shoe to be ventilated by the inlets and/or outlets, and the like. Accordingly, selection of such details about the air inlets and/or outlets is a matter of choice of one of ordinary skill in the relevant art. Such air inlets and/or outlets may be defined at preset distances from the air pumps or may be formed on or over the air pumps without any intervening airways. Alternatively, such air inlets and/or outlets may be defined along the proximal and/or distal airways. Such air inlets may also be arranged to prevent water or moist from getting into the interior of the shoe.

Various one-way valves, check valves, and/or other regulating valves may be disposed along the airways, in junctions between the airways, in junctions between the airway and air pump, and so on. As described herein, such valves serve to direct air along a preset direction such as, e.g., from the air inlet to the air outlet through the proximal and distal airways. Therefore, exact number of such valves and/or disposition thereof may be a matter of choice for one of ordinary skill in the relevant art.

It is appreciated that the ventilation system of this invention may be arranged to allow the user to manipulate and/or control a rate of air flow through the air inlet, airway, and/or air outlet by various means such as, e.g., adjusting a number of airways or paths thereof to be recruited in the ventilation, manipulating pneumatic resistance through the airways, inlets, outlets, and/or valves, and the like. In addition, the ventilation may be arranged to allow the user to change the direction of air flow such that the user may select one opening to serve as the air inlet (or outlet), and select the other one to serve as the air outlet (or inlet). Similarly, the ventilation system may also be arranged to allow the user to control the pneumatic resistance of various parts of the system in order to control the air flow rate of the ventilation. In addition, such a ventilation system may allow the user to adjust the maximum stroke volume of the air pump, thereby controlling the air flow rate per each compression of such air pumps. Further details of the above proximal airways, distal airways, air inlets, air outlets, and valves may be provided from the aforementioned prior art patents and/or publications therefor all of which are to be incorporated herein in their entireties by reference.

As described above, the user may apply the input force or energy directly to the air pumps or airways of the ventilation system by, e.g., pushing, pulling, pressing, twisting, squeezing, stretching, deforming or otherwise moving the deformable or movable portions of the air pump, portions adjacent to such deformable or movable portions, the pistons or cylinders of the air pump, at least one portion of the airway, and so on. In the alternative or in conjunction therewith, the ventilation system may be arranged such that the user may move his or her toes and/or feet and that various actuator units may convert such movements into the driving force which actually drives the air pump to pump air thereinto and/or therefrom in order to ventilate air into and out of the shoe. Accordingly and in other aspects of the present invention, a ventilation system may include one or more of various actuator units which may be arranged to change spatial distribution and/or temporal pattern of the input force or energy so as to manipulate static as well as dynamic characteristics of the foregoing air pumps and/or airways in response to the input force or energy. Following FIGS. 10 and 11 exemplify various actuator units for such aspects of the present invention.

It is appreciated that various actuator units incorporating a variety of force transmitting and/or converting mechanisms may be utilized to transport air into and out of the air pumps and to ventilate air into and out of the shoes. Configurational and/or operational details of the actuator units may depend upon many factors such as, e.g., types of movements of the user (or his or her foot) to be exploited thereby, pumping mechanisms of the air pumps, dispositions and/or arrangements of such air pumps, and the like. Roughly speaking, various actuator units of the present invention may be classified into transmitting actuator units for purely serving as transmission lines of the input force or energy which causes movements of various portions of the shoes, converting actuator units for converting the input force or energy into driving forces which may be different from such input force or energy in at least one spatial or temporal feature and serve to actually drive the air pump, and hybrid actuator units for both transmitting at least a portion of the input force or energy and also for converting at least another portion of the input force or energy to generate the foregoing driving force.

In one aspect pertaining to such an actuator unit of the present invention, an actuator unit may operatively couple with various deformation-type air pumps and cause deformation of at least portions of such air pumps, thereby changing internal volumes thereof in response to various user movements caused by an input force or energy applied thereto directly or indirectly. A main feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the actuator unit transmits the input force or energy and/or generate a driving force therefrom to deform the deformable portions of the air pumps. Such actuator units may also be provided in various embodiments, typical examples of which are shown in following FIGS. 10A through 10F.

In one exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit is arranged to transmit an input force along the same direction as the input force and at least a portion of an air pump is arranged to deform along the same direction thereby. For example, FIGS. 10A and 10B are cross-sectional views of an exemplary actuator unit which operatively couples with a deformation-type air pump and transmits an axial input force in the same direction, where the air pump deforms between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention. Such a ventilation system 30 is generally similar to those of FIGS. 6A and 6B, except that its proximal and distal airways 32P, 32D are disposed off from a center axis of its air pump 31, where such airways 32P, 32D are similar to those shown in FIGS. 6A and 6B. An exemplary actuator unit includes a proximal actuator 38P disposed next to or in parallel to the proximal airway 32P as well as a distal actuator 38D disposed adjacent to or in parallel to the distal airway 32D. The proximal and distal actuators 38P, 38D are coupled to opposing ends of the air pump 31 along a center axis 31C of a body of the air pump 31. Accordingly, one or both of such actuators 38P, 38D may receive the input force or energy applied therealong and then transmit the input force or energy thereby to the air pump 31 in order to effect deformation of its body and to dispense air out of the body into an interior of the shoe through an outlet 34. The actuators 38P, 38D may be arranged to receive the input force or energy by various embodiments such that, e.g., the user may pull or stretch one or both of the rigid or elastic actuators 38P, 38D. In the alternative, such actuators 38P, 38D may be arranged to receive the input force or energy as the user pushes or squeezes one of both of such actuators 38P, 38D as well. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this embodiment may be generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6A to 6F.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to transmit an input force along a parallel but off-axis direction of the input force or energy in order to deform at least a portion of an air pump by a resulting torque. For example, FIG. 10C shows a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit which couples with a deformation-type air pump and which transmits an axial input force in a parallel but off-axis direction according to the present invention. A ventilating system 30 is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6A and 6B, and an actuator unit similarly includes a proximal actuator 38P and a distal actuator 38D which are coupled to two ends of an air pump 30 but oriented not along a center axis 31C of a body of the air pump 31 but away therefrom. Therefore, an input force or energy applied to one or both of the actuators 38P, 38D results in a torque which pulls, stretches, pushes or squeezes the body of the air pump 31 while deforming it about a center thereof. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this embodiment may be generally similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 6F and/or FIGS. 10A and 10B.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to convert an input force or energy to a driving force acting along a direction different from that of the input force and driving an air pump along its direction but not in that of the input force. For example, FIGS. 10D and 10E describe cross-sectional views of another exemplary actuator unit coupling with a deformation-type air pump and converting an axial input force to a transaxial driving force acting normal or transverse to such an input force, where the air pump deforms between its unstressed and stressed states, respectively, according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation system 30 is generally similar to those of FIGS. 10A and 10B, except that an exemplary actuator unit extends along a proximal airway 32P, over at least a portion of an air pump 31, and along a distal airway 32D. Such a system 30 also includes at least one guide 38G along at least one strategic location around the air pump 31 and movably supports or guides the actuator unit. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair of guides 38G are provided near or on opposing ends of a body of the air pump 31. It is appreciated that a middle portion of the actuator unit disposed over the air pump 31 may also be biased toward an interior of the air pump 31 in order to bias the body of the air pump 31 toward its unstressed state. The actuator unit may also be arranged to be deformed or otherwise moved by, e.g., being pulled, pushed or stretched by an input force or energy generally acting therealong, while being directed by the guides 38G to cover the preset portion of the air pump 31. Accordingly, the actuator unit and guides 38G may convert the horizontally acting input force or energy into an axial driving force which acts in a direction transverse to the input force and in the direction normal toward the interior of the air pump 31.

In operation, the air pump 31 may be movably (or fixedly) installed between the outer and inner surfaces of the shoes, over or below one or both of such surfaces, and the like. Both ends of such an actuator unit are operatively coupled to different portions of the shoes such that movements of an user's toe and/or foot may pull, stretch, push or otherwise move the actuator unit by the input force or energy acting in the direction of the actuator unit. When no input force is applied thereto, the actuator unit maintains its unstressed configuration, while the air pump 31 maintains its maximum volume. As the actuator unit may be horizontally stretched or pulled through one or both ends toward its stressed configuration, the guides 38G convert the horizontally acting input force or energy to the driving force which normally or vertically presses, squeezes, and/or pushes the body of the air pump 31 inwardly. Because the actuator unit is arranged to indirectly or directly contact the preset portion of the body of the air pump 31, a deformable portion of the body may deform inwardly and the internal volume of the air pump 31 decreases by such a driving force. The one-way valves direct a preset amount (i.e., the stroke volume) of air to be dispensed from the air pump 31 into an interior of the shoes through an outlet 34. Fresh air supplied by such a ventilating system 30 pushes moist air out of the shoes. When the user moves his or her toe or foot back to its previous position, the actuator unit moves back to its original unstressed configuration through its own recoil properties and/or optional recoil units as will be described in greater detail below. The air pump 31 moves back to its unstressed state to regain its maximum value, while the one-way valves 35 direct fresh atmospheric air to fill the air pump 31 for a next cycle of ventilation. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this embodiment may be similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 6A to 6F and/or FIGS. 10A to 10C.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to convert an input force or energy to another driving force which drives a pumping model in its direction but not in the direction of the input force. For example, FIG. 10F is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupled to a deformation-type air pump and converting an off-axis input force or energy to an axial driving force which may be normal or transverse to the input force according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation system 10 is generally similar to that of FIG. 10C. An actuator unit has a proximal actuator 38P which extends along a proximal airway 32P, a middle portion disposed on or over a preset portion of a body of an air pump 31 along its curvilinear contour, and a distal actuator 38D which extends along a distal airway 32D. The actuator is arranged to be deformed or otherwise moved by being pulled, pushed or stretched by an input force or energy, and converts the input force into a driving force which acts in a direction normal to the portions of the air pump 31 which may be in contact therewith. When desirable, various guides (not shown in the figure) may be incorporated so as to guide movement and/or deformation of the actuator unit. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this embodiment may be also similar or identical to those of FIGS. 6A to 6F and/or FIGS. 10A through 10E.

In another aspect pertaining to such an actuator unit of the present invention, an actuator unit may operatively couple with various bellow-type air pumps and cause deformation of at least portions of such air pumps, thereby changing internal volumes thereof in response to various user movements effected by an input force or energy applied thereto either directly or indirectly. A main feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the actuator units may transmit the input force or energy and/or convert such input force or energy to a driving force to fold one or more pleats of the bellow-type air pumps. Such actuator units may also be provided in various embodiments, typical examples of which are shown in following FIGS. 11A through 11F.

In one exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit is arranged to transmit an input force along the same direction of the input force or energy and at least a portion of an air pump is arranged to deform in the same direction in response thereto. For example, FIG. 11A shows a cross-sectional view of an exemplary actuator unit which is operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and transmits an axial input force in the same direction according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation system 30 is generally similar or identical to that of FIGS. 7A and 7B, except that proximal and distal airways 38P, 38D fluidly couple with lower ends of a body of an air pump 31, not with center portions of such an air pump 31. An actuator unit includes a proximal actuator 38P and a distal actuator 38D coupled to opposing center portions of the air pump 31 along a center axis 31C thereof. Accordingly, one or both of the actuators 38P, 38D may receive an input force or energy applied therealong by an user and/or may be actuated by various movements of a toe or foot of the user, and transmits the input force or energy to the air pump 31 to effect the air pump 31 to fold horizontally along one or more pleats 36P, thereby transporting fresh air from atmosphere into the shoes, transporting moist air out of the interior of the shoes into the air pump 31, dispense air out of the air pump 31 into an interior of such shoes, to dispense moist air out of the air pump 31 to the atmosphere, and the like. The actuators 38P, 38D may be arranged to receive the input force or energy and/or to be actuated through various embodiments such that, e.g., the user pulls or stretches one or both of the rigid or elastic actuators 38P, 38D. In the alternative, such actuators 38P, 38D may be arranged to receive the input force or energy and/or may be actuated as the user pushes or squeezes one of both of the actuators 38P, 38D as well. Further configurational and/or operational characteristics of such an actuator unit of this embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 7A to 7F and/or FIGS. 10A to 10F.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to receive and convert an axial input force into a transaxial driving force, and to fold at least a portion of a bellow-type air pump along one or more pleats. For example, FIG. 11B shows a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupling with a bellow-type air pump and converting an axial input force into a transaxial driving force transverse or normal to the input force according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation system 30 may be deemed to be a hybrid of those of FIGS. 7A and 8L so that proximal and distal airways 32P, 32D extend normal or transverse to a longitudinal axis of an air pump 31 which may then move or deform vertically between its unstressed and stressed states along one or more pleats 36P thereof. An exemplary actuator unit includes a proximal actuator 38P and a distal actuator 38D, where the former generally extends along the proximal airway 32P and coupling with a bottom of a body of the air pump 31 while being upwardly biased by a guide 38G and where the distal actuator 38D extends along the distal airway 32D and coupling with a top of the body of the air pump 31 while being biased downwardly by another guide 38G. Thus, when one or both of the actuators 38P, 38D directly receive an input force or energy and/or are actuated by the movement of the user's toe or foot effecting the input force or energy applied horizontally therealong, the guides 38G convert the horizontal input force into a vertical driving force which may cause such an air pump 31 to deform or move by being folded vertically along the pleats 36P and to dispense air out of the air pump 31 into an interior of the shoes or into the atmosphere through an outlet 34. The actuators 38P, 38D may also be arranged to directly receive the input force or energy and/or actuated by various user movements based on various embodiments such that, e.g., the user may pull or stretch one or both of the rigid or elastic actuators 38P, 38D. In the alternative, the actuators 38P, 38D may also be arranged to receive the input force or energy and/or to be actuated by the user movements as the user pushes, presses, and/or squeezes one of both of such actuators 38P, 38D. Further configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 7A to 7F, FIGS. 10A to 10F, and/or FIG. 11A.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to receive and convert an axial input force into another transaxial driving force to fold at least a portion of a bellow-type air pump along one or more pleats. For example, FIG. 11C shows a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupling with a bellow-type air pump and converting an axial input force to a transaxial driving force according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 is typically similar to that of FIG. 7G, except that proximal and distal airways 32P, 32D fluidly couple with lower portions of an air pump 31. An exemplary actuator unit includes a proximal actuator 38P, a middle portion, and a distal actuator 38D, where the proximal actuator 38P extends along the proximal airway 32P, where the middle portion of the actuator unit is disposed over and/or along preset portions of the air pump 31, and where the distal actuator 38D extends along the distal airway 32D. The system 30 also includes at least one guide 38G in at least one strategic location around the air pump 31 and movably supports or guides the actuator unit. In this exemplary embodiment, a pair of guides 38G are provided near or on opposing ends of a body of the air pump 31. It is appreciated that a middle portion of the actuator unit disposed over the air pump 31 may also be biased toward an interior of the air pump 31 in order to bias the body of the air pump 31 toward its unstressed state. The actuator unit may also be arranged to be deformed or otherwise moved by, e.g., being pulled, pushed or stretched through an input force or energy generally acting therealong, while being directed by the guides 38G to cover the portions of the air pump 31. Therefore, when the actuator unit and guides 38G directly receive the input force or energy and/or may be actuated by various user movements, they may convert the horizontally acting input force and/or horizontal movement into a transaxial driving force acting in a direction transverse to the input force or energy and/or a direction of user movements and which is also typically normal to the top portion of the air pump 31. In a related exemplary embodiment, a hybrid actuator unit may also be provided to transmit and/or convert the input force or energy and/or movements of the toe or foot of the user. For example, FIG. 11D shows a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that shown in FIG. 11C and including additional actuators according to the present invention. An exemplary ventilation system 30 is generally similar to that of FIG. 11C, except that its actuator unit may be arranged to include the actuator unit of FIG. 11C as well as another proximal actuator 38P and another distal actuator 38D similar to those of FIG. 11A and directly coupled to opposing ends of such an air pump 31. Accordingly, the actuator unit not only converts the horizontal input force or energy and/or movement into a vertical driving force but also transmits the input force directly to the air pump 31. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator units of the embodiments of FIGS. 11C and 11D may also be similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 7A to 7F, FIGS. 10A to 10F, and/or FIGS. 11A and 11B.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to transmit an input force along a parallel but off-axis direction of the input force or energy such that at least a portion of an air pump may be arranged to fold by a resulting torque. For example, FIG. 11E is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupling with a bellow-type air pump and transmitting an axial input force in a parallel but off-axis direction according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 is generally similar or identical to that of FIG. 7G, while an actuator unit is generally similar or identical to those of FIGS. 10C and 10F in that a proximal actuator 38P as well as a distal actuator 38D are coupled to two ends of a body of an air pump 31 along off-center directions. Accordingly, an input force or energy applied to one or both of such actuators 38P, 38D and/or a horizontal movement of such actuators 38P, 38D effected by the input force or energy generally results in a torque which may pull, stretch, push or squeeze the body of the air pump 31 while folding it about its center. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of such an actuator unit of this embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 7A to 7F, FIGS. 10A to 10F, and/or FIGS. 11A to 11D.

In another exemplary embodiment, an actuator unit may be arranged to convert an input force or energy or movement of a toe and/or foot of an user to another driving force which may drive an air pump in its direction but not in a direction of the input force. For example, FIG. 11F is a cross-sectional view of another exemplary actuator unit operatively coupled to a bellow-type air pump and converting an off-axis input force to a transaxial driving force transverse or normal to the input force according to the present invention. A ventilation system 30 is similar or identical to that of FIGS. 7G and 11E, and an actuator unit is similar or identical to that of FIG. 10F in that such a unit has a proximal actuator 38P which extends along a proximal airway 32P, a middle portion disposed on or over a preset portion of a body of an air pump 31 along its curvilinear contour, and a distal actuator 38D which extends along a distal airway 32D. The actuator unit is arranged to be deformed or otherwise moved by being pulled, pushed or stretched by an input force or energy, and then converts the input force to a driving force which acts in a direction normal to the portions of the air pump 31 which may be in contact therewith. When desirable, various guides (not shown in the figure) may be incorporated in various locations so as to guide movement and/or deformation of the actuator unit. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this embodiment are also similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 7A to 7F, FIGS. 10A to 10F, and/or FIGS. 11A to 11E.

In another aspect pertaining to such an actuator unit of the present invention, an actuator unit may be operatively coupled to various syringe-type air pumps and cause translation or reciprocation of pistons of such air pumps, thereby changing their internal volumes in response to user movements effected by an input force or energy applied thereto either directly or indirectly. A main feature of this aspect of the present invention is that the actuator units may transmit the input force or energy and/or convert such input force or energy to a driving force to translate, reciprocate or otherwise move the pistons and/or cylinders of such syringe-type air pumps. Such actuator units may also be provided in various embodiments similar to those described in FIGS. 10A to 10F and FIGS. 11A to 11F, where the deformation- and/or bellow-type air pumps may be replaced by the exemplary syringe-type air pumps of FIGS. 8A to 8L and where various actuators and/or guides shown in FIGS. 10A to 10F and FIGS. 7A to 7F are incorporated thereto in order to actuate the pistons with respect to the cylinders and/or vice versa in response to the input force or energy applied thereto horizontally, vertically, and/or at preset angles. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of this aspect of the invention may be similar or identical to those described in FIGS. 7A to 7F, FIGS. 10A to 10F, and/or FIGS. 11A to 11F.

In another aspect of the present invention, various actuator units may be embodied in a variety of configurations in order to exploit a greater portion of the input force or energy supplied by an user and to modify an amplitude, a direction, a spatial distribution, a temporal pattern, and other static and/or dynamic characteristics of the input force or energy applied thereto by the user. Following FIGS. 12A through 12N disclose several exemplary embodiments of such actuator units.

In one exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, an actuator unit defines a pair of actuators which may be arranged to be fixedly coupled to each other, to extend along different directions, to receive the input force or energy by at least one thereof, and to translate in response to the input force or energy. FIG. 12A is a schematic view of an exemplary actuator unit including a pair of actuators fixedly coupled to each other according to the present invention. An exemplary actuator unit 38 consists of a first actuator 38F and a second actuator 38S which are fixedly coupled to each other. The actuator unit 38 receives the input force or energy through either or both of the actuators 38F, 38S and translates along a direction which is at least substantially parallel to any plane or side of either actuator 38F, 38S, while maintaining an angle between such actuators 38F, 38S. The actuator unit 38 may be arranged to have various shapes and/or sizes. In a related embodiment, FIG. 12B is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but including actuators having different sizes according to the present invention. For example, a second actuator 38S of this actuator unit 38 may be arranged to be smaller, shorter or narrower than a first actuator 38F. Such an embodiment may be preferred when the second actuator 38S has to be disposed in an area of the shoe which is narrower or shorter than another area in which the first actuator 38F is to be disposed. In another related embodiment, FIG. 12C is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but having one actuator defining an indentation according to the present invention. A first actuator 38F of this actuator unit 38 may be arranged to form a hole or indentation in its center portion, while a second actuator 38S is identical to that of FIG. 12A. Such actuator units with a pair of actuators may also be constructed in other configurations. FIG. 12D show cross-sectional views of other exemplary actuator units with actuators coupling with each other in different angles according to the present invention. For example, the actuators may be coupled along a curved contour, may be coupled in acute angles, and the like. It s appreciated that such actuators may be constructed in other configurations, as long as one or both of such actuators may be disposed in a preset area(s) of the shoes and may receive the input force or energy through at least one thereof. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator units of FIGS. 12B to 12D may be similar or identical to those of FIG. 12A.

In another exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention, an actuator unit may include more than two actuators which may be arranged to fixedly couple with each other, to extend along different directions, to receive the input force or energy by at least one thereof, and to translate in response to the input force or energy. FIG. 12E is a schematic view of an exemplary actuator unit having three actuators each of which may be fixedly coupled to each other according to the present invention. An exemplary actuator unit 38 consists of a first actuator 38F, a second actuator 38S, and a third actuator 38T, where the first actuator 38F is disposed in the middle and where the second and third actuators 38S, 38T may fixedly couple with the first actuator 38F. The actuator unit 38 receives the input force or energy through any of the actuators 38F, 38S, 38T and translates along one or more directions which may be at least substantially parallel to any plane or side of any actuators 38F, 38S, while maintaining angles therebetween. Such an actuator unit 38 may be arranged to define various shapes and/or sizes. Accordingly, in a related embodiment, FIG. 12F is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12E but having actuators with different sizes according to the present invention, where a second actuator 38S and a third actuator 38T of this actuator unit 38 may be arranged to be smaller, shorter or narrower than a first actuator 38F. Such an embodiment may be preferred when the second and/or third actuators 38S, 38T have to be disposed in an area of the shoe which is narrower or shorter than another area in which the first actuator 38F is disposed. In another related embodiment, FIG. 12G is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but having two actuators extending in opposite directions according to the present invention. An exemplary actuator unit 38 consists of a first actuator 38F, a second actuator 38S, and a third actuator 38T and is generally similar to that shown in FIG. 12E, except that the second and third actuators 38S, 38T extend along different directions, e.g., one upwardly and the other downwardly or one to the right while the other to the left. Such actuator units including three or more actuators may also be constructed in other configurations. FIG. 12H show cross-sectional views of other exemplary actuator units including actuators coupling with each other in different angles according to the present invention. For example, the actuators may be coupled along a curved contour, may be coupled in the same or different acute or obtuse angles, may extend in the same or different directions, and the like. It s appreciated that such actuators may be constructed in other configurations, as far as at least one of such actuators may be disposed in a preset area(s) of the shoes and may receive the input force or energy through at least one thereof. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator units of FIGS. 12F to 12H may be similar or identical to those of FIG. 12E.

In another exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, an actuator unit may have a single actuator which may be arranged to extend along a preset direction, to receive the input force or energy by at least a portion thereof, and then to rotate about a preset center or axis of rotation in response to the input force or energy. For example, FIG. 12I shows a schematic view of an exemplary actuator unit with a planar actuator rotating about a center of rotation according to the present invention. An actuator unit 38 includes a single first actuator 38F which is substantially flat or planar. The first actuator 38F may also be arranged to rotate or pivot in response to the input force or energy about a center of rotation such as, e.g., a point A, A′, B or B′ or about an axis of rotation such as, e.g., a line AA′, AB, AB′, A′B, A′B′ or BB′. In another example, FIG. 12J shows a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit including a curvilinear actuator rotating about a center of rotation according to the present invention. An actuator unit 38 includes a single first actuator 38F at least a portion of which is curved. Such a first actuator 38F is arranged to similarly rotate or pivot about the above centers and/or axes of rotation. It is appreciated in these examples that such points of rotation may generally correspond to vertices of the actuator 38F, any points along its edges, any points in an interior thereof and that such axes of rotation may correspond to any lines connecting two or more of the above vertices and/or points. Using a support or coupler, such an actuator may also be arranged to rotate or pivot with respect to centers or axes of rotation which are defined not on the actuator 38F but away therefrom.

In another exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, an actuator unit may include a pair of actuators which may be arranged to fixedly or movably couple with each other, to extend in preset directions, to receive the input force or energy by at least a portion thereof, and to rotate about one or more preset centers and/or axes of rotation in response thereto. Depending upon coupling modes between the actuators thereof, the actuator units may rotate in unison or at least one of the actuators may rotate with respect to the other actuators. For example, FIG. 12K is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that shown in FIG. 12A but rotating about centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention. An actuator unit 38 has a first actuator 38F and a second actuator 38S each of which may be substantially flat, planar or curved. Such a first actuator 38F may be movably coupled to the second actuator 38S and rotate or pivot in response to such input force or energy about a center of rotation such as, e.g., a point A or A′ or an axis of rotation such as, e.g., a line AA′. Alternatively, such first and second actuators 38F, 38S may fixedly couple with each other and to rotate in unison in response to the input force or energy about a center of rotation such as their vertices or about an axis of rotation such as their sides. In another example, FIG. 12L shows a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12A but rotating about other centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention. Such an actuator unit 38 is identical to that of FIG. 12K and arranged to rotate about a center of rotation such as various points defined along edges thereof or in their interior, about an axis of rotation such as a line connecting any two or more of the vertices or points. It is appreciated in these examples that such points of rotation may similarly correspond to vertices of the actuators 38F, 38S, any points along its edges, any points in an interior thereof and that such axes of rotation may correspond to any lines connecting two or more of such vertices and/or points. Using a support or coupler, such actuators 38F, 38S may also be arranged to rotate or pivot with respect to centers and/or axes of rotation which may be defined not thereon but away therefrom.

In another exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, an actuator unit may include three or more actuators which may be arranged to be fixedly or movably coupled to each other, to extend in preset directions, to receive the input force or energy by at least a portion thereof, and to rotate about one or more centers and/or axes of rotation in response thereto. Depending upon coupling modes between the actuators thereof, the actuator units may rotate in unison or at least one of the actuators may rotate with respect to the other actuators. For example, FIG. 12M is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that shown in FIG. 12E but rotating about centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention. An actuator unit 38 includes a first actuator 38F, a second actuator 38S, and a third actuator 38T each of which may also be substantially flat, planar or curved. Such actuators 38F, 38S, 38T may be fixedly coupled to each other and arranged to rotate or pivot in response to such input force or energy about a center or an axis of rotation, where such a center of rotation may correspond to any points defined along the edges or inside any actuators 38F, 38S, 38T and wherein such an axis of rotation may correspond to any curvilinear line connecting two or more of such points. Alternatively, at least one of the second and third actuators 38S, 38T may be arranged to movably couple with the first actuator 38T and to rotate or pivot in response to such input force or energy about the above center or axis of rotation. As described above, the above center or axis of rotation may also be defined away from all three actuators 38F, 38S, 38T through a support or coupler which may mechanically couple at least a portion of the actuator unit 38 with such a center or axis of rotation. In another example, FIG. 12N shows a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12G but rotating about centers or axes of rotation according to the present invention. An actuator unit 38 similarly has three actuators 38F, 38S, 38T, where a second actuator 38S is arranged to extend in an opposite direction to a third actuator 38T. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of the actuator unit of FIG. 12N are similar or identical to those of FIG. 12M.

It is appreciated that various actuator units are exemplified in FIGS. 12A through 12N only for illustration purposes and, therefore, such examples are not limiting the scope of the present invention. Such actuator units may further be embodied to include different number of actuators each of which may be identical to or different from each other, at least one of which may fixedly or movably couple with the rest of the actuators, with at least a portion of at least one air pump, with other parts of the ventilation system, and the like. As will be described below, such actuators may be disposed over or beside the same portion of a single air pump, over or beside different portions of the single air pump, over or beside different portions of the single air pump, over or beside different air pumps, and so on.

It is also appreciated that such actuator units exemplified in FIGS. 12A to 12N may be deemed to correspond to those exemplified in FIGS. 10A to 11F as well as those which may be modifications thereof. Accordingly, the cross-sectional views of such figures may be deemed as top views, side views, bottom views or angles views. By the same token, various actuator units and their actuators described as lines may also be embodied as planar or curvilinear, two- or three-dimensional articles.

The foregoing actuator units with different configurations and/or number of actuators may be incorporated into different areas of the shoes in order to provide ventilation by the air pumps disposed in different areas of the shoes as well. It is appreciated that applications of various actuator units are generally determined by the shapes and/or sizes of their actuators, number of the actuators, coupling modes between such actuators, and so on.

First of all, the actuator unit having a single actuator may be disposed in almost any area of the shoes, because such an actuator may be sized to fit into any area inside and/or around the shoes. In addition, such an actuator may be shaped to conform to contours of almost any areas of the shoes. Therefore, the actuator unit with a single actuator are versatile and may be disposed in any areas of the shoes in order to be actuated by the input force or energy applied thereto by the user. However, such an actuator unit may not make the best use of the input force or energy, for its actuator may be able to exploit only a portion of such input force or energy. For example, whether such an actuator may rotate as exemplified in FIGS. 12I and 12J or may translate, it may only absorb such a portion of the input force or energy applied thereonto. Accordingly, when the input force or energy is applied to multiple areas, such an actuator disposed in one area may not fully absorb the input force or energy. In order to overcome this limitation, such an actuator may be shaped and/or sized to encompass more than one area of the shoes or, alternatively, multiple actuator units each with a single actuator may be disposed in different areas.

Secondly, the actuator unit having a pair of actuators may be preferably disposed in a curved area or, in the alternative, across multiple areas of the shoes so that one actuator may be disposed in one portion of the curved area and another actuator may be disposed in another portion thereof or, in the alternative, that one actuator may be disposed in one area and another actuator may be disposed in another area. Therefore, the translating actuator units of FIGS. 12A to 12D and/or rotating actuator units of FIGS. 12K and 12L may be incorporated to various areas of the shoes which may be defined and/or bordered by two portions (or areas) and form angles therebetween, where examples of such areas may include, but not be limited to, a border between a shoe rear and a shoe heel, shoe back or shoe side, a border between a shoe front and a shoe toe, shoe heel or shoe side, a border between the shoe side and shoe heel or shoe upper, a border between the shoe upper and shoe toe, and any other single or multiple areas and/or single or multiple borders into which those actuator units may fit into.

In addition, the actuator unit including more than two actuators may be preferably disposed in a curved area or, alternatively, across two or more areas of the shoes such that each actuator may be disposed in different portions of a single curved area, that each actuator may be disposed in different portions to two neighboring or spaced-apart areas, or that each actuator may be disposed in different neighboring or spaced-apart areas. Accordingly, the translating actuator units shown in FIGS. 12E to 12H and/or rotating actuator units of FIGS. 12M and 12N may be incorporated into various areas of the shoes which may be defined and/or bordered by two or more portions (or areas) and may also form angles therebetween, where examples of such areas may include, but not be limited to, a region from a shoe toe through a shoe heel to a shoe back, a region from a shoe side through the shoe heel to an opposite shoe side where such a shoe side may be in the shoe front, middle or rear, a region from the shoe heel through a shoe toe to the shoe upper, a region of shoe neck from the shoe side through the shoe back or shoe upper to another shoe side, a region from the shoe upper through the shoe side to the shoe heel, a region from the shoe toe through the shoe side to the shoe neck, and/or other regions or areas into which such actuator units may fit into.

It is also appreciated that various actuator units of FIGS. 12A to 12N may be utilized for various purposes. For example, such actuator units may be able to change the direction of the input force or energy depending upon the angles formed between multiple actuators thereof, movement directions of such actuator units, and so on. Such actuator units may also be able to change the spatial distribution of the input force or energy depending upon the areas of their actuators, ratios of such areas, angles formed between their actuators, ratios of the areas of the actuators to characteristic areas of the air pumps such as the areas of the deformable portions of the deformable-type or bellow-type air pumps, or the areas of their pistons of the syringe-type air pumps, and the like. Such actuator units may also change an amplitude of the input force or energy while changing the directions or spatial distribution thereof.

The actuator units of FIGS. 12A to 12H are generally characterized that they may translate or move laterally with or without forming nonzero angles relative to any plane or side of their actuators. When desirable, the ventilation system may include various supports and/or guides in order to support and/or guide the movements of such actuators along preset curvilinear tracks. It is to be understood that the actuator units of FIGS. 12A to 12H may also be arranged to include a single actuator extending along one preset direction. Such an actuator may be viewed as an at least substantially flat plate or layer which may be disposed over the air pump and transmit the input force or energy therethrough as exemplified in FIGS. 6C and 7C. Such an actuator may be arranged to have a curvilinear contour in order to facilitate positioning of such an actuator over or beside the air pump, into a preset area of the shoes, and the like. In contrary, the actuator units of FIGS. 12I to 12N are generally characterized that they may rotate or pivot about various centers and/or axes of rotation. When desirable, the ventilation system may include various supports and/or guides in order to support and/or guide the movements of such actuators along preset curvilinear tracks.

The shapes, sizes, and/or orientations of the foregoing actuator units may be modified in order to meet specific requirements, to exploit a greater portion of the input force or energy applied thereto, to conform to the shapes, sizes, and/or orientations of various areas of the shoes onto, into or around which the actuator units may be disposed, to conform to the shapes, sizes, and/or orientations of the air pumps to which such actuator units may be operatively coupled, and the like. In one example, the actuator unit may be defined to form an opening or indentation therein, as exemplified in FIG. 12C, and to be disposed over or below the air pump which is shaped as an annular article or a ring, disposed in the shoe front or shoe rear, and to provide stability to the user as described hereinabove.

It is appreciated that various actuator units of the present invention are arranged to transmit at least a portion of the input force or energy applied by the user to at least one air pump, with or without changing or modifying an amplitude, a spatial distribution, a temporal distribution, and/or other static or dynamic characteristics thereof. To this end, such actuator units are arranged to be actuated through various embodiments of the next aspect of the present invention.

In one exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, any of the foregoing actuator units may be disposed directly on, over, below, underneath, in front of, behind or beside one or multiple air pumps and may transmit at least a portion of the input force or energy applied thereto by the user to such an air pump. In the alternative, multiple identical actuator units or any combination of the foregoing actuator units may be similarly disposed on, over, below, underneath, in front of, behind, and/or beside different portions of a single air pump so as to transmit such a portion of the input force or energy.

In these dispositions, the shapes and/or sizes of such actuator units and/or actuators may be determined by the shapes and/or sizes of such air pumps, space available for such actuator units or their actuators, movement patterns of the actuator units or their actuators, direction of the input force or energy, and so on. For example, the actuator unit may be provided as a flat or curved small article including one or more actuators which may be fixedly or movably coupled to each other in order to be disposed into a small region or area such as the shoe front and shoe center or, in the alternative, may be made as a flat or curved fairly big article including one or more actuators which may be movably or fixedly coupled to each other in order to encompass a wider region or multiple areas such as the shoe toe and entire areas of the shoe front. In another example, the actuator unit may also be made as the above small article having one or more actuators fixedly or movably coupling with each other so as to be disposed over, below or beside the small air pump or to be disposed over, below or beside only a portion of the fairly large air pump. Similarly, the actuator unit may be provided as the above big article including one or more actuators fixedly or movably coupling with each other in order to encompass or enclose an entire portion of a smaller air pump, be disposed over, below or beside only a portion of a fairly large air pump, and so on. When desirable, the actuator unit or at least one of its actuators may be disposed between two or more air pumps or inside the air pump in order to transmit such a portion of the input force or energy. Other configurations are also possible as long as at least one actuator of the actuator unit may be arranged to transmit at least a preset portion of the input force or energy to at least one air pump. Therefore such an actuator unit and/or at least one actuator thereof may be shaped as an one-dimensional curvilinear string or cable, a two-dimensional curvilinear plane or layer, a three-dimensional curvilinear article which may be shaped and/or sized to fit into various contours of various areas of the shoes. In addition, the actuator unit and/or at least one of its actuators may be made of and/or include at least one rigid, elastic, flexible, and/or deformable material such that at least a portion such an actuator unit and/or at least one of its actuators may be rigid, elastic, flexible, and/or deformable, respectively. It is appreciated that those actuators of FIGS. 10D to 10F11C, 11D, and 11F generally belong to this embodiment, where the actuators may correspond to the proximal and/or distal actuators of such figures.

In another exemplary embodiment of such an aspect of the present invention, any of the above actuator units may be operatively coupled to at least one air pump not directly but through at least one coupling actuator which is arranged to transmit at least a portion of the input force or energy applied to the actuator unit to at least one air pump therethrough. One exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 12O which shows a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12K but coupling with an air pump through another actuator according to the present invention. An exemplary actuator unit 38 is similarly to those of FIGS. 12A to 12D, 12K, and 12L and further includes a coupling actuator 38C which may be fixedly or movably coupled to a top edge of a second actuator 38S of the unit 38. Accordingly, the actuator unit 38 may translate, rotate or otherwise move in response to the input force or energy and the second actuator 38S may transmit at least a portion of the input force or energy to the air pump (not shown in the figure) through the coupling actuator 38C. It is appreciated that the actuator unit 38 may translate while also translating the coupling actuator 38C in response to the input force or energy, that the actuator unit 38 may rotate about a preset center or axis of rotation while translating, rotating or otherwise moving the coupling actuator 38C which may then actuate at least one air pump coupled thereto. Another exemplary embodiment is shown in FIG. 12P which is a schematic view of another exemplary actuator unit similar to that of FIG. 12I but coupling with an air pump through another actuator according to the present invention. An exemplary actuator unit 38 may be similar to those of FIGS. 12I and 12J and includes a coupling actuator 38C which may be fixedly or movably coupled to one side of a first actuator 38F thereof. A ventilation system also includes at least one support or guide 38G which may be arranged to abut and guide at least a portion of the coupling actuator 38C at a right angle. Therefore, the actuator unit 38 may translate, rotate or otherwise move in response to the input force or energy, while the first actuator 38F may transmit at least a portion of the input force or energy to the air pump (not shown in the figure) through the coupling actuator 38C. It is to be understood that the actuator unit 38 may translate or rotate about a preset center or axis of rotation while at least substantially translating such a coupling actuator 38C which may then actuate at least one air pump coupled thereto. The support or guide may be disposed in any desirable location and/or orientation in order to change the direction of the input force or energy.

In these dispositions, the shapes and/or sizes of the actuator units and/or actuators including the coupling actuators may be determined by the distance between the actuator units and air pumps, shapes and/or sizes of the air pumps, space available for such actuator units or actuators, movement patterns of the actuator units or actuators, direction of the input force or energy, deformation and/or movement patterns of the air pumps, and so on. For example, the coupling actuator may be provided as an one-dimensional curvilinear string or belt or as a flat or curved small planar article which may be fixedly or movably coupled to at least a portion of another actuator of such an actuator unit and also coupled to at least a portion of at least one air pump. The coupling actuator may be disposed inside or outside various areas of the shoes, where an exact location of such a coupling actuator may not be material as long as the coupling actuator may transmit the portion of the input force or energy without obstructing the intended functions of the air pumps, airways, and shoes. The coupling actuator may be mechanically coupled to various portions of the air pumps, depending upon which direction such a deformable or movable portion of such an air pump may deform or move and which direction the input force or energy is applied thereto. Other configurational and/or operational characteristics of those actuator units and actuators including the coupling actuators may be similar or identical to those of the actuator units described in the first exemplary embodiment of this aspect of the present invention. It is also appreciated that those actuators of FIGS. 10A to 10C11A, 11B, and 11E generally belong to this embodiment, where the coupling actuators generally correspond to the proximal or distal actuators of such figures.

The foregoing actuator units may be arranged to receive the input force or energy by various movements of the foot of the user during his or her walking or running. Following examples describe several embodiments through which various actuator units may receive and transmit the input force or energy to at least one air pump.

In one exemplary embodiment, the actuator units may be shaped, sized, and oriented in order to receive such force or energy as the user's foot steps on the ground with the foot front and/or foot rear. It is to be understood that the foot may land on the ground at various angles with respect to the longitudinal axis along, e.g., the x-, y-, and z-axes of the Cartesian coordinate system. In order to fully exploit such force or energy, various actuators may be disposed to receive such force or energy and translate, rotate or otherwise move in response thereto. Thus, one actuator unit may be disposed on or over multiple areas such as, e.g., a region of a shoe toe, shoe side, and shoe front, another region of a shoe back, shoe side, and shoe rear, another region of a shoe front, shoe side, shoe outer, and shoe outer, and the like. Alternatively, various actuator units or multiple actuators of a single actuator unit may be disposed over such regions of multiple areas so as to receive and exploit the input force or energy applied in various axes of such a coordinate system. It is appreciated that these actuator units may be used to exploit such force or energy applied thereto by the user's foot while the user is not engaged in walking or running. That is, the user may apply such force or energy to the actuator unit by moving his or her toe or foot heel while the shoes may be in rest on the ground or in air.

In another exemplary embodiment, the actuator units may be shaped, sized, and oriented so as to receive such force or energy as at least a portion of the shoes may be bent or twisted during his or her walking or running. To this end, the actuator unit or at least one actuator thereof may preferably be disposed along with the inner, middle, and/or outer surfaces of the shoes and bent and/or twisted along with such surfaces. For example, such an actuator unit may be fixedly disposed over the inner or outer sole of the shoes and/or embedded between such soles and bent or twisted along with such soles in order to exploit such force or energy. Once bent or twisted, such an actuator may transmit at least a portion of such input force or energy to at least one air pump, thereby providing the ventilation through the shoes. In another example, the actuator unit may be fixedly disposed over or embedded between various surfaces of the shoe upper and shoe front and then bent or twisted along with such surfaces in order to exploit such force or energy bending or squeezing such surfaces. Once bent or twisted, such an actuator unit again transmits at least a portion of the input force or energy to at least one air pump, thereby providing the ventilation through the shoes.

As described above, the foregoing actuator units may be able to change the amplitudes of the input force or energy, directions thereof, and/or spatial distributions thereof. In another aspect of the present invention, such actuator units may also be arranged to change the temporal pattern or profile of the input force or energy by various embodiments. For example, an actuator unit may have at least one viscous unit (or damper) which may be coupled to the actuator in a parallel and/or series pattern. By dissipating at least a portion of such energy, the viscous unit may be arranged to change or vary the temporal profile of the input force or energy typically by dampening a step or an impulse response. When desirable, such a viscous unit may be connected with one or more elastic units such as springs in order to obtain desirable dynamic characteristics. For example, the viscous unit may couple with a single spring in series, the viscous unit may couple with a single spring in parallel, the viscous unit and a spring are coupled in parallel and the assembly is coupled to another spring or viscous unit in series, and the like. Detailed dynamic characteristics of such assemblies are well known in the prior art and may be easily found in various college textbooks on mechanics, differential equations, and so on.

As described hereinabove, the temporal pattern of the input force or energy may be changed by incorporating at least one compliant chamber along the airway or other air paths of the system so that such a chamber may take in and dispense air while creating a time lag between the timing of the input force or energy and the timing of actuation of the air pump. Such a compliant chamber may be arranged to take in and/or dispense air purely by pressure gradient between its internal pressure and an upstream pressure, by another pressure gradient between its internal pressure and a downstream pressure. Alternatively, the above actuator unit may be operatively coupled to the compliant chamber and manipulate such a chamber to take in air thereinto and/or dispense air therefrom.

It is appreciated that there may not have to be one-to-one correlation between the actuator unit and air pump. For example, one actuator unit or one actuator unit thereof may be operatively coupled to one air pump or multiple air pumps disposed in the same or different areas of the shoes. In another example, a single actuator unit with a single or multiple actuators may also be arranged to operatively couple with all air pumps of the shoes. These exemplary embodiments may be useful in transmitting the input force or energy applied to a specific area of the shoes to multiple air pumps disposed in the same area or different areas of the shoes. Conversely, multiple actuators of a single actuator unit or multiple actuators of different actuator units may be operatively coupled to a single air pump in order to transmit the input force or energy applied to different areas of the shoes to the air pump disposed in one of such areas or another area of the shoes.

It then follows that such an actuator unit or at least one actuator thereof may have the shape and/or size which may be identical to or different from those of the air pump to which the actuator unit or its actuator may be operatively coupled. Therefore, the actuator unit or its actuator may be smaller, similar to or larger than a single or multiple air pumps.

Configurational and/or operational variations and/or modifications of the above embodiments of such exemplary actuator units described in FIGS. 10A through 11F and those described in conjunction therewith also fall within the scope of this invention.

As described above, the ventilating system may include one or more conventional recoil units to absorb and store at least a portion of the input force or energy which may be applied to the above air pump to deform or move at least a portion thereof during an intake cycle of the air pump and then to utilize such portion of the input force or energy to restore or move the same or different portion of the air pump during an exhaust cycle of the air pump. For example, such a recoil unit may be incorporated into the air pump and store at least a portion of the input force or energy applied to move or deform the movable or deformable portion of the air pump from its unstressed to stressed state while taking in the ambient air from atmosphere or moist air from an interior of the shoes, and may move the movable or deformable portion of the air pump back to its unstressed state while dispensing such air from the air pump. Depending upon the configuration, the recoil unit may also be used to move such a movable or deformable portion of the air pump from its unstressed state to the stressed state while taking in such air into the air pump, and to move such a portion back to its unstressed state while dispensing the air out of the air pump. Similarly, the recoil unit may further be incorporated into the actuator unit to store at least a portion of the input force or energy applied thereto and to use such a portion of the force or energy to restore or move such an actuator unit from one to the other of the unstressed and stressed states. As described above, the air pump and/or actuator unit may be made of elastic materials and/or have elastic configurations to elicit recoil properties. However, such an air pump and/or actuator may also incorporate the recoil unit to augment the recoil movements thereof or to provide the recoil force when the air pump and/or actuator unit may deform or move from its unstressed to stressed state. As described above, the air pump may be arranged to be in its unstressed state as the air pump starts to take in air whether it may be the fresh air or damp and moist air from the interior of the shoes, and to be in their stressed state when the air pump finishes to dispense such air. In the alternative, the air pump may be arranged to be in its stressed state when the air pump starts to take in such air and then to be in their unstressed state when the air pump finishes to dispense such air. In another alternative, the air pump may be in its unstressed state when it may be disposed in the middle of the above intake and exhaust states and in its stressed states in both of such intake and exhaust states. Similarly, the actuator unit may be arranged to be in its unstressed state as at least one of its actuators may start to receive the input force or energy and then to be in their stressed state when such an actuator may be deformed or moved in response to such force or energy. Alternatively, the actuator unit may be in its stressed state as at least one of its actuators may start to receive the input force or energy and then to be in their unstressed state when the actuator may be deformed or moved in response to the input force or energy. In another alternative, the actuator unit may be in its unstressed state when it may be disposed in the middle of the above intake and exhaust states and in its stressed states in both of such intake and exhaust states. Depending on such allocation of the unstressed and stressed states, various recoil units may be employed to deform or move the air pump and/or actuator unit between the above intake and exhaust states.

It is also appreciated that the air pump and/or actuator unit may be arranged to move or deform without pertaining to the unstressed or stressed states, i.e., the air pump and/or actuator unit may be arranged to not have any elastic properties. In such a case, the air pump may be arranged to define a maximum internal volume at the end of its intake cycle and then to define a minimum internal volume at the end of the exhaust cycle. Similarly, the actuator unit or its actuator may be disposed in different states during such cycles in order to transmit the input force or energy to the air pump, where detailed configuration of such an actuator unit or actuator may be determined by various factors such as, e.g., locations and orientations of the air pumps, movement patterns of the air pumps, and the like.

As described above, the main function of the ventilating system of this invention is to achieve ventilation through the shoes, i.e., providing fresh air into the interior of the shoes by the air pump and dispensing moist air out of such by the fresh air, or dispensing moist air out of the interior of the shoes by such an air pump and allowing the fresh air to seep into the interior of the shoes through pressure difference between the shoe interior and atmosphere. Accordingly, various conventional articles may be incorporated into the ventilation system of the present invention in order to achieve various goals related to such ventilation.

In one example, conventional dehumidifiers may be installed in the air inlet, along the airway or inside the air pump in order to remove moist from the air fed into the interior of the shoes and reduce humidity thereof. Such a dehumidifier may be constructed as a disposable unit and/or as a retreatable unit so that the user may discard an old unit and load a new unit whenever the unit is saturated with moist or that the user may heat or otherwise treat such an old unit to revive its dehumidifying function. Conversely, conventional humidifiers may be used to add moist into the dry air and control the humidity inside the shoes at a proper level. Such humidifiers may be any article such as a wet sponge which is disposed in the air inlet, along the airway or inside the air pump and may be arranged to be refilled with water when dried out. Such an embodiment may be preferable for protection shoes to be used in the dessert or other areas of dry weather. These dehumidifiers or humidifiers may preferably be fabricated as a disposable cartridge which may be loaded into and discarded from the air inlet, airway or air pump.

In another example, various articles may be disposed in the air inlet, along the airway or inside the air pump and release various pharmaceutical agents into the air to be provided to the interior of the shoes, similar to conventional drug delivery systems. Examples of such agents may include, but not be limited to, antibacterial or antiviral agents in order to keep the shoe interior sanitary, deodorizers or perfumes in order to keep the shoe interior pleasant, and the like.

When desirable, the ventilation system of this invention may also be arranged to suck moist air out of the shoe interior and to recycle such air back to the shoe interior. In this embodiment, it may be necessary to remove the moist from the air to be recycled to the shoe interior through the dehumidifier described above. Such an embodiment may be useful when the ambient temperature is extremely low and providing the cold air directly into the interior of the shoes may cause frostbite, when the ambient condition is wet and providing such wet air into the shoes air may increase humidity inside the shoes, and the like. It is appreciated that the ventilation system of this invention may include a control valve operating in multiple positions, in one of which the user may exhaust the moist air into the atmosphere, while in another of which the user may remove the moist from the exhaust air and then recycle such air back into the shoe interior.

The ventilating system of the present invention may also be utilized to control a temperature of the air provided into the shoes, thereby controlling the temperature in the shoes. For example, various airways of such a system may be disposed in and/or around the shoes so as to exchange heat with the shoes and/or foot of the user before such air is provided into the interior of the shoes. Details of such ventilation system and methods of controlling the temperature inside the shoes are provided in a co-pending application which is entitled “Ventilating gloves and methods,” filed by the same Applicant on Oct. 27, 2004, and bears the serial number of U.S. Ser. No. 10/974,305, an entire portion of which is to be incorporated herein by reference.

The foregoing ventilating systems of the present invention may be fabricated in various forms with respect to various shoes into which such systems may be incorporated. In one example, such ventilating systems may be incorporated into and manufactured as integrated parts of the shoes such that such shoes and systems may form unitary articles and/or that the ventilating systems may not be replaced by other systems. In another example, such ventilating systems may be incorporated to and similarly manufactures as parts of the shoes but that such systems may be replaced by similar ones when they are worn out or otherwise malfunction. In yet another example, such ventilating systems may be manufactured as separate articles and arranged to be retrofit into preexisting shoes such that the users may be readily able to incorporate such systems into their gloves.

It is to be understood that, while various aspects and embodiments of the present invention have been described in conjunction with the detailed description thereof, the foregoing description is intended to illustrate and not to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the scope of the appended claims. Other embodiments, aspects, advantages, and modifications are within the scope of the following claims.

Ventilation systems for shoes and methods

Information

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CPC

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Abstract

Description

Claims

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS