Pneumatically inflatable air bladder devices contained entirely within shoe sole or configured as shoe inserts

Abstract

A pneumatically cushioned shoe or shoe insert device including a plastic layer forming air bladders; a cloth layer covering a top surface of the plastic layer; a rubber layer covering a toe portion of a bottom surface of the plastic layer; a C shaped indentation on the plastic layer forming an arch region air bladder; and circle or oval shaped indentations forming interconnected air bladder regions having respective air bladders and including an inner heel, outer heel, and metatarsal air bladder regions. The rubber layer including cutting lines for sizing for regular or wide foot sizes and a lower thicker line defining a do not cut below region. The cloth layer including cutting lines for sizing for the other of regular or wide foot sizes. The air bladders pre-filled with air during manufacturing or filled with air by a user.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED DOCUMENTS[0001]The present invention claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 984,184 filed Apr. 25, 2014, and is a continuation in part (CIP) of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13 / 237,566 filed Sep. 20, 2011, which claims benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61 / 386,274 filed Sep. 24, 2010, and is related to commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Application No. 12 / 884,132, and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,222,312; 6,305,102; and 6,725,573 of Harold S. DOYLE, the entire disclosures of all of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]1. Field of the Invention[0003]The present invention generally relates to shoes, and, more particularly, to pneumatic cushioning therein.[0004]2. Discussion of the Background[0005]There is a variety of prior art shoes including a variety of inflation devices disposed at different locations therein. However, many of such designs still suffer from vari...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The present invention provides an improved pneumatic cushioning system for shoes by providing a plastic layer forming air bladders, a cloth layer covering a top surface of the plastic layer, a rubber layer covering a toe portion of a bottom surface of the plastic layer, and a C-shaped indentation on the plastic layer forming an arch region air bladder. The rubber layer including cutting lines for sizing for regular or wide foot sizes and a lower thicker line defining a do not cut below region. The cloth layer including cutting lines for the other of regular or wide foot sizes. The air bladders are pre-filled with air during manufacturing or filled with air by a user. A self-sealing valve can be disposed on the air bladders regions to allow air to enter the regions while maintaining air pressure. The valve can be accessed external to the shoe for inflation and deflation via an air pump needle or an integrated pump and release valve device. The device can be integrated into a sole of a shoe or a shoe insert with the valve. The valve can be movable from a first position to pump air and from a second position to allow air to escape. The patent describes various embodiments and modifications of this invention.

Problems solved by technology

However, many of such designs still suffer from various problems relating to air bladder placement, and inflation thereof, and complex manufacturing for integrating the inflation devices within the shoes themselves.

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