| WO/2010/084455 | DEVICE FOR INTERNAL VENTILATION OF A SHOE |
| WO/2010/094448 | SOLE CONSTRUCTION FOR FOOTWEAR, WITH AIR PUMPING DEVICE |
| WO/2012/008636 | SHOES HAVING AN AIR CIRCULATION FUNCTION |
[CLAIMS]
[Claim l]
An air supply device for a shoe, comprising: a shoe heel having defined therein a receiving space which is open at an upper end thereof, and having a through- hole which is defined through a bottom wall of the shoe heel and a first inlet hole which is defined through a side wall of the shoe heel to communicate with the receiving space; a device body having defined therein a second inlet hole through which outside air flows, and having a first air chamber defined therein, the device body being fixedly received in the receiving space of the shoe heel and fitted into the through-hole of the shoe heel to partially project downwards ; an air supply unit arranged in the first air chamber of the device body to forcibly move air; and air moving means communicating with the air supply unit to supply air into the shoe.
[Claim 2]
An air supply device for a shoe, comprising: a shoe heel having defined therein a receiving space which is open at an upper end thereof, and having a first inlet hole which is defined through a side wall of the shoe heel to communicate with the receiving space; a device body having defined therein a second inlet hole through which outside air flows, and having a first air chamber defined therein, the device body being fixedly received in the receiving space of the shoe heel;
an air supply unit arranged in the first air chamber of the device body to forcibly move air; and air moving means communicating with the air supply unit to supply air into the shoe .
[Claim 3] The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the air supply unit comprises : a fixed member fixed at a predetermined position in the first air chamber defined in the device body; an operation member coupled to a lower part of the fixed member to be moved upward and downward; and an elastic member elastically supported between the fixed member and the operation member.
[Claim 4] The device according to claim 3, wherein the fixed member has an upper plate and a lower plate and a connection shaft which connects the upper plate and the lower plate with each other, a cylinder, which has a second air chamber defined therein and has an opening defined through a wall thereof, is integrally formed on a lower end of the upper plate, and an air flow path is defined in the connection shaft .
[Claim 5] The device according to claim 4 , wherein the air flow path comprises: a first air flow path defined in the connection shaft to extend in a longitudinal direction, and having one end which is open through an outer surface of the upper plate and the other end which is open to an upper surface of the lower plate; and a second air flow path defined in the connection shaft, and having one end which is open through a lower end of the lower plate and the other end which communicates with the inside of the cylinder.
[Claim β]
The device according to claim 4, wherein the air flow path comprises: a first air flow path defined in the connection shaft to extend in a longitudinal direction, and having one end which is open through an outer surface of the lower plate and the other end which is open to a lower surface of the upper plate; and a second air flow path defined in the connection shaft, and having one end which is open through an upper end of the upper plate and the other end which communicates with the inside of the cylinder.
[Claim 7] The device according to claim 3, wherein the operation member is fitted into the cylinder, has a fitting hole defined through an upper wall thereof, and has a third air chamber defined therein.
[claim 8]
The device according to claim 1, wherein the air moving means comprises : a first supply tube having one end which is installed to communicate with the first air flow path opening through the upper plate of the fixed member and the other end which communicates with an air collection compartment; and a second supply tube having one end which is installed to communicate with the opening defined through the cylinder of the fixed member and the other end which communicates with the air collection compartment.
[claim 9]
The device according to claim 2, wherein the air moving means comprises: a first supply tube having one end which is installed to communicate with the first air flow path opening through the lower plate of the fixed member and the other end which communicates with an air collection compartment; and a second supply tube having one end which is installed to communicate with the opening defined through the cylinder of the fixed member and the other end which communicates with the air collection compartment .
[claim lθ]
The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein check valves are respectively installed in the first supply tube and the second supply tube.
[claim ll]
The device according to claim 10, wherein suction tubes are respectively connected to the first supply tube and the second supply tube at predetermined positions.
[claim 12]
The device according to claim 11, wherein check valves are respectively installed in the suction tubes.
[claim 13]
The device according to claim 8 or 9, wherein the air collection compartment is formed in the first air chamber of the device body to communicate with the air moving means. [claim 14]
The device according to claim 13, wherein the air collection compartment is formed on a front wall of the first air chamber of the device body.
[claim 15]
The device according to claim 13, wherein the air collection compartment has defined therein a discharge hole for supplying air into the shoe.
[claim 16]
The device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a dust filter is installed in the second inlet hole of the device body.
[claim 17]
The device according to claim 7, wherein an auxiliary heel is attached to a lower end of the operation member. |
[DESCRIPTION]
[invention Title]
AIR SUPPLYING SYSTEM OF SHOES
[Technical Field]
The present invention relates to an air supply device for a shoe, and more particularly, to an air supply device for a shoe which allows an increased amount of air to be supplied into a shoe when a user walks while wearing the shoe and causes supplied air to flow in one direction and not to flow backward so that recirculation of fouled air is prevented.
[Background Art] In general, in footwear such as sneakers, shoes and work shoes, since an outer shell is made of synthetic resin, synthetic fiber, leather, etc., a problem is caused in that air is poorly exchanged and circulated in the footwear.
In the case in which air is poorly exchanged and circulated in the footwear, if activities are done for a long time when wearing the shoes, offensive odors are likely to be generated due to humidity caused by sweat produced from the feet , which deteriorates hygiene . In the worst cases , conditions hospitable to athlete's foot are created in the shoes, and various diseases can occur.
In the conventional art, a number of methods for
forcibly ventilating and circulating air in a shoe have been suggested in the art .
For example, devices and structures for forcibly circulating air in a shoe by adopting a shoe pad have been disclosed.
In these devices and structures, due to the characteristics of the shoe pad, as shoes are repeatedly put on and taken off over the lapse of a long period, friction occurs between the sole of a foot and the shoe pad, and the shoe pad is likely to break due to the friction, whereby it is impossible to use the shoe pad semipermanently. Also, when the shoes are worn with a device for circulating air arranged in the shoe pad, since the thickness of the shoe pad is increased due to the presence of the device, discomfort is caused when wearing the shoe, and the shoe pad can be easily broken.
Also, devices and structures, which are formed in the heel or the sole of a shoe to forcibly supply and circulate air in the shoe, have been disclosed. In these devices and structures, when a person walks, as the air supply device is compressed by the weight of the person, air is supplied into the shoe. As the foot is lifted from the ground, the air supply device, which is kept compressed by the weight of the person, is decompressed, and outside air is introduced into the air supply device. By repeating these operations, air is supplied into the shoe.
That is to say, while a person walks, air is supplied into the shoe only when the shoe comes into contact with the ground, and if the shoe is lifted from the ground, air is not supplied into the shoe. Therefore, since the amount of air supplied into the shoe is not substantial, it is difficult to properly achieve the original object of supplying air into the shoe so that the foot can be kept clean and various diseases can be prevented. Further, when the shoe is lifted from the ground, air, which is circulated through the shoe and fouled to some extent, can flow backward through an air supply line due to the suction force from the air supply device. Then, the fouled air, having flowed backwards, is supplied again into the shoe when the air supply device is compressed, so that the level of pollution inside the shoe may not be improved, and various diseases may be caused.
[Disclosure] [Technical Problem]
Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide an air supply device for a shoe which allows air to be introduced into a shoe by the weight of a person when the shoe comes into contact with the ground and also allows air to be
introduced into the shoe when the shoe is lifted from the ground, so that an increased amount of air can be supplied into the shoe, and which prevents the backflow of air into the shoe and forces the air to be supplied into the shoe to flow in only one direction, so that the air supplied into the shoe is prevented from flowing backward, thereby always supplying a sufficient amount of fresh air into the shoe.
[Technical Solution] In order to achieve the above object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air supply device for a shoe, comprising a shoe heel having defined therein a receiving space which is open at an upper end thereof, and having a through-hole which is defined through the bottom wall of the shoe heel and a first inlet hole which is defined through a side wall of the shoe heel to communicate with the receiving space; a device body defined with a second inlet hole through which outside air flows, and having a first air chamber defined therein, the device body being fixedly received in the receiving space of the shoe heel and fitted into the through-hole of the shoe heel to partially project downwards; an air supply unit arranged in the first air chamber of the device body to forcibly move air; and air moving means communicating with the air supply unit to supply air into the shoe.
Also, in order to achieve the above object, according to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an air supply device for a shoe, comprising a shoe heel having defined therein a receiving space which is open at an upper end thereof, and having a first inlet hole which is defined through the side wall of the shoe heel to communicate with the receiving space; a device body having defined therein a second inlet hole through which outside air flows, and having a first air chamber defined therein, the device body being fixedly received in the receiving space of the shoe heel; an air supply unit arranged in the first air chamber of the device body to forcibly move air; and air moving means communicating with the air supply unit to supply air into the shoe. According to another aspect of the present invention, the air supply unit comprises a fixed member fixed at a predetermined position in the first air chamber defined in the device body; an operation member coupled to a lower part of the fixed member to be moved upward and downward; and an elastic member elastically supported between the fixed member and the operation member.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the fixed member has an upper plate and a lower plate and a connection shaft which connects the upper plate and the lower plate with each other, a cylinder, which defines a second air chamber therein and is defined with an opening through a wall
thereof, is integrally formed on a lower end of the upper plate, and an air flow path is defined in the connection shaft .
According to another aspect of the present invention, the air flow path comprises a first air flow path defined in the connection shaft to extend in a longitudinal direction, one end of which is open through the outer surface of the upper plate and the other end of which is open to the upper surface of the lower plate; and a second air flow path defined in the connection shaft, one end of which is open through the lower end of the lower plate and the other end of which communicates with the inside of the cylinder.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the air flow path comprises a first air flow path defined in the connection shaft to extend in a longitudinal direction, one end of which is open through the outer surface of the lower plate and the other end of which is open to the lower surface of the upper plate; and a second air flow path defined in the connection shaft, one end of which is open through the upper end of the upper plate and the other end of which communicates with the inside of the cylinder.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the operation member is fitted into the cylinder, has a fitting hole defined through an upper wall thereof, and has a third air chamber defined therein.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the air moving means comprises a first supply tube, one end of which is installed to communicate with the first air flow path opening through the upper plate of the fixed member and the other end of which communicates with an air collection compartment; and a second supply tube, one end of which is installed to communicate with the opening defined through the cylinder of the fixed member and the other end of which communicates with the air collection compartment. According to another aspect of the present invention, the air moving means comprises a first supply tube, one end of which is installed to communicate with the first air flow path opening through the lower plate of the fixed member and the other end of which communicates with an air collection compartment; and a second supply tube, one end of which is installed to communicate with the opening defined through the cylinder of the fixed member and the other end of which communicates with the air collection compartment.
According to another aspect of the present invention, check valves are respectively installed in the first supply tube and the second supply tube.
According to another aspect of the present invention, suction tubes are respectively connected to the first supply tube and the second supply tube at predetermined positions. According to another aspect of the present invention, check valves are respectively installed in the suction tubes.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the air collection compartment is formed in the first air chamber of the device body to communicate with the air moving means . According to another aspect of the present invention, the air collection compartment is formed on a front wall of the first air chamber of the device body.
According to another aspect of the present invention, the air collection compartment has defined therein a discharge hole for supplying air into the shoe.
According to still another aspect of the present invention, a dust filter is installed in the second inlet hole of the device body.
According to a still further aspect of the present invention, an auxiliary heel is attached to a lower end of the operation member.
[Advantageous Effects]
Thanks to the features of the present invention, the air supply device for a shoe according to the present invention provides the advantages described below. When the shoe comes into contact with the ground, as the operation member is moved upward, air is supplied into the shoe through a second supply tube, and when the shoe is lifted from the ground, as the operation member is moved downward, air is supplied into the shoe through a first supply tube.
Therefore, since an increased amount of air can be supplied into the shoe, the foot can always be kept clean, and various diseases can be prevented.
Also, because check valves are installed in supply tubes to prevent the backflow of air supplied into the shoe, it is possible to prevent fouled air from flowing backward and being recirculated.
[Description of Drawings] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air supply device for a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 1; FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating the air supply device for a shoe according to the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which an operation member is moved upward and air is supplied;
FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the operation member is moved upward and air is supplied;
FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the operation member is moved downward and air is supplied;
FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating the state in which the operation member is moved downward and air is supplied; and
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating an air supply device for a shoe in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention.
[Best Mode]
Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air supply device for a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view taken along the line A-A' of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a transverse cross-sectional view illustrating the air supply device for a shoe according to the present invention.
Referring to FIGs . 1 through 3 , an air supply device for a shoe in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes a shoe heel 10. The shoe heel 10 has defined therein a receiving space 12 which is open at the upper end thereof. The shoe heel 10 has a first through-hole 13 which is defined through the bottom wall of the shoe heel 10, and a first inlet hole 14 which is defined through the side wall of the shoe heel 10 to communicate with the receiving space 12.
The air supply device further includes a device body 20. The device body 20 has defined therein a second inlet hole 22 through which outside air flows, and has a first air chamber 26 defined therein. The device body 20 has a second through-hole 24 which is defined through the bottom wall of the device body 20. The device body 20 is fixedly received in the receiving space 12 of the shoe heel 10 and is fitted into the first through-hole 13 of the shoe heel 10 to partially project downwards. Preferably, a dust filter 16 is installed in the first inlet hole 14 defined in the shoe heel 10, so that dust including foreign substances can be filtered by the dust filter 16 when outside air is introduced through the first inlet hole 14. Further, it is preferred that the dust filter 16 be detachably structured so that the dust filter 16 can be frequently detached and cleaned.
The air supply device also includes an air supply unit which is arranged at a predetermined position in the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20 to forcibly suck and move air with a pump type action.
The air supply unit has a fixed member 40 which is fixed in conjunction with the second through-hole 24 of the device body 20, an operation member 50 which is coupled to the lower part of the fixed member 40 to be moved upward and downward and is fitted into the first through-hole 13 of the
shoe heel 10 to project downwards, and an elastic member λ S' which is elastically supported between the fixed member 40 and the operation member 50.
The fixed member 40 has an upper plate 41 and a lower plate 42 which are spaced apart from each other, and is formed with a connection shaft 43 which connects the upper plate 41 and the lower plate 42 with each other. A cylinder 44 is integrally formed on the lower end of the upper plate 41. The cylinder 44 has defined a second air chamber 45 therein and has an opening 46 defined through the wall thereof. The lower end of the cylinder 44 is fitted into the second through-hole 24 of the device body 20. An air flow path 47 is defined in the connection shaft 43.
The air flow path 47 has a first air flow path 47a and a second air flow path 47b. The first air flow path 47a is defined in the connection shaft 43 to extend in a longitudinal direction, and has one end which is open through the outer surface of the upper plate 41 and the other end which is open to the upper surface of the lower plate 42. The second air flow path 47b is defined in the connection shaft 43, and has one end which is open through the lower end of the lower plate 42 and the other end which communicates with the inside of the cylinder 44.
The operation member 50 has a third air chamber 52 defined therein, and has a fitting hole 54, which communicates with the third air chamber 52, defined through
the upper wall thereof. The operation member 50 is fitted into the cylinder 44 of the fixed member 40. The lower plate 42 of the fixed member 40 is positioned in the third air chamber 52, and the connection shaft 43 is fitted into the fitting hole 54 to be moved upward and downward.
Preferably, an auxiliary heel 56 is attached to the lower end of the operation member 50 so that the operation member 50 is prevented from being worn and broken by friction with the ground when a person walks while wearing the shoe. The auxiliary heel 56 can be easily changed with a new one as the occasion demands.
The elastic member λ S' is disposed in the cylinder 44 of the fixed member 40. Preferably, the upper end of the elastic member V S' is brought into contact with the lower surface of the upper plate 41 of the fixed member 40, and the lower end of the elastic member λ S' is brought into contact with the upper end surface of the operation member 50.
Meanwhile, the air supply device also includes air moving means which communicates with the air supply unit to supply air into the shoe .
The air moving means has a first supply tube 60 one end of which is installed to communicate with the first air flow path 47a, opening through the upper plate 41 of the fixed member 40, and a second supply tube 70, one end of which is installed to communicate with the opening 46 defined through the cylinder 44 of the fixed member 40.
The other ends of the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70, which are connected to the fixed member 40 at first ends thereof, are connected to the inside of the shoe so that air can be directly supplied into the shoe through the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70.
Preferably, an air collection compartment 80, which has a discharge tube 82, is formed on the front wall of the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20. The other ends of the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70 are installed to communicate with the inside of the air collection compartment 80. Air supplied through the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70 is collected in the air collection compartment 80, and air collected in the air collection compartment 80 is supplied into the shoe through the discharge tube 82. It is preferred that check valves 62 and 72 be respectively installed in the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70 so that the air passage opens only in the direction in which air flows into the shoe .
Preferably, the check valves 62 and 72 are installed adjacent to the locations where first ends of the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70 are connected to the fixed member 40.
Suction tubes 64 and 74 are additionally formed at predetermined positions on the respective first and second supply tubes 60 and 70 to suck air present in the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20.
Preferably, check valves 66 and 76 are installed in the suction tubes 64 and 74 adjacent to the entrances thereof to be opened only in one direction such that they are opened when sucking air therethrough and are closed when sucked air is pumped and supplied through the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70 to the shoe so as to prevent air from being discharged through the suction tubes 64 and 74.
Hereafter, operations of the air supply device according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described.
First, as outside air passes through the dust filter 16, dust including foreign substances is filtered, and then, as the air flows through the first and second inlet holes 14 and 22 of the shoe heel 10 and the device body 20, the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20, the second air chamber 45 of the fixed member 40, and the third air chamber 52 of the operation member 50 are filled with air.
In this state, if the heel of the shoe comes into contact with the ground when a person walks while wearing the shoe, as shown in FIG. 4, the operation member 50 is moved upward in the cylinder 44 of the fixed member 40 by the weight of the person while the elastic member X S' is compressed.
If the operation member 50 is moved upward, the air present in the third air chamber 52 of the operation member
50 flows to the second air chamber 45 of the fixed member 40
through the second air flow path 47b due to the pressure which is generated due to the upward movement of the operation member 50. The air having flowed into the second air chamber 45 of the fixed member 40 continuously flows to the air collection compartment 80 through the second supply tube 70 which communicates with the opening 46 of the fixed member 40, as shown in FIG. 5. The air having flowed into the air collection compartment 80 is supplied into the shoe through the discharge tube 82. When air flows through the second supply tube 70, the check valve 72 of the second supply tube 70 is opened so that air can smoothly flow into the air collection compartment 80, and the check valve 76 of the suction tube 74 is closed so that air flowing toward the air collection compartment 80 is prevented from being discharged and lost through the suction tube 74.
Also, when air flows through the second supply tube 70, the check valve 62 of the first supply tube 60 is closed and the check valve 66 installed in the suction tube 64 is opened, so that the air existing in the air collection compartment 80 is prevented from flowing backward through the first supply tube 60 and so that the air existing in the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20 is sucked through the suction tube 64 and flows to the upper part of the third air chamber 52 of the operation member 50 through the first air flow path 47a of the fixed member 40, with the third air
chamber 52 of the operation member 50 divided into two parts by the lower plate 42 of the fixed member 40.
In this way, if the shoe comes into contact with the ground, air is supplied into the shoe. Conversely, if the shoe is lifted from the ground, the returning force of the elastic member X S' pushes the operation member 50 downward, and the operation member 50 is moved downward.
If the operation member 50 is moved downward, the air present in the upper part of the third air chamber 52 of the operation member 50 flows through the first air flow path 47a due to the pressure which is generated due to the downward movement of the operation member 50. The air flowing through the first air flow path 47a continuously flows to the air collection compartment 80 through the first supply tube 60. The air having flowed into the air collection compartment 80 is supplied into the shoe through the discharge tube 82.
When air flows through the first supply tube 60, the check valve 62 of the first supply tube 60 is opened, so that air can smoothly flow into the air collection compartment 80, and the check valve 66 of the suction tube 64 is closed, so that air flowing toward the air collection compartment 80 is prevented from being discharged through the suction tube 64.
Also, when air flows through the first supply tube 60, the check valve 72 of the second supply tube 70 is closed and the check valve 76 installed in the suction tube 74 is opened, so that the air existing in the air collection
compartment 80 is prevented from flowing backward through the second supply tube 70 and so that the air existing in the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20 is sucked through the suction tube 74 and flows into the second air chamber 45 of the fixed member 40 and then through the second air flow path 47b into the third air chamber 52 of the operation member 50, that is, into the lower part of the third air chamber 52 of the operation member 50, which is delimited by the lower plate 42 of the fixed member 40. As a consequence, when a person walks while wearing the shoe, if the shoe comes into contact with the ground, as the operation member 50 is moved upward, air is supplied into the shoe, and if the shoe is lifted from the ground, as the operation member 50 is moved downward, air is supplied into the shoe, whereby an increased amount of air can be continuously supplied into the shoe.
Also, if the check valves 62 and 72, which are installed in the first and second supply tubes 60 and 70, are installed to be opened and closed in opposite directions, the air existing in the shoe can be forcibly discharged to the outside .
FIG. 8 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view illustrating an air supply device for a shoe in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 8, an air supply device for a shoe in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention
includes a shoe heel 10. The shoe heel 10 has defined therein a receiving space 12 which is open at the upper end thereof. The shoe heel 10 has a first inlet hole 14 which is defined through the side wall of the shoe heel 10 to communicate with the receiving space 12.
The air supply device further includes a device body
20. The device body 20 has defined therein a second inlet hole 22 through which outside air flows. The device body 20 is fixedly received in the receiving space 12 of the shoe heel 10.
The air supply device also includes an air supply unit arranged in the first air chamber 26 of the device body 20 to forcibly move air.
The air supply device furthermore includes air moving means which communicates with the air supply unit to supply air into the shoe.
The air supply unit has a fixed member 40 which is fixed in conjunction with the through-hole 24 of the device body 20, an operation member 50 which is coupled to the upper part of the fixed member 40 to be moved upward and downward, and an elastic member λ S' which is elastically supported between the fixed member 40 and the operation member 50.
The fixed member 40 has an upper plate 41a and a lower plate 42a which are spaced apart from each other, with the lower plate 42a seated on the bottom of the receiving space
12 of the shoe heel 10. The fixed member 40 has a connection
shaft 43 which connects the upper plate 41a and the lower plate 42a with each other. A cylinder 44 is integrally- formed on the upper end of the lower plate 42a. The cylinder 44 has a second air chamber 45 defined therein and has an opening 46 defined through the wall thereof. The upper end of the cylinder 44 is fixed in conjunction with the second through-hole 24 of the device body 20. An air flow path 47 is defined in the connection shaft 43.
The air flow path 47 has a first air flow path 47a and a second air flow path 47b. The first air flow path 47a is defined in the connection shaft 43 to extend in a longitudinal direction, and has one end which is open through the outer surface of the lower plate 42a and the other end which is open to the lower surface of the upper plate 41a. The second air flow path 47b is defined in the connection shaft 43, and has one end which is open through the upper end of the upper plate 41a and the other end which communicates with the inside of the cylinder 44.
The operation member 50 has a third air chamber 52 defined therein, and has a fitting hole 54, which communicates with the third air chamber 52, defined through the lower wall thereof. The operation member 50 is fitted into the cylinder 44 of the fixed member 40. The upper plate 41a of the fixed member 40 is positioned in the third air chamber 52, and the connection shaft 43 is fitted into the fitting hole 54 so as to be movable upward and downward. The
operation member 50 projects upward beyond the upper surface of the shoe heel 10.
Preferably, a cover element 5βa having excellent elasticity is attached to the upper end of the operation member 50, so that, when a person walks while wearing the shoe, the operation member 50 is prevented from injuring the sole of the person' s foot and wearing comfort can be improved.
In the air supply device according to the second embodiment of the present invention constructed as mentioned above, since the projecting portion of the operation member 50 is formed on the upper end of the operation member 50 and is not exposed to the outside, it is possible to prevent the component elements of the device from breaking while ensuring that the device operates in the same manner as in the aforementioned embodiment.
In the present embodiment, since the fixed member 40 and the operation member 50 of the air supply unit are installed in reverse, that is, the operation member 50 coupled to the fixed member 40 of the air supply unit is installed to project upwards, when wearing the shoe, the operation member 50 is operated by the heel of a wearer to supply air into the shoe, thereby accomplishing the same effect as the first embodiment. Therefore, the detailed description of the procedure for supplying air into the shoe by operating the operation member 50 will be omitted herein.
Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art will appreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions are possible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as disclosed in the accompanying claims.
[industrial Applicability]
The present invention relates to an air supply device for a shoe, and more particularly, to an air supply device for a shoe which allows an increased amount of air to be supplied into a shoe when a user walks while wearing the shoe and causes supplied air to flow in one direction and not to flow backward, so that recirculation of fouled air is prevented.
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