AIR FLOW GUIDED SHOE FOR WORKING IN MUDDY FIELD FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates articles of footwear. In particular, the invention relates to an air flow guided shoe that allows for improved ventilation and vapor exchange enclosed foot part while walking. More particularly, the present invention relates to a shoe specifically for farmer or worker working in fields such as wet mud, in thorn scrubs, sea beaches; for walking in muddy field providing a bottom grip and air ventilation to soles of feet. It also protects the farmer from entering water, mud in shoe, snake/insect bite, foot puncture injuries from sharp objects in field.

BACKGROUND AND PRIORART OF THE INVENTION

Agricultural work has traditionally been one of the most hazardous occupations and still majority of the population depends on farming for their livelihood. Farming includes arable and vegetable farming, fish farming, raising animals, forest farming etc. The farmer in the normal course enters the field with no foot protection. Some farmer wear rubber boots on the job fields and have to face some problems like walking in wet mud, snake bites, sweaty foot, smelly foot, water/mud/sand going inside the shoe.

Snake bite has been a major killer among village farmers and it claims hundreds of lives every year y in India. Eastern UP has reported over 5000 deaths while such deaths are around 25000 to 30000 annually in the entire country. This is primarily due to absence of protection to the farmer and where he has to walk in to the muddy/slushy field with naked feet.

Other issues like stray thorns, glass pieces and other metallic objects also injure the farmer when he moves around the field unprotected. Some of the injuries instantly immobilize the farmer and keep him away from work resulting in loss of production. Safety shoes are commonly required in industry to protect the farmer or worker from inadvertent blows to the foot or crushing forces. Most farmer safety shoes protect the wearer from injury and provide rigidity to the footwear product. Rubber footwear products, for example, have incorporated a heel support or heel counter which is embedded within the footwear product as described in commonly- assigned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/495,021. A rigid safety toe cap, likewise embedded within the layers of the boot, protects the wearer's toes.

In addition, for walking in fields such as wet mud, in thorn scrubs, sea beaches complete protection till the knee level is require. Also, the bottom grip is essential that can almost stick to the ground. In addition to that, due to physical exertion and generated body heat of wearer, feet gets sweaty and smelly.

Indian Pat. App. No. 1253/KOLNP/2014 discloses a water proof and vapor Permeable Shoe. It is composed of upper layer, waterproof layer and vapor permeable layer. Vapor permeation is below the foot layer with lateral opening on perimetric edge, and the material is of fibrous, porous or microporous. Indian Patent App. No. 201637042895 describes a ventilated shoe comprising a sole and an upper assembly associated therewith in an upward region the upper assembly comprising: an external upper with which an inner lining is associated which is constituted at least partly by a first element that defines at least one interspace that separates the foot of the user from the external upper and is provided with preferential passages for the sweat that moves away from the foot of the user toward the upper external edge of the shoe a breathable insole joined perimetrically at least to the inner lining.

Indian Patent App. No. 201727004091 describes footwear provided with a midsole; an upper releasably coupled to the midsole; and a sole releasably coupled to the midsole. Footwear with a sole; an upper releasably coupled to the sole; and a toe support releasably coupled to the sole. Footwear with: a sole; a first upper portion attached to the sole; and a second upper portion releasably coupled to first upper portion such that the second upper portion can be coupled to the first upper portion while the shoe is being worn. Indian Pat App. No. 201641025279, discloses a foot comforter shoe, wherein a shoe for providing comfort to feet of a user is provided. The shoe includes: a foldable funnel to receive water; a water reservoir at the bottom of the shoe to store the water received through the foldable funnel; a number of nozzles positioned inside of the shoe to shower the feet of the user from the water; and a pump to draw the water from the reservoir to inside of the shoe through the plurality of nozzles.

Hence, there is need exist to develop a protective shoe for such field work, having grip for walking in muddy condition, air circulation to foot and light weight. The said safety farmer shoe of present invention comprising of a water proof shoe having an air suspension for sweat permeation and with the sole designed to help walking in wet mud, thereby providing an ease and all round protection while working in fields such as wet mud, in thorn scrubs, sea beaches etc. there remains a need for maximum protection along with comfort for efficient farming practices and field working. Hence, the inventor of the present invention has designed a shoe covering the feet up to the knee for protection from snake bite and also preventing water getting inside while walking through slushy and flooded fields. In addition to that the present invention also provided with air pumping mechanism or air conditioning system so that the humidity and sweat can be control for efficient and comfortable walking. The shoes described in prior arts do not cover till knee and does not avoid sweating when working in muddy field. They also cannot protect from snake bite which is a big killer among Indian Farmers.

Currently, there is no such or similar device available to the farmer. If they happen to use Gumboot for protection, it will do them more harm than good in many ways. First of all, the material used in gumboots is thick and the boot is heavy and unmanageable. Secondly, as the boot is open, water will rush in and make it heavy and uncomfortable.

The present invention is light weight and can be tightly tied with the lace to block water entering and flexible enough for comfortable walking. The present invention also provides an air circulation to inside foot for comfort while doing physically active job. This helps for protection of skin and avoids foot humidity and sweating due to fresh air circulation.

The present invention is having a provision for proper air sucking and blowing effect guided by air conduit disposed in the said shoe and that provides an air circulation inside the wearer foot.

The discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles and the like is included in this specification solely for the purpose of providing a context for the present invention. It is not suggested or represented that any or all of these matters formed part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION · The main objective of the present invention is to provide a safety and air flow guided shoe for the farmer or worker working in muddy field.

• Another objective of the present invention is to provide a shoe that will protect the farmer from foot infection, sweating, snake bite and thorns.

• One more objective of the present invention is to provide a shoe having an air circulation system to avoid sweaty and smelly foot and also give proper grip to walk in muddy field.

• Yet one more objective of the present invention is to provide a waterproof shoe for working in watery/muddy/slushy fields. • Yet one more objective of the present invention is to provide a farmer shoe that can be tied on its upper end of knee so preventing entry of water/mud/slush inside the shoe.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention relates to a footwear to be used by farmer/filed worker for safe protection and enclosed foot air circulation for wearer comfort.

Accordingly, the present invention relates to a safety shoe for working in muddy field that allows improved air ventilation and vapor exchange while walking and performing physically active job in muddy fields. More preferably, the invention provides a light weight, knee length, breathable and protective as well as fastenable shoe having shoe body (01), air pipe (02), side flap (03), eye rivet(04), air rubber sac(05), bottom sole(06), and inner sole(07) having air flow guiders and shaped elevations on opposite sides. The shoe mainly helps in walking in mud and thorny places for keeping the feet dry and air conditioned and to give protection from reptiles.

The protective, breathable shoe of present invention is a knee length shoe is configured with D-shaped rubber sac for air pumping inside the shoe body and air pipe for providing fresh atmospheric air over the feet. D-shaped rubber sac is placed or resides at the underside of inner sole. The said sac is like half constructional blower bulb, that produces optimum air blowing effect through its squeezing effect while walking. This configuration allows circulation of fresh air inside the shoe and thereby prevents sweating of feet, the lace can be tied up at upper end to prevent water entry from above. In short the present subject matter relates to an invention to protect the farmer from harmful objects and creatures including snake bites. As the shoe covers feet up to the knee, the same gives full protection from all the possible harmful creatures. In accordance to present invention, a knee length breathable and protective farmer shoe comprising of an air sac (05), at least one sole (07) and seamless shoe body (01) having an air conduit (02); Characterized in that, the air sac disposed in shoe body below the heel sole and connected to air conduit so that it results into an in and out air circulation inside the shoe with the help of wearer’s body weight; wherein, the body heat and humidity of inside foot generated in knee length closed shoes is removed by air circulation.

In accordance to one of embodiment of the present invention, the air flow guidance is provided using inner sole (07) having groove on bottom side. That guides the fresh air coming from conduit (02), towards peripheral area of foot and forces the humid air through front conduits (14) leaving the fresh air all covered foot surroundings.

The present invention is made of natural rubber or in combination of fabric and polymer material and is water proof giving complete safety and protection to the farmer from harmful objects and insects.

In accordance to one more embodiments, the air sac configured will provide a pumping effect resulting in sucking of air through the pipe on top and spreading the same all around while in use. This provides the much needed air circulation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a more complete understanding of the features and advantages of the present invention, references are illustrated with the detailed description of the invention along with the accompanying figures and in which:

Figure No. 1: Illustrates an axial sectional view of a farmer protective shoe accordingly to an illustrated embodiment.

Figure No. 2: Illustrates an axial back side view of a farmer protective shoe with an air conduit and the shoe lace in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure No. 3: Illustrates an view of rubber Air sac (05) in accordance to embodiment of the invention. Figure No 4: Illustrates a perspective and isolated view of a lower sole with front cap.

Figure No 5: Illustrates an axial sectional view of farmer protective shoe in according to present embodiment and flow of air circulation therein.

Figure No 6: Illustrates a bottom view of inner sole with groove provided for air guiding towards periphery of sole.

Figure No 7: Illustrates a top view of inner sole with grip (shaped elevation) provided for comfortable walking.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The making and using of various embodiments of the present invention are discussed in detail below as; it should be appreciated that the present invention provides many applicable inventive concepts that can be embodied in a wide variety of specific contexts. The specific embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific ways to make and use the invention and do not delimit the scope of the invention.

To facilitate the understanding of this invention, a number of terms are defined below. Terms defined herein have meanings as commonly understood by a person of ordinary skill in the areas relevant to the present invention. Terms such as "a", "an" and "the" are not intended to refer to only a singular entity, but include the general class of which a specific example may be used for illustration. The terminology herein is used to describe specific embodiments of the invention, but their usage does not delimit the invention, except as outlined in the claims.

For consistency and convenience, directional adjectives are employed throughout this Detailed Description to the illustrated embodiments. The Term “Air Suppressor”, as used throughout this description and in the claims refers to any combination that provides an in and out air filled action when pressure is applied on expandable portion for a rubber parts. Said terminology will include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof, and words of similar import like air pusher, air circulator and air sac.

The term“Knee length” as used throughout this detailed description and in the claims, refers to the length that is normally above the knee joint and extended to thigh region.

Incorporation of rubber and plastics into field worker’s footware however, has reduced the permeability for air and moisture that was available with more natural footwear materials, such as leather and fabric. It is well-known that the foot has a particularly high density of perspiration pores, which release great amounts of moisture, especially during physical activities. This excessive moisture should be quickly removed from the surface of the foot in order to avoid a humid foot climate, a condition that at a minimum causes discomfort and odor, but at worst, may lead to foot diseases. Thus, it is desirable that there be sufficient ventilation of the interior of the shoe and, thereby of the foot. For this reason, different approaches to ventilate and remove sweat from the foot are developed in present invention.

The present invention relates to a safety shoe for working in muddy field that allows improved air ventilation and vapor exchange while walking and performing physically active job in muddy fields. More preferably, the invention provides a light weight, knee length breathable and protective fastenable farmer shoe having shoe body (01), air pipe (02), side flap (03), eye rivet(04), a rubber air sac(05), bottom sole(06), and inner sole(07) having air flow guiders and shaped elevations on opposite sides.

In an embodiment of present invention, the improved knee length breathable and protective farmer is comprising mainly of D-shaped rubber air sac (05) having plain edge open and atleast one orifice on the curve edge and air flow guided inner sole.

The said D-shaped air sac resides at an underside of the innersole (7) below the heel portion that assist breathing of fresh air inside the shoe. Accordingly, the air sac helps to suck the fresh air inside the shoe, said air is distributed throughout the foot area due to innersole provided with guiders.

The present invention provides a farmer’s shoe with knee length having rubber air suppressor/pump mechanism in form of rubber sac below foot heel and air pipe connected to said sac through orifice for air circulation over the feet. Additionally, the air flow guiders are provided on the bottom side of the inner sole, so that to achieve air distribution from all side of the foot.

More particularly, the present invention of shoe mainly helps in walking in mud and thorny places for keeping the feet dry and air conditioned and to give protection from reptiles, wherein the said safety footwear is flexible, with seamless shoe body, light weight additionally having protective sole, toe inserts. This footwear is useful for wearer in hazardous environments where sharp objects can puncture the and injure the wearer and also gives comfort by providing air circulation to the inside foot. The natural rubber with or without suitable additives used in present invention to form a seamless shoe body specifically by dipping method, is very soft and flexible with elastic bonding properties strong enough so the lining does not peel off in service use and foot footwear can easily be stretched over the leg when the footwear is being put on or taken off and also help to tie on the thigh area as closely as possible. The seamless shoe body is preventing water/mud entering in shoe as well as fasting over the knee with the help of lace will prevent the mud getting into the shoe.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a knee length, fastenable, breathable and protective farmer shoe comprising of an air sac (05), at least one sole (07) comprising groove on bottom side for air flow and grip (shaped elevation) on top side, a seamless shoe body (01) having an air conduit (02, 14); Characterized in that, the air sac is disposed in shoe body below the heel sole and connected to air conduit (02) so that it results into an in and out air circulation inside the shoe with the help of wearer’s body weight; wherein, the body heat and humidity of inside foot generated in knee length closed shoes is removed by air circulation guided from lower sole to the front conduit (14) out of the shoe area.

Wherein, the seamless shoe body (01) comprises of an air pipe/conduit (02), two side flaps (03), plurality of eye rivets (04), a hole (13) and a cavity for air sac (05), the said shoe further comprises of a laces, bottom sole, graphics, a tongue and support mechanism. The said air sac (05) is D-shaped rubber sac and placed or resides at the underside of inner sole. The said sac is like half constructional blower bulb, that produces optimum air blowing effect through its squeezing effect while walking. This configuration allows circulation of fresh air inside the shoe and thereby prevents sweating of feet, the lace can be tied up at upper end to prevent water entry from above.

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which several embodiments are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth here.

Rather, these embodiments are examples of the invention, which has the full scope indicated by the language of the claims.

Accompanied Figures no. 1-7 illustrate various views of present invention footwear (100). Wherein the footwear (100) is comprising of a seamless shoe body, air sac and lace for tight fitting. Optionally, the shoe body region may largely or substantially form an upper or inside of an article of footwear; a component may include laces, sole, graphics, a tongue, support mechanisms, and other additional features.

As best shown in Figure no. 1, The footwear (100) as per present invention is comprising of: a shoe body (01), air conduit (02, 14), side flap (03), eye rivet (04), air sac (05), bottom sole (06), and inner sole (07). A shoe body region (01) of present invention (100) generally includes portions of a wearer’s foot that correspond with the heel, toes, instep, foot, ankle, thigh, shin, calf and knee. In accordance to one of embodiment of the present invention, and as illustrated in figure no. 6; the air flow guidance is provided using inner sole (07) having groove on bottom side. The groove guides the fresh air coming from conduit (02), towards peripheral area of foot and forces the humid air through front conduits (14) leaving the fresh air all covered foot surroundings. The pattern of groove is not limiting but spreading towards the periphery of foot region.

In accordance to one more embodiment of the present invention and as accompanied figure no. 7; on the top side of the inner sole (07) there having shaped elevation for grip of wearer foot, that provides a comfortable walking in muddy/ slippery fields.

A finished seamless shoe body (01) constructed pursuant to the invention may be manufactured from what is referred to herein as a shoe body comprising of a shoe shape body (01), air conduit (02, 14), side flap (03), inner sole (07), eye rivet (04) produced by suitable dip-forming a vulcanizable rubber latex composition. The shoe body includes an opening (13) which is adapted to have the end of an air conduit (02) inserted thereinto, and which is used for the introduction of atmospheric air under pressure to the interior of the shoe body to accumulate it in air sac (05) . It also includes a cavity (not shown) for placing the rubber air sac below inner sole (07). Further the pressurized air received in sac is guided through inner sole bottom groove to peripheral area and leaving air flux on all side of the foot.

As shown in figure 2, in one embodiment the air conduit (02), extend through air sac (05) in heel region to upper end of footwear (100) which may permit the air circulation from the entire foot area to outside. Herein the rigid pipe (02a) like straw is preferably inserted as shown in figure 1, to keep the air conduit straight and also avoid the pipe getting covered/closed while tightening with lace. More particularly, two side flap (03) with help of lace (08) eye rivet (04) permits the wear to tighten the footwear (100) around the foot. The said lace permits the wearer to loosen upper footwear (100) to facilitate entry and removal of the foot. Hence, according to embodiment the side flap is with eye rivet to tie or fastening the laces. The laces can be fastened from side flap towards the upper end. Water or serpent or any insect / reptile entry from upper part of shoe is blocked by the fastened laces.

As shown in accompanied figures 1 and 3, and specifically with reference to figure 3, an air sac (05) is placed in cavity below heel region of shoe body (01) and it comprises of D-shaped sac having plain edge open and atleast one orifice (13) on the curve edge , The air conduit (02) inserted thereinto the said sac through this orifice (13). The curved edges are closed whereas flat peripheral edges are open leaving the unsealed edges of air sac for air pushing towards toes.

The said air sac (05) is half blower bulb having D-shape and air space that produces optimum air blowing effect through its squeezing effect, wherein D-shaped air sac is having plain edge open and at least one orifice (13) on the curve edge forming a pocket for air accumulation.

The air conduit (02) is connected to air sac (05) at an orifice (13), wherein the air conduit (02) is configured with rigid pipe and extends from the air cushion to the back of the knee length.

Referring to Figure no. 4, there is shown an additional bottom sole (6c) of rigid rubber molded having a front rim (lb), wherein said bottom sole is seal over the seamless body (1) having rim (la), preferably to cover the toe and sole. The purpose is to give strength to the front portion against hard objects/substances the bottom sole (06) and seamless body (01) are seal together by sticking rim (lb) and (la) to prevent piercing of sharp objects.

As depicted in Figure no. 5 and in accordance to further configuration of present invention the footwear (100) while in use and walking, by putting and lifting a foot provides a pumping effect on air sac (05) resulting in sucking of air through the air conduit (02) from top and spreading the same all around the foot area. Further, humid air is expelling to atmosphere through front sided plurality of air conduits (14). The bottom sole and inner sole are in order attached to shoe body (01) to provide grip. In one more embodiment the shoe is made up of natural rubber, giving the water proof activity of shoe. The serpents generally found in India have teeth of length is about 1 inch. The thickness of the shoe wall is such that it cannot be pierced and bitten by the serpents. In more preferably the thickness of the shoes ranges from 0.1 mm to 10 mm.

More preferably, the present invention provides a knee length fastenable, an air flow guided shoe for working in muddy field farmer shoe (100) comprising of:

-seamless shoe body (01),

-an air conduits (02, 14),

-two side flaps (03),

-plurality of eye rivets (04),

-a rubber air sac (05),

-at least one sole (07) with air flow guiding surface; Characterized in that, the air sac (05) is disposed in cavity below the heel sole and connected to air conduit (02) so that it results into sucking air inside the shoe and expelling through conduit (14) due to effect of wearer’s body weight thereby the body heat and humidity of inside foot is removed by effective air circulation.

Wherein an air conduit (02) is connected to air sac (05) at a hole (13) and said shoe further comprises of a laces, bottom sole, graphics, a tongue and support mechanism. The said air pipe (02) is configured with rigid pipe and extends from the air sac to the back of the knee length and is closely sealed to the surroundings of the for passing air. The air conduit (14) is extends from the front shoe portion to the knee length to expel the air out of shoe, so as to circulation of fresh air coming from conduit (02) and leaving from conduit (14).

Additionally, the shoe of present invention comprises of sole (07) which is having air flow guiders and shaped elevations on opposite side. The bottom sole (06a) and inner sole (07) are made up rubber, a combination of fabric and polymer material having thickness which is hard enough to prevent piercing of thorns or any nails or sharp objects. Optionally, the said shoe is further impregnated with agents selected form anti-rodent and reptile, insecticide repellent.

Accordingly, the present invention of farmer shoe is made up of natural rubber or suitable combination of natural rubber with colourant and other additives. While the other parts like inner sole, outer sole is of thick and hard rubber so as to enable walking on hard surfaces as well as protect from any thorns or sharp objects or stones. The front side of the shoe is optionally covered with thick covering (not shown) which can be metal cap, hard rubber cap or leather cap to prevent injuries at the toes. While specific language has been used to describe the disclosure, any limitations arising on account of the same are not intended. As would be apparent to a person skilled in the art, various working modifications may be made to the method in order to implement the inventive concept as taught herein.