FIELD

Embodiments of the present invention relate to shoes specifically suitable for indoor use.

BACKGROUND

Shoes which are compatible with and suitable for indoor use are well known in the field. Typically, they may partially or completely enclose the user’s foot. A mechanism for securing the shoe to the foot may also be provided, which increases the cross-sectional volume of an opening or an enclosure of the foot to ease ingress and egress of the foot into and out of the shoe.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to alleviate one or more problems associated with the prior art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention we provide a shoe for indoor use, including a sole, having a first external surface configured to contact a ground surface in use; a second internal surface, a body connected to the sole and defining a foot receiving volume and an insole receiving formation provided in the foot receiving volume wherein the sole includes an airflow passage that extends from the first external surface to the second internal surface

The sole may include a plurality of airflow passages. The airflow passage may be direct from the first external surface to the second internal surface. Alternatively, the airflow passage may be tortuous between the first external surface and the second internal surface. The airflow passage may be defined by at least one aperture or opening in the sole.

The sole may include an upper portion and a lower portion. The first aperture or opening may extend through the upper portion and the air flow passage may include a second aperture or opening extending through the lower portion. The first and second apertures may at least partially align.

At least a portion of the body may be positioned between the upper portion and the lower portion of the sole. The sole may include a structural member which is provided at least partially between the upper and lower portion of the sole.

The body may include one or more airflow passages. The body may be a mesh material. The material may include at least one of polyester, nylon or bamboo or other sustainable material. The insole receiving formation may include a recess or groove. The second internal surface may provide the insole receiving formation. The shoe may further include an attachment mechanism to secure an insole in a desired position.

The shoe may further include a user graspable portion, the user graspable portion may include a handle formed of a structured material. The shoe may include a fastening formation which cooperates with the body to alter the foot receiving volume.

The shoe may include a battery and / or charging formation. The shoe may include a light emitting device provided on or embedded in the sole. The light emitting device may be arranged in a front facing position. The shoe may include a heat pack receiving formation. The heat pack receiving formation may be provided by the sole.

The first external surface may include a curved profile around a peripheral edge. The sole and body may be stitched together or bonded together with adhesive.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

In order that the present disclosure may be more readily understood, preferable embodiments thereof will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a shoe;

FIGURE 2 is an illustrative perspective view of a sole and an insole.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the sole; and FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of a shoe.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

Referring to the figures (see particularly figures 1 and 2), a shoe 10 for indoor use is illustrated. The shoe 10 includes a sole 12, a body 14, and an insole receiving formation.

The sole 12 includes a first external surface 20 and a second internal surface 22. The first external surface 20 is configured to contact a ground surface in use. The second internal surface 22 is configured to be located adjacent a user’s foot in use. The sole 12 is made from any desired material. However, to ensure that the sole 12 is light and comfortable for the user, the sole 12 may be made from materials which are not suitable for outdoor use. As the shoe 10 will not be subjected to harsher conditions found outdoors, the materials can be optimised to reduce weight and bulk of the shoe 10 whilst maintaining adequate support, comfort and protection for the user’s foot indoors.

The sole 12 includes an airflow passage 32 that extends from the first external surface 20 to the second internal surface 22. In some embodiments (see, for example, figure 2), the sole 12 includes a plurality of airflow passages 32.

In the present example (see particularly figure 3), the airflow passage 32 extends directly from the first external surface 20 to the second internal surface 22. In an alternative embodiment, the airflow passage 32 may extend tortuously between the first external surface 20 and the second internal surface 22. In more detail, the airflow passage 32 is defined by an apertures 24 in the second internal surface 22 connected to an aperture 34 in the first external surface 20 to provide a pathway for air to travel through the sole 12.

In the illustrated embodiment (see figure 2, for example), a plurality of airflow passages 32 are provided. In other words, the first external surface 20 includes a plurality of apertures 24 and the second internal surface 22 includes a plurality of apertures 32, each of which are connected by a pathway to allow air to flow into the shoe 10.

As can be seen in the figure, the apertures are arranged in a generally regular pattern. However, it should be appreciated that this does not necessarily need to be the case. Further, the apertures 24, 34 may not have a constant size (or entrance cross-sectional area) - as can be seen in figure 2, the apertures 24 towards the central heel portion of the sole 14 are larger than those surrounding. It should be appreciated that any pattern or arrangement of sizes may be used with the functionality of providing airflow to the internal volume of the shoe 10.

In the present example, the sole 12 is formed from an upper portion 12a and a lower portion 12b. For example, the upper portion 12a extends across a foot bed of the shoe 10 and the lower portion 12b extends across a base of the shoe 10. The upper and lower portions 12a, b are, in this example, similarly sized and arranged with the upper portion 12a above the lower portion 12b.

The lower portion 12b includes a top surface 56 and a bottom surface. In other words, the first external surface 20 forms the bottom surface of the lower portion 12b. Likewise, the upper portion 12a also includes a top surface and a bottom surface 54. As such, the second internal surface 22 forms the top surface the upper portion 12a. The second internal surface 22 of the upper portion 12a provides a contact surface with the bottom the user’s foot during use.

It should be appreciated that by contact surface with a user’s foot we mean that the second internal surface 22 provides a surface that sits closest to the sole of the foot in use - there may be additional sheets of material provided above the second internal surface 22. For example, a deodorising layer or cooling layer, etc.

A single air flow passage 32 is provided by a pathway between a first aperture 24 and a second aperture 34. The first and second apertures 24, 34 align with each other, such that the airflow passage 32 passes directly from the outside / external surface 20 to the internal foot receiving volume 46. In other words, the first and second apertures 24, 34 provide a substantially straight / direct pathway for the air to travel through the sole 12 of the shoe. As such, the air flow passage 32 extends through the lower portion 12b and the upper portion 12a.

It should be appreciated that the air flow pathway does not necessarily need to be direct / straight. The first aperture or opening 24 and the second aperture or opening 34 may not be completely aligned. Alternatively, the first and the second apertures 24, 34 may not align at all. In these examples, the airflow passage is tortuous / not straight. In other words, the air flow path 32 is not direct in the sense that the air may be required to travel around corners. Thus, the air flow path may be more complex and / or convoluted than the direct pathway described above.

In the illustrated example, the diameter of the apertures 24, 34 and the airflow pathway are the same. In embodiments, the apertures 24, 34 may be conical or include a portion that is conical such that an entrance or exit to the air passageway is wider than the flow path through the sole 12.

It should be further appreciated that the entrance of the aperture 34 on the first external surface 20 could include a ridge or lip that contributes to the tread on the shoe 10. In some embodiments, the first external surface 20 may be coated in a protective coating around the apertures 34. For example, the coating may be resistant to wear, may be non-slip and may avoid leaving demarcations on contact surfaces such as floors and furniture.

As mentioned above, the second internal surface 22 provides an insole receiving formation. In some embodiments, the insole receiving formation includes recess or groove 16 into which the insole 18 is received. The recess 16 positions the insole 18 in the correct / ideal position and / or limits movement of the insole 18 during use of the shoe 10. The insole receiving formation may allow an insole 18 to be inserted into, and removed from, the foot receiving volume 46 as required by the user. This may assist the user in replacing an insole 18 when it is sufficiently worn or damaged, or if they require a different insole 18 which is better suited to a change in their needs or environment.

In the illustrated example, the recess 16 extends around half way from the heel to the toe. A step 38 is formed to ensure that once the insole 18 is in position, the foot contacting surface of the sole / insole is comfortable. In other words, the upper surface formed by the combination of the insole 18 and the second internal surface 22 form a substantially continuous surface for a user’s foot to contact. The insole 18 and second internal surface 22 may thus provide a continuous surface for user’s foot which comprises two parts, each of which is contact with a different part of a user’s foot. Therefore, rather than being provided with a single contact surface for the user’s foot, the user is provided with a two-part, or multiple-part, contact surface which may have different orthotic or cooling properties.

It should be appreciated that the groove or recess 16 may be shaped to exactly meet the insole 18, so no additional grip between them is necessary. Alternatively, an attachment mechanism may be provided to secure the insole 18 in a desired position.

The insole 18 receivable by the insole receiving formation may be produced to a user’s specific orthotic or supportive requirements. For example, the insole 18 may be formed to provide a degree of support required by the user. In some embodiments, the insole 18 may be made partially or entirely from a material which enables air to flow through the insole 18 to cool it and / or to enable air to flow into the shoe 10. In the illustrated example, an aperture 24 of an airflow passage 32 is positioned in the area of the insole receiving formation such that it is positioned underneath an insole 18 inserted into the insole receiving formation. The materials of the insole 18 and the second internal surface 22 of the sole 12 may be selected such that uniform cooling is provided to the user’s foot. Alternatively, the materials of the insole 18 and the second internal surface 22 of the sole 12 may be selected to provide two different levels of cooling across the foot, allowing cooling to be concentrated or reduced in a specific area relative to another area of the user’s foot.

The body 14 defines a foot receiving volume 46 (i.e. the space occupied by the user’s foot during use). In some embodiments, the body 14 is configured to extend from the sole 12 around a user’s foot (i.e. the body 14 surrounds and encloses a user’s foot). The user may insert and remove their foot from the foot receiving volume 46 through an opening 28.

A portion of the body 14 is positioned between the upper portion 12a and the lower portion 12b of the sole 12 (see the intermediate layer 50 of the body 14 in figure 3). The intermediate layer 50 is positioned between upper portion 12a and lower portion 12b. In other words, the intermediate layer 50 is in contact with the lower surface 54 of upper portion 12a and the upper surface 56 of lower portion of 12b. The sole 12 is connected to the body 14 - in the present example, the intermediate layer 50 is attached to the upper portion 12a and the lower portion 12b of the sole 12.

The intermediate layer 50 enables air to flow through the upper and lower portions 12a, 12b of the sole easily. In some embodiments, the intermediate layer 50 includes channels which cooperate with the airflow passage 32 and corresponding apertures 24, 34 to form a well-defined and distinct air flow path way. However, if the intermediate layer 50 is a mesh structure, it allows air to flow easily through it without requiring well defined openings to be provided (i.e. the mesh allows air to distribute through it and as such provides a layer that is easily passed by air on the way to the foot receiving volume 46). In some embodiments, the intermediate layer 50 may form a part of, or be connected to, the body 14. The intermediate layer 50 and body 14 may be made from different materials, and connected together by any suitable method. In other embodiments, the intermediate layer 50 and body 14 may be made from the same material(s), or may share more than one common material, and may be formed together such that the intermediate layer 50 forms a part of the body 14. Providing the intermediate layer 50 as a part of the body 14 means that air may flow through the intermediate layer 50. This means that air flowing through the body 14 may flow around the user’s foot, providing cooling around the foot. It may also simplify the construction of a shoe 10 which includes an intermediate layer 50.

The body 14 and upper portion 12a and the lower portion 12b of the sole 12 may be configured to minimise the exterior bulk of the shoe 10, and in particular of the sole 12, and to ensure that the profile of the shoe 10 is generally smooth. In the illustrated example, the upper portion 12a is be provided above the intermediate layer 50 and is surrounded by the body 14 of the shoe 10. As such, a significant portion of the sole 12 does not form a part of the exterior of the shoe 10. This may reduce the chance of tripping for a user that may have reduced mobility as the risk of the user catching the shoe 10 on obstacles or hazardous and / or uneven surfaces is minimised.

In some embodiments, the body 14 is formed from a single layer. However, it should be appreciated that one or more layers of material may form the body 14. In some embodiments, the body 14 includes a plurality of layers of the same material, however it should also be appreciated that the layers may include different materials.

In some embodiments, the body 14 is made from a mesh material (for example, polyester, nylon and / or bamboo or other sustainable material). Though it should be appreciated that the body 14 may include any desired material which ideally provides breathability and support for the user’s foot. To ensure that the body 14 is light and comfortable for the user, the body 14 may be made from a material, or materials, which are not suitable for outdoor use. As the shoe 10 will not be subjected to harsher conditions found outdoors, the materials can be optimised to reduce weight and bulk of the shoe 10 whilst maintaining adequate support, comfort and protection for the user’s foot indoors.

In the illustrated example (see figure 1), a body airflow passage 48 extends through the body 14. Thus, the body airflow passage 48 provides a pathway for air to flow through the body 14 and into the foot receiving volume 46. In some embodiments (see, for example, figure 1), the body 14 includes a plurality of body airflow passages 48 through the material of the body 14. The body airflow passage(s) 48 provide comfort by allowing further airflow to the user’s foot without compromising the structural integrity of the body 14 and the support provided by the body 14 to the user’s foot.

In some embodiments, the shoe 10 includes a structural member 36 about a periphery of the sole 12. In the illustrated example (see figure 3), the structural member 36 extends at least partially between the upper portion 12a (and, in this example, the body 14) and lower portion 12b of the sole 12. The structural member 36 provides a relatively strengthened zone (in this example, at an interface between the sole 12 and the body 14) compared to other components of the shoe 10.

In more detail, the structural member 36 is generally wedge shaped with an upper surface 36b that contacts / is adjacent to the upper portion 12a of the sole 12 and the body 14 and a lower surface 36c that contacts / is adjacent to the lower portion 12b of the sole 12 and a third outwardly facing surface 36a.

In some embodiments, the upper portion 12a of the sole 12, the body 14, the structural member 36 and the lower portion 12b of the sole 12 are all attached together. Thus, resulting in a shoe 10 with increased rigidity / strength. One or more stitches 30 extend through the upper portion 12a, lower portion 12b, body 14 and the structural member 36. In other words, the body 14 may be attached to the upper portion 12a and lower portion 12b of the sole 12 by stitching. Alternatively, the body 14 may be attached to the upper and lower portions 12a, 12b of the sole 12 by adhesive. It should be appreciated that such stitches or adhesive may be continuous around or near the periphery of the sole 12, or may be discontinuous and attached in specific zones. Alternatively, the upper portion 12a, intermediate layer 50 and lower portion 12b may be attached together across the entire sole area.

The structural member 36 may be formed from a material relatively more rigid than the materials of the sole 12 and / or body 14 (suitable materials may be, for example, a composite , plastic, nylon or rubber). The composite may be sustainable such as a flax and / or bamboo based composite. Alternatively, the sole 12 and structural member 36 could be made from similar materials configured in such a way to increase the structure of the shoe 10 as a whole.

As the sole 12 and / or body 14 may be made from materials which are not suitable for outdoor use, the inclusion of a relatively more rigid structural member 36 may enhance the structural integrity and extend the usable life of the shoe 10, without significantly increasing the weight or bulk of the shoe 10. This ensures that the shoe 10 is generally light and comfortable for the user, whilst being robust enough for safe and reliable use. It should also be appreciated that the material of the structural member 36 may be chosen to avoid damage to the surface of indoor floors or furniture since it has an outwardly facing surface 36a. Alternatively, the structural member 36 may be overmoulded to ensure that is does not risk damaging household fixtures and / or furniture.

The structural member 36, sole 12 and body 14 may be configured to provide a curved outer profile. In other words, the shoe 10 has a smooth and / or curved periphery. This may be advantageous as it reduces the chance of tripping for a user that may have reduced mobility (a thick sole or heavy shoe may be more difficult to move around, for example). For example, the curved profile reduces the risk of the user catching the shoe 10 on hazardous and / or uneven surfaces. As a result, the risk of injury to the user is reduced and wear of the component features is reduced, extending the usable life of the product.

In some embodiments, the shoe 10 includes at least one user graspable portion 26. The user graspable portion includes a handle such that a user can grasp it and assist with putting the shoe 10 on or taking the shoe 10 off. In embodiments, the first user graspable portion 26 is provided on the body 14 (in this example, on or near a heel portion of the shoe 10). It should be appreciated that an additional / second user graspable portion could be provided on a front part of the shoe 10, if desired. The user graspable portion may be formed of a relatively more structured material such that it is easy to grip / use (though, it should be appreciated that it could be deformable to ensure the risk of injury is minimised).

In the illustrated example (see, for example, Figures 1 and 4), the shoe 10 also includes a fastening formation 64 which cooperates with the body 14 to alter the size / volume of the foot receiving volume 46. The size of the opening 28 to the foot receiving volume 46 may be adjusted as desired by the user by adjustment of the fastening formation 64. The fastening formation 64 may be laces or elasticated members that may be tied or adjusted with a fastening device / toggle.

It will be appreciated that increasing the volume of the foot receiving volume 46 and making the opening 28 larger makes inserting and removing a foot from the shoe 10 easier for the user. By contrast, tightening the fastening formation 64 reduces the volume of the foot receiving volume 64, providing a secure position for the foot within the shoe 10, and where the body 14 provides support for the user’s foot.

The fastening formation cooperates with the body 14 on or through eyelets positioned through the body 14 or material loops attached to the body 14. In some embodiments the fastening device is a toggle, which is adjustable by the user as desired. In some embodiments, the shoe 10 accommodates a battery or power source. The battery may be located in a battery recess formation in the sole 12. In embodiments, a charging formation may also be provided. In such an embodiment, the sole 12 includes a charging formation with a port for a common cable interface (for example, USB mini-B or USB-C, etc.).

In some embodiments (see, for example, figure 4), the shoe 10 includes a light / light emitting device 40 (in figure 4, four lights 40 are shown). As shown in the illustrated example, the light 40 is preferably arranged at a front facing position. However, it should be appreciated that the light 40 may be posited to face in any direction as necessary. In the present example, the light 40 is provided on or embedded in the sole 12 (it should be appreciated that it could be provided on the body 14). In embodiments, the lights 40 may be either pressure activated or may include a user operable on/off switch. The light 40 provides illumination of the pathway for a user. The light 40 may help the user identify hazards such as changes in the floor or ground surface, the distance to steps, or objects on the floor surface.

In some embodiments, the shoe 10 may also cooperate with a heat pack (i.e. a heat pack receiving formation could be provided). The heat pack receiving formation allows users to heat their shoes 10. It should be appreciated that the heat pack receiving formation may be provided in the sole 12 or within or on the body 14.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe 10 that is specifically for use indoors - for this reason the shoe 10 is made with light and comfortable materials that are not suitable for outdoor use. Specifically, the airflow passage 32 allows air to around the entirety of a user’s foot when in use. This combined with a dedicated formation for a user’s individual orthotic or supportive insole allows a shoe 10 to be formed that can be used year round without feet being overheated while alleviating pain that may be experienced when not able to use a specific insole. Specifically, this can assist with fallen arches and plantar fasciitis where it is beneficial to support the feet whenever walking around.

The present invention provides a lightweight shoe including a combination of orthotic insoles and enhanced air flow to the user’s foot. Air from outside the shoe flows through the airflow passage(s) in the sole and / or body to reduce the temperature of the foot receiving volume and the user’s foot.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The invention may also broadly consist in the parts, elements, steps, examples and/or features referred to or indicated in the specification individually or collectively in any and all combinations of two or more said parts, elements, steps, examples and/or features. In particular, one or more features in any of the embodiments described herein may be combined with one or more features from any other embodiment(s) described herein. Protection may be sought for any features disclosed in any one or more published documents referenced herein in combination with the present disclosure.

Although certain example embodiments of the invention have been described, the scope of the appended claims is not intended to be limited solely to these embodiments. The claims are to be construed literally, purposively, and/or to encompass equivalents.