Importance

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Abstract

A ventilated article of footwear, such as a shoe, is provided with an outer sole of deformable material having a raised peripheral portion of enlarged thickness surrounding the entire periphery thereof. An inner sole of non-deformable material is mounted above the outer sole in normally spaced relation therefrom to define an air chamber between the soles. The inner sole is perforated with a plurality of apertures providing communication between the air chamber and the interior of the shoe. A compressible supporting material is located in the air chamber between the inner and outer soles and normally biases the deformable outer sole away from the inner sole to provide a relatively deep air chamber. When the wearer of the shoe applies his weight upon the outer sole, the latter deforms upwardly compressing the compressible supporting material and reducing the depth of the air chamber. As the volume of the air chamber decreases, the air therewithin is compressed and is forced through the apertures in the inner sole to the interior of the shoe to provide air circulation. When the wearer's weight is relieved, the deformable outer sole returns to its original position under the biasing action of the supporting material, in cooperation with the raised peripheral portion of the outer sole, to return the air chamber to its original depth and cause a return flow of outside air through the interior of the shoe and into the air chamber.

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First Claim