Pressure fixing device applied to shoe

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10842229-B2
Application number	US-201815992964-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 30, 2018
Priority date	Jul 3, 2017
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

A pressure fixing device applied to a shoe is disclosed. The pressure fixing device includes an inflatable shoe tongue, a first air pump and a control module. The control module drives the air to flow out of the inflatable shoe tongue according to a second enabling signal so that the inflatable shoe tongue tends to shrink and moves toward the wear space to attach to a user's instep. The control module drives the first air pump to pump the air flowing into the inflatable shoe tongue according to a first enabling signal, so that the inflatable shoe tongue tends to expand due to the air inflated and moves away from the wear space to enlarge the opening, by which the user can wear or take off the shoe easily.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pressure fixing device applied to a shoe, wherein the shoe comprises a shoe body and a bottom part, the shoe body comprises plural eyelets and the bottom part is connected to the shoe body to define a wear space collaboratively, the pressure fixing device comprising:
an inflatable shoe tongue connected with the shoe body, wherein the inflatable shoe tongue is an inflatable and expandable structure with air, an opening is collaboratively defined by the inflatable shoe tongue and the shoe body, and the opening is in communication with the wear space; and
a first air pump in communication with the inflatable shoe tongue;
wherein when the first air pump pumps the air flowing into the inflatable shoe tongue, the inflatable shoe tongue expands and bulges in a direction away from the wear space to enlarge the opening, when the air flowing out of the inflatable shoe tongue, the inflatable shoe tongue shrinks in a direction toward the wear space to attach to an user's instep,
wherein the inflatable shoe tongue further comprises an outer airbag, an inner airbag and a two-way valve, wherein the outer airbag comprises an outer surface having plural protrusions protruding outwardly, and a gap is disposed between each two adjacent protrusions of the outer airbag, wherein the inner airbag comprises an inner surface having plural protrusions protruding inwardly, and a gap is disposed between each two adjacent protrusions of the inner airbag, and wherein the two-way valve is a two-way air intake structure and in communication between the outer airbag and the inner airbag, so that the plural protrusions of the outer airbag are expanded in the direction to protrude outwardly to move the inflatable shoe tongue away from the wear space by introducing the air to the outer airbag through the two-way valve, and the plural protrusions of the inner airbag are expanded in the direction to protrude inwardly to move the inflatable shoe tongue to shrink toward the wear space by introducing the air to the inner airbag through the two-way valve.

2. The pressure fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises a first air pressure sensor, and the first air pressure sensor is disposed within the inflatable shoe tongue wherein when the first air pressure sensor detects that the inflatable shoe tongue has an internal pressure higher than a specific threshold interval, the first air pump is disabled to stop operating.

3. The pressure fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises a shoelace, and the shoelace is disposed within the plural eyelets of the shoe body.

4. The pressure fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises:
an inflatable shoelace, wherein the inflatable shoelace is an inflatable and expandable structure, and the inflatable shoelace runs through the plural eyelets of the shoe body;
an additional airbag attached to an outer surface of the inflatable shoe tongue and in communication with the inflatable shoe tongue;
a first air passage and a second air passage in communication between the additional airbag and the inflatable shoelace, respectively, wherein the first air pump disposed within the first air passage; and
a second air pump disposed within the second air passage;
wherein when the second air pump is enabled to pump the air flowing from the inflatable shoe tongue to the inflatable shoelace through the second air passage, the inflatable shoe tongue shrinks in the direction toward the wear space and the inflatable shoelace is inflated with the air for expansion to tighten to attach to the user's instep; and when the first air pump is enabled to pump the air flowing from the inflatable shoelace through the first air passage into the additional airbag and the inflatable shoe tongue, the inflatable shoelace is deflated and loosened and the inflatable shoe tongue is inflated with the air for expansion and protrudes in the direction away from the wear space to enlarge the opening, thereby aiding an user to wear the shoe.

5. The pressure fixing device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises a switch, wherein while the switch is turned on, the second air pump is enabled; and while the switch is turned off, the first air pump is enabled.

6. The pressure fixing device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises a weight sensor, and the weight sensor is disposed on the bottom part of the shoe, wherein when the weight sensor detects that the bottom part of the shoe is pressed, the second air pump is enabled.

7. The pressure fixing device according to claim 4 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises a first air pressure sensor, and the first air pressure sensor is disposed within the inflatable shoe tongue, wherein when the first air pressure sensor detects that the inflatable shoe tongue has an internal pressure higher than a specific threshold interval, the first air pump is disabled to stop operating, and wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises a second air pressure sensor, and the second air pressure sensor is disposed within the inflatable shoelace, wherein when the second air pressure sensor detects that the inflatable shoelace has an internal pressure higher than the specific threshold interval, the second air pump is disabled to stop operating.

8. The pressure fixing device according to claim 7 , wherein the pressure fixing device further comprises an inlet valve embedded in the outer surface of the inflatable shoe tongue, wherein when the first air pressure sensor or the second air pressure sensor detects that the internal pressure of the inflatable shoe tongue or the inflatable shoelace is lower than the specific threshold interval, the inlet valve is driven to introduce the air to the inflatable shoe tongue or the inflatable shoelace.

9. The pressure fixing device according to claim 4 , wherein the inflatable shoelace is an artificial-muscle air-inflated shoelace.

10. The pressure fixing device according to claim 4 , wherein the inflatable shoelace further comprises at least one lacing part and at least one connecting part, and the at least one lacing part comprises two through holes disposed on two ends thereof, respectively, wherein the at least one lacing part and the at least one connecting part are in communication with each other via the through holes.

11. The pressure fixing device according to claim 10 , wherein the lacing part further comprises plural expandable sections and plural communication sections, wherein each of the plural communication sections is connected between two adjacent expandable sections to define plural gaps between two adjacent plural expandable sections, respectively.

12. The pressure fixing device according to claim 11 , wherein the plural communication sections are disposed in an up-and-down staggered arrangement having plural communication sections arranged alternately with each other without aligning on the same line, and each of the plural communication sections is connected between two adjacent expandable sections.

13. The pressure fixing device according to claim 1 , wherein the first air pump is a piezoelectric air pump, and the piezoelectric air pump comprises:
a resonance plate comprising a central aperture and a movable part, wherein the movable part is disposed around the central aperture;
a piezoelectric actuator spatially corresponding to the resonance plate; and
a cover plate comprising at least one sidewall, a bottom plate and an opening portion, wherein the at least one sidewall surrounds

Assignees

• Microjet Technology Co Ltd

Inventors

• Mou Hao-Jan
• Mo Li-Pang
• Chen Shih-Chang
• Han Yung-Lung
• Lee Wei-Ming

Classifications

• A43B3/42

  where power is generated by conversion of mechanical movement to electricity, e.g. by piezoelectric means · CPC title

• A43B3/44

  with sensors, e.g. for detecting contact or position · CPC title

• A43B23/029

  Pneumatic upper, e.g. gas filled · CPC title

• A43C11/00

  Other fastenings specially adapted for shoes (dress fastenings in general A44B) · CPC title

• F04B45/047

  Pumps having electric drive · CPC title