TW201639484A - Item of footwear having an impermeable structure - Google Patents

Abstract

Item of footwear (1) which comprises a first envelope (21), the first envelope (21) extending lengthwise from a rear end (24) to a front end (25), widthwise between a lateral edge (26) and a medial edge (27), and heightwise between a bottom (28) and an upper end (29), the item of footwear (1) having a rear opening (14) situated close to the rear end (24), the item of footwear comprising a first impermeable structural part (48) which extends next to a first region of the first envelope (21). The item of footwear (1) comprises a membrane (51) which is resistant to the passage of a fluid or is impermeable and extends next to a second region of the first envelope (21).

Description

Footwear with waterproof structure

The present invention relates to an article of footwear, such as a shoe or similar product, and to a method of making a shoe or shoe component. Such footwear can be used in hiking, flat or mountain racing, skateboarding, ball sports, cycling, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and many other fields.

For such applications, the article of footwear must have sufficient softness to ensure that the wearer's foot can walk smoothly and the wearer's lower leg can flex flexibly. It also relates to the comfort of wearing shoes, including the need to ensure that there is good temperature and humidity management in the shoes. This is important, for example, the above factors can affect some of the sports effects of the wearer.

It is well known that footwear such as footwear has been made from one or more layers of material such as cowhide, natural or synthetic fiber textiles or any similar material. Often, the shoe is well suited for activity: it makes the foot very comfortable and maintains the right temperature. However, in some cases, only comfort is not enough. For example, when the shoes are used when it is raining, on wet lawns, or during the course of, for example, the shoes are wetted, it needs to meet the need to walk across the creek or in the pool.

The application mentioned above will cause water to immerse into the interior of the shoe. In fact, some of the constituent materials of the shoe have small holes that allow water to enter. The upper is slowly soaked until it is saturated, and it is very easy for water to enter the shoe. This phenomenon often occurs at the front of the shoe because the front of the shoe is most exposed depending on the speed at which the wearer walks. because Thus, the water first enters the shoe through the small hole in the front of the shoe. Therefore, the shoes will become uncomfortable. The feet will become cold and the skin on the feet will become inflamed, causing trauma.

In order to improve this situation, conventional processes have found ways to prevent water from entering the shoe. To this end, the shoes need to be waterproofed.

For example, some film can be added to the structure of the shoe. These films are used to prevent fluids from passing through or for waterproofing, and are typically made of a low-thickness synthetic material that wraps the feet to prevent water intrusion. Because these films are very fragile, they need to be protected against mechanical stresses caused by, for example, various frictions, in particular, the integration of different thicknesses of the components of the shoe, such as the sole element, the lateral and medial sides, the upper (which is also appropriate The ground includes the tongue) and the like. The various films are joined by any technique such as bonding, sewing with elastic bands or other means. This will protect your feet from water. In other words, these films make the shoes more comfortable. However, we noticed that while the comfort improved, it also brought some shortcomings.

First of all, we noticed that the use of the film makes the shoe making process more complicated than the traditional structure of the shoe. This is because each film is an additional part that needs to be made and joined to the other parts of the shoe. Therefore, another disadvantage is the prolonged production time. Because the shoe contains more parts, it takes more time to make the shoe. An inherent disadvantage of using a film is the cost of each film. Finally, the overall disadvantage of a shoe with a film is that the cost of footwear is increased due to the complexity of making the shoe, the longer time required for manufacturing, and the price of the film.

We also noticed another shortcoming that some constraints on film applications. In fact, the film is very fragile and requires extra care during handling to avoid non-waterproofing or resistance to fluid passage caused by film damage. It is also very tricky to operate the film because the film is a very light part and the force on it needs to be very Small, take extra care at this step.

It can thus be seen that shoes according to the prior art are not very satisfactory, in particular the constraints associated with their manufacture.

Based on this, the present invention is directed to improving the shoes previously mentioned for practical use. The present invention is particularly focused on simplifying the manufacture of shoes and reducing the time required for production. The invention will greatly reduce the manufacturing cost of the shoe. Additionally, for such shoes configured to prevent fluid passage or waterproofing, the present invention focuses on reducing the fine steps in its manufacture.

In view of the above, the present invention provides an article of footwear comprising a first layer of cladding extending from a rear end to a front end in length and extending between an outer edge and an inner edge in width. Extending from the bottom to the top in height, the article of footwear has a rear side opening at its top end, the article of footwear comprising a first waterproof structural component, and the first waterproof structural component is relative to the first layer of cladding The first area extends.

An article of footwear according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a film for preventing the passage or waterproofing of fluid, and the film extends relative to the second region of the first layer of cladding.

It can be said that the water repellency of an article of footwear such as a shoe can exist in two different ways in two different regions. In other words, the shoe made by the present invention achieves its water repellency by reducing the surface area of the film compared to the conventional process. It can also be said that the film used herein extends in a direction opposite to the subdivided portion of the covering body on the reduced portion of the first layer of the covering body. Therefore, compared to conventional processes, shoemaking requires only a few manufacturing steps and requires only a small amount of film or a small area of film to complete. Among these advantages, it should be mentioned that the simplification of the production makes it possible to obtain the waterproofness of the footwear product with less film. Another advantage is that it greatly speeds up production. and also One advantage is that the price of each pair of footwear is reduced or the use of the film is reduced. A broader advantage of the present invention is that the production cost of the article of footwear is reduced due to the simplification of the structure, the reduction in time required for fabrication, and the reduction in film requirements due to a reduction in the number of films or a reduction in the area of the film. cost. It can be said that the shoes made according to the invention are very economical.

Another advantage of shoes made in accordance with the present invention is that the risk of damage to the film, i.e., the risk of production operations, is reduced due to the reduced number and/or area of the film. These factors, namely the reduction in quantity and/or area, also contribute to the application of the film to the structure of the footwear.

It can be said that the present invention is paradoxically successful in waterproofing the shoe by employing two different ways in two different regions. The term "rebel" as used herein refers to the reduction in cost compared to the traditional shoemaking process, although the number of components is increased.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood from the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

1‧‧‧shoe products; shoes

4‧‧‧(shoe) back/heel

5‧‧‧(shoe) front end / toe cap

6‧‧‧ (shoe) outer edge

7‧‧‧ (shoe) inner edge

10‧‧‧(shoes) lower part

12‧‧‧(shoe) bottom

13‧‧‧ (shoes) top

14‧‧‧(shoes, first/second layer covering) (back side)

21‧‧‧(first layer) cladding

24‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) back end

25‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) front end

26‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) outer edge

27‧‧‧ (first layer of cladding) inner edge

28‧‧‧(first layer cladding) bottom

29‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) top

31‧‧‧ (second layer) cladding

34‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) back end

35‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) front end

36‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) outer edge

37‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) inner edge

38‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) bottom

39‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) top

41‧‧‧Sleeve

42‧‧‧ (sleeve) first end

43‧‧‧ (sleeve) second end

45‧‧‧ pleat

48‧‧‧(first) (waterproof) structural components; reinforcements

51‧‧‧(waterproof) film

54‧‧‧ (film) backend

55‧‧‧ (film) front end

56‧‧‧ (film) outer edge

57‧‧‧ (film) inner edge

58‧‧‧ (film) first side

59‧‧‧ (film) second side

60‧‧‧Support; cylindrical parts

61‧‧‧ (back side) front edge

62‧‧‧Protective layer

64‧‧‧ (structural parts / reinforcements) back end

65‧‧‧ (structural parts / reinforcements) front end

66‧‧‧(Structural parts/reinforcing parts) outer edge

67‧‧‧ (structural parts / reinforcements) inner edge

68‧‧‧(Structural parts/reinforcing parts) bottom

69‧‧‧ (Structural parts / reinforcements) top

71‧‧‧ elastic mechanism

72‧‧‧Shoe hole

73‧‧‧lace

74‧‧‧Locking mechanism

76‧‧‧ Shoes

78‧‧‧Outer soles

79‧‧‧ wear layer

80‧‧‧buffer layer

90‧‧‧(shoes) upper

91‧‧‧film

94‧‧‧ (film) first end

95‧‧‧ (film) second end

96‧‧‧ (film) first side

97‧‧‧ (film) second side

98‧‧‧ (film) first side

99‧‧‧ (film) second side

101‧‧‧(film) (lateral) slit

102‧‧‧(film) (lateral) slit

103‧‧‧(film) (longitudinal) groove

104‧‧‧(film) (longitudinal) groove

L‧‧‧ longitudinal direction

W‧‧‧ transverse direction

1 is a front, front perspective view of an article of footwear made in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a front perspective view of a semi-finished product for making a first layer of cladding and a second layer of the article of footwear of FIG. 1.

Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the first layer of cladding and the second layer of cladding on the stent and the film attached to at least one of the claddings on the other hand.

Figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the semi-finished product of Figure 2 joined to a film.

Figure 5 is a schematic view similar to Figure 4 showing the addition of a protective member to the film.

Figure 6 is a front perspective view of the structural components of the article of footwear of Figure 1 .

Figure 7 is a perspective view of the manufacture of the article of footwear of Figure 1.

Figure 8 is another perspective view associated with the manufacture of the article of footwear of Figure 1.

9 is another perspective view associated with the manufacture of the article of footwear of FIG. 1.

Figure 10 is a front perspective view of a semi-finished product for making a first layer of cladding for an article of footwear in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 11 is a schematic perspective view of a film suitable for attachment to the first layer of cladding of the article of footwear of Figure 10 .

Figure 12 is a front perspective view showing the semi-finished product of Figure 10 connected to a film.

Figure 13 is a front schematic perspective view of the semi-finished product of Figure 10 joined to a film.

Figure 14 is a front perspective view of an article of footwear made in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 15 is a schematic perspective view of a film suitable for attachment to the covering of the article of footwear of Figure 14 .

Figure 16 is a front perspective view of a semi-finished product for making a first layer of cladding and a second layer of coating of the article of the article of footwear of Figure 14;

The first embodiment to be described below is exemplified by an article of footwear for hiking or riding on a flat or mountain. However, the first embodiment can also be applied to other fields mentioned above.

The first embodiment will be described below by referring to Figs. 1 to 9.

As shown in Figure 1, the article of footwear 1 is intended to accommodate the wearer's foot. It is suitable for the description below, although the footwear 1 can be seen in detail, although it is a shoe. Its structure is extraordinary. Thus, the shoe 1 extends in the longitudinal direction L between the rear end or the heel 4 and the front end or the toe 5 and extends in the transverse direction W between the outer edge 6 and the inner edge 7 in width.

As shown, the shoe 1 includes a lower portion 10 for wrapping the foot without including any upper portion. Alternatively, however, it is also conceivable to include both the lower and upper shoes, which may wrap the ankle or even the lower leg.

According to the first embodiment described, the shoe 1 extends in height from the bottom 12 to the top end 13, that is to say up to the free end of the lower part 10. The bottom is the subdivision of the shoe for the foot.

The shoe 1 has a rear side shoe opening 14 located at the top end 13 and adjacent to the heel 4. The shoe opening facilitates the wearing and unloading of the shoe, that is, it facilitates the entry of the foot into or out of the shoe. According to the first embodiment, when the user wears a shoe, the shoe opening 14 is at the level of the ankle.

The shoe 1 is constructed to allow a person to support and receive the transmission of sensory information while walking, and to maintain smooth running of the foot when subjected to an impact. This is why shoe 1 or footwear is relatively soft.

As will be described in detail in the other figures below, it can be seen that the shoe 1 comprises a first layer of cladding 21 extending lengthwise from the rear end 24 to the front end 25 in the longitudinal direction L and on the outer edge 26 and the inside in width The rims 27 extend in the transverse direction W and extend from the bottom 28 to the top end 29 in height. This allows the first layer of wrap to wrap and support the wearer's foot. In its construction, the first layer of cladding includes wires that are mechanically interwoven. By way of still example, at least a portion of the wire comprises at least one molten fiber, for example, a copolymerized amide fiber.

Still not for the purpose of limitation, the thread used includes at least one type of molten fiber distributed over the entire first layer of cladding 21, and the shape of the first layer of cladding It is fixed by melting of a wire comprising at least one molten fiber. In fact, the melting of the wire imparts the property that the first layer covering body 21 maintains its shape. This means that even if it is not connected to other components, it will not collapse if no other external force is applied to it. On the one hand, it can be said that the first layer of the covering body 21 is a single part, and on the other hand, it can be a self-supporting part. Therefore, the first layer covering body 21 imparts its shape to the shoe 1. In other words, the rear end 24, the front end 25, the outer edge 26, the inner edge 27, the bottom 28 and the top end 29 of the first layer of cladding define the rear end 4, the front end 5 of the article of footwear, respectively Outer edge 6, inner edge 7, bottom 12 and top end 13. The extremely simple structure of the covering body 21 ensures simplicity, lightness and other advantages, as will be apparent later.

Without limitation, according to a first embodiment of the invention, the shoe 1 further comprises a second layer covering 31 extending lengthwise from the rear end 34 to the front end 35 in the longitudinal direction L and at the outer edge 36 in width Extending in the transverse direction W from the inner edge 37 and extending from the bottom 38 to the top end 39 in height. Like the first layer of cladding 21, the second layer of cladding 31 also covers the foot in a manner that wraps and supports the foot. The second layer covering body 31 is located outside the first layer covering body 21, and thus does not directly wrap the foot. The final shape of the shoe 1 is determined by the first layer of cladding 21 and the second layer of cladding 31 together. The advantages of using a two-layer cladding will then be better seen.

Also by way of example, the second layer of cladding 31 includes wires that are mechanically interwoven, at least a portion of the wires comprising at least one molten fiber, and a line comprising at least one molten fiber distributed throughout the second layer of cladding 31, and The shape of the second layer of cladding is fixed by melting of a wire comprising at least one molten fiber. Further, the melting of the wire imparts the property that the second layer covering body 31 maintains its shape. This means that even if it is not connected to other components, it will not collapse if no other external force is applied to it. On the one hand, it can be said that the second layer covering body 31 is a single component, on the other hand, It can be a self-supporting component. Therefore, the second layer covering body 31 also imparts its shape to the shoe 1. In other words, the rear end 34, the front end 35, the outer edge 36, the inner edge 37, the bottom 38 and the top end 39 of the second layer of cladding 31 respectively define the rear end 4, front end 5 of the article of footwear or shoe 1 The outer edge 6, the inner edge 7, the bottom 12 and the top end 13. The extremely simple structure employed by the covering body 31 ensures simplicity, lightness, and other advantages, as will be apparent later.

In order to better understand the solution of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is very useful to clarify how the covering bodies 21, 31 are made.

As shown in Fig. 2, each of the covering bodies 21, 31 is made by forming a sleeve 41, that is, by a hose which is made by mechanically intertwined wires. to make. It can also be said that the first layer covering body 21 is constituted by a sock-shaped sleeve, and the second layer covering body 31 is also constituted by a sock-shaped sleeve. The sleeve 41 is a semi-finished product for making an article of footwear or shoe 1. For the purpose of limitation, the sleeve 41 can simultaneously form the first layer covering body 21 and the second layer covering body 31, that is, two sock sleeves. The sleeve 41 extends from the first end 42 to the second end 43 in the length direction. The first end 42 is stitched by any technique known to those skilled in the art, such as stitching after stitching, adding a top made of mechanically interwoven threads, or other equivalent means. It should be noted that in some cases, the first end 42 of the sleeve 41 is not stitched. At the same time, the second end 43 is a simple opening.

It is noted that the sleeve 41 can allow the covering bodies 21, 31 to be made in one piece. At this time, the first layer covering body 21 and the second layer covering body 31 are extended to each other. In this way, the production is simplified by reducing the number of parts and the time necessary for installation. The step of using the sleeve 41 for making the shoe 1 will be described in detail below. However, prior to this, in order to follow the principles of the first embodiment of the present invention, it is necessary to define some features. need.

First, as understood by means of Figures 1 and 2, the boundary of the first layer of cladding 21 and the second layer of cladding 31 has a pleat 45 defining the rear side of the shoe opening 14. Therefore, the periphery of the rear side shoe opening 14 is simply defined by the fact that the two layers of covering bodies 21, 31 are folded over each other. This means that there are no stitches or patches of the conventional craft around the periphery, so that the shoe 1 does not make the wearer feel the discomfort brought about by the shoe mouth 14. Such a design results in the rear side shoe opening 14 of the shoe 1 being also the rear side shoe opening of the first layer covering body 21 and the rear side shoe opening of the second layer covering body 31.

Then, as understood by means of Figure 1, the article of footwear or shoe 1 comprises a first waterproof structural member 48 that extends relative to the first region of the first layer of cladding 21. The first waterproof structural member 48 will be described in detail below.

According to the invention, the shoe 1 comprises a film 51 for preventing the passage or waterproofing of a fluid which extends relative to a second region of the first layer of cladding.

The footwear, here the waterproofness of the shoe 1, exists in two different ways in two different areas. In other words, the shoe made by the present invention achieves its water repellency by reducing the surface area of the film compared to the conventional process. It can also be said that the film used here extends in a direction opposite to the subdivided portion of the covering body on the reduced portion of the first layer covering body 21. Therefore, compared to the conventional process, only a few manufacturing steps are required to make the shoe, and only a small amount of film or a small area film is required. Among these advantages, it can be mentioned that the simplification of the production makes it possible to obtain the waterproofness of the article of footwear with less film. Another advantage is that it greatly speeds up production. Another advantage is that the price of each pair of footwear is reduced or the use of the film is reduced. A broader advantage of the present invention is the reduced production cost of the article of footwear due to simplification of the structure, reduction in the time required for fabrication, and reduction or distribution of the film due to the number of films. The reduction in product reduces the cost of the film. It can also be said that shoes made in accordance with the present invention are very economical.

Another advantage of making shoes in accordance with the present invention is that the risk of damage to the film, i.e., the risk of production operations, is reduced due to the reduced number and/or area of the film. These factors, namely the reduction in quantity and/or area, also contribute to the application of the film to the structure of the footwear.

It can be said that the present invention succeeds in rendering the shoe waterproof in two different areas by two different means. The term "rebel" as used herein refers to the reduction in manufacturing costs compared to the traditional shoemaking process, although the number of components is increased.

The film 51 and its use in the shoe 1, in particular as shown in Figures 3 to 5, also follow the non-limiting principle of the first embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Figure 3, the film 51 has the overall appearance of the sheet. The film 51 extends from the rear end 54 to the front end 55 in length, extends between the outer edge 56 and the inner edge 57 in width, and extends between the first face 58 and the second face 59 in height. The film is a very light part that is easy to fold and should be handled with care. In fact, for the first embodiment of the present invention, the film 51 has a thickness of 10 to 250 μm, and a thickness of 30 to 120 μm gives a good effect, such as a more specific value of 40 μm.

For the purpose of limitation, the film 51 is composed of a single layer, or alternatively, several layers of film. For example, the film 51 is impervious to water but permeable. In other words, the film is breathable and waterproof: the film allows gas, such as water vapor, to pass, but does not allow liquid, such as water, to pass, thereby improving foot comfort. The film is made of, for example, polyolefin, polyethylene-propylene copolymer, polyethylene, terephthalate, polycaprolactone, polyvinyl fluoride, polybutylene terephthalate, polyester copolymer, polytetrafluoroethylene. Made of a polymer material such as ethylene or the like. For example, the film 51 comprises a layer of porous polytetrafluoroethylene Alkene and a layer of polyurethane.

The film 51 is inserted into the shoe 1 by a suitable technique. For example, the sleeve 41 is located on a support, such as a cylindrical member 60. Alternatively, the support member 60 can have other shapes, such as a plate shape or other shape. However, the final sleeve 41 will be placed over the support member 60, for example, in a slightly tight manner. This means that the diameter of the support is slightly larger than the diameter of the sleeve. It can also be said that the circumference of the support is larger than the diameter of the sleeve. The film 51 is then applied to the sleeve 41 by hand or machine. For the purpose of limitation, according to the first embodiment, the film 51 can be fixed to the first layer covering body 21 by any technique. For example, point bonding, uniform bonding, spot welding, uniform welding or other means.

The assembly formed by the sleeve 41 and the film 51 is as shown in FIG. It can also be clearly seen that the film 51 extends at the first layer of cladding 21. In effect, the film 51 defines a second region of the first layer of cladding 21 which, as previously described, prevents fluid from passing through or is waterproof. More specifically, it can be seen more precisely here that on the first layer of cladding 21, the film 51 extends from the outer edge 26 across the top end 29 to the inner edge 27, the film 51 being at the top end 29 in length The first layer of cladding body 21 extends between the rear side shoe opening 14 and the front end 25. This allows the film 51 to cover the upper and partial sides of the foot when the shoe is in use. In order to optimize the coverage of the upper part of the foot, it can be seen that the film 51 extends from the leading edge 61 of the rear side shoe opening 14 of the top end 29 towards the first layer covering body 21.

Additionally, and not necessarily, as shown in FIG. 5, the protective layer 62 is located on the outer edge 26 of the first layer of cladding 21. Although not shown in the drawings, another protective layer is located on the inner edge 27 of the first layer of cladding 21. Each of the protective layers contains a synthetic material designed to protect the first layer of cladding 21 to ensure that the material is tightly adhered to the shoe and will be better understood later. Each protective layer can be bonded by any known technique, such as bonding or In a similar manner, he is connected to the first layer of cladding.

The introduction of the first waterproof zone discussed previously is now completed, as shown in Figure 6, which is defined by the first structural component 48. The first structural component 48 is here a stiffener that extends lengthwise from the rear end 64 to the front end 65, extends between the outer edge 66 and the inner edge 67 in width, and extends from the bottom 68 to the top in height. 69. The rear end 64 is here a heel liner that can wrap around the heel, while the front end 65 is here a toe cap that is adapted to wrap the front of the toe. The length and width of the reinforcing member 48 are similar to the length and width of the covering bodies 21, 31. More specifically, the stiffener 48, relative to the first layer of cladding 21, extends lengthwise from the rear end 24 to the front end 25, extending between the outer edge 26 and the inner edge 27 in width, in height from The bottom 28 extends to the top end 29. The first layer of cladding 21 can thus be reinforced, thereby reinforcing the article of footwear 1 , particularly at its bottom 12 and around the bottom. Alternatively, the stiffener 48 may extend only over a portion of the length of the shoe, or a portion of the width of the shoe, or portions of the length and width of the shoe.

Without limitation, the stiffener 48 has a slack mechanism 71, which can be seen in FIG. The slack mechanism includes, for example, a shoe hole 72 at the top end 69, as well as a lace 73 and a locking mechanism 74 as are known to those skilled in the art. In this way, the stiffener 48 can be tightened or loosened and the shoe 1 can be tightened or relaxed thereby.

Now, according to Figs. 7 to 9, the production of the shoe 1 is started. In fact, the shoe 1 is hand-made and does not require complicated and expensive machines.

7 and 8, it can be understood that the sleeve 41 is sewn on a member called a last 76 which is formed according to the shape of the wearer's foot. The sleeve is placed over the last 76 in the form of a sock on the foot. The sleeve 41 is constructed to be elastic so as to conform to the shape of the last 76. Then, the reinforcing member 48 is mounted on a subdivided portion of the sleeve 41 which is about to become the first layer covering body 21. Next, the sleeve 41 which will become the second layer covering body 31 The subdivided portion is folded over the reinforcement member 48, thereby covering the latter and being assigned as a subdivided portion of the first layer of cladding. This is sufficient to form a subassembly of the shoe 1 that wraps the foot, as shown in Figure 9, which ultimately includes a first layer of cladding 21, a stiffener 48 and a second layer of cladding 31. The subassembly is then subjected to a high temperature of fibers sufficient to melt the hot melt material of the cladding by any suitable technique to impart geometry to the shoe 1. After heating, the last 76 can be withdrawn from the subassembly. The shoe 1 is basically completed. According to the first embodiment, it is only necessary to add an outer sole 78 thereto. As shown in Figure 1, the outer sole 78 is used to support on the ground so that it is configured to withstand the wear of the friction and absorb shock. Therefore, it includes, for example, a wear layer 79 and a buffer layer 80. The article of footwear or shoe 1 includes an outer sole 78 that faces the bottom 28 of the first layer of cladding 21 and faces the bottom 38 of the second layer of cladding 31. Shoes made in accordance with the present invention are well suited for long distance runners.

Also shown in Fig. 1 is a first structural component 48, a stiffener 48 as described herein, positioned between the first layer of cladding 21 and the second layer of cladding 31. In fact, the first layer of cladding 21 separates the stiffener from the foot, and for better comfort, the stiffener is not interfered with by external components, such as attached brackets, to facilitate use.

Still in accordance with the first embodiment, with reference to Figures 1, 6 through 9, structural member 48 includes a bottom portion 68 that extends relative to the bottom portion 28 of the first layer of cladding body 21. Thereby, the bottom of the shoe 1 is made waterproof. Structural component 48 includes an outer edge 66 that is coupled to bottom portion 68 and/or an inner edge 67 that is coupled to bottom portion 68. In effect, structural member 48 includes an outer edge 66 that is coupled to bottom portion 68 and an inner edge 67 that is coupled to bottom portion 68. Thereby, the outer side edge 6 and the inner side edge 7 of the shoe 1 are made waterproof at least at their lower portions near the bottom portion 12. It is also noted that the structural component 48 includes a rear end 64 that is coupled to the bottom portion 68 and/or a front end 65 that is coupled to the bottom portion 68. In fact, structural component 48 includes and bottom 68 A rear end 64 is connected to the front end 65 that is coupled to the bottom portion 68. This causes the front end 5 and the rear end 4 of the shoe 1 to be waterproof at least at their lower portions near the bottom 12.

Without limitation, the bottom portion 68, the outer edge 66, the inner edge 67, the rear end 64, and the front end 68 of the structural member 48 are formed as a single component made of, for example, a composite material. Alternatively, in some cases, structural component 48 includes a variety of different components, such as a bottom, side edges, heel or front cover, which are separately fabricated and assembled by suitable techniques.

In order to optimize the resistance of the interior of the shoe 1 to water ingress, in general, the first structural component 48 and the film 51 extend along at least 90% of the surface of the first layer of cladding 21. Accordingly, the structural member 48 and the film 51 extend along at least 90% of the surface of the second layer of cladding 31.

In order to facilitate the manufacture of the shoe 1 and to optimize the water-repellent property of the shoe, the first structural member 48 and the waterproof film 51 are partially disposed opposite each other. Structural member 48 and film 51 are interconnected by suitable techniques such as bonding or the like. The connection is not mandatory, but it is more waterproof than the connection.

Other embodiments of the invention are subsequently described by way of Figures 10-16. For the sake of convenience, a difference from the first embodiment is emphasized. In addition, the same or similar components as those in the first embodiment are given the same component symbols.

For the second embodiment, according to Figures 10 to 13, the first layer of cladding 21, as well as its rear end 24 and front end 25, outer edge 26 and inner edge 27, or even its bottom 28 and top end 29, can be seen. . The film 51 and the rear end 54, the front end 55, the outer edge 56, the inner edge 57, and the first side 58 and the second side 59 are also visible.

The second embodiment differs in that the shoe 1 includes only the first layer of the covering body 21. This means that the sleeve that allows the fabrication of a layer of cladding is shorter than the preparation of two claddings. Sleeve. Thereby, the structure of the article of footwear 1 is simplified. The advantage of this product is that it is light.

With regard to the third embodiment, according to Figs. 14 to 16, it comprises a first layer covering body 21 and a second layer covering body 31 obtained, for example, by means of a sleeve 41.

The third embodiment differs in that the shoe 1 includes a lower portion 10 for wrapping the foot and an upper portion 90 for wrapping the ankle and even the lower leg. For purposes of limitation, the article of footwear 1 includes a film 91 that extends at the lower portion 10 and the upper portion 90. Film 91 exhibits a leaf-like overall appearance. The film 91 extends from the first end 94 to the second end 95 in length, extends between the first side 96 and the second side 97 in width, and extends in thickness from the first side 98 to the second side 99. In order to better accommodate the geometry of the shoe 1, the film has slits, such as two transverse slits 101, 102 and two longitudinal grooves 103, 104. Regarding the constitution and embedding of the film 91 in the shoe 1, the method employed in the first embodiment is equally applicable to the third embodiment.

In any event, the practice of the invention begins with materials well known to those skilled in the art. The invention also includes the preparation of sleeve 41 or outer sole 78 by means of some well known techniques.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but also includes all equivalent techniques falling within the scope of the appended claims.

In particular, one or more layers of the covering may be added to the article of footwear 1 . One or more or all of these coatings can be accomplished by using other techniques rather than using sleeves or sock sleeves. In particular, it is conceivable to prepare the cladding from a planar semi-finished product, that is to say from the plane, and then to make the semi-finished product a three-dimensional space, i.e. to become a three-dimensional shape, and to maintain its shape by the sole element.

When the cladding contains wire, it is not necessary that all of the wires must be molten. It can even be lined or not melted.

When the article of footwear comprises a sleeve or a sock-like sleeve, the latter can be prepared separately and then joined together by, for example, superposition.

It is not necessary for the covering to extend along its length along the length of the shoe. This means that if the article of footwear comprises a multi-layered covering, one of the layers can be a little shorter. In particular, when the second layer covering body 31 is slightly shorter than the first layer covering body 21, it will be advantageous for the manufacture of the shoe.

It should be noted that the reinforcement members are located on the exterior of the article of footwear and directly or indirectly cover all of the cladding bodies. Conversely, the reinforcement member can also be located inside the article of footwear.

The film may be located on one side or the other side of the surface of any of the layers of the covering, that is, the inside or outside of the body. Alternatively, the film can also be located on the reinforcing structure. The shoe may also include a multilayer film.

Still relating to the film, it can be seen that it consists, for example, of a sheet-like material, that is to say that its two-dimensional shape is a planar part. Alternatively, the film may also be in a three-dimensional shape; the film becomes an envelope defined by a volume suitable for the shape of the sock sleeve.

With regard to the stiffener 48, it can be seen that in some cases it includes the bottom, side edges, front end and rear end. However, in other cases, the stiffener may also have no front end and/or back end. For example, the reinforcement member only includes the bottom, the outer edge, and the inner edge. This is a simplified version of the footwear.

It should also be noted that in some instances, the stiffener 48 is shown with a weakened portion at its bottom portion 68 that is achieved by a cavity located in front of the article of footwear. In order to accommodate longitudinal bending along the bottom 68 of the transverse axis, these cavities may be transverse grooves. This is conducive to the smooth walking of the foot.

1‧‧‧shoe products; shoes

4‧‧‧(shoe) back/heel

5‧‧‧(shoe) front end / toe cap

6‧‧‧ (shoe) outer edge

7‧‧‧ (shoe) inner edge

10‧‧‧(shoes) lower part

12‧‧‧(shoe) bottom

13‧‧‧ (shoes) top

14‧‧‧(shoes, first/second layer covering) (back side)

21‧‧‧(first layer) cladding

24‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) back end

25‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) front end

26‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) outer edge

27‧‧‧ (first layer of cladding) inner edge

28‧‧‧(first layer cladding) bottom

29‧‧‧ (first layer cladding) top

31‧‧‧ (second layer) cladding

34‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) back end

35‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) front end

36‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) outer edge

37‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) inner edge

38‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) bottom

39‧‧‧ (second layer cladding) top

45‧‧‧ pleat

48‧‧‧(first) (waterproof) structural components; reinforcements

51‧‧‧(waterproof) film

71‧‧‧ elastic mechanism

72‧‧‧Shoe hole

73‧‧‧lace

74‧‧‧Locking mechanism

78‧‧‧Outer soles

79‧‧‧ wear layer

80‧‧‧buffer layer

L‧‧‧ longitudinal direction

W‧‧‧ transverse direction

Claims (15)

An article of footwear comprising a first layer of cladding (21) extending lengthwise from a rear end (24) to a front end (25) and a width at an outer edge (26) ) extending between the inner edge (27) and extending from the bottom (28) to the top end (29) in height, the article of footwear (1) having a rear side shoe opening (14) at the top end (29), and The article of footwear (1) comprises a first waterproof structural member (48) extending relative to a first region of the first layer of cladding (21), characterized by comprising a film for preventing fluid passage or waterproofing (51) And the film (51) extends relative to the second region of the first layer of cladding (21). The article of footwear of claim 1, wherein the structural member (48) comprises a bottom portion (68) extending relative to a bottom portion (28) of the first layer of cladding (21). The article of footwear of claim 2, wherein the structural member (48) comprises an outer edge (66) coupled to the base (68) and/or an inner edge (67) coupled to the base (68). The article of footwear of claim 2 or 3, wherein the structural member (48) includes a rear end (64) coupled to the base (68) and/or a front end (65) coupled to the bottom portion (68). The article of footwear of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the film (51) extends over the top layer (29) from the outer edge (26) of the first layer of cladding (21) To the inner edge (27), and the film (51) extends between the side of the first layer of the body (21) and the front end (25) at the top end (29). . The article of footwear according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the film (51) is oriented from the leading edge (61) of the rear side (14) of the top end (29) toward the first layer of cladding (21) )extend. The article of footwear of any of claims 1 to 6, wherein the film (51) is impervious to water but permeable. The article of footwear of any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the film (51) is attached to the first layer of cladding (21). The article of footwear of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first structural member (48) and the film (51) extend along at least 90% of the surface of the first layer of cladding (21) . The article of footwear of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first structural component (48) and the waterproof film (51) are partially opposite each other. The article of footwear of any of claims 1 to 10, further comprising a second layer of cladding (31) extending in length from the rear end (34) to The front end (35) extends between the outer edge (36) and the inner edge (37) in width and extends from the bottom (38) to the top end (39) in height. The article of footwear of claim 11, wherein the first structural component (48) is between the first layer of cladding (21) and the second layer of cladding (31). The article of footwear of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the first layer of cladding (21) is comprised of a sock sleeve. The article of footwear of any of claims 11 to 13, wherein the second layer of cladding (31) is comprised of a sock sleeve. The article of footwear of any of claims 1 to 14, wherein the outer sole (78) is disposed to face the bottom (28) of the first layer of cladding (21).