Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/12—Special watertight footwear
  • A43B7/125—Special watertight footwear provided with a vapour permeable member, e.g. a membrane
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A43—FOOTWEAR
  • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
  • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
  • A43B7/36—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with earthing or grounding means

Definitions

• the invention relates to waterproof footwear with an upper materiai shaft consisting of an upper material, with a functional layer shaft being arranged inside of the upper material shaft and incorporating a waterproof, functional layer, with an insole and an outsole, wherein the sole-facing end areas of both the upper material shaft and of the functional layer shaft are turned around the circumferential edge of the insole, in case of the sole-facing end area of the upper material shaft in the form of a lasting allowance.
• the functional layer may in addition to being waterproof also be water vapor permeable.
• Footwear of this type is conventionally either lined with a sock-like insert consisting of a functional layer material (also known by the technical expression “bootie”) to protect the foot fully from penetrating water, or a construction of the type described in the beginning is used wherein the sole-facing open end of both the upper material shaft and the functional layer shaft are lasted and glued around a last holding the insole in an adhesive lasting process.
• a functional layer material also known by the technical expression "bootie”
• the solution with the sock-like functional layer insert makes the footwear reliably waterproof, but may be disadvantageous if for some reason a material different from the functional layer or a material with different properties than the functional layer were preferable in the sole area.
• German utility model DE-U-9113139 quotes a bicomponent bootie whose shaft part consists of a functional layer and whose sole area consists of a two-dimensionally stretchable plastic film made from a different material than the functional layer material, but one which is desired to be waterproof.
• the reason for the stretchability is that the foot stretches in two dimensions when walking whereas conventional functional layer materials stretch intone dimension only entailing the danger of excessive loads in the sole area of the bootie.
• the functional layer constitutes a barrier to the discharge of electrical charges because conventional functional materials, for example microporous polytetrafiuoroethylene (PTFE), have a high electrical insulating capacity.
• PTFE microporous polytetrafiuoroethylene
• the materials located within the lasting allowance of the functional layer shaft can be selected adequately so that properties can be achieved which would have been impossible if a socklike functional layer insert had been used.
• antistatic materials may be used, i.e. materials which do not constitute a barrier to the dissipation or discharge of static electrical charges.
• a lasting process is rather work-intensive and requires a lasting machine to produce the lasting allowance.
• a lasting allowance is produced both for the upper materiai shaft and for the functional layer shaft, two lasting processes and two lasting machines are required, which is rather cost-intensive.
• the object of the present invention is to provide for waterproof footwear of the type described above which offers considerable freedom in sole material selection and which does not require two lasting processes to produce the footwear.
• the invention provides for waterproof footwear with an upper material shaft made up of an upper material, with a functional layer shaft arranged inside of the upper material shaft and comprising a waterproof functional layer, with an insole and with an outsole, wherein the sole-facing end area of .
• both the upper material shaft and the functional layer shaft is turned around the circumferential edge of the insole between the insole and the outsole, wherein the sole-facing end area of the upper material shaft is connected in the form of a lasting allowance
• the sole-facing opening of the functional layer shaft is closed by means of a closing piece and which is sewn to the edge of this opening and which extends underneath the insole, and wherein between the closing piece and the lasting allowance of the upper material shaft a sealant is arranged which seals both the seam between the functional layer shaft and the closing piece and the closing piece itself.
• the functional layer in addition to being waterproof, is also water vapor permeable.
• the upper material is also water vapor permeable, which allows comfortable breathable waterproof footwear to be produced..
• Waterproof footwear is defined to mean that no liquid water leaks through the footwear, with no pressure being applied.
• the Two Hour Hydro Test is used to test for waterproofness in footwear. This test was performed at ambient temperature and humidity. The footwear was checked to make sure that it was completely dry. A paper towel was folded in half, lengthwise, so that it was double, i.e., had two layers, and was set on a clean benchtop. The paper towel functions as a blotter. The footwear was then set on this paper towel blotter. Approximately 500-600 mis of clean, tap water was poured into the footwear, filling it to the top of the heel. The volume of water will vary with the size of the footwear. The paper towel blotter was then observed for wet spots, at fifteen minute intervals during a two hour period.
• the footwear was rated to Pass, if the paper towel blotter remained dry, i.e., no water leaked through the the footwear.
• the footwear was rated to Fail, if there were wet spots on the paper towel blotter, indicating where water had seeped through the footwear and collected on the paper towel.
• Waterproof functional layer as used herein is meant a functional layer having water-penetration-resistance (hydrostatic resistance) of 6.8 kPa (1.0 psi) or more.
• the Low Pressure Hydrostatic Resistance Test (WEP) is used to indicate the waterproofness of the functional layer. It consists essentially of forcing water against one side of a test piece, and observing the other side of the test piece for indications of water penetration through it.
• the test specimen was clamped and sealed between rubber gaskets in a fixture that holds the test piece.
• One surface of the test specimen was in contact with the water and the other side faced upward, open to the atmosphere, for close observation. Air was removed from inside the fixture and pressure was applied to the inside surface of the test piece, over an area of 7.62 cm (3.0 inches) diameter, as water was forced against it.
• the water pressure on the test piece was increased to about 6.9 kPa (1.0 psi) by a pump connected to a water reservoir, as indicated by an appropriate gauge and regulated by an in-line valve.
• the surface of the test piece was watched closely for the appearance of any water forced through the material. Water seen on the surface is interpreted as a leak.
• the sample surface is observed for one minute at test pressure, at which time the number of leaks are counted and recorded.
• Water-vapor-permeable as used herein is meant having a water-vapor- transmission (WVTR) rate of 100 g/m2/24-hours or more.
• the water bath assembly was controlled at 23°C plus 0.2°C, utilizing a temperature controlled room and a water circulating bath.
• the sample to be tested was allowed to condition at a temperature of 23°C and a relative humidity of 50% prior to performing the test procedure. Samples were placed so the microporous polymeric membrane was in contact with the expanded polytetrafiuoroethylene membrane mounted to the surface of the water bath and allowed to equilibrate for at least 15 minutes prior to the introduction of the cup assembly.
• the cup assembly was weighed to the nearest 1/1000g. and was placed in an inverted manner onto the center of the test sample. Water transport was provided by the driving force between the water in the water bath and the saturated salt solution providing water flux by diffusion in that direction. The sample was tested for 60 minutes and the cup assembly was then removed, weighed again within 1/1000g. The WVTR of the sample was calculated from the weight gain of the cup assembly and was expressed in grams of water per square meter of sample surface area per 24 hours.
• the sole-side opening of the functional layer shaft is closed by means of a closing piece of any sewable material extending underneath the insole and being sewn to the edge of this opening and that between the closing piece and the lasting allowance of the upper material shaft there is a waterproof sealing material which seals both the seam between the functional layer shaft and the closing piece and the closing piece itself.
• any material may be selected as "closing piece", as long as it can be sewn to the functional layer shaft.
• an electrically conductive material can be used for an antistatic footwear so that static charges can be dissipated and removed from the footwear.
• electrically conductive materials are aiso used for the insole, the sealing material and the outsole.
• German utility model DE-U-295 05 886 and European patent application EP-A-96 104 891 containing the same disclosure, both of which were published after the priority date of the present patent application, describe footwear which dissipates static electrical charges and has an outsole consisting of an electrically conductive material, a bootie consisting of a functional layer and an insole arranged in between.
• the insole consists of an electrically conductive material, either fully or only in the foot ' s ball area.
• the bootie too, consists of an electrically conductive material, either fully or only in the sole area or only in the foot ' s ball area.
• a functional layer material which has been rendered electrically conductive by embedding electrically conductive particles or the functional layer material is replaced by a different electrically conductive material in the foot ' s ball or sole area, e.g. by sewing such a material into a bootie hole in the foot ' s ball or sole area. Since this other material must be waterproof, there is only a limited number of materials to choose from.
• An inlay sole is arranged inside of the bootie.
• the functional layer shaft and the closing piece are sewn together by means of a Strobel seam.
• the sealant may be an adhesive- like material or a film or plate like material, e.g. a material whose adhesive force can be activated by, but not limited to heat, UV or infrared radiation or chemical curing systems. It can be made of any material, which allows the sole region of the footwear to be waterproofed, in particular polymers, preferably polyurethane or polytetraflouroethylene.
• An electrically conductive sewing material may be used to produce the seam between the closing piece and the functional layer shaft, either in addition to a closing piece consisting of an electrically conductive material or instead of using an electrically conductive material for the closing piece.
• An adhesive bond may be provided between the end area of the functional layer shaft and/or the closing piece and the insole on the one hand and the lasting allowance of the upper material shaft on the other hand.
• An outsole may be mounted to the lasting allowance and the sealing material either by injection molding or glueing.
• the outsole may be made from leather, rubber, thermoplastic elastomers or polyurethanes. Polyurethane is preferable if injection molding is used.
• the functional layer material may be made of any waterproof material or film, but is preferably microporous expanded PTFE, with a monolithic coating.
• Materials suitable for the functional layer comprise microporous expanded polytetrafiuoroethylene (PTFE) as described in US patent specifications 3,953,566 andn 4,187,390; expanded PTFE provided with hydrophilic impregnating agents and/or layers as described in US patent specification 4,194,041 ; breathable polyurethane layers; or elastomers, such as copolyetherester and laminates thereof as described in US patent specifications 4,725,481 and 4,493,870.
• PTFE microporous expanded polytetrafiuoroethylene
• Figure 1 is a schematic view of footwear in accordance with the invention and with an injection molded outsole.
• Figure 2 is a schemativ view of footwear in accordance with the invention and with an adhesively attached outsole.
• the embodiment shown in Figure 1 comprises an upper material shaft 11 consisting of an upper material, such as leather.
• a functional layer shaft 13 which consists of a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer, preferably of expanded microporous PTFE.
• the functional layer may be part of a laminate which comprises at least one textile layer in addition to the functional layer, e.g a textile lining layer located on the inside of the laminate.
• a backing material is provided on the outside of the functional layer, i.e. a thin textile layer to protect the functional layer towards the upper material layer 11.
• the footwear comprises an insole 15, which may consist of a cardboard or leather-like material or of plastic, and an outsole 29, which may consist of injection molded polyurethane.
• the sole-side end 17 of the functional layer shaft is turned around the insole circumference 19 towards the outsole-facing circumferential edge of the insole.
• An sole- facing opening of the functional layer shaft 13, which remains after this step, is closed by means of a closing piece 21 which is attached to the sole-side edge of the functional layer shaft 13 by means of a Strobel- type seam 23.
• the sole-facing opening of the functional layer shaft 13 may be closed before the functional layer shaft is pulled over the last (not shown) with the attached insole 15.
• a sealing material 25 which extends so far that it covers and seals at least the entire closing piece 21 and the Strobel seam 23, making the sole area of the footwear waterproof.
• the sole-side end 27 of the upper material shaft 11 is lasted around the functional layer shaft to the underside of the sealant material 25 by means of an adhesive lasting process.
• connection between the insole 15 and the turned around end 17 of the functional layer insert 13 and/or the closing piece 21 may be effected, e.g., by glueing.
• the closing piece 21 may consist of any desirable material, the only condition being that it must be sewable.
• any desirable material for example there is a material commercially available from USM Corp. under the trade name of TEXON which is suitable for this purpose, if static charges are to be dissipated via the sole construction.
• electrically conductive sewing materials are carbon, nickel plated or silver plated threads, such as are sold under the trade name X-STATIC by Saquoit Industries.
• An example of a suitable sealant material is, e.g., seam sealing tape material as used according to the state of the art for sealing seams in functional layers.
• the footwear construction shown in Figure 2 is the same as in Figure 1 , with the exception, that the outsole is adhesively attached instead of injection molded and made of e.g., prefabricated plastic or leather.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Epidemiology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (2)

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ID=7798965

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

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Family Cites Families (17)

• 1996
  • 1996-07-04 DE DE19627030A patent/DE19627030C2/de not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 1997
  • 1997-07-04 AT AT97931778T patent/ATE233497T1/de active
  • 1997-07-04 AU AU35414/97A patent/AU3541497A/en not_active Abandoned
  • 1997-07-04 WO PCT/EP1997/003550 patent/WO1998001049A1/en active IP Right Grant
  • 1997-07-04 EP EP97931778A patent/EP0915669B1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 1997-07-04 DE DE69719514T patent/DE69719514T2/de not_active Expired - Lifetime

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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