EP3666105B1

EP3666105B1 - Method for producing a waterproof boot and waterproof boot produced with said method

Info

Publication number: EP3666105B1
Application number: EP19214672.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Tommaso Vianello
Original assignee: Wsm Srl
Current assignee: Wsm Srl
Priority date: 2018-12-10
Filing date: 2019-12-10
Publication date: 2021-11-10
Anticipated expiration: 2039-12-10
Also published as: ES2906210T3; EP3666105A1; IT201800010948A1

Description

Field of application

The present invention regards a method for producing a waterproof boot and a waterproof boot produced with such method, according to the preamble of the respective independent claims.
The present invention has application in the field of footwear in general, usable for the most generalized purposes such as in the rain, on snow or on wet terrain, or for other "outdoor" uses such as trekking, hunting, boating or the like.
More in detail the present boot is adapted for an advantageous use as travel footwear, since it can assume a limited bulk which allows an easier placement thereof in the suitcase.
The invention is therefore inserted in the context of the industrial field of footwear production.

Field of the art

In the footwear field, boots are known that are provided with a water-impermeable upper intended to enclose the foot and a part of the leg, generally up to the tibia, i.e. in proximity to the zone underlying the knee joint, and a sole fixed below the upper, usually a heavy-duty sole for gripping the terrain. The upper defines the foot and leg containment seat; it is below and perimetrically fixed to the sole by means of fixing means such as stitching and/or glue or by means of a vulcanization process. For example, the sole is made of rubber and fixed to the upper by means of a perimeter stitching.
Boots are known that are constituted by an external component (usually termed shell or hull) and by an internal component (usually termed liner) inserted within the external component.
Generally, the internal component is obtained with a highly breathable material, while the external component is made of an impermeable material or possibly of an impermeable and breathable material.
In a known embodiment, the boot can also have a liner, shaped as a sack, stitched within the boot and acting as waterproofing element in case of immersion of the boot in water. The patent application US 2008/0110051 describes a further boot of known type which is provided with a rubber shell that covers the foot portion of the upper up to the sole and is fixed to the upper by means of a layer of adhesive material. This document discloses a method of producing a waterproof boot according to the preamble of claim 1 and a waterproof boot according to the preamble of claim 8 respectively.
The boots of known type, presently available on the market and briefly described up to now, have in practice shown that they do not lack drawbacks. One important drawback of such footwear lies in the inability to meet the requirements of high impermeability with a simple and inexpensive production process.
In addition, the known boots that today ensure a high waterproofing are usually intended for a specific professional use such as boating or fishing. They are rather heavy, generally rigid and hence in the end quite bulky and unsuitable for ensuring an undifferentiated use, and in particular for example an easy transport by suitcase or an extemporaneous use if required.
There is therefore the need on the market for a waterproof boot attained by means of production processes, which allows ensuring limited costs, and which allows high ease of use as well as high waterproofing performances.

Presentation of the invention

In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is therefore that of overcoming the drawbacks manifested by the methods for producing the boots of known type, by providing a method for producing a waterproof boot that is simple to achieve.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a waterproof boot which is simple and inexpensive to make.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a waterproof boot which is capable of ensuring an optimal watertight seal.
A further object of the present invention is that of providing a waterproof boot which is light and packable in a limited bulk, such that it can be easily transported in a suitcase. A further object of the present invention is that of providing a waterproof boot which has a pleasant appearance.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, according to the aforesaid objects, can be clearly seen in the contents of the below-reported claims and the advantages thereof will be more evident in the following detailed description, made with reference to the enclosed drawings, which represent a merely exemplifying and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

Figure 1 shows a first side view of the boot, object of the present invention;
Figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the boot of figure 1;
Figure 3 shows the boot of figure 1 in a rear view;
Figure 4 shows a second side view of the boot, object of the present invention, with some parts in exploded view in order to better illustrate other parts and with a rigid form of the production method according to the invention illustrated above;
Figure 5 shows two boots, object of the present invention, arranged opposite each other in a compact shape for transport;
Figure 6 shows a boot, object of the present invention, in a first embodiment of a compact shape for transport, obtained by folding a waterproof sock on itself;
Figure 7 shows a boot, object of the present invention, in a second embodiment of a compact shape for transport, obtained by laterally winding the waterproof sock around the bottom.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the enclosed drawings, reference number 1 overall indicates a waterproof boot, object of the present invention.
The boot 1 is advantageously intended to be worn by a final user both as a technical shoe for carrying out particular activities (hunting, fishing etc.) and as a conventional shoe.
The method for producing the waterproof boot 1 according to claim 1, object of the present invention, comprises a step of arranging a waterproof sock 2 made of synthetic rubber, advantageously for example made of neoprene or of a synthetic fiber, in particular polyurethane fiber, coated with a waterproofing elastic film, in particular it too made of polyurethane. Advantageously, ornamental designs can be arranged on the elastic film for decorating the boot.
This step of arranging the waterproof sock 2 can be obtained by means of heat-sealing flaps of segments belonging to a single shape, or to multiple shapes of sheets made of said synthetic rubber, with which the method allows anatomically shaping the waterproof sock 2 substantially according to the shape of the foot.
In the enclosed figures, it is possible to observe lines 3 for joining opposite flaps of such material. Other methods can be provided for joining together opposite flaps of the sheet or sheets made of synthetic rubber in order to obtain the shape of a sock, which will not be described in detail hereinbelow since they are well-known to the man skilled in the art.
More in detail, the waterproof sock 2 is composed of a first foot-shaped portion 2A and of a second leg-shaped tubular portion 2B, and such two portions 2A and 2B are joined together without interruption.
The method according to the invention also comprises a step of arranging a bottom 4 provided with a sole 4A and with a raised edge 4B fixed perimetrically in a single body to the sole 4A. Such raised edge 4B defines a seat 40 intended to be engaged by the lower part of the waterproof sock 2, as will be specified hereinbelow.
The bottom 4 thus shaped is known in the technical jargon of the field as a "box bottom".
At this point, a step is provided for inserting a rigid form 5 within the waterproof sock 2. The rigid form 5 is shaped as a function of the model of boot 1 that one wishes to obtain and is per se of the type well-known to the man skilled in the art of the footwear field. This is preferably made of plastic, though it could also be made of other materials and in particular of wood.
Then, a step is provided for associating the waterproof sock 2 with the bottom 4 with the interposition of a glue layer 6.
Due to the presence of the rigid form 4 within the waterproof sock 2, a correct adhesion of the sheet, in particular polyurethane sheet, to the bottom 4 is possible by mating opposite surfaces.
The glue layer 6 may only be interposed between the sole 4A or the raised edge 4B and the waterproof sock 2 or advantageously between the entire bottom 4 and the waterproof sock 2.
The glue layer has been indicated in figure 6 only on the waterproof sock 2 at its external surface facing the internal surface of the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4.
The abovementioned association step advantageously provides for a step of pressing the waterproof sock 2 on the bottom 4 by means of a bell-shaped press with at least two flexible containers defining two corresponding volumes which are inflated with air and which enclose the boot, compressing the waterproof sock 2 on the bottom 4 and hence making them optimally adhere to each other.
Once the waterproof sock 2 is fixed to the bottom 4 due to the glue layer 6, the step of extracting the rigid form 5 from the waterproof sock 2 can then take place.
In accordance with the idea underlying the present invention, the method further comprises a step of stitching the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4 to the waterproof sock 2 along an annular line of sewing stitches 7.
In addition, in order to maintain the waterproofing of the boot 1, a step also is further necessarily provided for sealing the sewing stitches 7 with a sealant layer 8, which is placed astride the aforesaid annular line of sewing stitches 7.
The idea underlying the invention therefore lies in associating a particular upper with waterproof sock 2 with systems for fixing to the bottom 4, which on one hand maintain the waterproofing thereof and on the other hand confer to the boot the appearance and make of a walking boot.
The aforesaid step of stitching the raised edge 4B to the sock 2 along an annular line of sewing stitches 7 is per se an operation that is well-known to the man skilled in the art, for example on footwear of sneakers type and in the technical jargon of the field termed "opanka stitching" or "box stitching".
The step of sealing the sewing stitches can advantageously be attained by means of spreading the sealant layer 8, which is obtained in silicone rubber and/or polyurethane rubber.
Otherwise, such sealing step can be attained by means of deposition of the sealant layer 8 in the form of a tape which is made to adhere via hot stretching astride the aforesaid seam line.
Advantageously in accordance with one embodiment of the method for making the boot 1, object of the present invention, the waterproof sock 2 is made of a particularly flexible material (softer therefore than the bottom 4), advantageously it is made of neoprene, and with thickness comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm so that the waterproof sock 2, and in particular its leg-shaped portion 2B and the portion of the neck 2A' of the foot-shaped portion 2A, is collapsible into a compact shape substantially contained in the height S of the foot-shaped portion 2A calculated in the non-collapsed configuration of the same waterproof sock 2. The height S is calculated substantially starting from where the concavity of the portion of the neck 2A' of the foot-shaped portion 2A terminates, as can be seen in the enclosed figure 1.
Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 will occupy, in such compact shape, the seat 40 of the bottom 4, coming to exceed not over two times the thickness S' of its raised edge 4B, its bulk at the necessary rigid part of the bottom 4 therefore being minimized.
The boot 1 thus attained is therefore advantageously adapted to being modified into the aforesaid compact shape in order to limit the bulk thereof and hence in order to more easily place it in a suitcase.
Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 can be configured in compact shape during use, for example during the transport or containment of the boot 1 within a suitcase or a package.
The sock 2 is advantageously made of a synthetic fiber, in particular polyurethane fiber, coated with a waterproofing elastic film, in particular made of polyurethane.
In turn, the bottom 4 is advantageously made of a material selected from among: rubber, TR, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), PU (polyurethane).
The waterproof boot 1 and its production method thus conceived therefore attain the pre-established objects.
Also forming the object of the present invention is a waterproof boot according to claim 8, which will be described hereinbelow by using, for the sake of description simplicity, the same reference numbers reported above for its preferable but non-limiting production method. The boot 1 according to the invention comprises a waterproof sock 2 made of synthetic rubber, which is composed of a first foot-shaped portion 2A and of a second leg-shaped tubular portion 2B, joined together without interruption. The following are then provided for: a bottom 4 provided with a sole 4A and with a raised edge 4B fixed perimetrically in a single body to the sole 4A and fixing means for fixing the waterproof sock 2 to the bottom 4.
The bottom 4 is provided with the sole 4A and with the raised edge 4B, which is fixed perimetrically in a single body to the sole 4A. Such raised edge 4B defines the seat 40 intended to be engaged by the lower part of the waterproof sock 2.
The bottom 4 thus shaped is known in the technical jargon of the field as a "box bottom".
For fixing the sock 2 to the bottom, a step is provided for inserting a rigid form 5 within the waterproof sock 2. The rigid form 5 is shaped as a function of the model of boot 1 that one wishes to obtain and is per se of the type well-known to the man skilled in the art of the footwear field. This is preferably made of plastic even if it could also be made of other materials, in particular of wood.
Then, a step is provided for associating the waterproof sock 2 with the bottom 4 with the interposition of a glue layer 6.
Due to the presence of the rigid form 5 within the waterproof sock 2, it is possible to attain a correct adhesion of the sheet, in particular polyurethane sheet, to the bottom 4 by mating opposite surfaces.
The glue layer 6 may be interposed only between the sole 4A or the raised edge 4B and the waterproof sock 2 or advantageously between the entire bottom 4 and the waterproof sock 2.
The glue layer has been indicated in figure 4 only on the waterproof sock 2 at its external surface facing the internal surface of the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4.
The abovementioned association step advantageously provides for a step of pressing the waterproof sock 2 on the bottom 4 by means of a bell-shaped press with at least two flexible containers defining volumes which are inflated with air and which enclose the boot, compressing the waterproof sock 2 on the bottom 4 and hence making them optimally adhere to each other.
Once the waterproof sock 2 is fixed to the bottom 4 due to the glue layer 6, the step of extracting the rigid form 4 from the waterproof sock 2 can then take place. Advantageously, a step of stitching the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4A to the waterproof sock 2, along an annular line of sewing stitches 7, can then take place. Therefore, the fixing means for fixing the sock 2 to the bottom 4 comprise a glue layer 6 interposed between the waterproof sock 2 and the bottom 4 as well as advantageously an annular line of sewing stitches 7, which joins the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4A to the waterproof sock 2.
The stitching of the raised edge 4B to the sock 2 along an annular line of sewing stitches 7 is per se an operation that is well known, for example on footwear of sneakers type, and termed in the technical jargon of the field as "opanka stitching" or "box stitching". The fixing means for fixing the sock 2 to the bottom 4 also preferably comprise a sealant layer 8 placed astride the annular line of sewing stitches 7 in order to attain a sealing of the same sewing stitches 7.
The sealant layer 8 is preferably made of silicone rubber and/or polyurethane rubber, otherwise it is obtained in the form of a tape adhering via hot stretching astride the seam line 7.
Preferably the waterproof sock 2 is made of neoprene, otherwise it is made of a synthetic fiber, in particular polyurethane fiber, coated with a waterproofing elastic film, in particular made of polyurethane.
In turn, the bottom 4 is preferably made of a material selected from among: rubber, TR, TPU, EVA, PU.
The waterproof sock 2 is in fact made of a particularly flexible material (softer than the bottom 4), advantageously of neoprene, and with thickness comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm so that the waterproof sock 2, and in particular its leg-shaped portion 2B and the portion of the neck 2A' of the foot-shaped portion 2A, is collapsible into a compact shape C substantially contained in the height S of the foot-shaped portion 2A. Such height S is calculated in the non-collapsed configuration of the same waterproof sock 2. The height S is more clearly calculated substantially starting from where the concavity of the portion of the neck 2A' of the foot-shaped portion 2A terminates, as can be seen in the enclosed figure 1.
Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 will occupy in such compact shape C the seat 40 of the bottom 4, coming to exceed not over two times the thickness S' of its raised edge 4B.
Advantageously, the waterproof sock 2 is collapsible into the compact shape C for transport with superimposed folds 20 of the leg-shaped portion 2B substantially carried out of the width of the boot 1, as illustrated in the example of figure 6.
Advantageously, there are between two and five folds 20.
Otherwise, in accordance with the embodiment of figure 7, the waterproof sock 2 is collapsible into the compact shape C for transport, being laterally wound around the bottom 4 of the boot, for example completing a number of revolutions or revolution parts comprised between 1 and 3 revolutions.
The boot 1 thus attained is therefore advantageously adapted to be modified in order to reach the aforesaid compact shape C, in order to limit the size thereof and thus for a facilitated placement in a suitcase.
The waterproof sock 2 can be obtained by means of heat-sealing flaps of segments belonging to a single shape or to multiple shapes of sheets made of said synthetic rubber. In this manner, it is possible to arrange a waterproof sock 2 that is anatomically substantially shaped according to the shape of the foot.
In the enclosed figures, it is possible to observe lines 3 for joining opposite flaps of such material. Other methods can also be provided for joining together opposite flaps of the sheet segments made of synthetic rubber in order to obtain the shape of a sock, which will not be described in detail herein since they are well-known to the man skilled in the art.

Claims

Method for producing a waterproof boot, which comprises:
- a step of arranging a waterproof sock (2) made of synthetic rubber;

- a step of arranging a bottom (4) provided with a sole (4A) and with a raised edge (4B) fixed perimetrically in a single body to the sole (4A);

- a step of inserting a rigid form (5) within said waterproof sock (2);

- a step of associating said waterproof sock (2) with said bottom (4) with the interposition of a glue layer (6);

- a step of extracting said rigid form (5) from said waterproof sock (2);
said method being characterized in that it further comprises:
- a step of stitching the raised edge (4B) of said bottom (4) to said waterproof sock (2) along an annular line of sewing stitches (7);

- a step of sealing the sewing stitches (7) with a sealant layer (8) placed astride said annular line of sewing stitches (7).
Method for producing a waterproof boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing step is attained by means of spreading said sealant layer (8), which is obtained in silicone rubber and/or polyurethane rubber.
Method for producing a waterproof boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing step is attained by means of deposition of said sealant layer (8), which is obtained in the form of a tape which is made to adhere via hot stretching astride said seam line.
Method for producing a waterproof boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step of arranging said waterproof sock (2) provides for heat-sealing flaps in order to anatomically shape said waterproof sock (2) substantially according to the shape of a foot.
Method for producing a waterproof boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2) has thickness comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm and is made of neoprene.
Method for producing a waterproof boot according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2) has thickness comprised between 1 mm and 5 mm and is made of a synthetic fiber, in particular polyurethane, coated with a waterproofing elastic film, in particular made of polyurethane.
Method for producing a waterproof boot according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that said step of associating said waterproof sock (2) with said bottom (4) with the interposition of a glue layer (6) comprises a step of spreading said glue layer (6) on at least one part of the internal surface of said bottom (4) or on at least one part of the external surface of said waterproof sock (2), and a step of pressing said waterproof sock (2) on said bottom (4) by means of a bell-shaped press with at least two flexible containers, whose volumes are inflated with air and enclose said boot (1).
Waterproof boot, which comprises:
- a waterproof sock (2) made of synthetic rubber which is composed of a first foot-shaped portion (2A) and of a second leg-shaped tubular portion (2B), joined together without interruption;

- a bottom (4) provided with a sole (4A) and with a raised edge (4B) fixed perimetrically in a single body to the sole (4A);

- fixing means for fixing said waterproof sock (2) to said bottom (4) comprising at least one glue layer (6) interposed between said waterproof sock (2) and said bottom (4); said boot being characterized in that said fixing means comprise:

- an annular line of sewing stitches (7), which joins the raised edge (4B) of said bottom (4) to said waterproof sock (2);

- a sealant layer (8) placed astride said annular line of sewing stitches (7) in order to attain a sealing of said sewing stitches (7);
said leg-shaped portion (2B) of said waterproof sock (2) is configured to be collapsible into a compact shape (C) for transport, substantially contained in the height (S) of said foot-shaped portion (2A).
Waterproof boot according to claim 8, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2), in said compact shape for transport, substantially occupies the thickness of not over two times the thickness (S') of the raised edge (4B) of said bottom (4).
Waterproof boot according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2), in said compact shape for transport, is collapsed with folds (20) superimposed on said leg-shaped portion (2B) substantially in the width of said boot (1).
Waterproof boot according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2), in said compact shape for transport, is laterally wound around the bottom (4) of said boot (1).