GB2028632A - Improved limb extremity covering constructions - Google Patents

Abstract

Slippers, gloves, mittens and the like extremity covering constructions have characteristically heretofore employed multi-layered surface contacting members when it was desired to provide a sole or palm portion having a slip resistant, wear resistant outer region in combination with a cushioning, thermally insulating interior region. The present invention overcomes these deficiencies by providing an improved limb extremity covering which incorporates a one-piece, unitary flexible fabric member 21 having a backing 23, a pile 27 associated with one face of the backing, and resilient ridge members 28 bonded to the other face thereof. A flexible top member 32 is joined at its perimeter to that of such fabric member by fastening means, such as stitching, bonding, or the like. The fabric member provides in a single construction a slip resistant, outer surface with an inner surface which affords cushioning and thermal insulation characteristics. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved limb extremity covering construction background of the prior art Slippers, gloves, mittens and like extremity covering constructions have characteristically heretofore employed multi-layered surface contacting or engaging bottom members when it was desired to provide a sole or palm portion having a friction resistant, wear resistant outer layered region in combination with a cushioning, shock (impact) absorbing, thermally insulating interior layered region. Such a conventional multi-layered sole member or palm member characteristically has been relatively expensive to fabricate as such, particularly when it is desired to have such a member which is not only substantially dimensionally stable but also is readily flexible.

Furthermore, bottom members having such a combination of properties commonly require expensive and time consuming manufacturing steps to combine same with top members to complete fabrication of a given extremity covering construction. It would be desirable to incorporate into a single unitary type of bottom member such functional characteristics and still have a bottom member which is economical to produce, durable, and simple to combine with a top member or members in fabricating extremity covering constructions.

Brief summary of the invention More particularly, the present invention is directed to an improved class of limb extremity covering constructions which each incorporate an improved flexible fabric bottom member for juxtaposing adjacent a surface engaging region of a limb extremity.

The bottom member is of integral construction and has a backing, a pile fiber associated with one face of the backing, and an elastomeric backing layer associated with the other face thereof.

Each construction also incorporates a flexible upper member for juxtaposing adjacent a back region of such a given limb extremity. The upper member has a perimeter which is positioned in an adjacent relationship to the perimeter of the bottom member.

Fastening means is employed in such a construction for holding the respective perimeters together with the backing layer being outermost.

Aperture means for limb extremity ingress and egress is provided adjacent one end of such a composite construction of upper member, bottom member, and fastening means.

The flexible fabric bottom member can be preliminarily fabricated as a single unitary construction in an economical and simple manner, thereby avoiding, for example, the multi-layered laminate-type constructions known in prior art bottom members.

An improved fabric bottom member in a construction provided by the present invention makes possible a variety of new and improved slipper constructions, glove constructions, mitten constructjions, and the like, which are relatively inexpensive to fabricate, durable, and safe to the user. Such a bottom member provides a potential for excellent thermal insulation ahd shock (impact) sbsorption properties combined with excellent friction and wear resistance properties, the exact combination of properties in any given instance being dependent upon constructional details thereof as those skilled in the art will appreciate.

Other and further aims, objects, purposes, advantages, uses, features and the like for the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the present specification taken with the accompanying drawings.

Brief description of the drawings In the drawings: Figure 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of a slipper construction of the present invention showing in phantom lines the position of a foot duly positioned thereinto; Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the construction of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line Ill-Ill of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a bottom plan view of the construction of Figure 1; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4, but showing an alternative construction for the fabric bottom member of such construction; Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 5 but showing a further alternative such construction; Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view taken along the lines VII-VII of Figure 4;; Figure 8 illustrates a fragmentary view similar to Figure 3 but showing an alternative manner for joining a top member to a bottom member; Figure 9 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing a further alternative embodiment; Figure 70 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing a further alternative embodiment; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing a further alternative embodiment; Figure 12 is a view similar to Figure 8 but showing a further alternative embodiment; Figure 13 is a plan view of one embodiment of a mitten construction of the present invention; Figure 14 is a transverse sectional view taken along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 13; Figure 15 is a plan view of one embodiment of a glove construction of the present invention; Figure 16 is a view taken along the line XVI-XVI of Figure 15;; Figure 17 is a view similarto Figure 16 but showing an alternative embodiment thereof; and Figure 18 illustrates a fragmentary view similar to Figure 2 but showing an alternative embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention Referring to Figures 1 through 4, there is seen an embodiment of a slipper construction of the present invention herein designated in its entirety by the numeral 20. Slipper 20 incorporates a flexible fabric bottom member 21 having a characteristic unitary construction for overlying a surface engaging region, such as a sole of a limb extremity, such as a foot 22 (not detailed). The bottom member 21 incorporates a backing yarn or backing layer 23 (see, for example, Figure 7) having a pair of opposed faces 24 and 26. The backing 23 is comprised of an interengaging fiber plurality, and preferably such a plurality is either a woven or a knitted conventional construction.

Interconnected with backing 23, and generally projecting from one or both faces thereof, are pile fibers 27. On the technical face 24 of the fabric the projecting pile is comprised of a plurality of upstanding, free-ended fibers. When the fibers project from the technical back 26 of the fabric, the projecting pile fibers form a network of loops, as those skilled in the art appreciate. The pile fibers are associated with (e.g. connected with) the backing 23 by conventional knitting (as on a circular knitting machine, or the like) by weaving, bytufting, by bonding, orthe like. Pile fabrics, and methods for their construction, are well known to the prior art, and do not as such constitute a point of novelty in the present invention.

A plurality of ridge members 28 are differentially distributed over opposed face 26 and are bonded to the techinical back 26 and backing 23 to provide an elastomeric surface engageable layer for backing member 23. The ridge members 28 are conveniently comprised of elastomeric polymeric composition.

Examples of suitable elastomeric polymers include monomers such as butadiene, acrylonitrile, acrylics, olefins, (including halogenated types), carboxylates, and the like as well as natural and synthetic rubbers (including chloroprene, neoprene, and the like), and similar materials. Conventional fillers and additives can be incorporated into such an elastomeric composition, if desired. The ridge members 28 can be applied to a backing of a preformed pile fabric comprised of a backing and a pile by any conventional means, as those skilled in the art will appreciate. For example, the elastomeric polymeric composition can be applied to the back of a preformed pile fabric as a liquid or a foam using conventional continuous coating procedures, such as with the use of a contoured doctor blade.The coating can be applied in the form of a layer, stripes, dots, or the like, as desired. Then, such an applied composition, can be heat treated with the fabric and cured as by passage of the resulting so-coated fabric through an oven, resulting in the setting, and preferably the cross linking of such an applied fluid starting elastomeric polymeric composition. During the heating operation, the polymeric composition preferably becomes permanently directly bonded to the technical back 26 and backing 23. For reasons of manufacturing convenience, in the practice of this invention, it is greatly preferred to avoid the use of separate adhesive compositions and preformed elastomeric surface-engageable layer members; instead, it is greatly preferred to form surfaceengageable layer members in situ directly on the technical back of preformed pile fabric sheet goods.

The sizing, spacing, and arrangement of such ridge members 28 upon a backing can vary substantially as desired without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. A continuous uniform layer of elastomer can be appiied to a backing, if desired, but ridged or corrugated layers are presently preferred. Thickness of the elastomeric surface contacting layer can vary widely. The height of the pile likewise can vary over an extreme range without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Presently, it is preferred to have the pile range from about 3/16 to 1/2 inch in height and the surface contacting layer range from about 1/32 to 1/2 inch.Also, it is presently preferred to have the surface contacting layer be in the form of a discontinuous or non-uniform layer composed of ridge members which possess maximum heights above the surface of the technical back ranging from about 1/32 to 2/16 of an inch, although larger and smaller heights are possibie, of course, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Preferably, a bottom member 21 is dimensionally stabilized so as to prevent the same from becoming unravelled or loosened along perimeter portions through use in a construction of the present invention. Dimensional stabilizing procedures are well known to the prior art and typically involve coating and/or impregnating a fabric with a fiber bonding composition of some type. For example, in the case of sliver knit, high pile fabrics (which are presently preferred for use in bottom members) the dimensional stabilization can be achieved in a back coating operation accomplished during the same manufacturing step or steps as those used to apply the elastomeric surface contacting layer, such as ridge members 28, to a fabric construction which is subsequently to be formed (e.g. cut) into bottom members for use in the practice of the present invention.After a back coating operation a master sheet construction comprised of pile fabric back coated with a desired layer of elastomeric surfaceengaging material is then cut up into fabric bottom members each of a desired perimeter configuration for use in making a particular form of limb extremity covering construction of the present invention.

A given bottom member is oriented spatially in a given limb extremity covering construction so that the cyclically non-uniform layer of elastomeric material, preferably in the form of spaced (in one direction) ridge members, is out-turned while the pile portion is inturned and facing towards the interior of such construction so as to come into contact with a limb extremity inserted thereinto. The elastomeric material layer provides, among other things, a wearing surface for the bottom member. It also can improve the frictional characteristics of a bottom member thereby rendering the construction well suited for resisting slipping, and the like. The elastomeric material layer can also cffer some cushioning effect. The pile portion of a bottom member provides thermal insulation and shock absorbing value relative to the portion of a limb extremity located adjacent thereto in a covering construction of this invention.

The slipper 20 incorporates a flexible top or upper member 29 which has a configuration that conforms generally to, or is conformable generally to the back region of a predetermined limb extremity. The perimeter of such upper member 29 is formed so as to be adjacent the perimeter of such bottom member 21. Preferably, and as shown, the perimeter of such upper member 29 overlaps upon the perimeter of such bottom member 21.

The perimeter of bottom member 21 is secured by fastening means to the perimeter of the top member 29 with the resilient outer layer (here, ridge members 28) disposed outwardly. In slipper 20, the fastening means comprises stitches 31.

In slipper 20, the upper member 29 is itself formed of a dimensionally stabilized pile fabric, but the technical back thereof may not be coated with any resilient outer layer. Member 29 thus can be woven, knitted, tufted, or the like as desired. In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the top member 29 is composed of a sliver knit, high pile fabric. This fabric can be of the same type of fabric as that used in the formation of the bottom member 21, if desired. In the assembled slipper 20, the pile 33 is out-turned for esthetic reasons, but such could also be inturned, if desired. In slipper 20, the upper member 29 is comprised of two longitudinally mating portions, identified as 29A and 29B, respectively, which overlap somewhat along adjoining areas in an overlapping relationship in order to readily and simply fabricate a foot conforming upper member 29.In manufacture, the portions 29A and 29B are conveniently fastened together by the same means used to join upper member 29 to bottom member 21. Thus, here the ovserlapping portions 29A and 29B are stitched together along a forward section 34 and a rear section 35 by stitches 36. The finished-assembly of portions 29A and 29B are initially in a configuration whereby the back when viewed exteriorly normally is convex. Preferably, at the time of stitching portions 29A and 29B are inverted so as to make a seam which, after stitching, can be inturned in the product slipper 20.In manufacture, after upper member 29 is thus formed, and while same is still inverted, the bottom member 21 is moved into relationship therewith so that the perimeter portions of the bottom member 21 are upturned with respect to its pile 27, and such perimeter portions are brought into an abutting slightly but overlapping relationship with respective perimeter portions of the upper member 29. Then, while the top member 29 and the bottom member 21 are so oriented, the overlapping edge portions are stitched together by the stitches 31. Thereafter, the entire assembly is turned inside out to complete assembly of slipper 20.

Observe that all seams are inturned.

Between the forward portion 34 and the rear portion 35 of the top portion member 29, an aperture 37 is formed in the upper member 29 for ingress and egress of a foot of appropriate size therethrough.

Characteristically, location of aperture 37 can be varied but such is always located adjacent an end or rear portion 35 of a slipper 20.

In the slipper 20 embodiment, the rim adjacent portions 38 in the region of aperture 37 are folded inwardly about aperture 37 and are glued with an adhesive 39 so as to form a thickened lip portion about the mouth of the aperture 37 for appearance and comfort reasons.

While slipper 20 has ridge members 28 which extend longitudinally on the exposed bottom face of the bottom member 21, any convenient arrangement, pattern, or configuration for such can be employed. For example, the ridge members 28 can be configured as shown in Figure 5 so as to be in the form of a plurality of discrete dots or islands 39. For another example, such can be configured as shown in Figure 6 so as to be in the form of a plurality of discrete undulating ribbons 41 arranged generally in a spaced and generally parallel relationship to one another. Generally, the arrangement of ridge members can be regulated by the manner in which the same are formed on the technical back 26.

In Figures 8 through 12 various alternative constructions for slippers of the present invention are shown. In Figure 8, the perimeter 46 of a bottom member 47 is exteriorly overlapped by the perimeter 48 of a top or upper member 49 and the respective overlapping portions of perimeters 46 and 48 are fastened together by stitches 51. In Figure 9, the perimeter 52 of a bottom member 53 overlaps inwardly the perimeter 54 of upper member 56. The resilient outer layer 57 on bottom member 53 is here comprised of a thermoplastic elastomer so that when heat and pressure are applied between the overlapping portions of bottom member 53 and upper member 56 the layer 57 heat softens and bonds to the adjacent surface portions of the upper member 57 thereby providing the desired fastening between the bottom member 53 and the upper member 56.Observe, that the pile 58 of bottom member 53 is formed of thermoplastic fibers which are compacted and heat fused together at the temperatures and pressures employed in achieving a bonding between the layer 57 ad upper member 56. The upper members 49 and 56 are comprised of fabric and have no pile portion.

In Figure 10, the perimeter 59 of bottom member 61 overlaps the perimeter 62 of upper member 63 which is here illustrated to be a sliver knit high pile fabric similar in construction to that of the bottom member 61 before resilient surfacing layer 64 is applied thereto. Here, the pile 66 of bottom member 61 and the pile 67 of upper member 63 are comprised of thermoplastic polymeric materials such as polyolefins as is the respective backings 68 and 69 of bottom member 61 and upper member 63. When the overlapping portions of upper member 63 and bottom member 61 are compressed together in the presence of heat, the overlapping portions partially melt and fuse together thereby completing a fastening together of the upper member 63 to the bottom member 61.In the case of polyolefins, suitable fusion temperatures range from about 200 to 450"F and suitable compression pressures range from about 10 to 300 psig. In Figure 11,a bottom member 71 has perimeter portions 72 which similarly overlap upon perimeter portions 73 of an upper member 74.

Here, the overlapping portions are fastened together by means of rivets 76. In Figure 12, the region 78 adjacent perimeter 77 of bottom member 79 is upturned relative to pile 81 thereof. The perimeter 82 of an upper member 83 is brought into abutting, non-overlapping relationship to bottom member 79 with the respective backings 84 and 86 of bottom member 79 and 83, respectively, being in opposed relationship to each other. A strip 87 carrying an adhesive layer 88 upon its inner face is brought into engaging contact with portions of the backing 86 which are adjacent to those portions of the backing 84 adjacent thereto so that the upper member 83 is fastened to the bottom member 79.The resilient surfacing layer 89 of bottom member 79 terminates adjacent the region 78. The strap 87 can be of non-woven or woven material and the adhesive layer 86 is preferably of the contact bond variety. The upper members 63, 74, and 83, which are each of a pile fabric construction, can be arranged either with the respective piles 67, 91 (of upper member 74) and 92 (of upper member 83) oriented inwardly or outwardly in reference to the slipper construction involved.

Referring to Figures 13 and 14, there is seen a mitten construction of the present invention which is herein designated in its entirety by the numeral 96 which is oriented in Figure 13 with its palm portion 97 facing upwardly out of the paper 98. Palm portion 97 can be considered to comprise a structure similar to that employed above in bottom member 21, while back portion 99 can be regarded as being similar in construction to the material of upper member 29 except that here the pile 101 of back portion 99 is inturned. Mitten 96 is fabricated inside out and the overlapping perimeter portions 103 and 104, respectively, of palm portion 97 and back portion 99 are secured together by means of stitches 102. Thus, in the completed mitten 96, the seams formed by stitches 102 are inturned.A cuff 106 is provided for mitten 96 about the wrist end 107 thereof by overturning the rim portion of mitten 96 and gluing same to the adjacent portions of mitten 97 by adhesive (not shown). In mitten 96, the ridged resilient outer layer 108 thereof provides a useful palm covering working surface for mitten 96.

In Figures 15 and 16, is illustrated on embodiment of a glove construction of the present invention which is herein designated in its entirety by the numeral 111 comprisedofa palm portion 112shown upturned in Figure 15 and a back portion 113 (see Figure 16). The structure of palm portion 112 and back portion 113 is similar to that used for palm portion 97 and back portion 98 of mitten 96. Here the glove 111 has outturned seam portions stitched together by stitches 116, and glove 111 is provided with finger receiving cavities 117,118,119 and 121.

Both glove 111 and mitten 96 are provided with a thumb receiving cavity 122 and 123, respectively.

Particularly if thermal insulation in a back portion is not required, the back portion 113 of glove 111 can be replaced with a fabric 124 to provide a glove 126 similar to glove 111 (the portion of glove 126 similar to glove 111 (the portions of glove 126 which are analogous to those of glove 111 being similarly numbered but with the addition of prime marks thereto).

In one preferred type of limb extremity construction of the present invention, the back portion (as of a glove or mitten) or the upper member (as of a slipper) is comprised of a pile fabric, such as a sliver knit high pile fabric, wherein the backing has been needled or braided so as to produce a simulated pile.

For example, referring to Figure 13, there is seen a fragment of a slipper 127 which is similar in construction to slipper 20 except that here the upper member 128 thereof is comprised of a pile fabric whose pile 129 is inturned and whose backing 131 has been needled so as to produce hair-like projections 132 whose density and distribution are such as to resemble or immitate a pile. Such projections 132 can have desirable aesthetic effect while at the same time permitting a soft interior 133 for the slipper 127.

Portions of slipper 127 which are similar to those of slipper 20 are similarly numbered but with the addition of prime marks thereto.

As is apparent from the foregoing specification, the present invention is susceptible of being embodied with various alterations and modifications which may differ particularly from those that have been described in the preceding specification and description. For this reason, it is to be fully understood that all of the foregoing is intended to be merely illustrative and is not to be construed or interpreted as being restrictive or otherwise limiting of the present invention, excepting as it is set forth in the hereto-appended claims.

Claims (24)

1. A limb extremity covering construction comprising: a flexible bottom member for overlying in adjacent relationship a surface engaging region of a limb extremity, said bottom member including a fabric backing layer, a fiber pile interconnected with said backing layer and projecting from at least one face thereof to engage said region, and an elastomeric surface-engaging layer disposed over and bonded to at least portions of the opposed face thereof, said bottom member having a perimeter; a flexible upper member for conforming in adjacent relationship to a back region of said limb extremity, said upper member having a perimeter which is in adjacent relationship to said perimeter of said bottom member; fastening means holding said respective perimeterstogetherwith said elastomeric layer facing outwardly; and aperture means defined in said covering construction adjacent one end thereof for ingress and egress of said limb extremity.

2. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said construction is a hand cover.

3. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said construction is a slipper.

4. The construction as claimed in Claim 1,wherein said top member is a fabric.

5. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said elastomeric layer is discontinuous over said opposed face.

6. The construction as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said top member is comprised of two preformed pieces which are secured together along a longitudinal seam by securing means.

7. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein: said bottom member is dimensionally stabilized; and said elastomeric layer comprises a differentially distributed ridge member plurality, each member thereof being comprised of elastomeric polymeric composition.

8. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said bottom member is edge deflected adjacent said perimeter thereof.

9. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said top member is edge deflected adjacent said perimeter thereof.

10. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said respective top and bottom perimeters are in adjacent overlapping relationship to one another.

11. The construction as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said fastening means comprises stitches.

12. The construction as claimed in Claim 10, wherein said fastening means comprises an adhesive.

13. The construction as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the overlapped regions are comprised of heat sealable polymeric composition, and wherein said fastening means comprises heat sealing.

14. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said top member and said bottom member are each comprised of a different sliver knit pile fabric.

15. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said top member and said bottom member are each comprised of a different woven pile fabric.

16. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said bottom member comprises a pile fabric and said top member comprises a knit or woven fabric.

17. The construction as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said ridge members are in the form of spaced, parallel rows.

18. The construction as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said ridge members are in the form of a plurality of discrete individual islands.

19. The construction as claimed in Claim 7, wherein said respective top and bottom perimeters are in abutting overlapping relationship to one another.

20. The construction as claimed in claim 10, wherein the overlapped regions are inturned.

21. The construction as claimed in Claim 10, wherein the overlapped regions are out-turned.

22. The construction as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said top member has the pile thereof inturned.

23. The construction as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said top member has the pile thereof out-turned.

24. The construction as claimed in Claim 22, wherein the backing of said top member is raised.