WO2008015098A1

WO2008015098A1 - Process and device for waterproofing semimanufactured products of footwear, gloves, clothing items and accessories, as well as products obtained with this process or device

Info

Publication number: WO2008015098A1
Application number: PCT/EP2007/057317
Authority: WO
Inventors: Matteo Morlacchi
Original assignee: Nextec S.R.L.
Priority date: 2006-08-02
Filing date: 2007-07-16
Publication date: 2008-02-07
Also published as: ITMI20061544A1; CN101500445B; CN101500445A

Abstract

Process for waterproofing a semimanufactured product (5) of footwear, gloves, clothing items and accessories, characterized in that it comprises the following operating steps: - arranging the semimanufactured product (5) between one or more airtight surfaces (1, 1a, 1b; 13; 16; 20) and a waterproofing sheath (6) shaped for entirely or partially cover the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (5); - generating a depression between the waterproofing sheath (6) and said airtight surfaces (1, 1a, 1b; 13; 16; 20), so that the waterproofing sheath (6) adheres to the semimanufactured product (5) by means of glue (21) arranged between the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (5) and the waterproofing sheath (6). The present invention also relates to a device that carries out said process, as well 15 as the products obtained with this process or device.

Description

PROCESS AND DEVICE FOR WATERPROOFING SEMIMANUFACTURED

PRODUCTS OF FOOTWEAR. GLOVES. CLOTHING ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES. AS WELL AS PRODUCTS OBTAINED WITH THIS PROCESS OR

DEVICE

The present invention relates to a process for waterproofing semimanufactured products of footwear, gloves, clothing items and accessories, in particular during their manufacture. The present invention also relates to a device that carries out said process, as well as the products obtained with this process or device. WO 00/22948 discloses a process for waterproofing leather and semimanufactured products made up of pieces of leather sewn to each other. This known process comprises a pressing onto the inner surface of the leather of at least one semipermeable membrane, whose surface contacting the leather is provided with a glue pattern. With this arrangement a suitable transpiration of the leather is achieved also in the zones where it is glued to the membrane.

WO 01/56415 discloses a process for waterproofing gloves, wherein a waterproofing sheath is inserted into a glove and is glued under pressure by means of a pair of shaped devices suitable for heating and inflating the sheath against the inner surfaces of the glove. This known process is relatively long and complex to be carried out.

WO 02/11571 discloses instead a process and a device for waterproofing semimanufactured products made of leather or fabric, also joined with other materials, which cannot be completely spread on a table since they have already taken during the manufacture a three-dimensional conformation with at least one inner surface and one outer surface. A typical example of said manufactured products are the uppers of footwear, considered in their final working step, before the application of an inner lining, if any. Other semimanufactured products of this kind can be boot uppers, gloves, hats and clothes in general in the final step of their manufacture.

WO 2004/112525 discloses a process and a machine which employ particular shaped supports mounted on transport means for transporting, pressing and gluing onto the semimanufactured products, in an automatic manner and by means of two deformable plates, waterproofing sheaths comprising semipermeable membranes.

The latter known machine and the relevant process are suitable for an industrial application on a large scale, where a high degree of automation is necessary for reducing the manufacturing times and costs, however they can involve complications, so as all the above mentioned known processes and devices, when semimanufactured products having a three-dimensional without a symmetry plane, such as for example the gloves with the thumb in an advanced position with respect to the other fingers, must be waterproofed. As a matter of fact, in this case, the deformable plates may have problems for pressing the whole surface of the waterproofing sheath onto the semimanufactured product. In the process according to the above mentioned PCT application WO 01/56415, two distinct pneumatic devices are required for overcoming this technical problem: the first device has the shape of a hand with the thumb only and the second device has the shape of a hand with the remaining four hands.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process and a device which are free from said disadvantages. Said object is achieved with a process and a device, the main features of which are described in claims 1 and 22, respectively, while other features are described in the remaining claims.

Thanks to the depression generated between the waterproofing sheath and one or more airtight surfaces, the process and the device according to the present invention can waterproof in a simple, fast and economic way the semimanufactured products, even when the latter have complex three-dimensional shapes.

Said airtight surfaces can comprise the outer surface of a particular shaped support and/or of a particular deformable envelope which are connected to suction means for creating said depression and joining thus the waterproofing sheath to the semimanufactured product.

According to a particular aspect of the invention, it has been found that particular three-dimensional, breathable, elastomeric gloves made of a single piece, as described in WO 2004/060179, can be advantageously employed as waterproofing sheaths in the process according to the present invention for waterproofing gloves made of leather and/or fabric.

A further advantage of the process and the device according to the present invention lies not only in their greater productivity with respect to the known processes, but also in their relatively low production costs, so that they can be employed not only in the industrial production, but also in the handicraft production, in particular of footwear and gloves. Further advantages and features of the process and the device according to the present invention will become clear to those skilled in the art from the following detailed and non-limiting description of some embodiments thereof with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

- figures 1 to 7 show some steps of the first embodiment of the process and the device; - figures 8 and 9 show two steps of the second embodiment of the process and the device;

- figure 10 shows the third embodiment of the device;

- figure 11 shows the fourth embodiment of the device; and

- figures 12 and 13 show two partial and enlarged sectioned views of the device of figure 11 during two steps of the fourth embodiment of the process.

Referring to figure 1, it is seen that the device according to the first embodiment of the invention comprises in a known way a shaped support 1 having a shape suitable for supporting a semimanufactured product to be waterproofed which has a three- dimensional conformation with at least one inner surface and one outer surface. In the present embodiment, shaped support 1 has substantially the shape of a hand, since it serves for waterproofing a glove. In other embodiments of the invention shaped support 1 can have a shape similar to a foot for waterproofing shoes or parts thereof, such as shoe uppers, or similar to other parts of the human body for waterproofing clothing items and accessories. Shaped support 1 is preferably divided into at least two shaped members Ia and Ib which have a complementary shape, in particular similar to a portion of a hand which includes at least one finger. First shaped member Ia includes wrist, palm and some fingers, in particular middle, ring and little fingers, while second shaped member Ib includes the remaining fingers of the hand, i.e. forefinger and thumb, and can be coupled in the direction of the arrow to first shaped member Ia, for example by means of a dovetail joint 2. The outer surface of shaped support 1 is airtight and is provided with at least one opening 3 connected to at least one inner cavity 4 (shown - A -

with broken lines). In the present embodiment, opening 3 is made in a position which corresponds substantially to the middle of the back or the palm of shaped support 1 and inner cavity 4 consists of an inner duct which leads to a connection opening arranged in a position which corresponds substantially to the wrist of shaped support 1. Figure 2 shows second shaped member Ib which is inserted in the direction of the arrow into a semimanufactured product 5 of footwear, clothing items and accessories, in particular a glove, which is provided with an inner surface and an outer surface. Before the second shaped member Ib is inserted, semimanufactured product 5 is turned inside out, so that its inner surface is turned outwards. Figure 3 shows first shaped member Ia which is inserted in the direction of the arrow into semimanufactured product 5, turned inside out and already provided with second shaped member Ib, so that the two shaped members Ia and Ib can be mutually coupled for making up shaped support 1. A glue is applied onto the inner surface, turned outwards, of semimanufactured product 5, for example through spraying means. Said glue is applied in a discontinuous manner onto semimanufactured product 5 and/or it is permeable at least to water vapor, so as to not prevent the breathability through semimanufactured product 5, which is generally made of a breathable material, for example leather and/or fabric.

Figures 4 and 5 show semimanufactured product 5, turned inside out and provided with shaped members Ia and Ib, which is in turn inserted into a waterproofing sheath 6 shaped for entirely or partially cover the inner surface, turned outwards, of the same semimanufactured product. In an alternative or additional embodiment, the surface of sheath 6 turned toward semimanufactured product 5 is provided with a glue pattern, preferably thermoactivable, in particular made up of a plurality of polyurethane glue dots having a diameter comprised between 0,1 mm and 2 mm and a density comprised between 10 dots/cm and 200 dots/cm . Sheath 6 preferably comprises at least one membrane made of a semi-permeable material, i.e. permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water, in particular polyurethane, which has a thickness preferably comprised between 5 μm and 100 μm, is preferably non-porous, so that it carries out the passage of water vapor by osmosis, and elastic with a coefficient of elongation higher than 50%, in particular 100%. The surface of sheath 6 which is not turned toward semimanufactured product 5 can be fastened to a support sheet which can be detached and is made of paper or a similar material, or is fixed and is made of fabric or a similar material, preferably elastic. Further information about the semipermeable membrane which can be used for sheath 6 is contained in WO 00/22948 and WO 02/11571. Sheath 6 can comprise one or more sheets of this semipermeable membrane, which are shaped and mutually joined along the edges. In another embodiment of the invention, sheath 6 is a particular three-dimensional breathable and elastomeric glove, which is made of a single piece, as disclosed in WO 2004/060179.

Figure 6 shows a closure device, in particular a collar 7 which, thanks to one or more screws 8, is applied and tightened around waterproofing sheath 6, in particular around the wrist zone of first shaped member Ia, in order to seal sheath 6 for preventing the passage of air from the outside between the sheath and shaped support 1. In other embodiments of the invention the closure member may comprise an elastic and/or adhesive tape to be applied onto the free edge of sheath 6. As shown in figure 7, inner cavity 4 of shaped support 1 is connected to suction means, in particular a pump 10, by means of an outer duct 11 for sucking air through opening 3 and generating a depression, for example a pressure lower than 0,5 bar, between the outer surface of shaped support 1 and sheath 6, so that the air pressure outside sheath 6 presses the latter against semimanufactured product 5, thereby adhering them by means of said glue layer. Collar 7 or other closure devices may be absent, provided that the quantity of air sucked by pump 10 is sufficient for keeping a depression between the outer surface of shaped support 1 and sheath 6. Shaped support 1 provided with semimanufactured product 5 and sheath 6 can be arranged in an autoclave 12 for exerting a further pressure on sheath 6. If the glue applied between semimanufactured product 5 and sheath 6 is thermoactivable, autoclave 12 can be provided with heating means, so that the temperature is greater than 100 ⁰C for activating this glue. Once the time sufficient for joining sheath 6 to semimanufactured product 5 has lapsed, the latter is extracted from autoclave 12, is separated from collar 7 and from shaped support 1, and finally is turned inside out, so that its outer surface is turned outwards and its inner surface, joined with sheath 6, is turned inwards. Several semimanufactured products provided with their sheath can be simultaneously inserted into autoclave 12 for their waterproofing. In an alternative embodiment, outer duct 11 is directly connected to sheath 6 by means of at least one opening which is made in the surface of the latter and is hot-sealed after sheath 6 has been joined to semimanufactured product 5. Figure 8 shows a second embodiment of the process, similar to the first embodiment, wherein shaped support 1 provided with semimanufactured product 5, which is arranged in a non-turned state on sheath 6, also arranged in a non-turned state on shaped support 1, is inserted into a deformable envelope 13, for example an airtight bag, through at least one opening which is closed by a closure device, in particular a plug 14 provided with a connector for being connected to pump 10 by means of outer duct 11, so as to suck air and generate a depression in deformable envelope 13.

As shown in figure 9, shaped support 1 provided with semimanufactured product 5 and sheath 6 in deformable envelope 13 can be arranged in a heating apparatus 15 at a temperature greater than 100 ⁰C for activating the glue, if thermoactivable, applied between semimanufactured product 5 and sheath 6. Since collar 7 is not necessary, this second embodiment is useful for waterproofing footwear uppers, clothing items and other semimanufactured products which are not provided with a single opening as gloves.

Figure 10 shows a third embodiment of the process, similar to the second embodiment, wherein shaped support 1 provided with semimanufactured product 5 and sheath 6 is inserted into a deformable envelope 16, for example a hand-shaped airtight bag, through at least one opening which is closed by a closure device 17. Deformable envelope 16 is provided with a further opening 18 which is arranged substantially in the middle of the back or the palm of deformable envelope 16 and is connected to pump 10 by means of outer duct 11, so as to suck air and generate a depression in deformable envelope 16. Heating means 19, such as for example electric resistors, can be arranged in shaped support 1 for heating the glue without inserting shaped support 1 into a heated autoclave or a heating apparatus.

Figures 11 and 12 show a fourth embodiment of the process, wherein semimanufactured product 5 provided with sheath 6 is inserted into a hand-shaped deformable envelope 20, however without shaped support 1. In this case, sheath 6 is pressed with semimanufactured product 5 between two airtight surfaces of deformable envelope 20 by means of the depression generated in deformable envelope 20 by pump 10, connected to a plug 14 provided with a connector for outer duct 11. A glue pattern 21 is applied on sheath 6 and adheres to semimanufactured product 5 when air is sucked in deformable envelope 20, as shown in figure 13.

Further modifications and/or additions may be made by those skilled in the art to the hereinabove disclosed and illustrated embodiments while remaining within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. Process for waterproofing a semimanufactured product (5) of footwear, gloves, clothing items and accessories, characterized in that it comprises the following operating steps:

- arranging the semimanufactured product (5) between one or more airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) and a waterproofing sheath (6) shaped for entirely or partially cover the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (5);

- generating a depression between the waterproofing sheath (6) and said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20), so that the waterproofing sheath (6) adheres to the semimanufactured product (5) by means of glue (21) arranged between the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (5) and the waterproofing sheath (6).

2. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that said depression is generated by sucking air comprised between the waterproofing sheath (6) and said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20).

3. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that suction means (10) are connected to at least one opening (3; 18) made in at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20).

4. Process according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that suction means

(10) are connected to at least one opening which is made in the waterproofing sheath (6).

5. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that said opening is sealed after the waterproofing sheath (6) is joined to the semimanufactured product (5).

6. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) comprises the outer surface of a shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) on which the semimanufactured product (5) is arranged with the waterproofing sheath (6) before generating said depression.

7. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that the outer surface of said shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) is provided with at least one opening (3) suitable for being connected to said suction means (10).

8. Process according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the semimanufactured product (5) is turned inside out before it is arranged on the shaped support (1, Ia, Ib), so that its outer surface is turned toward the shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) and its inner surface is turned toward the waterproofing sheath (6).

9. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that the glue (21) is applied onto the inner surface, turned inside out, of the semimanufactured product (5) arranged on the shaped support (1, Ia, Ib).

10. Process according to one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) is divided into at least two shaped members (Ia, Ib) which have a complementary shape and can be mutually coupled.

11. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that said shaped members (Ia, Ib) are mutually coupled in the semimanufactured product (5).

12. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the semimanufactured product (5) and/or the waterproofing sheath (6) are sealed by means of a closure member (7; 14; 17) for preventing the air passage from the outside between the waterproofing sheath (6) and at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20).

13. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that said closure member (7; 14; 17) comprises a collar (7) and/or an elastic and/or adhesive tape which is applied and/or tightened around the waterproofing sheath (6) and the shaped support (Ia).

14. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the pressure between the waterproofing sheath (6) and said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) is lower than 0,5 bar when said depression is generated.

15. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) comprises the surface of a deformable envelope (13; 16; 20) in which the semimanufactured product (5) is arranged with the waterproofing sheath (6) before generating said depression.

16. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the semimanufactured product (5) is arranged with the waterproofing sheath (6) in an autoclave (12) for exerting pressure on the waterproofing sheath (6) and/or on the deformable envelope (13; 16; 20).

17. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the glue (21) is thermoactivable and is heated with heating means (12; 15; 19) when the depression is generated for joining the waterproofing sheath (6) to the semimanufactured product (5).

18. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that surface of the waterproofing sheath (6) turned toward the semimanufactured product (5) is provided with a glue pattern (21).

19. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the waterproofing sheath (6) comprises at least one membrane made of a semipermeable material, in particular polyurethane.

20. Process according to the previous claim, characterized in that said semipermeable membrane is non-porous and carries out the passage of water vapor by osmosis.

21. Process according to one of the previous claims, characterized in that the waterproofing sheath (6) is a three-dimensional, breathable, elastomeric glove made of a single piece.

22. Device for waterproofing a semimanufactured product (5) of footwear, gloves, clothing items and accessories by means of a waterproofing sheath (6) shaped for entirely or partially cover the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (5), which device is characterized by comprising one or more airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) and suction means (10) suitable for generating a depression between the waterproofing sheath (6) and said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20), so that the waterproofing sheath (6) adheres to the semimanufactured product (5) by means of glue (21) arranged between the surfaces to be waterproofed of the semimanufactured product (5) and the waterproofing sheath (6).

23. Device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said suction means (10) are connected to at least one opening (3; 18) made in at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20).

24. Device according to claim 22 or 23, characterized in that said suction means (10) are connected to at least one opening made in the waterproofing sheath (6).

25. Device according to one of claims 22 to 24, characterized in that at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) comprises the outer surface of a shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) suitable for supporting the semimanufactured product (5) with the waterproofing sheath (6).

26. Device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the outer surface of said shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) is provided with at least one opening (3) suitable for being connected to said suction means (10).

27. Device according to claim 25 or 26, characterized in that the shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) is divided into at least two shaped members (Ia, Ib) which have a complementary shape and can be mutually coupled.

28. Device according to one of claims 25 to 27, characterized in that the shaped support (1) has a shape similar to a hand.

29. Device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the first shaped member (Ia) includes wrist, palm and some fingers of the hand, in particular middle, ring and little fingers, while the second shaped member (Ib) includes the remaining fingers of the hand.

30. Device according to claim 28 or 29, characterized in that the opening (3) suitable for being connected to said suction means (10) is made in a position which corresponds substantially to the middle of the back or the palm of the shaped support

(1).

31. Device according to one of claims 22 to 30, characterized in that it comprises a closure member (7; 14; 17) suitable for preventing the air passage from the outside between the waterproofing sheath (6) and at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, 1a, Ib; 13; 16; 20).

32. Device according to the previous claim, characterized in that said closure member (7; 14; 17) comprises a collar (7) and/or an elastic and/or adhesive tape which is applied and/or tightened around the waterproofing sheath (6) and the shaped support (Ia).

33. Device according to one of claims 25 to 32, characterized in that the shaped support (1, Ia, Ib) is provided with heating means (19).

34. Device according to one of claims 22 to 33, characterized in that at least one of said airtight surfaces (1, Ia, Ib; 13; 16; 20) comprises the surface of a deformable envelope (13; 16; 20) in which the semimanufactured product (5) can be arranged with the waterproofing sheath (6).

35. Device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the deformable envelope (13; 16; 20) has a shape similar to a hand.

36. Device according to the previous claim, characterized in that the deformable envelope (16) is provided with at least one opening (18) which is arranged substantially in the middle of the back or the palm of the deformable envelope (16) and is connected to said suction means (10).

37. Semimanufactured product of footwear, clothing items and accessories (5), characterized in that it is waterproofed by means of the process and/or the device according to one of the previous claims.

38. Footwear upper, characterized in that it is waterproofed by means of the process and/or the device according to one of claims 1 to 36.

39. Glove, characterized in that it is waterproofed by means of the process and/or the device according to one of claims 1 to 36.

40. Glove, characterized in that it comprises a semimanufactured product (5) made of leather and/or fabric which has the three-dimensional shape of a hand and is joined to a waterproofing sheath (6) comprising a three-dimensional breathable and elastomeric glove, which is made of a single piece, is inserted and glued under pressure onto the inner surface of the semimanufactured product (5).