WO2016156676A1

WO2016156676A1 - Item of footwear having an impermeable structure

Info

Publication number: WO2016156676A1
Application number: PCT/FR2016/000045
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marielle Ricart; Gérard Gautier
Original assignee: Salomon S.A.S.
Priority date: 2015-03-31
Filing date: 2016-03-11
Publication date: 2016-10-06
Also published as: FR3034292B1; FR3034292A1; AR104154A1; TW201639484A

Abstract

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

Description

Footwear article with waterproof structure

The invention relates to an article of footwear, such as a shoe or any equivalent. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing all or part of the footwear. It can be used in areas such as walking, running on horizontal terrain or in the mountains, wheeling, ball sports, cycling, cross-country skiing, snow surfing, snowshoeing , Or other.

For the envisaged uses, it is intended to give the article sufficient flexibility to allow a smooth running of the foot and bending or tilting of the lower leg of a user. It is also to welcome the foot with sufficient comfort, especially by ensuring a good management of temperature and humidity in the article. This is important for example in running, activity for which the performance of the user is conditioned among other things by these factors.

It has long been known to manufacture an article of footwear, such as a shoe, with one or more layers of materials such as leather, fabrics of natural or synthetic fibers, or any equivalent. The shoe is generally well suited to the activity: it provides the foot with sufficient comfort, keeping it warm without excess. However, in some cases, comfort may become insufficient. This happens for example when the shoe is used in the rain, in the wet grass, or is immersed during a course such as a race. It is enough to cross a torrent or walk in a puddle.

The conditions of use mentioned above cause inflow of water inside the shoe. Indeed, some materials of the shoe have a certain porosity that, in the long run, lets the water in. The stem imbibe progressively until saturation, threshold from which the entry of water is possible. This phenomenon is especially verified at the front of the shoe because, with the speed of movement, it is this part that is the most exposed. As a result, the water penetrates first and foremost. It follows that the shoe becomes uncomfortable. The foot is cooled. The skin can become irritated which, in fact, causes trauma.

In order to improve this situation, the prior art has sought to prevent the entry of water. To do this, the shoe has been sealed.

For example, it has been planned to add membranes in the structure of the shoe. Diaphragms, resistant to the passage of a fluid or tight, are generally made of thin synthetic material, and envelop the foot to preserve it from water intrusions. Because they are fragile, the membranes are protected from mechanical aggressions, such as those resulting from various friction, in particular by being integrated into the thicknesses of the component parts of the shoe, such as the first mounting sole, the lateral and medial wedges. , the upper, if necessary the tongue, or other. The different membranes are associated with each other by any technique, such as gluing, sewing in combination with a seam sealing strip, or other. This preserves the foot of the water intrusions. In other words, the membranes made the shoes more comfortable. However, we note that improving comfort has some disadvantages. First of all it is found that the use of membranes makes the manufacture of the shoe more complex, compared to a shoe of traditional structure. This is because each membrane is an additional piece that must be made and associated with the rest of the shoe. As a corollary, another drawback is the increase in the manufacturing time. It takes longer to make the shoe because it includes more parts. An intrinsic disadvantage associated with the use of the membranes is simply the cost of each of them. In the end, an overall disadvantage of a shoe with membranes is that of a high cost of manufacturing the shoe, because of the complexity, because of the longer time required for manufacturing, and also because of the price of the shoes. membranes.

Another disadvantage is still observed, certain constraints related to the implementation of the membranes. Indeed, the latter are fragile and require precautions, as regards their handling, to avoid damage that would make them unsealed, or less resistant to the passage of a fluid. The manipulations as such are also delicate, because the membranes are very light parts, on which the gravity exerts such a weak action that their installation requires special attention.

It therefore appears that a shoe according to the prior art is not totally satisfactory, in particular by the constraints related to its manufacture.

In relation to this the invention generally aims to improve a shoe for practices mentioned in the preamble. In particular, the invention aims to simplify the manufacture of a shoe, and to reduce the time required for its manufacture. The invention broadly wants to reduce the costs of manufacturing a shoe. In addition, the invention seeks to make it less difficult to manufacture a structured shoe to be resistant to the passage of a fluid or sealed.

To do this, the invention provides an article of footwear which comprises a first envelope, the first envelope extending in length from a rear end to a front end, in width between a lateral edge and a medial edge, and in height from a bottom to an upper end, the footwear having a rear opening, located at the upper end, the footwear comprising a first waterproof structural part which extends facing a first zone of the first envelope.

The article of footwear according to the invention is characterized in that it comprises a membrane, resistant to the passage of a fluid or sealed, which extends opposite a second zone of the first envelope.

It can be said that the tightness of the footwear, for example a shoe, is obtained in two different ways in two different areas. In other words, compared to the prior art, the shoe according to the invention sees its tightness achieved with a reduced membrane surface. It can also be said that the membrane or membranes used here extend at a reduced portion of the first envelope, in the sense that they only face a division of the envelope. It takes less manufacturing operations to make the footwear, and it is necessary to use fewer membranes or smaller surface membranes, compared to what was needed for an article according to the prior art. Among the advantages that derive from it can be mentioned the simplicity of manufacture, insofar as it takes fewer membranes to obtain the waterproofness of the footwear. As a corollary, another advantage is that of greater speed of manufacture. A further advantage is that of reducing the price of the membrane or membranes for each footwear item. More broadly, an advantage of the invention is that of the reduced manufacturing cost of the article of footwear, as a consequence of the simplification of its structure, the reduction in the time required for its manufacture, and the reduction of the cost necessary for the or the membranes, which are fewer or well distributed on a smaller surface. It can be said otherwise that the article of footwear according to the invention is economical.

Another advantage of the article of footwear according to the invention is that of a reduced risk of deterioration of the membrane or membranes, risk related to manufacturing manipulations, simply because the number and / or the surface of the membranes are reduced. These factors, namely the reduced number and / or surface area, also advantageously facilitate the placement (s) of the membranes in the structure of the article of footwear.

It can be said that the invention paradoxically succeeds in making the footwear waterproof by using two different means in two different zones. This is a paradox, because manufacturing costs are lowered despite the multiplication of the number of means, compared to an article according to the prior art.

Other features and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures illustrating, according to non-limiting embodiments, how the invention may be implemented, and in which :

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of an article of footwear, top side, according to a first embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic perspective view before a blank used to manufacture a first envelope and a second envelope of the article of footwear according to FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic perspective view which shows, on the one hand, the first envelope and the second envelope in place on a support, and, on the other hand, a membrane intended to be associated with at least one envelopes,

FIG. 4 is a schematic perspective view of the blank according to FIG. 2, with the membrane associated with it,

FIG. 5, similar to FIG. 4, shows the addition of a protective part on the membrane,

FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of a structural part of the article of footwear according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 7 is a perspective view which relates to the manufacture of the article of footwear according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 8 is another perspective view which relates to the manufacture of the article of footwear according to FIG. 1,

FIG. 9 is also another perspective view which relates to the manufacture of the article of footwear according to FIG. 1, FIG. 10 is a diagrammatic perspective view before a blank used for a first envelope, according to a second embodiment of an article of footwear according to the invention,

FIG. 11 is a schematic perspective view of a membrane, intended to be associated with the first envelope of the article according to FIG. 10,

FIG. 12 is a front perspective view over the blank according to FIG. 10, with the membrane associated with it,

FIG. 13 is a front perspective view from below of the blank according to FIG. 10, with the membrane associated with it,

FIG. 14 is a front perspective view of an article of footwear, top side, according to a third embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a membrane intended to be associated with an envelope of the article of footwear according to FIG. 14,

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic perspective view before a blank used to manufacture a first envelope and a second envelope, with the associated membrane, for the article of footwear according to FIG. 14.

The first embodiment that will be described after relates for example to a footwear for walking or for running on horizontal terrain or hilly terrain, as found in the mountains. However, the first embodiment applies to other fields such as those mentioned before.

The first form is described below using Figures 1 to 9.

As shown in Figure 1, a footwear item 1 is provided to accommodate the foot of a user. It is agreed for the rest of the description to consider that the article of footwear 1 is a shoe even if, we will see soon in detail, its structure is unusual. Thus, the boot 1 extends in length, in a longitudinal direction L, between a rear end or heel 4 and a front end or tip 5, and in width, in a transverse direction W, between a lateral edge 6 and an edge medial 7.

As shown in the shoe 1 comprises a lower portion 10, provided to surround the foot, excluding any high portion. However, as will be seen later, it may alternatively be considered a shoe comprising both a low portion and a high portion, the latter being provided to surround the ankle and possibly the lower leg.

According to the first embodiment described, the shoe 1 extends in height from a bottom 12 to an upper end 13, that is to say up to the free end of the lower portion 10 or the shoe 1. The bottom is a subdivision of the shoe on which the foot is supported.

The shoe 1 has a rear opening 14, located at the upper end 13 and near the rear end 4. The opening facilitates the boot or the heaving, that is to say in fact the passage of the foot to enter or leave the shoe. According to the first embodiment still, the opening 14 is located at the ankle when the shoe is worn by the user. The shoe 1 is structured to allow a smooth running of the foot during walking, transmissions of sensory information, and impulses for support or receptions. This is why the shoe 1, or footwear, is relatively flexible.

Even if other figures will make it easier to see it later, it can already be seen that the boot 1 comprises a first casing 21, the first casing extending in length, in the longitudinal direction L, from a rear end 24 upwards. at a front end 25, in width, in the transverse direction W, between a lateral edge 26 and a medial edge 27, and in height from a bottom 28 to an upper end 29. This allows the first shell of surround and maintain the user's foot. For its constitution, by way of non-limiting example, the first envelope comprises son connected to each other mechanically. Still as an example, at least a portion of the son comprises at least one hot-melt filament, for example a copolyamide filament.

Still in a nonlimiting manner, the son which comprise at least one hot-melt filament are distributed over the entirety of the first envelope 21, and the shape of the first envelope is fixed by melting son which comprise at least one hot-melt filament. In fact, the fusion confers on the first envelope 21 the ability to retain its shape by itself. This means that it does not sag if no external force is applied to it, even if it is not associated with other parts. It can be said on the one hand that the first envelope 21 is a single piece and, secondly, it is a self-supporting piece. As a result, the first shell 21 gives shape to the boot 1. In other words, the rear end 24, the front end 25, the side edge 26, the medial edge 27, the bottom 28 and the upper end 29 of the first envelope delimit respectively the rear end 4, the front end 5, the lateral edge 6, the medial edge 7, the bottom 12 and the upper end 13 of the footwear or shoe 1. The minimalist structure adopted for the envelope 21 is a guarantee of simplicity, lightness, and many other advantages, as it will appear after.

Without limitation, still according to the first embodiment of the invention, the boot 1 also comprises a second casing 31, the second casing 31 extending in length, in the longitudinal direction L, from a rear end 34 at a front end 35, in width, in the transverse direction W, between a lateral edge 36 and a medial edge 37, and in height from a bottom 38 to an upper end 39. The second envelope 31 covers the foot too in the sense that it surrounds and maintains it, like the first 21. The second envelope 31 is disposed outside the first 21 and, therefore, covers the foot indirectly. In the end the shape of the shoe 1 is given both by the first envelope 21 and the second envelope 31. It will be better later thereafter the interest of using two envelopes.

Still by way of example, the second envelope 31 comprises wires mechanically connected to each other, at least a portion of the wires comprising at least one hot-melt filament, the wires which comprise at least one hot-melt filament being distributed over the whole of the second envelope 31, and the shape of the second envelope being frozen by fusion of the son which comprise at least one hot-melt filament. Here again the fusion confers on the second envelope 31 the ability to retain its shape by itself. This means that it does not sag if no external force is applied to it, even if it is not associated with other parts. It can be said on the one hand that the second casing 31 is a single piece and, on the other hand, that it is a self-supporting piece. As a result, the second envelope 31 also gives shape to the shoe 1. In other words, the rear end 34, the front end 35, the lateral edge 36, the medial edge 37, the bottom 38 and the upper end 39 of the second envelope 31 also delimit respectively the rear end 4, the front end 5, the lateral edge 6, the medial edge 7, the bottom 12 and the upper end 13 of the footwear or shoe 1. The minimalist structure adopted for the envelope 31 is a guarantee of simplicity, lightness, and many other advantages, as we will see later.

In order to better highlight aspects of the first embodiment of the invention, it is useful to specify how the envelopes 21, 31 are made.

As can be seen in FIG. 2, each envelope 21, 31 is obtained by manufacturing a sleeve 41, that is to say in fact a flexible tube made of wires connected to each other. others mechanically. It can be said otherwise that the first envelope 21 consists of a sock, and that the second envelope 31 consists of a sock. The sleeve 41 is a blank for the realization of the article footwear or shoe 1. Without limitation, the sleeve 41 here makes it possible to achieve both the first envelope 21 and the second envelope 31, that is to say also the two socks. The sleeve 41 extends in length from a first end 42 to a second end 43. The first end 42 is closed by any technique known to those skilled in the art, such as for example a seam after folding, the addition of a ferrule made of wires mechanically bonded to each other, or any equivalent. It is specified that alternatively, in some cases, the first end 42 of the sleeve 41 is not closed. The second end 43, for its part, is simply an opening.

It can be seen that the sleeve 41 makes it possible to manufacture the envelopes 21, 31 in one piece. Here the first envelope 21 and the second envelope 31 extend one another. This simplifies manufacturing by reducing the number of parts and the time required for implementation. The use of the sleeve 41 for the manufacture of the shoe 1 will be addressed in stages in the following description. However, beforehand, to remain in the spirit of the first embodiment of the invention, it is useful to specify certain characteristics.

Firstly, as can be seen together using FIGS. 1 and 2, the boundary between the first envelope 21 and the second envelope 31 is a fold 45 which delimits the rear opening 14. The periphery of the opening rear 14 is therefore delimited simply by folding the two envelopes 21, 31 one on the other. This means that this periphery has no seam or insert, as in the prior art, and that therefore the shoe 1 is not a source of discomfort for the user including the opening 14 As a result of this arrangement, the rear opening 14 of the article of footwear 1 is also the rear opening of the first envelope 21, as well as the rear opening of the second envelope 31. Then, as can be understood for the moment in a summary manner with the help of Figure 1, the footwear or shoe 1 comprises a first sealed structural part 48 which extends opposite a first zone of the first envelope 21. The part 48 will be described in more detail later.

According to the invention, the article of footwear 1 comprises a membrane 51, resistant to the passage of a fluid or sealed, which extends opposite a second zone of the first envelope.

It appears that the tightness of the footwear, here the shoe 1, is obtained in two different ways in two different areas. In other words, compared to the prior art, the shoe according to the invention sees its tightness achieved with a reduced membrane surface. The membrane or membranes used here extend at a reduced portion of the first envelope 21, in the sense that they only face a division of the envelope. It therefore takes less manufacturing operations to make the shoe, and it is necessary to use fewer membranes or smaller surface membranes, compared to what was needed for an article according to the prior art. Among the advantages that derive from it can be mentioned the simplicity of manufacture, insofar as it takes fewer membranes to get the waterproofness of the shoe. As a corollary, another advantage is that of greater speed of manufacture. A further advantage is that of reducing the price of the membrane or membranes for each shoe. More broadly, an advantage of the invention is that of the reduced manufacturing cost of the shoe, as a consequence of the simplification of its structure, the reduction in the time required for its manufacture, and the reduction in the cost necessary for the membranes, which are fewer or well distributed over a smaller area. It can be said otherwise that the shoe according to the invention is economical.

Another advantage is that of a reduced risk of deterioration of the membrane or membranes, risk related to manufacturing manipulations, simply because the number and / or the surface of the membranes are reduced. These factors, namely the reduced number and / or area, also advantageously facilitate the placement or placement of membranes in the structure of the shoe.

It can be said that the invention paradoxically succeeds in making the shoe waterproof by using two different means in two different zones. This is a paradox, because the manufacturing costs are lowered despite the multiplication of the number of means, compared to a shoe according to the prior art.

The membrane 51 and its implantation in the shoe 1 are presented below with particular reference to Figures 3 to 5, still in the spirit of not limiting the first embodiment of the invention.

As shown in Figure 3, the membrane 51 has the general appearance of a sheet. The membrane 51 extends in length from a first end 54 to a second end 55, in width between a first edge 56 and a second edge 57, and in thickness between a first face 58 and a second face 59. is a very light item, which folds easily and therefore needs to be handled with care. Indeed the membrane 51 has, for the first embodiment of the invention, a thickness of between 10 and 250 microns, knowing that thicknesses between 30 and 120 micrometers have given good results, by example more precisely a value of 40 micrometers.

In a nonlimiting manner, the membrane 51 consists of a single layer or, alternatively, of several layers. For example, the membrane 51 is impervious to a liquid and permeable to a gas. In other words the membrane is respiro-tight: it lets a gas pass, like water vapor, but is opposed to the passage of a liquid, like water. This improves the comfort of the foot. The membrane is made of polymeric materials such as a polyolefin, a polyethylene-propylene copolymer, a polyethylene, a terephthalate, a polycaprolactone, a polyvinyl fluoride, a polybutylene terephthalate, a polyester copolymer, a polytetrafluoroethylene, or the like. For example, the membrane 51 comprises a porous polytetrafluoroethylene layer and a polyurethane layer.

The membrane 51 is placed in the shoe 1 by any appropriate technique. For example, the sleeve 41 is disposed on a support, such as a cylindrical part 60. It is specified that the support 60 may alternatively have other shapes, such as that of a plate, or other. But in the end the sleeve 41 is threaded on the support 60 for example so as to be slightly in tension. This means that the diameter of the support is slightly greater than the diameter of the sleeve. It can also be said that the perimeter of the support is greater than the diameter of the sleeve. Then the membrane 51 is applied to the sleeve 41, by hand or with a machine. In a nonlimiting manner, according to the first embodiment, the membrane 51 is secured to the first envelope 21. The fastening is performed by any technique, such as spot bonding, uniform bonding, spot welding, uniform welding, Or other.

The assembly formed by the sleeve 41 and the membrane 51 is visible in FIG. 4. It can clearly be seen that the membrane 51 extends at the level of the first envelope 21. In fact the membrane 51 defines the second zone of the first envelope 21, second zone which is resistant to the passage of a fluid or sealed as it was mentioned before. More precisely, it is observed here that the membrane 51 extends transversely from the lateral edge 26 to the medial edge 27 of the first envelope 21, passing through the upper end 29, and that the membrane 21 extends longitudinally between the rear opening 14 and the front end 25 of the first casing 21, at the upper end 29. This allows the membrane 51 to cover the top and partly the sides of the foot during the use of the shoe. To optimize the coverage of the top of the foot, a case may be provided for which the membrane 51 extends forwardly of the first envelope 21, from a front limit 61 of the rear opening 14 of the upper end 29.

In addition and in a non-mandatory manner, as shown in FIG. 5, a protective layer 62 is disposed on the first envelope 21 at the medial edge 26. Even if this is not visible in the figure, another layer of protection is arranged on the first envelope 21 at the side edge 27. Each protective layer comprises a synthetic material for preserving the first envelope 21 of stress related to the tightening of the shoe, as will be better understood later. Each protective layer is secured to the first envelope by any known technique, such as gluing or any equivalent.

We now complete the presentation of the first watertight zone discussed earlier, zone delimited by the first structural part 48, with the aid of Figure 6. The first structural part 48 is here a reinforcement which extends in length from a rear end 64 to a front end 65, in width between an edge lateral 66 and a medial edge 67, and in height from a bottom 68 to an upper end 69. The rear end 64 is here a rear buttress, able to surround the heel of the foot, and the front end 65 is here a front end, able to surround the front of the toes. The reinforcement 48 has a length and a width similar to the lengths and widths of the envelopes 21, 31. Specifically, the reinforcement 48 extends, in relation to the first envelope 21, in length from the rear end 24 to the front end 25, in width between the lateral edge 26 and the medial edge 27, and in height from the bottom 28 to the upper end 29. This allows, by definition, to reinforce the first envelope 21, and therefore the article footwear 1, especially at the bottom 12 and the periphery of the bottom. Alternatively, cases may be provided for which the reinforcement 48 extends over only a portion of the length of the shoe, or only a portion of the width of the shoe, or only a portion of the length and a only part of the width of the shoe.

Not necessarily, the reinforcement 48 carries a clamping device 71, visible in Figure 1.

This includes for example loops 72, located at the upper end 69, and a lace 73 and a locking device 74, known to those skilled in the art. It is therefore possible to tighten or loosen the reinforcement 48 and, in so doing, to tighten or loosen the boot 1.

We can now address the manufacture of the shoe 1, according to Figures 7 to 9. In fact the constituents of the shoe 1 are assembled by hand, without complex and expensive machine.

With Figures 7 and 8 it is understood that the sleeve 41 is threaded onto a part 76, called shape, which is in the image of the foot of the user. The sleeve is applied to the shape 76 in the manner of a sock on a foot. The sleeve 41 is shaped by the shape 76 thanks to its elasticity, which is due to its textile constitution. Then the reinforcement 48 is fitted on the subdivision of the sleeve 41 which will become the first envelope 21. Then the subdivision of the sleeve 41 which will become the second envelope 31 is folded over the reinforcement 48, thereby covering the latter and the subdivision attributed to the first envelope. This is sufficient to constitute the subset of the shoe 1 which surrounds the foot, as can be seen in FIG. 9, which subassembly ultimately comprises the first envelope 21, the reinforcement 48, and the second envelope 31. It is then sufficient to subject the subset to a temperature rise, by any appropriate technique, to melt just the necessary level of hot melt filaments envelopes, and thus give the shoe 1 its geometry. After heating, the shape 76 can be removed from the subset. The shoe 1 is almost finished. According to the first embodiment, it is envisaged to add an outer sole 78 as shown in FIG. 1. The outer sole 78 is intended to rest on the ground and, as such, is structured to withstand friction wear and also to cushion shocks. It therefore comprises, by way of example, a wear layer 79 and a damping layer 80. It can be said otherwise that the article of footwear, or shoe 1, comprises an outer sole 78 disposed facing the bottom 28 of the first envelope 21, and also here facing the bottom 38 of the second envelope 31. The shoe according to the invention is suitable for example very well to a long distance runner.

FIG. 1 also shows that the first structural part 48, that is to say here the reinforcement 48, is located between the first envelope 21 and the second envelope 31. In fact the reinforcement is separated from the foot by the first envelope 21 , for a better comfort, and the reinforcement is protected from the aggression of external elements, such as branches to which it could hang, for an easier use.

Still according to the first embodiment of the invention, while still considering Figure 1 but also Figures 6 to 9, it can be said that the structural part 48 comprises a bottom 68 which extends opposite the bottom 28 of the first 21. This makes the bottom of the shoe 1 waterproof. It is also observed that the structural part 48 comprises a lateral edge 66 connected to the bottom 68 and / or a medial edge 67 connected to the bottom 68. In fact here the structural part 48 comprises a lateral edge 66 connected to the bottom 68 and a medial edge 67 connected to the bottom 68. This makes the edges 6, 7 of the boot 1 waterproof, at least in their lower part near the bottom 12. It is also observed that the structural part 48 comprises a rear buttress 64 connected to the bottom 68 and / or a front end 65 connected to the bottom 68. In fact here the structural part 48 comprises a rear buttress 64 connected to the bottom 68 and a front end 65 connected to the bottom 68. This makes the ends 4, 5 of the boot 1 waterproof, at least in their lower part near the bottom 12.

In a nonlimiting manner, the bottom 68, the lateral edge 66, the medial edge 67, the rear buttress 64 and the front end 65 of the structural part 48 form a single piece, made for example with a synthetic material. Alternatively, in some cases, the structural part 48 comprises different parts, such as the bottom, the edges, the buttress or the end piece, manufactured separately and then assembled together by any appropriate technique.

In order to optimize the boot 1 as regards its ability to oppose the entry of water into the footwear volume, it is expected that together, the first structural part 48 and the membrane 51 extend facing at least 90% of the surface of the first envelope 21. By corollary, the structural part 48 and the membrane 51 extend facing at least 90% of the surface of the second casing 31.

In order to facilitate the manufacture of the boot 1, and also to optimize its ability to oppose the entry of water, the first structural part 48 and the waterproof membrane 51 are partly opposite one of the other. The elements 48 and 51 have for example surface portions vis-à-vis, portions which are secured to each other by any suitable technique such as gluing or any equivalent. Solidarization is not mandatory, but it improves the seal compared to what it would be in the absence of glue.

The other embodiments of the invention are summarized below with reference to FIGS. 10 to 16. For reasons of convenience, it is above all the differences with respect to the first embodiment that are highlighted. In addition, it is intended to use the same references for identical or similar elements seen in the first form.

Thus for the second form, according to FIGS. 10 to 13, there is a first envelope 21, with its rear ends 24 and before 25, its lateral edges 26 and medial 27, or its bottom 28 and its upper end 29. There is also a membrane 51 with its ends 54, 55, its edges 56, 57, and its faces 58, 59.

What is specific to the second embodiment is that the article of footwear 1 comprises only a first envelope 21. This means, for example, that the sleeve that makes the envelope is shorter than it is was to get two envelopes. This is a simplified structure of the article of footwear 1. An advantage of this article is that of lightness.

For the third embodiment, according to FIGS. 14 to 16, there is a first envelope 21 and a second envelope 31, obtained for example by means of a sleeve 41.

What is specific to the third embodiment is that the article footwear 1 comprises a lower portion 10, provided to surround the foot, and a high portion 90, provided to surround the ankle and possibly the bottom of leg. In a nonlimiting manner, the article of footwear 1 comprises a membrane 91 which extends both at the level of the lower portion 10 and at the level of the upper portion 90. The membrane 91 again has the general appearance of a leaf. The membrane 91 extends in length from a first end 94 to a second end 95, in width between a first edge 96 and a second edge 97, and in thickness between a first face 98 and a second face 99. to better adapt to the geometry of the shoe 1, the membrane has notches, for example two transverse notches 101, 102, and two longitudinal notches 103, 104. Regarding the constitution and implantation of the membrane 91 in the shoe, which was seen for the first embodiment also applies to the third.

In all cases the invention is made from materials known to those skilled in the art.

The invention also makes use of certain known techniques, in particular for the preparation of the sleeve 41 or external sole assembly 78.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and includes all technical equivalents that fall within the scope of the claims that follow.

In particular, it may be provided to add one or more envelopes to the article of footwear

1. One or more or all of these envelopes may be made by techniques other than the use of sleeves or socks. In particular, it can be provided to manufacture an envelope from a blank in two dimensions, that is to say, made flat, then shaped blank in three dimensions, that is to say in volume, and maintained shaped by means of a first mounting flange.

In cases where an envelope includes wires, it is not necessary for all the wires to be hot meltable. It can even be expected that no wire is hot melt.

In cases where the footwear includes sleeves or socks, the latter can be manufactured separately and then be associated together, for example by superposition.

A given envelope does not necessarily extend along the longitudinal direction of the article over the entire length of the article. This means that in a case where the footwear comprises several envelopes, one of them may be shorter. In particular, in this case, the second envelope 31 is slightly shorter than the first envelope 21, which facilitates the manufacture of the shoe.

It can be expected that the reinforcement is located outside the footwear, covering indeed all envelopes, directly or indirectly. Conversely, it can be provided that the reinforcement is located inside the article of footwear.

The membrane may be disposed on any of the envelopes on one side or the other of its surface, that is to say in fact towards the inside or towards the outside of the footwear volume. The membrane may alternatively be arranged on the reinforcing structure. We can go further by providing cases for which the shoe comprises several membranes.

Still on the subject of the membrane, it has been seen that this is for example constituted of a sheet, that is to say of a flat element shaped in two dimensions. We can alternatively provide cases for which the membrane is a piece shaped in three dimensions; the membrane is then an envelope that delimits a volume whose shape facilitates the establishment on a sock.

About reinforcement 48, we saw that it includes in some cases a bottom, edges, a front end and a rear buttress. But in other cases the reinforcement is devoid of front end and / or rear buttress. For example, the reinforcement comprises exclusively the bottom, the lateral edge and the medial edge. This is a simplified version of the footwear.

It is further specified that, in some cases, the reinforcement 48 has weakened portions at the bottom 68, portions made for example by the arrangement of cavities. These may be transverse slots, located towards the front of the article of footwear, in order to facilitate the longitudinal bending of the bottom 68 along a transverse axis. This facilitates a smooth running of the foot.

Claims

1 - Footwear (1) which comprises a first casing (21), the first casing (21) extending in length from a rear end (24) to a front end (25), in width between a lateral edge (26) and a medial edge (27), and in height from a bottom (28) to an upper end (29), the footwear (1) having a rear opening (14), located at the level of the upper end (29), the article of footwear (1) comprising a first sealed structural part (48) which extends opposite a first zone of the first envelope (21), characterized in that it comprises a membrane (51), resistant to the passage of a fluid or sealed, which extends opposite a second zone of the first envelope (21).

2- article footwear (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural part (48) comprises a bottom (68) which extends opposite the bottom (28) of the first casing (21).

3- article of footwear (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that the structural part (48) comprises a side edge (66) connected to the bottom (68) and / or a medial edge (67) connected to the bottom (68). ).

4- article footwear (1) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the structural part (48) comprises a rear buttress (64) connected to the bottom (68) and / or a front end (65) connected to the bottom (68).

5- article of footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the membrane (51) extends transversely from the side edge (26) to the medial edge (27) of the first envelope (21), passing through the upper end (29), and in that the membrane (51) extends longitudinally between the rear opening (14) and the front end (25) of the first housing ( 21) at the upper end (29).

6- Article footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the membrane (51) extends forwardly of the first casing (21), from a front limit (61) of the rear opening (14) of the upper end (29).

7- Article footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the membrane (51) is impermeable to a liquid and permeable to a gas.

8- Article footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the membrane (51) is secured to the first casing (21).

9- article of footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that together, the first structural part (48) and the membrane (51) extend over at least 90% of the surface of the first envelope (21).

10- article of footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the first structural part (48) and the sealed membrane (51) are partly opposite one another.

11- Article footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that it comprises a second casing (31), the second casing (31) extending in length from a rear end (34) to a leading end (35), in width between a lateral edge (36) and a medial edge (37), and in height from a bottom (38) to an upper end (39).

12- Footwear (1) according to claim 11, characterized in that the first piece structural member (48) is located between the first envelope (21) and the second envelope (31).

13- Footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the first casing (21) consists of a sock.

14. Article footwear (1) according to one of claims 11 to 13, characterized in that the second casing (31) consists of a sock.

15- Article footwear (1) according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that it comprises an outer sole (78) disposed opposite the bottom (28) of the first casing 21.