WATERPROOF AND VAPOR-PERMEABLE SOLE FOR SHOES AND SHOE PROVIDED WITH SAID SOLE

Abstract

A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, including a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material. An upper functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, affects at least part of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface of the lower component. An upper component is arranged substantially on top of the functional layer and includes a plurality of pumping elements, which are directed toward the upper part corresponding to the inside of the shoe. The functional layer is joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes.

The invention also relates to the shoe provided by means of said sole.

BACKGROUND ART

Currently, it is known that a shoe, in order to be comfortable, must ensure correct heat and water vapor exchange between the microclimate inside the shoe and the outside.

The heat and vapor exchanges, however, must not compromise in any case the waterproofness of the shoe to external humidity or water.

Soles are already known which solve the problem of the internal vapor permeation of the shoe.

Among these, the one that has had the greatest industrial application consists of a sole made of perforated elastomer, on which a functional layer is sealed perimetrically which contains a membrane made of a material that is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water, usually expanded PTFE, so as to keep the foot dry with respect to the humidity created by perspiration, which is expelled appropriately.

The membrane prevents the water from entering the sole up to contact with the foot.

Although they have been commercially available for many years, soles that apply this technical principle are not free from aspects that can be improved, above all the substantially “static” nature of the system, which is actuated only due to the different climate conditions between the inside and the outside of the shoe, which convey the vapor outside by osmosis.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to devise a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes that increases the transport of the vapor from the inside to the outside of a shoe with a perforated sole provided with a functional layer that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor.

A consequent object of the present invention is to allow better moisture permeation of the foot so that it remains dry in any condition of use.

Another object of the present invention is to create an optimum microclimate inside the shoe, even in demanding situations, such as in the case of sports use.

This aim and these and other objects that will become better apparent hereinafter are achieved by a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, comprising in succession from the bottom:

• • a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material
  • a functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and affects at least part of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface of said lower component
  • an upper component, which is arranged substantially on top of said functional layer and has a plurality of pumping elements, which are directed toward the part corresponding to the inside of the shoe,
    said functional layer being joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the detailed description of an embodiment thereof, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a partial transverse sectional view of a shoe with a sole according to the invention in a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a transverse sectional view of the components of the sole of the shoe in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a first variation of a component of the sole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a second variation of a component of the sole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a third variation of a component of the sole in FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of a sole according to the invention;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a third embodiment of a sole according to the invention.

It is noted that anything found to be already known during the patenting process is understood not to be claimed and to be the subject of a disclaimer.

WAYS OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

With reference to the figures, a waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, in a first embodiment, is generally designated by the reference numeral 10.

The sole, by way of example, comprises, in succession from the bottom:

• • a lower component 11, which is made of polymeric material and is vapor-permeable because it is provided conveniently with through holes 12,
  • a functional layer, generally designated by the reference numeral 13, which is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and affects at least part of the extension of the surface where the through holes 12 are present,
  • an upper component 14, which is arranged substantially on top of said functional layer 13 and has a plurality of pumping elements 15, which are directed toward the upper part corresponding to the inside of a shoe 23.

The lower component 11 can have through holes with small dimensions with cross-sections on the order of one or more millimeters and/or with large openings with cross-sections on the order of a square centimeter and more.

As an alternative, there can be a lower component 11 that is at least partially porous with open pores (not shown), in order to allow the passage of air and/or water vapor through it.

According to the invention, the functional layer 13 is joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole 10.

In particular, the functional layer 13 can be sealed

• • to the lower component 11, or
  • to the upper component 14, which is then sealed in turn to the lower component 11.

Advantageously, the functional layer 13 can comprise a membrane 17 made of microporous expanded PTFE or the like, which is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and air, preferably laminated with at least one fine mesh (not shown in the figures for the sake of simplicity) is made of plastic material for supporting it.

As an alternative to the membrane 17, the functional layer 13 can comprise an insert with a stratified and cohesive monolithic sheet-like structure, which comprises a plurality of functional layers made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, such as the one disclosed in EPA no. 09425334.1 dated Aug. 28, 2009 by the same Applicant, or an insert with a monolithic sheet-like structure, made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, such as the one disclosed in EPA no. 09425336.6 dated Aug. 28, 2009 by the same Applicant.

Conveniently, the functional layer 13 can comprise a support 19 made of material that is hydrophilic, permeable to water vapor and optionally also impermeable to water.

Preferably, the functional layer 13 comprises a layer 20 for protecting the membrane 17 and/or the support 19, arranged in a lower region, made of vapor-permeable material and capable of drying rapidly, such as felt of non-woven fabric, conveniently treated to be water-repellent.

Conveniently, the protective layer 20 is arranged below the membrane 17 and/or the support 19, between the membrane 17 and/or the support 19 and the lower component 11 and directly above said lower component 11, at the through holes 12 or at the large openings in order to protect the membrane 17 and/or the support 19 from external impacts or foreign objects that can penetrate through the lower component 11.

Moreover, the protective layer 20 and the membrane 17 and/or the support 19 are advantageously mutually coupled, for example, by spot gluing by using a commercially available adhesive that is resistant to hydrolysis (the type commonly known as “hot melt” or systems with calendered powders).

Also according to the invention, the pumping elements 15 are preferably co-molded directly on the functional layer 13 and are constituted by substantially suction cap-like tubular elements and/or substantially open hourglass-like tubular elements and/or substantially bellows-like tubular elements and/or elements shaped like a spherical dome that is perforated at the top, mutually spaced in order to make the shoe more comfortable during use.

This is done to ensure that during movements caused by walking, the impacts by the foot during its resting step are cushioned and a downward pressure movement of the air contained is provided so as to force the passage of the contained vapor through the functional layer 13.

Moreover, the pumping elements 15 constituted by tubular elements are connected by a plurality of lattices 27 so as to prevent, during the molding of the upper component 14, the injected material from covering completely the surface of the functional layer 13.

The co-molding and thus the direct sealing of each one of the pumping elements 15 to the functional layer 13 conveniently allows to create air-filled chambers which, thanks to the compression of said pumping elements 15, during walking, allow to expel humid air, which arrives from the inside of the shoe, through the microporosity of the membrane 17.

In this manner, inside the tubular pumping elements, besides transport by osmosis, an active outward transport of the air and the water vapor through the microporous membrane 17 is generated as well.

The portion of the functional layer 13 left free of the polymeric material of the upper component 14 continues to work by osmosis.

The pumping elements 15, constituted by tubular elements, have great resilience and resistance to permanent deformations and are preferably made of elastic and flexible thermoplastic material, substantially shaped like a suction cap and/or an open hourglass and/or bellows and/or shaped like a spherical dome that is perforated at the top.

Again with particular reference to FIG. 1, the upper component 14 with the pumping elements 15 is co-molded on the functional layer 13 so as to define an insert 16, to which the vapor-permeable lower component 11 is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.

In practice, the insert 16 is provided separately and then applied hermetically to the lower component 11, in an appropriately provided seat 21 thereof.

The sealing of the lower component 11 can be created by perimetric gluing with hydrolysis-resistant glues.

Such insert 16, in this case, also comprises, in addition to the functional layer 13 and the upper component 14, an element 25, which affects perimetrically the edge regions of the functional layer 13. The membrane 17 and/or the support 19, together with the protective layer 20, of the functional layer 13 are sealed at the edge regions to the element 25, made of polymeric material (for example thermoplastic rubber or polyurethane), adapted to define for them a support both during assembly step and during working step.

Therefore, the connection between the functional layer 13 and the element 25 occurs advantageously without using adhesives or with adhesives only in the perimetric portion.

The limitation of sealing to a perimetric band constituted by the edge regions of the functional layer allows to keep vapor permeation unchanged for most of the surface of the insert 16.

An upper 22 (for example made of natural leather without covering pigments) is joined conveniently to the sole 10 according to the invention and is associated with a vapor-permeable and/or perforated lining 24 (for example made of so-called Cambrelle) in order to form a shoe 23. The lining 24 is associated with the upper 22 by spot gluing so as to not compromise vapor permeation through the latter.

The shoe 23 further comprises, in this case, an insole 26 made of vapor-permeable and/or perforated material (for example natural leather, felt or cellulose material), which can be associated optionally with a heel seat made of soft leather with absorbent rubber latex, not illustrated.

The insole 26, in this case, is joined to the upper 22 by way of a seam 28 of the strobel type.

A footbed 29 is arranged at the resting region of the foot.

With particular reference to FIG. 3, in a first constructive variation of the insert, now 116, the element 125 that seals the functional layer 113 at its edge regions has an upper surface that is free from pumping elements 115.

This solution allows more uniform and efficient pressing during the process for gluing the insert 116 to the lower component 11 for better mechanical strength of the bonding.

With particular reference to FIG. 4, in a second constructive variation of the insert, now 216, the upper component 214 with the pumping elements 215 is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing with sealing to the functional layer 213, so as to form an insert to which the lower vapor-permeable component 11 is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.

Conveniently, in this case also the direct sealing of each one of the pumping elements 215 to the functional layer 213 allows to create air-filled chambers which, thanks to the compression of the pumping elements 215, allow the expulsion of the air and/or water vapor through the functional layer 213.

With particular reference to FIG. 5, in a third constructive variation of the insert, now 316, the element 325 that seals the functional layer 313 at its edge regions is constituted by a ring-shaped element, made for example of ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). The upper component 314, which is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, is inserted inside the element 325 advantageously so as to seal the pumping elements 315, on the functional layer 313.

The whole insert 16, 116, 216, 316 can be made modular so that it can be used on different types of sole and on different sizes.

Again, one observes the easy insertion of the insert in the lower component, thus facilitating the positioning of the functional layer 13, 113, 213, 313, which can be applied with absolute precision.

In fact, the very contour of the insert cooperates to the precision of the positioning, a shape being perimetrically provided, for said insert, which is substantially shaped complementarily with respect to the remaining components of the sole between which it has to be accommodated.

With particular reference to FIG. 6, in a second embodiment of the sole according to the invention, the functional layer 413 is an insert which is provided separately and then applied to the lower component 411, in an adapted seat 421 thereof, and is sealed by means of an element 425 that joins the entire assembly to the upper (not shown). The upper component 414 is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, conveniently with the pumping elements 415 sealed to the functional layer 413.

With particular reference to FIG. 7, a third embodiment of a sole according to the invention is fully similar to the sole 10 and is generally designated by the reference numeral 500.

In this embodiment, the sole 500 has means for protecting the functional layer 513, which are constituted by a composite lower component 511.

In particular, the lower component 511 comprises a waterproof portion 511a in contact with the ground and a portion 511b made of porous material with open pores in order to allow the passage of air and/or water vapor through it.

In particular, the part 511b makes contact with, or in any case faces, the membrane 517 and/or the support 519 of the functional layer 513, to which it is joined at least in the edge regions (in which a seal is provided).

The part 511b is completely permeable and therefore allows the permeation of the perspiration that has formed inside the shoe.

The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications and variations, all of which are within the scope of the appended claims; all the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2009A000300 from which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

Where technical features mentioned in any claim are followed by reference signs, those reference signs have been included for the sole purpose of increasing the intelligibility of the claims and accordingly such reference signs do not have any limiting effect on the interpretation of each element identified by way of example by such reference signs.

Claims

1-22. (canceled)

23. A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, comprising in succession from the bottom:

a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material;

a functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and affects at least a portion of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface of said lower component; and

an upper component, which is arranged substantially on top of said functional layer and includes a plurality of pumping elements, which are directed toward a portion corresponding to the inside of the shoe,

said functional layer being joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.

24. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said lower component includes selectively:

through holes with small dimensions with cross-sections on the order of one or more millimeters and/or with large openings with a cross-section on the order of a square centimeter and more;

at least partially open pores, to allow through passage of air.

25. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer is sealed selectively:

to said lower component;

to said upper component, which is then sealed to said lower component.

26. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer comprises a membrane made of microporous expanded PTFE, which is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor.

27. The sole according to claim 26, wherein said membrane is laminated with a fine mesh of plastic material for supporting it.

28. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer comprises a support made of a hydrophilic material selected among:

material which is permeable to water vapor;

material which is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water.

29. The sole according to claim 27, wherein said functional layer comprises a protective layer for protecting the membrane and/or said support, arranged in a lower region, made of vapor-permeable material and capable of drying rapidly.

30. The sole according to claim 29, wherein said protective layer and said membrane and/or said support are mutually coupled by spot gluing by using an adhesive that is resistant to hydrolysis.

31. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer comprises an insert selected among:

a stratified and cohesive monolithic sheet-like structure, which comprises a plurality of functional layers made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor;

a monolithic sheet-like structure made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor.

32. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said pumping elements are molded directly on said functional layer.

33. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said pumping elements are constituted selectively among:

substantially suction cap-like tubular elements;

substantially open hourglass-like tubular elements;

substantially bellows-like tubular elements;

elements shaped like a spherical dome that is perforated at the top.

34. The sole according to claim 32, wherein said pumping elements are co-molded directly on said functional layer with direct sealing of each one of said pumping elements to said functional layer.

35. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said pumping elements are connected by a plurality of lattices so as to prevent, during molding of the upper component, injected material from covering completely the surface of the functional layer.

36. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said upper component with said pumping elements is co-molded on said functional layer so as to form an insert, to which said lower component is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.

37. The sole according to claim 36, wherein said insert also comprises, in addition to said functional layer and the upper component, an element that affects perimetrically and seals edge regions of said functional layer, being adapted to form for it a support both during an assembly and during a working.

38. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said upper component with said pumping elements is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing with sealing to said functional layer, so as to form an insert to which said lower vapor-permeable component is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.

39. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer is sealed at its edge regions to an element, constituted by a ring-shaped element, inside which said upper component is inserted, which is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, so as to seal said pumping elements, to said functional layer, so as to form an insert to which said lower vapor-permeable component is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding.

40. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said functional layer is an insert which is provided separately and then applied to said lower component, in a seat thereof, and is sealed by an element that joins the entire assembly to the upper.

41. The sole according to claim 36, wherein said insert is inserted in a seat of said lower component.

42. The sole according to claim 40, wherein said upper component is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, with said pumping elements sealed to said functional layer.

43. The sole according to claim 23, wherein said lower component is a composite, comprising a waterproof portion in contact with the ground and a portion made of porous material to allow the passage of air and/or water vapor through it.

44. A shoe comprising a sole according to claim 23.