Footwear Having an Embroidery Pattern

Abstract

A footwear includes a sole and an upper. The upper is connected to the sole and cooperates with the sole to define an accommodating space that is adapted for receiving a human foot therein. The upper includes two embroidery portions, each of which includes a mesh layer unit, a reinforcing lining unit and two embroidery patterns. The reinforcing lining unit of each of the embroidery portions has an area which is smaller than the area of a respective one of the mesh layer units. The embroidery patterns are embroidered on the reinforcing lining units and the mesh layer units, and are exposed on an outer surface of the upper.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority of Chinese Patent Application No. 201510308878.6, filed on Jun. 8, 2015.

FIELD The disclosure relates to a footwear, and more particularly to a footwear having an embroidery pattern.

BACKGROUND

A conventional boot, such as a cowboy boot or a Wellington boot includes a sole and an upper that cooperates with the sole to define an L-shaped accommodating space for receiving a human foot and a lower part of a human leg. The upper has a shaft portion, and is made of a material which has high hardness and low ductility (e.g. calfskin leather) so as to allow the shaft portion to stand in an upright direction with respect to the sole. The upper is not formed with a series of holes and/or eyelets for a bootlace to extend therethrough. Therefore, the size of the accommodating space is not adjustable.

Referring to FIG. 1, it is desirable to modify the upper of the conventional boot, such as by connecting a stiff upper piece 11 (e.g. calfskin leather) with an air-permeable upper piece 12 (e.g. a mesh) that has an embroidery pattern 121. Such modification can improve ventilation of the accommodating space, enhance aesthetic appearance of the conventional boot, and may satisfy stylish taste of a wearer.

The air-permeable upper piece 12 has at least one mesh layer 122. The embroidery pattern 121 is embroidered directly on the mesh layer 122 or alternatively on the mesh layers 122 that are in contact with each other. The embroidery pattern 121 is formed by a plurality of embroidering threads.

Since the mesh layer 122 is formed by interweaving threads or wires, and has evenly spaced holes that are relatively large in comparison with the width of the embroidering threads, stitches that constitute the embroidery pattern 121 may be loose and may be pulled out of shape easily, thereby failing to provide a desired stereoscopic appearance. Moreover, the interweaving threads or wires of the mesh layer 122 may affect the distinctiveness of the embroidery pattern 121.

SUMMARY

Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a footwear having an embroidery pattern that can alleviate at least one of the drawbacks of the prior arts.

According to the disclosure, the footwear includes a sole and an upper. The upper is connected to the sole and cooperates with the sole to define an accommodating space that is adapted for receiving a human foot therein. The upper includes at least one embroidery portion that includes a mesh layer unit, a reinforcing lining unit, and at least one embroidery pattern. The reinforcing lining unit has an area which is smaller than that of the mesh layer unit. The embroidery pattern is embroidered on the reinforcing lining unit and the mesh layer unit, fixes the reinforcing lining unit with the mesh layer unit, and is exposed on an outer surface of the upper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the disclosure will become apparent in the following detailed description of the embodiment and variations thereof with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a conventional boot having an embroidery pattern;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a footwear according to the disclosure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view of the embodiment illustrating a structure of an embroidery portion;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating a variation of the embroidery portion of the embodiment;

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating another variation of the embroidery portion of the embodiment; and

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but illustrating still another variation of the embroidery portion of the embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 2 to 3, an embodiment of a footwear according to the disclosure includes a sole 2 and an upper 3.

The sole 2 has a top surface 21. The upper 3 is connected to the sole 2 and cooperates with the sole 2 to define an L-shaped accommodating space 4 that is adapted for receiving a human foot (not shown) therein, and that has a top opening 41. The upper 3 includes a vamp portion 31, two embroidery portions 32, two side supporting units 33 and a top supporting unit 34.

The vamp portion 31 is connected to the top surface 21 of the sole 2. The fabrication technique for interconnecting the top surface 21 of the sole 2 and the vamp portion 31 is well-known to those skilled in art, so the details are not illustrated herein for the sake of brevity.

The embroidery portions 32 are aligned along a front-rear direction, are connected to each other, and extend upwardly from a top end of the vamp portion 31. The embroidery portions 32 cooperate with the vamp portion 31 to define the accommodating space 4 and to be adapted to enclose a lower part of a human leg (not shown). It should be noted that the number of the embroidery portions 32 is not limited to two and may be one, three, etc. depending on actual design requirements.

Each of the embroidery portions 32 includes a mesh layer unit 321, a reinforcing lining unit 322 and two embroidery patterns 323. The reinforcing lining unit 322 of each of the embroidery portions 32 has an area which is smaller than the area of a respective one of the mesh layer units 321. The embroidery patterns 323 are embroidered on the reinforcing lining units 322 and the mesh layer units 321, and are exposed on an outer surface of the upper 3. Each of the embroidery patterns 323 fixes a corresponding one of the reinforcing lining units 322 with a respective one of the mesh layer units 321.

The side supporting units 33 are adapted to be respectively disposed at positions that correspond to two lateral sides of the human foot. The side supporting units 33 extend upwardly from the top end of the vamp portion 31 for supporting the embroidery portions 32 to stand in an upright direction with respect to the sole 2. Each of the side supporting units 33 includes an inner supporting strap 331 disposed on inner surfaces of the embroidery portions 32, and an outer decorative strip 332 disposed on outer surfaces of the embroidery portions 32 and at position that correspond to that of the inner supporting strap 331.

The top supporting unit 34 is disposed on top ends of the embroidery portions 32, is connected to the side supporting units 33, and is for holding the top ends of the embroidery portions 32 in place to define the top opening 41 of the accommodating space 4. The top supporting unit 34 includes an inner supporting strap 341 disposed on the inner surfaces of the embroidery portions 32, and an outer decorative strip 342 disposed on the outer surface of the embroidery portion 32 and at position corresponds to that of the inner supporting strap 341. The number of the side supporting units 33 corresponds to the number of the embroidery portions 32. It should be noted that the number of the side supporting units 33 are not limited to two, and may be one, three, etc. depending on actual design requirements.

In the embodiment, the vamp portion 31 of the upper 3 is made of calfskin leather. In other examples, the vamp portion 31 may be made of, for example and not limited to, synthetic leather, fabric, or plastic material. The mesh layer unit 321 of each of the embroidery portions 32 has two mesh layers 325 facing each other. The reinforcing lining unit 322 of each of the embroidery portions 32 has two reinforcing linings 326 aligned along a left-right direction, and each of the reinforcing linings 326 is disposed between the mesh layers 325 and is fixed with the mesh layers 325 by a corresponding one of the embroidery patterns 323. Each of the embroidery patterns 323 has an area which is smaller than the area of a respective one of the reinforcing linings 326 of the reinforcing lining units 322. Each of the reinforcing lining units 322 has a region that is embroidered with a corresponding one of the embroidery patterns 323, and is formed with a plurality of perforations 324 located outside of the region. In the embodiment, the reinforcing linings 326 are made of polyurethane (PU). In other variations of the embodiment, as long as the reinforcing linings 326 can serve as a support during embroidery process and enable each of the embroidery patterns 323 to be presented as a complete pattern, the reinforcing linings 326 may be made of, for example and not limited to, plastic material, leather or other durable materials. The inner supporting straps 331, 341 and the outer decorative strips 332, 342 are made of calfskin leather, but any durable materials other than calfskin leather may be used based on actual design needs. The inner supporting straps 331, 341 and the outer decorative strips 332, 342 may be selectively made of different materials.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrating other variations of the embodiment, configuration and position of the mesh layer units 321 and the reinforcing lining units 322 may be changed based on different design requirements. That is, each of the reinforcing lining unit 322 may be disposed on an inner surface of a respective one of the mesh layer units 321 (see FIG. 4), or on an outer surface of a respective one of the mesh layer units 321 (see FIG. 5).

Referring to FIG. 6 illustrating another variation of the embodiment, each of the mesh layer units 321 may only include one mesh layer 325. The number of the embroidery patterns 323 and the number of the reinforcing linings 326 of each of the embroidery portions 32 are not limited to two, and may be one, three, etc. depending on actual design requirements.

It should be noted that the footwear is not limited to a cowboy boot as illustrated in this disclosure, and may be a Wellington boot or other types of footwear.

To sum up, the reinforcing linings 326 of the embroidery portions 32 enhance stability of the embroidery patterns 323 and allow for a sturdier and more stereoscopic construction of the embroidery pattern 323. Thus, the footwear embellished with the embroidery pattern 323 may have an improved aesthetic appearance. Furthermore, the perforations 324 of the reinforcing lining units 322 improve ventilation of the accommodating space 4, provide more details to the embroidery patterns 323, and may also create a translucent and more stereoscopic visual effect, thereby enhancing the overall aesthetic appearance and fineness of the footwear.

While the disclosure has been described in connection with what are considered the exemplary embodiment and variations thereof, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiment and variations thereof but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.

Claims

1. A footwear comprising:

a sole; and

an upper connected to said sole and cooperating with said sole to define an accommodating space that is adapted for receiving a human foot therein, said upper including at least one embroidery portion that includes a mesh layer unit, a reinforcing lining unit having an area which is smaller than that of said mesh layer unit, and at least one embroidery pattern embroidered on said reinforcing lining unit and said mesh layer unit, said at least one embroidery pattern fixing said reinforcing lining unit with said mesh layer unit and being exposed on an outer surface of said upper.

2. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said embroidery pattern has an area that is smaller than that of said reinforcing lining unit.

3. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing lining unit has a region that is embroidered with said embroidery pattern, said reinforcing lining unit being formed with a plurality of perforations located outside of said region.

4. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said mesh layer unit of said embroidery portion has two mesh layers, said reinforcing lining unit being disposed between said mesh layers and being fixed with said mesh layers by said embroidery pattern.

5. The footwear as claimed in claim 4, wherein said reinforcing lining unit has at least one reinforcing lining that is disposed between said mesh layers.

6. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing lining unit is disposed on an outer surface of said mesh layer unit.

7. The footwear as claimed in claim 6, wherein said mesh layer unit has at least one mesh layer, said reinforcing lining unit having at least one reinforcing lining.

8. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said reinforcing lining unit is disposed on an inner surface of said mesh layer unit.

9. The footwear as claimed in claim 8, wherein said mesh layer unit has at least one mesh layer, said reinforcing lining unit having at least one reinforcing lining.

10. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper further includes a vamp portion connected to said sole, said embroidery portion extending upwardly from a top end of said vamp portion and cooperating with said vamp portion to define said accommodating space and to be adapted for enclosing a lower part of a human leg.

11. The footwear as claimed in claim 10, wherein said upper further includes a side supporting unit extending upwardly from the top end of said vamp portion for supporting said embroidery portion to stand in an upright direction with respect to the sole.

12. The footwear as claimed in claim 11, wherein said side supporting unit includes an inner supporting strap disposed on an inner surface of said embroidery portion, and an outer decorative strip disposed on an outer surface of said embroidery portion and corresponding in position to said inner supporting strap.

13. The footwear as claimed in claim 11, wherein said accommodating space has a top opening, said upper further including a top supporting unit that is disposed on a top end of said embroidery portion, that is connected to said side supporting unit, and that is for holding said top end of said embroidery portion in place to define said top opening.

14. The footwear as claimed in claim 13, wherein said top supporting unit includes an inner supporting strap disposed on an inner surface of said embroidery portion, and an outer decorative strip disposed on an outer surface of said embroidery portion and corresponding in position to said inner supporting strap.

15. The footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein said upper further includes a vamp portion that is connected to said sole, said upper including two of said embroidery portions that are connected to each other, that extend upwardly from a top end of said vamp portion, and that cooperate with said vamp portion to define said accommodating space and to be adapted for enclosing a lower part of a human leg.