Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a tanned leather product that is impregnated with a plurality of microspheres containing a temperature stabilizing material. The present invention is also directed to a tanning process for embedding the microspheres into the leather. The thermal stabilizing material is a phase change material that allows the leather to have enhanced thermal properties when exposed to heat or cold.

Abstract: An athletic shoe, such as a soccer shoe, has an upper defining a toe region, an insole connected to the upper, and an outsole secured to the insole. A vamp in the toe region is joined to the insole. The vamp is a full-grain leather composed of a grain layer and a leather fiber layer joined to the grain layer. An elastomeric coating is disposed on and partway penetrates into the leather fiber layer in a region where the fiber layer is joined to the insole. The coating has a thickness above the surface of the leather fiber layer of at least 0.1 mm. The coating may also be disposed in a region adjoining the region where the fiber layer is joined to said insole. The coating may also be reinforced with an embedded reinforcement.

Abstract: A thermal regulating sports glove or shoe incorporating an electrostatic field within the fiber structure of the natural or synthetic leather, from which the glove or shoe is formed. The electrostatic field causes the water molecules in the wearer's perspiration to remain in a constant state of agitation thereby breaking down the bond of surface tension of the normal liquid state of water into free water molecules. Free water molecules are then pulled through the natural or synthetic leather by a magnetic process to the surface, where they pass into the air as evaporated water. This evaporation on the outer surface of the glove or shoe, which is now acting much as "second layer of skin", serves to regulate the temperature of the wearer's hand or foot almost as if the evaporation were taking place on the wearer's own skin surface.

Abstract: A thermoplastic composite material is formed from a fabric, preferably woven, impregnated and preferably covered with a thermoplastic material (e.g. acrylic) constituting a monomer solvent and polymer mixture preferably in an approximately 2:1 ratio. The monomer changes the polymer viscosity to wet the fabric. The mixture contains small amounts of an initiator (e.g. benzoyl peroxide) for promoting the monomer polymerization and an inhibitor (e.g. hydroquinone) for preventing premature curing. Plastic sheets on the thermoplastic composite material inhibit the curing. An activator (e.g. tertiary amine) preferably applied to the material surface initiates the material curing at ambient temperatures when the plastic sheets are removed. To reproduce an article from a three-dimensional mold, the mold is disposed on a platform. After removing the plastic sheets, the thermoplastic composite material is disposed on the mold. A shroud (e.g.

Abstract: A stitched waterproof joint can be formed between the vamp and top plug of a shoe by applying waterproof coatings to the interior facing surfaces of the vamp and plug, stitching the vamp and plug together to merge the waterproof coatings, heating the vamp and plug to eliminate voids in the merged film, and applying an additional waterproofing layer to the interior edge of the stitched joint between the vamp and the plug.

Abstract: An antimicrobial agent comprising allyl isothiocyanate (AIT) packaged in a packaging material having a structure wherein part of the pores of a porous packaging substrate is filled with, or said pores are partially or entirely narrowed by a resin impervious to AIT vapor, and a method for controlling the AIT vapor release speed comprising enclosing AIT in the above-mentioned packaging material. According to the present invention, the AIT vapor release speed can be controlled, whereby enabling sustained release of AIT vapor and persistent effect of antimicrobial action. In addition, the antimicrobial agent of the present invention can be widely applied to food industries and various other fields where breeding and reproduction of deleterious microorganisms pose problems, since it is economical, compact and easy to use.

Abstract: A footwear has a thermochromic coloring color-memory layer having a large hysteresis on a color-density-to-temperature curve so as to show interchangeability between a first color phase and a second color phase different from the first color phase, and a coloring tool for forming a desired image on the footwear.

Abstract: This invention relates to folding shoes made with the use of shape-memory resins at least in their instep or, where a shaft is present, at least in their instep and shaft and transformable by folding into a given shape or restorable from the folded shape to the memorized shape by heating at a temperature above the glass transition temperature and below the melting temperature of said shape-memory resins and to a process for manufacturing said folding shoes. The folding shoes of this invention are of practical value as they can be restored to the memorized shape at the time of use, can be conveniently stored away or carried about in the fixed folded shape of reduced volume while not in use, and can be manufactured readily by the process of this invention.

Abstract: There is provided complexes of antifungal or antimicrobial compounds having at least one site which is a quaternary ammonium, amine, a mixture thereof, or the salts thereof. The complexes are useful in compositions for deodorizing and/or preventing the growth of odor causing microbes or fungus. The compositions are particularly useful for deodorizing footwear.

Abstract: An article for the pressure-actuated release of the powder composition comprises a resilient layer having a plurality of discrete reservoirs therein. Each reservoir contains an isolated quantity of an active powder composition, and usually a permeable layer covers an open aperture from the reservoir. As the article is compressed, the powder is forced outward through the permeable layer and into the surrounding environment. In a preferred example, the article is a shoe insole and the active composition is an anti-microbial powder, usually being an anti-microbial agent which is absorbed into porous particles.

Abstract: Systems and techniques are described for providing insect repellent characteristics to a wide variety of wearing apparel. Elongated flexible insect repellent strips are secured to or retained in cavities in various articles of apparel to repel insects from the person wearing such apparel. The systems and techniques are applicable to all types of wearing apparel such as stockings, shoes, trousers, hats, shirts, etc.

Abstract: A process for applying a flocking fiber to a cloth surface of a shoe includes the step of spraying a clean dry cloth shoe with an adhesive, which adheres to the cloth substrate without excess penetration, which remains pliable, and is not water soluble when set. A short set time is desirable, and then flock fibers suitable for application are carried into a charge in an electrostatic field. A conventional flocking chamber is used, voltage is applied to the electric field, and the flock fibers are applied so that they adhere to the adhesive surface under controlled conditions. The shoe is dried in a drying oven, and then it is ready for use. The flocking process can use adhesives that are colored, flock that is colored, and the flock can be applied in any desired pattern because of the use of the adhesive for causing the flock material to adhere to the cloth surface.

Abstract: Various devices for providing heat insulation and for storing and distributing heat, more specifically body heat, on the areas of the outer skin are described. The devices are formed of a foam layer or a skin compatible layer, a flexible heat conductive metal layer and another foam layer or the like whereby the flexible heat conductive metal layer is placed between the two foam layers or between a foam layer and a skin compatible layer. The devices may be formed in shapes suitable for use as insoles, plasters, soles of shoes, mats, cushions, and the like.

Abstract: An improved slip and/or skid resistant surface is provided for work gloves, work shoes, floor coverings in work areas and the like. The surface of the invention provides a porous gripping surface particularly useful in greasy and oily environments where it is necessary for a workman to be able to grip mechanical devices or loose objects having a coating of oil or grease. The surface of the invention is a foam surface laminated to a substrate. The foam, prior to lamination, may be foamed with varying amounts of air depending upon the degree of abrasion resistance required. The foaming may be by mechanical or chemical means.

Abstract: An insole for shoes, with which, after having made a connection, preferably by sewing, between the insole and the shoe upper, a body of polyurethane forming the running sole and/or the foot bed is applied to the bottom side of the insole by foaming operation, consists of a fleece substantially formed of synthetic fibres and having arranged therein a reinforcing insert approximately extending in parallel relation to the upper side of the insole. At least the upper portion of the fleece, which is adjacent the upper side of the insole on which rests the foot, is impregnated with a dispersion or emulsion containing at least 1 percent by weight of hollow microspheres, the thin shell of which consists of a vinylidene chloride copolymer and the hollow core of which contains a gas.

Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a shoe sole which prevents the build up of static electricity to the degree that a shock occurs when a shoe is worn while walking across a floor covering such as a carpet. Electrically conductive elements in the shoe sole are unnecessary. Alteration of the carpet is unnecessary. A build up of static electric charge between the shoe sole and the floor covering is prevented when the sole has a bottom portion made from substantially the same material as the surface of the floor covering.Shoe (1) having sole (2) is used for walking across floor covering (4). The bottom portion (3) of sole (2) is made from substantially the same material as floor covering surface (5). The bottom portion (3) may be a coating which may be brushed or sprayed on. Bottom portion (3) may also be a film material which adheres to the remainder of sole (2) by means of a pressure sensitive adhesive.

Abstract: Methods are provided for producing protective and useful wearing apparel, such as work gloves, work boots and aprons, and wearing apparel so produced by such methods. The methods include joining a non-woven fibrous web, such as needled felt to a knitted web, such as a knitted jersey, and utilizing a needled staple fiber preferably from the non-woven web to join the two webs together into a formed laminate. The joining procedure is such that the finished laminate includes the needled staple fiber extending from one surface of the web to form a base surface for a subsequent application of an elastomeric coating. The resulting coated surface is textured to provide a gripping surface, for example, for use in gloves to handle smooth surfaced items with sharp edges, such as glass. The remaining exposed non-woven fibrous web surface forms a soft protective internal surface for the weaving apparel such as gloves or boots.

Abstract: A process for the production of synthetic plastic chamois leather footwear, comprising injection molding of the uppers of the footwear of plastics, attaching the sole and heel thereto, coating the uppers with adhesive and flocking them in a flocking machine with rayon flock having a certain count and length. To prevent the sole and heel from being flocked, too, they are inserted in an appropriate sole protection mold during the flocking operation.

Abstract: The disclosure is of an elastomer coated textile garment characterized by a textured or "wrinkle" finish. The disclosure is also of a method of manufacturing an elastomer coated textile garment with a "wrinkle" finish. In a preferred embodiment process, the method comprises forming a glove from a base fabric of a woven or knitted fabric having a fibrous, non-woven bat attached thereto and coating the glove with an elastomer in conventional manner.

Abstract: The disclosure is of an elastomer coated textile boot characterized by a textured or "wrinkle" finish. The disclosure is also of a method of manufacturing an elastomer coated textile boot with a "wrinkle" finish. In a preferred embodiment process, the method comprises forming a boot from a base fabric of a woven or knitted fabric having a fibrous, non-woven bat attached thereto and coating the boot with an elastomer in conventional manner.

Abstract: The disclosure is of an elastomer coated textile garment characterized by a textured or "wrinkle" finish. The disclosure is also of a method of manufacturing an elastomer coated textile garment with a "wrinkle" finish. In a preferred embodiment process, the method comprises forming a glove from a base fabric of a woven or knitted fabric having a fibrous, non-woven bat attached thereto and coating the glove with an elastomer in conventional manner.