U.S. patent application number 09/891269 was filed with the patent office on 2002-01-10 for washable liner for footwear and a method for making such liner.
This patent application is currently assigned to SALOMON S.A. Invention is credited to Barthelemy, Antoine, Borsoi, Bruno.
Application Number | 20020002780 09/891269 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8851832 |
Filed Date | 2002-01-10 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020002780 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Barthelemy, Antoine ; et
al. |
January 10, 2002 |
Washable liner for footwear and a method for making such liner
Abstract
An inner liner adapted to equip an article of footwear, and a
process for manufacturing such inner liner. The liner includes
wedging elements positioned between the upper and the lining. These
wedging elements are connected to the upper by mechanical
assemblies such as seams, i.e., by stitching. The liner thus
obtained can be washed in a hot fluid whose temperature is within a
range of about 40 to 100 degrees Celsius.
Inventors: |
Barthelemy, Antoine;
(Annecy-Le-Vieux, FR) ; Borsoi, Bruno; (Victorio
Veneto, IT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBLUM & BERNSTEIN, P.L.C.
1941 ROLAND CLARKE PLACE
RESTON
VA
20191
US
|
Assignee: |
SALOMON S.A
Metz-Tessy
FR
|
Family ID: |
8851832 |
Appl. No.: |
09/891269 |
Filed: |
June 27, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/10 ; 36/55;
36/71; 36/93 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 5/0496 20130101;
A43B 5/0405 20130101; A43B 7/20 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/10 ; 36/55;
36/93; 36/71 |
International
Class: |
A43B 003/10; A43B
017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 27, 2000 |
FR |
00 08352 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. An inner liner for footwear comprising: an upper having an inner
surface located on the side of a wearer's foot; a lining adapted to
be in contact with the foot, said lining comprising an outer
surface opposite said inner surface of said upper; wedging elements
inserted between said upper and said lining; at least one of said
wedging elements being fixed on said upper by a mode of mechanical
assembly resistant to a hot fluid.
2. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein at
least one of said wedging elements is fixed, on said outer surface
of the lining, by said mode of mechanical assembly resistant to a
hot fluid.
3. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said
mode of mechanical assembly comprises stitching.
4. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said
upper includes at least one pocket, located on said inner surface
of said upper, at least one of said wedging elements being housed
in said pocket.
5. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said
wedging elements use a material including cavities, most of said
cavities being sealed so that the washing fluid does not impregnate
the material.
6. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein the
hot fluid is at a temperature whose value is comprised within a
range of about 30 to 90 degrees Celsius.
7. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein said
upper and/or said lining are multi-layered having a stratification
obtained by a mode of mechanical assembly resistaant to separation
in the hot fluid.
8. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein at
least one of said wedging elements is fixed on said inner surface
of said upper by a co-molding process on said inner surface.
9. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, wherein at
least one of said wedging elements is fixed on said inner surface
of said upper by a bi-injection process.
10. An inner liner for footwear according to claim 1, further
comprising a sole affixed to said upper.
11. A method for manufacturing an inner liner for footwear in which
the inner liner includes an upper having an inner surface located
on the side of a wearer's foot, a lining adapted to be in contact
with the foot, the lining further including an outer surface
opposite the inner surface of the upper, and wedging elements
inserted between the upper and the lining, said method comprising:
fixing at least one of said wedging elements on said upper by means
of a mechanical assembly resistant to a hot fluid.
12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said fixing comprises
fixing at least one of said wedging elements on said outer surface
of said lining, by means of said mechanical assembly resistaant to
a hot fluid.
13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said fixing comprises
fixing at least one of said wedging elements on said upper by means
of stitching.
14. A method according to claim 11, wherein said upper includes at
least one pocket located on an inner surface of said upper, said
fixing comprising housing said at least one of said wedging
elements in said pocket.
15. A method according to claim 11, wherein said at least one said
wedging elements include a material having cavities, most of said
cavities being sealed to avoid said washing fluid impregnating said
material.
16. A method according to claim 11, wherein the hot fluid is at a
temperature whose value is comprised within a range of about 30 to
90 degrees Celsius.
17. A method according to claim 11, wherein said upper and/or said
lining are multi-layered having a stratification obtained by a mode
of mechanical assembly resistant to separation in the hot
fluid.
18. A method according to claim 11, wherein said fixing comprises
fixing said at least one of said wedging elements on said inner
surface of said upper by co-molding on said inner surface.
19. A method according to claim 11, wherein said fixing comprises
fixing said at least one of said wedging elements on said inner
surface of said upper by bi-injection.
20. A method according to claim 11, further comprising affixing a
sole to said upper.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon French Patent Application No.
00.08352, filed Jun. 27, 2000, the disclosure of which is hereby
incorporated by reference thereto in its entirety, and the priority
of which is hereby claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing
an inner liner adapted to equip an article of footwear adapted, in
particular, but in a non-limiting manner, to the practice of
sports. The present invention can be used for skiing, snowboarding,
in-line roller skating, ice skating, mountain skiing, or other
sporting activities.
[0004] 2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
[0005] In the state of the prior art, inner liners for boots and
shoes generally include an outer upper adapted to provide support
for the liner, and an inner lining adapted to be in contact with
the foot. To adjust the inner liner to the inner volume of the
boot, such as a rigid shell used in alpine skiing, in particular,
wedging elements are inserted during manufacture between the upper
and the inner lining of the liner, especially at the level of the
ankle. These elements are fixed on the upper either by mere gluing
them in place or the elements, having a self-sticking surface, are
simply applied on the interior of the upper. As the wedging
elements are covered by the lining, and therefore invisible,
optimizing the fixing means had not been a concern, until now, for
the person with ordinary skill in the art.
[0006] In boots, and their rigid shells in particular, the inner
liners, in direct contact with the foot, are subject to the attacks
from perspiration and body emanations coming from the user's foot.
However, it is currently impossible to wash the liners in an
efficient manner, because the gluing of the wedging elements does
not resist hot water. This means that once the liner has been
washed, it becomes unusable, because its internal geometry is no
longer fixed and varies randomly depending on the displacement of
the wedging elements.
[0007] In view of the state of the prior art, it would be possible
to envision using glues resisting hot water, such as neoprene glue,
to fix the wedging elements on the upper. However, the use of such
glues requires a very long and, therefore, expensive assembly
process, because the glue must be left to dry right on the elements
before performing the assembly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] One of the objects of the present invention is to propose an
inner liner and a process for making such inner liner for an
article of footwear, such as a boot, shoe or any other foot
covering, which makes it possible to wash the liner with hot water,
especially in a washing machine, while preserving the positioning
geometry of the wedging elements.
[0009] Another object of the invention is to propose an inner
liner, or process of manufacturing same, that does not generate a
substantial cost increase as compared to the conventional processes
for making non-washable liners.
[0010] To achieve these objects, the liner, and manufacturing
process, according to the invention comprises fixing the wedging
elements on the inner surface of the upper of the liner by a
mechanical means or assembly that make it possible to wash the
liner in a hot fluid, at a temperature comprised in a range of 30
and 90 degrees Celsius, or substantially within such range. These
mechanical assemblies among others, are of the seam assembly type,
i.e., which include stitching.
[0011] In a first embodiment, the wedging element is sewn directly
on the upper of the liner.
[0012] In a second embodiment, the wedging element is positioned in
a pocket that is integrated in the upper of the liner.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0013] The invention will be better understood and other advantages
thereof will become apparent from the description that follows,
with reference to the annexed drawings. The description
illustrates, by way of non-limiting examples, certain preferred
embodiments.
[0014] FIG. 1 schematically shows a cross-section of the liner
along its thickness in a first embodiment of the invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the interior of the upper,
obtained according to the first embodiment, before it is assembled
on the sole of the liner, a portion of FIG. 2 being broken-away in
the area of the lining.
[0016] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the liner obtained according to
the first embodiment.
[0017] FIG. 4 shows a front view of the interior of the upper
according to a second embodiment of the invention, and before it is
assembled on the sole of the liner.
[0018] FIG. 5 schematically shows a cross-section along the
thickness of the material used for making the liner.
[0019] FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c schematically show a cross section of the
liner along its thickness according to various alternatives of the
first embodiment.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a cross section along the thickness of the
inner liner CH, in the area of the upper O, made according to the
present manufacturing process. The inner liner CH includes a lining
1, adapted to be in contact with the foot P, in the area of the
inner surface 1a of the lining. On the opposite side, the outer
surface 1b of the lining 1 is opposite the inner surface Oa of the
upper 0. Because this lining 1 is adapted to provide comfort upon
contact with the user's foot P, it is generally constituted of a
foam type soft material, whereas the upper O, which is adapted to
provide the inner liner with a certain rigidity, is constituted of
a harder material which can also be of the foam type.
[0021] To better adjust the inner liner CH to the geometry of the
foot P, at least one wedging element 20 is inserted during
manufacture between the upper O and the lining 1. This wedging
element 20 is fixed by a mechanical means 3 on the upper O. A
mechanical means 3 here encompasses any mode/method of mechanical
assembly, possibly associated with a chemical assembly, without any
supplemental chemical adhesive.
[0022] The mechanical assembling means include, in particular,
seams/stitching, rivets, and/or the self-gripping assembly, i.e.,
hook and loop fastening assembly, more commonly known by the
commercial name "Velcro." The mechanical means associated with a
chemical assembly without adhesive include, in particular,
co-injection, heat welding, vibration/friction welding and welding
by molding. These latter means produce a mechanical assembly by
closely imbricating the two materials to be assembled by a very
localized heating at the contact zone of the portions to be
assembled. This mechanical assembly is then reinforced by
chemical-type molecular linkages that occur spontaneously and
naturally between the two materials in the area of the mechanical
imbrication zone.
[0023] This fairly broad set of assembly means indeed makes it
possible to achieve the objects of the present invention, namely,
the capability that the liner can be washed in a hot fluid without
deteriorating the assembly means, and limiting increases in the
liner production cost.
[0024] Furthermore, nowadays, the user who wishes to wash the liner
will spontaneously put it in a washing machine which uses a hot
fluid, in particular water, whose temperature is mainly comprised
in a range of about 30 and 90 degrees Celsius.
[0025] The purely mechanical assembly means remain inexpensive and
resist temperatures of 90 or even 100 degrees Celsius, without any
problem, on the one hand; and the mechanical means, completed by
chemical linkages, as described hereinabove, remain inexpensive,
because they do not require the addition of a supplemental
adhesive, such as glue, on the other hand. These means also resist
a hot fluid, whose temperature is lower than the heating
temperature used for the assembly, a temperature at which the
chemical linkages are set in place. Indeed, the wedging elements 20
are generally made of a polyethylene foam whose melting temperature
is about 110 degrees Celsius, or polypropylene foam which melts at
a temperature of about 130 degrees Celsius.
[0026] In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mechanical
means 3 is a seam or stitched assembly.
[0027] In FIG. 2, the upper O, which has not yet been assembled on
the sole, is shown on its inner surface Oa. The upper O is covered
by the lining 1 on its right portion, whereas on its left portion,
the liner 1 is shown laid open so as to show the wedging element
20. The wedging element 20 is advantageously positioned on the
upper O in the area of the ankle so that the rear of the foot is
kept enclosed in the inner liner, and is assembled on the inner
surface Oa of the upper O by mechanical means 3x, 3y, 3z, which
resist a hot fluid.
[0028] Because the mechanical means 3x, 3y, 3z, such as
seams/stitching, only serve to maintain the wedging element 20 in
position on the upper O, they do not need to extend over the entire
periphery of the wedging element 20. The means can be
advantageously arranged in a localized fashion on one position of
the periphery, such as the seam 3x, or in the middle of the wedging
element 20, such as the seam 3z, or superimposed on a seam 100 for
assembling the upper O, such as the seam 3y.
[0029] Moreover, the wedging element 20 can be fixed on the lining
1 by mechanical means 3w, such as seams/stitching, which are hot
fluid resistant. Advantageously, this seam can attach the wedging
element 20 to the lining 1 as well as to the upper O by extending
right through the three thicknesses. Respecting this constructional
arrangement makes it possible to better maintain the shape of the
lining of the liner, in addition to the conventional means for
assembling the lining on the upper, which are generally located on
the periphery of the upper, in particular in the area of the zones
of assembly of the upper O on the sole of the liner.
[0030] If the fixing means 3x, 3y, 3z, 3w, are purely mechanical
means, such as seams/stitching, it is necessary to pre-position the
wedging element 20 on the inner surface Oa of the upper O, and to
maintain it in position on the upper during assembly. One way to
proceed includes gluing the wedging element with a glue that is not
particularly hot water resistant. This glue only serves to maintain
the wedging element 20 in place on the upper O while the seam is
being made. Then, when the liner made up according to this
manufacturing process is washed for the first time, the wedging
element 20 is no longer maintained on the upper O by the glue,
which is rendered inefficient by the hot water, but only by the
seams 3, 3y, 3z, 3w.
[0031] FIG. 3 shows the liner CH obtained by assembly of the upper
O on the sole 60. The seams 3x, 3y, 3z, which fix the wedging
element 20 on the upper O from within the liner, are then apparent.
Therefore, it is interesting to limit the fixing seams, in
particular for aesthetic purposes. In addition, these seams
constitute a potential abrasive point on the outer surface Ob of
the upper O.
[0032] FIG. 4 shows a second embodiment where the wedging element
21 is housed, during the manufacturing process, in an internal
pocket 10 located on the inner surface Oa of the upper O. Thus, the
wedging element 21 is positioned so as to be inserted between the
upper O and the lining 1. The pocket 10 includes an opening 62
located on its upper edge. Thus, during the practice of the sport,
and despite the effect of gravity, the wedging element 21 does not
have the tendency to come out of the pocket 10 spontaneously.
[0033] Advantageously, the pocket 10 is provided with a flap 61
covering the opening 62 in the closed position. Moreover, this flap
61 can include closure means, especially of the self-gripping type,
i.e., hook-and-loop fasteners.
[0034] FIG. 5 shows constructional details, with respect to the
materials used, either for the upper, the lining, or the wedging
element, so that the materials themselves are not deteriorated,
when immersed in a hot fluid, during the washing of the liner.
[0035] The materials 14 mainly used are more or less thick foams
which include cavities 15 filled with a fluid, especially air. If
the cavities 15 are not sealed, the fluid can escape and be
replaced by the washing fluid. In this case, the material 14,
impregnated with the washing fluid, becomes very heavy and
difficult to dry. Furthermore, due to its weight, this fluid can
irremediably deform the foam. Therefore, most of the cavities 15 of
the material 14 must be sealed.
[0036] Moreover, the material 14 must intrinsically resist the
washing temperature of the hot fluid in the range, of substantially
within the range of about 30 to 90 degrees Celsius.
[0037] Certain materials used, either for the upper, or for the
lining, are made of multi-layered materials 16. This makes it
possible to associate with a material 14, of the foam type as
described previously, at least one external layer 70, 71, which,
due to its property, differs from the material 14. The material 14
of the upper can be advantageously associated with an external
layer 70, positioned outside the liner, which has a good resistance
to abrasion, such as textiles of the polyamide or polyurethane
type. Similarly, the material 14 of the lining can be
advantageously associated with an outer layer 71, positioned within
the liner, which procures an agreeable contact for the skin, and
which is anti-allergic.
[0038] The previously described multi-layered material 16 can be
obtained during manufacture, in the area of the stratification, by
mechanical means 72 which resist separation in the washing hot
fluid. These mechanical means 72 are consistent with those
described previously, and especially heat welding, subject to
compatibility between the materials to be assembled. Indeed, this
compatibility between the materials enables the spontaneous and
natural setting of the chemical linkages at the molecular level as
previously described.
[0039] Another embodiment, not shown, comprises using a
co-injection process to fix the wedging element to the inner
surface of the upper. This means that the constituent material of
the wedging element is injected in a mold almost simultaneously
with the constituent material of the upper. The two chemically
compatible materials are closely mixed in the area of their contact
zone, for they are melting. The mechanical fastening obtained
during the cooling is reinforced by the establishment of natural
chemical linkages due to the chemical compatibility of the two
materials.
[0040] A superinjection process can also be used. The constituent
material of the wedging element is injected on the material of the
upper which has more or less cooled off. Upon contact with the
injected material, which is hot, the material of the upper melts
locally, in the area of the contact zone, which ensures a
mechanical fastening by locally mixing the two materials. This
fastening is then reinforced by natural molecular chemical linkages
due to the chemical compatibility of the two materials.
[0041] FIGS. 6a, 6b, 6c show alternative constructions, related to
the first embodiment, which specify various means making it
possible to fix the wedging element 20 to the upper O by sewing,
without damaging the wedging element 20. Indeed, if the wedging
element 20 is made out of a material that is not mechanically very
resistant, the seam 3 runs the risk, over the short or long term,
of shearing the wedging element 20 which will then separate from
the upper O during washing. The seams 3 shown in FIGS. 6a, 6b
correspond to the seams 3x, 3y, 3z referred to previously.
[0042] In FIG. 6a, the wedging element 20 is attached to the upper
O and inserted between the upper O and the lining 1. However, the
wedging element 20 used is specific so as to have at least one
layer 80 of greater resistance, to tearing and shearing in
particular, which prevents the seam 3 from passing through. The
wedging element 20, currently shown, includes a resistant layer 80
fixed by appropriate means to a volume layer 81. The resistant
layer 80 here is arranged on the inner surface Oa of the upper
O.
[0043] A reverse arrangement, in which the volume layer 81 is
positioned on the inner surface Oa and the resistant layer 80 is
positioned opposite the lining 1, remains consistent with the
invention.
[0044] The wedging element 20 of the multi-layered type can be
obtained in several ways, including the following. First, the
multi-layered element can be made by associating chemically
compatible materials according to fixing means, such as
co-injection, superinjection, or heat welding, described previously
in FIG. 5. The resistant layer 80 can have a certain thickness,
especially if it is made of a foam type material. But the resistant
layer 80, whose thickness can also be negligible, can be made of a
woven or non-woven textile material.
[0045] Furthermore, the multi-layered wedging element 20 can be
made by assembling at least two layers, such as the resistant layer
80 and the volume layer 81 by a seam/stitching. This seam, which is
not shown in the figures, is separate from the seam 3 serving to
mount the footwear.
[0046] In this first alternative construction, the lining 1 remains
separate from the upper O/wedging element 20 assembly, in the area
of the seam 3.
[0047] In FIG. 6b, the wedging element 20 is fixed to the upper 20
and inserted between the upper O and the lining 1. However, the
wedging element 20 is maintained, in the area of the seam 3,
between the upper O and a seam reinforcement 82 that is arranged
opposite the lining 1. This seam reinforcement 82 is advantageously
localized around the seam 3 and made of a resistant textile
material. In this second alternative construction, the seam 3 keeps
the wedging element 20 attached on the upper O, and the lining 1
remains separate from the upper O/wedging element 20 assembly in
the area of the seam 3.
[0048] In FIG. 6c, the wedging element 20 is simultaneously fixed
to the upper O and to the lining 1 by a seam 3. This seam 3, which
extends through the upper O, the wedging element 20, as well as the
lining 1, corresponds to the seam 3w referred to previously.
[0049] In this third alternative construction, the lining 1 must
have enough technical characteristics so that the seam 3 does not
tear the lining 1. However, the lining 1 must also have comfort
characteristics since it is in direct contact with the foot. The
association of these two characteristics, which are a priori
contradictory, can be obtained by using, for the lining 1, a
multi-layered material of the type described in FIG. 5. Thus, the
lining 1 advantageously includes a resistant layer, preferably
located on the outer surface 1b, which is associated with a comfort
layer located preferably on the inner surface 1a of the lining
1.
[0050] Thus the wedging element 20, used for the alternative
constructions shown in FIGS. 6b and 6c, does not need specific
characteristics related to the resistance of the seam.
[0051] The present invention is not limited to the embodiments
described hereinabove, which are provided for guidance only, but
encompasses all similar or equivalent embodiments.
* * * * *