U.S. patent application number 11/300429 was filed with the patent office on 2006-06-22 for heat-insulating lining for a footwear article and a footwear article including the same.
Invention is credited to Tao-shan Liu.
Application Number | 20060130367 11/300429 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 36593919 |
Filed Date | 2006-06-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060130367 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Liu; Tao-shan |
June 22, 2006 |
Heat-insulating lining for a footwear article and a footwear
article including the same
Abstract
A heat-insulating lining for a footwear article includes an
enclosure body made from an air-impermeable thermoplastic material
and defining an inner space, and a porous layer disposed in the
inner space such that the enclosure body encloses the porous layer
intimately. The inner space in the enclosure body is in a vacuum
state.
Inventors: |
Liu; Tao-shan; (Taichung
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PILLSBURY WINTHROP SHAW PITTMAN, LLP
P.O. BOX 10500
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
36593919 |
Appl. No.: |
11/300429 |
Filed: |
December 15, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/55 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 13/12 20130101;
A43B 23/07 20130101; A43B 17/00 20130101; A43B 1/0045 20130101;
A43B 7/34 20130101; A43B 1/0009 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
036/055 |
International
Class: |
A43B 23/07 20060101
A43B023/07 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 20, 2004 |
CN |
200410098885X |
Claims
1. A heat-insulating lining for a footwear article, comprising: an
enclosure body made from an air-impermeable thermoplastic material
and defining an inner space; and a porous layer disposed in said
inner space such that said enclosure body encloses said porous
layer intimately; wherein said inner space in said enclosure body
is in a vacuum state.
2. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 1, wherein the air-impermeable thermoplastic material is
selected from the group consisting of nylon, PE, TPU, PET, PVA,
PAN, and combinations thereof.
3. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 1, wherein said porous layer is made from a material selected
from the group consisting of open-cell type polyurethane, polyester
resin, glass fiber, open-cell type polyethylene, open-cell type
ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, and combinations thereof.
4. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 3, wherein said porous layer further contains molecular sieve
and active carbon.
5. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 1, wherein said porous layer has a surface with a honeycomb
structure.
6. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 1, further comprising a reflecting layer that is interposed
between said enclosure body and said porous layer, said reflecting
layer being made from a metal material having low
heat-conductivity.
7. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 6, wherein said metal material is aluminum foil.
8. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 1, wherein said enclosure body has an outer surface with
upper and lower sides, said heat-insulating lining further
comprising a foam layer attached to one of said upper and lower
sides of said outer surface of said enclosure body.
9. The heat-insulating lining for a footwear article as claimed in
claim 8, further comprising a heat-insulating layer attached to the
other of said upper and lower sides of said outer surface of said
enclosure body.
10. A footwear article, comprising an outsole; an upper
interconnected with said outsole so as to define a wearing space
therebetween; and a heat-insulating lining disposed in said wearing
space and attached to said outsole, said heat-insulating lining
including an enclosure body made from an air-impermeable
thermoplastic material and defining an inner space, and a porous
layer disposed in said inner space such that said enclosure body
encloses said porous layer intimately; wherein said inner space in
said enclosure body is in a vacuum state.
11. The footwear article as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
outsole is formed with a cavity so as to receive fittingly said
heat-insulating lining.
12. The footwear article claimed in claim 10, wherein said porous
layer further includes molecular sieve and active carbon.
13. The footwear article as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
porous layer has a surface with a honeycomb structure.
14. The footwear article as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
heat-insulating lining further includes a reflecting layer that is
interposed between said enclosure body and said porous layer, said
reflecting layer being made from a metal material having low
heat-conductivity.
15. The footwear article as claimed in claim 14, wherein said metal
material is aluminum foil.
16. The footwear article as claimed in claim 10, wherein said
enclosure body has an outer surface with upper and lower sides,
said heat-insulating lining further including a foam layer attached
to one of said upper and lower sides of said outer surface of said
enclosure body.
17. A footwear article, comprising an outsole; an upper
interconnected with said outsole so as to define a wearing space
therebetween, said upper including a skin layer and an inner lining
confronting said skin layer; and a heat-insulating lining that is
sandwiched between said skin layer and said inner lining of said
upper and that is attached to said outsole, said heat-insulating
lining including an enclosure body made from an air-impermeable
thermoplastic material and defining an inner space, and a porous
layer disposed in said inner space such that said enclosure body
encloses said porous layer intimately; wherein said inner space in
said enclosure body is in a vacuum state.
18. The footwear article as claimed in claim 17, wherein said
porous layer has a surface with a honeycomb structure.
19. The footwear article as claimed in claim 17, wherein said
heat-insulating lining further includes a reflecting layer that is
interposed between said enclosure body and said porous layer, said
reflecting layer being made from a metal material having low
heat-conductivity.
20. The footwear article as claimed in claim 17, wherein said metal
material is aluminum foil.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of Chinese application no.
200410098885X, filed on Dec. 20, 2004.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to a heat-insulating lining for a
footwear article, more particularly to a heat-insulating lining
including an enclosure body defining an inner space in a vacuum
state, and a porous layer intimately enclosed in the inner space of
the enclosure body. This invention also relates to a footwear
article including the heat-insulating lining.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] Heat-insulating fabrics, such as heat-insulating resin
fabrics and glass fibers, are commonly used in footwear articles,
such as an outsole, a lining, and an upper. While heat-insulating
fabrics are useful for heat accumulation and insulation, they are
unsuited for avoiding heat loss due to heat conduction, heat
convection, and heat radiation when used in a cold environment.
While heat loss can be reduced by increasing the fabric thickness,
the increased fabric thickness will result in a corresponding
increase in the size and weight of the footwear article. Physical
motions of the wearer will be impeded accordingly.
[0006] Another conventional method for reducing heat loss of a
footwear article is to stitch an aluminum foil layer and a
heat-insulating resin fabric together, so as to diminish the heat
radiation through the reflective property of the aluminum foil
layer. However, since heat conduction and heat convection cannot be
reduced through application of the aluminum foil layer, the
footwear article made from this conventional method has a poor
heat-insulating effect.
[0007] One conventional footwear article includes an upper having
an upper enclosure that is lined with an inner lining sleeve by
stitching. The inner lining sleeve is made from waterproof and
breathable fabrics. The inner lining sleeve is capable of
preventing intrusion of water into the interior of the footwear
article. However, when the footwear article is used in a severely
cold climate, pores of the inner lining sleeve will contract, and
the moisture in the interior of the footwear article cannot be
effectively expelled out to the exterior of the footwear article.
Accordingly, the great temperature differential between the
interior and the exterior of the footwear article results in
condensation of the moisture in the interior of the footwear
article. As cold air can permeate into the interior of the footwear
article, water condensate in the interior of the footwear article
can freeze. As a consequence, the footwear article loses its
heat-insulating ability.
[0008] Another conventional footwear article includes an inner
lining produced by the following steps: attaching respectively a
fabric layer or heat-insulating resin layer to upper and lower
surfaces of a plastic piece made from EVA or PU material, so as to
form a pre-product; and cutting and stitching the pre-product so as
to form an inner lining having a shoe shape. The inner lining thus
made can be disposed in footwear articles, such as a shoe or a
boot, to intimately enclose the foot of the wearer. However,
although the inner lining can stop the cold air outside from
permeating therethrough, gradual heat loss and condensate freezing
attributed to heat conduction, heat convection, and heat radiation
cannot be avoided.
[0009] Therefore, there is a need for a footwear article that is
suitable for use in severely cold climates and that can minimize
wearer discomfort attributed to heat conduction, heat convection
and heat radiation.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0010] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide
a heat-insulating lining for a footwear article, and footwear
articles including the heat-insulating lining that are clear of the
aforesaid drawbacks of the prior art.
[0011] According to one aspect of this invention, includes an
enclosure body made from an air-impermeable thermoplastic material
and defining an inner space, and a porous layer disposed in the
inner space such that the enclosure body encloses the porous layer
intimately. The inner space in the enclosure body is in a vacuum
state.
[0012] According to another aspect of this invention, a footwear
article includes an outsole, an upper interconnected with the
outsole so as to define a wearing space therebetween, and the
heat-insulating lining as described above disposed in the wearing
space and attached to the outsole.
[0013] According to still another aspect of this invention, a
footwear article includes an outsole, an upper interconnected with
the outsole so as to define a wearing space therebetween, the upper
including a skin layer and an inner lining confronting the skin
layer, and the heat-insulating lining as described above that is
sandwiched between the skin layer and the inner lining of the upper
and that is attached to the outsole.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] Other features and advantages of the present invention will
become apparent in the following detailed description of the
preferred embodiments of this invention, with reference to the
accompanying drawings, in which:
[0015] FIGS. 1 and 2 respectively are inverted exploded perspective
and schematic views to illustrate the first preferred embodiment of
a heat-insulating lining for a footwear article according to this
invention;
[0016] FIG. 3 is a schematic sectional view to illustrate the
second preferred embodiment of a heat-insulating lining for a
footwear article according to this invention;
[0017] FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view to illustrate a
structural modification of the second preferred embodiment shown in
FIG. 3;
[0018] FIG. 5 is a schematic sectional view to illustrate the third
preferred embodiment of a heat-insulating lining for a footwear
article according to this invention;
[0019] FIGS. 6 and 7 respectively are perspective and fragmentary
sectional views to illustrate the fourth preferred embodiment of a
heat-insulating lining for a footwear article according to this
invention;
[0020] FIG. 8 is a schematic sectional view to illustrate the first
preferred embodiment of a footwear article according to this
invention, which includes an outsole having the heat-insulating
lining of FIG. 2 attached thereto; and
[0021] FIGS. 9 to 12 are fragmentary schematic sectional views to
illustrate the second preferred embodiment of a footwear article
according to this invention, which includes an upper integrated
with the heat-insulating lining of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first preferred embodiment
of a heat-insulating lining 100 for a footwear article according to
this invention includes a porous layer 1 and an enclosure body 3.
The enclosure body 3 is made from an air-impermeable thermoplastic
material, and has an inner layer 31 and an outer layer 32. The
inner and outer layers 31, 32 define an inner space 33. The porous
layer 1 is disposed in the inner space 3 such that the enclosure
body 3 encloses the porous layer 1 intimately.
[0023] Preferably, the air-impermeable thermoplastic material for
preparing the enclosure body 3 is selected from the group
consisting of nylon, polyethylene (PE), thermoplastic polyurethane
(TPU), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA),
polyacrylonitrile (PAN), and combinations thereof.
[0024] The porous layer 1 is made from a porous elastic material.
Preferably, the porous elastic material is selected from the group
consisting of open-cell type polyurethane, polyesterresin, glass
fiber, open-cell type polyethylene, open-cell type ethylene-vinyl
acetate copolymer, and combinations thereof. More preferably, the
porous elastic material is open-cell type polyurethane.
[0025] Preferably, the porous layer 1 further contains molecular
sieve for moisture absorption, and active carbon for deodorization.
In the preferred arrangement, the porous layer 1 has a top surface
13 and a bottom surface 14 opposite to the top surface 13. The
bottom surface 14 has a honeycomb structure. The porous layer 1 is
formed with a plurality of cavities 11 with a hexagonal section
dented from the bottom surface 14, and a plurality of air channels
12, which have been magnified in FIG. 2 for ease of understanding,
that pass through the porous layer 1 from the bottom surface 14 to
the top surface 13 and that are in fluid communication with the
cavities 11. The presence of the cavities 11 can reduce weight
without sacrificing structural strength. The presence of the air
channels 12 can stop heat conduction in the interior of the porous
layer 1 attributed to air trapped therein. In addition, the porous
elastic material used for manufacturing the porous layer 1 is
preferred to have a black color so as to lower the
heat-conductivity coefficient and to reduce heat loss attributed to
heat radiation.
[0026] Preferably, the heat-insulating lining 100 further includes
two reflecting layers 2 that are interposed between the outer layer
32 of the enclosure body 3 and the porous layer 1 and between the
inner layer 31 of the enclosure body 3 and the porous layer 1,
respectively. Each of the reflecting layers 2 is made from a metal
material having low heat-conductivity so as to minimize heat
radiation. Preferably, the metal material is aluminum foil.
[0027] During the manufacture of the heat-insulating lining 100 of
this invention, the inner and outer layers 31, 32 of the enclosure
body 3 are connected peripherally to each other, and an opening 34
in communication with the inner space 33 is formed therebetween.
The porous layer 1 and the reflecting layers 2 are inserted into
the inner space 33 through the opening 34. Thereafter, the inner
space 33 is vacuumed using a vacuum pump (not shown) through the
opening 34, and the opening 34 is subsequently sealed through a
high-frequency welding technique or by a vacuum packaging machine,
so as to keep the inner space 33 in the enclosure body 3 in a
vacuum state. The enclosure body 3 is thus formed into an
air-impermeable vacuum body.
[0028] FIG. 3 shows the second preferred embodiment of the
heat-insulating lining 100 for a footwear article according to this
invention. The second preferred embodiment is similar to the first
preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated in FIGS. 1 and
2, except that a foam layer 5 and a fabric layer 4 are further
included. In this embodiment, the enclosure body 3 has an outer
surface with upper and lower sides formed from the inner and outer
layers 31, 32, respectively. The foam layer 5 is attached to one of
the upper and lower sides of the outer surface of the enclosure
body 3. The fabric layer 4 is attached to the outer surface of the
enclosure body 3 through the foam layer 5. The heat-insulating
lining 100 of this embodiment is suitable for application to an
insole.
[0029] FIG. 4 illustrates a structural modification of the second
preferred embodiment of FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the foam layer
5 is attached to one of the upper and lower sides of the outer
surface of the enclosure body 3. The fabric layer 4 is attached to
the other of the upper and lower sides of the outer surface of the
enclosure body 3, so that the enclosure body 3 is interposed
between the fabric layer 4 and the foam layer 5.
[0030] The foam layer 5 used in the second embodiment shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4 is made from an elastic and cushioning material, such
as EVA, PU, or TPU.
[0031] When the heat-insulating lining 100 shown in either FIG. 3
or FIG. 4 is disposed in a footwear article, the inner space 33,
which is in a vacuum state, does not promote air circulation.
Hence, heat conduction and heat convection can be efficiently
inhibited. In addition, the reflecting layers 2 that are interposed
between the outer layer 32 of the enclosure body 3 and the porous
layer 1 and between the inner layer 31 of the enclosure body 3 and
the porous layer 1 can efficiently impede heat radiation. In
addition, in view of the porous layer 1 being made from the porous
elastic material, the contact area between the porous layer 1 and
the reflecting layers 2 is decreased so as to further enhance
inhibition of heat conduction and heat conduction. Therefore, the
heat loss from the interior to the exterior of the footwear article
can be minimize effectively.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 5, the third preferred embodiment of a
heat-insulating lining for a footwear article according to this
invention is similar to the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4,
except that a heat-insulating layer 50 is further included between
the fabric layer 4 and the other of the upper and lower sides of
the outer surface of the enclosure body 3, so that the fabric layer
4 is attached to the enclosure body 3 through the heat-insulating
layer 50. The heat-insulating layer 50 is made from a foamed resin,
such as heat-insulating resin, so as to enhance the heat-insulating
effect of the heat-insulating lining.
[0033] FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate the fourth preferred embodiment of
a heat-insulating lining 6 for a footwear article according to this
invention. The fourth preferred embodiment of this invention is
similar to the first preferred embodiment of this invention
illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, except that two foam layers 5 are
attached to the upper and lower sides of the outer surface of the
enclosure body 3, respectively.
[0034] In this embodiment, the heat-insulating lining 6 is formed
into a shoe shape and is adapted to be inserted into a shoe.
Particularly, the heat-insulating lining 6 includes a left upper
portion 61, a right upper portion 62 and an outsole portion 63
connected to the left and right upper portions 61, 62 through a
stitching or gluing technique.
[0035] Referring to FIG. 8, the first preferred embodiment of a
footwear article according to this invention is illustrated. The
footwear article of this embodiment includes an outsole 7, an upper
70 interconnected with the outsole 7, so as to define a wearing
space therebetween, and the heat-insulating lining 100 shown in
FIG. 2 that is disposed in the wearing space and that is attached
to the outsole 7. Preferably, the outsole 7 is formed with a cavity
72 so as to receive fittingly the heat-insulating lining 100.
[0036] Referring to FIGS. 9 to 10, the second preferred embodiment
of a footwear article according to this invention includes an upper
8 and an outsole 83. The upper 8 is interconnected with the outsole
83 so as to define a wearing space therebetween. The upper 8
includes a skin layer 81, an inner lining 82 confronting the skin
layer 81, and a lining space 84 defined therebetween. The
heat-insulating lining 100 shown in FIG. 2 is intimately sandwiched
between the skin layer 81 and the inner lining 82 of the upper 8 in
the lining space 84, and is attached to the outsole 83. Preferably,
the heat-insulating lining 100 is peripherally stitched together
with the skin layer 81 and the inner lining 82 of the upper 8 or is
glued together with the skin layer 81 and the inner lining 82 of
the upper 8. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of the upper 8
of the footwear article shown in FIG. 9.
[0037] Preferably, as shown in FIG. 11, the outsole 83 includes the
heat-insulating lining 100 shown in FIG. 4, so as to enhance the
heat-insulating effect of the footwear article. Alternatively, as
shown in FIG. 12, the heat-insulating lining 100 extends with the
inner lining 82 to enclosure the entire wearing space.
[0038] According to this invention, since the enclosure body 3 of
the heat-insulating lining 100 is in a vacuum state, heat
conduction, heat convection and heat radiation from the exterior to
the interior of the heat-insulating lining 100 can be efficiently
inhibited. In addition, by virtue of the porous layer 1 and
vacuuming the enclosure body 3, the footwear article that includes
the heat-insulating lining 100 can be maintained relatively
lightweight.
[0039] While the present invention has been described in connection
with what is considered the most practical and preferred
embodiments, it is understood that this invention is not limited to
the disclosed embodiments but is intended to cover various
arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest
interpretation and equivalent arrangements.
* * * * *