U.S. patent application number 12/281814 was filed with the patent office on 2009-05-21 for footwear piece.
This patent application is currently assigned to OY FEELMAX LTD. Invention is credited to Mikko Malmivaara.
Application Number | 20090126231 12/281814 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37232258 |
Filed Date | 2009-05-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090126231 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Malmivaara; Mikko |
May 21, 2009 |
Footwear Piece
Abstract
The invention relates to a footwear piece having an upper made
of a first fabric material as well as a sole, which is made of a
second fabric material, and further the footwear piece has the
tightening means and a tightening flap. The footwear piece is
primarily intended for outdoor use, but, if needed, it is also
suitable for indoor use. The footwear piece is on the foot soft and
light to use and with it a "barefoot feeling" is achieved for its
user. The footwear piece moulds completely to the shapes of its
user's foot and when using the footwear piece a separate sock is
not necessarily needed at all. This is a light and machine-washable
as well as breathable footwear piece sewn of textile, a sort of
"outdoor sock" with a soft sole.
Inventors: |
Malmivaara; Mikko;
(Kankaanpaa, FI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
POTOMAC PATENT GROUP PLLC
P. O. BOX 270
FREDERICKSBURG
VA
22404
US
|
Assignee: |
OY FEELMAX LTD
Maaninka
FI
|
Family ID: |
37232258 |
Appl. No.: |
12/281814 |
Filed: |
November 6, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
November 6, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/FI2006/050478 |
371 Date: |
December 4, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/89 ; 36/25R;
36/50.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 1/00 20130101; A43B
1/0054 20130101; A43B 3/0078 20130101; A43B 1/009 20130101; A43B
7/125 20130101; A43B 7/147 20130101; A43B 23/24 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/89 ; 36/25.R;
36/50.1 |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/20 20060101
A43B007/20; A43C 13/00 20060101 A43C013/00; A43C 11/00 20060101
A43C011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 6, 2006 |
FI |
20065149 |
Oct 12, 2006 |
FI |
20065652 |
Claims
1.-17. (canceled)
18. A footwear piece comprising a sole made of a second fabric
material, wherein the second fabric material comprises strong
fibers.
19. The footwear piece of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of
the strong fibers includes aramid fibers, para-aramid fibers, glass
fibers, carbon fibers, polyethylene fibers, boron fibers, silicon
carbide fibers, ceramic fibers, polyamide fibers, or polyethylene
fibers.
20. The footwear piece of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of
the strong fibers are woven into the second fabric material.
21. The footwear piece of claim 18, wherein a value according to
standard DIN 53863 of the second fabric material is at least
5000.
22. The footwear piece of claim 18, wherein the second fabric
material comprises plural material layers.
23. The footwear piece of claim 18, further comprising an upper,
which is at least partially made of a first fabric material.
24. The footwear piece of claim 23, wherein the first fabric
material comprises plural material layers.
25. The footwear piece of claim 23, wherein the first fabric
material comprises a water-repellent and breathable layer or
membrane.
26. The footwear piece of claim 26, further comprising an
edge-strengthening portion between the sole and the upper.
27. The footwear piece of claim 26, wherein the edge-strengthening
portion is made of a fourth fabric material.
28. The footwear piece of claim 27, wherein the fourth fabric
material comprises plural material layers.
29. The footwear piece of claim 18, further comprising a tightening
means for tightening the footwear piece onto a user's foot and for
adjusting a shape of an interior area of the footwear piece to suit
the user's foot.
30. The footwear piece of claim 29, wherein the tightening means
comprises at least one of a lace, button, zipper, tape, and
magnet.
31. The footwear piece of claim 29, wherein the tightening means
comprises a tightening flap.
32. The footwear piece of claim 31, wherein the tightening flap is
at least partially made of a third fabric material, which comprises
a synthetic polyurethane-based elastic textile.
33. The footwear piece of claim 32, wherein the third fabric
material comprises plural fabric layers.
34. The footwear piece of claim 18, further comprising elements for
supporting a user's ankle.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to a footwear piece according to the
preamble of claim 1. More specifically, it relates to a light and
soft fabric footwear piece intended and designed primarily for the
outdoors, but, if needed, also for indoors, which is also elastic
and which is comfortable to use also without a separate sock.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] There are generally available different types of footwear
pieces for both outdoor and indoor use on the market.
[0003] Of footwear pieces for outdoor use, different types of
footwear pieces for walking are known, which are generally made of
relatively hard surface and sole materials. These footwear pieces
are intended for use on the feet with socks, wherein sores,
calluses or other consequences caused by the footwear are possibly
avoided, but not nearly always. These types of footwear pieces for
walking often require a long period of use, before they become
comfortable for the user and mould to fit the user. These types of
footwear pieces may additionally cause the user different types of
muscle pain, etc.
[0004] Also found on the market are different types of footwear
pieces for indoor use, which are generally made of softer surface
and sole materials. These footwear pieces are not intended for
outdoor use, as they do not withstand harsh outdoor wear or harsh
outdoor conditions, such as dirt and moisture etc.
[0005] Further, different types of socks to be placed on the foot
are known, which are mainly intended only for indoor use as well as
use outdoors along with some type of outdoor footwear, but under no
conditions alone outdoors.
[0006] General prior art is represented by reference publication
U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,399, in which is presented a lightweight
footwear piece, which is intended for providing the user with
additional comfort as well as grip in relation to the ground.
[0007] Further known is i.a. "coverboot" type footwear protection
solution, in which a light fabric protection is pulled over the
footwear piece to be used. Also known are i.a. down slippers, which
are used indoors to provide the user with additional comfort and
warmth for the feet when the indoor area or floor is cold or the
feet are otherwise cold.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] The object of the invention is to obviate the disadvantages
described above and to provide a footwear piece, which is like a
combination of a footwear piece and socks and which can be used
outdoors as well as indoors.
[0009] The footwear piece is soft and light to use on the foot and
with it a "barefoot feeling" is achieved for its user. The footwear
piece essentially moulds completely to the shapes of its user's
foot and when using the footwear separate socks are not necessarily
needed at all. This is a light and machine-washable as well as
breathable footwear piece essentially sewn entirely of
textile/fabric, sort of an "outdoor socks" or "gloves for the feet"
with soft soles.
[0010] Ordinary hard-soled footwear pieces limit the movements of
their user's foot and movement while walking. Ordinary footwear
pieces prevent growth in the width of the foot at the ball of the
foot when taking a step and they support the muscles of the sole of
the foot and the toes too much, causing weakening of said
muscles.
[0011] A soft-soled, light fabric footwear piece according to the
invention enables moving and walking outdoors with a completely
"barefooted feeling", but nevertheless provides protection to the
skin of the sole of the foot.
[0012] Walking using this type of a soft-soled footwear piece
according to the invention strengthens the soles of the feet and
muscles of the foot sole and also essentially improves its user's
balance, walking contact and also the health of the feet. These
matters and advantages are particularly important to i.a. athletes
and those interested in such activities, in which the foot is of
particularly great significance. These types of sport activities
are i.a. board sports, running sports, physical exercise in general
and accuracy sports such as i.a. shooting etc.
[0013] One important user group for the footwear piece is
diabetics, who often have weakened blood circulation as well as
weakened sensation in their legs. For this reason, they cannot walk
with entirely bare feet, because that would be dangerous due to the
fact that they do not sense it if they step, for example, on some
sharp object, such as a rock, glass etc. A footwear piece according
to the invention provides an excellent aid to this type of problems
and removes this problem.
[0014] For such a special user group, a footwear piece can
comprise, but not necessarily, the elements for supporting the
ankle of the user. A footwear piece of this type can comprise a
supported shaft.
[0015] The purpose of a footwear piece according to this invention
is to provide the user with such a "barefoot feeling" that it is as
if the user had on no footwear piece at all, but rather something
like a soft sock. For this reason, the footwear piece does not
attempt to completely protect the sole of the foot by being
completely or at least partially impenetrable, but would just
slightly spread the pricks of unevenness produced by i.a. rocks,
cones and other things on the ground over a larger area such that
said pricking that is felt does not seem as great to the user as it
would, for example, if walking barefoot.
[0016] More particularly, a footwear piece according to the
invention is characterized in that which is presented in the
characterizing part of the independent claim.
[0017] The dependent claims present additional features of the
embodiments of a footwear piece according to the invention.
[0018] The invention is described in more detail in the
accompanying claims. A footwear piece according to the invention
has a sole, which is made of a second fabric material, which
footwear piece is characterized in that the second fabric material
comprises strong fibres.
[0019] At least a portion of said strong fibres of the second
fabric material of the sole are preferably, but not necessarily,
aramid fibres, para-aramid fibres, glass fibres, carbon fibres,
polyethylene fibres, boron fibres, silicon carbide fibres, ceramic
fibres or polyethylene fibres, or combinations of above-mentioned
fibres.
[0020] At least a portion of said strong fibres of the second
fabric material of the sole are preferably, but not necessarily,
woven into the second fabric material.
[0021] The value according to standard DIN 53863 of the second
fabric material of the sole of the footwear piece is preferably,
but not necessarily, at least 5000.
[0022] A footwear piece according to the invention comprises
preferably, but not necessarily, an upper, which is preferably, but
not necessarily, made at least partially from the first fabric
material. The first fabric material of the footwear piece upper
comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a water-repellent and
breathable layer. The first fabric material of the footwear piece
upper comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a water-repellent
and breathable membrane. The water-repellent membrane is
preferably, but not necessarily, a semi-permeable perforated
membrane or semi-permeable porous membrane, which allows vaporized
water to pass through the membrane but prevents water drops from
passing through the membrane.
[0023] The footwear piece comprises preferably, but not
necessarily, tightening means for tightening the footwear piece
onto the foot. The tightening means can comprise a lace, button,
zipper, tape and/or magnet. The tightening means can further
comprise a tightening flap. The tightening flap is preferably, but
not necessarily, made at least partially of a third fabric
material, which comprises a synthetic polyurethane-based elastic
textile.
[0024] The footwear piece further comprises preferably, but not
necessarily, elements for supporting the ankle.
[0025] The first fabric material of the footwear piece's upper can
comprise, for example, Heathcoat.RTM. mesh, Goretex.RTM.,
Reimatec.RTM. fabric or some other comparable material. The first
fabric material comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several
material layers.
[0026] The second fabric material of the footwear piece's sole can
comprise, for example, Kevlar.RTM., polyurethane, Keprotec.RTM.,
polyester, Twaron.RTM., Technora.RTM., Spectra.RTM., Dyneema.RTM.
or Cordura.RTM., or some combination of these or a comparable type
of hard and durable, but softly flexible fabric material. The
second fabric material comprises preferably, but not necessarily,
several material layers.
[0027] The third fabric material of a possible tightening flap of
the footwear piece can for its part comprise, for example,
Lycra.RTM. or some comparable material. The third fabric material
comprises preferably, but not necessarily, several material
layers.
[0028] Of the above-mentioned materials, the manufacturer of
Goretex.RTM. is W.L. Gore & Associates, the manufacturer of
Reimatec.RTM. is Reima Oy, the manufacturer of Kevlar.RTM. is
DuPont Company, the manufacturer of Keprotec.RTM. is Schoeller, the
manufacturer of Twaron.RTM. is Akzo, the manufacturer of
Technora.RTM. is Teijin, the manufacturer of Spectra.RTM. is
Allied-Signal Corporation, the manufacturer of Dyneema.RTM. is DSM
and the manufacturer of Cordura.RTM. as well as Lycra.RTM. is
INVISTA.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0029] In the following, the invention and its preferred
embodiments are described in detail with reference, in a way of an
example, to the accompanying figures, in which
[0030] FIG. 1 shows a side profile of a first preferred embodiment
of a footwear piece according to the invention,
[0031] FIG. 2 shows a side profile of a second preferred embodiment
of a footwear piece according to the invention,
[0032] FIG. 3 shows a side profile of a third preferred embodiment
of a footwear piece according to the invention,
[0033] FIG. 4 shows a side profile of a fourth preferred embodiment
of a footwear piece according to the invention,
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a side profile of a fifth preferred embodiment
of a footwear piece according to the invention, and
[0035] FIG. 6 shows a side profile of a sixth preferred embodiment
of a footwear piece according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0036] The footwear piece shown in the figures comprises an upper 1
made of a first fabric material 5, a sole 2, which is made of a
second fabric material 6, tightening means 3 as well as a
tightening flap 4.
[0037] The sole 2 of the footwear piece is preferably, but not
necessarily, sized and moulded such that the sole 2 of the footwear
piece is connected to the upper 1 of the footwear piece essentially
at the ground contact level of the footwear piece or at the height
of the ground contact area of the footwear piece.
[0038] The sole 2 of the footwear piece is preferably, but not
necessarily, joined by sewing to the upper 1 of the footwear piece.
The sewing seam between the sole 2 and the upper 1 comprises
preferably, but not necessarily, a taping of the seam.
[0039] The footwear piece comprises preferably, but not
necessarily, an edge-strengthening portion 8 between the upper 1
and the sole 2.
[0040] If the footwear piece comprises an edge-strengthening
portion 8 between the upper 1 and the sole 2, the sole 2 of the
footwear piece is preferably, but not necessarily, sized and
moulded such that the sole 2 of the footwear piece is connected to
the edge-strengthening portion 8 essentially at the ground contact
level of the footwear piece or at the height of the ground contact
area of the footwear piece.
[0041] If the footwear piece comprises an edge-strengthening
portion 8 between the upper 1 and the sole 2, the sole of the
footwear piece 2 is preferably, but not necessarily, joined by
sewing to the edge-strengthening portion 8 of the footwear piece.
The sewing seam between the sole 2 and the edge-strengthening
portion 8 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a taping of
the seam.
[0042] If the footwear piece comprises an edge-strengthening
portion 8 between the upper 1 and the sole 2, the upper 1 of the
footwear piece is preferably, but not necessarily, joined by sewing
to the edge-strengthening portion 8 of the footwear piece. The
sewing seam between the upper 1 and the edge-strengthening portion
8 comprises preferably, but not necessarily, a taping of the
seam.
[0043] The edge-strengthening portion 8 of the footwear piece is
preferably, but not necessarily, made of a fourth fabric material
9.
[0044] The figures show a footwear piece having an upper 1 made of
a first fabric material 5, a sole 2, which is made of a second
fabric material 6, which second fabric material 6 comprises strong
fibres (not shown).
[0045] The stiffness of the second fabric material 6 is preferably
such that the sole 2 is fitted to at least partially follow the
movements and shape of the sole of the foot in different positions
of the sole of the foot.
[0046] At least a portion of said strong fibres are preferably, but
not necessarily, aramid fibres, para-aramid fibres, glass fibres,
carbon fibres, polyethylene fibres, boron fibres, silicon carbide
fibres, ceramic fibres or polyethylene fibres, or different
combinations of above-mentioned fibres.
[0047] At least a portion of said strong fibres of the second
fabric material 6 is preferably, but not necessarily, woven into
the second fabric material 6.
[0048] In the footwear piece, the value according to standard DIN
53863 of the second fabric material 6 is preferably, but not
necessarily, at least 5000, more preferably at least 6000 and most
preferably at least 10000.
[0049] In the footwear piece, the first fabric material 5 comprises
preferably, but not necessarily, a water-repellent and breathable
layer.
[0050] In the footwear piece, the first fabric material 5 comprises
preferably, but not necessarily, a water-repellent and breathable
membrane. The water-repellent membrane is preferably, but not
necessarily, a semi-permeable perforated membrane or semi-permeable
porous membrane, which allows vaporized water to pass through the
membrane but prevents water drops from passing through the
membrane.
[0051] The footwear piece shown in the figures comprises the
tightening means 3 for tightening the footwear piece onto the
foot.
[0052] The purpose of the tightening means 3 can additionally or
alternatively be to increase or decrease the size of the opening
(11) leading to the interior area (10) of the footwear piece. By
the interior area of the footwear piece is meant, in this
connection, the area formed by the footwear piece, in which the
foot of the user is at least partially located when the user has
placed the footwear piece on the foot. By the opening is meant, in
this connection, the opening, which leads from outside the footwear
piece into said interior area of the footwear piece and through
which the user of the footwear piece puts his foot when placing the
footwear piece on his/her foot.
[0053] The purpose of the tightening means 3 can additionally or
alternatively be to increase or decrease the size of the interior
area of the footwear piece at least partially in an inflexible
manner and/or to change the shape of the interior area of the
footwear piece at least partially in an inflexible manner. The
tightening means 3 then allow that the user can himself, using the
tightening means, mould the shape of the interior area of the
footwear piece to suit his/her foot.
[0054] In the footwear piece shown in the figure, the tightening
means 3 comprise a lace, button, zipper, tape and/or magnet.
[0055] In the footwear piece shown in the figure, the tightening
means 3 comprise a tightening flap 4.
[0056] In the footwear piece, the tightening flap 4 comprises
preferably, but not necessarily, a third fabric material 7, which
comprises a synthetic polyurethane-based elastic textile.
[0057] The footwear piece further comprises, but not necessarily,
the elements for supporting the ankle.
[0058] The first fabric material 5 of the footwear piece can
comprise, for example, Heathcoat.RTM. mesh, Goretex.RTM.,
Reimatec.RTM. fabric or some comparable material.
[0059] The sole of the footwear piece, i.e. the second fabric
material 6, can comprise, for example, Kevlar.RTM., polyurethane,
Keprotec.RTM., polyester, Twaron.RTM., Technora.RTM., Spectra.RTM.,
Dyneema.RTM. or Cordura.RTM., or some combination of these or a
comparable type of hard and durable, but softly flexible fabric
material.
[0060] The above-mentioned second fabric material can comprise, for
example, Keprotec.RTM. article no 13627, produced by Schoeller,
which material comprises approximately 14% PU, approximately 22% AR
(Kevlar.RTM.) and approximately 64% PA and the standard DIN 53863
value of which is approximately 24000.
[0061] Further, the second fabric material can be, for example,
Keprotec.RTM. article no 1308, produced by Schoeller, which
material comprises approximately 18% AR (Kevlar.RTM.),
approximately 26% PU and approximately 56% PA and the standard DIN
53863 value of which is approximately 10000.
[0062] Further, the second fabric material can comprise, for
example, Keprotec.RTM. article no 6500, produced by Schoeller,
which material comprises approximately 8% EL, approximately 18% PU,
approximately 33% AR (Kevlar.RTM.) and 41% PA and the standard DIN
53863 value of which is approximately 15000.
[0063] The second fabric material can alternatively be
Keprotec.RTM. article no 1318, produced by Schoeller, which
material comprises 30% PA, 25% AR (Kevlar.RTM.), 40% PU and 5%
Lycra.RTM..
[0064] The third fabric material 7 of the footwear piece can for
its part comprise, for example, Lycra.RTM. or some comparable
material. As the third material 7, for example, neoprene can also
be used, which can have different fabrics. Further, as the fabric
material can be, for example, spacer, canvas and leather, or a
combination of all of the above. As the fabric material can
additionally be, for example, Keprotec, plastic, PVC, PU, PU-coated
leather, leather and TPU.
[0065] It is also possible that the second fabric material 6 is
formed of several layers, and that one layer is made, for example,
such that it is woven out of strong fibres.
[0066] It is also possible that the second fabric material 6 is
formed of several layers, and that one layer has a material, which
has strong fibres, for example, woven into the material.
[0067] The footwear piece can, if needed, be equipped with
different types of symbols, i.e. logos and/or embroideries.
[0068] To a person skilled in the art, it is clear that the
above-mentioned embodiments can be adapted and/or modified without
departing from the solution according to the invention, which is
defined in the accompanying claims.
[0069] The invention and its embodiments are not limited to only
the examples and materials presented above, rather many variations
are possible within the scope of the claims.
* * * * *