U.S. patent application number 13/802940 was filed with the patent office on 2013-08-08 for shoe comprising a ventilation in the bottom zone of the upper and air-permeable spacing structure usable therefor.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ambrosius Bauer, Christian Bier, Marc Peikert. Invention is credited to Ambrosius Bauer, Christian Bier, Marc Peikert.
Application Number | 20130199060 13/802940 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41066429 |
Filed Date | 2013-08-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130199060 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bier; Christian ; et
al. |
August 8, 2013 |
Shoe Comprising A Ventilation in the Bottom Zone of the Upper and
Air-Permeable Spacing Structure Usable Therefor
Abstract
Disclosed is a shoe comprising an upper arrangement and a sole.
The upper arrangement has a top upper material and an air-permeable
layer that is disposed at the bottom of the upper. The
air-permeable layer is disposed in a bottom zone of the upper
arrangement above the sole and has a three-dimensional structure
which allows air to flow therethrough at least in the horizontal
direction. At least one air passage opening is disposed in the
lower circumferential zone of the top upper material near the sole.
Said opening is connected to the air-permeable layer in such a way
that air can be exchanged between the surroundings and the
air-permeable layer via the air-permeable layer.
Inventors: |
Bier; Christian; (Miesbach,
DE) ; Peikert; Marc; (Bad Tolz, DE) ; Bauer;
Ambrosius; (Warngau, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bier; Christian
Peikert; Marc
Bauer; Ambrosius |
Miesbach
Bad Tolz
Warngau |
|
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Family ID: |
41066429 |
Appl. No.: |
13/802940 |
Filed: |
March 14, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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12996235 |
Feb 10, 2011 |
|
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PCT/EP2009/004109 |
Dec 8, 2009 |
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13802940 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
36/3B |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 7/125 20130101;
A43B 13/38 20130101; A43B 7/082 20130101; A43B 1/04 20130101; A43B
7/08 20130101; A43B 7/06 20130101; A43B 7/084 20130101; A43B
23/0235 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/3.B |
International
Class: |
A43B 7/06 20060101
A43B007/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2008 |
DE |
10 2008 027 856.4 |
Claims
1. An air-permeable spacer structure designed for use as an
air-permeable layer in a shaft bottom of a shaft arrangement of a
shoe, wherein the air-permeable spacer structure has a flat
structure and a plurality of spacer elements extending away from
the flat structure vertically and/or at an angle between 0.degree.
and 90.degree..
2. The air-permeable spacer structure according to claim 1, whose
spacer elements are embodied as knobs.
3. The air-permeable spacer structure according to claim 1, which
is constructed with two flat structures arranged parallel to each
other, which are joined to and held spaced from one another in an
air-permeable manner by means of the spacer elements.
4. The air-permeable spacer structure according to claim 1
constructed with a reinforced knit.
5. The air-permeable spacer structure according to claim 1, which
is designed to be corrugated or sawtooth-shaped.
6. The air-permeable spacer structure according to claim 1, wherein
the spacer structure is constructed at least partially with
monofilament and/or multifilament threads and at least some of the
monofilament and/or multifilament threads are arranged as spacers
between them, vertically and/or at an angle to the flat structures.
Description
RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] The present application is a divisional application of
pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/996,235 filed Dec. 3,
2010; which claims the benefit of International Application No.
PCT/EP2009/004109; and further claims the benefit of German Patent
Application No 10 2008 027 856.4 filed Jun. 11, 2008.
BACKGROUND
[0002] The invention pertains to shoes with ventilation beneath the
sole and with the transport of sweat moisture through layers
beneath the foot to improve the climate comfort of such shoes.
[0003] In earlier times, shoes had either a certain water vapor
permeability in the sole area, also called breathability, as a
result of the use of a shoe sole material such as leather, with the
drawback of water permeability in the sole area, or shoes were
watertight in the sole area, but were also water vapor impermeable
in the sole area as a result of the use of outsoles made of a
waterproof material, such as rubber or a rubber-like plastic, with
the drawback that sweat moisture could accumulate in the foot sole
area.
[0004] Recently, shoes that are waterproof and also water
vapor-permeable in the foot sole area have been created by
perforating their outsoles with through-holes and covering the
through-holes with a waterproof, water vapor-permeable membrane
arranged on the inside of the outsole, so that no water can
penetrate into the shoe interior from the outside, but sweat
moisture that forms in the foot sole area can escape outward from
the shoe interior. Two different solutions have been pursued here.
Either the outsole has been provided with vertical through-holes
that pass through its thickness, through which sweat moisture can
be guided from the shoe interior to the walking surface of the
outsole, or the outsole has been provided with horizontal channels
through which sweat moisture that has accumulated above the outsole
can escape through the side periphery of the outsole.
[0005] Examples of the first solution, in which the outsole has
vertical through-openings that pass through its thickness, are
shown in EP 0 382 904 A1, EP 0 275 644 A1, and DE 20 2007 000 667
UM. A sole composite according to EP 0 382 904 A1 has a lower sole
part equipped with microperforations, an upper sole part, also
equipped with perforations, and a waterproof, water vapor-permeable
membrane between these. The outsole in shoes according to EP 0 275
644 A1 is provided with relatively large-area vertical
through-holes in order to acquire higher water vapor permeability,
and a water vapor-permeable protective layer is arranged between it
and the outsole for mechanical protection of the membrane. The
outsole in shoes according to DE 20 2007 000 667 UM is provided
with relatively large-area vertical through-holes in order to
acquire greater water vapor permeability, which holes are closed
with a water vapor-permeable protective layer. This type of outsole
is attached to a waterproof shaft arrangement, so that a waterproof
shoe is present.
[0006] Examples of the second solution, in which the outsole has
horizontal ventilation channels running parallel to its walking
surface, are known from EP 0 479 183 B 1, EP 1 089 642 B1, EP 1 033
924 B1, and JP 16-75205 U.
[0007] The outsole in a shoe according to EP 0 479 183 B1 is
provided on its side that faces away from the walking surface with
a protruding outsole edge on its outer periphery, which is
penetrated with microperforations which extend horizontally, i.e.,
parallel to the walking surface. In the space formed within the
outsole edge, a spacer element with transverse webs protruding from
the outsole is arranged, which can be embodied as a single piece
with the outsole. An inner band belonging to the spacer element,
which is also penetrated by horizontally running through-holes, is
situated within the outsole edge and spaced from it. A water
vapor-permeable inlay sole or insole is situated above the spacer
element, wherein beneath the outer peripheral area of said insole,
a last insert of a shaft consisting of water vapor-permeable
material is inserted, which is situated on the inside of the inner
band of the spacer element. A waterproof, water vapor-permeable
membrane, extending upward roughly perpendicular from the inside of
the outsole, is situated between the outsole edge with the
horizontal microperforations and the inner band with the horizontal
through-holes. Because of this membrane, on the one hand, water is
prevented from penetrating between the webs and into the shoe
interior, but on the other hand, sweat moisture that has reached
between the webs from the shoe interior can theoretically reach the
outside of the sole structure. However, the sweat moisture must
then penetrate not only the membrane but also the microperforations
of the outsole edge, the through-holes of the inner band, and the
shaft material.
[0008] In the case of EP 1 089 642 B1 the outsole is provided on
its side that faces away from the walking surface with an upper
edge web on the outer periphery, in the top of which ventilation
channels that pass through the edge web are made, and with
hemispherical protrusions in a sole area within the edge web. An
upper sole element is arranged on the top of the outsole, which
upper sole element lies on the edge web and on the protrusions of
the outsole and has a water vapor-permeable area covered with a
waterproof, water vapor-permeable membrane, with an extension
roughly equal to that of the area of the outsole that is provided
with the protrusions. Sweat moisture that collects in the space
between the outsole and the sole element in which the protrusions
of the outsole are situated can theoretically escape through the
ventilation channels in the edge web of the outsole.
[0009] EP 1 033 924 B1 shows a shoe with an outsole having an outer
peripheral edge protruding from an inside of the outsole, which
edge is perforated by horizontal ventilation channels, i.e.,
channels running parallel to the walking surface of the outsole.
The outsole is attached to a shaft, which has a lower shaft area on
the sole side, which area has a last insert connected to the bottom
of a peripheral area of a perforated inlay sole. A waterproof,
water vapor-permeable membrane is arranged in the space formed
within the last insert on the bottom of the inlay sole. An
air-permeable material constructed with fibers, for example from
felt, is situated in the outsole space formed within the protruding
outer peripheral edge. Sweat moisture that has reached the
air-permeable material through the perforated inlay sole and the
membrane can diffuse into the outer environment through the
horizontal ventilation channels of the outer peripheral edge of the
outsole. Water that has reached the air-permeable material through
the ventilation channels, however, is prevented by the membrane
from reaching the shoe interior through the inlay sole. A
nail-protection plate is situated on the inside of the outsole, so
that the shoe is suitable as a safety shoe.
[0010] A shoe in which the two above-mentioned solutions are
combined is known from JP 16-75205 U. The sole structure of this
shoe has a perforated inlay sole, an outsole, which is provided on
its upper side that faces the shoe interior with horizontally
running grooves that open to the outside of the outsole periphery,
and through-holes that extend from these grooves to the walking
surface, and has a waterproof, water vapor-permeable membrane
arranged on the bottom of the inlay sole, and a protective layer,
for example made of felt, arranged between the membrane and the
outsole. A lower end area of a shaft on the sole side is inserted
in the form of a last insert on the bottom of a peripheral edge
area of the inlay sole. While the membrane has the same area as the
inlay sole, the protective layer is situated in the same plane as
the last insert and the protective layer extends only between the
inside edge of the last insert. The horizontally running grooves
are open to the outer environment on the peripheral area of the
outsole. Sweat moisture can therefore diffuse from the shoe
interior through both the vertical through-holes to the outside of
the walking surface of the outsole and through the horizontal
grooves to the outer peripheral side.
[0011] Especially in shoes whose outsole is not provided with
vertical through-holes penetrating its thickness or, for safety
reasons, for example, cannot be provided with such through-holes
because of the requirement of a nail-protection plate, but even in
shoes whose outsole is provided with such vertical through-holes,
it is desirable to create a ventilation system in an area beneath
the foot sole with which a noticeable increase in climate comfort
in the foot sole area can be achieved.
[0012] From this standpoint, the present invention creates a shoe
according to claim 1 and an air-permeable spacer structure
according to claim 28, suitable for such a shoe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] The core of the invention is a ventilation space beneath the
foot sole, defined by an air-permeable spacer structure, which
permits efficient transport of sweat moisture (water vapor) that
has reached beneath the foot through the layers.
[0014] A shoe according to the invention has a shaft arrangement
and a sole, the shaft arrangement having an outer shaft material
and an air-permeable layer arranged in a shaft bottom. The
air-permeable layer is arranged in a lower area of the shaft
arrangement on the sole side, above the sole. The air-permeable
layer has a three-dimensional structure that permits air passage in
at least the horizontal direction. The outer shaft material has at
least one air-passage opening in a lower peripheral area on the
sole side, by means of which a connection can be produced between
the air-permeable layer and the outer environment of the shoe, such
that air exchange between the outer environment and the
air-permeable layer can occur. In this way, heat and water vapor
can be removed from the area of the shaft arrangement situated
above the air-permeable layer, for example, by means of convective
air exchange through the air-permeable layer.
[0015] Since the at least one air-passage opening in the solution
according to the invention, which permits the efficient removal of
sweat moisture in conjunction with the air-permeable layer, is not
formed in the outsole, where it cannot be particularly large from
the standpoint of outsole stability and, especially in a shoe with
a rather thin outsole, for aesthetic reasons, but in a lower
peripheral area of the outer shaft material on the sole side, where
the air-passage opening can be made comparatively large without a
problem, a situation is already achieved for better air exchange
and therefore a greater water vapor removal capability than in a
shoe whose at least one air-passage opening is formed in the
outsole.
[0016] The shaft arrangement with the air-permeable layer has the
additional advantage that the air-permeable layer positioned
between the at least one air-passage opening and the shoe interior
can extend directly to the inside of the shaft outer material and
is not limited, as in the known solutions according to EP 1 033 924
B1 and JP 16-75205 U, to the interior space between the last insert
edge of the outer shaft material. For example, in glue-lasted
shoes, the air-permeable layer is situated above the glue-lasted
insert and can therefore provide a larger exchange surface for
water vapor and heat of the foot sole. The air-permeable layer in
the solution according to the invention can therefore have a
significantly larger surface area than in the known solutions, with
a correspondingly larger exchange surface and therefore water vapor
removal capacity.
[0017] The solution according to the invention and the high water
vapor passage and air exchange effect achieved with it are
advantageous both in shoes that need not be waterproof because they
are only used in dry areas, for example, work shoes in an assembly
plant, and in shoes that are also worn outdoors and may therefore
be exposed to wetness.
[0018] For the latter case, a variant of the invention is used
whereby, at least in a lower area of the shaft arrangement that
faces the sole, an at least water vapor-permeable functional layer
is provided, the air-permeable layer being arranged beneath the
functional layer. In one variant, the air-permeable layer is
situated directly beneath the water vapor-permeable functional
layer. In one variant of the invention, the functional layer is
waterproof and water vapor-permeable.
[0019] In one variant of the invention, both a shaft functional
layer and a shaft-bottom functional layer are provided, so that
water vapor permeability with simultaneous water-tightness is
achieved, both for the shaft and for the shaft-bottom area of the
shoe.
[0020] In another variant of the invention, a waterproof and water
vapor-permeable functional layer is situated in the shaft-bottom
area, for example, in the form of a functional layer laminate,
wherein the air-permeable layer is situated directly beneath the
functional layer or the functional layer laminate. In conjunction
with this variant, one advantage of the invention lies especially
in the fact that through the at least one air-passage opening, in
cooperation with the air-permeable layer, an air exchange and
therefore a removal of sweat moisture and heat are made possible.
The diffusion path that limits efficiency, which the water vapor
must travel initially from the bottom of the foot to the
air-permeable layer, is minimized by choosing the thinnest possible
layer structure of the functional layer and the heat transfer is
maximized. If water vapor has reached the air-permeable layer, it
is additionally transported away convectively by the air flow, so
that the water vapor partial pressure difference between the two
sides of the functional layer is permanently kept at a high level.
No additional layers need be overcome. The water vapor partial
pressure difference between the two sides of the functional layer
is a driving force for the efficient removal of sweat moisture. In
addition to water vapor, heat is also taken off by convection. Due
to the fact that the air-permeable layer in the case of a lasted
shaft is arranged above the last insert of the outer shoe material,
roughly the entire sole surface is available for water vapor
exchange.
[0021] In one variant of the invention, with a shaft functional
layer and a shaft-bottom functional layer, these are part of a
sock-like functional layer bootie, in which a shaft area is formed
by the shaft functional layer and a sole area is formed by the
shaft-bottom functional layer.
[0022] In another variant of the invention with a shaft functional
layer and a shaft-bottom functional layer, the shaft functional
layer and the shaft-bottom functional layer are connected to each
other at a lower shaft area and are sealed watertight with respect
to each other at their shared boundary.
[0023] In one variant of the invention, the functional layer of the
shaft functional layer and/or the shaft-bottom functional layer is
part of a multilayer laminate that has at least one textile layer
in addition to the functional layer. Frequently used laminates are
two-, three- or four-layered, with a textile layer on one side or a
textile layer on both sides of the functional layer.
[0024] In one variant of the invention, a shaft-bottom functional
layer laminate and/or a shaft functional layer laminate are
constructed with the laminate.
[0025] In one variant of the invention, the functional layer has a
water vapor-permeable membrane. The membrane is preferably
waterproof and water vapor-permeable. In a preferred variant, the
functional layer has a membrane constructed with expanded
microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE).
[0026] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable layer is
situated beneath the shaft-bottom functional layer.
[0027] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable layer is
situated directly beneath the shaft-bottom functional layer, which,
for the case in which the shaft-bottom functional layer is part of
a functional layer laminate, will mean that the air-permeable layer
is situated directly beneath the functional layer laminate.
[0028] In one variant of the invention, at least one air-passage
opening is arranged in the outer shaft material, such that it is
situated at least partially at the same height as the air-permeable
layer.
[0029] In one variant of the invention, at least two at least
roughly opposite air-passage openings are arranged in the lower
area of the outer shaft material in the transverse direction of the
foot or the longitudinal direction of the foot. Convective air
exchange is also made possible or promoted by this. Air exchange is
strongly promoted by the relative movement of the shoe wearer with
respect to the outside air. Air exchange is intensified in wind
and/or during walking or running.
[0030] In another variant of the invention, the lower peripheral
area of the outer shaft material has several air-passage openings
arranged along the periphery of the shaft arrangement.
[0031] In one variant of the invention, the lower end of the outer
shaft material has a separate air-permeable shaft material, which
is attached to the outer shaft material and is therefore part of
the outer shaft material. This air-permeable shaft material, which
extends around the majority of the shaft periphery or even around
the entire shaft periphery, has a plurality of air-passage openings
due to its air-permeable structure. In one variant, the
air-permeable shaft material is attached in the form of a mesh to
the lower end of the outer shaft material. In other variants, the
air-permeable shaft material can be constructed from a perforated
or mesh-like material. This air-permeable shaft material can be
designed to be stable, so that it imparts the required shape
stability to the shaft, despite these air-passage openings, which
extend almost or fully around the entire shaft periphery.
[0032] In one variant of the invention, the at least one
air-passage opening has a total area of at least 50 mm.sup.2,
preferably at least 100 mm.sup.2.
[0033] In another variant of the invention, the at least one
air-passage opening is covered with an air-permeable protective
material, for example a protective gauze or protective mesh made of
metal or plastic, in order to inhibit the penetration of foreign
objects, such as dirt or stones, through the air-passage opening.
The air-permeable protective material can be situated in the area
of the lower peripheral region of the outer shaft material along
the air-permeable layer, specifically either on the outside of the
air-passage opening or on the inside of the air-passage opening,
between the outer shaft material and the air-permeable layer.
[0034] In one variant of the invention, the at least one
air-passage opening can be sealed by device. The device serves as
temporary protection against outer elements, at least against spray
water, so that water cannot penetrate directly through the
air-passage opening. The device can be designed in the form of a
moveable device, for example, as a slide, by means of which the at
least one air-passage opening can be partially or fully closed, in
order to throttle or suppress air exchange between the exterior of
the shoe and the air-permeable layer. This can be particularly
advantageous at low temperatures (for example, in winter), since an
unduly strong cooling effect can occur as a result of the removal
of sweat moisture and the related cooling effect in conjunction
with air exchange through the air-permeable layer. By closing the
air-passage openings by means of the moveable device, excess water
entry during walking in very wet surroundings can be
counteracted.
[0035] In one variant of the invention, a ventilator or fan,
incorporated, for example, in the air-permeable layer, ensures
constant air exchange with the surroundings. The power of the fan
can be controlled automatically, in order to keep a desired target
temperature on the foot. The fan can be necessary especially during
small or low relative movements between the shoe and the
surrounding air and at high ambient temperatures, for a noticeable
cooling effect.
[0036] In one variant of the invention, which involves a lasted
shoe, in which a last insert of the outer shaft material on the
sole side is glued onto a peripheral edge of the bottom of an inlay
sole or insole (also known under the name AGO), the last insert and
the inlay sole to which the last insert is glued are situated
beneath the air-permeable layer.
[0037] However, the invention is not restricted to shoes with a
lasted shaft, but can be used independently of the manner in which
the lower area of the outer shaft material has been processed to
acquire a shaft arrangement shaped on the shaft-bottom side. In
addition to the lasted version, the known additional versions can
also be used. As examples, we can mention the Strobel version, in
which the lower area of the outer shaft material is stitched onto
the periphery of an inlay sole by means of a so-called Strobel
seam; the string version (also known as string lasting) in which a
cord tunnel, for example, in the form of a spiral loop seam, is
applied to the end area of the outer shaft material on the sole
side, through which cord tunnel a moving tie cord is passed, by
means of which the end area of the outer shaft material on the sole
side can be pulled together; and the moccasin variant, in which the
shaft, except for the vamp, and the shaft bottom are made in one
piece from a piece of outer shaft material, generally leather.
[0038] In one variant of the invention, all components of the shoe
that contribute to breathability are situated above a boundary
plane between the shaft and sole. All components of the shoe,
except for the outsole that touches the ground, are therefore part
of the shaft arrangement. This shaft arrangement can be provided
fully ready before the outsole is attached to the shaft arrangement
in a second manufacturing step, separate in time and possibly in
space, for production of the shoe. The outsole can be applied
immediately after production of the shaft arrangement in a uniform
passage through shoe manufacturing, or production of the shaft
arrangement represents the end of a closed manufacturing step,
whereupon the shaft arrangement obtained in this way is brought to
another production location, where the shaft arrangement is
provided with the outsole. This production location can be located
in the same manufacturing plant in which the shaft arrangement is
produced. The production location in which the shaft arrangement is
provided with the outsole can, however, also be in an entirely
different location from the manufacturing location of the shaft
arrangement, so that an interruption of the manufacturing process
can occur between the step of producing the shaft arrangement and
the step of applying the outsole to the shaft arrangement, during
which interruption the finished shaft arrangement is brought to the
production location for application of the outsole to the shaft
arrangement. Since all components of the shoe are accommodated in
the shaft arrangement except the outsole, whereby not only the
shaft-bottom functional layer but also the air-permeable layer are
attached to the shaft bottom or form a part of the shaft bottom
before the outsole is attached to the shaft arrangement, which can
occur, for example, by molding on or gluing on, the production
location responsible for applying the outsole to the shaft
arrangement need not apply anything other than this outsole, for
which normal ordinary methods and tools are sufficient. The more
difficult and awkward part of shoe production, namely handling and
assembling the functional layer and the air-permeable layer, is
included in the production of the shaft arrangement, i.e., in a
manufacturing phase, in which more complex and more complicated
process steps are necessary, anyway, than in a process step in
which only an outsole is attached to the shaft arrangement.
[0039] In one variant of the invention, the sole is additionally
provided with at least one sole passage opening which extends
through its thickness. This variant results in a shoe in the foot
sole area of which a removal of sweat moisture and heat is made
possible both in the vertical direction through the at least one
sole passage opening and in the horizontal direction through the at
least one air-passage opening of the outer shaft material. In
addition, the at least one sole passage opening serves as an aid
for improved runoff of water that has reached an area above the
outsole.
[0040] In one variant of the invention, a penetration protection
element, for example, in the form of a nail-protection plate, is
arranged in or above the outsole, to produce a safety shoe. This
prevents objects lying on the floor, such as nails, which could
penetrate the outsole, from penetrating through it and the
overlying additional elements of the sole structure and the shaft
bottom into the shoe interior and injuring the foot of the user of
the shoe. Such objects, such as nails, are trapped by the
penetration protection element, which is a steel plate or a plastic
plate, for example, with corresponding penetration resistance.
Since passage openings that penetrate the outsole make no sense in
such a safety shoe, because they are covered by the nail-protection
plate, anyway, a horizontal lateral removal of sweat moisture
remains exclusively in this type of shoe for ventilation in the
foot sole area and therefore improvement of climate comfort.
[0041] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable layer is
formed as an air-permeable spacer structure, configured such that
the air-permeable layer maintains a spacing between the layers
situated beneath it and above it, even when stressed by the foot of
the user of the shoe, so that the air permeability of the
air-permeable layer is retained.
[0042] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable spacer
structure is made to be at least partially elastic. Because of
this, the walking comfort of the shoe is increased, because with
this type of air-permeable spacer structure, cushioning and an
easier rolling process during walking are achieved.
[0043] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable spacer
structure is designed such that under maximal stress with the
maximum weight of the shoe user to be expected corresponding to the
shoe size in the corresponding shoe it yields elastically at most
to the extent that even during such maximum stress, a significant
part of the air conductivity of the spacer structure that forms the
air-permeable layer is still retained. This stipulation for the
air-permeable spacer structure ensures that the air-permeable
spacer structure is not fully compressed with loss of its air
permeability when stressed by the user of the shoe, but instead
sufficiently retains the spacer function and thereby the air
permeability of the spacer structure for the ventilation function,
even when stressed by the user of the shoe.
[0044] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable spacer
structure has a flat structure that forms a first support surface
and a number of spacer elements extending away from the flat
structure at right angles and/or at an angle between 0 and
90.degree.. The ends of the spacer elements lying away from the
flat structure then together define a surface by means of which a
second support surface, facing away from the flat structure, can be
formed.
[0045] In one variant of the invention, the spacer elements of the
spacer structure are designed as knobs, the free knob ends together
forming the second support surface mentioned.
[0046] In one variant of the invention, the spacer structure has
two flat structures arranged parallel to each other, the two flat
structures being joined to each other in an air-permeable manner
with the spacer elements and held spaced from one another. Each of
the flat structures then forms one of the two support surfaces of
the spacer structure.
[0047] All the spacer elements need not have the same length in
order to make the two support surfaces equidistant over the entire
surface extension of the spacer structure. For special
applications, it can be advantageous to make the spacer structure
have different thicknesses in different zones or at different
locations along its surface extension, in order to form a foot bed
compatible with the foot, for example.
[0048] The spacer elements can be formed separately, in which case
they are not joined to each other between the two support surfaces.
However, there is also the possibility of allowing the spacer
elements to touch between the two support surfaces or to fasten at
least some of the contact sites formed in this manner to one
another, for example, with a glue or by the fact that the spacer
elements are made of materials that can be welded to each other,
such as a material that becomes adhesive from heating.
[0049] The spacer elements can be rod- or thread-shaped individual
elements or sections of a more complex structure, for example, a
truss or lattice. The spacer elements can also be connected to each
other in a zigzag or in the form of a cross-grating.
[0050] By selecting the material of the spacer elements and/or by
selecting the slope angle of the spacer elements, and/or by
selecting the percentage of contact sites on which adjacent spacer
elements are attached to each other and/or the shape of the truss
or lattice that is used, the rigidity and therefore the shape
stability of the spacer structure can be adapted to the
corresponding requirements, even under stress.
[0051] In one variant of the invention, the spacer structure is
designed to be corrugated or sawtooth-like. The two contact
surfaces are then defined by the upper and lower wave peaks or the
upper and lower sawtooth crests of the spacer structure.
[0052] In one variant of the invention, the spacer structure is
designed with a reinforced knit, wherein the reinforcement, for
example, by gluing, for which a synthetic resin adhesive can be
used, or by a thermal effect, in which the spacer structure is
constructed with a thermoplastic material and this is heated for
solidification to a softening point at which this material becomes
tacky.
[0053] In one variant of the invention, the spacer structure is
constructed with a material chosen from the material group of
polyolefins, polyamides, or polyesters.
[0054] In one variant of the invention, the spacer structure is
constructed with fibers, at least some of which are arranged as
spacers, perpendicular between the flat structures.
[0055] In one variant of the invention, the fibers are constructed
with a flexible deformable material.
[0056] In one variant of the invention, the fibers consist of
polyolefins, polyesters, or polyamide.
[0057] In one variant of the invention, the flat structures are
constructed with open-pore woven, warp-knit, or knit textile
materials.
[0058] In one variant of the invention, the air-permeable spacer
structure is formed by two air-permeable flat structures arranged
parallel to each other, which are joined to each other in an
air-permeable manner by means of mono- or multifilaments and spaced
at the same time.
[0059] In one variant of the invention, the flat structures are
constructed with a material chosen from the material group of
polyolefins, polyamides or polyesters.
[0060] In one variant of the invention, at least some of the mono-
or multifilaments of the spacer structure are arranged as spacers,
roughly perpendicular between the flat structures.
[0061] In one variant of the invention, the mono- or multifilaments
consist of polyolefins and/or polyesters and/or polyamides.
[0062] An air-permeable spacer structure of the type mentioned,
designed for use as an air-permeable layer in a shaft bottom of a
shaft arrangement of a shoe, represents an independent inventive
object.
[0063] The air-permeable layer or the air-permeable spacer
structure that forms it has the function of a ventilation layer,
the ventilation effect of which is due to a very low resistance to
air flow. Air exchange causes an efficient removal of sweat
moisture in the form of water vapor from the shoe interior to the
shoe exterior.
[0064] Another advantage of the present invention is in the fact
that, because of the arrangement of the air-permeable layer
according to the invention in the shaft bottom area of the shaft
arrangement, conventional soles can be used without additional
modifications. In particular, in hiking shoes and trekking shoes,
the border area between the sole and shaft arrangement is sealed
from the outside along the shoe periphery with an additional sole
band made of rubber. This band must also be perforated in the area
of the air-passage openings. Shell soles can then be used for
variants according to the invention if, for example, the
air-passage openings are arranged in the shaft material above the
shell edge, or if the additional sole band is in turn provided with
one or more corresponding air-passage openings at the locations at
which it comes to lie above the at least one air-passage opening of
the outer shaft material.
[0065] The at least one air-passage opening can have any shape. In
one variant of the invention, the at least one air-passage opening
has a round shape, for example, circular or elliptical. The shape
of the at least one air-passage opening, however, can also be
angular, for example, it can have the shape of a square or an
elongated rectangle.
DEFINITIONS
Horizontal, Vertical:
[0066] Apply during viewing of the corresponding object, for
example, a sole or shaft arrangement, in a defined position in
which this object lies on a flat substrate.
Inside, Outside:
[0067] Inside means on the side that faces the shoe interior;
outside means on the side that faces the shoe exterior.
Top, Bottom:
[0068] Top means on the side that faces away from the walking
surface of the sole of the shoe; bottom means on the side that
faces the walking surface of the sole of the shoe or the side that
faces the substrate on which the shoe stands, again under the
assumption that the substrate is flat.
Shoe:
[0069] Footwear with a closed upper part (shaft arrangement),
having a foot insertion opening and at least one sole or a sole
composite.
Shaft Arrangement:
[0070] Encloses the foot completely up to a foot-insertion opening,
and in addition to the shaft, also has a shaft bottom. The shaft
arrangement can also have one or more linings, for example, in the
form of a liner and/or a waterproof, water vapor-permeable
functional layer and/or one or more insulation layers.
Outer Shaft Material:
[0071] A material that forms the outside of the shaft and therefore
forms the shaft arrangement and consists, for example, of leather,
textile, plastic, or other known materials or combinations thereof
or is constructed with them. Generally, these materials and
combinations are water vapor-permeable. The lower peripheral area
of the outer shaft material on the sole side describes an area
adjacent to the upper edge of the sole or above a boundary plane
between the shaft and the sole.
Shaft Bottom:
[0072] A lower area of the shaft arrangement on the sole side, in
which the shaft arrangement is fully or at least partially closed.
The shaft bottom is situated between the foot sole and the outsole.
In shoes with a lasted or Strobel shaft, the shaft bottom can be
formed with cooperation of an inlay sole (insole). The shaft bottom
can also be provided with a shaft-bottom functional layer or a
shaft-bottom functional layer laminate, wherein this laminate can
also assume the function of the inlay sole.
Inlay Sole (Insole):
[0073] An inlay sole is the part of the shaft bottom to which a
lower shaft end area on the sole side is attached. The inlay sole
is water vapor-permeable, for example, the inlay sole is formed
from a water vapor-permeable material or is configured to be water
vapor-permeable by means of openings (holes, perforations), which
are formed through the thickness of the inlay sole. The inlay sole
has a water vapor permeability number Ret of less than 150
m.sup.2.times.Pa.times.W.sup.-1. Water vapor permeability is tested
according to the Hohenstein skin model. This test method is
described in DIN EN 31092 (February 1994) and ISO 11092 (1993).
Sole:
[0074] A shoe has at least one outsole, but it can also have
several types of soles arranged one above another.
Outsole:
[0075] Outsole is understood to mean that part of the sole area
that touches the ground/floor or produces the main contact with the
ground/floor. The outsole has at least one walking surface that
touches the floor.
Mid-Sole:
[0076] In the event that the outsole is not directly applied to the
shaft arrangement, a mid-sole can be inserted between the outsole
and shaft arrangement. The mid-sole can serve as a cushion, damping
or as filler material, for example.
Bootie:
[0077] A sock-like inner lining of a shaft arrangement is referred
to as a bootie. A bootie forms a sack-like lining of the shaft
arrangement that essentially fully covers the interior of the
footwear.
Functional Layer:
[0078] Water vapor-permeable and/or waterproof layer, for example,
in the form of a membrane or a correspondingly treated or finished
material, for example, a textile with plasma treatment. A
functional layer in the form of a shaft bottom functional layer can
form at least one layer of a shaft bottom of the shaft arrangement,
but it can also be additionally provided as a shaft functional
layer that at least partially lines the shaft; when both the shaft
functional layer and a shaft-bottom functional layer are present,
they can be parts of a multilayer, generally a two-, three- or
four-layer laminate; if a shaft functional layer and a separate
shaft-bottom functional layer are used instead of a
functional-layer bootie, these are sealed so as to be waterproof in
the lower area of the shaft arrangement on the sole side, for
example; the shaft-bottom functional layer and shaft functional
layer can also be formed from one material.
[0079] Appropriate materials for the waterproof, water
vapor-permeable functional layer are especially polyurethane,
polyolefins, and polyesters, including polyether esters and
laminates thereof, as described in documents U.S. Pat. No.
4,725,418 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,870. In one variant, the
functional layer is constructed with macroporous, expanded
polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), as described, for example, in
documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,566 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,390, and
expanded polytetrafluoroethylene, provided with hydrophilic
impregnation agents and/or hydrophilic layers; see, for example,
document U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,041. Microporous functional layers are
understood to mean functional layers whose average effective pore
size is between 0.1 and 2 preferably between 0.2 .mu.m and 0.3
.mu.m.
Laminate:
[0080] A laminate is a composite consisting of several layers
permanently joined together, generally by mutual gluing or welding.
In a functional layer laminate, a waterproof and/or water
vapor-permeable functional layer is provided with at least one
textile layer. The at least one textile layer serves mostly to
protect the functional layer during its processing. This refers to
a two-layer laminate. A three-layer laminate consists of a
waterproof, water vapor-permeable functional layer embedded in two
textile layers. The connection between the functional layer and the
at least one textile layer occurs by means of a discontinuous glue
layer or a continuous water vapor-permeable glue layer, for
example. In one variant, a glue can be applied spot-wise between
the functional layer and the one or two textile layers. Spot-wise
or discontinuous application of glue occurs because a full-surface
layer of a glue that is not water vapor-permeable itself would
block the water vapor permeability of the functional layer.
Waterproof:
[0081] A functional layer/functional-layer laminate is considered
"waterproof," optionally including the seams provided on the
functional layer/functional-layer laminate, if it guarantees a
water-entry pressure of at least 1.times.10.sup.4 Pa. The
functional layer material preferably withstands a water-entry
pressure of more than 1.times.10.sup.5 Pa. The water-entry pressure
is then measured according to a test method in which distilled
water at 20.+-.2.degree. C. is applied to a sample of 100 cm.sup.2
of the functional layer with increasing pressure. The pressure
increase of the water is 60.+-.3 cm H.sub.2O per minute. The
water-entry pressure then corresponds to the pressure at which
water first appears on the other side of the sample. Details
concerning the procedure are stipulated in ISO standard 0811 from
the year 1981.
[0082] Whether a shoe is watertight can be tested, for example,
with a centrifuge arrangement of the type described in U.S. Pat.
No. 5,329,807.
Water Vapor-Permeable:
[0083] A functional layer/functional-layer laminate is considered
"water vapor-permeable" if it has a water vapor-permeability number
Ret of less than 150 m.sup.2.times.Pa.times.W.sup.-1. Water vapor
permeability is tested according to the Hohenstein skin model. This
test method is described in DIN EN 31092 (February 1994) and ISO
11092 (1993).
Air-Permeable Layer:
[0084] The air-permeable layer has a three-dimensional structure
that permits air passage in at least the horizontal direction. This
structure has a very low flow resistance for air. The air-permeable
layer permits the absorption and transport of heat and water vapor
from the shoe interior by means of convection. The air-permeable
layer contains an air volume of at least 50%, in one variant more
than 85%. The thickness of the air-permeable layer can be less than
12 mm, wherein the thickness in one variant is less than 8 mm. The
air-permeable layer has a basis weight of less than 2000 g/m.sup.2,
preferably less than 800 g/m.sup.2. The air-permeable layer covers
at least 50% and preferably at least 70% of the foot standing
surface of the shaft bottom. The air-permeable layer also has a
structure with a stiffness such that it is not or is not
significantly compressed by the foot of the user during
running.
[0085] A spacer structure as known from DE 102 40 802 A2 is
suitable as the air-permeable layer, for example, but there it is
in conjunction with an infrared-reflecting material for clothing
articles.
[0086] The air-permeable layer can be a shaped structure from
polymers, a 3D spacer structure, or a textile structure reinforced
with polymer resins, for example. The air-permeable layer can also
be produced by an injection-molding method. In one variant, it can
have a channel- or tube-like configuration or can be formed from
polymer or metal foams.
[0087] Shaped structures from polymers are based on polymer
monofilaments, woven fabrics, nonwoven fabrics or lays, which are
formed by deformation and fixation of the materials to a rib, knob,
or zigzag structure. The structure can also be a three-dimensional
structure, for example, from polypropylene, in the form of a
wave-like or other shape of filament lay brought to a 3D structure.
Deformation and fixation can be carried out, for example, by means
of a heated structuring roll or as a thermoforming process. The
shaped structures can additionally be laminated with a woven or
nonwoven fabric in order to improve dimensional stability. One
possible method for producing such shaped structures is described,
for example, in patent application WO 2006/056398 A1.
[0088] The air-permeable layer can also be formed from a 3D spacer
structure. Such spacer structures can generally consist of
polyester multi- or monofilaments. Spacer structures can be spacer
knits, spacer warp-knits, spacer nonwoven fabrics or spacer woven
fabrics. Knitting technology makes it possible to vary the top and
bottom of the product surfaces and the spacer threads (pole
threads) independently of each other. Thus the surfaces and the
hardness, including the spring characteristic, can be adjusted
according to the individual application. Spacer structures are
characterized by very high air circulation in all directions, even
under stress. The spacer structure, for example, in the form of a
spacer knit, can also be produced by impregnating textile fabrics
that are impregnated before or after deformation to a
three-dimensional structure with synthetic resin and thus acquire
the desired rigidity. Inorganic fibers, such as glass fibers or
carbon fibers, can also be chosen as the fiber material for the
spacer structure.
TABLE-US-00001 TABLE 1 Selection of possible usable materials for
the air-permeable layer Thick- Basis Air Product ness weight volume
Sample Manufacturer Characteristic name in mm in g/m.sup.2 in %
Polymer 1 Colbond BV 3D mat ENKA spacer: 3-12 100-2000 >70
Polyester structure from 8006H >90 Polyamides monofilaments,
5006C Polyolefins thermally 7004H deformed to a zigzag structure 2
Colbond BV 3D mat ENKA spacer: 3-12 100-2000 >70 Polyester
structure from 7008 >90 Polyamides monofilaments Polyolefins
that are welded to one another on their inner section points 3
Muller 3D spacer 3-mesh 3-12 100-1500 Polyester Textile structure
monofilament or multifilament 4 Tylex 3D spacer Tyl-space 3-12
100-1500 Polyester Letovice structure monofilament A.S. or
multifilament
[0089] To summarize, the air-permeable layer should maintain a
spacing between the foot and the outsole and form a number of
passages that produce the least possible resistance to air flow and
therefore contribute to the transport of water vapor and heat
without adsorbing the water vapor. The air-permeable layer has no
or at least essentially no capillary effect. The air-permeable
layer is closed on the bottom by the inlay sole and/or a filler
layer and/or the outsole, and is open at least on its periphery in
a manner that permits air permeability. The air-permeable layer is
preferably also open on its upper surface in a manner that permits
air permeability. The upper surface of the air-permeable layer
directed toward the shoe interior in one variant is directed toward
a waterproof and optionally also water vapor-permeable functional
layer.
[0090] The air permeability of the spacer structures is determined
according to DIN EN ISO 9237 "Determination of Air Permeability of
Textile Fabrics." In contrast to DIN EN ISO 9237, the flow rate and
pressure difference are not measured perpendicular to the surface,
but along the surface. For this purpose, a defined spacer channel
bounded by closed cover surfaces is constructed, in which an air
stream is supplied from one side. The pressure difference between
the inlet and outlet from the channel and the flow rate at the air
outlet are measured. At pressure differences between 0 and 100 Pa
at the end of a channel between 300 mm and 1300 mm long, flow rates
between 0 and 1 m/s were measured. This means that a spacer
structure that no longer generates a measurable flow at the outlet
at a static pressure up to 100 Pa and a flow channel length of 300
mm would not be suitable for the present invention.
Air-Passage Opening:
[0091] Includes at least one opening in the lower peripheral area
of the outer shaft material on the sole side. At least two roughly
opposite air-passage openings are preferably present. The
air-passage openings can be introduced by means of punching out,
cutting out, or perforation in the outer shaft material, for
example. The air-passage opening can be any shape, for example,
round or angular. The air-passage opening can be protected with an
air-permeable surface-protection material, for example, in the form
of a mesh or gauze, against penetration by foreign objects. The
protective material can be finished to be hydrophobic. The total
area of the at least one air-passage opening is at least 50
mm.sup.2, preferably at least 100 mm.sup.2. In an alternative
variant, the air-passage opening can also be formed directly by an
air-permeable material, which can be used as outer shaft material
or as a component of the outer shaft material, and it inherently
has the necessary air permeability, so that no additional openings
need be created.
[0092] The invention will now be further explained by means of
variants. In the accompanying drawings:
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0093] FIG. 1 shows a perspective oblique view of a first
embodiment example of a shoe designed according to the invention,
with several air-passage openings in the outer shaft material;
[0094] FIG. 2 shows a perspective oblique view of a second
embodiment example of a shoe designed according to the invention,
with several air-passage openings in the outer shaft material;
[0095] FIG. 3 shows a perspective oblique view of a third
embodiment example of a shoe designed according to the invention,
with several partially closable air-passage openings in the outer
shaft material;
[0096] FIG. 4 shows a perspective oblique view of a fourth
embodiment example of a shoe designed according to the invention,
with an air-permeable grid-like component of the outer shaft
material enclosing the shaft periphery;
[0097] FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a cross-section through
part of the forefoot area of a shoe designed according to one of
the variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a first variant of its shaft
arrangement;
[0098] FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of a cross-section through
part of the forefoot area of a shoe designed according to one of
the variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a second variant of its
shaft arrangement;
[0099] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of a cross-section through
part of the forefoot area of a shoe designed according to one of
the variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a third variant of its shaft
arrangement;
[0100] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of a cross-section through
part of the forefoot area of a shoe designed according to one of
the variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a fourth variant of its
shaft arrangement;
[0101] FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of a cross-section through
part of the forefoot area of a shoe designed according to one of
the variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, in a fifth variant of its shaft
arrangement;
[0102] FIG. 10 shows a first variant of an air-permeable layer
usable for a shoe according to the invention;
[0103] FIG. 11 shows a second variant of an air-permeable layer
usable for a shoe according to the invention;
[0104] FIG. 12 shows a third variant of an air-permeable layer
usable for a shoe according to the invention;
[0105] FIG. 13 shows a fourth variant of an air-permeable layer
usable for a shoe according to the invention;
[0106] FIG. 14 shows a fifth variant of an air-permeable layer
usable for a shoe according to the invention;
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0107] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment example of a shoe 10, which
has a shaft arrangement 12 and a sole 14 applied to the lower end
area of the shaft arrangement 12, wherein this embodiment example
involves an outsole. The shaft arrangement 12, in the usual manner,
has on its upper end a foot-insertion opening 12a, from which a
lace area 12b extends in the direction of the forefoot area of the
shaft arrangement 12. In the lower end area of the shaft
arrangement 12, a number of air-passage openings 20 arranged around
part of the periphery of the shaft arrangement 12 can be seen. In
the front part of the forefoot area, which corresponds roughly to
the toe area of the shoe, no air-passage openings are provided in
this embodiment. The air-passage openings 20 are uniformly
distributed around the remaining peripheral area of the shaft
arrangement 12, with roughly the same spacing, and are formed to be
circular. The air-passage openings 20 are also provided with an
air-permeable protective covering 22, in order to prevent the
penetration of large particles, such as stones. The protective
covering 22 can cover the air-passage opening from the outside
and/or from the inside. A protective covering 22 can be applied to
each individual air-passage opening 20, or an overall protective
covering 22 can extend over all air-passage openings. The
protective covering 22 can be designed, for example, to be
gauze-like or mesh-like.
[0108] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment example of a shoe 10 that
largely agrees with the first embodiment example shown in FIG. 1,
but differs from the first embodiment example with respect to the
arrangement and shape of the air-passage openings 20. The
air-passage openings 20 of the shoe shown in FIG. 2 have an
elongated rectangular shape in the peripheral direction of the
shaft arrangement 12 and are situated in the forefoot area or heel
area of the shaft periphery in the lower end area of the shaft
arrangement. The air-passage openings 20 also have a gauze-like
protective covering 22.
[0109] FIG. 3 shows a third embodiment example of a shoe 10, which
largely agrees with the second embodiment example shown in FIG. 2,
but differs from the second embodiment example with respect to the
arrangement of the air-passage openings 20. In the third embodiment
example, the air-passage openings 20 also have an elongated
rectangular shape in the peripheral direction of the shaft
arrangement 12. However, air-passage openings 20 that are at least
roughly opposite each other in the transverse direction of the foot
are situated only in the forefoot area of the shaft periphery. The
air-passage openings 20 are covered with a grid-like protective
covering 22.
[0110] FIG. 3 also shows a device 45 that is also representative
for all variants of FIGS. 1 to 4, by means of which the air-passage
openings 20 can be closed as required. The movable device 45 shown
includes means by which an at least water-repellant material
temporarily closes the air-passage opening 20. In the variant
shown, an at least water-repellant material can be pushed by means
of a slide device along the shaft periphery over the air-passage
opening 20, until it is closed. The slide device can be provided
for one air-passage opening or for several air-passage openings.
The movable device 45 makes it possible for the air-passage opening
and therefore the air-permeable layer (not shown) of the shaft
arrangement 12 to be temporarily protected against the penetration
of liquids such as water. Closure of the air-passage openings can
also be advantageous in the winter or at very cold temperatures,
since unduly severe cooling of the foot can thereby be prevented.
Plugs, slides, flaps, a continuous band, and all other closure
mechanisms can be used as devices for closure of the air-passage
openings. Possible materials for closure of the air-passage opening
can be plastics, foams, coated textiles, TPU, TPE, silicone,
polyolefins, polyamides, and vulcanizates.
[0111] FIG. 4 shows a fourth embodiment example of a shoe 10, which
largely agrees with the first embodiment example shown in FIG. 1,
but differs from the first embodiment example in that the
air-passage openings 20 are formed by an air-permeable material
that extends around the entire periphery of the lower shaft area.
Particularly high air exchange can thereby be achieved between the
air-permeable layer and the outer surroundings of the shoe 10, with
a correspondingly effective removal of heat and moisture from the
shoe interior to the outer surroundings of the shoe 10. The
air-permeable material is a component of the outer shaft material.
In one variant, it can be made of a separated perforated, grid-like
or mesh-like material, which is attached in the lower peripheral
area of the outer shaft material on the sole side, or the outer
shaft material itself is correspondingly treated mechanically in
this lower peripheral area, for example, by punching or
perforation. Meshes, gauzes, gauze-like textiles, open-pore foams,
air-permeable textiles, and combinations of these materials can be
used as the air-permeable material. These materials can consist,
for example, of polyesters, polyamides, polyolefins, TPE, TPU, or
vulcanizates.
[0112] All variants in FIGS. 1 to 4 have the common feature that at
least two air-passage openings are at least roughly opposite each
other in the transverse direction of the foot or the longitudinal
direction of the foot. Because of this, air flow can form through
the air-permeable layer, which is essential during the removal of
water vapor and heat from the shoe interior by convection. The air
flow can also be actively generated with an incorporated fan.
[0113] The variants in FIGS. 1 to 4 can also be combined with one
another.
[0114] FIGS. 5 to 9 each show a cross-section through part of the
forefoot area of a shoe 10, especially along line A-A in FIG. 1.
While such a line is also shown only in FIG. 1, the cross-sectional
views of FIGS. 5 to 9 also apply to the variants shown in FIGS. 2
to 4. FIGS. 5 to 9 each show a shaft arrangement 12 with a sole 14
applied to it, which represents an outsole in the shown variant.
The variants shown in FIGS. 5 to 9 differ with respect to the
corresponding shaft arrangement 12.
[0115] All shaft arrangements 12 of the variants in FIGS. 5 to 9
have an outer shaft material 16, on the inside of which a lining is
situated, which has either a bootie functional layer 34 (FIGS. 5
and 9), a shaft functional layer 37 (FIGS. 6 and 7), or only a
liner layer 18 without a functional layer (FIG. 8). In all five
variants, a shaft-bottom functional layer is situated in the area
of the shaft bottom 15. The shaft functional layer and the
shaft-bottom functional layer can be common parts of a functional
layer bootie 39 (FIG. 5 or 9), or they can be separate
functional-layer parts that are sealed with respect to one another
(FIGS. 6 and 7). In FIG. 8, only the shoe bottom has a functional
layer. All these functional layers in the embodiment examples shown
are part of a multilayer functional layer laminate, of a
three-layer functional layer laminate 24, 27, or 28 in the variants
shown, with a functional layer 34, 37, or 38, which is embedded
between two textiles 25 and 26. The textiles in 25 and 26 can
usually be one textile layer each. The shaft functional layer 37,
or the shaft functional layer laminate 27 (FIGS. 6 and 7), or the
liner layer 18 (FIG. 8) can be attached to an inlay sole 30 by
means of a Strobel seam 32. An air-permeable layer 40 (FIGS. 5 to
9) is situated beneath the shaft-bottom functional layer 38 or the
shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 28, specifically at least at
about the height of the at least one air-passage opening 20. The
lower end area of the outer shaft material 16 on the sole side is
either glue-lasted or attached as a last insert 16a by means of
lasting glue (not shown) on the bottom of the inlay sole 30 (FIGS.
5 and 9) or the air-permeable layer 40 (FIGS. 6 and 7). Or the
lower end area of the shaft upper material 16 on the sole side is
connected by means of an additional Strobel seam 33 to an
additional inlay sole 30a (FIG. 8).
[0116] In all variants shown in FIGS. 1 to 9, the outer material 16
is constructed with a water vapor-permeable material. The inlay
sole 30 arranged above the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate
28 (FIGS. 6 to 8) and the liner layer 18 (FIG. 8) are also
constructed with water vapor-permeable material. All layers of the
shaft bottom situated beneath the air-permeable layer 40, such as
the inlay sole 30 in FIG. 5, the filling layers 31 in FIGS. 6 and
7, and the additional inlay sole 30a in FIG. 8 need not have water
vapor permeability.
[0117] In the variants of FIGS. 5 to 9, the air-passage openings 20
of the outer shaft material 16 are situated directly above the
angled area of the inserted lower end area of the outer shaft
material 16, specifically at a height such that the air-passage
openings 20 are at least at roughly the same height as the
peripheral side surfaces 42 of the air-permeable layer 40. In order
to achieve particularly effective air passage between the
air-permeable layer 40 and the air-passage openings 20, the
air-passage openings 20 preferably have a vertical extension
roughly equal to the vertical thickness of the air-permeable layer
40, and the air-passage openings 20 and the air-permeable layer 40
are aligned with respect to each other in the vertical direction
such that a horizontal middle plane of the air-permeable layer 40
and a center axis of the corresponding air-passage opening 20 are
at least at roughly the same vertical height.
[0118] In all five variants, the sole 14 is connected to the lower
area of the shaft arrangement 12 in such a way that it is connected
to the bottom of the lower end area 16a of the outer shaft material
16 forming the insert, and to the area of the bottom of the shaft
bottom that is not covered by this insert. Unevenness on the bottom
of the shaft bottom, caused in particular by a last insert 16a of
the outer shaft material 16, can be compensated by a filler layer
31. The sole 14 can be constructed with waterproof material, in
which rubber or a rubber-like elastic plastic, for example, an
elastomer, is involved. The sole 14, however, can also consist of a
water vapor-permeable material, such as leather. The sole 14 can be
a prefabricated sole glued to the shaft arrangement 12 or a sole
molded onto the shaft arrangement 12. A walking surface of this
sole, situated on the bottom of the sole 14, is provided in the
usual manner with a groove pattern, in order to form profile
protrusions that improve the anti-slip characteristics of the shoe
10 provided with such a sole 14. In all variants shown in FIGS. 5
to 9, an upper edge 14a of the sole 14 ends beneath the lower end
of the corresponding air-passage opening 20.
[0119] In a manner not shown, especially in the case of walking or
hiking shoes, a rubber strip serving mostly as pebble protection
can be applied to the area of the outer shaft material 16 situated
directly above the upper edge 14a of the sole 14, i.e., where the
at least one passage opening 20 is situated, for example by gluing
to the outer shaft material 16 and the upper edge 14a of the sole,
which has the same color as the sole 14, for example. In order to
avoid blocking the air permeability of the air-passage openings 20,
the rubber edge on the air-passage openings 20 is provided in turn
with air-passage opening at corresponding sites. In all variants of
FIGS. 5 to 9, the air-passage openings 20 are provided with an
air-permeable protective covering 22, which is formed, for example,
by a gauze or mesh made of metal or plastic or by a textile
material with high air permeability and therefore also high water
vapor permeability. The protective covering 22 can be situated on
the outside (FIGS. 5, 6, 8, and 9) or inside (FIG. 7) of the
corresponding air-passage opening 20. Either each air-passage
opening 20 has its own protective covering 22 applied or a common
protective covering strip is applied to some of the air-passage
openings 20 or all air-passage openings 20, which strip extends
over the corresponding number of air-passage openings 20.
[0120] FIGS. 5 to 9 will now be considered in additional
detail.
[0121] In the variant according to FIG. 5, the functional layer on
the inside of the outer shaft material 16 and the functional layer
on the top of the air-permeable layer 40 are both part of a
sock-like bootie 39 that lines the entire shaft arrangement 12 on
its inside, except for the foot-insertion opening 12a. Such a
bootie is usually stitched together from several functional layer
parts, wherein the stitching sites are glued over with a watertight
seam-sealing strip and made watertight in this way. However, the
bootie could also be produced from one piece of material, which
would then no longer entail the need for sewing together and
sealing. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the bootie is
constructed with the already mentioned functional layer laminate
24. The shaft arrangement 12 is therefore waterproof, and after
addition of a sole 14, a waterproof shoe is present. The
air-permeable layer 40 is arranged in the shaft bottom area
directly beneath the functional layer laminate 24 of the bootie 39.
The air-permeable layer 40 then extends over the entire
shaft-bottom area, and the entire foot sole is then available for
water vapor exchange and heat exchange. Beneath the air-permeable
layer 40 the inlay sole 40 is situated, on the bottom of which the
last insert 16a of the lower end area on the sole side is attached
by means of lasting glue (not shown). Instead of using a separate
inlay sole, it is also possible in certain variants to make the
bottom or lower support surface of the air-permeable layer 40
correspondingly stable, so that the last insert can be attached to
this bottom. In such an embodiment, the air-permeable layer
additionally assumes the function of an inlay sole.
[0122] In the variant according to FIG. 6, separate functional
layers 37 and 38, which belong to the shaft functional layer
laminate 27 and the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 28,
respectively, are situated on the inside of outer material 16 and
in the area of shaft bottom 15. An inserted lower end area 27a of
the shaft functional layer laminate 27 on the sole side is firmly
stitched to the inlay sole 30 by mean of a Strobel seam 32. The
shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 28 is situated beneath the
inlay sole 30 and extends to beneath the inserted end area 27a of
the shaft functional layer laminate 27 and is joined in a
waterproof manner to the end area 27a by means of a sealing
material (not shown), for example, in the form of a sealing glue,
so that the shoe interior is waterproof all around because of the
cooperation of the functional layers 37 and 38, which are sealed
with respect to each other, with the exception of the
foot-insertion opening 12a and the lace area 12b of the shoe 10, as
when a functional layer bootie is used. It is also possible to
connect the shaft-bottom functional layer above the inlay sole to
the shaft functional layer laminate in a waterproof manner. Since
the shaft-bottom functional layer 38 extends to beneath the
inserted end area 27a and thereby beyond the Strobel seam 32, the
Strobel seam 32 is also sealed from the shaft-bottom functional
layer 38. The air-permeable layer 40 is arranged directly beneath
the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 28. The last insert 16a
of the outer material 16 is attached to the bottom or lower support
surface of the air-permeable layer 40 by means of a lasting glue
(not shown). The air-permeable layer therefore additionally assumes
the function of an inlay sole. In principle, however, it would also
be possible to provide a separate inlay sole beneath the
air-permeable layer. Unevenness on the bottom of the shaft bottom
15 caused by the last insert 16a of the outer material 16 is
compensated by the filler layer 31, in the manner already
mentioned.
[0123] The variant shown in FIG. 7 differs from the variant shown
in FIG. 6 only in that the protective covering 22 is not arranged
on the outside, but on the inside of the outer shaft material 16,
directly along the peripheral side surfaces 42 of the air-permeable
layer 40 and on the inside, in front of the air-passage opening
20.
[0124] The variant shown in FIG. 8 differs from the variants
according to FIGS. 5 to 7, on the one hand, in that the outer
material 16 is provided only with a liner layer 18, but not with a
shaft functional layer, except for a lower area close to the shaft
bottom 15 and, on the other hand, by the fact that two inlay soles
and two Strobel seams are present. The liner layer 18 has a liner
layer insert 18a on a lower end on the sole side, which insert is
joined to an inlay sole 30 by means of a Strobel seam 32. The lower
end area 16a of the outer shaft material 16 on the sole side is
connected by means of an additional Strobel seam 33 to an
additional inlay sole 30a. The shaft-bottom functional layer 38,
which can again be part of the shaft-bottom functional layer
laminate, has an upward protruding collar 38a on its outer
periphery that extends into a gap between the outer material 16 and
the liner layer 18. The air-permeable layer 40 is arranged between
the shaft bottom functional layer 38 or the shaft-bottom functional
layer laminate and the additional inlay sole 30a. The shaft-bottom
functional layer laminate can also be arranged above the inlay
sole.
[0125] However, the upper shaft area in the variant according to
FIG. 8 is not waterproof. The shoe according to FIG. 8 is therefore
particularly suitable for a use where wetness from the top is less
of a concern than wetness from the bottom and from the side, i.e.,
for walking or hiking in moist surroundings, when it is not raining
or when one is standing for only a shorter time in the rain.
[0126] The variant shown in FIG. 9 essentially corresponds to the
variant shown in FIG. 5. In contrast to FIG. 5, the inlay sole 30
is configured such that the surface of the inlay sole 30 directed
toward the air-permeable layer 40 is raised in the center at an
angle and protrudes into the air-permeable layer. The lower support
surface of the air-permeable layer 40 is therefore raised or
pressed according to the angular elevation of the inlay sole 30. As
a result of this, two sloped planes are formed within the
air-permeable layer, which run downward from the center in the
direction of the peripheral side surfaces 42 and thus facilitate
runoff of any water present in the air-permeable layer 40. Such a
configuration of the inlay sole 30 can also be provided for the
variants in FIGS. 5 to 8.
[0127] Different variants of spacer structures 60 are shown as
examples in FIGS. 10 to 14, which are suitable for the impermeable
layer 40 according to the invention. All these spacer structures
have the common feature that they form two support surfaces spaced
from each other, wherein the spacer structure lies with the lower
support surface on the corresponding substrate and its upper
support surface serves as a support surface for the layer situated
above the spacer structure, which can be the bottom area of the
functional layer bootie (FIG. 5 or 9) or the shaft-bottom
functional laminate (FIGS. 6 to 8). The two support surfaces are
either both formed by a flat structure, and are held at a spacing
from each other by means of spacers situated between them, at least
the upper one of which is air permeable (FIG. 11), or only the
lower support surface is formed by a flat structure, from which
spacer elements protrude, the free ends of which form support
points that together have the function of the upper support surface
(FIGS. 10, 12, and 14). Or else there is neither a lower nor an
upper flat structure, but a single flat structure which is brought
into a corrugated or zigzag form with lower and upper wave or tooth
crests that define the lower or upper support surface (FIG.
13).
[0128] The spacer structures shown in FIGS. 10 to 14 will now be
considered in more detail.
[0129] In the variant shown in FIG. 10 of a spacer structure 60
appropriate as an air-permeable layer 40, roughly hemispherical
protrusions or bulges 65 bulge upward from a lower flat structure
64, whose upper crests define an upper support surface. In one
variant, this spacer structure 60 consists of an initially flat
knit or solid material which, after it has been brought to the form
shown, is stiff or stiffened by a deep-drawing process, for
example, such that it retains this shape even under the stress to
which it is exposed during walking with the shoe equipped with this
spacer structure. In addition to a deep-drawing process, other
steps already mentioned can also be used, namely deformation and
stiffening by a thermoforming process or impregnation with a
synthetic resin that cures to the desired form and stiffness.
[0130] FIG. 11 shows an embodiment example for a spacer structure
60 suitable as an air-permeable layer 40, whose upper and lower
support surfaces are formed by two parallel air-permeable flat
structures 62 and 64 that are chosen, for example, from the group
of polyolefins, polyamides, and polyesters, wherein the flat
structures 62 and 64 are joined to each other in an air-permeable
manner by support fibers 66 and are simultaneously spaced. At least
some of the fibers 66 are arranged as spacers, at least roughly
perpendicular, between the flat structures 62 and 64. The fibers 66
are made of a flexible, deformable material, such as polyester or
polypropylene. Air can flow through the flat structures 62 and 64
and between the fibers 66. The flat structures 62 and 64 are of
open-pore woven, warp-knit, or knit textile materials. Such a
spacer structure 60 can be the already mentioned spacer knit
available from the Tylex Co. or the Muller Textile Co.
[0131] The spacer structure 60 shown in FIG. 12 has a structure
similar to the spacer structure shown in FIG. 10, but it consists
of a knit of knit fibers or knit filaments that is brought into
this form and consolidated in this form by a thermal process or
impregnation with synthetic resin.
[0132] FIG. 13 shows a variant of a spacer structure 60 with a
zigzag or a sawtooth profile, to which an initially flat material
has been shaped, such that the upper and lower crests 60a and 60b
define the upper and lower support surface of this spacer structure
60. The spacer structure 60 of this form can also be formed by the
already mentioned methods and reinforced to the desired
stiffness.
[0133] FIG. 14 shows another embodiment example of a spacer
structure 60 suitable as an air-permeable layer 40 according to the
invention. In this variant, spacer elements are formed not by
protrusions or bulges from the single lower flat structure 68, but
by fiber bundles 70 that protrude upward from the flat structure 68
and whose upper free ends together define the upper support
surface. The fiber bundle 70 can then be applied by flocking the
lower flat structure 68.
* * * * *