WO1998014081A1

WO1998014081A1 - Shoe with upper having a portion which allows the interior of the shoe to breathe

Info

Publication number: WO1998014081A1
Application number: PCT/EP1997/005108
Authority: WO
Inventors: Attilio Attilieni
Original assignee: Stefcom S.P.A.
Priority date: 1996-10-01
Filing date: 1997-09-18
Publication date: 1998-04-09
Also published as: ITMI960648V0; IT240917Y1; ITMI960648U1

Abstract

A shoe comprising a sole (14) and an upper (12), in which the upper (12) comprises at least one portion (16) having an outer layer (20) containing holes (22) for the passage of air and an inner layer (24) matching the said outer layer (20) which consists of porous waterproof fabric.

Description

SHOE WITH UPPER HAVING A PORTION WHICH ALLOWS THE

INTERIOR OF THE SHOE TO BREATHE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a shoe which presents special features designed to allow the foot to breathe easily inside the said shoe. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Shoes are currently known in which the sole contains holes designed to allow easy passage of air to the outside of the shoe while the wearer is

5. walking, so that the foot can breathe inside the shoe.

Although at first sight this shoe design, with a perforated sole to allow the foot to breathe, appears suitable to eliminate the moisture that forms inside the shoe, in practice it has proved wholly incapable of achieving the desired results. In fact, the positioning of the said holes in

10. the sole of the shoe can present the drawback that particles of dust, mud or the like penetrate into the said holes while the wearer is walking, clogging them and preventing or reducing the passage of air between the inside of the shoe and the exterior. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of present invention is therefore to provide a shoe in which

15. substantial porosity or exchange of air between the interior of the shoe and the exterior is guaranteed.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a shoe, in particular a shoe of the traditional type, in which the said substantial porosity allowing the foot to breathe inside the shoe is provided in

20. combination with an upper entirely made of traditional materials such as leather or the like.

A further object of present invention is to provide a shoe of the above type which presents a reasonable manufacturing cost.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a shoe in which is provided an aeration device inside the shoe, in which the application of the said device does not involve any modifications in the pattern or type ofuseoftheshoe.

At least some of the above objects are achieved by a shoe having the characteristics specified in claim 1 annexed hereto. - In the present invention the holes provided on the upper of the shoe are not at risk of being clogged.

Moreover the provision, in correspondence of said holes, of a material which allow air but not water to pass through makes possible to aerate consistency the foot inside the shoe without any risk for the water to - penetrate inside the shoe.

The application of the present invention in a shoe of traditional type, in which the outer upper of the shoes is usually in no permeable material, allow the provision of an aeration of the foot inside the traditional shoe while maintaining the usual shape and appearance of this kind of shoe. - The secondary claims relate to particular embodiments of the invention.

Present invention will be more clearly understood from the following description, which relates to a preferred embodiment of the invention. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OFTHE DRAWINGS The said description should be read by reference to the annexed drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows an elevation of the inner lateral portion of the shoe fig.2 shows a cross-section of the shoe along lines 2-2 in fig. 1 fig. 3 shows an enlarged cross-section relating in particular to the

5. porous portion of the shoe fig. 4 shows a plan view of the upper perforated layer of the porous portion of the shoe only.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE

INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a shoe 10 comprising an upper 12 and a sole 14 in which a portion 16 has been inserted to allow the foot to breathe inside the

10. shoe.

In accordance with the embodiment shown, the said transpirating portion 16 is preferably inserted in the lateral part of the upper, on the side which faces inwards, ie. towards the user's other foot or shoe during use.

15. As shown, portion 16 is also applied in a basically central position to the inner lateral part of the shoe so that, as also shown in fig. 2, it is basically positioned to coincide with the central area of the sole of foot P, where the said sole presents the typical arched conformation raised from the ground, with the result that a kind of air chamber C, with a

20. volume that varies during walking, is formed between the wall of the shoe in which portion 16 is inserted and the foot, allowing air to be expelled easily from the shoe. In this way the maximum permeability is achieved. However, application of the portion for transpirating in any other position on the upper would be feasible for the present invention. Moreover the extension of said transpiration portion to define the entire upper of the shoe is also feasible forthe present invention. As shown in fig. 1 and fig. 2, in accordance with a particular embodiment of the invention, upper 12 of the shoe contains an incision 18 that delineates an opening in which the said transpirating portion 16 is housed; the said portion 16 is attached to the shoe by stitching, sealing and gluing of its lateral edges 17 to the edges of incision 18. - As clearly shown in figures 3 and 4, the transpirating portion presents an outer layer 20 that contains a number of holes 22 designed to allow the passage of air to the interior of the shoe, the said outer layer being associated with an inner layer 24 made of material which is permeable to air but not to water. - The material used to make outer layer 20 is preferably a non-porous material identical to the material used for the upper; in other words, if the said upper is made of leather or the like, the first layer 20 will also be made of leather or the like. The present invention is obviously also applicable to shoes in which the - upper and/or the outer layer 20 of portion for the transpiration 16 is made of a material other than leather or the like, such as plastic, rubber, fabric, etc..

As clearly shown in fig. 3, in accordance with the preferred version shown it is this first layer whose lateral outer edges 17 are applied to - the upper of the shoe, while layer 24, made of porous waterproof fabric, is stitched or glued to the inner face of the said perforated outer layer

20.

Other positions or applications of the inner layers to the upper of the shoe are also feasible; for example, the said inner layer 24 made of 5. porous waterproof fabric could also be attached to the upper of the shoe.

As shown in particular in fig. 4, outer layer 20 of the said porous portion preferably has a triangular shape; however, shapes other than triangular would also be feasible. 10. in accordance with a preferred configuration, the said holes 22 in the outer layer 20 of the portion for the transpiration are arranged in parallel rows at the edges of the transpirating portion. However, other positions for holes 22 are obviously also possible.

The inner porous waterproof layer is preferably made of Goretex or 15. Sympatex; however, any other material suitable to guarantee an efficient passage of air while preventing the passage of water would also be suitable forthe present invention.

The details set out above and illustrated by reference to the preferred embodiment of the present invention are presented by way of example 20. but not of limitation of the concept claimed.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising a sole and an upper, wherein the upper comprises at least one transpirating portion consisting of an outer layer containing holes for the passage of air and an inner layer matching the said outer layer that consists of material which is permeable to air but

5. not to water.

2. A shoe in accordance with claim 1 , wherein the said transpirating portion of the shoe is situated on the lateral inner part of the shoe, approximately in the centre thereof.

3. A shoe in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein 10. the said transpirating portion has a substantially triangular shape.

4. A shoe in accordance with any of the preceding claims, wherein the upper of the said shoe contains an incision that delineates an opening designed to house the said transpirating portion, and wherein the said transpirating portion is applied to the shoe by stitching, sealing

15. and/orgluing.

5. A shoe in accordance with claim 4, wherein the said perforated outer layer is applied to the shoe while the porous waterproof inner layer is applied directly to the surface of the said perforated outer layer.

6. A shoe in accordance with claim 3, wherein the said holes forthe 20. passage of air are arranged in rows parallel to the edges of the transpirating portion.