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US 6,655,048 B2Granted
Breathable and waterproof sole for shoes
AssigneeGEOX S.p.A.
InventorMario Polegato Moretti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A breathable and waterproof sole for shoes, which comprises, at least along part of its extension, a lower waterproof component, which constitutes the tread; an upper component, with a supporting structure which has chambers which are connected to openings at least on the upper and edge surfaces; a membrane which is impermeable to water and vapor-permeable and externally surrounds at least the outward-facing regions of the upper component. The lower and upper components and the membrane are joined so as to form a seal at least in the regions where water infiltration is possible.
Claims25
A breathable and waterproof sole for shoes, comprising:
- a lower waterproof component, which constitutes a tread;
- an upper component, including a supporting structure having mutually interconnected chambers with openings at least on upper and edge surfaces thereof a membrane which is impermeable to water and vapor-permeable and externally surrounds said upper component at at least outward-facing regions thereof;
- said lower and upper components and said membrane being provided on at least part of an extension of the sole;
- and
- a seal provided at least in regions of the sole where water infiltration is possible, said seal being formed by a joining of said lower and upper components and said membrane;
- wherein a plurality of said chambers face a lateral edge and an upper supporting surface of the sole.
3 more elements
A breathable and waterproof sole for shoes, comprising:
- a lower waterproof component, comprising a tread;
- an upper component, comprising a supporting structure having interconnected chambers with openings at least on upper and edge surfaces thereof;
- a membrane which is impermeable to water and is vapor-permeable and externally surrounds said upper component at at least outward-facing regions thereof;
- said lower and upper components and said membrane being provided on at least part of an extension of the sole;
- and
- a seal provided at least in regions of the sole where water infiltration is possible, said seal being formed by a joining of said lower and upper components and said membrane;
- wherein said upper component has a lattice-like structure made of one or more plastics, and comprises partitions which delimit said chambers, said chambers being interconnected by way of further openings provided in said partitions;
- wherein said membrane wraps around the edge surface of said upper component, at least in the regions that face outward and is joined thereto by parametric adhesive bonding, to leave said chambers unobstructed;
- and wherein said membrane wraps said edge surface by being folded upward and, respectively, downward, and is glued in an upward and in a downward wrapped regions to parametric parts of said upper component.
6 more elements
A breathable and waterproof sole for shoes, comprising:
- a lower waterproof component, which comprises a tread;
- an upper component, comprising a supporting structure having interconnected chambers with openings at least on upper and edge surfaces thereof;
- a membrane which is impermeable to water and is vapor-permeable and externally surrounds said upper component at at least outward-facing regions thereof said lower and upper components and said membrane being provided on at least part of an extension of the sole;
- and
- a seal provided at least in regions of the sole where water infiltration is possible, said seal being formed by a joining of said lower and upper components and said membrane;
- wherein said upper component has a lattice-like structure made of one or more plastics, and comprises partitions which delimit said chambers, said chambers being interconnected by way of further openings provided in said partitions;
- wherein said membrane has ends thereof which are mutually joined at one of said partitions and are further hermetically sealed thereto, by any of glueing and tape application and heat or adhesives sealing so as to form a waterproof sealing joint.
4 more elements
A breathable and waterproof sole for shoes, comprising:
- a lower waterproof component, which comprises a tread;
- an upper component, comprising a supporting structure having interconnected chambers with openings at least on upper and edge surfaces thereof;
- a membrane which is impermeable to water and vapor-permeable and externally surrounds said upper component at at least outward-facing regions thereof said lower and upper components and said membrane being provided on at least part of an extension of the sole;
- a seal provided at least in regions of the sole where water infiltration is possible, said seal being formed by a joining of said lower and upper components and said membrane;
- any of a breathable and a perforated protective element which covers at least outward facing regions of said membrane, said protective element being joined so as to form a seal to said upper and lower components and to said membrane by being interposed between two of said parts, at least in the regions where water infiltration is possible;
- wherein said protective element comprises any of a fine-mesh net and a layer of breathable material, which protects said membrane against rupture;
- and
- wherein said protective element is applied by gluing the regions of the membrane that are folded around the edge surface of said upper component, so that said edge surface is free of adhesive which may compromise sole breathability.
5 more elements
A breathable and waterproof sole for shoes, comprising:
- a lower waterproof component, which comprises a tread;
- an upper component, comprising a supporting structure having interconnected chambers with openings at least on upper and edge surfaces thereof;
- a membrane which is impermeable to water and vapor-permeable and externally surrounds said upper component at at least outward-facing regions thereof;
- said lower and upper components and said membrane being provided on at least part of an extension of the sole;
- and
- a seal provided at least in regions of the sole where water infiltration is possible, said seal being formed by a joining of said lower and upper components and said membrane;
- any of a breathable and a perforated protective element which covers at least outward facing regions of said membrane, said protective element being joined so as to form a seal to said upper and lower components and to said membrane by being interposed between two of said parts, at least in the regions where water infiltration is possible;
- wherein said membrane, optionally with said protective element, is arranged as a mold insert onto which said upper component is overmolded, to constitute a single sealed element.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.