Title of Invention

A WATERPROOFED AND VAPOR-PERMEABLE SOLE FOR SHOES

Abstract A WATERPROOFED AND VAPOR-PERMEABLE SOLE (10) FOR SHOES, WHEREIN IT COMPRISES A TREAD (11) WHICH IS MADE OF LEATHER OR SIMILAR MATERIAL AND IS AT LEAST PARTIALLY COVERED IN AN UPWARD REGION BY A MEMBRANE (12) MADE OF A MATERIAL SUCH AS HEREIN DESCRIBED WHICH IS PERMEABLE TO VAPOR AND IMPERMEABLE TO WATER AND IS SEALED IN PERIPHERAL REGIONS THEREOF WITH RESPECST TO SAID TREAD, SAID TREAD (11) HAVING THROUGH HOLES (14) IN WHICH INSERTS (15) MADE OF PLASTIC MATERIAL SUCH AS RUBBER OR THE LIKE ARE ASSEMBLED HERMETICALLY, SAID INSERTS IN TURN HAVING THROUGH HOLES (16).
Full Text WATERPROOFED VAPOR-PERMEABLE SOLE FOR SHOES
Technical Field
The present invention relates to a waterproofed vapor-permeable sole for
shoes.
Background Art
It is known that the main problem noted when using shoes provided with
an ordinary sole made of natural material such as leather or the like is
constituted by wet environments.
When rain and bad weather cause the streets to be wet and slippery, it is
in fact not advisable to use shoes with a leather sole, since leather, indeed
because of its characteristic of being vapor-permeable and healthy for the
foot, is not impermeable but indeed absorbs water.
The thinner the leather, the faster it becomes impregnated with water or
moisture until it wets the user"s foot
Another drawback is that the leather tread is not patterned but is smooth
or sometimes even polished with waxes.
This is a further problem in wet environments; since grip is unsteady in
such conditions.
Accordingly, the use of soles with a leather tread is constrained by
weather conditions, and therefore shoes having this type of material are
mainly provided in summer collections by shoe manufacturers.
An attempt to obviate this drawback has been made by inserting between
the leather tread and the foot resting region an element made of
polyurethane or PVC, which element however inhibits vapor permeation
and relegates the use of leather to a purely aesthetic matter.
A sole, disclosed in EP-0 619 959 by the same Applicant, has also been
devised which comprises a tread made of leather or similar material which is
at least partially covered, in an upward region, by a membrane made of a
material which is permeable to vapor and impermeable to water.
The thread is then assembled at least peripherally with at least one upper

part made of rubber or similar material which has a plurality of through
holes at least in the regions affected by the membrane.
Although it is a considerable technical step forward, since the leather
tread is waterproofed, such sole has drawbacks, the main one being the very
nature of leather, which is a vapor-permeable material, as mentioned, but
whose perspiration degree is not high enough to rapidly dissipate all the
heat and vapor that form during use inside the shoe.
Disclosure of the Invention
The aim of the present invention is to further improve the vapor-
permeability of a sole made of leather or the like waterproofed according to
the method disclosed in EP-0 619 959.
A consequent primary object of the present invention is to provide a sole
which also has good ground grip characteristics in all operating conditions.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sole which also has shock-
proof characteristics.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sole which has the same
features as currently commercially available soles having a leather tread.
Another object of the invention is to increase user comfort
Another object of the invention is to provide a sole which can be
manufactured at low cost and therefore can be sold at a competitive price.
Another object of the invention is to provide a sole which can be
manufactured with known equipment and methods.
This aim and these and other objects which will become better apparent
hereinafter are achieved by a waterproofed and vapor-permeable sole for
shoes, characterized in that it comprises a tread which is made of leather or
similar material and is at least partially covered in an upward region by a
membrane made of a material which is permeable to vapor and impermeable
to water and is sealed in its peripheral regions with respect to said tread,
said tread having through holes in which inserts made of plastic material
such as rubber or the like are assembled hermetically, said inserts in turn

having through holes.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become
better apparent from the following detailed description of an embodiment
thereof, illustrated only by way of non-limitative example in the
accompanying drawings, wherein:
Figure 1 is a plan bottom view of a sole according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view of the sole of Figure 1, taken
along the line II-II
Wavs of carrying out the Invention
With reference to the figures, a waterproofed and vapor-permeable sole
according to the invention is generally designated by the reference numeral
10 and comprises a tread 11 which is made of leather or similar material and
is covered in an upward region, substantially in a plantar region, by a
membrane 12 which is impermeable to water and permeable to vapor and is
preferably made of a material such as the one commonly known as Gore-
Tex.
In this case, the membrane 12 is peripherally spaced from the edge of the
tread 11, and a peripheral upper trim 13 made of rubber, polyurethane, PVC
or other equivalent material is assembled on the tread 11, for example by
injection in a mold, covering and sealing the peripheral regions of the
membrane 12 and leaving a large central opening in which the membrane is
visible.
As an alternative, the membrane 12 can have the same dimensions as the
tread 11 and its edge can be sealed along the entire perimeter therewith by
means of appropriate adhesive of the hot-melt type, based on water or
solvents or the like.
This is done to allow the upward fixing of the welt and of the upper.
The membrane 12 constitutes a water barrier yet preserving the vapor-
permeability characteristics of the leather.

According to the invention, the tread 11 has through holes 14 in which
inserts 15 made of rubber or similar material are assembled, for example by
injection in a mold; the inserts also form antislip and wear-preventing
protrusions 15a underneath the tread 11.
The inserts 15 are shaped so as to provide undercuts which are adapted to
avoid their disassembly from the tread 11.
In the present case, the configuration from the top downward provides
for widths which decrease and then increase.
The inserts 15 are further provided with through holes 16 which connect
the region below the membrane 12 to the region below the tread 11.
This is done in order to improve the vapor-permeation action of the
material that constitutes the tread 11.
It can be convenient to arrange at least one vapor-permeable protective
layer 17, such as felt or the like, at upper outlets of the holes 16, so as to
protect the membrane 12 against blunt bodies such as pebbles or the like,
which can penetrate and spoil it
It should also be noted that it may be advisable to arrange over the
membrane 12 a vapor-permeable or perforated protective layer 20, such as
felt, light jersey, non-woven fabric or the like.
This layer is a rather flimsy film which requires adequate protection in
order to be treated or otherwise assembled with the other components of the
sole 10.
In practice it has been observed that the intended aim and objects of the
invention have been achieved.
The sole in fact has improved qualitative characteristics in terms of vapor
permeation with respect to waterproofed leather soles, thanks to the
presence of the holes 16, and also features antislip characteristics due to the
presence of the inserts 15 with protrusions 15a in which the holes 16 are
provided.
It should also be noted that it can be manufactured without particular

difficulties with ordinary manufacturing methods.
The invention thus conceived is susceptible of numerous modifications
and variations, all of which are within the scope of the inventive concept.
All the details may furthermore be replaced with other technically
equivalent elements.
In practice, the materials employed, so long as they are compatible with
the contingent use, as well as the dimensions, may be any according to
requirements.
The disclosures in Italian Patent Application No. PD2000A000027 from
which this application claims priority are incorporated herein by reference.

WE CLAIM:
1. A waterproofed and vapor-permeable sote (10) for shoes, wherein It
comprises a tread (11) which is made of leather or similar material and is
at least partially covered in an upward region by a membrane (12) made
of a malerial such as herein described which is permeable to vapor and
impermeable to water and is sealed in peripheral regions thereof with
respect to said tread, said tread (11) having through holes (14) in which
inserts (15) made of plastic material such as rubber or the like are
assembled hermetically, said inserts in turn having through holes (16).
2. The sole as claimed In claim 1, wherein said inserts
(15) form antislip and wear-preventing protrusions (15a) underneath said
tread (11).
3. The sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said membrane (12) is
peripherally spaced from the the edge of said tread (11) and a peripheral
upper trim (13), made of rubber or equivalent material, is assembled to
said tread, covering and sealing peripheral regions of said membrane (12)
and leaving a wide central opening through which said membrane is
visible.
4. The sole as claimed In claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said membrane
(12) are equal to those of the tread (11) and in that the edge of the
membrane is sealed to the thread along all the perimeter of the membrane
by means of adhesive.

5. The sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one protective layer (17)
is arranged at least at upper outlets of said holes (16) of said inserts (19)
assembled in said tread (11) so as to protect said membrane (12).
6. The sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inserts (15) form, in said
tread (11), undercuts which prevent disassembly of the inserts from said
tread.
7. The sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein a vapor-permeable and/or
perforated protective layer such as herein described (20) Is arranged
above said membrane.
8. The sole as claimed in claim 1, wherein said inserts (15) are assembled to
said tread (11) by injection-molding.
Dated this 20th day of SEPTEMBER. 2001.
A waterproofed and vapor-permeable sole (10) for shoes, wherein it comprises a
tread (11) which is made of leather or similar material and is at least partially
covered in an upward region by a membrane (12) made of a material such as
herein described which is permeable to vapor and impermeable to water and is
sealed in peripheral regions thereof with respect to said tread, said tread (11)
having through holes (14) in which inserts (15) made of plastic material such as
rubber or the like are assembled hermetically, said inserts in turn having through
holes (16).

Documents:

IN-PCT-2001-979-KOL-FORM 27.pdf

IN-PCT-2001-979-KOL-FORM-27.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-abstract.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-assignment.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-claims.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-correspondence.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-description (complete).pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-drawings.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-examination report.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-form 1.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-form 18.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-form 26.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-form 3.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-form 5.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-form 6.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-letter patent.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-pa.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-reply to examination report.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-specification.pdf

in-pct-2001-979-kol-granted-translated copy of priority document.pdf


Patent Number 213787
Indian Patent Application Number IN/PCT/2001/979/KOL
PG Journal Number 03/2008
Publication Date 18-Jan-2008
Grant Date 16-Jan-2008
Date of Filing 20-Sep-2001
Name of Patentee GEOX S.P.A.
Applicant Address FELTRINA CENTRO 16, 31044 MONTEBELLUNA(TREVISO) FRAZIONE BIADENE
Inventors:
# Inventor's Name Inventor's Address
1 POLEGATO MORETTI, MARIO VIA ANTONINI, 7, I-31035 CROCETTA DEL MONTELLO
PCT International Classification Number A43B 7/12
PCT International Application Number PCT/EP01/00402
PCT International Filing date 2001-01-15
PCT Conventions:
# PCT Application Number Date of Convention Priority Country
1 PD2000 A000027 2000-01-31 Italy