Viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting materials and their use, including their use in boots
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pressure-compensating fitting pad of desired shape and size, which comprises:
- a shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confines, a predetermined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad;
said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure;
said fitting material being characterized by a predominant, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy microbeads;
said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of microbeads alone;
said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Viscous, flowable, pressure-compensating fitting materials or compositions retained within closures suitable for a variety of uses and applications, including fitting pads for footwear. More particularly, pressure-compensating fitting pads suitable for sports footwear or boots, such as ski boots, which provide proper and ready fitting, firm support, and comfort to desired portions of the foot of the wearer, including, for example, selected portions of side areas of the foot (including the ankle extremities). Footwear which includes such fitting pads as means for effectively providing proper and ready fitting, firm support, and comfort.
92 Citations
86 Claims
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1. A pressure-compensating fitting pad of desired shape and size, which comprises:
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a shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confines, a predetermined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad; said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure; said fitting material being characterized by a predominant, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy microbeads; said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of microbeads alone; said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A pressure-compensating fitting pad of desired shape and size, which comprises:
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a shaped, flexible, resinous, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confines, a predetermined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad; said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure; said fitting material being characterized by a major amount of a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 21.2 to 76.5 parts by weight of wax and about 78.8 to 23.5 parts by weight of oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a minor amount of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, resilient, hollow, monocellular, resinous microbeads; said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of microbeads alone; said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 inch to 0.6 inch, and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, recovering from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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35. In a boot that covers the ankle of the wearer, the improvement comprising:
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providing in combination with said boot along selected portions thereof, including, but not limited to, selected front and side portions of the foot, a pressure-compensating fitting pad which assumes the shape of the foot covered thereby, which provides proper and ready fitting, firm support and comfort to said selected portions of the foot, and which comprises a shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confine, a predetermined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad, which, in turn, provides firm pressure-compensating support and comfort, said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted by the foot on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure, said fitting material being characterized by a predominant, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy microbeads, said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of microbeads alone, said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, to provide pressure on those portions of the foot that can best withstand it and to allow portions of the foot at least momentarily to move away from pressure. - View Dependent Claims (36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. In a boot that covers the ankle of the wearer, the improvement comprising:
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providing in combination with said boot along selected portions thereof, including, but not limited to, selected front and side portions of the foot, a pressure-compensating fitting pad which assumes the shape of the foot covered thereby, which provides proper and ready fitting, firm support and comfort to said selected portions of the foot, and which comprises a shaped, flexible, resinous, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confines, a predetermined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad, which, in turn, provides firm pressure-compensating support and comfort, said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted by the foot on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure, said fitting material being characterized by a major amount of a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 21.2 to 76.5 parts by weight of wax and about 78.8 to 23.5 parts by weight of oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a minor amount of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, resilient, hollow, monocellular, resinous microbeads, said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of microbeads alone, said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and a nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 inch to 0.6 inch, and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, recovering from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, to provide pressure on those portions of the foot that can best withstand it and to allow portions of the foot at least momentarily to move away from pressure. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 63)
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64. A ski boot, which comprises:
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a substantially rigid outer shell; a flexible liner member disposed within said shell and having wall means with an inner surface and an outer surface, and constructed to conform substantially to the contour of a wearer'"'"'s foot; said flexible liner member having at least one cavity associated with said outer surface thereof, whereby a space is provided between said outer surface of the liner member and said outer shell; said space being shaped to receive a pressure-compensating fitting pad which provides proper and ready fitting, firm support and comfort to selected portions of the foot; said fitting pad comprising a shaped, flexible, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confines, a predetermined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad, which, in turn, provides firm pressure-compensating support and comfort; said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted by the foot on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure; said fitting material being characterized by a predominant, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, resilient, hollow, expanded, resinous microbeads; said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of expanded microbeads alone; said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and a nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 inch to 0.6 inch, and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, recovering from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, to provide pressure on those portions of the foot that can best withstand it and to allow portions of the foot at least momentarily to move away from pressure; said ski boot being constructed so that upon placement of the foot to be fitted into said flexible liner member, the fitting material flows and is deformed, so as to place said flexible liner member into snug, but comfortable, fitting relationship with the foot and to maintain such relationship during the wearing of the ski boot. - View Dependent Claims (65, 66, 67, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74)
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75. A ski boot, which comprises:
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a substantially rigid outer shell; a flexible liner member disposed within said shell and having wall means with an inner surface and an outer surface, and constructed to conform substantially to the contour of a wearer'"'"'s foot; said flexible liner member having at least one cavity associated with said outer surface thereof, whereby a space is provided between said outer surface of the liner member and said outer shell; said space being shaped to receive a pressure-compensating fitting pad which provides proper and ready fitting, firm support and comfort to selected portions of the foot; said fitting pad comprising a shaped, flexible, resinous, protective enclosure having retained therein and distributed substantially throughout its confines, a pre-determined amount of a viscous, flowable, substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, pressure-compensating fitting material having a specific gravity in the vicinity of about 0.8, or less, which, together, provide a pressure-compensating fitting pad, which, in turn, provides firm pressure-compensating support and comfort; said enclosure being constructed to allow the confined fitting material to flow therein in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure exerted by the foot on the fitting pad and the relief of such exerted, flow-producing pressure; said fitting material being characterized by a major amount of a substantially homogeneous, substantially stable, viscous, flowable, continuous phase essentially consisting of wax and oil in a weight ratio of about 21.2 to 76.5 parts by weight of wax and about 78.8 to 23.5 parts by weight of oil, and having substantially uniformly distributed therethrough, a minor amount of a discontinuous phase of discrete, lightweight, sturdy, resilient, hollow, in situ heat-expanded, monocellular, resinous microbeads; said wax and oil phase being present in an amount sufficient (a) to more than merely thinly coat substantially the entire outer surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads or to more than merely form a film over the surface of essentially each of said expanded microbeads, and (b) to provide a volume that is substantially more than the volume of the interstitial spaces of the quantity of expanded microbeads alone; said fitting material being further characterized by having a substantially homogeneous consistency and a nominal thickness within the range of about 0.01 inch to 0.6 inch, and not substantially changing in volume responsive to ambient temperatures or ambient temperature changes, being resistant to sag, flowing in response and conformance to continuously applied pressure, and, when confined during conditions of use, being resistant to flow in response to instantaneously applied pressure, and, at least in part, recovering from deformation upon or following the relief of deforming pressure loads, to provide pressure on those portions of the foot that can best withstand it and to allow portions of the foot at least momentarily to move away from pressure; said ski boot being constructed so that upon placement of the foot to be fitted into said flexible liner member, the fitting material flows and is deformed, so as to place said flexible liner member into snug, but comfortable, fitting relationship with the foot and to maintain such relationship during the wearing of the ski boot. - View Dependent Claims (76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86)
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Specification