Stretchable Insole

• US 20130232825A1
• Filed: 03/06/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 03/07/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: W.L. Gore & Associati, S.r.l.
• Original Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates (W.L. Gore & Associates), W L GORE & Associates GmbH (W.L. Gore & Associates)
• Inventors: Wiener, Robert J., Giupponi, Andrea, Heidenfelder, Jens
• Application Number:
  US13/787,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20130232825A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/3.B
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/386 multilayered
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/40 with cushions
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/07 Linings therefor lining laminated with upper A43B23/026
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/12 Special watertight footwear overshoes A43B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/125 provided with a vapour permeable member, e.g. a membrane A43B23/022 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts

Abstract

Waterproof footwear having a liner material, stretchable insole, and strobel board are described herein. The stretchable insole exhibits a reduction of cushioning stiffness in the forefoot area of at least about 6% in comparison to a standard footwear construction when the waterproof footwear is subjected to the Mechanical Cushioning Test.

Claims

1. Waterproof footwear comprising a forefoot area and a rearfoot area, the waterproof footwear further comprising:

a liner material comprising at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer, the liner material further being secured to an upper material;

a stretchable insole attached to the liner material; and

a strobel board,

wherein said stretchable insole comprises a plurality of layers comprising at least one textile layer and at least one polymeric layer, further wherein said forefoot area of said waterproof footwear exhibits a reduction of stiffness in comparison to the forefoot area of a standard footwear construction when subjected to the Mechanical Cushioning Test.

2. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole comprises at least two polymeric layers.

3. The waterproof footwear of claim 2, wherein at least one of the at least two polymeric layers comprises an adhesive adapted to adhere the strobel board to the stretchable insole.

4. The waterproof footwear of claim 2, wherein the at least one textile comprises a nonwoven material.

5. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer comprises a polymeric membrane material.

6. The waterproof footwear of claim 5, wherein the polymeric membrane material is selected from the group consisting of polyurethane, polyester, polyether, polyamide, polyacrylate, copolyether ester, and copolyether amide.

7. The waterproof footwear of claim 5, wherein the polymeric membrane material comprises microporous, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene.

8. The waterproof footwear of claim 2, wherein the at least two polymeric layers comprise polyurethane.

9. The waterproof footwear of claim 3, wherein the polymeric layer is a polyurethane.

10. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the liner material comprises at least one waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and at least one textile layer.

11. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein an outer sole is secured to the waterproof footwear.

12. The waterproof footwear of claim 1 wherein the strobel board comprises plastics, rubbers, elastomers, polyvinylchlorides, thermoplastics, polyethylene, polypropylene, ethylene vinyl acetate, or thermoplastic polyurethane.

13. The waterproof footwear of claim 1 wherein the forefoot area of the waterproof footwear exhibits a reduction of cushioning stiffness of at least about 6% in comparison to a standard footwear construction.

14. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the waterproof footwear exhibits decreased bending stiffness in comparison to waterproof footwear having a non-stretchable insole, when subjected to Flexibility Testing.

15. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least twice the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

16. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least three times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

17. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least five times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

18. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 100% the down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

19. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 150% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

20. The waterproof footwear of claim 1, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 200% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

21. Waterproof footwear comprising:

a liner material comprising at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer, the liner material further being secured to an upper material;

a stretchable insole attached to the liner material; and

a strobel board.

22. The waterproof footwear of claim 21 wherein the forefoot area of the waterproof footwear exhibits a reduction of cushioning stiffness of at least about 6% in comparison to a standard footwear construction.

23. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the waterproof footwear exhibits decreased bending stiffness in comparison to waterproof footwear having a non-stretchable insole, when subjected to Flexibility Testing.

24. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least twice the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

25. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least three times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

26. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least five times the length of down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

27. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 100% the down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

28. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 150% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

29. The waterproof footwear of claim 21, wherein the stretchable insole exhibits cross-web elongation at break at least 200% down-web elongation at break when subjected to Tensile Test Method.

30. A method for making waterproof footwear comprising:

providing upper material;

providing a liner material comprising at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer and an open bottom portion;

securing a stretchable insole to the open bottom portion of the laminate liner material to form a bootie;

locating a strobel board beneath the stretchable insole and attaching the strobel board to the upper material;

locating a shoe last within the bootie;

and

attaching an outsole to a bottom surface of the strobel board to form waterproof footwear.