IP Library Granted Patent US 8,732,985
Granted Patent B2
US 8,732,985 · App. 11/917,178 · Granted May 27, 2014

Shoe with breathable sole

Inventors: Marco Zanatta (Nervesa della Battaglia, IT); Giovanni Martini (Nervesa della Battaglia, IT); Lino Bernardel (Nervesa della Battaglia, IT)
Assignee: W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,732,985
App. No.
11/917,178
Granted
May 27, 2014
Kind
B2
Abstract

Sole ( 100; 200; 300; 400 ) comprising a support layer ( 101; 201; 301; 401 ) having at least one region ( 103; 203; 303; 403 ) which allows the passage of air through said layer ( 101; 201; 301; 401 ), characterized in that it comprises one or more reinforcing elements ( 111; 211, 311; 411 ) joined to one side of said layer ( 101; 201; 301; 401 ) in said at least one region ( 103; 203; 303, 403 ) and perforated with through-openings ( 113; 213; 313; 413 ) for evacuating the air which passes through said region; and a membrane ( 117; 290, 390; 417 ) made of material which is waterproof and vapor-permeable, situated above said at least one region ( 103; 203; 303, 403 ) on the side of said layer ( 101; 201; 301, 401 ) opposite to said elements ( 111; 211, 311; 411 ) and sealed with said layer ( 101; 201; 301; 401 ) at least along one contour ( 115; 215; 305 ) around said at least one region ( 103; 203; 303; 403 ).

Claims (33)

1. A sole for an impermeable and breathable shoe, the sole comprising:

a support layer having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side, the support layer comprising an air-permeable region and comprising an insole,

the air-permeable region allowing passage of air through the support layer, the air-permeable region being associated with a meshwork fabric,

the insole comprising a water-repellent material;

a reinforcing element joined to the first side of the support layer in the air-permeable region, the reinforcing element comprising at least one through opening for evacuating air that passes through the air-permeable region;

a first membrane disposed above the air-permeable region on the second side of the support layer, the first membrane comprising a waterproof and vapor-permeable material;

an air chamber disposed above the air-permeable region defined by a waterproof seal between the first membrane and the support layer, the seal being disposed along a contour around the air-permeable region, the air chamber being reactive to a wearer of the shoe to force air flow from the air chamber through the air-permeable region and the at least one through opening.

2. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the first membrane is unconstrained on the air-permeable region.

3. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the seal comprises a spacing element for joining the support layer to the first membrane.

4. The sole of claim 3 , wherein the spacing element comprises a rim, the rim being applied onto the support layer along the contour, the first membrane being sealed to the rim on an edge of the rim.

5. The sole of claim 3 , further comprising a soft breathable element housed inside the air chamber.

6. The sole of claim 3 , wherein the spacing element is a layer of glue.

7. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the insole comprises the at least one through opening and further comprises a permeable and breathable fabric disposed onto an edge of the at least one through opening.

8. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises an insole on top of a meshwork fabric leaving at least one region of meshwork fabric exposed, the insole comprising a thermoplastic material.

9. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises a tread sole, the tread sole comprising a recess zone, the reinforcing element being disposed in the recess zone.

10. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the support layer comprises a tread sole, the tread sole comprising an aperture, the at least one through opening being disposed in the aperture.

11. The sole of claim 1 , wherein the contour is disposed spaced from the air-permeable region.

12. The sole of claim 1 , further comprising a first layer of material for protecting the air-permeable region and permitting the flow of air through the air-permeable region.

13. The sole of claim 12 , wherein the first layer covers the air-permeable region.

14. The sole of claim 13 , wherein the first layer comprises a meshwork fabric.

15. The sole of claim 12 , wherein the first layer comprises a second membrane made of material which is waterproof and vapor-permeable.

16. An impermeable and breathable shoe, the shoe comprising:

a sole comprising

a support layer having a first side and a second side, the second side being opposite the first side, the support layer comprising an air-permeable region and comprising an insole,

the air-permeable region allowing passage of air through the support layer, the air-permeable region being associated with a meshwork fabric,

the insole comprising a water-repellant material;

a reinforcing element joined to the first side of the support layer in the air-permeable region, the reinforcing element comprising at least one through opening for evacuating air that passes through the air-permeable region;

a membrane disposed above the air-permeable region on the second side of the support layer, the membrane comprising a waterproof and vapor-permeable material;

an air chamber disposed above the air-permeable region defined by a waterproof seal between the membrane and the support layer, the seal being disposed along a contour around the air-permeable region, the air chamber being reactive to a wearer of the shoe to force air flow from the air chamber through the air-permeable region and the at least one through opening.

17. The shoe of claim 16 , wherein the membrane forms a tubular stocking for receiving the foot and is sealed by a portion of the insole to the support layer at least along a contour around the air permeable region.

18. The shoe of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the insole is sealed to the support layer at least along the edge of the rim.

19. The shoe of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the insole is sealed to the support layer with glue along at least a contour of the air-permeable region.

20. The shoe of claim 19 , further comprising a groove on a surface of support layer, the groove confining the glue to the outside of the contour of the air-permeable region.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2010
From: ASOLO S.P.A.
To: W.L. GORE & ASSOCIATES GMBH
Reel/Frame 024171/0008 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 2, 2008
From: ZANATTA, MARCO; MARTINI, GIOVANNI; BERNARDEL, LINO
To: ASOLO S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 020307/0490 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 17, 2007
From: ZANATTA, MARCO; MARTINI, GIOVANNI; BERNARDEL, LINO
To: ASOLO S.P.A.
Reel/Frame 020257/0412 →
Priority Claims (1)
IT TV2005A0084 · Jun 15, 2005 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20080196278A1 · Aug 21, 2008