Waterproof footwear and method for its production

Abstract

Footwear, having an upper ( 13 ), which is constructed with an outer material ( 17 ) having an outer-material end region ( 27 ) on the sole side and with a waterproof functional layer ( 19 ) which is arranged on the inner side of the outer material ( 17 ) and has a functional-layer end region ( 23 ) on the sole side; an inner sole ( 15 ) and a joining device ( 25 ) which joins the outer-material end region ( 27 ) to the inner sole ( 15 ), around at least part of the periphery of the upper and allows for a space ( 33; 33 a ; 33 b ) to be left between the outer-material end region ( 27 ) and the inner sole ( 15 ), in such a manner, that the joining device ( 25 ) can be flowed through by sealing material ( 37; 39 ) that is liquid during application; the functional-layer end region ( 23 ) extending at least into the region of the joining device ( 25 ) and being sealed in a waterproof manner by sealing material ( 37; 39 ) which has passed through the joining device ( 25 ) to the functional layer ( 19 ) during production of the footwear.

1 . Footwear, comprising: 
 an upper, which is constructed with an outer material having an outer-material end region on the sole side and with a waterproof functional layer which is arranged on the inner side of the outer material and has a functional-layer end region on the sole side;    an inner sole;    and a joining device which joins the outer-material end region to the inner sole, around at least part of the periphery of the upper and allows for a space to be left between the outer-material end region and the inner sole, in such a manner, that the joining device can be flowed through by sealing material that is liquid during application;    the functional-layer end region extending at least into the region of the joining device and being sealed in a waterproof manner by sealing material which has passed through the joining device to the functional layer during production of the footwear.    
   
   
       2 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the joining device runs around the entire periphery of the upper.  
   
   
       3 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the joining device runs around only part of the periphery of the upper.  
   
   
       4 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , with a joining device which is like or similar to a seam.  
   
   
       5 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the joining device is formed by an expandable seam.  
   
   
       6 . Footwear according to  claim 5 , in which the joining device is formed by a loosely sewn seam.  
   
   
       7 . Footwear according to  claim 5 , in which the joining device is formed by a seam sewn with extensible yarn.  
   
   
       8 . Footwear according to  claim 5 , in which the seam is formed by a Strobel seam, a quilted seam or a cross seam.  
   
   
       9 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , with a moulded-on sealing layer of sealing material which is liquid when it is moulded on and has penetrated through the joining device.  
   
   
       10 . Footwear according to  claim 9 , with a moulded-on outsole, the sealing material being formed by outsole material which is liquid when it is moulded on.  
   
   
       11 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the sealing material is formed by plastic.  
   
   
       12 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the sealing material is formed by adhesive.  
   
   
       13 . Footwear according to  claim 12 , in which the sealing material is formed by reactive hot-melt adhesive which is applied to the joining device and leads to waterproofness in the fully reacted state.  
   
   
       14 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , with a waterproof and water-vapour-permeable functional layers.  
   
   
       15 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the functional-layer end region on the sole side is adhesively bonded to the inner sole.  
   
   
       16 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which a substantially non-expandable fixed seam, by means of which the functional-layer end region on the sole side is joined to the inner sole ( 15 ), but not to the outer-material end region on the sole side, is provided in addition to the joining device.  
   
   
       17 . Footwear according to  claim 16 , in which the fixed seam is formed by a Strobel seam.  
   
   
       18 . Footwear according to  claim 1 , in which the outer material ends at a predetermined distance above the inner sole, the distance between the outer material and the inner sole is bridged by a strip of material impermeable to sealing material or liquid sole material, the strip of material is joined to the outer material by means of a top seam and to the functional layer and/or to the inner sole by means of a bottom seam and at least the top one of the two seams forms a joining device, which can be flowed through, and which is in the form of a seam which can expand as a result of loose sewing or sewing with an extensible yarn.  
   
   
       19 . Method for producing footwear with an upper which is constructed with an outer material having an outer-material end region on the sole side and with a waterproof functional layer which is arranged on the inner side of the outer material and has a functional-layer end region on the sole side, and with an inner sole, comprising the steps of: 
 a) the outer-material end region is joined to the inner sole by means of a joining device running around at least part of the periphery of the upper, in such a way that a space through which liquid can flow can be established between the outer-material end region and the inner sole,    b) the functional-layer end region is designed in such a way that it extends at least into the region of the joining device;    c) while the outer-material end region and the inner sole are kept at a distance from each other by means of the joining device, a sealing material which is in the liquid state and leads to waterproofness is applied to the outer side of the joining device in such a way that it flows through the liquid-permeable joining device against the functional-layer end region.    
   
   
       20 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which the joining device is produced in such a way that it runs around the entire periphery of the upper.  
   
   
       21 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which the joining device is produced in such a way that it runs around only part of the periphery of the upper.  
   
   
       22 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which the joining device is formed as a joining device which is like or similar to a seam.  
   
   
       23 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which the joining device is formed by an expandable seam.  
   
   
       24 . Method according to  claim 23 , in which the joining device is formed by a loosely sewn seam.  
   
   
       25 . Method according to  claim 23 , in which the joining device is formed by a seam sewn with extensible yarn.  
   
   
       26 . Method according to  claim 23 , in which the seam is formed by a Strobel seam, a quilted seam, a cross seam or a zig-zag seam.  
   
   
       27 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which a sealing layer to be moulded on, consisting of a sealing material which is liquid when it is moulded on and can penetrate through the joining device is formed as the sealing material.  
   
   
       28 . Method according to  claim 19 , for producing footwear with a moulded-on sole, in which the sealing material is formed by sole material which is liquid when it is moulded on and penetrates through the joining device.  
   
   
       29 . Method according to  claim 28 , for producing footwear with a moulded-on outsole, in which the sealing material is formed by outsole material which is liquid when it is moulded on.  
   
   
       30 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which a plastic is used as the sealing material.  
   
   
       31 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which an adhesive is used as the sealing material.  
   
   
       32 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which the functional-layer end region on the sole side is adhesively bonded to the inner sole.  
   
   
       33 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which a substantially nonexpandable fixed seam, by means of which the functional-layer end region on the sole side is joined to the inner sole, but not to the outer-material end region on the sole side, is created in addition to the joining device.  
   
   
       34 . Method according to  claim 19 , in which the outer material is made to end at a predetermined distance above the inner sole, the distance between the outer material and the inner sole is bridged by a strip of material impermeable to sealing material or liquid sole material, the strip of material is joined to the outer material by means of a top seam and to the functional layer and/or to the inner sole by means of a bottom seam and at least the top one of the two seams is formed by a joining device, which can be flowed through and which is in the form of a seam which can expand as a result of loose sewing or sewing with an extensible yarn.