Sole Unit For Footwear

Abstract

A water-vapour-permeable and water-permeable sole unit ( 15 ) for footwear ( 11 ), having at least one sole layer ( 25 ) with at least one large aperture ( 27 ) extending through the thickness thereof and at least two sheet-like formations arranged one on top of the other, which seal the at least one aperture and of which a first sheet-like formation has a textile water-vapour-permeable barrier layer ( 39 ) and a second sheet-like formation has a water-vapour-permeable decorative layer ( 45 ), which is arranged under the first sheet-like formation, at least in the region of the at least one aperture, and is visible from the underside of the sole layer ( 25 ) in the at least one aperture. A decorative layer ( 45 ) according to the invention allows the achievement of aesthetic and visual design possibilities for the appearance of the underside or the sole unit ( 15 ) that would either be prevented by the material of the fibrous layer ( 39 ) or could only be accomplished with the fibrous layer ( 39 ) with some difficulty.

1 . Water vapor permeable and water permeable sole unit for footwear having:
 at least one sole layer with at least one large through hole extending through the sole layer thickness;   at least two one- or multi-piece sheet structures arranged one above the other which close the at least one through hole, wherein a first sheet structure has a textile water vapor permeable barrier layer and a second sheet structure has a water vapor permeable decor layer, which is arranged beneath the first sheet structure at least in the area of at least one through hole and is visible from the bottom of the sole layer in the at least one through hole.   
     
     
         2 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor layer comprises a material that is dyed or has at least one dye. 
     
     
         3 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor layer comprises a substrate and a coating covering the surface of the substrate, wherein the coating is made of a material which is dyed or has at least one dye. 
     
     
         4 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor layer is bonded to the barrier layer only in the edge areas in such a way that especially during walking movement a movement of the decor layer relative to barrier layer is made possible. 
     
     
         5 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor layer is constructed with dirt-repellant material. 
     
     
         6 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the material of the decor layer is chosen from the material group of grid-like, net-like, porous or perforated sheet material. 
     
     
         7 . Sole unit according to at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the material of the decor layer is chosen from the material group metal, plastic, textile, leather or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         8 . Sole unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the decor layer is constructed with monofilament fibers. 
     
     
         9 . Sole unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the decor layer is constructed with yarn, which is encased with silicone or with essentially colorless silicone-like material in such a way that net- or grid-like openings in this decor layer remain open and water vapor permeability is therefore retained. 
     
     
         10 . Sole unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the decor layer is constructed with yarn, which is impregnated with silicone or essentially colorless silicon-like material in such a way that capillary areas occurring in the yarn in which soiling substances might otherwise penetrate are closed. 
     
     
         11 . Sole unit according to  claim 7 , wherein the decor layer is made entirely of metal. 
     
     
         12 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor layer is constructed with a metalized plastic grid. 
     
     
         13 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the large area through hole is at least partially spanned by a stabilization connector. 
     
     
         14 . Sole unit according to  claim 13 , wherein the decor layer is bonded to the barrier layer only in peripheral edge areas and/or in edge areas formed with the at least one stabilization connector. 
     
     
         15 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is formed as protection against penetration of foreign objects penetrating through the large area through hole to above the first sheet structure of the components of the sole unit. 
     
     
         16 . Sole unit according to  claim 16 , wherein the barrier layer is embodied as puncture-proof for protection from puncturing foreign objects, like nails. 
     
     
         17 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer is constructed with the material that stabilizes the shoe sole composite. 
     
     
         18 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the barrier layer comprises at least two fibrous components which differ with regard to their melting temperatures;   at least one portion of a first fibrous component has a first melting temperature and a lower first softening temperature range and at least one portion of a second fibrous component has a second melting temperature and a lower second softening temperature range and the first melting temperature and the first softening temperature range are higher than the second melting temperature and the second softening temperature range;   and the barrier layer is thermally mechanically consolidated, as a consequence of thermal activation of the second fibrous component with a tackifying temperature in the second softening temperature range while maintaining water vapor permeability in the thermally consolidated range.   
     
     
         19 . Sole unit according to  claim 18 , wherein the second softening temperature range of the second fibrous component lies below the temperature necessary for the dyeing of the second fibrous component. 
     
     
         20 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer has a water vapor permeability in the range from 3,000 g/m 2 ·24 h to 20,000 g/m 2 ·24 h, especially in the range from 8,000 g/m 2 ·24 h to 15,000 g/m 2 ·24 h, and especially 12,588 g/m 2 ·24 h. 
     
     
         21 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the decor layer has a water vapor permeability in the range from 10,000 g/m 2 ·24 h to 50,000 g/m 2 ·24 h, especially in the range from 20,000 g/m 2 ·24 h to 30,000 g/m 2 ·24 h, and especially 26,000 g/m 2 ·24 h. 
     
     
         22 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , which has a water vapor permeability in the range from 1,000 g/m 2 ·24 h to 20,000 g/m 2 ·24 h, especially in the range from 6,000 g/m 2 ·24 h to 12,000 g/m 2 ·24 h, and especially 9,337 g/m 2 ·24 h. 
     
     
         23 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole layer is made up of an injectable material. 
     
     
         24 . Sole unit according to  claim 23 , wherein the sole layer is injected onto the barrier layer and the decor layer in such a way that the barrier layer and the decor layer are connected via the sole layer material with the sole layer. 
     
     
         25 . Sole unit according to  claim 23 , wherein the barrier layer and the decor layer are connected to each other by means of sole layer material. 
     
     
         26 . Sole unit according to  claim 23 , wherein the barrier layer and the decor layer are penetrated by sole layer material. 
     
     
         27 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole layer is an outsole of the sole unit. 
     
     
         28 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole layer is a midsole of the sole unit. 
     
     
         29 . Sole unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the barrier layer and the decor layer are connected to a unit that is usable as an insert. 
     
     
         30 . Footwear with a sole unit according to at  claim 1  and comprising a shaft provided on a sole sided shaft end region with a waterproof and water vapor permeable shaft bottom functional layer, wherein the sole unit is bonded to the shaft end region such that the shaft bottom functional layer is unbonded to the barrier layer at least in the region of the at least one through hole.