Upper Assembly For Footwear and Footwear Including the Same

Abstract

The invention relates to an upper assembly ( 10 ) for footwear ( 100 ), comprising an upper ( 14 ) having a sole-sided upper end region, and an upper bottom ( 16 ). The sole-sided upper end region is joined to the upper bottom ( 16 ). The upper ( 14 ) includes an outer material layer ( 18 ) having a sole-sided outer material end region ( 18 a ), and an upper liner ( 20 ). The upper bottom ( 16 ) comprises a first water vapor permeable assembly sole ( 30 ) and an upper bottom laminate ( 32 ) including a first water vapor permeable and waterproof functional layer ( 34 ). The outer material layer ( 18 ) in the sole-sided outer material end region ( 18 a ) is joined to the first water vapor permeable assembly sole ( 30 ). The first assembly sole ( 30 ) and/or the sole-sided outer material end region ( 18 a ) of the upper ( 14 ) comprises at least one moisture transporting structure ( 54 ) adapted to transport moisture away from a first region (A) between the outer material layer ( 18 ) and the upper liner ( 20 ) of the upper ( 14 ) and/or between an outer peripheral part of the first outer assembly sole ( 30 ) and the upper liner ( 20 ) of the upper ( 14 ), to a second region (B) underneath the upper bottom functional layer ( 34 ).

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Upper assembly for footwear, comprising
 an upper having a sole-sided upper end region, and an upper bottom,   said sole-sided upper end region being joined to said upper bottom;   said upper including an outer material layer having a sole-sided outer material end region, and an upper liner;   said upper bottom comprising a first water vapor permeable assembly sole and an upper bottom laminate including a first water vapor permeable and waterproof functional layer;   wherein said outer material layer in said sole-sided outer material end region is joined to said first water vapor permeable assembly sole; and   wherein said first assembly sole and/or said sole-sided outer material end region of said upper comprises at least one moisture transporting structure adapted to transport moisture away from a first region (A) between said outer material layer and said upper liner of said upper and/or between an outer peripheral part of said first outer assembly sole and said upper liner of said upper, to a second region (B) underneath said upper bottom functional layer.   
     
     
         2 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said second region (B) underneath said upper bottom functional layer is positioned such as to be, in a state in which a sole unit is attached to the lower surface of said upper assembly, in moisture permeable communication with at least one passage, or with a region exhibiting porosities, formed in said sole unit. 
     
     
         3 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first region (A) between said outer material layer of the upper and/or between an outer peripheral part of said first outer assembly sole and said upper liner of the upper is positioned such as to be, in a state in which a sole unit is attached to said upper assembly, covered by sole material and/or sole adhesive. 
     
     
         4 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first assembly sole and/or the sole-sided outer material end region, at least in said moisture transporting structure, comprises at least one wicking material. 
     
     
         5 . Upper assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said wicking material includes a material selected from the group including hydrophilic natural fibers, hydrophilic synthetic fibers, fibers subject to a hydrophilic treatment, and mixtures thereof. 
     
     
         6 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first assembly sole and/or the sole-sided outer material end region, at least in said moisture transporting structure, is provided with at least one moisture conduit structure. 
     
     
         7 . Upper assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said water conduit structure comprises at least one wicking filament, perforation and/or recess. 
     
     
         8 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first assembly sole, at least in the region laterally inside said moisture transporting structure, is made of a moisture permeable material and/or is provided with perforations. 
     
     
         9 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said moisture transporting structure extends over said first assembly sole as a whole. 
     
     
         10 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said moisture transporting structure provides for a moisture transport rate of at least 1 cm per 2 hours, preferably of at least 2 cm per 2 hours, more preferably of at least 3 cm per 2 hours, even more preferably of at least 4 cm per 2 hours, and most preferably of at least 6 cm per 2 hours. 
     
     
         11 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer material layer is not joined directly to said upper bottom laminate. 
     
     
         12 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper liner is configured as an upper liner laminate having a second water vapor permeable and waterproof functional layer. 
     
     
         13 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said outer material layer is shorter than said upper liner. 
     
     
         14 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said first assembly sole is arranged underneath said upper bottom laminate. 
     
     
         15 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole-sided end region of said outer material layer is joined to said first assembly sole, preferably by stitching. 
     
     
         16 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said sole-sided end region of said outer material layer is joined to said first assembly sole such as to be impermeable with respect to bonding material, such as glue or adhesive used for attaching a sole and/or with respect to liquid polymeric material used for providing a sole by molding or injecting. 
     
     
         17 . Upper assembly according to  claim 16 , wherein an impermeable layer is provided that covers a connection area of said sole-sided end region of said outer material layer and said first assembly sole. 
     
     
         18 . Upper assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said impermeable layer is arranged on a sole-sided connection area of the sole-sided end region of said outer material layer and said first assembly sole. 
     
     
         19 . Upper assembly according to  claim 17 , wherein said impermeable layer comprises a material that is selected from at least one of an impermeable tape or film, an adhesive tape, a tape used for sealing purposes, a barrier comprising at least one metalized film, polyethylene, a polymer dispersion which forms an elastic dry layer after application and drying by evaporation of solvent. 
     
     
         20 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper bottom laminate is a two-layer laminate having said first water vapor permeable and waterproof functional layer which is arranged on a textile support layer. 
     
     
         21 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said upper bottom laminate is a three-layer laminate having said first water vapor permeable and waterproof functional layer which is arranged between a first and a second textile support layer. 
     
     
         22 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein a second water vapor permeable assembly sole is arranged above said upper bottom laminate. 
     
     
         23 . Upper assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said second water vapor permeable assembly sole and the sole-sided end region of said upper liner are joined to one another, preferably by stitching. 
     
     
         24 . Upper assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said upper bottom laminate and the outer surface of the sole-sided end region of said upper liner are joined to one another, preferably by adhesive bonding. 
     
     
         25 . Upper assembly according to  claim 22 , wherein said first functional layer and said second functional layer are joined to form a waterproof bonding area. 
     
     
         26 . Upper assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the sole-sided end region of said upper liner and said upper bottom laminate are joined without the use of an additional assembly sole. 
     
     
         27 . Upper assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said upper liner is constructed as an upper liner laminate, forming a water vapor permeable and waterproof unit with said upper bottom laminate. 
     
     
         28 . Upper assembly according to  claim 26 , wherein said sole-sided end region of said upper liner and said upper bottom laminate are joined to one another by stitching. 
     
     
         29 . Footwear, comprising an upper assembly according to  claim 1  and a sole unit attached to said upper assembly, said sole unit having at least one passage or exhibiting porosities, and said sole unit being joined in particular to the lower surface of said upper assembly by adhesive bonding, molding or injecting. 
     
     
         30 . Footwear according to  claim 29 , wherein said at least one moisture transporting structure extends from an outer periphery of said first assembly sole and/or from said sole-sided outer material end region laterally inwards into said region (B) being in liquid communication with said at least one passage or said porosities.