US4899465A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Waterproof footwear
Assignee: W.L. Gore and Associates Inc
•
Filing: 1988-07-08
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Granted: 1990-02-13
•
Expires: 2008-07-08
Abstract
Abstract Footwear consisting of an insole, an upper sewn to the insole, a lining for lining the upper which is also sewn to the insole and has microporous functional layer that is waterproof and permeable to water vapor, and a waterproof plastic sole which is injection-molded to the bottom side of the insole and the lower portion of the upper and encloses the seam region. The lower portion of the upper which is adjacent to the insole is formed by a porous material that is adapted to be penetrated by the plastic sole material which is liquid during the injection molding operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Walter Bleimhofer
- 👤 Thorger Hubner
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 02:55
CPC Classifications
A; A43; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/12; B; B29; B29D; B29D35/00; B29D35/06; B29D35/061; A43B1/00; A43B1/0072; A43B7/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim
117 words
Footwear comprising an insole having a bottom side, an upper having lower and upper portions, said lower portion sewn to the insole forming connecting seams, a lining that lines the upper and is also sewn to the insole at a connecting seam and has a microporous functional layer which is waterproof and permeable to water vapor, and a plastic sole which is injection-molded to the bottom side of the insole and the lower portion of the upper, and encloses the connecting seams, characterized in that at least the lower portion of the upper which is adjacent the insole is formed by porous material adapted to be penetrated by the plastic sole which is liquid during injection molding.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
117 words
Footwear comprising an insole having a bottom side, an upper having lower and upper portions, said lower portion sewn to the insole forming connecting seams, a lining that lines the upper and is also sewn to the insole at a connecting seam and has a microporous functional layer which is waterproof and permeable to water vapor, and a plastic sole which is injection-molded to the bottom side of the insole and the lower portion of the upper, and encloses the connecting seams, characterized in that at least the lower portion of the upper which is adjacent the insole is formed by porous material adapted to be penetrated by the plastic sole which is liquid during injection molding.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
54 words
Footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that, at least in the region of a connecting seam between the upper and the insole, a porous spacer is secured between the upper and the lining said spacer being adapted to be penetrated by the plastics sole material which is liquid during the injection molding operation.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
Footwear according to claim 2, characterized in that the spacer is secured by a connecting seam joining the upper, insole, and lining.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the porous material is formed by upper material that has been perforated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
75 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper terminates above the insole and connecting seam creating a gap, and wherein the gap between the upper and insole is bridged with a porous connecting material having two ends adapted to be penetrated by the plastic sole material, said porous connecting material being sewn on one end to the upper, but not to the lining and being sewn on the other end to the insole.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Footwear according to claim 5, characterized in that the porous connecting material is additionally designed as a spacer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the porous material of the upper extends from the insole beyond the plastic sole.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
16 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the plastic sole is permeable to water vapor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
Footwear according to claim 1, characterized in that the material of the plastic sole is selected from the group comprising polyurethane, transparent caoutchouc, and polyvinylchloride.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
63 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the lining is formed by a laminate comprising a microporus functional layer having interior and exterior faces, the layer which is waterproof and permeable to water vapor, the exterior face adjacent the upper further provided with a mechanically protecting textile layer and the interior face being provided with a mechanically protecting, selectively warming, lining layer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
Footwear according to claims 1 or 10 characterized in that the functional layer consists of a membrane of porous polytetrafluorethylene.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
15 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper consists of a textile fabric.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
13 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the upper consists of leather.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
Footwear according to claim 1 characterized in that the porous material comprising the lower portion of the upper and adjacent the insole is a synthetic fiber net.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
26 words
Footwear according to claim 14 wherein the synthetic fiber net has a mesh aperature, the size of which is in the range of approximately 1.5 mm.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
24 words
Footwear according to claim 14 characterized in that the material of the synthetic fiber net is selected from the group comprising polyamide and polyester.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
21 words
Footwear according to claim 14 characterized in that the synthetic fiber net is provided with an adhesive to stiffen the net.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
14 words
Footwear according to claim 1 where the plastic sole is a breathable polymeric material.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
16 words
Footwear according to claim 18 where the plastic sole is a composite polymeric material rendered breathable.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of making footwear having an upper lined with a microporous functional layer that is waterproof and permeable to water vapor in which the lining extends beyond the upper to form a connecting region and an insole comprising the steps of: sewing the connecting region of the upper and lining to the insole thereby forming a seam; and injection molding a plastic sole to the insole in a manner that encloses the seam and a lower portion of the upper wherein the plastic sole is in liquid form during injection-molding and whereby the liquid plastic penetrates the connecting region.
Claim 22
Independent Claim
100 words
A method of making footwear having an upper lined with a microporous functional layer that is waterproof and permeable to water vapor in which the lining extends beyond the upper to form a connecting region and an insole comprising the steps of: sewing the connecting region of the upper and lining to the insole thereby forming a seam; and injection molding a plastic sole to the insole in a manner that encloses the seam and a lower portion of the upper wherein the plastic sole is in liquid form during injection-molding and whereby the liquid plastic penetrates the connecting region.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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CH354000A
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GB899477A
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US3175308A
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US3365821A
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1993-02-12 | 1993-08-14 | 1994-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1997-02-12 | 1997-08-14 | 1998-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2001-02-12 | 2001-08-14 | 2002-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |