US5896680A — Shoes comprising three-dimensional formed fiber p…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 99 words

A shoe comprising at least one layer of a three-dimensional fiber network, said three-dimensional fiber network having been made by deforming a two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network has as a base plane the plane of said two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network comprises a multiplicity of projections comprised of said two-dimensional textile fabric rising above said base plane; wherein said projections are resilient, returning, substantially to their original shape after being compressed to 50% of their original height; wherein said fiber network comprises thermoplastic filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 99 words

A shoe comprising at least one layer of a three-dimensional fiber network, said three-dimensional fiber network having been made by deforming a two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network has as a base plane the plane of said two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network comprises a multiplicity of projections comprised of said two-dimensional textile fabric rising above said base plane; wherein said projections are resilient, returning, substantially to their original shape after being compressed to 50% of their original height; wherein said fiber network comprises thermoplastic filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 36 words

A shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said projections have a shape selected from the group consisting of cones, truncated cones, pyramids having polygonal bases, truncated pyramids having polygonal bases, cylinders, prisms, and spherical elements.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 28 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, said projections having tops selected from the group consisting of apex points and flat tops, wherein said tops define a surface.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 32 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said thermoplastic filaments consist essentially of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers and wherein said filaments are monofils.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 26 words

The shoe as recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic material has a melting temperature in the range of about 80° C. to about 375° C.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 34 words

The shoe as recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of polyesters, polyamides, thermoplastic copolyetherester elastomers, poly(arylene sulfides), polyolefins, aliphatic-aromatic polyamides, polyacrylates, and thermotropic liquid crystalline polymers.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 27 words

The shoe as recited in claim 4, wherein said thermoplastic material is selected from the group consisting of poly(ethylene terephthalate), polypropylene, polyethylene, nylon 6, and nylon 66.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 33 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said filaments in said three-dimensional fiber network cross over one another at intersections, wherein said filaments at said intersections are not bonded to one another.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 28 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein the apparent density of said three-dimensional fiber network is less than about 10% of the density of said thermoplastic filaments.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 14 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said textile fabric also comprises depressions.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, said filaments having a diameter in the range of about 0.15 mm to about 0.7 mm.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 21 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said shoe comprises a midsole, wherein the midsole comprises said three-dimensional fiber network.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said shoe comprises a collar lining, wherein the collar lining comprises said three-dimensional fiber network.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 23 words

The shoe as recited in claim 1, wherein said shoe comprises a tongue lining, wherein the tongue lining comprises said three-dimensional fiber network.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 100 words

A shoe midsole comprising at least one layer of a three-dimensional fiber network, said three-dimensional fiber network having been made by deforming a two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network has as a base plane the plane of said two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network comprises a multiplicity of projections comprised of said two-dimensional textile fabric rising above said base plane; wherein said projections are resilient, returning substantially to their original shape after being compressed to 50% of their original height; wherein said fiber network comprises thermoplastic filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 100 words

A shoe midsole comprising at least one layer of a three-dimensional fiber network, said three-dimensional fiber network having been made by deforming a two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network has as a base plane the plane of said two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network comprises a multiplicity of projections comprised of said two-dimensional textile fabric rising above said base plane; wherein said projections are resilient, returning substantially to their original shape after being compressed to 50% of their original height; wherein said fiber network comprises thermoplastic filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 32 words

The midsole as recited in claim 15, wherein said thermoplastic filaments consist essentially of a thermoplastic material selected from the group consisting of polymers and copolymers and wherein said filaments are monofils.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 25 words

The midsole as recited in claim 16, wherein said thermoplastic filaments have a diameter in the range of about 0.4 mm to about 0.7 mm.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 31 words

The midsole as recited in claim 16, wherein the heights of said projections range from about 3 mm to about 20 mm and are contoured like the bottom of a foot.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 33 words

The midsole as recited in claim 16, wherein said projections have centers, wherein the spacing between the centers of said projections is in the range of about 0.5 cm to about 3 cm.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 24 words

The midsole as recited in claim 15, said midsole further comprising one or more cushions in areas of the shoe subject to high impact.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 31 words

The midsole as recited in claim 20, wherein said cushion is made of a polymeric foam selected from the group consisting of ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyurethane, latex, rubber, and mixtures thereof.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 16 words

A heated shoe comprising the midsole recited in claim 15 and a heater in said midsole.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 37 words

A shoe midsole as recited in claim 15, wherein said projections have a shape selected from the group consisting of cones, truncated cones, pyramids having polygonal bases, truncated pyramids having polygonal bases, cylinders, prisms, and spherical elements.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 120 words

A lining material for use in a part of a shoe selected from the group consisting of the tongue and collar lining, said material comprising at least one layer of a three-dimensional fiber network, said three-dimensional fiber network having been made by deforming a two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network has a base plane the plane of said two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network comprises a multiplicity of projections comprised of said two-dimensional textile fabric rising above said base plane; wherein said projections are resilient, returning substantially to their original shape after being compressed to 50% of their original height; wherein said fiber network comprises thermoplastic filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 120 words

A lining material for use in a part of a shoe selected from the group consisting of the tongue and collar lining, said material comprising at least one layer of a three-dimensional fiber network, said three-dimensional fiber network having been made by deforming a two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network has a base plane the plane of said two-dimensional textile fabric; wherein said three-dimensional fiber network comprises a multiplicity of projections comprised of said two-dimensional textile fabric rising above said base plane; wherein said projections are resilient, returning substantially to their original shape after being compressed to 50% of their original height; wherein said fiber network comprises thermoplastic filaments having a diameter of at least about 0.1 mm.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 28 words

The lining material as recited in claim 24, wherein said thermoplastic filaments consist essentially of a material selected from the group consisting of a thermoplastic polymer and copolymer.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 15 words

The lining material as recited in claim 25, wherein said thermoplastic filaments comprise poly(ethylene terephthalate).

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 37 words

A lining material as recited in claim 24, wherein said projections have a shape selected from the group consisting of cones, truncated cones, pyramids having polygonal bases, truncated pyramids having polygonal bases, cylinders, prisms, and spherical elements.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-04-26	2002-10-26	2003-04-27	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-04-26	2006-10-26	2007-04-27	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-04-26	2010-10-26	2011-04-27	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Shoes comprising three-dimensional formed fiber product

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