The invention relates to a functional footwear unit, in particular in the form of knit-of-parts, which has preferably a particularly modular protective function against chemical and/or biological toxic and/or harmful substances, especially warfare agents. The invention also relates to the uses thereof.

An article of footwear includes an upper assembly having a foot insertion volume with a proximal part and a lateral part that extends from the proximal part and in a vertical direction upwards away from the proximal par. A first layer has a lateral surface and a medial surface. A waterproof and vapor permeable functional second layer has a lateral surface and a medial surface. The second layer is positioned between the foot insertion volume and the medial surface of the first layer. A sole assembly includes an upper facing surface and a ground contacting surface. The sole assembly is connected to the upper assembly. A peripheral part of the sole assembly overlaps a proximal part of the first outer layer and/or the second layer. An attachment member is provided between the first layer and the second layer where the sole assembly overlaps the first layer and the second layer.

An expandable last (2) for furnishing footwear (110) with an insert (100) includes an expansion assembly (40); an expandable shell (6), arranged around the expansion assembly (40); and a liquid chamber (8) within the expandable shell (6); wherein the expandable last (2) is insertable into the footwear (110) through a collar of the footwear (110) and wherein the expandable shell (6) is configured to expand for pressing the insert (100) towards an inside of the footwear (110); and wherein the expansion assembly (40) is configured to adapt its extension for exerting localized pressure onto the expandable shell (6) towards the inside of the footwear (110).

A method for making a moisture-permeable waterproof shoe includes: (A) sleeving an inner sleeve unit on a last; (B) coating a bonding agent on an inner surface of an upper unit; (C) sleeving the upper unit on an assembly of the inner sleeve unit and the last; (D) placing an assembly of the upper unit, the inner sleeve unit and the last in a heating device; (E) placing the assembly in a vacuum bag; (F) placing the vacuum bag in a freezing device; (G) removing the assembly from the vacuum bag; (H) pulling out the last from the inner sleeve unit; and (I) fixing a sole to a bottom portion of a three-dimensional upper structure.

A process for welding porous membranes, the process containing i) providing first and second porous membranes; ii) at least partially superimposing the first and second porous membranes to obtain an at least partial superimposition region; iii) welding the first and second porous membranes at least in a portion of the at least one superimposition region at a temperature in the range from 100 to 300° C. to obtain an at least partially welded composite of the first and second porous membranes, wherein the first and second porous membranes are made of at least one thermoplastic elastomer selected from the group consisting of a polyurethane elastomer, a polyester elastomer, a polyetherester elastomer, a polyesterester elastomer, a polyamide elastomer, a polyetheramide elastomer, a polystyrene elastomer, and an ethylene-vinyl acetate elastomer, and wherein the first and second porous membranes have pores having an average pore diameter of less than 2000 nm.

The present invention relates to a shoe including an upper, the upper including an instep cover that covers the instep of a foot. The instep cover includes an instep cover body and a tongue. Two or more protrusions that are configured to extend in use from the instep cover body toward the foot are located at least in a region between the MP joint and the talus in a side portion of the instep cover body. The protrusions are made of embroidery. The protrusions have a height of 0.5 mm or more, a width of 2 mm or more, and a length of 2 mm or more. A distance between each pair of the adjacent protrusions is 2 mm or more in part of the region. The shoe of the present invention includes the upper that improves the heat dissipation properties without impairing the contact between the foot and the shoe.

The present disclosure includes embodiments in which a knit upper in an article of footwear comprises various zones having different properties. For example, some zones may include thermoplastic yarns for bonding to other elements of the article of footwear such as a sole or a lacing system. Zones may also possess varying degrees of elasticity to, for example, accommodate a wearer's foot or provide the knit upper with stability. The knit upper may further include a visible or machine-detectable bite line to indicate the intended placement of elements of the article of footwear.

A footwear includes an upper and a sole. The upper includes a membrane and at least one outer layer. The membrane is attached to the outer layer and the membrane is attached to an insole. The membrane is attached to the insole by stitching a lower end of the membrane to the circumference of the insole. The minimum length of stitches of the stitching is at least 1.0 mm. The membrane is a waterproof breathable membrane. The insole is attached to the sole.

A process for thermo-adhesive bonding of semi-finished products includes preparing an inner sock, an outer sock and an impermeable membrane provided with a thermo-adhesive disposed on an inner surface and/or an outer surface of the membrane; fitting the inner sock onto a rigid reference shape; fitting the membrane over the inner sock; fitting the outer sock over the membrane; heating the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock arranged on the rigid reference shape in an oven until at least partial melting of the thermo-adhesive; cooling the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock arranged on the rigid reference shape until cross-linking of the thermo-adhesive and stable bonding of the membrane to the outer sock and/or the inner sock. Also, exerting a substantially uniform pressure on the outer sock, the membrane and the inner sock disposed on the rigid reference shape during cooling, so as to compact them.

A moisture-permeable waterproof shoe includes an outer shoe body unit including an outer shoe upper, a midsole and an outsole. The outer shoe upper and the midsole cooperatively define an insertion space. A sock-shaped inner shoe body unit is disposed in the insertion space and includes a moisture-permeable waterproof shoe-shaped inner sleeve, an outer sock body having a sock body portion sleeved on the shoe-shaped inner sleeve, and an inner adhesive layer adhered between an outer surface of the shoe-shaped inner sleeve and an inner surface of the sock body portion. A connecting layer is fixed between the outer shoe upper and the sock body portion and between the midsole and the sock body portion.