Composite shoe sole, footwear constituted thereof and method producing the same

Abstract

A water-vapor permeable shoe-sole combination (15) with an upper side (5) having at least on through hole (31) extending through the thickness of the shoe-sole combination, a barrier unit (35) with an upper side forming at least part of the upper side (50) of the shoe-sole combination, made of a water-vapor permeable barrier material (33) that forms a barrier against penetration of foreign bodies, by means of which the at least one through hole (31) is closed in a water-vapor permeable manner, a reinforcement device (25) formed for mechanical reinforcement of the shoe-sole combination (105), constructed with at least one reinforcement web (37) arranged on at least one surface of the barrier material (33) and at least partially crossing the at least one through hole (31), and at least one walking-sole part (117) arranged beneath the barrier unit (35).

Claims

1. A water-vapor-permeable composite shoe sole with an upper side, having: at least one through hole extending through the thickness of the composite shoe sole; a barrier unit with an upper side forming at least partially the upper side of the composite shoe sole, and comprising a water-vapor-permeable barrier material against penetration of foreign objects, by means of which the at least one through hole is closed in a water-vapor-permeable manner; a mechanical stabilization device in communication with the barrier material which is constructed with at least one stabilization bar, which is arranged at least on one surface of the barrier material and at least partially bridges at least one through hole; and at least one outsole part arranged beneath the barrier unit, wherein the outsole part comprises a first material and the stabilization device comprises a second material different from the first material.

2. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, whose barrier unit is water-permeable.

3. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, which is water-permeable.

4. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein the at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 15% of the surface of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

5. A composite shoe sole according to claim 4, wherein the at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 25% of the surface of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

6. A composite shoe sole according to claim 5, wherein at least 40% of the surface of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

7. A composite shoe sole according to claim 6, wherein at least 50% of the surface of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

8. A composite shoe sole according to claim 7, wherein at least 60% of the surface of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

9. A composite shoe sole according to claim 8, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 75% of the surface of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

10. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 15% of the surface of the midfoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

11. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 25% of the surface of the midfoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

12. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 40% of the surface of the midfoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

13. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 50% of the surface of the midfoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

14. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 60% of the surface of the midfoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

15. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 75% of the surface of the midfoot area of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

16. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 15% of the surface of the front-half of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

17. A composite shoe sole according to claim 16, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 25% of the surface of the front-half of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

18. A composite shoe sole according to claim 17, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 40% of the surface of the front-half of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

19. A composite shoe sole according to claim 18, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 50% of the surface of the front-half of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

20. A composite shoe sole according to claim 19, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 60% of the surface of the front-half of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

21. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 75% of the surface of the front-half of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole is water-vapor-permeable.

22. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 15% of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole minus the heel area is water-vapor-permeable.

23. A composite shoe sole according to claim 22, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 25% of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole minus the heel area is water-vapor-permeable.

24. A composite shoe sole according to claim 23, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 40% of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole minus the heel area is water-vapor-permeable.

25. A composite shoe sole according to claim 24, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 50% of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole minus the heel area is water-vapor-permeable.

26. A composite shoe sole according to claim 25, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 60% of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole minus the heel area is water-vapor-permeable.

27. A composite shoe sole according to claim 26, wherein at least one stabilization device is oriented so that at least 75% of the longitudinal extent of the composite shoe sole minus the heel area is water-vapor-permeable.

28. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, with a number of through holes, each closed by a piece of barrier material.

29. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, with a number of through holes closed overall by one piece of barrier material.

30. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the barrier unit has at least one stabilization bar on the side of the barrier unit facing the outsole.

31. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the stabilization device with the at least one stabilization bar is not a component of the at least one outsole part.

32. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the stabilization device with the at least one stabilization bar has a spacing from the floor.

33. A composite shoe sole according to claim 32, in which the spacing corresponds to the thickness of the at least one outsole part.

34. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, whose outsole part has a first material, and the stabilization device has a second material different from the first material, the second material being harder (according to Shore) than the first material.

35. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the barrier material is designed in the form of a fiber composite.

36. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the stabilization device is designed in one piece and carries barrier material that closes all the through holes.

37. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the stabilization device is designed in several pieces, in which the pieces are at least assigned to at least one through hole and each carry a piece of barrier material that closes at least one through hole.

38. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, whose stabilization device is provided with at least one opening, which forms at least one part of the through hole and is closed with barrier material.

39. A composite shoe sole according to claim 38, whose stabilization device has a number of openings that are closed overall with one piece of barrier material.

40. A composite shoe sole according to claim 38, whose stabilization device has a number of openings that are each closed with a piece of barrier material.

41. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, whose stabilization device has at least one stabilization frame that stabilizes at least the composite shoe sole.

42. A composite shoe sole according to claim 41, whose stabilization frame is fit into the at least one through hole or into at least one of the through holes of the composite shoe sole.

43. A composite shoe sole according to claim 38, in which at least one opening has an area of at least 1 cm.sup.2.

44. A composite shoe sole according to claim 43, in which at least one opening has an area of at least 5 cm.sup.2.

45. A composite shoe sole according to claim 44, in which at least one opening has an area of at least 20 cm.sup.2.

46. A composite shoe sole according to claim 44, in which at least one opening has an area of at least 40 cm.sup.2.

47. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, whose stabilization device has several stabilization bars that form a structure on at least one surface of the barrier material.

48. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, whose stabilization device is constructed with at least one thermoplastic material.

49. A composite shoe sole according to claim 1, in which the stabilization device and the barrier material are at least partially joined to each other.

50. A composite shoe sole according to claim 49, in which the stabilization device and the barrier material are joined to each other by means of at least one joining technique, chosen from gluing, welding, molding-on, molding around, vulcanizing on, and vulcanizing around.

Description

(1) The invention, task aspects of the invention, and advantages of the invention will now be further explained with reference to embodiments. In the corresponding drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a sketch of a non-woven material, mechanically bonded by needling;

(3) FIG. 2 also shows, a sketch of the non-woven material according to FIG. 1, after thermal bonding;

(4) FIG. 2a shows a cutout, also as a sketch, at a highly enlarged scale of area IIa of the thermally bonded non-woven material of FIG. 2.

(5) FIG. 2b shows a cutout, also in a sketch, with an even more enlarged scale of area IIa, shown in FIG. 2, of the thermally bonded non-woven material of FIG. 2.

(6) FIG. 3 shows a sketch of the thermally bonded non-woven material depicted in FIG. 2 after additional thermal surface compression;

(7) FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a composite shoe sole, still without barrier material, showing the opening extending through the thickness of the composite shoe sole.

(8) FIG. 5 shows a schematic view of a first example of a barrier unit with a stabilization device having a bar and a barrier material accommodated in it.

(9) FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of another example of a barrier unit with a stabilization device having a bar and a barrier material.

(10) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of additional examples of a barrier unit with a stabilization device in the form of at least one bar.

(11) FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of another example of a barrier unit with a stabilization device having a bar and a barrier material.

(12) FIG. 9 shows a schematic view of the composite shoe sole depicted in FIG. 4 with barrier material and a stabilization device, having a bar.

(13) FIG. 10 shows a schematic view of stabilization bars arranged on the bottom of the barrier material.

(14) FIG. 11 Shows a schematic view of a stabilization mesh arranged on the bottom of the barrier material.

(15) FIG. 12 shows a perspective oblique view from the bottom of a shoe provided with a composite sole according to the invention.

(16) FIG. 13a shows the shoe depicted in FIG. 12, but before a composite shoe sole according to the invention is placed on a shaft bottom of the shoe.

(17) FIG. 13b shows the shoe depicted in FIG. 12, which is provided with another example of a composite sole according to the invention.

(18) FIG. 14 shows the composite shoe sole depicted in FIG. 13a, in a perspective top view.

(19) FIG. 15 shows the composite shoe sole depicted in FIG. 14 in an exploded view of its individual components, in an oblique perspective view from the top.

(20) FIG. 16 shows the part of the composite shoe sole depicted in FIG. 15, in a perspective oblique view from the bottom.

(21) FIG. 17 shows a forefoot area and a midfoot area of the barrier unit depicted in FIG. 16, in a perspective oblique view from the top, whereby the stabilization device parts and the barrier material parts are shown separately from each other.

(22) FIG. 18 shows, in a perspective oblique view from the bottom, a modification of the midfoot area of the barrier unit depicted in FIG. 17, whereby only a middle area of this barrier-unit part is occupied with barrier material and two side parts are formed without passage openings.

(23) FIG. 19 shows the barrier unit part depicted in FIG. 18, in a view in which the corresponding stabilization-device part and the corresponding barrier-material part are shown separately from each other.

(24) FIG. 20 shows a schematic sectional view in the forefoot area through a shaft closed on the shaft-bottom side of a first embodiment, with a composite shoe sole still not positioned on the shaft bottom.

(25) FIG. 21 shows a schematic view of another example of the barrier unit with a barrier material and a stabilization bar during selected bonding with a shaft bottom situated above it.

(26) FIG. 22 shows a detail view of the shoe structure depicted in FIG. 20, with a glued-on composite shoe sole.

(27) FIG. 23 shows a detail view of the sole structure depicted in FIG. 21, with a molded-on composite shoe sole.

(28) FIG. 24 shows a shoe structure similar to that shown in FIG. 20, but with a differently constructed shaft bottom, with a composite shoe sole still separated from the shaft.

(29) FIG. 25 shows a detail view of the shoe structure depicted in FIG. 24.

(30) FIG. 26 shows a composite sole in another embodiment.

(31) FIG. 27 shows a composite shoe sole in another embodiment.

(32) An embodiment of a barrier material particularly suited for a composite shoe sole according to the invention will be initially explained first reference to FIGS. 1 through 3. Explanations concerning embodiments of a barrier unit according to the invention then follow, with reference to FIGS. 4 through 11. Embodiments of the footwear according to the invention and composite shoe soles according to the invention will then be explained by means of FIGS. 12 through 27.

(33) The embodiment of the barrier material depicted in FIGS. 1 through 3 consist of a fiber composite 1 in the form of a thermally bonded and thermally surface-bonded non-woven material. This fiber composite 1 consists of two fiber components 2, 3, which are each constructed with polyester fibers. A first fiber component 2, which serves as support component of the fiber composite 1, then has a higher melting point than that of the second fiber component 3, which serves as bonding component. In order to guarantee temperature stability of the entire fiber composite 1 of at least 180° C., specifically in view of the fact that footwear can be exposed to relatively high temperatures during production, for example, during molding-on of an outsole, in the embodiment in question, polyester fibers with a melting point above 180° C. were used for both fiber components. There are different variations of polyester polymers that have different melting points and softening temperatures below them. In the embodiment in question of the barrier material according to the invention, a polyester polymer with a melting point of about 230° C. was chosen for the first component, whereas a polyester polymer with a melting point of about 200° C. is chosen for at least one fiber part of the second fiber component 3. In one embodiment, in which the second fiber component has two fiber parts in the form of a core-shell fiber structure, the core 4 consists of this fiber component from polyester with a softening temperature of about 230° C. and the shell of this fiber component consists of a polyester with an adhesive softening temperature of about 200° C. (FIG. 2b). Such a fiber component with two fiber parts of different melting points is also referred to as “bico,” for short. This concise term will be used subsequently.

(34) In the embodiment in question, the fibers of the two fiber components are both stable fibers with the above-mentioned special properties. With respect to the total basis weight of the fiber composite of about 400 g/m.sup.2, the weight fraction of the first fiber component is about 50%. The weight fraction of the second fiber component is also about 50% with respect to the basis weight of the fiber composite. The fineness of the first fiber component is 6.7 dtex, whereas the second fiber component, designed as a bico, has a higher fineness of 4.4 dtex.

(35) To produce such barrier materials, the fiber components present as staple fibers are first mixed. Several individual layers of this staple fiber mixture are then placed one on top of the other in the form of several individual non-woven layers, until the basis weight sought for the fiber component is reached, in which case a non-woven package is obtained. This non-woven package has only very slight mechanical stability and must therefore pass through a strengthening process.

(36) Initially, mechanical strengthening of the non-woven package occurs by needling by means of a needle technique in which needle bars arranged in a needle matrix penetrate the non-woven package perpendicular to the plane of extension of the non-woven package. Fibers of the non-woven package are reoriented by this from their original position in the non-woven package, so that balling of the fibers and a more stable mechanical structure of the non-woven package occur. A non-woven material mechanically strengthened by such needling is schematically shown in FIG. 1.

(37) The thickness of the non-woven package with respect to the initial thickness of the unneedled non-woven package is already reduced by the needling process. However, this structure obtained by needling is still not permanently tenable, since it is a purely mechanical three-dimensional “hooking” of stable fibers, which can be “unhooked” again under stress.

(38) In order to achieve permanent stabilization, namely a stabilizing property for the use in footwear, the fiber composite is further treated according to the invention. Thermal energy and pressure are then used. In this process, the advantageous composition of the fiber mixture is utilized, in which a temperature is chosen for thermal bonding of the fiber mixture, so that it lies at least in the range of the adhesive softening temperature of the shell of the core-shell bico that melts at a lower melting point, in order to soften it into a viscous state, so that the fiber parts of the first fiber component, which is situated in the vicinity of the softened mass of the shell of the corresponding bico, can be partially incorporated in this viscous mass. Because of this, the two fiber components are permanently bonded to each other without changing the fundamental structure of the non-woven material. The advantageous properties of this non-woven material can also be utilized, especially its good water-vapor permeability combined with a permanent mechanical-stabilization property.

(39) Such a thermally bonded non-woven material is shown schematically in FIG. 2, in which a detailed view of a cutout on a highly enlarged scale is shown in FIG. 2a, in which the glue-bonding points between individual fibers are shown by flat black spots, and FIG. 2b shows an area of the cutout on an even larger scale.

(40) In addition to thermal bonding of the non-woven material, thermal surface compression can be performed on at least one surface of the non-woven material by exposing the surface of this non-woven material simultaneously to the effect of pressure and temperature, for example, by means of heating compression plates or compression rollers. The result is even stronger bonding than in the remaining volume of the non-woven material and smoothing of the thermally compressed surface.

(41) A non-woven material initially mechanically bonded by needling, then thermally bonded, and finally thermally surface-compressed on one of its surfaces, is shown schematically in FIG. 3.

(42) In an accompanying comparison table, various materials, including barrier materials according to the invention, are compared with respect to some parameters. Split sole leather, two non-woven materials only needle-bonded, a needle-bonded and thermally bonded non-woven material, and, finally, a needle-bonded, thermally bonded, and thermally surface-compressed non-woven material are then considered, whereby these materials, for simplicity of the subsequent treatment of the comparison table, are assigned the material numbers 1 to 5 in the comparison table.

(43) The longitudinal elongation values and the transverse elongation values show the percentage by which the corresponding material expands when acted upon with a stretching force of 50 N, 100 N, or 150 N. The lower the longitudinal and transverse elongation, the more stable and better suited as a barrier material the material is. If the corresponding material is used as a barrier material to protect the membrane against penetration of foreign objects, such as pebbles, puncture resistance is important. The abrasion strength, called abrasion in the comparison table, is also significant for use of the corresponding material in a composite shoe sole.

(44) It can be seen from the comparison table that split sole leather does have high tensile strength, relatively good resistance to stretching forces, and high puncture resistance, but it only has moderate abrasion strength during wet tests, and especially quite moderate water-vapor permeability.

(45) The only needle-bonded non-woven materials (material 2 and material 3) are relatively light and have high water-vapor permeability in comparison with leather, but they have relatively low stretching resistance in terms of stretching forces, possess only limited puncture resistance, and have only moderate abrasion strength.

(46) The needle-bonded and thermally bonded non-woven material (material 4), at a lower thickness, has a higher basis weight than materials 2 and 3, and is therefore more compact. The water-vapor permeability of material 4 is higher than that of material 2 and about as high as that of material 3, but almost three times as high as that of leather according to material 1. The longitudinal and transverse elongation resistances of material 4 are much higher than those of non-woven materials 2 and 3, which are only needle-bonded and the longitudinal and transverse breaking load is also much higher than that of materials 2 and 3. The puncture resistance and abrasion strength in material 4 are also much higher than in materials 2 and 3.

(47) Material 5, i.e., the needle-bonded, thermally bonded, and non-woven material thermally compressed on one of its surfaces, has a lower thickness than material 4, because of thermal surface compression with the same basis weight, and therefore takes up less room in a composite shoe sole. The water-vapor permeability of material 5 still lies above that of material 4. With respect to elongation resistance, material 5 is also superior to material 4, since it shows no elongation when longitudinal and transverse elongation forces of 50 N to 150 N are applied. The tensile strength is higher with respect to longitudinal loading and lower with respect to transverse loading than that of material 4. The puncture resistance is somewhat below that of material 4, which is caused by the more limited thickness of material 5. A special superiority compared to all materials 1 to 4 is exhibited by material 5 with respect to abrasion strength.

(48) The comparison table therefore shows that when high water-vapor permeability, high shape stability, and therefore a stabilization effect and a high abrasion resistance are required in the material, material 4, and especially material 5, are quite particularly suited.

(49) In the case of material 5, the needle-bonded and thermally bonded non-woven material, which also has very good stabilization, in one embodiment of the invention is then subjected to hydrophobic finishing, for example, by a dipping process in a liquid that causes hydrophobization, in order to minimize suction effects of the non-woven material. After the hydrophobization bath, the non-woven material is dried under the influence of heat, whereby the hydrophobic property of the applied finishing is further improved. After the drying process, the non-woven material passes through sizing rollers, whereby the final thickness of, say, 1.5 mm is also set.

(50) In order to achieve a particularly smooth surface, the non-woven material is then exposed to temperature and pressure again, in order to melt the fiber parts, namely the second fiber component in the shell of the bico on the surface of the non-woven material and to press it against a very smooth surface by means of pressure applied simultaneously. This occurs either with appropriate calendering devices or by means of a heated compression die, whereby a separation material layer can be introduced between the non-woven and material the heated pressure plate, which can be silicone paper or Teflon, for example.

(51) Surface smoothing by thermal surface compression is performed on only one surface or both surfaces of the non-woven material, depending on the desired properties of the barrier material.

(52) As already shown by the comparison table, the non-woven material thus produced has high stability against a tearing load and possesses good puncture resistance, which is important when the material is used as a barrier material to protect a membrane.

(53) Material 5, just described, represents a first example embodiment of the barrier material used according to the invention, in which both fiber components consist of polyester, both fiber components have a weight percentage of 50% in the total fiber composite, and the second fiber component is a polyester core-shell fiber of the bico type.

(54) Additional example embodiments of the barrier material used according to the invention will now be considered briefly:

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT 2

(55) A barrier material, in which both fiber components consist of polyester and have a weight percentage of 50% each in the total fiber composite, and the second fiber component is a bico from polyester of the side-by-side type.

(56) Except for the special bico structure, the barrier material according to example embodiment 2 is produced in the same way and has the same properties as the barrier material according to example embodiment 1 with a bico fiber of the core-shell type.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT 3

(57) A barrier material, in which both fiber components have a weight percentage of 50% and the first fiber component is a polyester and the second fiber component is a polypropylene.

(58) In this example embodiment, no bico is used, but a single-component fiber is instead used as the second fiber component. For production of this fiber composite, only two fiber components with different melting points are chosen. In this case, the polyester fiber (with a melting point of about 230° C.) with a weight fraction of 50% represents the support component, whereas the polypropylene fiber, also with a weight fraction of 50%, has a lower melting point of about 130° C. and therefore represents the gluable bonding component. The production process otherwise runs as in example embodiment 1. In comparison to example embodiment 2, the non-woven material according to example embodiment 3 has lower heat stability, but it can also be produced using lower temperatures.

EXAMPLE EMBODIMENT 4

(59) A barrier material with a percentage of 80% polyester as the first fiber component and a polyester core-shell bico as the second fiber component.

(60) In this example embodiment, production again occurs as in example embodiment 1, the only difference being that the percentage of the second fiber component, which forms the bonding component, is changed. Its weight percentage is now only 20% compared to 80% of the weight formed by the first fiber component, which has a higher melting point. Because of the proportionate reduction in the bonding component, the stabilizing effect of the barrier material obtained is reduced. This can be advantageous when a non-woven material with high mechanical lifetime combined with increased flexibility is required. The temperature resistance of this non-woven material corresponds to that of the first example embodiment.

(61) Some example embodiments of a composite shoe sole and a barrier unit and details of it are now considered by means of FIGS. 4 through 11.

(62) FIG. 4 shows a partial cross-section through a composite shoe sole 21 with an underlying outsole 23 and a shoe stabilization device 25 situated above it, before this composite shoe sole 21 is provided with a barrier material. The outsole 23 and the shoe-stabilization device 25 each have openings 27 and 29, which together form a passage 31 through the total thickness of the composite shoe sole 21. The passage 31 is therefore formed by the intersection surface of the two passage openings 27, 29. To complete this composite shoe sole 21, a barrier material 33 (not shown in FIG. 4) is placed in the passage opening 29 or arranged above it.

(63) FIG. 5 shows an example of a barrier unit 35 with a piece of barrier material 33 held by a stabilization device 25.

(64) In one embodiment, the stabilization device is molded around the peripheral area of the piece of barrier material 33 or molded onto it, so that the material of the stabilization device 25 penetrates into the fiber structure of the barrier material 33 and is cured there and forms a solid composite.

(65) As a material for molding of the stabilization device or molding onto the stabilization device, thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is suitable, which leads to very good enclosure of the barrier material and can be well bonded to it.

(66) In another embodiment, the barrier material 33 is glued to the stabilization device 25. The stabilization device 25 preferably has a stabilization frame that stabilizes at least the composite show sole 21 and at least one stabilization bar 37, which is arranged on a surface of the barrier material 33. The at least one stabilization bar 37 is preferably arranged on the bottom of the barrier material 33 facing the outsole.

(67) FIG. 6 shows a barrier unit 35, in which a piece of barrier material 33 is enclosed by a stabilization device 25 in the sense that the edge area of the barrier material 33 is not only surrounded by the stabilization device 25, but also held on both surfaces.

(68) FIG. 7 shows a barrier unit 35, in which a piece of barrier material 33 is provided with a stabilization device 25 in the form of at least one stabilization bar 37. The stabilization bar 37 is arranged on at least one surface of the barrier material 33, preferably on the surface facing downward toward the outsole 23.

(69) FIG. 8 shows a barrier unit 35, in which a piece of barrier material 33 is provided with a stabilization device 25, so that the barrier material 33 is applied to at least one surface of the stabilization device 25. The barrier material 33 then covers the passage opening 29. The stabilization bar 37 is situated within the passage opening 29 of the stabilization device 25.

(70) FIG. 9 shows a composite shoe sole 21 according to FIG. 4, which has a barrier unit according to FIG. 5 above the outsole 23, whereby only one stabilization bar 37 is shown.

(71) For all the embodiments according to FIGS. 4 to 9 described above, it is true that the bonding material during molding on, molding around, or gluing between the barrier material 33 and the stabilization device 25, not only adheres to the surfaces being joined, but also penetrates into the fiber structure and cures there. The fiber structure is therefore additionally strengthened in its joining area.

(72) Two embodiments of stabilization-bar patterns of stabilization bars 37 applied to a surface of the barrier material 33 are shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. Whereas, in the case of FIG. 10, three individual bars 37a, 37b, and 37c are arranged in a T-shaped mutual arrangement on a circular surface 43, for example, the bottom of barrier material 33, which corresponds to a trough hole of the composite shoe sole 21, for example, by gluing onto the bottom of the barrier material, in the case of FIG. 11, a stabilization-bar device in the form of a stabilization mesh 37d is provided.

(73) Embodiments of shoes designed according to the invention will now explained with reference to FIGS. 12 through 27, whereby their individual components will also be considered, especially in connection with the corresponding composite shoe sole.

(74) FIG. 12 shows, in a perspective oblique view from the bottom, an example embodiment of a shoe 101 according to the invention with a shaft 103 and a composite shoe sole 105 according to the invention. The shoe 101 has a forefoot area 107, a midfoot area 109, a heel area 111, and a foot-insertion opening 113. The composite shoe sole 105 has a multipart outsole 117 on its bottom, which has an outsole part 117a in the heel area, an outsole part 117b in the area of the ball of the foot, and an outsole part 117c in the toe area of the composite shoe sole 105. These outsole parts 117 are attached to the bottom of a stabilization device 119, which has a heel area 119a, a midfoot area 119b, and a forefoot area 119c. The composite shoe sole 105 will be further explained in detail with reference to the following diagrams.

(75) Additional components of the composite shoe sole 105 can be damping sole parts 121a and 121b, which are applied in the heel area 111 and in the forefoot area 107 on the top of the stabilization device 119. The outsole 117 and the stabilization device 119 have passage openings that form trough holes through the composite shoe sole. These trough holes are covered by barrier materials 33a-33d in a water-vapor-permeable manner.

(76) FIG. 13a shows the shoe 101 according to FIG. 12 in a manufacturing stage in which the shaft 103 and the composite shoe sole 105 are still separate from each other. The shaft 103 is provided on its lower end area on the sole side with a shaft bottom 221, which has a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable shaft-bottom functional layer, which can be a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable membrane. The functional layer is preferably a component of a multilayer functional-layer laminate that has at least one protective layer, for example, a textile backing, as processing protection, in addition to the functional layer. The shaft bottom 115 can also be provided with a shaft-mounting sole. However, there is also the possibility of assigning the function of shaft-mounting sole to the functional-layer laminate. The composite shoe sole also has the trough holes 31 already mentioned in FIG. 8, which are covered with barrier-material parts 33a-33d. The bars 37 are shown within the peripheral edge of the corresponding trough holes. In other embodiments, three trough holes, two trough holes, one trough hole can be provided. In another embodiment, more than four trough holes are provided. The composite shoe sole 105 can be attached to the shaft end on the sole side, either by molding on or gluing, in order to produce the state according to FIG. 12. For a detailed explanation of the functional layer and its laminate and the connection with the mounting sole, refer to the description and FIGS. 20 to 25 are referred to.

(77) FIG. 13b shows the same shoe structure as in FIG. 13a, with the difference that the shoe in FIG. 13a has four trough holes 31, whereas the shoe according to FIG. 13b, is provided with two trough holes 31. It can be seen here that the bars 37 are arranged within the peripheral edge of the corresponding trough hole 31 and do not form a limitation of the trough hole 31. The surface of a trough hole is determined minus the total surface of the bars bridging it, since this bar surface blocks water-vapor transport.

(78) FIG. 14 shows a composite shoe sole 105 with a top lying away from the outsole 117. On the top lying away from the outsole 117, the stabilization device 119 is covered in its middle area 119b and its forefoot area 119c with several pieces 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d of a barrier material 33, with which trough holes of the composite shoe sole 105 (not visible in FIG. 14) are covered. In the heel area and in the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole 105, a damping sole part 121a and 121b is applied to the top of the stabilization device 119, essentially over the entire surface in the heel area and with recesses in the forefoot area wherever the barrier material parts 33b, 33c and 33d are situated.

(79) Since the outsole parts of outsole 117, the stabilization device 119, and the damping sole parts 121a and 121b have different functions within the composite shoe sole, they are appropriately also constructed with different materials. The outsole parts, which are supposed to have good abrasion resistance, consist, for example, of a thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or rubber. Thermoplastic polyurethane is the term for a number of different polyurethanes that can have various properties. For an outsole, a thermoplastic polyurethane can be chosen with high stability and slip resistance. The damping sole parts 121a and 121b, which are supposed to produce shock absorption during walking movements of the user of the shoe, consist of correspondingly elastically compliant material, for example, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PU). The stabilization device 119, which serves as a holder for the non-coherent outsole parts 117a, 117b, 117c and for the also non-coherent damping sole parts 121a, 121b and serves as a stabilization element for the entire composite shoe sole 105 and is supposed to have corresponding elastic rigidity, consists of at least one thermoplastic material. Examples of appropriate thermoplastic materials are polyethylene, polyamide, polyamide (PA), polyester (PET), polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), and polyvinylchloride (PVC). Other appropriate materials are rubber, thermoplastic rubber (TR), and polyurethane (PU). Thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) is also suitable.

(80) The composite shoe sole depicted in FIG. 14 is shown in an exploded view in FIG. 15, i.e., in a view in which the individual parts of the composite shoe sole 105 are shown separately from each other, except for the barrier material parts 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d, which are already shown arranged on the stabilization device parts 119b and 119c. In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 15, the stabilization device 119 has its parts 119a, 119b, and 119c as initially separate parts, which are joined together to the stabilization device 119 during assembly of the composite shoe sole 105, which can occur by welding or gluing of the three stabilization device parts to one another. As will still be explained in connection with FIG. 16, openings are situated beneath the barrier material parts, which, together with openings 123a, 123b, and 123c in the outsole parts 117a, 117b, and 117c, form trough holes 30 of the type already explained in connection with FIG. 4, and with which barrier material parts 33a-33d are covered in a water-vapor-permeable manner. A passage opening 125 in the heel part 119a of the stabilization device 119 is not closed with barrier material 33, but with the full-surface damping sole part 121a. A better damping effect of the composite shoe sole 105 in the heel area of the shoe is thereby achieved, where sweat-moisture removal, under some circumstances, can be less required, since foot sweat mostly forms in the forefoot and midfoot areas, but not in the heel area.

(81) The damping sole part 121b is provided with passage openings 127a, 127b, and 127c, which are dimensioned so that the barrier material parts 33b, 33c, 33d can be accommodated within an enclosing limitation edge 129a, 129b, or 129c of the stabilization device part 119c in passage openings 127a, 127b, and 127c.

(82) In another embodiment, no damping sole part 121 is proposed. In this case, the parts of the stabilization device 119a, 119b, and 119c have a flat surface without a limitation edge 129a, 129b, 129c, so that the barrier material 33 is positioned flush with the surface of the stabilization device in its openings. The composite sole is only formed by the barrier unit, which is constructed from the barrier unit 33, the stabilization device 119, and the outsole.

(83) The composite shoe sole parts 105 shown in FIG. 15 are shown obliquely in FIG. 16 in an arrangement separate from one another, but in an oblique view from the bottom. It can be seen that the outsole parts 117a to 117c are provided in the usual manner with an outsole profile, in order to reduce the danger of slipping. The bottoms of the stabilization device parts 119a and 119e on their bottom also have several knob-like protrusions 131, which serve to accommodate the complementary recesses seen in FIG. 15 in the tops of outsole parts 117a, 117b, and 117c for positionally correct joining of the outsole parts 117a to 117c to the corresponding stabilization device parts 119a and 119c. Openings 135a, 135b, 135c, and 135d are also visible in the stabilization device parts 119b and 119d in FIG. 16, which are covered with the corresponding barrier material 33a, 33b, 33c, and 33d in a water-vapor-permeable manner, so that the trough holes 31 (FIG. 4) of the composite shoe sole 105 are closed in a water-vapor-permeable manner. In one embodiment, the barrier materials are arranged so that their smooth surface is directed toward the outsole. The openings 135a to 135d are each bridged with a stabilization mesh 137a, 137b, 137c, and 137e, which form a stabilization structure in the area of the corresponding opening of the stabilization device 119. These stabilization meshes 137a-137e also act against the penetration of larger foreign objects up to the barrier material 33 or even farther, which could be felt as unpleasant by the user of the shoe.

(84) Connection elements 139, provided on the axial ends of the stabilization part 119b on the midfoot side, must also be mentioned, which, during assembly of the stabilization device 119 from the three stabilization device parts 119a to 119c, can lie overlapping on the upper side of the stabilization-device parts 119a and 119c facing away from the outsole application side, in order to be attached there, for example, by welding or gluing.

(85) FIG. 17 shows, in an enlarged view compared to FIG. 16, the two stabilization-device parts 119a and 119b before attaching to each other, whereby the openings 135b to 135d of the stabilization device part 119c on the forefoot side and the stabilization mesh structure situated in it can be seen in particular. It is also clear that the middle stabilization device part 119b shows raised frame and mesh parts on the longitudinal sides. The barrier material piece 33a to be placed on the stabilization device part 119b, is provided on its long sides with correspondingly raised side wings 141. Through these raised parts, both the shoe-stabilization part 119b and the barrier material piece 33a, an adjustment to the shape of the lateral midfoot sides is achieved. The remaining barrier material parts 33b to 33d are essentially flat, corresponding to the essentially flat design of the stabilization-device part 119c on the forefoot side.

(86) It should be added in general here that the at least one opening 135a-135d of the stabilization device 119b and 119c is bounded by the frame 147 of the stabilization device 119 and not by the bars 37 present in the openings 135a-135d. The limitation edges 129a-129c depicted in FIG. 17 represent part of the corresponding frame 147 in this embodiment.

(87) It is also possible, instead of several barrier-material parts 33b, 33c, 33d, to use a one-piece barrier-material part. The mounting protrusions 150 and/or limitation edges 129a-129c must be configured accordingly.

(88) Another modification of the barrier-unit part provided for the midfoot area with the stabilization device part 119b and the barrier material part 33a is shown in FIGS. 18 and 19: in FIG. 18 in the finished mounted state and in FIG. 19 while these two parts are still separate from each other. In contrast to the embodiment in FIG. 17, in the modification of FIGS. 18 and 19, the stabilization part 119b provided for the midfoot area is only provided with an opening and a stabilization mesh 137a situated in it in the middle area, whereas the two wing parts 143 on the long sides of the stabilization device part 119b are designed to be continuous, i.e., have no opening, but are only provided on their bottom with stabilization ribs 145. The barrier-material piece 33a provided for this barrier-unit part is accordingly narrower than in the embodiments of FIGS. 18 to 19, because it does not require the side wings 141 according to FIG. 17.

(89) While embodiments of the composite shoe sole according to the invention 105 were explained with reference to FIGS. 12 to 19, embodiments in details of footwear according to the invention will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 20 through 27, the footwear being constructed with the composite shoe sole according to the invention. FIGS. 20, 22, and 23 show a embodiment of the footwear according to the invention in which the shaft bottom has a shaft-mounting sole and also a functional-layer laminate, while FIGS. 24 and 25 show a embodiment of footwear according to the invention in which a shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 237 simultaneously assumes the function of shaft-mounting sole 233. FIG. 26 shows another embodiment of the composite shoe sole 105.

(90) In the two embodiments depicted in FIGS. 20 to 25, the shoe 101, in agreement with FIGS. 12 and 13a-d, has a shaft 103 that has an outer material layer 211 situated on the outside, a liner layer 213 situated on the inside, and a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable shaft functional layer 215 situated in between, for example, in the form of a membrane. The shaft functional layer 215 can be present in connection with the lining layer 213 as a two-ply laminate or as a three-ply laminate, whereby the shaft functional layer 215 is embedded between the liner layer 213 and a textile backing 214. The upper shaft end 217 is closed or open with respect to the foot-insertion opening 113 (FIG. 12), depending on whether the sectional plane of the cross-sectional view depicted in FIGS. 24 and 20 lies in the forefoot area or the midfoot area. On the shaft-end area 219 on the sole side, the shaft 103 is provided with a shaft bottom 221, with which the lower end of the shaft 103 on the sole side is closed. The shaft bottom 221 has a shaft-mounting sole 223, which is connected to the shaft-end area 219 on the sole side, which occurs in the embodiments according to FIGS. 20 through 25 by means of a Strobel seam.

(91) In the case of the embodiments of FIGS. 20, 22, and 23, in addition to the shaft-mounting sole 233, a shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237 is provided, which is arranged beneath the shaft-mounting sole 233 and extends beyond the periphery of the shaft-mounting sole 233 into the shaft-end area 219 on the sole side. The shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237 can be a three-ply laminate, whereby the shaft-bottom functional layer 248 is embedded between a textile backing and another textile layer. It is also possible to provide the shaft-bottom functional layer 247 with the textile backing only. The outer material layer 211 in the shaft end area 219 on the sole side is shorter than the shaft functional layer 215, so that a protrusion of the shaft functional layer 215 with respect to the outer material layer 211 is created there and exposes the outer surface of the shaft functional layer 215. Mostly for mechanical tension relief of the protrusion of the shaft functional layer 215, a mesh band 241 or another material that can be penetrated with sealant is arranged between the end 238 of the outer material layer 211 on the sole side and the end 239 of the shaft functional layer 215 on the sole side, the long side of which, facing away from the Strobel seam 237, is joined by means of a first seam 243 to the end 238 of the outer material layer 211 on the sole side, but not to the shaft functional layer 215, and whose long side, facing the Strobel seam 235, is joined by means of Strobel seam 235 to the end 239 of the shaft functional layer 215 on the sole side and to the shaft mounting sole 233. The mesh band 241 preferably consists of a monofilament material, so that it has no water conductivity. The mesh band is preferably used for molded-on soles. If the composite sole is attached to the shaft by means of glue instead of the mesh band, the end 238 of the outer material layer 211 on the sole side can be attached by means of glue 249 to the lasting-shaft functional-layer laminate (FIG. 22). In the peripheral area 245, in which the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237 protrudes beyond the periphery of the shaft mounting sole 233, a sealing material 248 is arranged between the shaft-bottom functional layer 237 and the end 239 of the shaft functional layer 215 on the sole side, by means of which a waterproof connection is produced between the end 239 of the shaft functional layer 215 on the sole side and the peripheral layer 245 of the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237, this seal acting through the mesh band 241.

(92) The mesh-band solution depicted in FIGS. 20, and 23 to 25 serves to prevent water that runs down or creeps down on the outer material layer 211, from reaching the Strobel seam 235 and advancing into the shoe interior from there. This is prevented by the fact that the end 238 of the outer material layer 211 on the sole side ends at a spacing from the end 239 of the shaft functional layer 215 on the sole side, which is bridged with the non-water-conducting mesh band 241, and the sealing material 247, is provided in the area of the protrusion of the shaft functional layer 215. The mesh-band solution is known from document EP 0,298,360 B1.

(93) Instead of the mesh-band solution, all joining technologies used in the shoe industry for preferably waterproof joining of a shaft to the shaft bottom can be used. The depicted mesh-band solution and the lasting solution in FIG. 2 are example embodiments.

(94) The shaft structure depicted in FIG. 24 agrees with the shaft structure shown in FIG. 20, with the exception that no separate shaft-mounting sole is provided there, but the shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 237 simultaneously assumes the function of a shaft-mounting sole 233. According to it, the periphery of the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237 of the embodiment depicted in FIG. 24 is connected by a Strobel seam 235 to the end 239 on the sole side of the shaft functional layer 215 and the sealing material 248 is applied in the area of the Strobel seam 235, so that the transition between the end 239 on the sole side of the shaft functional layer 215 and the peripheral area of the shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 237 is sealed completely, including the Strobel seam 235.

(95) In both embodiments of FIGS. 20 and 24, an identically constructed composite show sole 105 can be used, as shown in these two diagrams. Since sectional views of shoes 101 are shown in the forefoot area in FIGS. 20 and 24, these diagrams are a sectional view of the forefoot area of the composite shoe sole 105, i.e., a sectional view along an intersection line running across the stabilization unit part 119c intended for the forefoot area with the barrier material piece 33c inserted in its openings 135c.

(96) The sectional view of the composite shoe sole 105 accordingly shows the stabilization device part 119c with its opening 135c, a bar of the corresponding stabilization mesh 137c bridging this opening, the outward protruding frame 129b, the barrier material piece 33c inserted into the frame 129b, the damping sole part 121b on the top side of the stabilization device part 119c, and the outsole part 117b on the bottom of the stabilization device part 119c. To this extent, the two embodiments of FIGS. 20 to 24 correspond.

(97) FIG. 21 shows an example of a barrier unit 35, in which a piece of barrier material 33 is provided on the bottom with at least one stabilization bar 37. On the surface area of the barrier material 33 opposite the stabilization bar 37, an adhesive 39 is applied, with which the barrier material 33 is joined to the waterproof, water-vapor-permeable shaft bottom 221, which is situated above the barrier unit 35 outside the composite shoe sole. The glue 39 is applied in such a way that the shaft bottom 221 is joined to the barrier material 33 wherever no material of the stabilization bar 37 is situated on the bottom of the barrier material 33. In this way, it is ensured that the water-vapor-permeability function of the shaft bottom 115 is interfered with by glue 39 only where the barrier material 33 cannot permit any water-vapor transport in any case, because of the arrangement of the stabilization bar 37.

(98) Whereas the corresponding composite shoe sole 105 in FIGS. 20 and 24 is still separated from the corresponding shaft 103, FIGS. 22, 23, and 25 show, in an enlarged view and as a cutout, these two embodiments with the composite shoe sole 105 applied to the shaft bottom. In these enlarged views, the shaft-bottom functional layer 247 of the shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 237, in all embodiments, is preferably a microporous functional layer, for example, made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). As already mentioned above, however, different types of functional layer materials can also be used.

(99) In these enlarged cutout views of FIGS. 22, 23, and 25, the waterproof connection between the overlapping opposite ends of the shaft functional layer 215 and the shaft-bottom functional layer 247 created with the sealing material 248 can be seen particularly well. In addition, the involvement of a longitudinal mesh-band side in the Strobel seam 235 can also be seen more readily in FIGS. 20 and 24.

(100) FIG. 22 shows an embodiment, in which the composite sole 105 according to the invention is attached by means of attaching glue 250 to the shaft bottom. The shaft functional-layer laminate 216 is a three-ply composite with a textile layer 214, a shaft functional layer 215, and a lining layer 213. The end 238 of the outer material layer 211 on the sole side is attached with lasting glue 249 to the shaft functional-layer laminate 216.

(101) The attaching glue 250 is applied superficially to the surface of the composite sole, except for the trough holes 135 and the barrier material 33 arranged in the area of trough holes 135. When the composite sole is attached to the shaft bottom 221, the attaching glue 250 penetrates up to and partially into the shaft functional-layer laminate 216 and up to and partially into the edge areas of the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237.

(102) FIG. 23 is a view of the shaft structure according to FIG. 20 with a molded-on composite shoe sole. The three-ply shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 237 is then attached to the shaft mounting sole 233, so that the textile backing 246 faces the composite sole. This is advantageous, because the sole-molding material 260 penetrates more easily into the thin textile backing and can be anchored there and a firm connection to the shaft-bottom functional layer 237 is created.

(103) The barrier unit with the at least one opening 135 in the at least one piece of barrier material 33 is present as a prefabricated unit and is inserted into the injection mold before the molding process. The sole-molding material 260 is molded onto the shaft bottom accordingly, advancing up to the shaft functional-layer laminate 216 through the mesh band 241.

(104) FIG. 25 shows an enlarged and sectional view of FIG. 24. The composite sole 105 shows an additional embodiment of the barrier unit according to the invention. The shaft-stabilization device 119c forms a part of the composite sole 105 and does not extend here to the outer periphery of the composite sole 105. A piece of barrier material 33c is applied over the opening 135, so that the material 33c lies on the peripheral continuous flat limitation edge 130 of opening 135.

(105) The composite sole 105 can be attached to the shaft bottom 221 with attaching glue 250 or molded on with sole-molding material 260 (as shown).

(106) FIG. 25 also clearly shows that in the embodiment in which the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237 assumes the function of a shaft-mounting sole 233, the laminate comes to lie directly above the opposite top of the barrier material piece 33c, which is particularly advantageous. In this case, an air cushion that might adversely affect water-vapor removal cannot form between the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate 237 and the barrier material piece 33c, and the barrier material piece 33c, and especially the shaft-bottom functional layer 237, are situated particularly tight against the foot sole of the user of such a shoe, which improves water-vapor removal, which is also determined by the existing temperature gradient between the shoe interior and the shoe exterior.

(107) FIG. 26 is a view of another embodiment of the composite sole according to the invention. The perspective view shows several openings 135 in the shoe-stabilization device 119, which are arranged from the toe area to the heel area of the composite sole. The stabilization material 33 is therefore also present in the heel area. The outsole is formed by the outsole parts 117.

(108) FIG. 27 is a view of another embodiment of the composite sole according to the invention in a cross-sectional view. The composite sole 105 of this embodiment is quite similar to the composite sole depicted in FIG. 24. The composite sole 105 according to FIG. 27 has an outsole, in which a cross-section through the ball of the foot area of the composite sole 105 and therefore a cross-section through the corresponding outsole part 117b is shown in this diagram. However, the disclosure according to FIG. 27 also applies to the other areas of the composite sole 105, i.e., to its midfoot part and heel part. The outsole part 117b has a tread 153 that touches the floor during walking. The sectional view of the composite sole 105 of FIG. 27 shows the stabilization-device part 119c with its opening 135c, its upward protruding limitation edge 129b, the barrier material piece 33c inserted into the limitation edge 129b, the damping sole part 121b on the upper side of the stabilization device part 119c, and the outsole part 117b on the bottom of the stabilization part 119c. A support element 151 is applied to the bottom of the barrier material piece 133c. This extends from the side of the barrier material 33 facing the tread to the level of tread 153, so that the barrier material 33 is supported on the floor during walking by the support element 151. This means that a lower free end of the support element 151 in FIG. 27 touches this surface when the shoe provided with this composite sole stands on a surface. Through this support by the support element 151, during walking on such a surface, the barrier material piece 33c is held essentially in the position depicted in FIG. 27, so that it is prevented from bending under the load of the user of the shoe. Several support elements 151 can be arranged in opening 135c, in order to increase the support effect for the barrier material piece 33c and make its surface extent more uniform.

(109) The support function can also be obtained by the fact that the stabilization bar 137 depicted in FIG. 24 is simultaneously formed as the support element 151 by allowing the stabilization bar 137c not to end at a spacing from the bottom of the outsole part 117b serving as the tread, but extending it to the level of this bottom. The stabilization bar 137c is then given the dual function of stabilizing and supporting the barrier-material piece 33c. For example, the stabilization bars 33c depicted in FIG. 10 or the stabilization mesh 37d depicted in FIG. 11 can be formed fully or partially as support elements 151.

(110) With the sole structure according to the invention, a high water-vapor permeability is achieved, because, on the one hand, large-area trough holes in the composite shoe sole 105 are provided and these are closed with material of high water-vapor permeability, and because, at least in the area of the trough holes 31, there are no connections between the water-vapor-permeable barrier material 33 and the shaft-bottom functional layer 247 that prevent water-vapor exchange, and such a connection is, at most, present in the areas outside the trough holes 31 of the composite shoe sole 105 that do not participate actively in water-vapor exchange, such as the edge areas of the composite shoe sole 105. In the structure according to the invention, the shaft-bottom functional layer 247 is also arranged tightly in the foot, which leads to accelerated water-vapor removal.

(111) The shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 237 can be a multilayer laminate with two, three, or more layers. At least one functional layer is contained with at least one textile support for the functional layer, whereby the functional layer can be formed by a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable membrane 247, which is preferably microporous.

TEST METHODS

(112) Thickness

(113) The thickness of the barrier material according to the invention is tested according to DIN ISO 5084 (10/1996).

(114) Puncture Resistance

(115) The puncture resistance of the textile fabric can be measured with a measurement method used by the EMPA ([Swiss] Federal Material Testing and Research Institute), using a test device of the Instrom tensile-testing machine (model 4465). A round textile piece 13 cm in diameter is punched out with a punch and attached to a support plate in which there are 17 holes. A punch, on which 17 spike-like needles (sewing needle type 110/18) are attached, is lowered at a speed of 1000 mm/min far enough that the needles pass through the textile piece into the holes of the support plate. The force for puncturing the textile piece is measured by means of a measurement sensor (a force sensor). The result is determined from a test of three samples.

(116) Waterproof Functional Layer/Barrier Unit

(117) A functional layer is considered “waterproof,” optionally including the seams provided on the functional layer, when it guarantees a water-penetration pressure of at least 1×10.sup.4 Pa. The functional-layer material preferably guarantees a water penetration pressure of more than 1×10.sup.5 Pa. The water penetration pressure is then measured according to a test method in which distilled water, at 20±2° C., is applied to a sample of 100 cm.sup.2 of the functional layer with increasing pressure. The pressure increase of the water is 60±3 cm H.sub.2O per minute. The water-penetration pressure corresponds to the pressure at which water first appears on the other side of the sample. Details concerning the procedure are provided in ISO standard 0811 from the year 1981.

(118) Waterproof Shoe

(119) Whether a shoe is waterproof can be tested, for example, with a centrifugal arrangement of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,807.

(120) Water-Vapor Permeability of the Barrier Material

(121) The water-vapor permeability values of the barrier material according to the invention are tested by means of the so-called beaker method according to DIN EN ISO 15496 (09/2004).

(122) Water-Vapor Permeability of the Functional Layer

(123) A functional layer is considered “water-vapor-permeable”, if it has a water-vapor permeability number, Ret, of less than 150 m.sup.1×Pa×W.sup.−1. The water-vapor permeability is tested according to the Hohenstein skin model. This test method is described in DIN EN 31092 (02/94) or ISO 11092 (1993).

(124) Water-Vapor Permeability of the Shoe-Bottom Structure According to the Invention

(125) In an embodiment of the footwear according to the invention with a shoe-bottom structure that includes the composite shoe sole and the shaft-bottom functional layer or the shaft-bottom functional layer laminate situated above it, the shoe-bottom structure has a water-vapor permeability (MVTR—moisture vapor transmission rate) in the range from 0.4 g/h to 3 g/h, which can lie in the range from 0.8 g/h to 1.5 g/h and in a practical embodiment, is 1 g/h.

(126) The extent of water-vapor permeability of the shoe-bottom structure can be determined with the measurement method documented in EP 0,396,716 B1, which is conceived for measuring the water-vapor permeability of an entire shoe. To measure the water-vapor permeability of only the shoe-bottom structure of a shoe, the measurement method according to EP 0,396,716 B1 can also be used, in which the measurement is made with the measurement layout depicted in FIG. 1 of EP 0,396,716 B1 in two consecutive measurement scenarios, namely once for the shoe with a water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure and another time for an otherwise identical shoe with a water-vapor-impermeable shoe-bottom structure. From the difference between the two measurements, the percentage of water-vapor permeability that is attributed to the water-vapor permeability of the water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure can be determined.

(127) In each measurement scenario, using the measurement method according to EP 0,396,716 B1, the following sequence of steps was used: a) Conditioning of the shoe by leaving it in an air-conditioned room (23° C., 50% relative humidity) for at least 12 hours. b) Removal of the insert sole (foot bed) c) Lining the shoe with a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable lining material adapted to the shoe interior, which, in the area of the foot insertion opening of the shoe, can be sealed waterproof and water-vapor-tight with a waterproof, water-vapor-impermeable sealing plug (for example, made of Plexiglas and with an inflatable sleeve). d) Filling water into the lining material and closing the foot-insertion opening of the shoe with the sealing plug. e) Preconditioning the water-filled shoe by leaving it for a predetermined period (3 hours), during which the temperature of the water is kept constant at 35° C. The climate of the surrounding room is also kept constant at 23° C. and 50% relative humidity. The shoe is blown against frontally by a fan during the test with a wind velocity, on average, of at least 2 m/s to 3 m/s (to destroy a resting air layer that forms around the standing shoe, which would cause a significant resistance to water-vapor passage). f) Reweighing the shoe filled with water and sealed with the sealing plug after preconditioning (result: weight m2 (g)) g) Standing again in a test phase of 3 hours under the same conditions as in step e) h) Reweighing the sealed water-filled shoe (result: weight m3 (g)) after the 3-hour test phase i) Determining the water-vapor permeability of the shoe from the amount of water vapor that escapes through the shoe during the test time of 3 hours (m2−m3) (g) according to the relation M=(m2−m3) (g)/3 (h).

(128) After both measurement scenarios have been conducted, in which the water-vapor-permeability values are measured, on the one hand, for the entire shoe with a water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure (value A) and, on the other hand, for the entire shoe with the water-vapor-impermeable.sup.1 shaft-bottom structure (value B), the water-vapor-permeability value for the water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure alone can be determined from the difference A-B. .sup.1 Translator's Note: The German word, “wasserdampfdurchlässigen” should be “wasserdampfundurchlässigen. Changed in translation.

(129) It is important during measurement of water-vapor permeability of the shoe with the water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure to avoid a situation where the shoe or its sole stands directly on a closed substrate. This can be achieved by raising the shoe or by positioning the shoe on a mesh structure, so that it is ensured that the ventilation air stream can flow along—or, better beneath—the outsole.

(130) It is useful in each test layout to make repeated measurements for a certain shoe and to consider the averages from them, in order to be able to estimate the measurement scatter better. At least two measurements should be made for each shoe with the measurement layout. In all measurements, a natural fluctuation of the measurement results of ±0.2 g/h around the actual value, for example, 1 g/h, should be assumed. For this example, measured values between 0.8 g/h and 1.2 g/h could therefore be determined for the identical shoe. Influencing factors for these fluctuations could be the person performing the test or the quality of sealing on the upper shaft edge. By determining several individual measured values for the same shoe, a more exact picture of the actual value can be obtained.

(131) All values for water-vapor permeability of the shoe-bottom structure are based on a normally cut men's shoe of size 43 (French size), whereby the statement of the size is not standardized and shoes of different manufacturers could come out differently.

(132) There are Essentially Two Possibilities for the Measurement Scenarios:

(133) 1. Measurement of shoes with a water-vapor-permeable shaft, having

(134) 1.1 a water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure; 1.2 a water-vapor-impermeable shoe-bottom structure;
2. Measurement of shoes with a water vapor-impermeable shaft, having 2.1 a water-vapor-permeable shoe-bottom structure, 2.2 a water-vapor-impermeable shoe-bottom structure.
Elongation and Tensile Strength

(135) An elongation and tensile-strength test was conducted according to DIN EN ISO 13934-1 of 04/1999. Instead of five samples per direction, three were used. The spacing of the clamping jaws was 100 mm in all samples.

(136) Abrasion

(137) With respect to abrasion resistance, two measurement methods were used for the abrasion measurements to obtain the abrasion values in the comparison table. In the first place, a Martindale abrasion tester was used (“abrasion carbon” in the table), in which, according to Standard DIN EN ISO 124940-1; -2 (04/1999), the sample being tested is rubbed against sandpaper. Three deviations from the standard are then made: first, sandpaper with grain 180 plus standard foam is tightened in the sample holder. Second, standard felt from the test sample is tightened in the sample table. Third place, the sample is inspected every 700 passes and the sandpaper is changed. On the other hand, the abrasion resistance was tested in wet samples (in the table “abrasion wet”) according to DIN EN ISO 12947-1, -2, -4; with the deviation from the standard that the sample table with standard felt and standard wool were saturated with distilled water every 12,800 passes.

(138) In the abrasion tests, friction movements according to Lissajous figures were conducted. Lissajous figures represent a periodically repeating overall picture during a corresponding choice of the ratio of participating frequencies, which consist of individual figures offset relative to each other. Passage through one of these individual figures is referred to as a pass in connection with the abrasion test. In all materials 1 to 5, it was measured after how many passes the first holes occurred in the corresponding material and the material had therefore been scraped through. In the comparison table, two pass values are found for each of the materials, which were formed from the two abrasion tests with the same material.

(139) Hardness

(140) Hardness test according to Shore A and Shore D (DIN 53505, ISO 7819-1, DIN EN ISO 868)

(141) Principle:

(142) “Hardness according to Shore” is understood to mean the resistance to penetration of an object of a specific shape and defined spring force. The Shore hardness is the difference between the numerical value 100 and the penetration depth of the penetration object in mm under the influence of the test force divided by the scale value 0.025 mm.

(143) During testing according to Shore A, a truncated cone with an opening angle of 35° is used as the penetration object, and in Shore D, a cone with an opening angle of 30° and a tip radius of 0.1 mm is used. The penetration objects consist of polished, tempered steel.

(144) Measurement equation:

(145) $\mathrm{HS}=100-\frac{h}{0.025}$$F=550+75\mathrm{HSA}$$F=445\mathrm{HSD}$

(146) H in mm, F in mN

(147) Area of Application:

(148) Because of the different resolution of the two Shore hardness methods in different hardness ranges, materials with a Shore A hardness >80 are appropriately tested according to Shore D and materials with a Shore D hardness <30 according to Shore A.

(149) TABLE-US-00001 Hardness scale Application Shore A Soft rubber, very soft plastic Shore D Hard rubber, soft thermoplastic material

DEFINITIONS

(150) Barrier Material:

(151) A material that enables the shoe or parts/materials present in the shoe, such as outer material, sole, membrane, to be mechanically protected and resist deformation, and also penetration of external objects/foreign bodies, for example, through the sole, while retaining high water-vapor transport, i.e., high climate comfort in the shoe. The mechanical protection and resistance to deformation are mostly based on limited elongation of the barrier material.

(152) Fiber Composite:

(153) General term for a composite of fibers of any type. This includes leather, non-woven materials, or knits consisting of metal fibers, under some circumstances, also in a blend with textile fibers, also yarns and textiles produced from yarns (fabrics).

(154) A fiber composite must have at least two fiber components. These components can be fibers (for example, staple fibers), filaments, fiber elements, yarns, strands, etc. Each fiber component consists either of a material or contains at least two different material fractions, one fiber part softening/melting at a lower temperature than the other fiber part (bico). Such bico fibers can have a core-shell structure—a core fiber part enclosed with a shell fiber part here, a side-to-side structure or an island-in-the-sea structure. Such processing and machines are available from Rieter Ingolstadt, Germany and/or Schalfhorst in Monchengladbach, Germany.

(155) The fibers can be simply spun, multifilament, or several torn fibers with frayed ends looped to one another.

(156) The fiber components can be distributed uniformly or non-uniformly in the fabric composite.

(157) The entire fabric composite must preferably be temperature-stable, but at least to 180° C. A uniform and smooth surface on at least one side of the fiber composite is achieved by means of pressure and temperature. This smooth surface points “downward” to the ground/floor, so that a situation is achieved in which particles/foreign objects bounce off the smooth surface better or are repelled more simply.

(158) The properties of the surface or overall structure of the fiber composite or stabilization material depend on the selected fibers, the temperature, the pressure, and the period over which the fiber composite was exposed to temperature and pressure.

(159) Non-Woven Material:

(160) Here, the fibers are laid on a conveyor belt and tangled.

(161) Lay:

(162) A fishnet or sieve structure of the fibers. See EP 1,294,656 from Dupont.

(163) Felt:

(164) Wool fibers that are opened and hooked by mechanical effects.

(165) Woven Fabric:

(166) A fabric produced with warp and weft threads.

(167) Woven and Knit Fabric:

(168) A fabric formed by meshes

(169) Melting Point:

(170) The melting point is the temperature at which the fiber component or fiber part becomes liquid. Melting point is understood, in the field of polymer or fiber structures, to mean a narrow temperature range in which the crystalline areas of the polymer or fiber structure melt and the polymer converts to a liquid state. It lies above the softening temperature range and is a significant quantity for partially crystallized polymers. Molten means the change of state of aggregation of a fiber or parts of a fiber at a characteristic temperature from solid to viscous/free-flowing.

(171) Softening Temperature Range:

(172) The second fiber component of the second fiber part must only become soft/plastic, but not liquid. This means the softening temperature used lies below the melting point at which the components/fractions flow. The fiber component or parts of it are preferably softened, so that the more temperature-stable component is embedded or incorporated in the softened parts.

(173) The first softening temperature range of the first fiber component lies higher than the second softening temperature range of the second fiber component or the second fiber part of the second fiber component. The lower limit of the first softening range can lie below the upper limit of the second softening temperature range.

(174) Adhesive Softening Temperature:

(175) The temperature, at which softening of the second fiber component or the second fiber part occurs, at which its material exerts a gluing effect, so that at least part of the fibers of the second fiber component are thermally bonded to one another by gluing, a bonding stabilization of the fiber component occurs, which is greater than the bonding obtained in a fiber composite with the same materials for the two fiber components by purely mechanical bonding, for example, by needle bonding of the fiber composite. The adhesive softening temperature can also be chosen in such a way that softening of the fibers of the second fiber component occurs to an extent that gluing develops not only of fibers of the second fiber component to one another, but also partial or full enclosure of the individual sites of the fibers of the first fiber composite with softened material of the fibers of the second fiber composite occurs, i.e., partial or full embedding of those sites of the fibers in the first fiber composite in the material of the fibers of the second fiber component, so that a correspondingly increased stabilization bonding of the fiber composite is produced.

(176) Temperature Stability:

(177) If the stabilization device is molded-on, the barrier material must be temperature-stable for molding. The same applies to molding (about 170° C.-180° C.) or vulcanization of the shoe sole. If the stabilization device is to be molded-on, the barrier material must have a structure such that the stabilization device can at least penetrate into the structure of the barrier material, or optionally penetrate through it.

(178) Functional Layer/Membrane:

(179) The shaft-bottom functional layer, and optionally the shaft functional layer can be formed by a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable coating or a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable membrane, which can either be a microporous membrane or a membrane having no pores. In one embodiment of the invention, the membrane is expanded polytetrfluoroethylene (ePTFE).

(180) Appropriate materials for a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable functional layer include: polyurethane, polypropylene, polyester, including polyether-ester, and laminates thereof, as described in documents U.S. Pat. No. 4,725,418 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,493,870. However, expanded microporous polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) is particularly preferred, as described, for example, in documents U.S. Pat. No. 3,953,366 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,390, and expanded polytetrafluoroethylene provided with hydrophilic impregnation agents and/or hydrophilic layers; see, for example, document U.S. Pat. No. 4,194,041. A “microporous functional layer” is understood to mean a functional layer whose average pore size lies between about 0.2 μM and about 0.3 μm.

(181) The pore size can be measured with a Coulter Porometer (trade name), which is produced by Coulter Electronics, Inc., Hialeah, Fla., USA.

(182) Barrier Unit:

(183) The barrier unit is formed by the barrier material, and optionally by the stabilization device in the form of at least one bar and/or frame. The barrier unit can be present in the form of a prefabricated component.

(184) Composite Shoe Sole:

(185) A composite shoe sole consists of barrier material and at least one stabilization device and at least one outsole, as well as optionally additional sole layers, whereby the barrier material closes at least a trough hole extending through the thickness of the composite shoe sole.

(186) Trough Hole:

(187) A trough hole is an area of the composite shoe sole, through which water-vapor transport is possible. The outsole and the stabilization devices each have passage openings that overall form a trough hole through the entire thickness of the composite shoe sole. The trough hole is therefore formed by the intersection surface of the two passage openings. Any bars present are arranged within the peripheral edge of the corresponding trough hole and do not form a limitation of the trough hole. The area of the trough hole is determined by subtracting the area of all bridging bars, since these bar surfaces block water-vapor transport and therefore do not represent trough hole surfaces.

(188) Stabilization Device:

(189) The stabilization device acts as additional stabilization of the barrier material and is formed and applied to the barrier material in such a way that the water-vapor permeability of the barrier material is only slightly influenced, if at all. This is achieved by the fact that only a small area of the barrier material is covered by the stabilization device. The stabilization device is preferably directed downward toward the floor. The stabilization device is primarily assigned not a protective function, but a stabilization function.

(190) Opening of the Stabilization Device:

(191) The at least one opening of the stabilization device is bounded by its at least one frame. The area of an opening is determined by subtracting the area of all bridging bars.

(192) Shoe:

(193) A foot covering consisting of a composite shoe sole and a closed upper (shaft).

(194) Shoe Bottom:

(195) The shoe bottom includes all layers beneath the foot.

(196) Thermal Activation:

(197) Thermal activation occurs by exposing the fiber composite to energy, which leads to an increase in temperature of the material to the softening temperature range.

(198) Water-Permeable Composite Shoe Sole:

(199) A composite shoe sole is tested according to the centrifuge arrangement of the type described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,329,807. Before testing, it must be ensured that any shaft-bottom functional layer present is made water-permeable. A water-permeable composite shoe sole is assumed if this test is not passed. If necessary, the test is conducted with a colored liquid, in order to show the path of electricity through the composite shoe sole.

(200) Laminate:

(201) Laminate is a composite consisting of a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable functional layer with at least one textile layer. The at least one textile layer, also called a backing, primarily serves to protect the functional layer during processing. We speak here of a two-ply laminate. A three-ply laminate consists of a waterproof, water-vapor-permeable functional layer embedded between two textile layers, spot-gluing being applied between these layers.

(202) Waterproof Functional-Layer/Barrier Unit:

(203) A functional layer is considered “waterproof,” optionally including seams provided on the functional layer, if it guarantees a water-penetration pressure of at least 1×10.sup.4 Pa.

(204) Top of the Composite Shoe Sole:

(205) The “top” of the composite shoe sole is understood to mean the surface of the composite shoe sole that lies opposite the shaft bottom.

(206) Outsole:

(207) “Outsole” is understood to mean the part of the composite shoe sole that touches the floor/ground or produces the main contact with the floor/ground.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(208) 1 Fiber composite 2 First fiber component 3 Second fiber component 4 Core 5 Shell 6 Connection 21 Composite shoe sole 23 Outsole 25 Shoe-stabilization device 27 Outsole opening 29 Shoe-stabilization device opening 31 Trough hole 33 Barrier material

(209) 33a Barrier material

(210) 33b Barrier material

(211) 33c Barrier material

(212) 33d Barrier material 35 Barrier unit 37 Stabilization bar

(213) 37a Individual bar

(214) 37b Individual bar

(215) 37c Individual bar

(216) 37d Stabilization mesh 39 Glue 43 Circular surface 101 Shoe 103 Shaft 105 Composite shoe sole 107 Forefoot area 109 Midfoot area 111 Heel area 113 Foot insertion opening 115 Shaft bottom 117 Multipart outsole

(217) 117a Multipart outsole heel area

(218) 117b Multipart outsole ball of foot area

(219) 117c Multipart outsole toe area 119 Stabilization device

(220) 119a Heel area

(221) 119b Midfoot area

(222) 119c Forefoot area 121 Damping sole part

(223) 121a Damping sole part heel area

(224) 121b Damping sole part midfoot area [123] Outsole openings

(225) 123a Heel area

(226) 123b Midfoot area

(227) 123c Forefoot area 125 Passage opening in the heel area 119a of a stabilization device [127] Openings in the damping sole part

(228) 127a Heel area

(229) 127b Midfoot area

(230) 127c Forefoot area [129] Limitation edge of the shoe stabilization device

(231) 129a Midfoot area

(232) 129b Forefoot area

(233) 129c Forefoot area 131 Protrusions 133 Recesses [135] Stabilization-device openings

(234) 135a Midfoot area

(235) 135b Forefoot area

(236) 135c Forefoot area

(237) 135d Forefoot area [137] Stabilization mesh

(238) 137a Midfoot area

(239) 137b Forefoot area

(240) 137c Forefoot area

(241) 137d Forefoot area 139 Connection element 141 Side wings 143 Wing parts stabilization device 145 Stabilization rib 147 Fraying of stabilization device 150 Support protrusion 151 Support element 153 Tread 211 Outer material layer 213 Lining layer 214 Textile layer 215 Shaft functional layer 216 Shaft functional-layer laminate 217 Upper shaft end 219 Shaft-end area on the sole side 221 Shaft bottom 233 Shaft mounting sole 235 Strobel seam 237 Shaft-bottom functional-layer laminate 238 End of the outer material layer on the sole side 239 End of the shaft functional layer on the sole side 241 Seam band 243 First seam 244 Textile layer 245 Peripheral layer 246 Textile backing 247 Membrane 248 Sealing material 249 Lasting glue 250 Attaching glue 260 Sole-molding material

(242) TABLE-US-00002 COMPARATIVE TABLE Material type Sole split Non-woven Woven Non-woven Non-woven material, leather material, only material, only material, needle-bonded, needle-bonded needle-bonded needle-bonded thermally bonded; and thermally thermal surface bonded compression with 3.3 N/cm.sup.2/230° C./10 s Material number Material 1 Material 2 Material 3 Material 4 Material 5 Material 100% leather 100% PES 100% PES PES + bico PES + bico PES PES total 100% PES total 100% PES Basis weight 2383 206 125 398 397 (g/m.sup.2) Thickness (mm) 3.36 2.96 2.35 1.71 1.46 MVTR (g/m.sup.2 24 h) 3323 8086 9568 9459 9881 (1) Longitudinal 1 34 55 0 0 elongation at 50 N (%) Longitudinal 2 48 79 1 0 elongation at 100 N (%) Longitudinal 2 59 104 1 0 elongation at 150 N (%) Longitudinal 3106 324 152 641 821 tensile force (N) Longitudinal 40 94 107 26 27 tensile elongation (%) Transverse 0 32 46 0 0 elongation at 50 N (%) Transverse 1 43 63 1 0 elongation at 100 N (%) Transverse 1 52 75 1 0 elongation at 150 N (%) Transverse tensile 4,841 410 252 884 742 force (N) Transverse tensile 43 92 99 35 32 elongation (%) Puncture resistance 857 5 6 317 291 (N) Abrasion wet 25,600/30,100 20,600/20,600 20,700/16,500 70,200/70,200 614,000/704,000 (passes) (2) Abrasion carbon about 35,000 1,570/1,600 452/452 7,700/7,700 14,000/15,400 (passes) (2) (1) DIN EN ISO 15496 (September 2004) (2) DIN EN ISO 12947-1, -2 (April 1999)

(243) Men's shoe size 42/43 (French)

(244) Test time: 3 hours

(245) All shafts constructed identically, i.e., scatter only through natural scatter of the materials (leather, textile, etc.)

(246) Shaft can be designed waterproof

(247) Constant water amount in all shoes

(248) Insert soles removed for the test

(249) Shoe-bottom structures in numbers 2 and 3 comparable: In no. 1 only the outsole is closed, i.e., it has no openings

(250) TABLE-US-00003 Air Total shoe Average value Water-vapor stream Weight water-vapor of repetition permeability Sole water- over the m2 (g) Weight m3 permeability measurements of the shoe- vapor- shaft and before (g) after the MVTR = per shoe bottom Shoe Repetition permeable? under the beginning end of the (m2 − m3)/test number structure number measurements YES/NO sole of test test time (g/h) MVTR (g/h) (g/h) 1 1 No Yes 1106.66 1097.55 3.0 3.1 0 1 2 No Yes 1103.58 1095.03 2.8 1 3 No Yes 1102.98 1094.63 2.8 1 4 No Yes 1112.44 1102.54 3.3 1 5 No Yes 1143.9 1133.75 3.4 1 6 No Yes 1108.58 1098.42 3.4 1 7 No Yes 1102.62 1094.15 2.8 1 8 No Yes 1101.78 1093.16 2.9 1 9 No Yes 1117.55 1107.86 3.2 2 1 Yes Yes 1179.2 1167.06 4.0 4.0 4.0 − 3.1 = 0.9 2 2 Yes Yes 1156.7 1144.85 4.0 2 3 Yes Yes 1144.65 1132.97 3.9 2 4 Yes Yes 1159.46 1148.3 3.7 2 5 Yes Yes 1153.56 1142.5 3.7 2 6 Yes Yes 1175.88 1163.36 4.2 2 7 Yes Yes 1173.78 1160.84 4.3 2 8 Yes Yes 1165.54 1153.05 4.2 3 1 Yes Yes 1153 1140 4.3 4.3 4.3 − 3.1 = 1.2 3 2 Yes Yes 1168.42 1156.17 4.1 3 3 Yes Yes 1160.6 1146.98 4.5 3 4 Yes Yes 1183.8 1170.5 4.4