Plastic footwear with inner liner and outer liner of woven or non woven fabric

Abstract

A pressure injected plastic footwear is provided characterized in that comprising double liner made of fabric, one on the inside part and one on the outside part; both liners may be identical or different and provide the footwear with special characteristics such as being fire retardant, antifungal, anti-mold and hermetic to moisture and liquid water as well as thermal insulating.

Claims

1. A footwear comprising; an inner fabric liner, an outer fabric liner and a polymeric layer filling a space between the inner liner and the outer liner, wherein the liners and the polymeric layer form a sock shape having an upper portion and a sole portion; a filling valve having a centrally located orifice and a set of projections radiating outward from the orifice; wherein said filling valve is located in the sole portion between the inner liner and the outer liner, wherein said outer fabric liner has a hole corresponding to the orifice of the valve, wherein polymeric material is introduced into the hole and the valve whereby the set of projectings direct a flow of the polymeric material to completely fill the space between the inner liner and the outer liner to form the polymeric layer.

2. The footwear according to claim 1, wherein the polymeric material which forms the polymeric layer does not penetrate the inner and outer liners, and wherein the fabrics are selected from woven and nonwoven materials.

3. A method of manufacturing the footwear according to claim 1, wherein the method comprises: a. selecting the fabrics for the inner liner, the outer liner, and the polymeric layer; b. placing the inner liner in a male mold; c. placing and holding the hole of the valve with a filling orifice of the mold; d. placing the second liner covering the valve and the inner liner; e. closing the mold; and f. directing the flow of polymeric material to pass through the hole and the orifice of the filling valve.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein additional footwear accessories are added.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 is a top and front perspective view of the embodiment boot constructed according to the invention, showing the valve in its position within the footwear once manufactured.

(2) FIG. 2 is a right lateral cut view of the boot of FIG. 1 showing the layers conforming the boot constructed according to the present invention and the valve position.

(3) FIG. 3 is a left lateral cut view of the boot of FIG. 1 showing the layers conforming the boot constructed according to the present invention.

(4) FIG. 4 is a bottom plan view of the boot showing the location of the filling valve.

(5) FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the boot showing the location of the filling valve.

(6) FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of the valve according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) Referring to FIG. 1, it is shown an embodiment of the footwear including an auxiliary element or filling valve (1) for a mold (not shown) for a footwear (2) which provides the technical advantage of allowing the casting of a polymeric material (4) between two layers of textile material (fabric) (3, 5).

(8) Once casted and solidified the polymeric material (4) a footwear (2) has been formed with an inner liner (3) of textile material and an outer liner (5) also of textile material. It should be noted that along this description it should be understood as textile material any kind of woven or nonwoven textile with or without additional properties such as flame retardants, antifungal, deodorizing, anti-mold, electrically insulating and/or thermal, etc.

(9) It should be also understood that the textile material has to support the casting conditions of the polymeric material and that the operating conditions in the described method will vary according to the properties of the desired textile material.

(10) It should be also understood that once the footwear is formed it can be processed to impart it aesthetic or technical characteristics such as punching or incorporating metallic protection means in heels or toes.

(11) Once obtained the mold injection with the outer finishes characteristics of (leather appearance and/or synthetic or other finishes) and inner finishes (textile liners), the footwear can be customized with accessories such as hardware, buckles, plastisols, wallets and overwallets that allow us to give the footwear a more detailed presentation generating at sight and in the use the consistency of a footwear 100% handmade with the technical advantages described herein.

(12) Moreover, it should be considered that for the correct manufacturing of the footwear it is required the millimeter adjustment of the molds and that the guides ensure the location of the valve as well as fabrics avoiding leaks or offsets between the halves of the footwear mold.

(13) The filling valve (1) comprises an upper part (1A) and lower part (1B). The upper part is oriented towards the origin of the filling flow while the lower part is placed facing the opposite side of the sole and comprises a set of grooves or projections so that the flow of material (F) can flow towards the space generated between the inner liner and the outer liner.

(14) Footwear Forming Method

(15) It should be understood that the process is a process for pressure casting of polymeric material and that the intended uses may be aesthetic or technical such as for industrial heavy duty and a combination thereof, the process is performed in a mold with a core or heart (not shown) and its divided outer mold that is joined a line of centers.

(16) In order that the polymeric material pass from the outer face of the liner (5) to the space formed between the two liners (3) and (5), the second liner is perforated to form a hole communicating a feeding orifice (not shown) for filling the mold with a flow pass orifice (F) made of polymeric material (4) towards the first liner (3). The space between the two liners will be filled with the polymeric material and will constitute the body of the footwear.

(17) It is important to point out that the polymeric material (4) does not penetrate the fabric or textile liner (3) remaining trapped between the liner (5) and the liner (3).

(18) The method of preparing the footwear comprising the steps of:

(19) a. Selecting fabric for an inner liner in accordance with the intended use;

(20) b. Selecting fabric for an outer liner in accordance with the intended use;

(21) c. Selecting a polymeric material based on the intended use and on the selected fabrics;

(22) d. Selecting operating conditions in accordance with the selected polymeric material.

(23) e. Placing a textile material (3) in the form of a sock with suitable length according to the size and shape of the footwear, in a male mold;

(24) f. Placing and holding the filling valve with the hole (1C) of the valve coinciding with the filling orifice of the mold;

(25) g. Placing a second sock (5) of suitable woven or nonwoven fabric covering the valve and the first sock;

(26) h. Closing the footwear mold;

(27) i. Performing a pass of polymeric material (4) in order that said material penetrates the second sock (5) and pass through the hole (1C) of the filling valve and not penetrates the first sock (3);

(28) j. Optionally adding accessories.

(29) As accessories it should be understood physical elements such as metallic and/or plastic ornaments or operations such as polishing, bleached, punching, etc.

(30) Once the process is finished the footwear comprises a single piece constituted by an inner liner (3), a polymeric filler (4), a textile outer liner (5), a valve embedded in the footwear sole, the footwear sole, a heel and a body conforming what in the field is known simply as plastic footwear.

(31) The filling valve (1) can be provided with fastening elements to the fabric which are suitable for the effort to which the valve is submitted, for example to sharped protrusions for gripping fabrics made of plastic, metal, or a combination of both. It could be also be provided with elements helping in the positioning and fixation between the liners. Although the valve, in one embodiment, may be removed; it is preferred that said valve remains embedded and thus, the construction material of the valve not only support the working temperatures of the injection but mechanical stresses to which the footwear will be subjected in use.

(32) The footwear obtained with the process described above may have the appearance of a footwear made of leather or similar materials. The obtained footwear has the advantages of being waterproof footwear, which protects the user, from water, mud, low temperatures, problems with fungi, etc. But it also has and comprises the advantages and features of a high fashion footwear, with desired appearance and texture, for example, leather, synthetic and/or textile.