STRUCTURE IMPERMEABLE A L'EAU POUR ARTICLE CHAUSSANT

WATERPROOF SHOE STRUCTURE

Abrégé anglais

A waterproof shoe structure comprises an upper and a sole. The upper
comprises an outer layer, a lining layer, and a waterproof foot-like member.
The waterproof foot-like is integrally farmed of latex. The lining layer has a
foot-like configuration and is mounted inside the waterproof foot-like member.
The outer layer covers the waterproof foot-like member. The outer layer, the
lining layer, and the waterproof foot-like member are securely engaged
together. The sole is then securely engaged with the outer layer of the upper.

Revendications

What is claimed is:
1. A waterproof sloe structure comprising:
an upper comprising an outer layer, a lining layer, and a waterproof
foot-like member, the waterproof foot-like being integrally formed of latex,
the lining layer having a foot-like configuration and being mounted inside
the waterproof foot-like member, the outer layer covering the waterproof
foot-like member, the outer layer, the lining layer, and the waterproof
foot-like member being securely engaged together; and
a sole securely engaged with the outer layer of the upper.
2. The waterproof shoe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer
layer, the lining layer, and the waterproof foot-like member are sewn
together along a sewing line not lower than an angle area of the upper.
3. The waterproof shoe structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the water
foot-like member includes a bottom and a wail on the bottom.
4. The waterproof shoe structure as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
waterproof foot-like member is formed by immersing a foot-like mold into
liquid latex and then heating the foot-like mold until formation of a
foot-like member on an outer surface of the foot-like mold after
thermosetting of the liquid latex.
5. The waterproof shoe structure as claimed in claim 3, the waterproof
foot-like member is formed by filling liquid latex into a foot-like interior
space in a mold and then heating the mold until formation of a foot-like
member on an inner periphery defining the foot-like interior space.
6. A waterproof foot-like member for a waterproof shoe structure having an
outer layer and a lining layer, the waterproof foot-like member being
5

integrally formed of latex and attached between an outer layer and a lining
layer of the waterproof shoe stricture.
7. The waterproof shoe structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein the
waterproof foot-like member is formed by immersing a foot-like mold into
liquid latex and then heating the foot-like mold until formation of a
foot-like member on an outer surface of the foot-like mold after
thermosetting of the liquid latex.
8. The waterproof shoe structure as claimed in claim 6, the waterproof
foot-like member is formed by filling liquid latex into a foot-like interior
space in a mold and then heating the mold until formation of a foot-like
member on an inner periphery defining the foot-like interior space.
6

Description

3 CA 02368995 2002-O1-22
WVaterproof Shoe Structure
2 Background of the Invention
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a waterproof slhoe structure allowing easy
manufacture.
2. Descr~tion of the Related Art
'7 Figs. 1 and 2 the drawings illustrate a conventional waterproof shoe
s structure comprising a sole 12 and an upper 11. The upper 11 includes an
outer
layer 111, a lining layer 112, and a waterproof layer 113 between the outer
o layer 111 and the lining layer 112. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the lining
Layer 112
1 t and the waterproof layer 11.3 are sewn together and a waterproof adhesive
tape
12 114 is then applied along the sewing line. 'Next, the outer layer 1.11 is
sewn to
1 ~ the lining layer 112 to form a waterproof upper 1 l , which is then bonded
to the
14 sole 12 to form a waterproof shoe structure. The waterproof shoe structure
prevents entrance of ambient water into the shoe while walking through an
16 area accumulated with water or a grass with dewdrops. However, the steps of
I ~ applying the waterproof adhesive tape 114 slows down the processing
1 s procedure and is thus detrimental to mass production. In addition, the
19 waterproof adhesive tape 114 would fall as a result of friction duxing
walking.
Summary of the Invention
21 An object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof shoe
22 structure allowing easy manufacture.
23 A waterproof shoe structure in accordance with the present invention
24 comprises an upper and a sole. The upper comprises an outer layer, a Lining
Layer, and a waterproof foot-like member. The waterproof foot-Like is
2~ integrally formed of latex. The lining Layer has a foot-Like configuration
and is
i

CA 02368995 2002-O1-22
1 mounted inside the waterproof foot-like member. The outer layer covers the
2 waterproof foot-like member. The outer layer, the lining layer, and the
3 waterproof .foot-like member are securely engaged together. The sole is then
securely engaged with the outer layer of the upper.
s In an embodiment of the invention, the outer layer, the lining layer, and
6 the waterproof foot-like member are sewn together along a sewing line not
'7 lower than an angle area of the upper. The water foot-like member includes
a
bottom and a wall on the bottom. The waterproof foot-like member is formed
by immersing a foot-like mold into liquid latex and then heating the foot-like
to mold until formation of a foot-like member on an outer surface of he foot-
like
t t mold after thermosetting of the liquid latex. In an alternative
embodiment, the
12 waterproof foot-like member is formed by filling liquid latex into a foot-
like
t 3 interior space in a mold and then heating the mold until formation of a
I4 foot-like member on an inner periphery defining the foot-like interior
space.
15 Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become
16 more apparent from the following detailed description when taken in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
t s Brief Descriution of the Drawings
lg Fig. 1 is an exploded flattened perspective view of a conventional
Zo waterproof shoe structure.
21 Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of conventional waterproof shoe
22 structure.
23 Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a waterproof shoe structure in
24 accordance with the present invention.
2s Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the waterproof shoe structure in accordance
2~ with the present invention.
2

CA 02368995 2002-O1-22
1 Fig. S is a schematic view illustrating formation of a waterproof foot-like
2 member of the waterproof shoe structure.
Fig. 6 is a schematic view illustrating an alternative embodiment for
formation of the waterproof foot-Like member of tlae waterproof shoe
structure.
Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments
s Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, a waterproof shoe structure in accordance with
the present invention generally comprises a sole 24 and an upper 20. The
s upper 20 comprises an outer layer 21, a lining layer 23, and a waterproof
s foot-like member 22. The outer layer 21 includes at Least one reinforcing
piece
l 0 211 sewn thereto. In addition, the outer layer 21 may have patterns on an
outer
11 surface thereof.
12 The waterproof foot-like member 22 is integrally formed of latex to
13 include a bottom 222 and an upper wall 223 on the bottom 222. A space 221
is
t4 defined in the waterproof foot-like member 22. Tn this embodiment,
referring
1 s to Fig. 5, the waterproof foot-like member 22 is formed by means of
16 immersing a foot-like mold 3 into liquid latex 4 and then heating the foot-
like
17 mold 3 until formation of a foot-like member 22 on an outer surface of the
1s foot-like mold after thermosetting of the liquid latex 4. The foot-like
member
19 22 is then removed from the foot-like mold 3. In an alternative embodiment
2o shown in Fig. 6, liquid latex 4 is filled into a foot-like interior space 9
in a
21 mold 8, and the mold 8 is then heated until formation of a foot-like member
22
22 on an inner periphery defining th.e foot-Like interior space 9.
23 The lining layer 23 is formed by sewing a flat piece of material to form a
24 foot-like configuration having a space 231 fox receiving' a foot of a
wearer. Fig.
25 3 shows the sewing line 232 in a bottom of the foot-like configuration 23.
3

CA 02368995 2002-O1-22
1 In assembly, the foot-like member 22 is mounted around the lining Layer
2 23 of the foot-like configuration, and the outer layer 21 covers the wall
223 of
3 the foot-like member 22 to form an upper 20 after sewing the foot-like
member 22, the outer layer 21, and the lining layer 23 together along a sewing
line 7 (Fig. 4) located not lower than an ankle area 6 (Fig. 4) of the upper
20.
6 Next, the upper 20 is bonded to thie sole 24 along an outer face of a lower
edge
212 (Fig: 3) of the outer layer 21 and an inner face of an upper edge 241
(Fig.
s 3) of the sole 24. Alternatively, the upper 20 and the sole 24 are sewn
together
along the lower edge 2l2 of the outer layer 21 and the upper edge 241 of the
1 o sole 24. Thus; a waterproof shoe stn~cture is formed.
11 Since the waterproof foot-like member 22 is ihtegrally formed o~ latex and
12 has no seam, it can be easily mounted to the outer face of the lining layer
23,
13 thereby allowing easy manufacture. In addition, the foot-like member 22,
the
14. outer layer 21, and the lining layer 23 are sewn together along a sewing
line 7
located not lower than an ankle area 6 of the upper 20. Thus; the sewing holes
16 on the sewing line 7 would not affect the waterproof effect.
1 ~ Although the invention has been explained in relation to its preferred
1 ~ embodiment, it is to be understood that many other possible modifications
and
19 variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as
2o hereinafter claimed.
21

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