ES2906210T3 - Method for producing a waterproof boot and waterproof boot produced with said method - Google Patents

Abstract

Method for manufacturing a waterproof boot, comprising: - a step of arranging a waterproof sock (2) made of synthetic rubber; - a step of arranging a lower part (4) provided with a sole (4A) and with a raised edge (4B) peripherally fixed in a single body to the sole (4A); - a step of inserting a rigid form (5) inside said waterproof sock (2); - a step of associating said waterproof sock (2) to said lower part (4) with the interposition of a layer of glue (6); - a step of extracting said rigid form (5) from said waterproof sock (2); said method being characterized by the fact that it further comprises: - a step of sewing the raised edge (4B) of said lower part (4) to said waterproof sock (2) along an annular line of stitches ( 7); - a step of sealing the stitching points (7) with a sealing layer (8) located on said annular line of stitching points (7).

Description

DESCRIPTION

Method for producing a waterproof boot and waterproof boot produced with said method Field of application

The present invention relates to a method for producing a waterproof boot and a waterproof boot produced with said method, according to the preamble of the respective independent claims.

The present invention has application in the field of footwear in general, usable for the most generalized purposes such as in the rain, in the snow or on wet ground, or for other "outdoor" uses such as hiking, hunting, navigation or the like. .

More in detail, the present boot is adapted for an advantageous use as a travel shoe, since it can adopt a limited volume that allows an easier placement of it in the suitcase.

Therefore, the invention is inserted in the context of the industrial field of shoe production.

technique field

In the field of footwear, boots are known that have a waterproof upper part intended to envelop the foot and part of the leg, generally up to the tibia, that is, in the vicinity of the area underlying the knee joint. , and a sole attached below the upper, usually a sturdy sole to grip the ground. The upper part defines the foot and leg containment seat; it is below and peripherally fixed to the sole through fixing means such as by sewing and/or glue or by means of a vulcanization process. For example, the sole is made of rubber and is fixed to the upper part by means of a perimeter stitching.

Boots are known which are constituted by an external component (normally called a shell or cover) and by an internal component (normally called a liner) inserted inside the external component. Generally, the internal component is made of a highly breathable material, while the external component is made of a waterproof material or possibly a waterproof and breathable material.

In a known embodiment, the boot may also have a lining, in the form of a bag, sewn inside the boot and acting as a waterproof element in case the boot is immersed in water. Patent application US 2008/0110051 describes another boot of known type that is provided with a rubber cover that covers the part of the foot from the upper part to the sole and is fixed to the upper part by means of a layer of adhesive material . This document describes a method for producing a waterproof boot according to the preamble of claim 1 and a waterproof boot according to the preamble of claim 8, respectively. Boots of known type currently available on the market and briefly described so far have proven in practice that they are not without drawbacks. A major drawback of such footwear lies in the inability to meet high waterproofing requirements with a simple and inexpensive production process.

In addition, the known boots that today guarantee great waterproofing are usually intended for a specific professional use such as nautical or fishing. They are quite heavy, generally rigid and therefore they are ultimately quite bulky and unsuitable to ensure indiscriminate use and, in particular, for example easy transport in a suitcase or extemporaneous use if required.

Therefore, there is a need in the market for a waterproof boot that is obtained by production processes, that allows limited costs to be guaranteed, and that allows high ease of use, as well as high waterproofing performance.

Presentation of the invention

In this situation, the problem underlying the present invention is therefore to overcome the drawbacks of known boot manufacturing processes by presenting a waterproof boot manufacturing process that is simple to achieve.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof boot that is simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a waterproof boot that is capable of guaranteeing an optimal hermetic seal.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof boot that is light and capable of being packed in a limited volume, so that it can be easily carried in a suitcase. Another object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof boot that has a nice appearance.

Brief description of the drawings

The technical characteristics of the invention, in accordance with the objectives mentioned above, can be clearly seen in the content of the claims indicated below and the advantages thereof will be clearer in the following detailed description, which is given with reference to the attached drawings, which represent a merely exemplary and non-limiting embodiment of the invention, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a first side view of the boot, object of the present invention;

- figure 2 shows an enlarged detail of the boot of figure 1;

- figure 3 shows the boot of figure 1 in a rear view;

- Figure 4 shows a second side view of the boot, object of the present invention, with some parts in exploded view to better illustrate other parts and with a rigid form of the production method according to the invention illustrated above;

- Figure 5 shows two boots, object of the present invention, arranged one in front of the other in a compact way for its transport;

- Figure 6 shows a boot, object of the present invention, in a first embodiment of a compact form for transport, obtained by folding a waterproof sock on itself;

- Figure 7 shows a boot, object of the present invention, in a second embodiment of a compact form for transport, obtained by laterally rolling a waterproof sock around the lower part.

Detailed description of a preferred embodiment

With reference to the attached drawings, the reference number 1 indicates, in general, a waterproof boot, object of the present invention.

The boot 1 is advantageously designed to be worn by an end user both as technical footwear for carrying out certain activities (hunting, fishing, etc.) and as conventional footwear.

The method for manufacturing the waterproof boot 1 according to claim 1, object of the present invention, comprises a stage of arranging a waterproof sock 2 made of synthetic rubber, advantageously made, for example, of neoprene or a synthetic fiber, in particular , polyurethane fiber, covered with an elastic waterproofing film, in particular also polyurethane. Advantageously, ornamental designs may be provided on the stretch film to decorate the boot.

This stage of arranging the waterproof sock 2 can be obtained by heat-sealing flaps of segments belonging to a single shape, or to multiple shapes of sheets made of said synthetic rubber, whereby the procedure allows the waterproof sock 2 to be anatomically shaped substantially in accordance with the shape of the foot.

In the attached figures the lines 3 for joining opposite fins of said material can be seen. Other methods for bonding opposite flaps of the synthetic rubber sheet(s) together to form a sock shape can be envisaged, which will not be described in detail below as they are well known to those skilled in the art.

More in detail, the waterproof sock 2 is composed of a first foot-shaped part 2A and a second tubular leg-shaped part 2B, and said two parts 2A and 2B are joined together without interruption. The method according to the invention also comprises a step of arranging a lower part 4 provided with a sole 4A and with a raised edge 4B fixed peripherally in a single body to the sole 4A. Said raised edge 4B defines a seat 40 intended for the lower part of the waterproof sock 2 to engage therein, as will be specified later.

The lower part 4 formed in this way is known in the technical jargon of the sector as "box bottom".

At this point, a stage is arranged to insert a rigid form 5 inside the waterproof sock 2. The rigid form 5 is shaped according to the model of boot 1 that it is desired to obtain and in itself is of a type known to those skilled in the art. in the footwear industry. This is preferably made of plastic, although it could also be made of other materials and, in particular, of wood.

Then, a step is carried out to associate the waterproof sock 2 to the lower part 4 with the interposition of a layer of glue 6.

Due to the presence of the rigid form 4 inside the waterproof sock 2, a correct adhesion of the sheet, in particular the polyurethane sheet, to the lower part 4 by engaging opposite surfaces is possible.

The layer of glue 6 can only be interposed between the sole 4A or the raised edge 4B and the waterproof sock 2 or advantageously between the entire lower part 4 and the waterproof sock 2.

The layer of glue has been indicated in figure 6 only on the waterproof sock 2 on its outer surface facing the inner surface of the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4.

The aforementioned association step advantageously provides for a step of pressing the waterproof sock 2 onto the lower part 4 by means of a bell-shaped press with at least two flexible containers defining two corresponding volumes that are inflated with air and that enclose the boot, compressing the waterproof sock 2 at the bottom 4 and thus making them adhere to each other optimally.

Once the waterproof sock 2 has been fixed to the bottom 4 due to the layer of glue 6, the step of extracting the rigid form 5 from the waterproof sock 2 can take place.

According to the idea behind the present invention, the method further comprises a step of sewing the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4 to the waterproof sock 2 along an annular line of stitches 7.

Furthermore, in order to maintain the waterproofness of the boot 1, a step for sealing the stitching points 7 with a layer of sealant 8 is also necessarily carried out, which is placed on the annular line of stitching points 7 mentioned above.

The idea behind the invention consists, therefore, in associating a particular upper with a waterproof sock 2 to systems for fixing it to the lower part 4 which, on the one hand, maintain its waterproofness and, on the other hand, , give the boot the look and feel of a walking boot.

The aforementioned step of sewing the raised edge 4B to the sock 2 along an annular line of sewing stitches 7 is itself an operation well known to those skilled in the art, for example, in sneakers-type footwear and referred to in the technical jargon of the technical field " opanka stitch" or "box stitch".

The step of sealing the stitching points can advantageously be carried out by spreading the sealing layer 8 which is obtained in silicone rubber and/or polyurethane rubber.

Otherwise, said sealing step can be performed by depositing the sealing layer 8 in the form of a hot-stretching tape on the above-mentioned seam line.

Advantageously, according to one embodiment of the method for manufacturing the boot 1, object of the present invention, the waterproof sock 2 is made of a particularly flexible material (softer, therefore, than the lower part 4), advantageously it is made in neoprene, and with a thickness between 1 mm and 5 mm, so that the waterproof sock 2 and, in particular, its leg-shaped part 2B and the neck part 2A' of the foot-shaped part 2A, it is foldable in a compact form substantially contained in the height S of the foot-shaped part 2A calculated in the unfolded configuration of the waterproof sock 2 itself. The height S is calculated substantially from where the concavity of the neck part ends 2A' of the foot-shaped part 2A, as can be seen in attached figure 1.

Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 will occupy, in the aforementioned compact form, the seat 40 of the lower part 4, reaching no more than twice the thickness S' of its raised edge 4B, thus minimizing its volume in the necessary rigid part of the lower part 4.

The boot 1 thus obtained is advantageously adapted, therefore, to be modified in the compact form mentioned above in order to limit the volume thereof and, therefore, to be more easily placed in a suitcase.

Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 can be compactly configured during use, for example during transport or containment of the boot 1 within a suitcase or package.

The sock 2 is advantageously made of synthetic fiber, in particular polyurethane fiber, covered with an elastic waterproofing film, in particular polyurethane.

In turn, the lower part 4 is advantageously made of a material selected from: rubber, TR, TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane), EVA (ethyl vinyl acetate), PU (polyurethane).

The waterproof boot 1 and its production procedure thus conceived thus achieve the pre-established objectives.

The object of the present invention is also a waterproof boot according to claim 8, which will be described below using, for simplicity of description, the same reference numbers indicated above for its preferable but non-limiting production method. . The boot 1 according to the invention comprises a waterproof sock 2 made of synthetic rubber, which is composed of a first foot-shaped part 2A and a second tubular leg-shaped part 2B, joined together without interruption. It is then envisaged: a lower part 4 provided with a sole 4A and a raised edge 4B fixed peripherally in a single body to the sole 4A and means for fixing the waterproof sock 2 to the lower part 4.

The lower part 4 is provided with the sole 4A and the raised edge 4B, which is fixed peripherally in a single body to the sole 4A. Said raised edge 4B defines the seat 40 intended to be engaged by the lower part of the waterproof sock 2.

The lower part 4 formed in this way is known in the technical jargon of the sector as "box bottom".

In order to fix the sock 2 to the lower part, a step is provided to insert a rigid shape 5 inside the waterproof sock 2. The rigid shape 5 is shaped according to the model of boot 1 that it is desired to obtain and in itself is of the well type. known to those skilled in the art in the field of footwear. This is preferably made of plastic, although it could also be made of other materials, in particular wood.

Then, a step of associating the waterproof sock 2 to the lower part 4 with the interposition of a layer of glue 6 is carried out.

Due to the presence of the rigid form 5 inside the waterproof sock 2, it is possible to achieve a correct adhesion of the sheet, in particular the polyurethane sheet, to the lower part 4 by engaging opposite surfaces. The layer of glue 6 can be interposed only between the sole 4A or the raised edge 4B and the waterproof sock 2 or advantageously between the entire lower part 4 and the waterproof sock 2.

The layer of glue has been indicated in figure 4 only on the waterproof sock 2 on its outer surface which is oriented towards the inner surface of the raised edge 4B of the bottom 4.

The aforementioned association step advantageously provides for a step of pressing the waterproof sock 2 onto the lower part 4 by means of a bell-shaped press with at least two flexible containers defining volumes that are inflated with air and that enclose the boot , compressing the waterproof sock 2 at the bottom 4 and thus making them adhere to each other optimally.

Once the waterproof sock 2 has been fixed to the lower part 4 due to the layer of glue 6, the step of extracting the rigid form 4 from the waterproof sock 2 can take place. Advantageously, a step of sewing the bottom can then take place. raised edge 4B of the lower part 4A to the waterproof sock 2, along an annular line of stitching points 7. Therefore, the means of fixing the sock 2 to the lower part 4 comprise a layer of glue 6 interposed between the waterproof sock 2 and the lower part 4 as well as advantageously an annular line of stitching 7, which joins the raised edge 4B of the lower part 4A to the waterproof sock 2.

The sewing of the raised edge 4B to the sock 2 along an annular line of sewing stitches 7 is itself a well-known operation, for example, in sneakers-type footwear, and referred to in the technical jargon of the field as " sewn opanka"" or "box sewn". The means of attachment for fixing the sock 2 to the bottom 4 they also preferably comprise a sealing layer 8 located on the annular line of stitching points 7 to achieve a sealing of the same stitching points 7.

The sealing layer 8 is preferably made of silicone rubber and/or polyurethane rubber, or is otherwise obtained in the form of a tape that is adhered by hot stretching on the seam line 7.

Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 is made of neoprene or is otherwise made of a synthetic fiber, in particular polyurethane fiber, coated with an elastic waterproofing film, in particular polyurethane.

In turn, the lower part 4 is preferably made of a material selected from: rubber, TR, TPU, EVA, PU.

The waterproof sock 2 is in fact made of a particularly flexible material (softer than the lower part 4), advantageously neoprene, and with a thickness between 1 mm and 5 mm so that the waterproof sock 2 and, in particular, its leg-shaped part 2B and the neck part 2A' of the foot-shaped part 2A, is foldable into a compact C-shape substantially contained in the height S of the foot-shaped part 2A. Said height S is calculated in the unfolded configuration of the waterproof sock 2 itself. Height S is more clearly calculated starting substantially from where the concavity of the neck part 2A' of the foot-shaped part 2A ends, as can be seen in figure 1 attached.

Preferably, the waterproof sock 2 will occupy the seat 40 of the lower part 4 in the aforementioned compact C shape, reaching no more than twice the thickness S' of its raised edge 4b.

Advantageously, the waterproof sock 2 is foldable into a compact C-shape for transport with overlapping folds 20 of the leg-shaped portion 2B formed substantially across the width of the boot 1, as illustrated in the example of Figure 6 .

Advantageously, there are between two and five folds 20.

Otherwise, according to the embodiment of Figure 7, the waterproof sock 2 is foldable into the compact C-shape for transportation, by winding laterally around the bottom 4 of the boot, for example, by completing a number of revolutions or parts of revolution between 1 and 3 revolutions.

The boot 1 thus obtained is advantageously adapted, therefore, to be modified in order to attain the aforementioned compact C-shape in order to limit its size and therefore to facilitate its placement in a suitcase.

The waterproof sock 2 can be obtained by heat sealing flaps of segments belonging to a single shape or to multiple shapes of sheets of said synthetic rubber. In this way, it is possible to provide a waterproof sock 2 that has an anatomical shape substantially in accordance with the shape of the foot.

In the attached figures, lines 3 for joining opposite fins of said material can be seen. Other methods for joining opposite flaps of the sheet segments made of synthetic rubber together to obtain the shape of a sock can also be envisaged, which will not be described in detail here as they are well known to those skilled in the art.

Claims (11)

1. Procedure for manufacturing a waterproof boot, comprising: - a step of arranging a waterproof sock (2) made of synthetic rubber; - a step of arranging a lower part (4) provided with a sole (4A) and with a raised edge (4B) peripherally fixed in a single body to the sole (4A); - a step of inserting a rigid form (5) inside said waterproof sock (2); - a step of associating said waterproof sock (2) to said lower part (4) with the interposition of a layer of glue (6); - a step of extracting said rigid form (5) from said waterproof sock (2); said procedure being characterized by the fact that it further comprises: - a step of sewing the raised edge (4B) of said lower part (4) to said waterproof sock (2) along an annular line of sewing stitches (7); - a step of sealing the stitching points (7) with a sealing layer (8) located on said annular line of stitching points (7). 2. Method for producing a waterproof boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing step is carried out by spreading said sealing layer (8), which is obtained in silicone rubber and/or polyurethane rubber . 3. Method for producing a waterproof boot according to claim 1, characterized in that said sealing step is carried out by depositing said sealing layer (8), which is obtained in the form of a tape which adheres by stretching on hot on the mentioned sewing line. 4. Process for producing a waterproof boot according to any of the preceding claims. characterized in that said step of arranging said waterproof sock (2) provides heat-sealed flaps to give said waterproof sock (2) an anatomical shape substantially in accordance with the shape of a foot. 5. Process for producing a waterproof boot according to any of the preceding claims. characterized in that said waterproof sock (2) has a thickness between 1 mm and 5 mm and is made of neoprene. 6. Method for producing a waterproof boot according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2) has a thickness between 1 mm and 5 mm and is made of a synthetic fiber, in made of polyurethane, covered with an elastic waterproofing film, made of polyurethane in particular. 7. Process for producing a waterproof boot according to any of the preceding claims. characterized in that said step of associating said waterproof sock (2) to said lower part (4) with the interposition of a layer of glue (6) comprises a step of spreading said layer of glue (6) on at least a part of the internal surface of said lower part (4) or on at least a part of the external surface of said waterproof sock (2), and a step of pressing said waterproof sock (2) on said lower part (4) by means of a bell-shaped press with at least two flexible containers, whose volumes are inflated with air and enclose said boot (1). 8. Waterproof boot, comprising: - a waterproof synthetic rubber sock (2) that is made up of a first foot-shaped part (2A) and a second tubular leg-shaped part (2B), joined together without interruption; - a lower part (4) provided with a sole (4A) and a raised edge (4 ^b ) fixed peripherally in a single body to the sole (4A); - fixing means for fixing said waterproof sock (2) to said lower part (4) comprising at least one layer of glue (6) interposed between said waterproof sock (2) and said lower part (4); said boot being characterized by the fact that said fastening means comprise: - an annular line of stitches (7), joining the raised edge (4B) of said lower part (4) to said waterproof sock (2); - a sealing layer (8) located on said annular line of stitching points (7) to achieve a sealing of said stitching points (7); said leg-shaped part (2B) of said waterproof sock (2) is configured to be able to be folded into a compact shape (C) for transport, contained substantially in the height (S) of said foot-shaped part (2A) . 9. Waterproof boot according to claim 8, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2), in said compact form for transport, substantially occupies the thickness of no more than twice the thickness (S') of the raised edge (4B) of said lower part (4). Waterproof boot according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2), in said compact form for transport, is folded with folds (20) superimposed on said leg-shaped portion (2B) substantially in the width of said boot (1). Waterproof boot according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that said waterproof sock (2), in said compact form for transport, is rolled laterally around the lower part (4) of said boot ( one).