Waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes and shoe provided with said sole

Abstract

A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, including a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material. An upper functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor, affects at least part of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface of the lower component. An upper component is arranged substantially on top of the functional layer and includes a plurality of pumping elements, which are directed toward the upper part corresponding to the inside of the shoe. The functional layer is joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A waterproof and vapor-permeable sole for shoes, comprising in succession from the bottom:
 a vapor-permeable lower component made of polymeric material;   a functional layer, which as a whole is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor and affects at least a portion of the extension of the vapor-permeable surface of said lower component; and   an upper component, which is arranged substantially on top of said functional layer and includes a plurality of pumping elements, which are directed toward a portion corresponding to the inside of the shoe,   said functional layer being joined at least perimetrically and hermetically to at least one component of the sole.   
     
     
         24 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said lower component includes selectively:
 through holes with small dimensions with cross-sections on the order of one or more millimeters and/or with large openings with a cross-section on the order of a square centimeter and more;   at least partially open pores, to allow through passage of air.   
     
     
         25 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said functional layer is sealed selectively:
 to said lower component;   to said upper component, which is then sealed to said lower component.   
     
     
         26 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said functional layer comprises a membrane made of microporous expanded PTFE, which is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor. 
     
     
         27 . The sole according to  claim 26 , wherein said membrane is laminated with a fine mesh of plastic material for supporting it. 
     
     
         28 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said functional layer comprises a support made of a hydrophilic material selected among:
 material which is permeable to water vapor;   material which is permeable to water vapor and impermeable to water.   
     
     
         29 . The sole according to  claim 27 , wherein said functional layer comprises a protective layer for protecting the membrane and/or said support, arranged in a lower region, made of vapor-permeable material and capable of drying rapidly. 
     
     
         30 . The sole according to  claim 29 , wherein said protective layer and said membrane and/or said support are mutually coupled by spot gluing by using an adhesive that is resistant to hydrolysis. 
     
     
         31 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said functional layer comprises an insert selected among:
 a stratified and cohesive monolithic sheet-like structure, which comprises a plurality of functional layers made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor;   a monolithic sheet-like structure made of a polymeric material that is impermeable to water and permeable to water vapor.   
     
     
         32 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said pumping elements are molded directly on said functional layer. 
     
     
         33 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said pumping elements are constituted selectively among:
 substantially suction cap-like tubular elements;   substantially open hourglass-like tubular elements;   substantially bellows-like tubular elements;   elements shaped like a spherical dome that is perforated at the top.   
     
     
         34 . The sole according to  claim 32 , wherein said pumping elements are co-molded directly on said functional layer with direct sealing of each one of said pumping elements to said functional layer. 
     
     
         35 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said pumping elements are connected by a plurality of lattices so as to prevent, during molding of the upper component, injected material from covering completely the surface of the functional layer. 
     
     
         36 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said upper component with said pumping elements is co-molded on said functional layer so as to form an insert, to which said lower component is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding. 
     
     
         37 . The sole according to  claim 36 , wherein said insert also comprises, in addition to said functional layer and the upper component, an element that affects perimetrically and seals edge regions of said functional layer, being adapted to form for it a support both during an assembly and during a working. 
     
     
         38 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said upper component with said pumping elements is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing with sealing to said functional layer, so as to form an insert to which said lower vapor-permeable component is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding. 
     
     
         39 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said functional layer is sealed at its edge regions to an element, constituted by a ring-shaped element, inside which said upper component is inserted, which is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, so as to seal said pumping elements, to said functional layer, so as to form an insert to which said lower vapor-permeable component is joined by gluing with a perimetric seal or by co-molding. 
     
     
         40 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said functional layer is an insert which is provided separately and then applied to said lower component, in a seat thereof, and is sealed by an element that joins the entire assembly to the upper. 
     
     
         41 . The sole according to  claim 36 , wherein said insert is inserted in a seat of said lower component. 
     
     
         42 . The sole according to  claim 40 , wherein said upper component is pre-molded and then assembled by gluing, with said pumping elements sealed to said functional layer. 
     
     
         43 . The sole according to  claim 23 , wherein said lower component is a composite, comprising a waterproof portion in contact with the ground and a portion made of porous material to allow the passage of air and/or water vapor through it. 
     
     
         44 . A shoe comprising a sole according to  claim 23 .