GB2315663A

GB2315663A - Footwear item

Info

Publication number: GB2315663A
Application number: GB9615916A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Graham Stevens; Michael Law
Original assignee: FII FOOTWEAR MANAGEMENT Ltd
Current assignee: FII FOOTWEAR MANAGEMENT Ltd
Priority date: 1996-07-30
Filing date: 1996-07-30
Publication date: 1998-02-11
Also published as: GB9615916D0

Abstract

A component of an item of footwear, for example, an upper comprises Kevlar* small Greek phi * material. The footwear component can be manufactured from a sheet of Kevlar* small Greek phi * material formed into a suitable shape of the component. Alternatively Kevlar* small Greek phi * fibres can be woven with fibres of other fibrous materials to form a material for manufacture into the footwear component. In another way the footwear component can be manufactured from a laminated sheet comprising a substrate lined with Kevlar* small Greek phi * material. The use of Kevlar* small Greek phi * affords a high strength property to the footwear component.

Description

FOOTWEAR ITEM The present invention relates to footwear items and particularly to the materials used in the manufacture of the upper components thereof.

In this respect, conventional materials for the upper components of footwear items are generally relatively hard wearing and flexible. Flexibility of, for example, the upper material is necessary to accommodate for movement of the wearer's feet. Without such flexibility the footwear item would prove to be highly uncomfortable.

Materials for the upper components of footwear items are also generally porous in order to provide a degree of ventilation for the wearer's feet. Without such ventilation, the footwear item can become highly uncomfortable and even result in medical complaints such as athlete's foot.

For every day usage, materials such as leather and imitation leather provide adequate wear resistance, flexibility and porosity. However, a problem generally associated with flexibility and porosity is that such qualities are by their nature likely to compromise the strength and wear resistance of the material.

For example, with imitation leather utilizing textile materials, the individual fibres thereof can become damaged and sever, if in regular contact with an abrasive surface.

Such fibres will also readily absorb moisture and dirt which leave the fibres more vulnerable to failure and can also result in undesirable shrinkage as the fibres dry out. With leather, the material surface is relatively easily damaged by contact with an abrasive surface and the ability of leather to repel moisture and resist dirt is lost rapidly if the material is not frequently polished. In any case, there is a general weakening of the upper over time.

Apart from shortening the actual lifespan of the footwear item, the effects of wear and tear can rapidly diminish the aesthetics of the footwear item to the extent that the item is no longer considered fit to be worn.

Where extra durability of the footwear item is required or where its upper components are likely to be subjected to extreme conditions, the materials used have generally to be thickened to afford the required protection and durability.

Such thickening can however reduce flexibility and porosity and thus compromise the comfort of the footwear item.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a footwear component which seeks to alleviate the problems associated with conventional arrangements.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a component for an item of footwear, the component comprising Kevlar".

Kevlaro or Kevlarm aramid is an organic fibre within the family of aromatic polyamides. It offers high strength, for example cutting resistance, such that even a relatively thin layer thereof affords an enhanced durability quality to the component, which resists the onset of wear and tear.

Xevlarm is furthermore largely unaffected by humidity so that whereas, for example, conventional materials for footwear items are prone to be detrimentally affected by moisture, a footwear item component formed with Kevlaro is less susceptibie to damage in the same way. Since Kevlarm is relatively unabsorbent, a footwear item component formed therefrom will not attract dirt as with conventional materials and will in this manner require little, if any, cleaning, such cleaning involving a reduced use of abrasive treatments and cleaning materials.

Kevlarn moreover provides strength, heat resistance and chemical inertness to the component, making a footwear item made therefrom both highly protective, for example in industrial applications, but also suitable for use in extreme conditions, for example for use by fire fighting personnel.

Moreover, for normal use, use of Kevlarm can substantially extend the lifespan of the footwear item and the period for which it remains free from cosmetic damage.

The footwear item component may be formed completely of Kevlarm or may be lined therewith. Alternatively, Kevlarm fibres may be woven with fibres of other fibrous materials or incorporated in some other way so as to produce a composite Keviarm component.

In a further alternative, a Kevlarm web may be coated with polyurethane or the like by means of a coagulation process.

In this manner the Kevlarm web can be provided with an artificial leather finish.

With the above-formed components, the open structure weave of the material is retained thus allowing the component to breathe.

In preferred embodiments, the footwear component may moreover be provided with an elasticized material adhered to one side thereof or woven therein. In this way, elasticized material can be selectively provided at those regions of the component at which the characteristics of inherent flexibility and mouldability are required. The elasticized material may be LYCRAn, although any suitable alternative material may be used.

Whilst the component may be any part of a footwear item, preferably the component is an upper. Preferably the upper comprises an artificial leather substrate having a Kevlarm backing.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a footwear item component, the method comprising the steps of:forming a sheet of material using Kevlarm fibres; and forming the sheet into a suitable shape for the component.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a footwear item component, the method comprising the steps of:weaving Kevlarm yarn with yarn of other material(s) to form a composite textile material; and forming the composite textile material into a suitable shape for the component.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a footwear item component, the method comprising the steps of:forming a laminated sheet comprising a substrate lined with Kevlarn; and forming the laminated sheet into a suitable shape for the component.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figure which shows a cut away manufactured footwear item of the present invention.

As shown in Figure 1, a footwear item 1 comprises an upper 2 attached to a sole 3. The upper may be attached to the sole by any suitable method, for example by stitching, adhesion, moulding or combinations thereof.

The upper 2 comprises an outer layer 5 formed using any suitable material, for example leather, imitation leather, polyurethane or other synthetic material, which has been lined with Kevlarm 4.

Rather than the laminate structure shown in the figure, the footwear item component may be formed completely of Kevlarn or alternatively Kevlaro fibres may be woven with fibres of other fibrous materials to produce a composite material including Kevlar .

In a further alternative, a Kevlarm web or web incorporating Kevlarm threads may be coated with polyurethane or the like by means of a coagulation process. In this manner the Kevlarm can be provided with an artificial leather finish. An elasticized material such as LYCRAt may be incorporated in the web.

The upper may have an elasticized material adhered to one side thereof. In this way, elasticized material can be selectively provided at those regions of the upper at which the characteristics of inherent flexibility and mouldability are particularly required. The elasticized material may be LYCRAn, although any suitable alternative material may be used.

The footwear item shown is a shoe but in the alternative any form of footwear item may be similarly formed, for example a boot or a sandal. In this respect, Kevlarm has been shown not to sensitize the skin on prolonged direct contact therewith.

The use of Kevlarm affords a high strength property to the upper, which resists the damage to the upper and also opposes the adhesion of dirt and absorbtion of moisture. Thus the upper has improved strength and durability and requires little, if any, cleaning, such cleaning involving a reduced use of abrasive treatments and cleaning materials.

Kevlarm moreover provides heat resistance and chemical inertness to the upper 2, making a footwear item made therefrom both highly protective, for example in industrial applications, but also suitable for use in extreme conditions, for example for use by fire fighting personnel. For normal use, the use of Kevlarw substantially extends the lifespan of the footwear item and resists cosmetic damage thereto.

The lining 4 only marginally adds to the thickness of the upper so that the upper as a whole retains a high level of flexibility. The comfort of the shoe is in this way not detrimentally affected. Also, the open structure weave of the material is retained thus allowing the component to breathe.

The present invention is not limited to the described embodiments and it will be understood that the embodiments illustrated show applications of the invention only for the purposes of illustration. In practice, the invention may be applied to many different configurations, the detailed embodiments being straight forward for those skilled in the art to implement.

For example, whilst an upper has been described above in the example, KevlarO may similarly be used for a lining or an insock for a footwear item to benefit from the favourable characteristics thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A component for an item of footwear, the component comprising KevlarTM.

2. A component according to claim 1, wherein the component is lined with KevlarTM.

3. A component according to claim 1, wherein KevlarTM fibres are woven with fibres of other fibrous materials or incorporated in some other way so as to produce a composite KevlarTM component.

4. A component according to claim 1, wherein a Kevla?M web or a web incorporating KevlarTM threads is coated with polyurethane or the like by means of a coagulation process.

5. A component according to any preceding claim, wherein the component is provided with an elasticized material adhered to one side thereof or woven therein.

6. A component according to claim 5, wherein the elasticized material is LYCRATM.

7. A component according to any preceding claim, wherein the component is an upper.

8. A method of manufacturing a footwear item component, the method comprising the steps of:forming a sheet of material using KevlarTM fibres; and forming the sheet into a suitable shape for the component.

9. A method of manufacturing a footwear item component, the method comprising the steps of:weaving KevlarTM yarn with yarn of other material(s) to form a composite textile material; and forming the composite textile material into a suitable shape for the component.

10. A method of manufacturing a footwear item component, the method comprising the steps of:forming a laminated sheet comprising a substrate lined with KevlarTM; and forming the laminated sheet into a suitable shape for the component.

11. A component substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.