Plastic footwear having contrasting color effects

May 2, 1961 g. h. bingham, jr 2,982,033

PLASTIC FOOTWEAR HAVING CONTRASTING COLOR EFFECTS

Filed March 4, 1958

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United States Patent Office

2,982,033

Patented May 2, 1961

2,982,033

PLASTIC FOOTWEAR HAVING CONTRASTING _βCOLOR EFFECTS

George H. Bingham, Jr., Westminster, Md., assignor to Cambridge Rubber Company, Taneytown, Md., a corporation of Maryland

Filed Mar. 4,1958, Ser. No. 719,085

Claim. (Cl. 36—2.5)

This invention pertains to footwear, in particular, to footwear wherein the upper of the boot or shoe is of plastic or largely of plastic, the plastic which forms the outer surface at least of the boot being of a light-transmitting nature, that is to say, either translucent or transparent, and relates especially to a novel method of imparting a. pleasing and ornamental effect to such footwear, and to footwear resultant from the practice of said method. Herein, for brevity in description but without limiting intent, the term “boot” will be employed as a general description and as inclusive of any and all kinds of footwear which may be made in accordance with the present method.

In the manufacture of waterproof-boots, it has become quite common to employ a synthetic plastic as-the material of the upper or top portion of the boot or, at least, for major portions of the upper. In unlined boots, a single thickness of plastic may constitute the entire skin or outer element of the upper. In other boots, a lining either of plastic or of textile material such as stockinet, is arranged within· the plastic outer skin. However, if the outer skin be transparent or translucent, it has not heretofore been common to employ such a textile lining since it shows through the light-transmitting outer skin and may detract from the pleasing appearance sought by the use of the transparent materials. Little, if any, attempt has been made heretofore to ornament such boots other than by the molding of the outer surface of the plastic to form , geometrical or other shapes such as ribs, dots, dimples or the like.

The present invention has. for an object the provision of a novel boot whereby it becomes practical to embelish the transparent or translucent upper with designs in color or black and white which, while imparting a distinctive and artistic appearance to the upper,-do not affect the finish of . the material of the outer surface nor does it produce any roughness at the inner surface of the boot such as might cause snagging of sheer hosiery , or discomfort to the. wearer.

A further object is to provide a boot of the above type which, when worn, exhibits constantly changing Variations in color or pattern effects. A further object is to provide a boot of the type, referred to above, having ornamental areas in its upper which are so protected that they are not abraded or otherwise disfigured by wear. A further object is to provide a boot made according to the above method and having the characteristics which result : from said method. Other and further objects and advantages of the invention will be pointed out in the following more detailed description and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation illustrating a boot such as may result from the practice of the present invention; ....

Fig. la is a fragmentary, vertical section to larger scale on the line la—la of Fig. 1;

Fig, 2 is a diagrammatic, horizontal section on the line 2—2 of Fig. 1; .·.

Fig. 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2, but to much larger scale and showing only a portion of the wall of the boot;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic, side elevation of a sock or lining member comprised in the boot of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary section on the line 5—5 of Fig. 4 to larger scale;

Fig. 5a is a plan view of an ornamental patch such as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic, side elevation similar to Fig.

1, but showing a boot of modified construction;

Fig- 7 is a diagrammatic, side elevation of a sock or lining member such as is used in the boot of Fig. 6;

Fig. 7α is a fragmentary elevation showing a portion of the material of the sock of Fig. 7, but to larger scale, 15 to show the weave pattern;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary, vertical section on the line 8—8 of Fig. 6 to larger scale;

Fig. 8α is a fragmentary section on the line 8α—8α of Fig. 8;

Fig. 9 is a vertical, front-to-rear section through a mold, such as may be used in molding a plastic boot, illustrative of another method of preparing a boot having the characteristics of that herein claimed;

Fig. 9α is a fragmentary, vertical section to larger scale 28 on the line 9α—9α of Fig. 9;

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic, side elevation, .generally similar to Fig. 1, but showing a boot of a further modified construction;

Fig. 10α is a fragmentary, vertical section to larger 30 scale on the line 10α—10α of Fig, 10;

,/ Fig. 11 is a transverse section on the line 11—11 of Fig. 10, but to larger scale; and

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing a boot having a cuff.

Referring to Fig. 1, the boot 20, which is a waterproof boot and yvhich may be of any desired conventional style or pattern and Which has the upper or top 21 and the bottom or outer sole 22, comprises an outer integument 23 (Figs, la, 2 and 3) whose major portion, at least, is of a waterproof, synthetic plastic of light-transmitting character, that is to say. it may be transparent or translucent. This outer integument may be formed in accordance with any customary practice in the manufacture of plastic boots, for example by molding in a hollow mold, and may herein for convenience be termed an embryo boot. The upper of the boot, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, also comprises the inner skin or lining 24 which may be .merely an internal coating or film of the same plastic forming the outer skin 23 and of the same, or a different color, but in accordance with one desirable mode of procedure, this inner skin 24 is formed as an independent sock 24α, as shown in Fig. 4, of a shape and size to fit within the outer integument 23; this sock may be of afiy suitable material desirable for the purpose, for example of a synthetic plastic or, if desired, of textile fabric. As an incident to its preparation, the outer surface of the sock 24α may be provided with elements of ornamentation, here indicated by the numeral 25. Such elements of ornament may be formed during the making of the sock 24, for example by a suitable molding operation if the sock be of moldable material; but, in accordance with one desirable procedure, these elements 25, as illustrated in . Fig. 5α, may be cut from sheet material of the desired character for example, a plastic, and bonded to the outer surface of the preformed sock 24 by the employment of adhesive A, as indicated in Fig. 5. Desirably, these elements of ornament will be of a color different from that of the outer integument 23 and they may or may not be light-transmitting material, as preferred.

The sock 24α, itself, may be of light-transmitting material or opaque material, if desired, but preferably contrasting in color with the elements of . ornament 25. Although

2.982,033 these elements of ornament may, as above suggested, be pieces of sheet material of proper shape and appliqued to the outer surface of the sock, they may be formed, for example merely by applying suitable coloring material to the outer surface of the sock, as by the use of a stencil, or by the application of any other distinctive substance— for instance, metal foil or the like, or powdered pigment, and united to the surface of the sock by suitable adhesive means. In whatever manner the sock is thus ornamented, it is now assembled with the outer integument by inserting it within the latter and then permanently uniting it to the integument 23 by the employment of a suitable bonding material, as indicated at 26 in Fig. la. This bonding material may be applied to any desired part of the sock, for example at an area bordering the top of the sock, leaving other portions of the sock loose relatively to the outer integument 23 so as to be capable of movement relatively to the latter during wear of the shoe. If the sock be bonded to the outer integument only at its upper part or at other selected but minor portions of its area, it will move relatively to the outer integument in response to the motion of the wearer’s foot and such movements would result in the slight separation of the sock from the outer integument as indicated at P (Fig. 8) and produce varying effects, in particular, changes in the apparent brightness of the elements of ornament so as to produce a constantly changing pattern effect as viewed from the exterior of the boot. However, it is contemplated that the entire outer surface of the sock may be adhesively or cohesively bonded to the inner surface of the outer integument 23 in which event the color intensity of the ornamental parts 25 will not substantially change during the wear of the boot, although these ornamental areas will be visible through the light-transmitting outer integument thus imparting a pleasing appearance to the boot

Instead of employing appliqued or other ornamental areas to a sock, as above described, the sock may, for example, be of a textile fabric which has an ornamental surface, thus, for instance, the boot 27, illustrated in Fig. 6, has an outer integument 28 (Figs. 8 and 8α) Of light-transmitting, waterproof material such as synthetic resin and a lining 29 which, as illustrated in Fig, 7, is made, independently of the outer integument, in the form of a sock 29. The material of this sock, as illustrated in Fig. 7α, has a distinctive surface appearance, for example, a background of one color and with a woven-in pattern of another color. The woven-in pattern thus constitutes an element of ornament in the same general sense as the parts 25, referred to above. This sock is introduced into the outer integument 27, being of a size and shape such as to fit within the latter, and is then bonded to the outer integument, for example, by means of adhesive, as shown at A (Fig. 8), so that the sock is permanently united to the outer integument. If as above suggested, the sock be .bonded to the outer integument only along its upper edge, the sock is free to move relatively to the outer integument, except at this particular location, in response to movement of the wearer’s foot. Thus, the patterned surface of the sock moves toward and away from the outer integument 28 so as, at times, to leave a space P (Figs. 8 and 8α) between the parts. In particular, if the outer integument be of translucent material rather than .material which is completely transparent, such movement has the effect of dimming the pattern on the exposed outer surface of the sock so that his pattern varies in intensity, as viewed from the exterior of the boot, with a constant variation in intensity at changing areas, thus again producing a desirable ornamental affect. However, it is contemplated that the entire area of the sock may be bonded to the interior surface of the outer integument 28, if desired, thus producing a boot of pleasing but unchanging appearance.

Instead of providing the inner skin as a separate independent sock, a boot of somewhat similar character may be produced, as illustrated in Figs. 9 and 9α, wherein the numeral 31 designates a hollow mold, usually of metal, whose interior surface is configured to correspond to the desired shape and external surface of the boot which is to β be made. In accordance with one desirable procedure, this mold is first filled with a suitable plastic, in liquid form, and the mold is then subjected to a certain degree of heat which causes a layer 32 of plastic to coagulate and form a coating on the interior of the mold. The 10 uncoagulated plastic is then poured out of the mold and, after the coating has dried for a certain time, which may be varied as circumstances may make desirable, there is applied to the inner surface of this coating any desired element of ornament, such for example, but without 15 limitation, as the elements 25, above described. Since the coating or layer 32 is still in the unfused state, these elements ot ornament may be applied very easily merely by pressing them against the somewhat tacky surface of the coating 32, although, these elements of ornament may 20 first be coated with a suitable adhesive before applying them to the inner surface of the coating 32, if desired.

Having applied these elements of ornament, the mold may again be filled with liquid plastic, which may be of the same kind or color as that first employed or of a 25 different kind or color, and the mold again warmed sufficiently to cause a layer 33 of this second plastic to coagulate and form a coating which embeds the parts 25 between it and the outer coating 32. The mold may now be subjected to a final heat treatment such as completely 30 to fuse the layers 32 and 33 of plastic, whereupon the boot thus produced is withdrawn from the mold. Assuming that the material forming the layer 32 is such as to make this layer translucent or transparent, the ornamental areas 25 will show through this outer integu35 ment, thus imparting a desirable ornamental appearance to the completed boot. In this event, the inner layer 33 of plastic forms a full lining for the boot and protects the elements of ornament 25 from wear at their inner surfaces as well as protecting the wearer’s foot from con40 tact with these elements. If desired, this inner coating .33 may be of nylon which produces a boot having a very smooth and slippery inner surface, making it easy to don and doff. On the other hand, if desired, an additional lining of textile fabric or the like may be introduced into 45 the boot and united to the inner ply 33 of the skin in any suitable way.

Figs. 10, 10α and 11 illustrate a further modification wherein the boot 36 has the outer integument 37 of lighttransmitting material, as above described, and an inner CO skin 38 which may be of any desired material, although ; preferably of synthetic plastic, and it may be of any desired color, whether light-transmitting or opaque. This inner skin 38 is made in the form of an independent sock according to the procedures first described and is then 55 introduced into the outer integument which is made by molding or other operation, and is bonded to the outer integument as indicated at A (Fig. 10α), along its upper margin or at other limited areas so that major portions, preferably, of this inner skin are movable relatively with 60 the outer integument. Assuming that this inner skin be of a color or texture different from that of the light-transmitting outer integument, the motion of the wearer’s foot would cause the inner skin to separate at varying areas from the outer integument as indicated by the space Pl 65 (Figs. 10 and 11) so that the general color or shade of the boot, as viewed from the exterior, will constantly change during the wear of the boot and thus an ornamental appearance is produced even though special, that is, definitely shaped pattern areas, such as the elements 70 25, are not employed. It is obvious that a boot, such as that illustrated for example in Fig. 10, may have any desired external configuration and, if desired, its outer sole, as indicated at T, may be of a color distinctively contrasting with the general shade of the upper of the boot.

Obviously, the boot made in accordance with the gen2,882,083 eral procedure above outlined, may be finished in any suitable manner, or by the introduction of an internal back stay, a slide fastener, heel or toe stiffener, arch supports or the like, or external elements, for example a cuS C (Fig. 12) of any suitable material and/or color and 5 which may be secured to the upper portion of the leg of boot B at any desired stage in its manufacture and by adhesive, sewing or other type of fastener.

While desirable embodiments of the invention have herein been suggested by way of example, it is to be un- 10 derstood that the invention is broadly inclusive of any and all modifications falling within the terms of the appended claim.