Structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe, and shoe obtained therefrom
The double-layered knitted upper with differentiated yarns and thermoplastic polymer stabilization addresses breathability and flexibility issues, offering enhanced protection and reduced waste in shoe construction.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/IT2025/000022
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2024-04-26
- Filing Date
- 2025-04-23
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-30
AI Technical Summary
Existing knitted shoes with upper structures suffer from limited breathability, flexibility, and protection against impacts, particularly in areas requiring different levels of grip, strength, and consistency, leading to shape loss and material wear.
A process involving the construction of a double-layered knitted upper with differentiated yarns and thermoplastic polymer yarns, where the inner sock is made of natural yarns for breathability and the outer sock uses mixed yarns for durability, combined with a steam and kiln treatment to stabilize the structure, followed by sole integration using polyurethane injection.
The solution provides enhanced breathability, flexibility, and protection while reducing material use and waste, adapting to foot morphology, and ensuring optimal comfort and stability without compromising on strength.
Smart Images

Figure IT2025000022_30102025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] DESCRIPTION
[0002] STRUCTURE AND PROCESS FOR MAKING A KNITTED UPPER FOR A SHOE.
[0003] Technical field
[0004] The present invention relates to a structure and a process for making a knitted upper for a shoe which is particularly suitable to offer feet greater breathability without losing strength and stability in areas where these characteristics are necessary.
[0005] Background Art
[0006] As is known, footwear is a clothing accessory whose task is to protect feet and is essentially made up of a sole, which is the lower part which comes into contact with the ground, and an upper, which is the upper part and. generally, consists of several parts to cover the foot and hold the sole in position. In particular, the upper may have different ornaments, colours, and shapes and is joined to the sole by means of seams or gluing. Furthermore, in footwear there is often an insole, which is the inner part - between the sole and the upper - on top of which the foot rests.
[0007] In fact, shoes are objects that have always been used to protect feet when the user is walking, running, etc., to prevent impacts injuring or causing fatigue in the bone and / or muscular structure of the foot.
[0008] At present, there are many types of shoes on the market and a major component thereof consists of sports shoes / casual shoes, which represent a large slice of the market.
[0009] Nowadays, for sports activities or for free time and other occasions, many people wear shoes with a knitted upper for the comfort and contemporary style they offer and these are shoes that feature a knitted upper rather than an upper made of conventional materials such as leather or synthetic fabric. This type of upper offers several advantages, including greater flexibility, breathability, and lightness.
[0010] This type of shoe has been on the market for a few years and the earliest kind were football boots made with a knitted upper that was covered with a thin layer of leather to protect the knitting. This shoe, which offers optimal comfort, has encountered problems arising from the delicacy of the upper, the wearability thereof, and the poor protection offered to areas of the foot subject to impacts and blows, from the limited breathability thereof, and from the fact that the structure of the upper is likely to lose shape with use. In fact, the thickness of the constituent fabric is constant, but the different parts of the foot require the fabric to have different levels of grip, strength, and consistency.
[0011] Subsequently, the knitted upper was made by constructing a "sock" using inlay machines or circular machines in which the sock is composed of the structure of two socks that are joined at the toe by adding heat-setting yarns to the processing. Once the processing is complete, one sock is rolled down onto the other and undergoes a hardening and stabilisation process involving time spent in a kiln and high-temperature steam.
[0012] Another type involves the addition of a third sock made entirely of a heat-setting material which is subsequently inserted between the other two.
[0013] Also in this case, the structure obtained undergoes a hardening and stabilisation process involving time spent in a kiln and high-temperature steam.
[0014] The shoes described above have posed critical issues due to the limited elasticity and breathability attributable to the presence of heat-setting yarns throughout the knitted fabric which, among other things, make the shoe somewhat rigid and inflexible.
[0015] More specifically, the applicant is aware of patent application US 2017 / 0181501 , which describes a shoe made with the techniques described above wherein the upper is composed of two socks, one rolled down on top of the other, and with an insole interposed therebetween to improve comfort for the foot, in the part touching the sole, and to provide a structure which features a surface which can be joined to the sole. Furthermore, other functional elements called 'envelopes' are interposed between the two socks to improve certain functions and create sectors designed to protect the loot. In particular, the construction of the upper envisages the presence of a structure that serves to accommodate the laces for fastening the shoe onto which the socks are then fitted.
[0016] Furthermore, the aforesaid patent application describes how the upper and the sole are mutually assembled by means of gluing or sewing techniques.
[0017] This shoe also experiences the problems described above, namely poor overall flexibility of the shoe and lack of protection in the required areas, in addition to the wear of the upper when sewn.
[0018] A further problem encountered arises from the tendency of the upper to collapse since it is not suitably stabilised dimensionally, which means the upper tends to cave in, losing its shape over time.
[0019] In order to solve the problems described above, the Applicant has devised a knitted shoe structure and a process for making it. as described in European patent application n.21708769.1.
[0020] The process described in the aforesaid patent application for the production of a shoe with a knitted upper comprises a first step consisting of the knitting / construction of an upper comprised of a double sock, followed by a second upper shaping step in which the two socks have the appearance of a sort of "tube" which is sealed at one part (the toe), while the other end of the tube remains open, and the inner sock is placed on a special shoe former and the outer sock is rolled down over the inner sock to form a double layer.
[0021] This is followed by a steaming step, in which the upper on the shoe former is subjected to a jet of steam that dampens and softens a heat-setting polymer yarn present in the knitting, followed by a drying step, in which the upper is placed in a high temperature kiln to remove the moisture remaining from the previous step and bring the upper back to the desired dimensions by bringing the heat-setting polymer yarn to melting temperature. The process then involves a stopping step, in which the upper on the shoe former yields heat to the environment, thereby lowering the temperature thereof, followed by a stabilisation step, in which the upper on the shoe former moves through a very low temperature refrigerator which stabilises the heat-setting polymer yarn to fix the upper dimensionally, continuing with a step consisting of removing the upper from the shoe former when the upper is at room temperature.
[0022] In particular, the process envisages that during the step in which the upper is put on the shoe former, a sole is also placed in position, the said sole having a plantar structure covering the entire surface area of the shoe former and featuring a series of suitably shaped and positioned slots.
[0023] Once removed from the shoe former, the upper is ready for the construction of a sole in which the steps consisting of fitting the upper onto a special shoe former on a mould, positioning the shoe former with the upper placed thereon, and then sealing it between two moulding rings envisaged for a polyurethane injection step, in which the moulding rings for the sole close so as to partially incorporate the upper and hence form a cavity which is isolated from the outside and is suitable for the injection of polyurethane in order to fill the mould and thus make the sole.
[0024] During the injection step, the presence of the plantar structure limits the flow of polyurethane towards the inner part of the upper, allowing only predetermined quantities of polyurethane to flow through the slots and therefore create joint points between the sole and the upper and with the inner sock, without interfering with and without altering either functional or aesthetic characteristics. At the end of the injection step, the moulding rings are opened and the shoe is removed from the mould, which is now complete (upper + sole), the shoe is removed from the shoe former and a shoe is obtained which is a single, homogeneous, and compact body.
[0025] With the process just described and the shoe obtained, many aspects have been improved and various problems encountered with the shoes previously in use have been overcome, but some limitations have arisen which are attributable to the fact the shoe does not offer adequate breathability and that the part comprising the instep and the forefoot are not sufficiently free to move.
[0026] One need that has emerged in the market is for a shoe that allows great freedom of movement but also safe and protected movements and is lightweight, breathable, and furthermore very practical.
[0027] Disclosure of Invention
[0028] The object of the present invention is essentially to solve the problems of the prior art by overcoming the difficulties described above through a structure and procedure for making a shoe with a knitted upper which allows the construction of a shoe with a knitted upper which is particularly breathable while also protecting the most exposed and delicate parts of the foot, while also being lightweight and very flexible.
[0029] A second object of the present invention is to provide a structure and a process for making a knitted upper for a shoe that features an optimal level and quality of breathability and ventilation without losing strength and stability in the areas where such qualities are necessary.
[0030] A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure and a process for making a knitted upper for a shoe that offers a reduction in the materials used for the construction of the said upper and reduces material scraps, thereby curbing waste products from processing and fostering a more environmentally friendly, "greener" production process.
[0031] A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe which adapts perfectly to the morphology of the foot, featuring differentiated functions and behaviour to meet all the usage needs and which swaddles and holds the user's foot, with optimal breathability, but at the same time offers protection against outer water and dampness, decidedly light weight, and considerable comfort when worn, as well as significant flexibility and lightness during use thereof. A further object of the present invention is to provide a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe which has a faster construction sequence, thereby making savings in production costs possible.
[0032] A further not final object of the present invention is to provide a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe which is simple to manufacture and works well.
[0033] These objects and others besides, which will become clearer over the course of the present description, are essentially achieved by means of a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe according to the claims that follow.
[0034] Brief Description of Drawings
[0035] Further characteristics and advantages will emerge from the detailed description of a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe according to the present invention including references to the accompanying drawings, provided merely as nonlimiting examples, in which:
[0036] Figure 1 shows, schematically, a perspective view of a shoe obtained with the procedure according to the present invention:
[0037] Figure 2 shows, schematically, a side view of the shoe in Figure 1 :
[0038] Figure 3 shows, schematically, a view of the initial construction of the upper obtained with the process in question:
[0039] Figure 4 shows, schematically, a view of the upper in Figure 3 in a subsequent construction stage;
[0040] Figure 5 shows, schematically and from a side view, the upper according to the present invention;
[0041] Figure 6 shows, schematically and from a top-down perspective view, the upper in
[0042] Figure 5;
[0043] Figure 7 shows, schematically and from a perspective view, a variant of the shoe obtained with the process according to the present invention; Figure 8 shows, schematically, the initial construction of the upper of the shoes in Figure 7 obtained with the process in question;
[0044] Figure 9 shows, schematically, a view of the upper in Figure 8 in a subsequent construction stage;
[0045] Figure 10 shows, schematically and from a side view, the upper in Figure 7 according to the present invention:
[0046] Figure 1 1 shows, schematically and from a top-down perspective view, the upper in Figure 7.
[0047] With reference to the aforesaid figures, and in particular to Figure 1, a shoe with an upper obtained according to the present invention is denoted 1 .
[0048] Best Mode for Carry ing Out the Invention fhe process for making a knitted upper for a shoe according to the present invention involves a sequence of steps, some of which are already used to make shoes of this type that are currently available on the market.
[0049] A first stage of the present process involves the weaving / construction of an upper 2 which is made by building a first sock 3 starting from an initial edge 300. made of an elastic yarn and positioned at the base of a user's toes, followed by a tip 30 created to cover the toes, then continuing with a portion 31 positioned at the sole of the foot and endowed with a side edge 310, then reaching a heel 32 and ending with a first edge 33 at the ankle, and then continuing with a second sock 4 as will be illustrated below.
[0050] The first sock 3 or outer sock is constructed differently from those currently made to form the upper.
[0051] According to the present embodiment, the first sock 3 is devoid of the upper part, i.e. the portion 31 only covers the plantar portion of the foot and has a side edge at the upper part, leaving the instep area open, as shown in Figure 4. The first stage continues with the creation of a second sock 4, or inner sock, with a sequence of parts arranged opposite those created previously, i.e. a second edge 43, a heel 42, a foot portion 41 created to cover the dorsal and plantar portions of the foot, then ending with a second tip 40 that is sealed directly by the machine, as shown in Figure 3.
[0052] In greater detail, the second sock 4 constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with a user's foot while the first sock 3 constitutes the outer part of the upper, as shown in Figure 4.
[0053] The two socks (outer 3 and inner 4) make up the upper 2 in the form of a double layer, rather like a double skin, where the outer sock 3 constitutes the outside of the upper and is made using natural, synthetic, and / or mixed yarns, while the inner sock 4, meanwhile, constitutes the inside of the upper and is mainly constituted of yarns of another kind - which are preferably natural, such as wool, for example - to provide other features such as: breathability, comfort, thermal insulation, etc.. In addition to the yarns just mentioned, an additional thermoplastic polymer yarn is added to the knitting throughout the construction of the upper and is added to both socks in well-defined areas with different densities so as to provide diversified elasticity, reinforcement, and breathability properties. In more detail, the thermoplastic polymer yarn is used in a higher percentage in the outer sock 3, which lends the structure of the upper greater durability and strength.
[0054] In addition, the said polymer yarn used in the processing acts as a binder between the two socks so that when they are joined together, they form the upper as if it were a single piece. The process continues with a second stage during which the upper is shaped. In this stage, the two socks constructed previously have the form of a sock and a half sock joined together at the ankle edge, wherein the inner sock 4 has the sealed tip being knitted, while the other end of the outer sock 3 has the stitches sealed at the tip with the initial edge 300 at the toes and open at the dorsal part of the foot, as shown in Figure 4. In this step, the inner sock 4 is placed on a special shoe former and the outer sock 3 is rolled down over the previous sock to form the upper 2 which is double-layered except in the dorsal portion of the foot.
[0055] In particular and as mentioned previously, the outer sock 3 is then pulled down and repositioned so as to close the upper, adapting perfectly to the shoe former until the initial edge 300 is covering the tip 40 of the inner sock.
[0056] One variant of this process envisages the stages for weaving / constructing the first sock and the second sock are the same as described previously, but the yarns used to make the two socks are mutually exchanged. In particular, the half sock 3 is made mainly of preferably natural yarns, such as wool, to provide functions such as: breathability, comfort, thermal insulation, etc., while the other sock 4 is made using natural, synthetic, and / or mixed yarns.
[0057] In this variant, the half sock 3 constitutes the inside of the upper 2 while the sock 4 covers the half sock 3 and constitutes the outside of the upper, as shown in Figure 9.
[0058] According to this process, in this version, the sequence in which the two socks are assembled on the shoe former is different. Indeed, in this version, the half sock 3 constituting the inner sock is placed on the appropriate shoe former first and then the whole sock constituting the outer sock 4 is turned down over the half sock 3 to form the upper 2, which is constituted of a double layer except in the dorsal part of the foot, as shown in Figure 11.
[0059] In greater detail and as mentioned previously, the outer sock 4 is then pulled down and repositioned so as to close the upper, adapting perfectly to the shoe former until the tip 40 is covering the initial edge 300 and the portion 31 is completely covering the half sock.
[0060] The following two steps are of a known type and envisage a first stage in which the upper is subjected to a jet of steam which dampens and softens the thermoplastic polymer yarn. This step ensures the upper adheres better to the shoe tree and prepares it for the next step, in which the said upper transits through a high-temperature kiln so as to dry out any dampness remaining from the previous step and to make the upper return to the desired dimensions by bringing the thermoplastic polymer yarn to melting temperature.
[0061] There now follows a step referred to as a ‘parking’ step, which is a transition between the previous step and the following one. in which the upper on the shoe tree comes out of the kiln and moves along a roller conveyor, dissipating heat into the surrounding air in order to cool, before moving on to the next step. i.e. the stabilisation step, in which the temperature is lowered still further.
[0062] In particular, the parking step is a transition step whose purpose is to prevent there being too great a difference in the temperature between the time spent in the kiln and the stabilisation step that follows.
[0063] In the stabilisation step, the upper on the shoe tree transits through a very low-temperature refrigerator that stabilises the thermoplastic polymer yarn and the upper is fixed dimensionally in this step.
[0064] When the upper is in equilibrium with the ambient temperature, it is removed from the shoe tree and is ready for the following steps.
[0065] In the following stages, a sole 7 is constructed or applied to the upper and. once the sole / upper assembly stage is complete, the shoe is complete.
[0066] As can be deduced from the description above, the shoe obtained with the process illustrated comprises an upper 2 formed of a pair of socks, one turned down over the other, wherein a first sock 3, or outer sock, comprises an initial edge 300. made of elastic yarn and positioned at the base a user's toes, a tip 30 that covers the toes, a portion 31 positioned at the sole of the foot with a side edge 310 that reaches a heel 32 and ends with a first edge 33 at the ankle, and then continues with a second sock 4.
[0067] In the present embodiment, the first sock 3, or outer sock, is constructed differently from the those currently made to form an upper. Indeed, the first sock 3 is a half sock as it is devoid of the upper part, i.e. the portion 31 that covers the plantar portion ends with a side edge 310 that runs around the side of the foot. The first sock 3 is open at the top, i.e. at the instep, as shown in Figure 4.
[0068] The second sock 4, or inner sock, is made with a sequence of parts arranged opposite those created previously, i.e. a second edge 43, a heel 42. a portion 41 that covers the dorsal and plantar portions of the foot, ending with a second tip 40, as shown in Figure 3.
[0069] In particular, the second sock 4 constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with a user's foot while the first sock 3 constitutes the outer part of the upper, as shown in Figure 4. The two socks (outer 3 and inner 4) make up the upper 2 in the form of a double layer, rather like a double skin, where the outer sock 3 constitutes the outside of the upper and is made using natural, synthetic, and / or mixed yarns, while the inner sock 4. meanwhile, constitutes the inside of the upper and is mainly constituted of yarns of another kind - which are preferably natural, such as wool, for example - to provide other features such as: breathability, comfort, thermal insulation, etc. In addition to the yarns just mentioned, the upper features an additional thermoplastic polymer yarn, which is added to both socks in well-defined areas with different densities so as to provide diversified properties including elasticity, reinforcement, and breathability.
[0070] In more detail, the thermoplastic polymer yarn is used in a higher percentage in the outer sock 3. which lends the structure of the upper greater durability and strength.
[0071] In addition, the said polymer yarn used in the processing acts as a binder between the two socks so that when they are joined together, they form the upper as if it were a single piece. This configuration gives the upper a sporty, technical appearance and aesthetic with a structure and the capacity to hold the foot firmly.
[0072] In accordance with the present invention and as illustrated in the process, a variant of the upper in question is envisaged in which the sock and the half sock have the same configuration as that illustrated previously, wherein a first sock 3 constitutes the inner part of the upper 2 and is in contact with a user's foot while a second sock 4 constitutes the outer part of the upper, as shown in Figure 11 .
[0073] The first sock 3 or inner sock is open and is devoid of the upper part, i.e. the said sock features a portion 31 which is created to cover the plantar portion and has a side edge 310 that runs around the side of the foot, a rear portion 32 that covers the heel, an edge 33 that runs around the ankle and a tip 30 bordered with an initial edge 300 of stitches.
[0074] In particular, the initial edge 300 of stitches of the first sock 3 is made with elastic yarn, has the function of keeping the tip of the shoe in shape and provides reinforcement and containment directly by means of the knitting, without additional inserts or structures. Furthermore, the initial edge facilitates assembly on the shoe former because it secures the tip of the sock, holding it in place and allowing perfect centring on the said shoe former. fhe second sock 4. or outer sock, is made with a sequence of parts arranged opposite those created previously and features a second edge 43, a heel 42, a portion 41 that covers the dorsal and plantar portions of the foot, ending with a second tip 40, sealed directly by the machine, as shown in Figure 8.
[0075] In particular, the second sock 4 constitutes the outer part of the upper while the first sock 3 constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with a user's foot, as shown in Figure 9.
[0076] Also in this case, unlike with current techniques, a sock and a half sock are constructed and used, wherein the incomplete knitting of the inner sock 4 makes it unnecessary to cut material to obtain a lighter and therefore more breathable sector in the dorsal part of the foot, thereby preventing the processing scraps generated with the shoes currently available on the market. The half sock positioned inside constitutes a protective band for the sides and the tip of the foot while the instep and forefoot area remains free, lighter, and more breathable.
[0077] In addition to the explanations so far, in the parts where there are two layers of knitting - as shown in Figure 1 and Figure 7- there is greater protection and stability for the user's foot and greater strength of the shoe structure, while in the dorsal portion - where there is only one layer of knitting - there is greater breathability and ventilation and a lesser sense of foot constraint without reducing protection of the said foot.
[0078] In accordance with the present embodiment, an elastic yarn is envisaged at the edge of both the inner sock and the outer sock to lend the shoe and the user's ankle hold and stability.
[0079] In the variant, the half sock is on the inside while the full sock is on the outside. This configuration gives the upper a clean, linear appearance and aesthetic without affecting the structure and the capacity to hold the foot firmly.
[0080] With the process for making a knitted upper in question, a reduction in the consumption of yarn used is obtained due to the smaller amount of knitting needed in order to make the outer or inner sock. Furthermore, there is a reduction in processing waste when making a shoe, which translates into a lower environmental impact and therefore more environmentally friendly, greener production.
[0081] In addition to the explanations so far, with the production process according to the present invention, a saving in the time taken to produce the two socks has also be found, which is due to the removal of a double sock with one portion less from the knitting machine rather than the two conventional socks.
[0082] The savings just mentioned translate into a greater production speed, due to the reduction in the times and materials used to make a knitted upper.
[0083] Furthermore, there are further consequent savings in the use of electricity due to the reduced time needed to produce the two socks and significantly curbed wear of the knitting machine due to the reduced length of time the said machine is used for the production of the two socks for the upper.
[0084] After this predominantly structural description, the operation of the invention in question is described as follows. When a user intends to walk or engage in sports, they simply have to put on a pair of shoes according to the present invention and use them in exactly the same way as those currently in use, with the difference being that the support provided in the various areas of the foot is differentiated from sector to sector, the comfort is optimal and diversified according to the parts of the foot, the climate control is also different from area to area, the heel is better protected against blows and bumps, and other parts of the foot will be helped and supported as well as protected during the various movements. Furthermore, the flexibility of the shoe will allow the user to keep the shoes on for hours and to walk without any muscle fatigue.
[0085] The present invention thus achieves the objects set.
[0086] With the process in question it is possible to produce a knitted upper for shoes that is particularly breathable while still protecting the most exposed and delicate parts of the foot, as well as being light and very flexible.
[0087] Advantageously, with the process according to the present invention, a knitted upper for a shoe is made that features an optimal quality of breathability and ventilation without losing strength and stability in the areas where such qualities are necessary.
[0088] Furthermore, the process in question for making a knitted upper for a shoe reduces the amount of material used for the construction of the upper and reduces the scraps of material generated, thereby curbing processing waste.
[0089] A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe which adapts perfectly to the morphology of the foot, featuring differentiated functions and behaviour to meet all the usage needs and which swaddles and holds the user's foot, with optimal breathability, but at the same time offers protection against outer water and dampness, decidedly light weight, and considerable comfort when worn, as well as significant flexibility and lightness during use thereof. Furthermore, with the same process for construction of the two socks for the upper, two aesthetically different types of shoes can be obtained by swapping the two socks: one with a more technical, sporty appearance and one that is cleaner and more linear.
[0090] A further advantage of the present invention is to provide a structure and process for making a knitted upper for a shoe which has a faster construction sequence.
[0091] A further advantage lies in the fact that the shoe in question is simple to manufacture and works well.
[0092] Of course, numerous modifications and variations may be made to the present invention while remaining within the scope of the inventive concept that characterises it.
Claims
CLAIMS1) Process for making a shoe with a knitted upper comprising the following steps: a first step for the weaving / construction of an upper (2), which is made by constructing a double sock, a second step envisaging the shaping of the upper, in which the two socks produced previously are placed on a special shoe-tree, wherein the inner sock is placed directly onto the shoe-tree while the outer sock is turned over onto the inner sock so as to form a double layer,- a steaming step, in which the upper on the shoe-tree is blasted with a jet of steam, which moistens and softens a constituent thermoplastic polymer yarn thereof. a drying step, in which the upper goes through a high-temperature oven to dry off the residual moisture from the previous step and return the said upper to the desired size by bringing the thermoplastic polymer yarn to melting temperature, a resting step, in which the upper on the shoe-tree comes out of an oven and transits on a roller conveyor, thereby releasing heat so as to lower the temperature thereof, a stabilisation step, in which the upper on the shoe-tree is conveyed through a very low temperature fridge, which stabilises the thermoplastic polymer yarn to set the dimensions of the upper,- a removal step, in which the upper is removed from the shoe-tree when the said upper reaches room temperature. characterised by the fact that: the first step for the weaving / construction of an upper (2) comprises the construction of a first sock (3) or outer sock starting from an initial edge (300) made of an elastic yarn and positioned at the base of a user's toes, followed by a tip (30) created to cover the toes, then continuing with a portion (31) positioned at the sole of the foot and endowed with a side edge (310). then reaching a heel (32) and ending with a first edge (33) at the ankle.and then continuing with a second sock (4) or inner sock with a series of parts opposite those made previously, i.e. a second edge (43). a heel (42), a foot portion (41) created to cover the dorsal and plantar portions of the foot, then ending with a second tip (40) which is sealed directly by the machine, wherein the second sock (4) constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with a user's foot while the first sock (3) constitutes the outer part of the upper, forming a double layer, during the upper-forming step, the double sock constructed previously has the appearance of a sock and a half sock joined together along the ankle edge, wherein the inner sock (4)- whose tip is sealed during knitting- is placed on a special shoe-tree, while the outer sock (3) is pulled, turned over onto the previous one to close the upper, adapting perfectly to the shoe-tree until the initial edge is positioned covering the tip of the inner sock, forming the upper (2) and constituted of a double layer except in the dorsal portion of the foot. once removed from the shoe-tree, the upper is ready for the construction or application of a sole (7) and once the step to assemble the sole to the upper is complete, the shoe is complete.2) Process for making a shoe with a knitted upper comprising the following steps: a first step for the weaving / construction of an upper (2). which is made by constructing a double sock. a second step envisaging the shaping of the upper, in which the two socks produced previously are placed on a special shoe-tree, wherein the inner sock is placed directly onto the shoe-tree while the outer sock is turned over onto the inner sock so as to form a double layer. a steaming step, in which the upper on the shoe-tree is blasted with a jet of steam, which moistens and softens a constituent thermoplastic polymer yarn thereof.a drying step, in which the upper goes through a high-temperature oven to dry off the residual moisture from the previous step and return the said upper to the desired size by bringing the thermoplastic polymer yarn to melting temperature, a resting step, in which the upper on the shoe-tree comes out of an oven and transits on a roller conveyor, thereby releasing heat so as to lower the temperature thereof,- a stabilisation step, in which the upper on the shoe-tree is conveyed through a very low temperature fridge, which stabilises the thermoplastic polymer yarn to set the dimensions of the upper,- a removal step, in which the upper is removed from the shoe-tree when the said upper reaches room temperature, characterised by the fact that: the first step for the weaving / construction of an upper (2) comprises the construction of a first sock (3) or inner sock starting from an initial edge (300) made of an elastic yarn and positioned at the base of a user's toes, followed by a tip (30) created to cover the toes, then continuing with a portion (31) positioned at the sole of the foot and endowed with a side edge (310), then reaching a heel (32) and ending with a first edge (33) at the ankle, and then continuing with a second sock (4) or outer sock with a series of parts opposite those made previously, i.e. a second edge (43). a heel (42). a foot portion (41) created to cover the dorsal and plantar portions of the foot, then ending with a second tip (40) which is sealed directly by the machine, wherein the first sock (3) constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with a user's foot while the second sock (4) constitutes the outer part of the upper, forming a double layer, during the upper-forming step, the double sock constructed previously has the appearance of a sock and a half sock joined together at the edge at the ankle, wherein the inner sock (3) has the stitches sealed at the toe with the initial edge (300) at the toes and open in the dorsal part of the foot while the outer sock (4) has the sealed tip being knitted, and theinner sock (3) is positioned on a special shoe-tree, bringing the initial edge with the open portion at the tip onto the shoe-tree and the outer sock (4) is pulled, turned over onto the previous sock, so as to seal the upper, adapting perfectly to the shoe former so as to form the upper (2) which is constituted of a double layer except in the dorsal part of the foot, once removed from the shoe-tree, the upper is ready for the construction or application of a sole (7) and once the step to assemble the sole to the upper is complete, the shoe is complete.3) Process according to Claims 1 or 2 characterised by the fact that, in the first step for the weaving / construction the upper (2). the outer sock is made using natural, synthetic and / or mixed yarns, while the inner sock which constitutes the inside of the upper is made using yarns of another kind, preferably a natural kind such as wool, to provide breathability, comfort and thermal insulation characteristics.4) Process according to Claims 1 or 2 characterised by the fact that, in the first step for the weaving / construction of the upper (2), throughout the construction of the upper an additional thermoplastic polymer yarn is added to the weaving which is inserted into both socks in well defined areas and with different densities so as to provide diversified elasticity, reinforcement, and breathability properties, and thermoplastic polymer yarn is used in a greater percentage in the outer sock to give greater durability and resistance to the structure of the upper, and the polymer yarn used in the kntting acts as a binder between the two socks which, when joined together, form the upper as if it were a single piece.5) Shoe made with the process according to Claims 1 to 4 characterised by the fact that the said shoe features an upper (2) formed of a double sock, wherein a first sock (3) is a half sock and comprises an initial edge (300) made of an elastic yarn which is positioned at the base of a user's toes, followed by a tip (30) created to cover the toes, then continueswith a portion (31) positioned at the sole of the foot and endowed with a side edge (310) and a heel (32) which ends with a first edge (33) at the ankle, and a second sock (4), joined to the first sock at the edge, which comprises a second edge (43). a heel (42), a foot portion (41 ) created to cover the dorsal and plantar portions of the foot, and ends with a second tip (40) which is sealed directly by the machine, wherein the second sock (4) constitutes the inner part of the upper and is contact with a user's foot while the first sock (3) constitutes the outer part of the upper, forming a double layer.6) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that the first sock (3) is devoid of the upper part as the portion (31 ) only covers the plantar portion of the foot and the side edge and is open in the upper part at the dorsum of the foot.7) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that the second sock (4) constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with the foot of a user while the first sock (3 ) constitutes the outer part of the upper.8) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that the first sock (3) constitutes the inner part of the upper and is in contact with the foot of a user while the second sock (4) constitutes the outer part of the upper.9) Shoe according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that the outer sock and the inner sock make up the upper (2) with a double layer, wherein the outer sock forms the outside of the upper and is made using natural, synthetic, and / or or mixed yarn, while the inner sock constitutes the inside of the upper and is mainly made up of yarns of another kind, preferably of a natural kind, such as wool, to provide other functions such as: breathability, comfort, thermal insulation, etc. and throughout the construction of the upper an additional thermoplastic polymer yarn is added to the previous yarns within the weaving, the said yarn being inserted into both socks in well defined areas and with different densities so as to provide diversified elasticity, reinforcement, and breathability properties, wherein thermoplastic polymer yarn is used in a greater percentage in theouter sock to give greater durability and resistance to the structure of the upper, and the polymer yarn used in the processing acts as a binder between the two socks which, when joined together, form the upper as if it were a single piece.10) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that, in the parts where there are two layers of knitting, the upper creates greater protection and stability for the user's foot and gives the shoe structure strength, while in the dorsal portion - where there is only one layer of knitting - there is greater breathability and ventilation and a lesser sense of foot constraint without reducing protection of the said foot.11 ) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that an elastic yarn is envisaged within the first edge and the second edge of both the inner sock and the outer sock, to lend the shoe and the user's ankle support and stability.12) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that when the half sock is inside and the full sock is outside, the upper acquires a clean, linear aesthetic without affecting the structure and the foot supporting capacity.13) Shoe made with the process according to Claim 5 characterised by the fact that when the half sock is outside and the full sock is inside, the upper acquires a sporty, technical aesthetic without affecting the structure and the foot supporting capacity.
Citation Information
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