W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc.

Other

Ecco Sko A/s

W. L. Gore & Associates Scandinavia Ab

Zehnder Group International Ag

Sympatex Technologies Gmbh

W. L. Gore & Associati, S.r.l.

Ortovox Sportartikel Gmbh

Christian Bier

Frank Jensen

Stane Nabernik

Jakob Møller Hansen

Thorger Hübner

Tore Strömfors

Christian Hirsch

Marc Peikert

Martin Mayershofer

Stefan Brandt

Ambrosius Bauer

Andrea Giupponi

Johannes Kuntze-Fechner

Manfred Köstlmeier

The invention relates to an avalanche airbag (), comprising a deployable outer bag (), consisting of a flexible, gas-permeable material, and a deployable inner bag (), consisting of a gas-tight elastic material and inflatable with gas, whereby the inner bag () is arranged inside the outer bag (). The material of the inner bag () has an elasticity of at least 25%. The avalanche airbag () facilitates rapid deployment after activation over the entire temperature range as well as a small pack volume with a low total weight. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for manufacturing an avalanche airbag () and an avalanche airbag system.

Avalanche airbag, method for manufacturing an avalanche airbag and avalanche airbag system

The present invention provides enthalpy exchanger elements (E, E') and enthalpy exchangers comprising such elements. Furthermore, the invention discloses a method for producing such enthalpy exchanger elements and enthalpy exchangers, comprising the steps of a) providing an air-permeable sheet element (); b) laminating at least one side () of the sheet element () with a thin polymer film () with water vapor transmission characteristics; and c) forming the laminated sheet element () into a desired shape exhibiting a three-dimensional corrugation pattern (, . . . ).

Enthalpy exchanger element, enthalpy exchanger comprising such elements and method for their production

The invention relates to an avalanche airbag system () comprising an airbag () and a filling device () for introducing ambient air into the airbag (). The filling device () comprises a fan () with an electric motor (), a first electric energy storage () for providing electric energy to the electric motor (), a second electric energy storage () and a control device () for actuating the electric motor (). By means of the control device () depending on at least one parameter both a supplying of the electric motor () with electric energy originating from both energy storages () as well as with electric energy originating from only one of the two energy storages () can be effected. Moreover, the invention relates to a backpack comprising such an avalanche airbag system () and a method for operating such an avalanche airbag system ().

Avalanche airbag system, carrying device, and method for operating an avalanche airbag system

The invention relates to a carrying device, in particular a backpack (), for an avalanche airbag system (), which includes an airbag () and a filling device () for introducing at least one medium into the airbag (). The airbag () brought into a stowage position is received in a container () if the avalanche airbag system () is coupled to the carrying device. The container () comprises a closure element (). After opening the closure element (), the container () can be brought from a closed position into an open position. The carrying device includes at least one spring element, which is tensioned if the container () is brought into the closed position, and by means of which bringing the container () from the closed position into the open position can be effected. The closure element () can be opened by actuating an actuating device (), by means of which the filling device () can be brought into a triggered state. In the triggered state, the filling device () introduces the at least one medium into the airbag ().

Carrying device for an avalanche airbag system

The present invention provides enthalpy exchanger elements (E, E', PR, PF) and enthalpy exchangers comprising such elements. Furthermore, the invention discloses a method for producing such enthalpy exchanger elements and enthalpy exchangers, comprising the steps of a) providing an air-permeable sheet element (); b) laminating at least one side () of the sheet element () with a thin polymer film () with water vapor transmission characteristics; and c) forming the laminated sheet element () into a desired shape exhibiting a three-dimensional corrugation pattern (, . . . ).

A shoe according to the invention comprises an upper assembly comprising an upper portion () having an outer material () for surrounding a foot and a lower portion () having at least a breathable layer (). The shoe also comprises a sole comprising a ventilating container element () having a bottom part () and a side wall () surrounding said bottom part () so as to form an inner space of the ventilating container element (), the ventilating container element being arranged below and attached to the upper assembly, and a filler structure or material () allowing for air flow through it placed in the inner space of the ventilating container element ().

Shoe, sole assembly for a shoe, method for manufacturing a sole assembly, and method for manufacturing a shoe

Item of footwear () having an upper arrangement () and a sole (), wherein the upper arrangement () has a top material () and on air-permeable layer () arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer () is arranged above the sole (), in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement (), the air-permeable layer () has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material () of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material () which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer () and running outside the air-permeable layer (), is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer (), and thus connects the air-permeable layer () to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer ().

Item of footwear with ventilation in the bottom region of the shaft, and air-permeable spacer structure which can be used for this purpose

Item of footwear having an upper arrangement and a sole, wherein the upper arrangement has a top material and an air-permeable layer arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer is arranged above the sole, in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement, the air-permeable layer has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer and running outside the air-permeable layer, is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer and thus connects the air-permeable layer to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer.

A Waterproof, breathable shoe according to the present invention comprises an upper assembly () with an upper portion () including a breathable outer material () and with a bottom portion (), said upper assembly () comprising a waterproof, breathable functional layer arrangement () extending over said upper portion () and said bottom portion (). The shoe further comprises a ventilating sole element having a structure or material allowing for air flow through it, said ventilating sole element being attached to said upper assembly (), wherein at least one lateral passage () extends from said structure or material through a side wall () of said ventilating sole element, said lateral passage () allowing for communication of air between said structure or material of said ventilating sole element and an outside of said ventilating sole element.

Waterproof, breathable shoe and method for manufacturing a shoe

A ventilating sole element () for a shoe according to the present invention comprises a side wall (). A channel structure () is formed in the ventilating sole element () that comprises a plurality of channels (). At least some of the lateral ends of said channels () are formed as air and moisture discharging ports (), and at least one of the channels () is a peripheral channel () that intersects with a plurality of channels (). The channels () and the side wall () form functional pillars (); and said ventilating sole element () has a ratio of top surface area (Ap) of the functional pillars () to top surface area (Ac) of the channels () between 0.5 and 5.

Ventilating sole element for a shoe as well as sole assembly and waterproof, breathable shoe comprising the same

The invention relates to an upper arrangement () for footwear (), comprising an upper region () with a water vapor-permeable upper material layer () that comprises a lower end section; a waterproof and water vapor-permeable upper functional layer laminate () that comprises a lower end section; and an upper base () with an upper base functional layer laminate () that has a lateral end section. The lower end section of the upper region () is connected to the lateral end section of the upper base (); and the upper base functional layer laminate () is designed as a multilayer laminate that comprises a waterproof and water vapor-permeable functional layer () that lies bottommost and at least one water vapor-permeable textile layer () that lies over said functional layer.

Upper arrangement for footwear, and footwear with said upper arrangement

Item of footwear () having an upper arrangement () and a sole (), wherein the upper arrangement () has a top material () and an air-permeable layer () arranged in a base of the upper, the air-permeable layer () is arranged above the sole (), in a sole-side, bottom region of the upper arrangement (), the air-permeable layer () has a three-dimensional structure allowing the through-passage of air in at least the horizontal direction, and a sole-side, bottom peripheral region of the top material () of the upper is replaced, over at least part of its peripheral extent, by at least one connecting material () which, beginning at least above an underside of the air-permeable layer () and running outside the air-permeable layer (), is arranged on the base of the upper and is air-permeable at least in a sub-region located at least in part at the same level as the air-permeable layer (), and thus connects the air-permeable layer () to the exterior surroundings such that air can be exchanged between the exterior surroundings and the air-permeable layer ().

Growing community of inventors

Miesbach, Germany

Christian Bier