Sports boot and a process for the decoration and reinforcement of the shell of a sports boot

• US 20050104250A1
• Filed: 10/29/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/31/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Salomon SA (Anta International Group Holdings Ltd.)
• Inventors: Bollard, Patrick, Chaigne, Jerome
• Application Number:
  US10/975,439
• Publication Number:
  US 20050104250A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/255
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/04 Ski or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0415 Accessories A43B5/0403, A43B5/0413, A43B5/0494 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 45/14811 Multilayered articles B29C45/14827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/0009 by injection moulding; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/146 Uppers
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2627/06 PVC, i.e. polyvinylchloride
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2675/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2713/00 Use of textile products or fabrics for preformed parts, e.g. for inserts B29K2105/06 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2715/006 Glues or adhesives, e.g. hot melts or thermofusible adhesives
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/002 Coloured
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2995/0026 Transparent

Abstract

A sports boot and a process for manufacturing a sports boot. The process includes manufacturing one or more components of the sports boot includes the following: preparing an insert that is made as an assembly of three layers, the three layers including a first layer in the form of a film of a first thermoplastic material, a second layer in the form of a decoration, and a third layer in the form an adhesive film. The process further includes opening a mold, the mold including a matrix and a core, and placing the insert into the mold adjacent one of the walls of the mold so that the thermoplastic film of the insert is positioned between the adhesive film and the aforementioned wall of the mold; closing the mold; injecting a second thermoplastic material to cover at least partially the insert; opening again the mold and extracting the component of the sports boot thus manufactured, the insert being positioned against the wall of the matrix of the mold. The sports boot of the invention includes a rigid shell having been manufactured at least partially by molding, using a second thermoplastic material, the shell including an insert placed in contact with the second thermoplastic material, which includes a first layer in the form of a film of a first thermoplastic material, a second layer in the form of an assembly of fibers, and a third layer in the form of an adhesive film.

Claims

1. A process of manufacturing a component of a sports boot, said process comprising:

preparing an insert as an assembly of three layers, the three layers including a first layer comprising a film of a first thermoplastic material, a second layer comprising a decoration, and a third layer comprising an adhesive film;

opening a mold, the mold comprising a matrix and a core;

placing the insert into the mold, and adjacent a wall of the mold, with the first thermoplastic film being positioned between the adhesive film and the wall of the mold;

closing the mold;

injecting a second thermoplastic material in the mold so that the second thermoplastic material covers at least partially the insert;

opening the mold and to removing the component from the mold.

2. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the insert is positioned against a wall of the matrix of the mold.

3. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the insert is positioned against a wall of the core of the mold.

4. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the layer of decoration comprises a textile fabric.

5. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the first layer comprises a transparent material.

6. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the first layer comprises a translucent material.

7. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the first layer has a thickness greater than 0.2 mm.

8. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the first layer has a thickness greater than about 0.2 mm.

9. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

the second thermoplastic material covers entirely the insert.

10. A process according to claim 1, wherein:

on a portion of the insert, the matrix and the core of the mold are in contact with the insert.

11. A component of a sports boot made by the process according to claim 1.

12. A sports boot comprising a component made by the process of claim 1.

13. A sports boot comprising:

a rigid shell having been made at least partially by molding a first thermoplastic material, said shell comprising an insert contacting said first thermoplastic material, said insert comprising a first layer comprising a film of a second thermoplastic material, a second layer comprising a decoration, and a third layer comprising an adhesive film.

14. A sports boot according to claim 13, wherein:

the second layer of decoration comprises a textile fabric assembly.

15. A sports boot according to claim 13, wherein:

the shell includes a lateral side and a medial side, the shell comprising a shell base and a collar mounted above the shell base;

the shell insert is positioned on an outer face of the medial side of the collar.

16. A sports boot according to claim 13, wherein:

the shell includes a plurality of cavities spread over at least a portion of an outer face of the shell;

the insert is positioned inside the shell over the plurality the cavities for sealing the shell against foreign material entering the inside of the shell through the cavities.