METHOD FOR THE PRODUCTION OF AN UPPER SHOE PART

• US 20100186874A1
• Filed: 07/19/2008
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Puma SE
• Original Assignee: Puma Aktiengesellschaft Rudolf Dassler Sport
• Inventors: Sussmann, Reinhold
• Granted Patent: US 8,172,970 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 156/73.100
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0072 made at least partially of transparent or translucent materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0235 Different layers of different material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0255 assembled by gluing or thermo bonding
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 8/24 Embossing using heat, e.g. high frequency electric current

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the production of at least one layer (1) of a shoe upper or of a part of a shoe upper, wherein a nonwoven fabric (2) made of thermoplastic elastomere (TPE) is used as the basic material for at least a section of the layer (1) of the shoe upper. To influence the local properties of the material selectively in a cost efficient manner the invention suggests that at least partitions (3) of the surface of the nonwoven fabric (2) are exposed to a welding beam (4) in such a manner, that in those partitions (3) at least a partial melting of the nonwoven fabric (2) takes place, so that the density of the material is increased in the molten partitions (3).

Claims

1-18. -18. (canceled)

19. A method for the production of at least one layer of a shoe upper or of a part of a shoe upper, wherein a nonwoven fabric made of thermoplastic elastomere is used as the basic material for at least a section of the layer of the shoe upper and wherein at least partitions of the surface of the nonwoven fabric are exposed to a welding beam in such a manner, that in those partitions at least a partial melting of the nonwoven fabric takes place, so that the density of the material is increased in the molten partitions, comprising:

bonding the nonwoven fabric with at least one layer of a textile material, wherein a layer of textile material is arranged between two layers of nonwoven fabric.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the nonwoven fabric consists of thermoplastic elastomere on the basis of urethane.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the nonwoven fabric is produced from a single material layer.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the nonwoven fabric is produced by the meltblown process.

23. The method of claim 19, wherein the nonwoven fabric is produced from more than one material layer.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein at least one material layer of the nonwoven fabric is produced by the meltblown process and that at least a further layer of the nonwoven fabric is produced by the spunbond process.

25. The method of claim 19, wherein during exposition to the welding beam on the exposed partitions of the nonwoven fabric a further material layer which is laid on the nonwoven fabric is bonded with the nonwoven fabric.

26. The method of claim 19, wherein after the exposition to the welding beam on the exposed partitions of the nonwoven fabric a further material layer is applied on the cured nonwoven fabric.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the welding beam is generated by a high frequency welding device.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the welding beam is generated by an ultrasonic welding device.

29. The method of claim 19, wherein the welding beam is generated by a laser welding device.

30. The method of claim 19, wherein the welding beam is guided in such a manner that defined areas with increased density are produced.

31. The method of claim 30, wherein the defined areas have a lamellar shape or ridge shape.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the lamellar shaped or ridge shaped areas have a curvilinear form.

33. The method of claim 30, wherein the defined areas have a circular shape or have a closed ring structure.