Footwear member

• US 5,681,649 A
• Filed: 07/27/1995
• Issued: 10/28/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Original Assignee: Bridgestone Corporation
• Inventors: Takezawa, Satoshi, Sato, Fumio, Toyosawa, Shinichi, Mashita, Naruhiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, H. Thi
• Application Number:
  US08/507,837
• Time in Patent Office: 824 Days
• Field of Search: 36/84, 36/87, 36/89, 36/91, 36/92, 36/72 R, 36/73, 36/75 R, 524/505, 428/492, 428/403, 428/407, 428/212, 428/218, 428/220
• US Class Current: 428/212
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/0036 with fluorescent or phosphorescent parts
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 1/14 made of plastics A43B1/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/02 characterised by the material
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/04 Plastics, rubber or vulcanised fibre
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 17/00 Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 15/65 Apparatus which relate to the handling of copy material handling sheets or webs in general B65H; for photographic purposes in general G03B
• CPC Class Codes: G03G 2215/00683 Chemical properties
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24942 including components having same physical characteristic in differing degree
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/24992 Density or compression of components
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31826 Of natural rubber

Abstract

A shoe member is formed of a polymer composition comprising (A) a composite material having a low molecular weight material retained in a medium material and (B) a polymer material. The low molecular weight material has a viscosity of up to 5×10⁵ centipoise at 100° C. The difference in solubility parameter between the low molecular weight material and the medium material is up to 3.0. The weight ratio of low molecular weight material/medium material is at least 1.0. The difference in solubility parameter between the low molecular weight material and the polymer material is up to 4.0. The weight ratio of low molecular weight material/polymer material is at least 0.5. The polymer composition is enclosed in a rubbery or elastomeric cover particularly when it is used in the outsole.

Claims

1. A footwear member comprising a polymer composition including

(A) a composite material having a low molecular weight material retained in a medium material and

(B) a polymer material,

wherein said low molecular weight material has a number average molecular weight of up to about 20,000 and a viscosity of up to 5×

10⁵ centipoise at 100°

C., and the difference in solubility parameter between said low molecular weight material and said medium material is up to 3.0, the weight ratio of said low molecular weight material to said medium material is at least 1.0, the difference in solubility parameter between said low molecular weight material and said polymer material is up to 4.0, and the weight ratio of said low molecular weight material to said polymer material is at least 0.5.

2. The footwear member of claim 1 wherein said polymer material is composed mainly of a thermosetting material.

3. The footwear member of claim 1 wherein said polymer material is composed mainly of a thermoplastic material.

4. The footwear member of claim 1 further comprising a cover surrounding at least a portion of said polymer composition.

5. The footwear member of claim 4 wherein said cover is formed of a rubber or elastomer.