Method for a post process treatment for manufacturing at least a part of a molded sporting good

• US 10,723,048 B2
• Filed: 03/29/2018
• Issued: 07/28/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Kirupanantham, Giridharan, Holmes, Christopher Edward, Le, Tru Huu Minh
• Primary Examiner(s): Boyle, Kara B
• Application Number:
  US15/939,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20180290349A1
• Time in Patent Office: 852 Days
• 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 13/187 Resiliency achieved by the features of the material, e.g. foam, non liquid materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/00 Footwear for sporting purposes non-skid devices, e.g. ice-spurs or studs for football shoes, A43C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2071/1258 for the shin, e.g. shin guards
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/1225 for the legs, e.g. thighs, knees, ankles, feet
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2035/0861 using radio frequency
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 35/0805 using electromagnetic radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/3461 Making or treating expandable particles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 44/445 in the form of expandable granules, particles or beads
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/122 Soles
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/142 Soles
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material

Abstract

The present invention is directed to methods for a post process treatment of a plurality of individual expanded particles for manufacturing at least a part of a molded sporting good, in particular a midsole of a shoe. Furthermore, it is directed to a sporting good and a sports shoe. The method for a post process treatment of a plurality of individual expanded particles for manufacturing at least a part of a molded sporting good, in particular a midsole of a shoe, may include the steps of providing a plurality of expanded particles of a particle foam and controlling a heat treatment to increase the density of the individual expanded particles.

Claims

1. A method for a post process treatment of individual expanded particles for manufacturing at least a part of a molded sporting good, the method comprising:

providing individual expanded particles of a particle foam; and

controlling a heat treatment to increase the density of each of the individual expanded particles;

wherein the individual expanded particles comprise expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, expanded polyamide, expanded polyether block amide, or combinations thereof.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the increase of the density of the individual expanded particles comprises shrinking the size of the individual expanded particles.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the density increases by more than 100%.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the density increases from 30 to 70%.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat treatment comprises annealing the individual expanded particles at a temperature below the onset of melting the particles.

6. The heat treatment of claim 1, wherein the heat treatment comprises annealing the individual expanded particles at a temperature from 0 to 50°

C. below the onset of melting the particles.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the heat treatment is carried out for a duration of 0.1 minutes to 60 minutes.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of cooling the individual expanded particles with the increased density.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the cooling step further comprises allowing the individual expanded particles to cool to ambient temperature.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the individual expanded particles are actively cooled.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of molding at least a part of the sporting good comprising the individual expanded particles with the increased density.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of molding at least a part of the sporting good comprises molding at least two sets of individual expanded particles having different densities.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the controlling a heat treatment to increase the density of each of the individual expanded particles comprises applying radio frequency to the individual expanded particles.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the individual expanded particles comprise expanded thermoplastic polyurethane, eTPU.