Method and device for the manufacture of sporting goods and sporting goods manufactured thereby

• US 10,750,814 B2
• Filed: 02/04/2016
• Issued: 08/25/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Adidas AG
• Original Assignee: Adidas AG
• Inventors: Holmes, Christopher Edward, Hill, Jan, Dyckmans, Clemens Paul, Kirupanantham, Giridharan, Manz, Gerd Rainer, Drummer, Dietmar Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoey, Alissa L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferreira, Catherine M
• Application Number:
  US15/016,073
• Publication Number:
  US 20160262489A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,664 Days
• Field of Search: 36 83
• 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: A43B 9/12 Stuck or cemented footwear
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/20 welded
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1412 Infrared [IR] radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1425 Microwave radiation
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1432 direct heating of the surfaces to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1467 at the same time, i.e. simultaneous welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1496 making use of masks B29C65/1696 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1632 direct heating the surfaces to be joined
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/1667 at the same time, i.e. simultaneous laser welding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/20 with direct contact, e.g. using "mirror"
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/2023 said welding mirror comprising several sectors
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/48 using adhesives , i.e. using supplementary joining material; solvent bonding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/8223 Peel tests
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/1122 Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/54 Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells, to form hollow articles, e.g. for making balls, containers; Joining several hollow-preforms, e.g. half-cylinders, to form tubular articles
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/71 characterised by the composition of the plastics material of the parts to be joined welding bar compositions B29C65/125
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/729 Textile or other fibrous material made from plastics
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7294 Non woven mats, e.g. felt
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/73116 of different melting point, i.e. the melting point of one of the parts to be joined being different from the melting point of the other part
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/7392 : characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83221 : cooperating reciprocating tools, each tool reciprocating along one axis
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/83241 : cooperating pivoting tools
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/91935 : lower than said fusion temperature
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/92655 : by using several stops
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2009/00 : Use of rubber derived from conjugated dienes, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/00 : Use of polyalkenes or derivatives thereof as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/06 : PE, i.e. polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/12 : PP, i.e. polypropylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/003 : PET, i.e. poylethylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2067/006 : PBT, i.e. polybutylene terephthalate
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2075/00 : Use of PU, i.e. polyureas or polyurethanes or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2077/00 : Use of PA, i.e. polyamides, e.g. polyesteramides or derivatives thereof, as moulding material
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/50 : Footwear, e.g. shoes or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2437/02 : Gloves, shoes

Abstract

Described are methods for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, sporting goods manufactured by such methods, for example a shoe, as well as a device for performing such methods. The method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, is provided, wherein the sporting goods has a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface. The method includes activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact, and connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first connection surface and the second connection surface.

Claims

1. A method for the manufacture of sporting goods, the sporting goods comprising a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface, the method comprising:

positioning a heat source in a gap between the first and second connection surfaces;

positioning a shield over a part of the first component to prevent the part of the first component from being subjected to as much heat as an unshielded portion of the first component;

activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy from the heat source in the gap without contact between the heat source and the first connection surface;

moving at least one of the heat source, the first component, or the second component so that the heat source is no longer in the gap between the first and second connection surfaces; and

connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first and the second connection surfaces.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the first component with the second component further comprises forming a bond between the at least one portion of the first connection surface and at least one portion of the second connection surface.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the bond is at least one of a chemical bond or a mechanical bond.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the first connection surface further comprises providing heat energy to the first connection surface such that an activation temperature of at least one material of the first connection surface is reached.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the first connection surface further comprises providing heat energy to the first connection surface such that a viscous layer of at least one material of the first connection surface is formed.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein activating the first connection surface further comprises providing heat energy to the first connection surface such that the first connection surface is at least partially melted.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein connecting the first component and the second component further comprises joining the first and second connection surfaces without an additional adhesive.

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sporting goods is a shoe, and wherein at least one of the first component or the second component comprise one or more of the following:

a sole unit, a midsole, an outsole, an outsole element, a sole plate, a film or foil material, a shoe upper, a stabilizing element, a torsion bar, or a heel cap.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein the activating is performed by irradiating with heat energy originating from at least one infrared radiation source.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising activating at least one portion of the second connection surface by providing heat energy without contact and wherein the first connection surface and the second connection surface are spaced apart during their activation.

11. The method according to claim 10, wherein the first connection surface and the second connection surface are simultaneously activated by heat energy emitted from the heat source.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the second component and the second connection surface comprise a textile material.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the textile material comprises one or more of the following:

a knitted construction, a woven construction, a non-woven construction, randomly deposited fibers, a multi-directional layered material, or a mesh structure.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a solidifying of the connection of the first component and the second component.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the solidifying is performed at least in part by cooling.

16. The method according to claim 2, wherein the bond between the at least one portion of the first connection surface and the at least one portion of the second connection surface has a bonding strength greater than 15 N/cm when measured according to DIN ISO 6133.

17. The method according to claim 1, wherein the sporting goods is a shoe.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein at least one of the activating or the connecting is performed by a device for manufacturing sporting goods, the device comprising:

a first component mounting for receiving the first component and a second component mounting for receiving the second component, wherein

the first and the second component mounting are movable apart from one another and movable together under pressure.

19. A method for the manufacture of sporting goods, the sporting goods comprising a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface, the method comprising:

positioning a shield over a part of the first component to prevent the part of the first component from being subjected to as much heat as an unshielded portion of the first component;

activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact to the unshielded portion; and

connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first and the second connection surfaces.