EP0804103B1 - Shoe assembly method - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR96/01420 Sec. 371 Date May 13, 1997 Sec. 102(e) Date May 13, 1997 PCT Filed Sep. 13, 1996 PCT Pub. No. WO97/09893 PCT Pub. Date Mar. 20, 1997A boot and a process for assembling the boot, the boot including a flexible upper and a rigid sole. The process includes the assembling of the flexible upper and the rigid sole with the use of an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion obtained by shaping a flexible material. At least two steps of the process includes at least the following: covering a portion of the sole with the intermediate portion to form a junction surface and applying a pressure on the outside of the boot to tighten the intermediate portion against the sole at the level of the junction surface.

Description

The invention relates to the field of shoe assembly and relates more particularly to those which have a sole rigid and a flexible rod.

These shoes are generally used in the practice of sliding, walking or driving sports such as surfing, skiing, mountain hiking, roller skating, biking or other (see for example DE-A-1 685 348).

Indeed, these sports require both that a user can take reliable support with the foot, while keeping a minimum of comfort and leg mobility.

A rigid sole allows for example to retain a shoe on a gliding device like a surf or a ski, or to reduce the fatigue of the user's foot by avoiding the contraction of the muscles of the arch of the foot, in particular in the event of occasional support of the sole on floor.

A flexible rod allows the user to perform movements of leg to manage balance or to drive the gliding device.

However, regardless of the mode or field of use of this type of shoe, manufacturing requires that they be joined sole and upper. Solidarity is achieved traditionally by bonding or injection, because there is no the current machine capable of sewing a flexible rod on a rigid sole.

A classic example is that of shoes with flexible soles. The rod is mounted on a rigid and glued form. Then we display the sole on the upper, then there is pressure between the sole and the forms so as to make the collage. The flexibility of the sole allows you to properly press on the rod mounted on the form. The quality of bonding essentially depends on the pressure exerted during this surgery.

The problem is more complex in the case of shoes with soles rigid. It is impossible to use the traditional technique of bonding because the sole cannot be deformed enough to press on the rod, regardless of the pressure used.

The solution then consists in using an injection technique below explained.

A rod is mounted on a form to form a set placed inside a mold with the dimensions of the shoe to be manufactured. he remains, between the walls of the mold and the assembly, a volume which corresponds substantially to the sole of the shoe. This volume is filled by a plastic material injected hot under high pressure, generally between 100 and 200 bars. After cooling, the plastic has the appearance of a rigid sole secured to the upper flexible: the shoe is finished.

However, this injection technique has many disadvantages.

Some disadvantages arise from the fact that the volume to be filled by the plastic to make the sole is not constant; in Indeed, the manufacturing tolerances of a flexible rod are wide to because of the constraints related to the confection, and a flexible rod is likely to be compressed under the effect of the injection pressure. he it follows that the connection of the rigid sole with the flexible upper is imperfect and / or irregular. It also follows that the volume available for a user's foot is randomly reduced, which has the effect of creating ongoing genes and trauma of use.

It also follows that the physical properties of the sole are often considerably altered when the pressure has dropped too much injection course. Indeed, the pressure is maintained at a level sufficient only in cases where the volume to be filled is constant, by press technology.

Other disadvantages of the injection technique are linked to scale factors. First, you need a mold for each size footwear, the production of which is often long and costly, and whose financial amortization requires mass production.

In addition, any modification of a shoe leads to a mold modification also costly.

Pressure injection of plastic requires equipment appropriate.

The implementation of such a process is complex and requires material sophisticated and qualified people.

Consequently, such an injection molding technique is not not really satisfactory.

In order to remedy these drawbacks, the invention provides a method assembly of a shoe comprising a flexible upper and a sole rigid. The method of assembling the shoe according to the invention is characterized by the fact that it consists in assembling the rod between them flexible and rigid sole by an intermediate part obtained by shaping of a flexible material, the intermediate part being secured on the one hand to the rod by a connecting means such as a sewing or gluing, and secondly to the sole by adhesive means, the adhesive means being disposed on a joining surface of the part midsole and sole.

• couvrir une portion de la semelle avec la partie intermédiaire pour former la surface de jonction,
• exercer une pression à l'extérieur de la chaussure pour serrer la partie intermédiaire contre la semelle au niveau de la surface de jonction.

The method of assembling the shoe is also characterized in that at least two stages of the method consist in:

• cover a portion of the sole with the intermediate part to form the junction surface,
• apply pressure to the outside of the shoe to tighten the intermediate part against the sole at the junction surface.

This process makes it possible to use simple manufacturing means, easy and quick to implement, which has the advantage of lowering the production costs.

The molded intermediate part has a regular geometry which advantageously makes it possible to obtain clean, waterproof and mechanically resistant.

Furthermore, the method according to the invention is characterized by the fact that a stop means positions the intermediate piece relative to the sole. The upper and the sole are therefore assembled with precision, and this for each shoe manufactured. As a result, a series of shoes Advantageously has a very low reject rate.

• la figure 1 représente l'assemblage d'une tige et d'une semelle par une partie intermédiaire selon le procédé de l'invention,
• la figure 2 représente une chaussure obtenue après l'assemblage,
• la figure 3 est une coupe selon III-III de la figure 2,
• la figure 4 est une coupe selon IV-IV de la figure 3,
• la figure 5 représente un cas particulier de réalisation d'une semelle et d'une partie intermédiaire.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood with the aid of the description which will follow, with reference to the appended drawing illustrating, by way of nonlimiting example, how the process can be implemented and in which :

• FIG. 1 represents the assembly of a rod and a sole by an intermediate part according to the method of the invention,
• FIG. 2 represents a shoe obtained after assembly,
• FIG. 3 is a section on III-III of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 4 is a section on IV-IV of FIG. 3,
• FIG. 5 represents a particular case of making a sole and an intermediate part.

Figures 1 and 2 correspond respectively to initial stages and final of the process according to the invention.

Figure 1 shows schematically an assembly of a rod 1 and a sole 2 by an intermediate part 3 to obtain a shoe 4 according to the process which will be explained later.

The rod 1 according to the example is a conventional high rod comprising a upper end 5 which surrounds the lower leg, and one end lower 6 which surrounds the foot of a user. He could also be a so-called low rod comprising only one end lower 6.

The rod 1 is made for example by means of layers of fabrics and / or of leather according to a known cutting and making job. The architecture and the materials used give the rod 1 a certain flexibility.

In contrast, the sole 2 is for example a part made at from one or more rigid materials, as some molded plastics, reinforced or not. Mechanical properties and material sizing prevents sole 2 from deform under the action of efforts exerted during the practice of a sport or walking.

The sole 2 comprises a lower face 7 intended to enter into contact with the ground or with a gliding or rolling machine. She can be retained on the machine by a hooking means shown here under the form of an insert 8. The sole 2 is extended at its periphery and side of its upper face 9 by a rigid belt 10.

The intermediate part 3 is itself a part obtained by placing in the form of a flexible material such as certain plastics or rubbers, by processes such as injection or the like. The room intermediate 3 has the appearance of a truncated rod.

The method of assembling the shoe 4 according to the invention comprises a series of steps, some of which are known and not described here.

After manufacturing the upper 1, the sole 2 and the intermediate part 3 in any order, a step in the method according to the invention consists in securing the rod 1 to the intermediate part 3, according to the arrow F1, by a connecting means such as a seam. To this end, the intermediate part 3 includes a junction zone 11 of the part intermediate 3 with the rod 1. The thickness of the junction zone 11 is sufficiently reduced to allow a seam connection of the rod 1 with the intermediate part 3, the connection including a superposition partial of the rod 1 and of the intermediate part 3. Next, the assembly formed by the intermediate part 3 and the rod 1 is secured to the sole 2, in the direction of arrow F2, as will be explained.

It is expected that the intermediate part 3 will cover a portion of the sole 2 to form a junction surface 12 common to the intermediate part 3 and to the sole 2. The junction surface 12 is displayed by the distance between a border 13 and a lower edge 14 on the intermediate part 3, and by the distance between a flange 15 an upper edge 16 on the sole 2.

The junction surface 12 is therefore a peripheral strip of the shoe 4.

An adhesive means, used for example in the form of an adhesive, is applied on the intermediate part 3 and / or on the sole 2 at the level of the junction surface 12 before the intermediate part 3 is in contact with the sole portion 2.

Preferably, the glue is placed over the entire surface of junction 12, so as to guarantee good mechanical strength and good tightness of shoe 4 after assembly.

The intermediate part 3 is brought to the sole 2 so that at level of the junction surface 12, the intermediate part 3 is at the outside of the sole 2.

Preferably, the rim 15 of the sole 2 located on one side of the junction surface 12 acts as a stop means provided for position the intermediate piece 3 relative to the sole 2.

It then becomes easy to assemble the elements that are the part midsole 3 and sole 2. These elements are placed in a box and, in known manner, a peripheral pressure is exerted by a bladder, not shown to clamp the intermediate part 3 against the sole 2 at the junction surface 12.

The result obtained is a shoe shown assembled at the figure 2.

A seam 17 provides the connection between the rod 1 and the part intermediate 3 as it was said.

The junction surface 12 holds the intermediate part 3 by compared to sole 2; the maintenance of these parts 2, 3 by the adhesive is of a quality equal to that obtained for example on shoes traditional soft soles. Indeed, the rigidity of the sole 2 has gives the belt 10 sufficient mechanical strength not to not bend under the action of the bladder. It follows that the glue has been subjected at high pressure, a guarantee of quality and reliability.

The sections of Figures 3 and 4 show better the structure and the shoe parts connections 4.

A liner 18 and shock absorbers 19, 20 are reported in the shoe 4 in a conventional manner.

The connections of the different rooms are spread over the whole around the shoe 4. The embodiment is easy and not very expensive to implement. It allows great flexibility of adaptation in production since the same bladder can stick a shoe for right foot or left foot, whatever its size.

The process can be adapted to all types of glues; in particular, cold bonding and hot bonding are possible.

According to a structural variant shown in Figure 5, the sole 2 includes a rear tab 21 which rises above the area of junction 12 on the side of the heel of the shoe 4. Another tongue 22 is attached to the intermediate part 3 and is located at level of the lower end 6 of the rod 1.

The tongues 21, 22 facilitate transmission of forces by the foot or leg and improve the perception of information sensory during walking or playing a sport. The tabs 21, 22 also facilitate manufacturing and help to handle and to position the constituent parts of the shoe 4.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment thus described, and includes all the technical equivalents that can to enter into the scope of the claims which will follow.

In particular, one can plan to exert pressure to glue the part intermediate 3 on the sole 2 by a set of pushers.

The junction surface 12 can vary in its shape and its location.

The intermediate part 3 can be made from one or several sheets of material cut and shaped on one matrix, with or without the aid of a heating means.

The means for stopping the intermediate piece 3 on the sole 2 can be made other than by a flange 15.

Claims (8)

1. Process for assembling a boot (4) including a flexible upper (1) and a rigid sole (2), characterized in that it consists of assembling the flexible upper (1) and the rigid sole (2) to one another through an intermediate portion (3) obtained by shaping a flexible material, the intermediate portion (3) being affixed to the upper (1) by a linkage means, such as a seam (17) or an adhesion, on the one hand, and to the sole (2) by an adhesive means, the adhesive means being arranged on a junction surface (12) for the intermediate portion (3) and the sole (2), on the other hand.
2. Assembling process according to claim 1, characterized in that at least two steps of the process consist of:

   covering a portion of the sole (2) with the intermediate portion (3) to form the junction surface (12),

   applying a pressure on the outside of the boot (4) to tighten the intermediate portion (3) against the sole (2) at the level of the junction surface (12).
3. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the junction surface (12) is a peripheral band of the boot (4).
4. Process according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the adhesive means is a glue.
5. Process according to claim 4, characterized in that the glue is arranged over the entire junction surface (12).
6. Process according to any of claims 1-5, characterized in that a stop means positions the intermediate portion (3) with respect to the sole (2).
7. Process according to claim 6, characterized in that the stop means is an edge (15) of the sole (2) located on one side of the junction surface (12).
8. Boot (4) including a flexible upper (1) and a rigid sole (2), characterized in that it is obtained through a process consisting of assembling the flexible upper (1) and the rigid sole (2) to one another through an intermediate portion (3) obtained by shaping a flexible material, the intermediate portion (3) being affixed to the upper (1) by a linkage means, such as a seam (17) or an adhesion, on the one hand, and to the sole (2) by an adhesive means, the adhesive means being arranged on a junction surface (12) of the intermediate portion (3) and of the sole (2), on the other hand.

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