EP1795080A1 - Heat insulating element and apparel, footwear provided with such element - Google Patents

Abstract

An insulating component comprises layer of insulating material (11); and sealed envelope (12) extending around the layer of insulating material. The envelope is made of an elastomer material, an elastomerized material, or an elastomer-based material. Independent claims are included for: (1) a method for manufacturing the insulating component comprising arranging a layer of insulating material between 2 plates of a heating press, the layer being positioned between 2 envelope layers; and applying pressure and welding temperature, with the heating press, for predetermined time only at a periphery of the envelope layers to make a peripheral weld (12c) at the periphery; (2) an article of footwear comprising an upper provided with the insulating component, and a liner or lining comprising an outer and an inner layer, the insulating component being positioned between the outer and inner layers of the liner or lining; (3) an article of protection for a person's body comprising an outer envelope made of a rigid material to cover a body part; and the insulating component inside of the outer envelope; and (4) a garment comprising an outer envelope to cover a body part; and the insulating component inside of the outer envelope.

Description

The present invention relates to a thermal insulation element for an article of clothing such as a shoe or article of footwear, and a shoe or article of clothing provided with such an element.

Footwear or footwear intended for use in cold environments must have sufficient thermal insulation to prevent foot cooling. For this purpose, the winter shoes and especially "après-ski" mountain shoes for winter use or high mountaineering are provided with liners or insulated slippers, the latter can be removable.

A foot zone that is particularly sensitive to cold is the toe zone. Indeed the blood circulation in this area can vary enormously, depending on the person and / or the physical activity of it.

Indeed, the plantar area of the foot acts as a pump when it is requested, if this plantar area remains immobile or is insufficiently stressed, blood circulation does not occur normally and the toes beyond this area are not not sufficiently warmed up.

To solve this problem the DE 195 12 499 proposes to add to the interior of the shoe a layer of insulating material, of the type operating by air entrapment, non-compressible in the toe area only.

This layer of insulating material is sewn to the material of the shoe upper at the toe area and is shaped with the upper during the traditional assembly operation using a shape. Such a construction is provided only for traditional fixtures. Moreover, in the case of a shoe to be waterproof or respiro-tight, the seams assembly must be sealed.

Speak US 2005/0175799 it is known to provide a very thin insulating component having greater thermal insulation than conventional materials and can be incorporated into clothing without substantially changing the size and external appearance.

The insulating component known from this document consists of a polyester, nylon polyamide, gas impermeable polyethylene shell covered with a layer of reflective material such as aluminum, which is vacuum-sealed and inside which fine powdered insulating materials, such as silica, alumina, airgel and optionally a structural material made of fibers, for example polyester fibers, the vacuum being an excellent insulator since the absence of material prevents the conduction of heat.

Due to vacuum packaging and the use of highly insulating materials, such as airgel, the insulating component has a very low thermal conductivity of less than 20 mW / mK.

The material obtained is therefore very insulating, even in thin layer.

Due to its vacuum construction, the insulating component according to the US 2005/0175799 However, this has the disadvantage of being not very flexible, and therefore not easily adaptable to the shape of a garment and especially a shoe.

For this reason, it is expected that its thickness should be reduced and maintained at values of less than 2 or 3 mm.

Even with such thicknesses, the insulating component remains very flexible.

This problem is amplified at low temperature, where the polyester, nylon, polyethylene materials used to make the envelope harden, which makes them brittle, and therefore not very suitable for use in a shoe, for example walking, hiking, mountain or cross-country skiing in which the repeated movements of unwinding / flexing of the foot can lead to a rupture of the envelope. The envelope is also not really completely gas-tight and gradually leaves the air, so that the vacuum disappears gradually and the insulating component loses its thermal insulation qualities related to the presence of empty. Moreover the envelope "swells" due to the penetration of air and also loses its thin qualities, which reduces the volume available to the user and including the footwear volume for a shoe.

The object of the present invention is to overcome these disadvantages.

An object of the present invention is to propose a new concept of thermal insulation for clothing and / or footwear.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a thermal insulation concept compatible with uses at very low temperatures and especially at temperatures below -20 ° C.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a new type of insulating component that can be easily conformed to the shape of the object in which it is to be incorporated.

• une couche de matériau isolant,
• une enveloppe scellée autour de la couche de matériau isolant,
• l'enveloppe étant en un matériau élastomère et/ou à base de matériau élastomère.

This or these goals are achieved in the insulating component according to the invention in that it comprises:

• a layer of insulating material,
• a sealed envelope around the layer of insulating material,
• the envelope being made of an elastomeric material and / or based on elastomeric material.

For the purposes of the present invention, the elastomeric materials are defined as natural or synthetic polymeric materials having elastic properties similar to those of rubber and therefore elastic at room temperature. Materials based on elastomeric or elastomeric material are defined herein within the meaning of the present invention as composite materials based on elastomer and / or elastomerized, that is to say mixed with an elastomeric plasticizer, and having elastic properties similar to those of rubber. These materials retain at least some of these elastic properties even at low temperatures and therefore remain flexible and non-brittle, even at temperatures of the order of -20 ° C and below.

Moreover, the use of elastic materials for the envelope of the insulating component makes it easy to conform said component to the shape of the object to which it is to be incorporated.

The fact that the envelope is hermetic also makes it possible to use, as an insulating material, either primary or complementary materials powder such as airgel powder, highly insulating silica, but volatile because of their powder structure.

Finally, the use of elastomeric or elastomer-based materials for the casing makes it completely impermeable to water and prevents the insulation from being damaged by moisture and allows better handling during manufacture, especially when using powdered materials.

The invention also relates to the method of manufacturing such an insulating element and its application to various objects.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une chaussure incorporant un composant isolant selon l'invention,
• la figure 2 est une vue similaire à la figure 1 avec un arraché partiel illustrant un positionnement du composant isolant,
• les figures 2A et 2B sont à l'échelle agrandie, des vues de détail de la figure 2,
• la figure 3 est une vue en perspective éclatée illustrant la construction d'un composant isolant,
• la figure 3A est une vue schématique en coupe partielle du dispositif de fabrication selon un exemple de réalisation,
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du composant isolant terminé,
• la figure 5 est une vue similaire à la figure 4 d'un composant isolant selon un autre mode de réalisation,
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'un casque incorporant un composant isolant selon l'invention.

It will be better understood from the description which follows, with reference to the appended schematic drawing, illustrating by way of nonlimiting examples, several embodiments and in which:

• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a shoe incorporating an insulating component according to the invention,
• FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 with a partial cutaway illustrating a positioning of the insulating component,
• FIGS. 2A and 2B are on an enlarged scale, detail views of FIG. 2,
• FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view illustrating the construction of an insulating component,
• FIG. 3A is a schematic partial sectional view of the manufacturing device according to an exemplary embodiment,
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the finished insulating component,
• FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of an insulating component according to another embodiment,
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a helmet incorporating an insulating component according to the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a shoe 1 consisting of a rod 2 and an outer sole 3, incorporating an insulating component 10 according to the invention, shown in dashed lines in Figure 1.

In the case shown, the component or insulating element 10 is provided in the forefoot zone of the boot, it could also be provided in the toe or shoe tip area and / or in the heel area and / or the entire stem.

The toe / forefoot area is nonetheless a preferred area for placing such an insulator since it is the zone of the foot most sensitive to cooling.

FIGS. 2, 2A and 2B show more precisely the positioning of the insulating element 10 in the forefoot part 2a of the rod 2.

The rod 2 comprises in this forefoot zone 2a, and from the outside towards the inside, an outer casing 4, an insulating element 10 and a lining 5.

These various elements 4, 5, 10 are assembled together by a peripheral assembly seam 6. As shown in FIG. 2A, the seam 6 also allows assembly to the portion 2b of rod carrying the lacing or clamping system. . The assembly is then assembled in known manner in either on a so-called first mounting flange 7.

A complementary insulating liner 8 can be provided inside the shoe.

Figures 3, 3A and 4 illustrate the construction of an insulating member 10 according to the invention.

The insulating element 10 consists of a layer of insulating material 11, in this case substantially in the shape of a U, inserted inside an envelope 12. The envelope 12 consists of two films of elastomeric material 12a, 12b cut into a U-shape similar to that of layer 11, but with slightly larger dimensions.

These two films 12a, 12b are placed on either side of the layer of insulating material and are then sealed thereon to form an envelope by a peripheral heat seal 12c.

The films 12a, 12b are films of elastomeric material and therefore waterproof. It may be polyurethane, silicone, rubber, ... or any other elastomeric material or composite material based on elastomer or elastomer having a flexural pattern of less than 500 MPa. The films 12a, 12b can especially be constituted by composite materials consisting of a layer of elastic fabric, for example based on Spandex fibers or known under the trade name Lycra, coated with a layer of elastomeric material such as PU rendering them waterproof. It may also be elastomeric material such as elastomerized PVC.

These elastomeric materials being sealed, the casing 12 thus obtained is perfectly sealed, so that the insulating material 11 placed inside thereof is protected from moisture and does not risk losing its thermal qualities.

Furthermore, the sealing of the casing 12 is made very simply by the peripheral weld 12c and does not require the addition of additional sealing tape as with seams.

Figure 3A illustrates a press device 40 for performing the peripheral welding.

The press 40 is a heating press, of a type known per se, and comprising two respectively upper 41 and lower 42 heating plates. In the example shown, the lower plate 42 is fixed while the upper plate 41 is movable. Two guide columns 43 arranged on each side of the lower plate 42, and slidably mounted in the upper plate 41, ensure the proper relative positioning of the two plates during their relative movements. Depending on the type of press, these guide columns can be deleted. Mobile and stationary trays can also be reversed. A cylinder 44 ensures the displacements of the upper plate. The two trays 41, 42 are heated and can be heated to a temperature of the order of 100 to 200 ° C.

On the lower plate 42 is disposed a laying device, commonly called setting, 45 defining a footprint 45a complementary shape of that of the casing 12 so as to ensure correct positioning.

Depending on the case and in particular the shape of the envelope, the setting 45 can be removed, the envelope 12 then being simply arranged flat on the lower plate 42.

On the lower face of the upper plate 41 is fixed a sidewalk 46 having the shape of the peripheral weld 12c in this case substantially the shape of a hollow horseshoe. It is the cooperation of this sidewalk 46 with the lower heating plate 42 which will allow the realization of the peripheral weld 12c. This pavement 46 has a height provided so that the interval e2 between the two heating plates 41, 42, at the time of the pressing operation is greater than the thickness e1 of the insulating element 10, and therefore greater than the thickness of the insulating material 11 itself and the two layers of envelope 12a, 12b.

By this construction or arrangement of the conventional type of pressing device, it is guaranteed that the insulating material 11 itself is not compressed by the press, during the peripheral welding phase of the envelope and that it therefore retains qualities optimal insulation.

Of course, the press device described can be modified, the essential point being that the insulating material is not compressed during the welding phase and that only the periphery of the envelope is subjected to pressure during this phase.

In practice the peripheral welding is carried out, for a polyurethane envelope, at a temperature of 120 ° C for a period of 20 seconds, under a pressure of 3 bar. Depending on the materials used for the envelope, the weld can also be performed with the interposition of a glue film, for example polyurethane glue.

Welding can also be performed with indirect heat input using for example the high frequency welding technique, or other similar methods. With the high-frequency welding method, the operation for a polyurethane casing is carried out at a temperature of 70 to 80 ° C, at a pressure of 6 bar, for 18 seconds.

Once made, the insulating element 10 can be fixed at the desired location of the rod, in the example shown, in the forefoot zone 2a, by the assembly seam 6, which is made at the level of the peripheral weld 12c, so as not to damage the seal.

As indicated above the assembly seam 6 also allows the simultaneous assembly to another part 2b of the rod 2 and / or to the lining 5 thereof. This assembly of the different elements of the rod 2 is carried out flat, in a manner known per se.

In a manner known per se, the rod 2 is then threaded and shaped on a foot and fixed in the desired shape on it with the aid of the first mounting 7, the assembly is then fixed on the outer sole 3, for example by gluing, before removing the foot with a suitable drying time.

As the casing 12 of the insulating element is elastomeric material, so elastic, shaping of the rod poses no problem even with said insulating element.

In practice, good results have been obtained with an insulating material consisting of polyester textile felt.

In addition, the encapsulation of the insulating material made using the sealed envelope 12 makes it possible to use insulating materials whose insulation qualities are reinforced by nanoscale powdered airgel material such as silica powder or carbon powder. or titanium. This type of material is also commonly known as super insulation and sold for example under the trade name Aspen Aerogel.

In fact, the peripheral weld 12c of the insulating element 10 prevents any leakage of the powder during the manufacture of the article to be insulated or during its subsequent use and thus guarantees the thermal longevity of the insulating element thus formed.

As mentioned above, waterproof encapsulation also protects the insulation from water and moisture that can come either from the inside (perspiration of the foot) or from the outside, and thus also to guarantee the efficiency of the thermal insulation obtained.

Moreover, the elastomeric materials, and especially the polyurethane, used for the casing still retain a certain flexibility even at very low temperature, for example of the order of -20 ° C. or below, and thus allow a trouble-free use in shoes subject to repeated flexing. Thus, excellent results have been obtained using a polyurethane film envelope.

The fact that the insulating element thus obtained retains a certain flexibility, even at very low temperature, allows use in products requiring such flexibility, such as gloves, shoes, etc.

FIG. 5 illustrates another embodiment in which the insulating element 10 comprises, in addition to the shell layers 12a, 12b of elastomer material, and the layer of insulating material 11, a fourth layer 13 of thermoplastic material such as polyethylene / polypropylene known under the trade name TEXON and commonly used to make the hard ends and / or reinforcements. It may also be thermosetting material depending on the type of reinforcement desired. In this case, one of the envelope layers, for example 12a, can be omitted and replaced by the layer 13 of thermoplastic material since this material is waterproof and compatible for bonding with the envelope layer 12a if the latter is made of polyurethane.

The insulating element 10 then makes it possible to combine the functions of hard end and thermal insulation, in this case the insulating element 10 does not extend throughout the area of the forefoot but remains limited to the toe area .

It is also possible in this case and according to the needs, to provide two layers of thermoplastic / thermosetting material. The same remark applies to the layer 11 of insulating material which can be doubled and / or made thicker as needed.

FIG. 6 illustrates another application of the invention to the embodiment of the thermal insulation of a helmet 20. The helmet comprises, in a manner known per se, an outer envelope 21 of semi-spherical shape, of rigid material and an inner layer of shock-absorbing material (not shown in the drawing).

This helmet also has an additional substantially ring-shaped layer consisting of an insulating element according to the invention and disposed at the frontal, temporal and occipital zone.

The application of the present invention to helmets or to any other protective element such as knee protector, elbow protector, etc. is also interesting because of the deformation of the insulating material necessary for a good adaptation to the morphology of the body. the user's head or another part of the body.

In the case of application of the invention to a protection system, the use of airgel material as insulation is the most particularly interesting because this material also has high shock absorbing capabilities. Indeed, the nanometric structure which slows the air circulation and thus provides thermal insulation characteristics, also slows the wave propagation and thus allows better shock absorption.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above by way of nonlimiting example but encompasses all similar or equivalent embodiments.

It applies in particular to all types of products for which identical or similar problems must be solved.

Claims (14)

Insulating component of the type comprising a layer (11) of insulating material and a sealed envelope (12) around the layer of insulating material, characterized in that the envelope (12) is made of an elastomer material, elastomerized and / or based of elastomeric material. Insulating component according to claim 1, characterized in that the casing (12) is made of a waterproof material. Insulating component according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the envelope (12) is sealed by peripheral sealing (12c). Insulating component according to Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the casing is made of an elastomer material, elastomeric or based on elastomeric material, having a flexural modulus of less than 500 MPa. Insulating component according to Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the casing (12) is based on an elastomer chosen from polyurethane, silicone and rubber. Insulating component according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the insulating material (11) comprises a structural layer loaded with ultra-insulating particles. Insulating component according to claim 6, characterized in that the structural layer is a felt. Insulating component according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that the ultra-insulating particles comprise airgel. Insulating component according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the casing is of elastic fabric coated with a layer of elastomeric material. A method of manufacturing an insulating component characterized in that it comprises the steps of arranging between two trays (41, 42) of a heating press (40): a layer of insulating material (11), this layer (11) being arranged between two envelope layers (12a, 12b), - And to apply a pressure and a welding temperature for a time (t) determined solely on the periphery of the casing (12), so as to achieve a peripheral weld (12c). Insulating component characterized in that it is obtained according to the method of claim 10. An article of footwear comprising a rod (2) provided with an insulating component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9 or 11, characterized in that the component (10) is inserted between an outer layer (4) and a inner layer (5) of the linings of the article of footwear and is assembled to the shank (2) by a seam along its peripheral seam (12c). Protective article such as helmet, characterized in that it incorporates an insulating component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or 11. An article of clothing, such as a glove, characterized in that it comprises an insulating component (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, or 11.

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