EP2114186A1 - Semelles d'usure pour articles chaussants de protection de type esd et leurs procédés de fabrication - Google Patents

Semelles d'usure pour articles chaussants de protection de type esd et leurs procédés de fabrication

Info

Publication number
EP2114186A1
EP2114186A1 EP08724098A EP08724098A EP2114186A1 EP 2114186 A1 EP2114186 A1 EP 2114186A1 EP 08724098 A EP08724098 A EP 08724098A EP 08724098 A EP08724098 A EP 08724098A EP 2114186 A1 EP2114186 A1 EP 2114186A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
outsole
electrically conductive
conductive fibers
footwear
several
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP08724098A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Peter Geisler
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Arbesko-gruppen AB
Original Assignee
Arbesko-gruppen AB
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Arbesko-gruppen AB filed Critical Arbesko-gruppen AB
Publication of EP2114186A1 publication Critical patent/EP2114186A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A43—FOOTWEAR
    • A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
    • A43B7/00—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements
    • A43B7/36—Footwear with health or hygienic arrangements with earthing or grounding means
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/22—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to outsoles for footwear, which prevent electrostatic discharges (ESD) from persons wearing the footwear to devices being handled, and to methods for manufacturing such outsoles .
  • ESD electrostatic discharges
  • Static electricity discharges from a person to an electrostatic sensitive device or material being handled is often sufficient to damage the device.
  • an electrostatic sensitive device or material being handled e.g. an integrated circuit or an electronic device
  • factory workers can generate electrostatic potentials in excess of 20,000 volts simply by walking on a factory floor.
  • the friction between the sole of the footwear and the floor material causes a high voltage potential to develop on the worker. If the worker comes into close proximity to an electrostatic sensitive device, the charged worker can cause a discharge to the device and consequently damage it.
  • the first such device is a dissipative strap which is placed around the user's ankle or in the shoe and which remains in contact with the heel, see e.g. US 5,653,047.
  • the charge is substantially neutralized.
  • Some of the problems with this device include user's failure to properly attach the device and failure of electrical component due to irregular walking, since the grounding device may not work properly until the heel comes into sufficient contact with the floor.
  • a second type of device is a static dissipative shoe. Typically, these shoes fall in the electrostatic discharge range of 10 6 to 10 9 ohms/sq.
  • the outsole of such shoe has chemical substances blended with the plastic material of the outsole to create a static dissipative resistance. Such shoe may have a limited use due to the relatively high resistance and further the chemical substance may limit the useful life of the device .
  • US 5,653,047 discloses a shoe comprising conductive plugs which are located in the toe region of the outsole of the shoe, and which protrude slightly above the upper surface of the outsole and below the lower surface of the outsole in order to provide stable contact with both the ground and a conductive layer on the inside of the shoe.
  • Problems and drawbacks associated with the shoe of US 5,653,047 may include (i) complex and expensive manufacture, ( ⁇ ) risk of occurrence of gaps or pockets between the conductive plugs and the outsole, in which dirt and moisture may be collected, (iii) inconveniences when using the shoe if the conductive plugs protrude too much and/or unreliable electric contact if the conductive plugs protrude too little, (iv) risk of unreliable operation after some time's use due to wearing down of the conductive plugs, and (v) a complicated structure at the upper end of the conductive plugs .
  • a main object of the present invention is therefore to provide an outsole for a footwear, which prevents electrostatic discharges (ESD) from a person wearing the footwear to a device being handled, and by which the above problems and drawbacks of the prior art can be .avoided or at least alleviated.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide such an outsole, which has an improved reliability and resistance against wear and tear.
  • a still further object of the invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an outsole for a footwear, which prevents damaging of devices caused by electrostatic discharges, and which fulfils the above objects.
  • Fig. 1 illustrates a shoe having an outsole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
  • Fig. 2 is a cross sectional view of the shoe according to Fig. 1.
  • Fig. 3 is an enlarged part of Fig. 2.
  • Figs. 4-6 are each a cross sectional view of a shoe having an outsole in accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention.
  • Figs . 1 and 2 show a shoe or footwear having an outsole in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
  • the shoe has an upper part 1 which is open at an upper end portion thereof and, if desired, can be provided with a protective cap (not explicitly shown) of conventional type.
  • Reference numeral 2 indicates the outsole, and reference numeral 3 indicates an insole made of a comfort-improving material.
  • the outsole 2 comprises, according to the invention, an electrically conductive connection from an upper surface 2a of the outsole to a lower surface 2b of the outsole in the form of a plurality of electrically conductive fibers 4.
  • the electrically conductive fibers may be of carbon, of a metal, of an electrically conductive polymer material, or of virtually any other kind of electrically conductive material.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 are preferably molded integrally in a hardenable flexible, material 5, e.g. polyurethane material, of the outsole 2, so that the electrically conductive fibers 4 maintain the relative positions they adopt in connection with the molding process.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 are embedded in a hardenable binder, which at surrounds at least portions of the electrically conductive fibers 4, and, in a hardened state, fixates the electrically conductive fibers 4 in their positions relative one another.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 are arranged randomly in relation to one another in a non-woven condition, so that they do not form an arranged fibrous structure like a woven fabric or equivalent.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 are preferably distributed directly in the mold in a random pattern.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 may be present throughout the entire outsole 2 or a major portion thereof, or they may be present at one or several separate lateral portions of the outsole 2.
  • the length of the electrically conductive fibers 4 may be longer than a thickness of the outsole 2 of the shoe.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 provide a plurality of electrically conductive paths from the upper surface 2a of the outsole 2 to the lower surface 2b of the outsole 2.
  • a more reliable low-resistivity electric connection is obtained.
  • each of the electrically conductive fibers 4 is fixated to the insole 3 (or to the upper surface 2a of the outsole 2 or to any other layer in contact with the outsole 2) at a respective end thereof and the length of the electrically conductive fibers 4 are longer than the thickness of the outsole 2 of the shoe.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 are arranged so that they each extend from the upper surface 2a of the outsole 2 to the lower surface 2b of the outsole 2 to thereby provide for multiple electric paths through the outsole.
  • Fig. 4 the electrically conductive fibers 4 are distributed evenly throughout the outsole to obtain a hair bristle brush like appearance of the electrically conductive fibers 4 even though the electrically conductive fibers 4 are embedded in the flexible material 5 of the outsole 2.
  • Fig. 5 a similar embodiment is illustrated.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 are present at several separate lateral portions of the outsole 2.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 can be felted together. Felting means that the electrically conductive fibers 4 become hooked together and attached to one another in a non-woven condition.
  • Such a felted or tangled layer can, even if it is thin, be handled as a unit during the procedure of manufacturing the outsole 2. Other methods of holding the fibers together which facilitate their handling can also be used.
  • Fig. 6 an embodiment of the invention, which makes use of such felted layers in non-woven condition, is illustrated.
  • the embodiment comprises a plurality of felted layers 4, wherein each layer comprises electrically conductive fibrous material that provide an electrically conductive connection from the upper surface 2a of the outsole 2 to the lower surface of the outsole 2b.
  • the felted layers 4 are preferably arranged substantially vertically in the outsole 2 at multiple lateral locations of the outsole. Alternatively, only one felted layer comprising electrically conductive fibrous material is provided in the outsole 2.
  • the plurality of electrically conductive fibers may include one or several woven layers of electrically conductive fibers in the outsole, possibly arranged vertically in the outsole.
  • Each of the felted or woven layers may be provided as a double, triple, or multilayer.
  • the plurality of electrically conductive fibers may be stitched or knitted into a fiber based system, matrix, or layer made e.g. of a polymer material, which is then in turn molded integrally in the hardenable flexible material of the outsole.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 may comprise fibers of a linear density of fiber mass of between about 0.5 and about 5 denier, and/or fibers of different linear densities of fiber mass.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 may be provided in lengths of between about 20 mm and about 100 mm.
  • the above outsole provides an excellent ESD protection function.
  • a footwear with the above outsole will prevent electrostatic discharges from a person wearing the footwear to a device being handled. Further, the footwear reduces the risk for a person wearing the footwear of getting an electric shock due to an electrostatic discharge.
  • outsole of the above kind may be provided with a flexible anti-nail protective layer arranged in between the insole 3 and the outsole 2 or within the outsole 2 as being described in our pending US patent application published under No. US-2006-0265909-A1.
  • the various embodiments of the outsole described above may be combined to form yet further embodiments of the invention.
  • the plurality of electrically conductive fibers may be present in a plurality of the described structures or systems depicted above.
  • embodiments may be manufactured in a plurality of manners according to the invention.
  • an outsole 2 for a shoe which prevents damage caused by electrostatic discharges, is manufactured by (i) arranging or attaching electrically conductive fibers 4 at the under side of an insole 3 of the shoe, which in turn is attached to an upper part 1 of the shoe, and (ii) molding flexible material 5 to the insole 3 and optionally to the upper part 1 to thereby fixate the electrically conductive fibers 4 in the flexible material 5 and thus form the outsole 2.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 have to extend through the entire outsole 2 to provide for an electrically conductive connection through the outsole.
  • the electrically conductive fibers 4 may be arranged in any manner disclosed in the present description.
  • an outsole for a shoe which prevents damage caused by electrostatic discharges, is manufactured by (i) arranging or attaching electrically conductive fibers at the under side of an upper part of the shoe, which is closed at a lower end portion thereof, and (ii) molding flexible material to the upper part of the shoe to thereby fixate the electrically conductive fibers in the flexible material and thus form the outsole 2.
  • an outsole for a shoe which prevents damage caused by electrostatic discharges, is manufactured by (i) arranging electrically conductive fibers in a mold, and (ii) molding the outsole by feeding flexible material to the mold and harden the flexible material to thereby fixate the electrically conductive fibers in the flexible material of the outsole.
  • the electrically conductive fibers are molded so that an electrically conductive connection from an upper surface of the outsole to a lower surface of the outsole is obtained.
  • electrically conductive fibers are protruding from the upper and the lower surfaces of the outsole.
  • the outsole can in a later stage be attached to an upper part of a shoe, thus forming an entire shoe, which prevents electrostatic discharges from a person wearing the footwear to a device being handled.

Landscapes

  • Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Epidemiology (AREA)
  • General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
  • Public Health (AREA)
  • Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne une semelle d'usure (2) pour un article chaussant qui empêche des décharges électrostatiques (ESD) à partir d'une personne portant l'article chaussant vers un dispositif manipulé, sensiblement constituée d'un matériau souple (5) et comportant une liaison électriquement conductrice à partir d'une surface supérieure (2a) de la semelle d'usure vers une surface inférieure (2b) de la semelle d'usure. La liaison électriquement conductrice est constituée d'une ou de plusieurs fibres électriquement conductrices (4).
EP08724098A 2007-02-28 2008-02-26 Semelles d'usure pour articles chaussants de protection de type esd et leurs procédés de fabrication Withdrawn EP2114186A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE0700490A SE531804C2 (sv) 2007-02-28 2007-02-28 Slitsulor för skyddande skodon av ESD-typ samt metoder för tillverkning av dem
PCT/SE2008/000155 WO2008105709A1 (fr) 2007-02-28 2008-02-26 Semelles d'usure pour articles chaussants de protection de type esd et leurs procédés de fabrication

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP2114186A1 true EP2114186A1 (fr) 2009-11-11

Family

ID=39721483

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP08724098A Withdrawn EP2114186A1 (fr) 2007-02-28 2008-02-26 Semelles d'usure pour articles chaussants de protection de type esd et leurs procédés de fabrication

Country Status (6)

Country Link
US (1) US20100031537A1 (fr)
EP (1) EP2114186A1 (fr)
CN (1) CN101677648B (fr)
CA (1) CA2679061A1 (fr)
SE (1) SE531804C2 (fr)
WO (1) WO2008105709A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AR075645A1 (es) * 2009-08-10 2011-04-20 Vicla S A Calzado conductivo, resistivo y antitriboelectrico. metodo de fabricacion del mismo
US20220151335A1 (en) * 2018-11-15 2022-05-19 N-Ion Sports Technology Limited Grounding footwear with a blade portion
WO2020151766A1 (fr) * 2019-01-25 2020-07-30 David Fu Article chaussant

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US993932A (en) * 1910-12-17 1911-05-30 Paris Leroy Whitestine Fruit-drier.
US3993932A (en) * 1976-01-16 1976-11-23 Weigl John W Antistatic footwear
US5233769A (en) * 1990-07-17 1993-08-10 Spenco Medical Corporation Electrically conductive shoe insole
US5653047A (en) * 1995-09-28 1997-08-05 Lucent Technologies Inc. Solid state ESD footwear
SE522661C2 (sv) * 2000-12-20 2004-02-24 Arbesko Ab Flexibelt skyddsskikt som är avsett att utnyttjas för åstadkommande av ett trampskydd för skodon för att förhindra skador till följd av penetrerande föremål, samt ett skodon innefattande det flexibelt skyddskiktet och ett sätt att åstadkomma det flexibla skyddskiktet
CN2593603Y (zh) * 2002-12-06 2003-12-24 孙晓均 导电、防静电鞋

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO2008105709A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
SE0700490L (sv) 2008-08-29
WO2008105709A1 (fr) 2008-09-04
SE531804C2 (sv) 2009-08-11
CN101677648A (zh) 2010-03-24
US20100031537A1 (en) 2010-02-11
CN101677648B (zh) 2012-02-22
CA2679061A1 (fr) 2008-09-04

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