GB2227434A - Apparatus for providing moulded, two-tone footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

Two-tone moulded footwear is produced by apparatus comprising a mask 4 having an aperture 6 formed therein for receiving the sole 8 of the footwear 2 and sprays 10, 12 positioned on one side of said mask for applying a second colour to the sole. Spray 10 applies colour to the underside of the sole and spray 12 applies colour to the sides of the sole whilst the footwear and mask are rotated. <IMAGE>

Description

APPARATUS FOR AND METHOD OF PROVIDING TWO-TONE, MOULDED FOOTWEAR.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for and method of providing two-tone, moulded footwear and in particular, but not exclusively, to an apparatus for and method of providing moulded footwear having a sole of a different colour to that of the upper.

At present many boots and shoes are manufactured from a plastic using a slush moulding process. The upper and sole are formed together using an intergral mould. The colour of the shoe or boot is determined by the colour of the plastic used in the slush moulding process.

Alternatively the shoe or boot may be manually lacquered or painted all over, or partially to create a speckled effect, using a spray gun after the moulding process.

Hitherto this has meant that all plastic moulded footwear has an upper and sole of the same colour.

An object of the present invention is to provide moulded footwear having an upper of a first colour and a sole of a second colour.

According to the present invention there is provided an apparatus for providing moulded footwear having an upper of a first colour and a sole of-a second colour, comprising a mask having an aperture formed therein for receiving the sole of the footwear and means for applying colour positioned on one side of said mask.

Also according to the present invention there is provided a method of providing moulded footwear with an upper having a first colour and a sole having a second colour comprising: a) positioning said sole in an aperture formed in a mask; b) applying colour to either the upper or the sole; and c) removing said footwear from said mask.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawing, of which: FIGURE 1 is a schematic diagram of a moulded boot: FIGURE 2 is a schematic diagram of a mask; FIGURE 3 is a schematic diagram of colour being applied to the sole; and FIGURE 4 is a schematic diagram of colour being applied to the side of the sole.

Referring to figures 1 to 4, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for colouring moulded plastic footwear such as a boot 2. A mask 4 is provided having an aperture 6 corresponding to the size and shape of a sole 8 of the boot 2. The boot 2 is inserted into the aperture 6 such that the sole 8 protrudes completely but not any part of the upper 7. The mask 4 has been positioned in an aperture of the spraying machine (not shown) and retained by a circular lip around the aperture. Preferably the sole 8 of the boot 2 extends inside the spraying machine.

A spray nozzle 10 arranged within the spraying machine, provides a second colour and sprays the underside of the sole 8. Two second nozzles 12 provide the second colour to the sides of the sole 8 whilst the mask 4 and boot 2 are rotated by the circular lip.

Since the boot is now sprayed automatically, the quantity of paint applied will depend upon the speed of the nozzle 10, 12 traversing the sole 8, the number of times the nozzle 10, 12 traverses and the quantity of paint passing through the nozzel 10, 12 to ensure an optimum colouration without being uneconomic. For example, it has been found that a nozzel 10 travelling for approximately 3 seconds across the underside of the sole 8 and covering the sole 8 of the boot 2 four times with approximately 0.2 millilitres of paint will give an optimum colouring.

Further economic savings have also been found by reducing the quantity of colour applied to the sole 8.

If heat is applied to the boot 2 after the moulding and spraying processes, then the colour will migrate to improve uniformity and optimum colouration. Previously known processes have not included heat treatment to improve colouration and thereby reduce costs.

The foregoing description has been given by way of example only and it will be appreciated by a person skilled in the art that modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. One such modification is the application of colour to the upper instead of the sole but this may be uneconomic due to the increase in paint or lacquer required to provide optimum colour.

Claims (9)

1. Apparatus for providing moulded footwear having an upper of a first colour and a sole of a second colour comprising a mask have an aperture formed therein for receiving the sole of the footwear and means for applying colour to one side of said mask.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the means for applying colour comprises a spray.

3 Apparatus as claimed in claim 2, in which a first spray applies the second colour to the underside of the sole and a second spray applies the second colour to the sides of the sole.

4. Apparatus claimed in claim 3 wherein the second spray applies the second colour to the sole whilst the mask and footwear revolve around a common axis.

5. Apparatus as claimed in any one of claim 1 to 4, in which said footwear comprises a boot or a shoe.

6. A method of providing moulded footwear with an upper having a first colour and a sole having a second colour comprising: a) positioning said sole in an aperture formed in a mask; b) applying colour to either the sole or the upper; and c) removing said footwear from said mask.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the mask and footwear are rotated whilst colour is being applied.

8. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of claims 1 to 4.

9. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to any one of the figures 1 to 4.