GB2238707A

GB2238707A - Repairing footwear

Info

Publication number: GB2238707A
Application number: GB8927833A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Peter Bullock
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-12-08
Filing date: 1989-12-08
Publication date: 1991-06-12
Also published as: GB8927833D0

Abstract

A method of re-soling an item of footwear with a stick-on type sole, comprises removing the worn sole; scouring the exposed, outer surface of the undersole; applying an air curing solvent adhesive/cement to the scoured surface; blowing air over the solvent, and applying a replacement stick-on sole to the cement. The invention also includes apparatus for carrying out this method comprising a drying cabinet having an open-fronted compartment, an electrically operated fan adapted to blow air across the interior of the compartment and hence across the solvent adhesive/cement applied to the footwear, an on/off switch for the fan, and timer means to time the period of operation of the fan.

Description

FOOTWEAR TREATMENT This invention relates to a method and apparatus for the treatment of footwear, and in particular the repair of footwear.

In recent years, large numbers of so-called "shoe bars" have been set up offering a rapid repair service, usually being a same day or while-you-wait service. However, for one of the most common repairs - the provisions of a new stick-on sole - a significant waiting time is required for the solvent adhesive/cement to go off. In detail, after removal of the worn sole, the under sole is scoured on its exposed surface, after which the liquid solvent is applied, usually by brush. A wait of approximately 3 minutes is then necessary before the new sole (which is usually pre-coated with adhesive requiring heat activation towards the end of the 3 minute period) can be applied. Even the quickest acting solvent requires some 18 minutes curing time.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there'is provided a method of re-soling an item of footwear with a stick-on type sole, comprising:- (i) removing the worn sole; (ii) scouring the exposed, outer surface of the under sole; (iii) applying an air curing solvent adhesive/cement to the scoured surface; (iv) blowing air over the solvent, and (v) applying a replacement stick-on sole to the cured solvent adhesive cement.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for carrying out the above defined method comprising a drying cabinet having an open-fronted compartment adapted to receive at least one item of footwear, an electrically operated fan adapted to blow air across the interior of the compartment and hence across the solvent adhesive/cement applied to the footwear, an on/off switch for the fan, and timer means to time the period of operation of the fan.

Thus, with the method and apparatus of the invention, it has been found, most surprisingly, that the curing time for the solvent adhesive/cement can be reduced to approximately 18 seconds.

As a further step in the method, the air blown by the fan may be heated to a temperature slightly above ambient, in which case the apparatus in accordance with the second aspect is also provided with a heater means, e.g. a heat light, to achieve temperature elevation. Care however, must be taken in that if the air temperature is too high the solvent adhesive/cement will not stick, while if the air temperature is too low, the solvent adhesive/cement will not go off.

Preferebly, for a fan of constant speed and hence air displacement, a manually adjustable timer is provided on the cabinet, this being the simplest arrangement. However, a variable speed fan could operate for a fixed time period.

The treatment time/air volume would of course depend on the surface area of solvent adhesive/cement required to be treated, e.g. a cabinet interior designed to accommodate two pairs of shoes might be operated, depending on the particular work throughput, with only one pair of shoes, thus approximately halving the surface area of solvent adhesive/cement to be treated.

Furthermore, although the cabinet could be provided with a separate on/off switch and timer, such components could be combined, e.g. into a rotary switch rotated by the operator to pre-select the time cycle required for a particular item(s) of footwear, with an audible warning, e.g. a bell or buzzer, and/or a visible warning, e.g. a flashing lamp, when the preselected timing cycle has been completed. Multiple fans and multiple heaters may, if required, be provided. Furthermore the heaters may themselves be controlled by thermostats.

Although in a well ventilated shoe bar and/or if the cabinet is not in continuous or virtually continuous use, the air may be exhausted from the cabinet to atmosphere, it may be necessary in some premises to pipe the exhausted air via a conduit to an elevated discharge point outside the premises.

In accordance with another feature of independent significance, the apparatus in accordance with the second aspect is provided with a heater means, whereby the adhesive coating on a pre-coated sole unit may be activated within the cabinet. This is quite feasible, because once the solvent adhesive/cement on the under sole has been cured in accordance with the first aspect of the invention, preferably by using the apparatus in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, the cured solvent adhesive/cement cannot have its adhering/cementing properties adversely affected to any great extent by temperature elevation, and consequently that apparatus may find a further use - heat activation of precoated sole units - thereby avoiding the need for a separate heat activator for such sole units and the attendant bench or floor space required.

Claims

1. A method of re-soling an item of footwear with a stick-on type sole, comprises: (i) removing the worn sole; (ii) scouring the exposed, outer surface of the undersole; (iii) applying an air curing solvent adhesive/cement to the scoured surface; (iv) blowing air over the solvent, and (v) applying a replacement stick-on sole to the cured solvent adhesive cement.

2. A method as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the air blown by the fan is heated at a temperature slightly above ambient.

3. Apparatus for carrying out the above defined method comprising a drying cabinet having an open-fronted compartment adapted to receive at least one item of footwear, an electrically operated fan adapted to blow air across the interior of the compartment and hence across the solvent adhesive/cement applied to the footwear, an on/off switch for the fan, and timer means to time the period of operation of the fan.

4. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 3, further comprising a heater means.

5. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 4, wherein the heater means comprises a heat light.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, wherein for a fan of constant speed and hence air displacement, a manually adjustable timer is provided on the cabinet.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 5, further comprising a variable speed fan operable for a fixed time period.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the cabinet is provided with a separate on/off switch and timer.

9. Apparatus as claimed in an of Claims 3 to 7, wherein the on/off switch and timer is combined into a user operable switch to pre-select the time cycle required for a particular item(s) of footwear, with an audible warning and/or a visible warning when the pre-selected timing cycle has been completed.

18. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 9, comprising multiple fans and multiple heaters.

11. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 18, wherein the heater(s) is/are controlled by a thermostat (s).

12. Apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 3 to 11, further comprising a conduit to pipe exhausted air to a suitable discharge point.

13. Apparatus for carrying out the above defined method comprising a drying cabinet having an open-fronted compartment adapted to receive at least one item of footwear, an electrically operated fan adapted to blow air across the interior of the compartment and hence across the solvent adhesive/cement applied to the footwear, an on/off switch for the fan, timer means to time the period of operation of the fan and a heater means, whereby the adhesive coating on a precoated sole unit may be activated within the cabinet.