JP2008500847A - Improvement of wet grip characteristics of shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

  The present invention relates to a method for improving the performance of sports shoes, in particular football boots, by improving the coefficient of friction in the area of the main part of the shoe (for example the toe box or upper) in both wet and dry conditions. is there. The application of butylene-type coatings composed of polyisobutylene polymers is described which leaves desirable existing properties of the shoe (e.g. feel and feedback). Variations such as patches and also specific types of fabric or coating areas are described.

Description

  The present invention relates preferentially to sports shoes and describes a method for improving the grip of the outer surface of the upper part of the shoes.

  Many factors influence the performance of sports shoes. Also, there are special combinations of conditions for different shoe environments. For example, cross-training shoes require different considerations than shoes manufactured to be used in ball games where the ball is kicked into contact. The subject of the present invention is mainly the consideration of shoes manufactured for use in ball games. However, it does not exclude that the present invention is subsequently applied to the manufacture of other types of shoes.

  There are also different considerations that affect different parts of the shoe and its manufacture. Although these are not completely independent of each other, the present invention focuses on the construction of the upper part of the shoe. The properties of the top not only affect the perceived performance of the shoe in contact with the ball, but also affect the properties of the entire shoe. For example, overall hardness, flexibility, etc. Because of this, many of the shoes manufactured for ball games are largely in line with traditional techniques. For example, although other fabrics and materials are used on top of other types of sports shoes, athletic leather is preferred as a construction material in ball sports shoes.

  At least part of the reason leather is used is not only for the overall character of the shoe. It is also for the feel and nature of the shoes that the player recognizes. When changing the shoe upper material, it was often the case to use leather of different physical properties (eg, thickness, grain, etc.) or different types of leather (eg, different animal skins). Synthetic leather was not used for high quality shoes.

  However, although many factors are changed by the manufacturer to change the properties and performance of the shoe, significant limitations also exist. One of these limitations is the "contact grip". This is the degree of grip when the shoe contacts the ball. This is an important factor in perceived performance. Good grip provides better consistency in both the nature of the contact and the result. This is generally due to the player's skill as the consistency and predictability of how the ball responds (when it contacts the ball) reduces the need for the player to compensate for the irregular behavior of the ball. It leads to improvement. As the ball slides on the top surface, accuracy and behavior become less predictable and players have to be intuitively supplemented by their skills and knowledge of handling the shoe properties.

  Many existing ball game shoes (such as soccer boots) that use standard leather provide reasonably predictable behavior when dry. Even so, the grip may not be ideal in all possible contact situations (with the ball) and will not result in ideal behavior. The main factor is the grip of the ball and shoes. Poor grip results in slips, slides, and other undesirable interactions between the ball and the shoes. This causes undesirable problems in the behavior and recognition performance of the shoe.

  This represents a relatively large problem. While standard shoes perform at a dry but modest but not ideal performance, many match and training sessions are conducted in wet or damp conditions. This is a significant disadvantage of the standard athletic leather used in current shoes. Even if only one surface gets wet, the coefficient of friction drops significantly. In the standard test to be described later, the friction coefficient of the exercise leather in the dry state is 0.8, and that of the exercise leather in the wet state is 0.3. This shows the effect of common leather when it gets wet. The coefficient of friction of exercise leather in a dry state is also relatively low, and surface treatment of the leather can only increase it to about 1.7. Therefore, there is a significant limitation on the performance of leather to be used as a construction for a ball game, which is a significant limitation on achieving the full performance of such shoes.

  That is, there is a need for a method of improving the performance and the performance recognized (by the player) in sports shoes for ball games.

  It is not only the inventor who recognizes the problems with this type of sports shoes. The methods that have been applied to shoes in the past include surface treatment to roughen the surface of the material used, raised features, and improved drainage performance, as well as logically gripped by physically raised surfaces. I have focused on things that improve sex. For example, rubber injection by Brutting (US Pat. No. 3,191,321), and Johnson Formation (US Pat. No. 5,437,112). Also, it has been reported that foreign materials such as shark skin are used (WO 0307745). However, these modifications are marginal only in improving the wet grip and are almost unacceptable. And at the expense of ease of manufacture, cost, and flexibility. Most importantly, feedback to the ball contact to the player tends to be impaired. This is considered to be one of the reasons why the upper structure of sports shoes is overwhelmingly made of leather in ball games. Thus, the directionality that the prior art aimed at has not been successful in producing noticeable or noteworthy qualities that satisfy the needs of players and manufacturers.

  Thus, there is a need for a method of manufacturing sports shoes used in ball games that provide improved grip without sacrificing player feedback and without having complicated upper manufacturing steps. Ideally, nearly standard manufacturing processes and machines are used to produce the leather top.

  That is, one object of the present invention is to handle these circumstances.

  The present invention also aims at providing a shoe having at least part of the upper part with improved grip properties in the wet state or means for modifying the shoe to have such properties.

  At least the object of the present invention is to provide the public with a convenient alternative choice.

  The description of the embodiments of the present invention will be described by way of example only, with reference to the following description.

  According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material for use in a shoe superstructure having a emboss or outer surface with a PIB coating comprised of a PIB polymer or copolymer as defined herein.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein said material is leather.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material as substantially described above, wherein the PIB coating is comprised of a polyisobutylene-isoprene copolymer.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material substantially as described above, wherein the proportion of copolymerized isoprene is 0.01 to 5 weight percent (including the boundary value) of isoprene.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a material as substantially described above, wherein said PIB polymer has an RMM of 600 to 1500 (including boundary values).

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 850 to 1200 (including boundary values).

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is applied by a roller coating method.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein said PIB coating is obtained by application of PIB polymer or copolymer in a solvent mixture.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the solvent is one of the group consisting of paraffin, mineral oil, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene, carbon disulfide, chlorobenzene, hydrocarbon, and halogenated hydrocarbon. There is provided the material substantially as described above, which is constituted by one or more.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage (including boundary value) of 1 to 70 g / sqft.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage of 14 to 32 g / sqft, inclusive.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material substantially as described above, wherein the coefficient of friction in the wet state according to the IUP 51 test defined herein is greater than 3.5.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material substantially as described above, wherein the coefficient of friction in the dry state according to the IUP 51 test defined herein is greater than 3.5.

  According to a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a treatment method that improves the surface properties of the material by applying a PIB polymer or copolymer coating on its surface.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein said material is leather.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the treatment method substantially as described above, wherein the material is cowhide, goat skin or kangaroo skin.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is comprised of a polyisobutylene-isoprene copolymer.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein the proportion of copolymerized isoprene is 0.01 to 5 weight percent (including the boundary value) of isoprene.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 600 to 1500 (including boundary values).

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein said PIB polymer has an RMM of from 850 to 1200 (including the boundary value).

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the material substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is applied by a roller coating method.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein said PIB coating is obtained by application of PIB polymer or copolymer in a solvent mixture.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, the solvent is one of the group consisting of paraffin, mineral oil, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene, carbon disulfide, chlorobenzene, hydrocarbon, and halogenated hydrocarbon. There is provided the processing method substantially described above, configured as described above.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage (including boundary value) of 1 to 70 g / sqft.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided the processing method substantially as described above, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage of 14 to 32 g / sqft (including the boundary value).

  According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a material having a PIB polymer or copolymer coating as defined herein obtained by the treatment method substantially as described above.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material substantially as described above for use in the manufacture of a shoe top.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a material substantially as described above for use in the manufacture of a glove or garment.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports shoe, wherein at least a portion of the upper portion is made of the material substantially as described above.

  According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a patch for attachment to a shoe or garment, comprising a material substantially as described above.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a patch substantially as described above, comprising a self-adhesive backing.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports shoe comprising at least a portion of the upper portion comprising a grip area, said grip area comprising a PIB polymer or copolymer coated material as defined herein. .

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a sports shoe substantially as described above, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 850 or more.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports shoe as substantially described above, wherein the coated material is a leather or synthetic leather material.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports shoe substantially as described above, wherein said PIB polymer or copolymer treatment is performed during and / or after formation of said upper part.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports shoe as substantially described above, wherein the upper portion comprises both an area treated with the PIB polymer or copolymer and an area not treated with the PIB polymer or copolymer. Ru.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, substantially at least a portion of the upper portion comprises a PIB polymer or copolymer coating applied in a pattern consisting of letters, symbols, logos, patterns or commercial information. The sports shoes described in are provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports shoe substantially as described above, wherein said upper portion further comprises an area of the improved dry grip material as defined herein.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports shoe substantially as described above which is not provided with a reinforcing toe insert or a rubber toe insert.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a sports shoe substantially as described above, wherein the sports shoe is a soccer boot.

According to a further aspect of the invention,
Intermediate base material,
An outer surface coated with a PIB polymer or copolymer,
A back surface having an adhesive coating applied or capable of being applied with an adhesive;
A patch is provided.

  According to another aspect of the invention, the intermediate substrate comprises substantially one or more layers of at least one or more of fabric, woven material, leather and synthetic leather. Patches are provided.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided the patch substantially as described above, wherein the substrate is flexible.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patch substantially as described above which is stretchable in at least one direction.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a patch as substantially described above, wherein said intermediate substrate is elastically extensible in at least one direction.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a patch as substantially described above, wherein the coefficient of friction in wet state according to the IUP 51 test defined herein is greater than 3.5.

  According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a patch substantially as described above, wherein an adhesive material is applied to the back side and a protective backing is overlaid prior to use.

  According to another aspect of the present invention there is provided a patch substantially as described above, wherein the tacky material is a non-permanent adhesive.

  According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a shoe having attached at least one wet grip patch substantially as described above.

  In order to improve the surface properties of the outer surface, the invention relates primarily to materials and to methods of modifying materials. Generally, in the context of the present invention, it is meant to improve the grip or coefficient of friction, ideally in both the wet and dry states. Obtaining equal coefficients of friction in both wet and dry conditions has potentially significant advantages, especially over sports and sports shoe manufacture. Materials and material processing steps are apparent from the specification. In the specification, attention is focused on sports shoes and their related considerations for the ease of explanation. However, it should be noted that the material of the present invention is not only applicable to sports shoes, but is also applicable to gloves and clothing.

  The invention also relates to shoes, in particular sports shoes as used in ball games. In common sports shoes, such as soccer boots, we have mentioned the common problem of slipperiness and poor grip when wet. This significantly reduces the accuracy with which the player kicks the ball as the ball slides, deflects or spins across the boot surface due to the exact mechanics of the impact.

  The present invention provides a means to improve at least the wet grip characteristics across the entire top or part of the shoe. In this context, it comprises at least improving the wet grip properties relative to standard leather and imitation leather materials used in sports shoes. Also, if the user prefers exercise-type leather, the present invention provides a variation of the exercise-type leather that is suitable for use in many of the manufacturing processes of leather sports shoe uppers.

  The present invention applies a suitable grip promoting coating to the material making up the top, or to the top applicable material (e.g. the patch described below). Preferably, the coating process is performed prior to assembly of the top, such as, for example, a precoating of the material on which the top is formed. However, this does not exclude that the coating process is performed at the time of the formation of the upper part and after the formation of the upper part at another opportunity.

The present invention uses a specific coating. Preferably, it is constituted by a butylene type coating comprising a PIB polymer. PIB polymers, in the context of the present description, are one of the following groups: polyisobutylene (butyl rubber, 2-methyl-1-propene homopolymer, isobutylene polymer, polymerized 2-methylpropene, (Known as isobutylene resins and having the molecular formula [C ₄ H ₈ ] _n ) and polyisobutylene-isoprene copolymers. One specific product at present is TPC 1105, Texas Petrochemicals, which is a PIB with an RMM of 1000.

  In general, butylene-isoprene copolymers contain within 0.01-5% isoprene, usually 1 ± 0.5% isoprene. These may be "reinforcing" copolymers in which isoprene is sufficiently uniformly dispersed in the polymer, or they may be "high reactivity" copolymers in which isoprene is nonuniformly dispersed. For use in the present invention, "reinforced" copolymers are preferred.

  The butylene-isoprene copolymer may be crosslinked. Such cross-linked coatings are included within the scope of the present invention, but are preferably substantially non-cross-linked copolymer coatings.

  For use in the present invention, butylene type coatings are preferably easily applied to substrates such as leather, but do not exclude other materials and fabrics used in the upper construction of the shoe. Equally important is that the coefficient of friction of the substrate should be improved, especially under wet or wet conditions.

  Ideally, it is preferred that the coefficient of friction be greater than 2.0 when a test procedure according to the International Leather Engineer Chemist's Association modified IUP 51 (see below) is used. Furthermore, it is preferable that the coefficient of friction exceeds 3.5. In an ideal material, the coefficient of friction in the wet state is preferably about the same as or greater than the coefficient of friction in the dry state. Ideally, for such materials or coatings, it is also desirable that the coefficient of friction in the wet state be greater than 2.0, preferably 3.5. The correction test is based on a standard test using a PTFE reference bed but has been corrected as a polyurethane coated leather used for soccer ball products.

  As an illustration, representative test data for different materials performed by the inventor are shown below.

  This makes it possible to use the preferred polyisobutylene type materials according to the invention and the standard materials, as well as the various dry grip materials developed or used by the inventor in relation to the other inventions of the inventor (for example PCT / AU2004 / 001545). Can be compared with what is defined.

  As can be seen from the Table, the butylene type coatings of the present invention provide many possible advantages, at least when applied to leather. One of them significantly improves the coefficient of friction of the substrate in both wet and dry states. The other is the relative consistency of grip in the wet state compared to dry. This consistency is particularly useful when game and training conditions change along the course.

  The inventor has identified a combination of preferred features of butylene type coatings used in shoe upper manufacture. For example, the optimum RMM (relative molecular weight) of the PIB polymer is between 600 and 1500 (including the boundary value), more preferably between 850 and 1200 (including the boundary value). It is generally a viscous fluid. Ideally, this is preferably very transparent. In particular, the latter RMM range produces, in particular, what may be referred to as discontinuous thin films, where PIB polymer accumulates in the internal fiber matrix of the substrate and PIB polymer on the leather surface is worn out or used Leach and replace.

  While PIB polymers with a broad RMM range 500-1800 (including boundary values) may be included within the scope of the present invention, the boundaries of this range are not necessarily ideal. For this reason, the more preferable range is shown above. Ideally, it is desirable to have a surface that is draggable but not tacky while having surface resistance. If the surface is too sticky, it will attract too much dust and dirt, and if the surface is not cleaned enough, the surface will be like the surface of an adhesive tape that can only be used once or twice, such as a transparent packaging tape. It becomes an unusable state. When a continuous thin film is made of softer PIB, its durability is limited. By obtaining a non-continuous thin film, a realizable advantage can be obtained.

  The ideal goal is to obtain coatings that are durable and have consistent performance while exhibiting improved grip properties. As a result of studies by the inventor, the above-mentioned preferable PIB polymer properties were derived.

  The butylene type coating generally comprises a solvent, especially when a coating process is used. The carriers or solvents used may vary, but preferably consist of one or more of the following: paraffin, mineral oil, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene, carbon disulfide, chlorobenzene, hydrocarbons, halogenated carbons Hydrogen and compatible organic solvents. Paraffin oil is safer and preferred than many other solvents. However, the coating process can be improved by using more volatile solvents. There is a width selectable by the user.

  No primer is generally required when applying the butylene type coating to the substrate. However, it should ensure that the fiber structure is "fully open" so that it can easily penetrate the substrate. For example, if the surface is over-sealed, it will be difficult for the PIB polymer to penetrate deep. In the case of leather, for example, this can be solved by performing a strong staking / softening treatment to make the grain fine, but it is desirable to do so slightly for leather such as goat hides I will. Textured leather, or nubuck or suede leather, with some grain removed, roughened, or modified to achieve permanent surface effects is ideal. Highly water repellent or stain resistant leather can be a slight obstacle to PIB blends. And this point must be taken into account in the exact formulation of the butylene type coating and its application process. If it is desired to optimize the butylene type coating according to the invention and its application process, it may be necessary to experiment. This is considered to be well within the ability of the person skilled in the art given the information herein.

  The application of the butylene type coating may be done by different means. In the case of leather, standard coating machines or processes, such as roller coating, can be taken into account. In a typical sports shoe construction, it is desirable to coat only one side of the leather or substrate. Coating on both sides can compromise comfort and it will be difficult to put a foot into the shoe without a liner in the shoe. Double-sided application also wastes coating material and leads to increased manufacturing costs.

  The butylene type coating can be applied to a substrate to form at least a portion of the top, a partially or fully built top, or a finished shoe. Also, the coatings may be applied one or more times, and these coatings can be applied at the same or different stages of production.

  The amount of coating applied is variable and may change other physical properties of the substrate. For example, as the amount of PIB polymer introduced increases, the leather becomes heavier and the tack becomes more felt. This may be desirable for later described patches or for specific areas on the top. That is, there is an option for the user to further improve the effectiveness or convenience of the present invention.

  Preferably, in the athletic leather in the construction of sports shoes, the PIB polymer density in the resulting leather is 1 to 70 g / sqft (including the boundary value), and more preferably 14 to 32 g / sqft, We focus on butylene type coatings.

  The coating may be applied sufficiently continuously to the substrate. In this case, the top may be manufactured from different sites with different properties, for example coated and uncoated sites. However, some treatment methods and coating methods have many options. Sheet-like materials such as leather (in this example) may be coated or treated by different means, for example to provide coated and uncoated areas. The different areas may include visual materials, such as text, graphics, logos, or other commercial materials, if dyes and pigments are included. Another variation is to improve the performance of the shoe or to provide a patterned area to improve the player's characteristics. Such possibilities offer the potential benefits of additional benefits to both the player and the shoe manufacturer.

  The use of butylene type coatings on substrates such as leather provides other property improvements to the shoe construction. Subjective characteristics for a typical soccer player include tracking elements such as shoe firmness, shape and shape, as well as soft feel and shape. Generally, a rubber toe insert is integrated to exert these properties, but at the expense of other properties and also in weight. The butylene type coated leather improves the subjective quality of the shoe without rubber toe inserts. A significant weight reduction is an advantage for the player and an elimination of additional elements is an advantage for the manufacturer. That is, some aspects of the invention not only improve grip but also provide additional advantages.

  Another potential possible advantage associated with leather and derived from the present invention is the fact that PIB polymers tend to coat the internal fibers of the leather structure. This compares to the modifying action of sweat (more specifically, the lactic acid component), ie the action of easily damaging the leather and returning the tanning of the chrome-tanned leather and the chrome-capped waterproof leather. Fibers can be made to have a strong resistance. Usually, the corrosive action of lactic acid hardens the leather, which reduces its strength, shrinks its size, fades it, and creates an environment suitable for bacteria to grow and survive. These problems can be solved by using the butylene type coating of the present invention on the leather at the top of the shoe.

It should be noted that the butylene type coating according to the invention improves the water resistance of the leather substrate. The Maesser Flex Test (SATRA, Kettering Shoe and Related Industry Research Association of the United Kingdom (Shoe and Allied)
In the test using the hydrostatic absorption and inflexion test (which measure the penetration time and the percentage of water absorbed), as in the test method of STM 106/106 D) specified by the Trades Research Association of Kettering in the United Kingdom). Water resistance has been shown to improve on average 30%. In this way, the water resistance properties of the shoes are improved and so ultimately the shoes continue to be light in the wet game. This is potentially another possible advantage of the present invention.

  Trials have shown that the butylene type coating treatment improves the tensile and tear strength of the leather. As a result of investigation, it has been found that an improvement of 10 to 15% can be obtained. It is believed that this is because PIB polymer exerts a secondary fatifying effect on the leather fiber structure, which ultimately improves the lubrication of the internal fiber matrix and increases its strength.

  Research also suggested that the performance of simple textured leather was improved. This is due to the fact that, in textured leather, the wet grip properties are due to the fact that the aquaplane phenomenon is reduced by the fact that water remains in the embossed area of the leather surface (e.g. the groove between the top and the flat). Can be explained from the theoretical point of view. However, in the case of ball contact, only the top and the top of the flat can contact the ball (ignoring the deformation of the top and the flat). This is narrower than the entire surface area. Due to the small effective contact area, the enhanced grip of the butylene type coatings of the present invention improves the discernable grip. Thus, a leather (or material) with improved grip is obtained, with drainage channels leading to surface water.

  Also included within the scope of the present invention are patches applicable to shoes to provide certain advantages of the present invention, such as improved wet grip. Generally, these patches provide a substrate and an outer surface. The outer surface is at least partially provided with a butylene type coating to provide the improved grip properties described above. That is, the substrate and the outer surface are comprised of a piece of treated leather material or some other material.

  The back side may have a tacky coating. This may be a permanent adhesive or non-permanent. If it is non-permanent, you can temporarily use the patch or change its position. A removable protective cover may be provided over the entire adhesive back surface.

  The back side may be non-tacky and suitable for applying a tacky material. This allows for the selection of different adhesives, which can be used for patches applied during manufacture or by a shoe repairer or other appropriate person. The back side may have water absorbency, may be wrinkled, or may be otherwise deformed in order to improve adhesion.

  Other fastening methods may be provided to attach the patch. For example, hook pile fasteners such as Velcro (registered trademark) can be used.

As will be appreciated, many variations to the present invention are possible and there are many methods that can be implemented. Specific embodiments are illustrated below.

Example 1
A preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The present embodiment has many features of the present invention, including dry and wet grip areas.

  A soccer boot 1 is shown in FIG. Generally the upper part 1a and the sole 1b are shown. The sole can be of the standard construction of this type of shoe or boot.

  The upper part is formed by sewing together parts made of different materials, but other construction methods may be adopted. For the sake of simplicity, this example shows a general stitching configuration.

  The lower part 2 in the vicinity of the sole is made of a butylene type coated leather material. The adjacent site 3 is constituted by a patch of similar material. The patches are glued to customize the boot for the player.

  The front parts 4 and 5 are leather material and a butylene type coating is selectively applied in a repeating pattern constituted by the manufacturer's logo. As a result, improved wet grip is distributed across the surface of these sites.

  The portions 6 and 7 are constituted by a dry grip portion made of a material such as Grep Tile (registered trademark) G200 having a dry grip property and appropriate wet grip characteristics.

  The back region 8 can be composed of various materials at the option of the user. In order to improve grip, it can be a leather with a textured surface than normal leather that has not been processed.

  It should be noted that what is shown here is only one of the many possible applications of the present invention. Not all sports shoes need to be configured this way, nor do they need to include all the different aspects of the invention.

Example 2
FIG. 2 is a partially broken view of a patch 20 according to the present invention. The dimensions are shown exaggerated. In order to provide the upper surface 22 with improved wet and dry grip properties, a substrate 21 of leather material having a butylene type coating treatment is provided.

  The back side 23 is made of an adhesive material and a removable protective backing 24 is overlaid.

  In practice, the patch can be shaped if necessary and glued where needed on the shoe surface. Alternatively, an adhesive that can adhere to wet or damp surfaces can be used. This will apply to damp shoes during the game. Also, pre-shaped patches may be used to fit the area of the formed shoe, such as the tip of the toe.

Example 3
The application process of a general butylene type coating is shown below.
a. A mixture of TPC1105 of PIMO with RMM of about 1000 and a high purity isoparaffin solvent Isopar G (Esso Corporation) having a boiling point of 41 ° C. at a ratio of 500 is manufactured by Texas Petrochemicals (Texas Petrochemicals) at a ratio of 500. It is noted that the ratio of PIB to solvent may vary depending on the leather / synthetic substrate to be treated or different end effects. This is generally determined according to the engineer applying the material and the final leather / synthetic material required, so that the desired end effect can be obtained. However, a ratio of 50 to 50 is generally good.

b. The mixture is continuously stirred so as to keep the elements mixed.

c. The mixture is then applied to the surface of the material. In the case of leather, it can be done by any means that are suitable, such as, for example, roller coating, in order to apply the required amount of material. Ideally it is 12 grams per square foot.
In the case of synthetic materials, other devices for coating application may be required. For example, an air knife (knife over air) or the like. Different application devices may be used.

d. Materials such as leather are then laminated with the coated surfaces in contact. This is commonly known in the tanning industry as "facing". When applied to synthetic leather, they are placed on a continuous roll production line and immediately pass through a heating unit.

e. The material may be recoated in substantially the same manner as described above. Alternatively, the final drying stage is to remove all the solvent leaving the PIB polymer in the fiber structure (depending on the substrate) and on the surface. Some of the solvent may remain, but this amount is small and evaporates into the atmosphere in a short time. The solvent leaves the fiber structure and the relative increase in concentration of PIB polymer improves the grip properties of the material.

f. The material is then packaged for shipping by suitable means, such as, for example, oil resistant separators.

  While aspects of the present invention have been described, it is apparent that they are merely exemplary and that variations and additions may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined in the claims.

  It is to be understood that the term "configured" as used herein is not used in a limiting sense. That is, "configured" does not exclusively define a configuration, but includes the possibility that other elements and configurations may be added.

  Also, the present specification is based on the inventor's understanding of the prior art. Descriptions of the prior art should not be regarded as formally disclosing the prior art in an authentic manner. Rather, it should be regarded as a reference material considered and noted by the inventor in developing the present invention.

1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a sports shoe according to the present invention. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a patch according to the present invention.

Claims (49)

  A material for use in a shoe upper structure, having a PIB coating composed of a PIB polymer or copolymer as defined herein on the embossing or outer surface.   The material according to claim 1, wherein the material is leather.   The material according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the PIB coating is composed of polyisobutylene-isoprene copolymer.   A material according to claim 3, wherein the proportion of copolymerized isoprene is 0.01 to 5 weight percent (including the boundary value) of isoprene.   The material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 600 to 1500 (including boundary values).   The material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 850 to 1200 (including boundary values).   A material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB coating is applied by roller coating.   A material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB coating is obtained by application of PIB polymer or copolymer in a solvent mixture.   The solvent is constituted by one or more of the group consisting of paraffin, mineral oil, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene, carbon disulfide, chlorobenzene, hydrocarbon, and halogenated hydrocarbon. Materials described in.   A material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage of 1 to 70 g / sqft (including boundary values).   A material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage of 14-32 g / sqft (including boundary values).   A material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coefficient of friction in the wet state according to the IUP 51 test defined herein is greater than 3.5.   A material according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the coefficient of friction in the dry state according to the IUP 51 test defined herein is greater than 3.5.   A treatment method that improves the surface properties of a material by applying a PIB polymer or copolymer coating on its surface.   The processing method according to claim 14, wherein the material is leather.   The processing method according to claim 14 or 15, wherein the PIB coating is composed of polyisobutylene-isoprene copolymer.   17. The process according to claim 16, wherein the proportion of copolymerized isoprene is 0.01 to 5 percent by weight (including the boundary value) of isoprene.   The processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 600 to 1500 (including the boundary value).   The processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 850 to 1200 (including the boundary value).   The processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 19, wherein the PIB coating is applied by a roller coating method.   A process according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the PIB coating is obtained by application of PIB polymer or copolymer in a solvent mixture.   22. The solvent according to claim 21, wherein the solvent is one or more of the group consisting of paraffin, mineral oil, benzene, toluene, cyclohexane, xylene, carbon disulfide, chlorobenzene, hydrocarbon, and halogenated hydrocarbon. Processing method described.   The processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage (including boundary value) of 1 to 70 g / sqft.   The processing method according to any one of claims 14 to 22, wherein the PIB coating is present at a coverage (including boundary value) of 14 to 32 g / sqft.   25. A material having a PIB polymer or copolymer coating as defined herein obtained by the processing method of any one of claims 14 to 24.   26. A material according to claim 25 for use in the manufacture of a shoe top.   26. A material according to claim 25 for use in the manufacture of gloves or clothes.   A sports shoe, wherein at least a part of the upper part is made of the material according to any one of claims 1 to 13 or 25.   A patch attached to a shoe or a garment comprising a material according to any of claims 1 to 13 or 25.   30. The patch of claim 29, comprising a self-adhesive backing.   A sports shoe, comprising at least a portion of the upper part comprising a grip area, said grip area comprising a PIB polymer or copolymer coated material as defined herein.   32. The sports shoe of claim 31, wherein the PIB polymer has an RMM of 850 or greater.   33. A sports shoe according to claim 31 or 32, wherein the coated material is a leather or synthetic leather material.   34. A sports shoe according to any one of claims 31 to 33, wherein treatment with the PIB polymer or copolymer is performed during and / or after formation of the upper part.   35. A sports shoe according to any one of claims 31 to 34, wherein the upper portion comprises both areas treated and not treated with the PIB polymer or copolymer.   36. A sport according to any one of claims 31 to 35, wherein at least a portion of the top comprises a PIB polymer or copolymer coating applied in a pattern consisting of letters, symbols, logos, patterns or commercial information. shoes.   37. A sports shoe according to any one of claims 31 to 36, wherein the upper portion further comprises an area of enhanced dry grip material as defined herein.   38. A sports shoe according to any one of claims 31 to 37, without reinforcing toe inserts or rubber toe inserts.   The sports shoe according to any one of claims 31 to 38, wherein the sports shoe is a soccer boot. Intermediate base material,
An outer surface coated with a PIB polymer or copolymer,
A back surface having an adhesive coating applied or capable of being applied with an adhesive;
A patch that can be applied to the surface, equipped with   41. The patch of claim 40, wherein the intermediate substrate comprises one or more layers of at least one or more of fabric, woven material, leather, and synthetic leather.   42. The patch of claim 40 or 41, wherein the substrate is flexible.   43. The patch of any one of claims 40 to 42, which is extensible in at least one direction.   44. The patch of any of claims 40-43, wherein the intermediate substrate is elastically extensible in at least one direction.   43. A patch according to any one of claims 40 to 42, wherein the coefficient of friction in wet state according to the IUP 51 test defined herein is greater than 3.5.   46. The patch according to any one of claims 40 to 45, wherein an adhesive material is applied to the back side and a protective backing is overlaid before use.   47. The patch of claim 46, wherein the tacky material is a non-permanent adhesive.   48. A shoe according to any one of claims 40 to 47, wherein at least one wet grip patch is attached.   A sports shoe substantially described herein with reference to the accompanying description, the upper part of which is at least partially coated with a PIB polymer or copolymer material.

Images