KR20190062792A - Light midsole and shoes using it - Google Patents

Abstract

In particular, the present invention relates to a lightweight midsole having reduced weight by applying Styrofoam having a relatively low specific gravity to a shoe and a shoe using the same. The lightweight shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises an outsole and an upper which is fixed to an upper portion of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot. The upper has Styrofoam inside, and a fiber layer is formed on an outer part to surround the Styrofoam.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a lightweight midsole,

The present invention relates to a lightweight footwear, and more particularly, to a lightweight footwear having a reduced weight by applying a foamed styrofoam material having a relatively low specific gravity to shoes and a footwear using the same.

In general, the longest part of the human body touches the ground is the foot, and it is the shoe that functions to protect the foot. Such a shoe is largely extended to the upper and upper covering the entire instep and protects the sole of the sole The bottom window is usually composed of a pair of outsole, midsole and midsole. It is constructed as an insole on the upper part for comfortable fit.

In a typical shoe structure, the outsole is made of a rubber-based synthetic resin material including urethane which has friction and is frictionally abraded and is gradually consumed by friction, .

The midsole is attached to the upper surface of the outsole to serve as a cushion and to support the overall load received on the sole stably. It is often made of foam compression sponge type material.

The top of the outsole and the midsole is covered with an upper made of cloth, leather, synthetic leather, and secured with adhesive or sewing to protect the foot from being wrapped around. It is made to have an appropriate thickness depending on the use of the shoe.

The insole is a flooring element that touches the sole of the person who wears the shoes directly. The insole is manufactured by attaching a cloth material together with a foam compression sponge. The insole is closely attached to the upper surface of the middle so that the shock transmitted to the sole is finally received and absorbed Depending on the type, there is a type that is separated from the inside of the shoe.

The shoe is mainly composed of three layers of shoes, in which the various patterns and patterns formed on the outer shape of the upper according to the function and design, and the structure of the floor window are changed, and the representative shoes include sneakers, shoes, and shoe.

Recently, as interest in health has increased and leisure activities have increased, the use of functional shoes has been rapidly increasing. One of the most important things in functional shoes is the lightweight yet improved, same or improved cushioning and durability.

Basically, the bottom of the shoe is made of rubber, polyurethane (PU) foam or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam in order to have a cushioning and durability over a certain level. The upper is made of leather, Is used. Particularly, EVA foam, urethane foam and rubber, which are most commonly used as floor windows, have a specific gravity of 0.1 to 1.2, so that sufficient light weight can not be secured. In order to secure a certain shape and strength, The weight of the shoe becomes heavy due to its weight.

It should be understood that the foregoing description of the background art is merely for the purpose of promoting an understanding of the background of the present invention and is not to be construed as adhering to the prior art already known to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been conceived to solve such problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a lightweight midsole which is cushioning and durability while using styrofoam having a relatively small specific gravity as a material, .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe including an outsole and an upper member which is fixed to an upper portion of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot, And a fiber layer is formed on the outside to surround the styrofoam.

The styrofoam may include at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).

The fibrous layer may include at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe including an outsole and an upper member which is secured to an upper portion of the upper portion of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot, wherein the midsole includes a styrofoam And a fiber layer is formed on the outside to surround the styrofoam.

The styrofoam may include at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).

The fibrous layer may include at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe comprising an outsole and an upper member which is secured to an upper portion of the upper portion of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot, And a U-shaped protective layer formed so as to be opened. The protective layer is formed so as to be filled with the styrofoam or through the protective layer and inserted into the styrofoam.

The protective layer may comprise any one of polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate.

The protective layer may be a fiber layer containing at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.

The styrofoam may include at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe comprising an outsole and an upper member secured to the upper portion of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot, wherein the outsole includes a U- And the inside of the protective layer is filled with styrofoam.

The protective layer may comprise any one of polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate or rubber.

The protective layer may be a fiber layer containing at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.

The styrofoam may include at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).

 According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a shoe having an outsole and an upper which is fixed to an upper portion of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to enclose the foot, wherein the insole is mounted on the upper, The insole is characterized in that a body is formed of styrofoam, and a fibrous layer is formed at a portion where the body is in contact with the soles of the wearer.

The fibrous layer may include at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.

The styrofoam may include at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).

According to the lightweight midsole and the shoes using the same according to the present invention, the weight of the shoe is reduced by utilizing the styrofoam having a specific gravity lower than that of the conventional material, and the durability is improved by supplementing the low hardness of the styrofoam. In addition, since the inside of the styrofoam contains a large number of pores, the effect of heat insulation is excellent, and the effect can be maximized especially when it is used for winter winterization.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a material used in a lightweight shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the lightweight shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
3 is an enlarged view of a midsole portion of a lightweight shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
4 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
5 is a cross-sectional view of a lightweight shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
6 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight shoe according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a cross-sectional view of a lightweight shoe according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
8 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight shoe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
9 is a sectional view of a lightweight shoe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to limit the invention. The singular forms as used herein include plural forms as long as the phrases do not expressly express the opposite meaning thereto. Means that a particular feature, region, integer, step, operation, element and / or component is specified, and that other specific features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and / And the like.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Commonly used predefined terms are further interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the relevant technical literature and the present disclosure, and are not to be construed as ideal or very formal meanings unless defined otherwise.

Hereinafter, a lightweight shoe according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Usually, the materials used for the upper or outsole and midsole of a shoe are various, but they have a certain weight or more in order to maintain durability due to friction and basic shape. For example, in the case of an upper, it is often used as a bonded body of a fabric or a knitted fabric formed of various fibers in order to maintain the shape of a shoe and maintain a constant durability as a portion for wrapping a foot. In addition, outsole and midsole are made of rubber, polyurethane (PU) foam or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) foam, which is an abrasion resistant material, while maintaining a certain level of elasticity to alleviate impact on the foot. Respectively. These materials have a high weight, and there is a limit to the weight reduction of shoes. In the case where a sponge layer having a specific gravity of 0.12 or less and a low hardness and a good cushioning property is laminated to lighten the shoe, the outer wall surface of the sponge layer is exposed as it is so that the compression strain is large and the cushioning property is reduced, . Therefore, the present inventors have reached the present invention by forming the outer surface of the styrofoam having a specific gravity of about 0.01 to 0.09 into a fiber layer or a conventional plastic material.

If the foam is formed of polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate and used as a shoe material, if the specific gravity is less than 0.1 in order to reduce the weight, the restoring force may be significantly reduced, which may cause problems in shape maintenance and cushioning maintenance. In the present invention, even when the specific gravity of the styrofoam is set to 0.01 to 0.09, the weight of the conventional polyurethane foam or the ethylene vinyl acetate foam can be reduced while maintaining the restoring force.

1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a material used in a lightweight shoe according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 1, a styrofoam 10 is used as a basic material, and a fibrous layer 20 is formed on an outer surface so as to surround the styrofoam 10. When the styrofoam 10 is directly used as a shoe material, its own hardness is low and can be easily broken by external scratches and friction. Therefore, the fiber layer 20 is formed on the outside in order to prevent such breakage, thereby solving the problem that the surface hardness is low.

2 is an enlarged view of the upper part of the lightweight shoe according to the first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 2, a first embodiment of the present invention is an application of a material according to the present invention to an upper member 110. Basically, the lightweight shoe according to the first embodiment includes an upper member 110, a midsole member 120, and an outsole member 130. The upper 110 is secured to the midsole 120 by gluing or sewing. The point where the upper 110 is fixed may be the edge of the outsole 130 or between the midsole 120 and the outsole 130 as well as the midsole 120. Also, in the present embodiment, the sole of the lightweight shoe basically includes the midsole and the outsole, but this is merely an example, and the sole may be provided with the outsole alone.

The upper layer 110 has a styrofoam 111 formed therein and the outer layer 112 may be formed to surround the styrofoam 111. The upper 110 may be formed in various shapes. Each material may be formed as a unit and connected to a plurality of units, or a single styrofoam may be formed as a whole to form a fiber layer on the outside. When the upper part is formed by connecting the unit, there is an advantage that the flexibility of the upper part can be secured without a separate molding step.

The styrofoam 111 may be formed of any one selected from a foamable polypropylene (EPP), a foamed polystyrene (EPS), or a foamed polyethylene (EPE). The specific gravity of the styrofoam used at this time is preferably 0.01 to 0.09. When the specific gravity of styrofoam is more than 0.09, the effect of reducing the weight of the shoe is insignificant. When the specific gravity of the styrofoam is less than 0.01, the stability of the styrofoam is deteriorated.

Foamed polystyrene (EPS) is included in polystyrene which is a kind of general plastics. It is used as an insulation material due to its low thermal conductivity, and it has excellent buffering effect against external impact. In addition, it has the lowest density among the foamed polymers and can be reused. However, in the case of expandable polystyrene (EPS), it is more preferable to use expandable polypropylene (EPP) or expandable polyethylene (EPE) because it generates a large amount of dioxin due to heat and is difficult to recycle and weak in repeated impact.

The fibrous layer 112 may be at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber as the reinforcing fiber. The shape of the fibrous layer 112 may be embodied in various forms such as a fabric, a knitted fabric, and a nonwoven fabric, and is not limited to a specific form.

In particular, when the fibrous layer 112 is in the form of a nonwoven fabric, it is suitable as the fibrous layer 112 because of its low density and excellent air permeability. The nonwoven fabric is a multi-dense structure, which allows free passage of gas and shows a high permeability. The large air permeability is a porous structure having a lot of empty space between the fibrous layers 112, thereby lowering the apparent density of the fibrous layer 112, thereby reducing the overall weight of the shoe.

In addition, when aramid fibers are used, durability can be greatly improved by having good heat resistance, high tensile strength and elastic modulus. Aramid fibers can use various types of fabrics, but can use aramid fabrics that provide excellent abrasion resistance and are relatively easy to manufacture. In manufacturing a fabric, the aramid fiber is sloped to produce a sloped beam, the sloped beam is set in a loom, and the aramid fiber is applied as a weft yarn to complete the aramid fabric. At this time, the aramid fabric is preferably plain weave or basket weave. Since the plain weave or the basket weave is formed by forming warp and weft with constant bending, when the external force is received, the external force is uniformly distributed throughout the fabric, and therefore, excellent friction resistance performance can be provided.

The ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber may be formed of a resin such as ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene or ultrahigh molecular weight polypropylene or ultrahigh molecular weight polyester. Such ultrahigh molecular weight resin has a molecular chain structure of linear structure with an average molecular mass of more than 1 million, and can exhibit excellent abrasion resistance and high strength. The impact strength can be improved when the upper layer 110 according to the present invention is used for the fibrous layer 112.

3 is an enlarged view of a midsole portion of a lightweight shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 3, a second embodiment of the present invention is an application of a material according to the present invention to a midsole. The configuration of the upper 11, the midsole 120 and the outsole 130 of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment.

A styrofoam 121 is formed in the midsole 120 and a fibrous layer 121 may be formed on the outer surface of the midsole 120 to surround the styrofoam 121. The styrofoam 121 used for the midsole 120 and the outer fibrous layer 121 may be the same material as that used in the first embodiment, and the detailed description is the same as the first embodiment.

However, in the case of a midsole or an outsole, there is a case of friction with the ground. Therefore, when the styrofoam is used as a midsole or an outsole, it is preferable to form a protective layer on the outside of the styrofoam so as not to be damaged by friction with the ground .

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a lightweight shoe according to a third embodiment of the present invention. 4 and 5, a third embodiment of the present invention includes an upper 110, a midsole 120, and an outsole 130. The upper 110 is secured to the midsole 120 by gluing or sewing. The point where the upper 110 is fixed may be the edge of the outsole 140 or between the midsole 120 and the outsole 130 as well as the midsole 120.

The midsole 120 may be formed with a U-shaped protective layer 124 so that the midsole 120 is opened upward, and the inside of the midsole 120 may be filled with the Styrofoam 123.

In addition, the midsole 120 may be formed by inserting styrofoam through a protective layer formed in a through-hole shape having upper and lower portions opened.

The styrofoam used herein may be the same material as that used in the first embodiment, and the detailed description is the same as the first embodiment.

In the case where the protective layer 124 is formed in a U-shape or a through-hole, the protective layer 124 is first formed on a mold having the same shape as the protective layer 124 in the midsole 120, 123 may be formed by foaming or may be formed by molding the styrofoam in the same shape as the protective layer, and fixing the styrofoam inside. In the case of manufacturing by the above-described method, the manufacturing process is simple.

A variety of materials can be used for forming the protective layer 124. And may include any one of polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate so as to maintain sufficient elasticity of the midsole 120. In order to maintain light weight, at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber And may be a fibrous layer containing at least one.

 In the third embodiment of the present invention, the fiber layer formed as the protective layer may be the same material as the fiber layer of the first embodiment, and the detailed description is the same as the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight shoe according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 7 is a sectional view of a lightweight shoe according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in Figs. 6 and 7, the fourth embodiment of the present invention is an application of the material used for the midsole of the third embodiment to the outsole of the present invention. The configuration of the upper 11, the midsole 120 and the outsole 130 of the fourth embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the sole of a lightweight shoe basically includes a midsole and an outsole, but this is merely an example, and a sole may be provided by an outsole alone.

In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the outsole 130 is formed with a U-shaped protective layer 134 so as to be opened upward, and the inside thereof may be filled with the styrofoam 133.

The styrofoam used herein may be the same material as that used in the first embodiment, and the detailed description is the same as the first embodiment. A variety of materials can be used for forming the protective layer 124. Ethylene vinyl acetate or rubber so as to maintain sufficient elasticity of the outsole 130 and to give a constant hardness. In order to maintain the lightness, it is preferable to use chemical fibers, glass fibers, carbon fibers, An aramid fiber, and an ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.

 In the fourth embodiment of the present invention, the fiber layer formed as the protective layer may be the same material as the fiber layer of the first embodiment, and the detailed description is the same as the first embodiment.

8 is an exploded perspective view of a lightweight shoe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. 9 is a sectional view of a lightweight shoe according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the fifth embodiment of the present invention is a material applied to the insole, which is used in the midsole portion of the second embodiment of the present invention. The lightweight shoe according to the fifth embodiment includes an upper member 110, a midsole member 120, an outsole member 130, and an insole member 140. The upper 110 is secured to the midsole 120 by gluing or sewing. The point where the upper 110 is fixed may be the edge of the outsole 130 or between the midsole 120 and the outsole 130 as well as the midsole 120. The insole 140 can be fixed to the inside of the shoe as well as being detachably attached to the sole of the wearer. In this embodiment, the sole of a lightweight shoe basically includes a midsole and an outsole, but this is merely an example, and a sole may be provided by an outsole alone.

The body may be formed of the styrofoam 141 so that the basic shape and cushioning can be maintained, and the fibrous layer 142 may be formed at the portion where the sole contacts.

The fibrous layer 142 formed on the insole 140 may be the same material as the fibrous layer 112 of the first embodiment of the present invention, and the detailed description thereof is the same as the first embodiment.

In addition, the styrofoam 141 constituting the body of the insole 140 may be the same material as the material used in the first embodiment, and the detailed description is the same as the first embodiment.

As described above, according to the present invention, durability and cushioning can be improved by using styrofoam as a material for the upper part 110, the midsole 120, the outsole 130 and the insole 140 of the shoe.

While the present invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be practical exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but, on the contrary, You will understand.

It is therefore to be understood that the above-described embodiments are illustrative in all aspects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the appended claims rather than the detailed description, and all changes or modifications derived from the meaning and scope of the claims and their equivalents should be interpreted as being included in the scope of the present invention .

10: Styrofoam 20: Fibrous layer
110: upper 120: midsole (middle)
130: Outsole 140: Insole

Claims (17)

A footwear comprising an outsole and an upper which is secured to the upper part of the outsole by adhesive or sewing to wrap the foot,
Wherein the upper part has a styrofoam formed therein, and a fibrous layer is formed on the outer part so as to surround the styrofoam.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the styrofoam comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the fiber layer comprises at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.
1. A shoe comprising an outsole and an upper which is secured to the upper part of the upper part of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot,
Wherein the midsole has a styrofoam formed therein, and a fiber layer is formed on the outer surface to surround the styrofoam.
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the styrofoam comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).
5. The method of claim 4,
Wherein the fiber layer comprises at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.
1. A shoe comprising an outsole and an upper which is secured to the upper part of the upper part of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to surround the foot,
Wherein the midsole is formed by a U-shaped protective layer formed to be upwardly open and a styrofoam formed in the inside of the protective layer to form a protective layer, and a styrofoam inserted therein.
8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the protective layer comprises any one of polyurethane or ethylene vinyl acetate.
8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the protective layer is a fiber layer comprising at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.
8. The method of claim 7,
Wherein the styrofoam comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).
A footwear comprising an outsole and an upper which is secured to the upper part of the outsole by adhesive or sewing to wrap the foot,
Wherein the outsole is formed so that the U-shaped protective layer formed to be opened upward and the inside thereof are filled with styrofoam.
12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the protective layer comprises any one of polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate or rubber.
12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the protective layer is a fiber layer comprising at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.
12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein the styrofoam comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).
A footwear comprising an outsole and an upper which is fixed to the upper part of the outsole by adhesive or sewing so as to enclose the foot and in which the insole is mounted,
Wherein the insole has a body formed of styrofoam, and a fibrous layer is formed at a portion where the body is in contact with the soles of the wearer.
16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the fibrous layer comprises at least one of chemical fiber, glass fiber, carbon fiber, aramid fiber and ultrahigh molecular weight resin fiber.
16. The method of claim 15,
Wherein the styrofoam comprises at least one selected from the group consisting of expandable polyethylene (EPE), expandable polypropylene (EPP), and expandable polystyrene (EPS).

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