MX2011003561A

MX2011003561A - Multilayer laminate footwear insole.

Info

Publication number: MX2011003561A
Application number: MX2011003561A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Harold A Howlett
Original assignee: Schering Plough Healthcare
Priority date: 2008-10-03
Filing date: 2009-10-01
Publication date: 2011-05-02
Also published as: JP2012513777A; CO6361868A2; BRPI0920685A2; CN102170802A; US20100083534A1; WO2010039929A1; CA2737919A1; AU2009298485A1; EP2339935A1

Abstract

Disclosed is a multilayer laminate footwear insole with a top layer and a bottom layer with at lease one cushioning layer, in which a channel transects the top layer of the insole and one or more punctuations in the channel transect the bottom layer of the insole.

Description

TEMPLATE FOR LAMINATED SHOES IN MULTIPLE LAYERS FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to insoles for footwear laminated in multiple layers, the methods for the manufacture of the insoles and the methods for sizing the insoles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Templates that can be removed are usually inserted inside the shoes, in order to provide added cushioning and support for the wearer of the shoes. These templates are usually made as a product without distinctions, and the consumer who purchases the templates must cut them to an appropriate size using scissors or similar means to cut through the material of the templates.

A template is usually constructed of multiple layers of material, many of which are not easily cut by consumers with scissors. To cut through the material, the consumer must carefully follow a cut pattern that is printed, molded or applied to the template. Consumers usually do not like to cut the templates with scissors for fear of not following the pattern correctly while cutting it or not cutting the correct mark on the pattern.

The Patent of E.U.A. No. 4,864,740, discloses a disposable sanitary shoe insole having three layers: a top layer of extruded polypropylene fiber material, a layer composed of pulp fibers and polypropylene fibers by meltblowing on the top layer, and a layer bottom of extruded polyethylene fiber vinyl acetate on the composite layer. The template includes line perforations in the front and inner arc portions of the template to allow a user to reduce the length and width of the template. Additionally, the template includes drill lines through an arc area of the template. These latter perforation lines allow the length of the template to be trimmed by tearing a portion of the arch area of the template, and subsequently reattaching the heel and finger sections of the template.

The Patent of E.U.A. No. 6,526,676 discloses a disposable sandal formed of a piece of sheet material including a laminated fabric for polyurethane foam. A series of perforations are provided in the heel and / or toe portions of the sandal plant to allow the sandals to be sized at the foot of a wearer.

The Patent of E.U.A. No. 3,925,914, discloses a sandal, whose plant element can be made from a laminate having a lower layer of thermoplastic material and an upper layer of fibrous material. The plant element can be provided with rows of holes in the heel and toe ends, in order to allow the sandal to be trimmed by breaking a portion of the plant element in the holes. The holes do not pass through the entire plant, but instead, a rupture or tear portion is left in the bottom of each hole.

However, none of the references mentioned above, describes a template, which can be dimensioned cleanly by a consumer without using mechanical cutting instruments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, the need for a footwear insole that can be dimensioned in a simple, orderly manner and without a user having to use a mechanical cutting instrument has been recognized.

In a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a shoe insole with multiple layer lamination comprises an upper layer having an upper surface, a lower layer having a lower surface, wherein the lower layer includes at least one layer of cushioning, a channel in the template, where the channel cuts across the top layer of the template, and one or more scores on the channel, where the score cuts across the bottom layer of the template.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the channel completely cuts across the top layer.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the punctuation in the channel cuts transversely the lower surface of the lower layer.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the channel penetrates at least part of the lower layer.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the channel transversally cuts the upper surface of the upper layer from the opposite edges of the template.

In a non-limiting alternative embodiment of the present invention, the at least one cushion layer is a foam layer.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the foam layer comprises at least one of polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene copolymer.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the at least one cushion layer is a gel layer.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the gel layer comprises at least one of polyurethane, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene, silicone or hydrogel.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the top layer includes at least one layer of fabric.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, at least one layer of fabric comprises at least one of a polymer or natural fiber.

In an alternative non-limiting mode of the present invention, the channel is laser cut.

In an alternative non-limiting mode of the present invention, the scoring is performed in predetermined patterns.

In another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a method for manufacturing a multi-layer footwear insole having an upper layer with an upper surface, a lower layer with a lower surface, wherein the lower layer includes at least less a cushion layer, comprises the steps of cutting a channel in the upper surface of the upper layer of the template, wherein the channel cuts transversely the upper layer of the template and the score of the lower layer in the channel.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the perforation cuts transversely the bottom surface of the lower layer of the template.

In an alternative non-limiting mode of the present invention, cutting includes cutting two or more channels.

In an alternative non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, the top layer is cut transversely in part through the channel.

In an alternative non-limiting mode of the present invention, the channel is cut using a laser.

In still another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a method for reducing a dimension of a footbed for multi-layered footwear to alter a size of a template having a channel with previously determined score to alter a size of a template that has a channel with previously determined score, comprises the step of tearing the template by hand along the channel with previously determined score.

Other features and aspects of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following brief description of the drawings, the detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a schematic plan view of one embodiment of an example footwear insole.

Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line A-A 'of the embodiment of the example footwear insole of Figure 1.

Figure 3A is a schematic view of a laser cutter cutting a channel in a shoe insole according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the embodiment of a shoe insole of Figure 3A, having a channel produced by the laser cutter of Figure 3A.

Figure 3C is a detail of the schematic cross-sectional view shown in Figure 3B.

Figure 3D, is a schematic cross-sectional view of a non-limiting, alternative embodiment of the present invention of a shoe insole of Figure 3A, having a channel produced by the laser cutter of Figure 3A, which cuts transversely in partial form the upper layer.

Figure 3E is a detail of the schematic cross-sectional view shown in Figure 3D.

Figure 4A, is a schematic plan view of a shoe insole, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention having a plurality of channels.

Figure 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view, along line B-B ', of the non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole of Figure 4A, which completely cuts through the top layer.

Figure 5A, is a schematic plan view of a shoe insole, according to another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, illustrated with six channels transversally cutting the top layer.

Figure 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view, along the line D-D ', of the non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole of Figure 5A.

Figure 5C is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line C-C of the non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole of Figure 5A.

Figure 5D is an alternative schematic cross-sectional view along the line C-C of the non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole of Figure 5A, where the punctuation does not cut across the bottom surface of the bottom layer.

Figure 6 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a multi-layer laminated footwear insole according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 7 is a flow diagram of a method for reducing a dimension of a footbed for multi-layer laminated footwear, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE MODALITIES The need for a footwear insole, the size of which can be adjusted by consumers without mechanical cutting tools, such as scissors, has been recognized, even though the insole includes a layer or layers of high strength fabric and / or cushioning materials of high resistance and / or elastic.

Figure 1 is a schematic plan view, and Figure 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line A-A ', of a non-limiting embodiment of a footwear in example 10 template. shoe 10 includes a portion of fingers 20, a heel portion 30 and a middle arch portion 40 interconnecting the fingers and heel portions 20, 30. The jig may also include a top layer 50 and a bottom layer 60 fixed to the upper layer 50. Upper layer 50 may include one or more layers of fabric, and lower layer 60 may include one or more layers of cushioning, such as foam layers and gel layers. However, the top layer 50 may also include layers of foam and / or gel. To ensure simplicity, however, the embodiments set forth below will include a top layer 50 made of a fabric layer and a bottom layer 60 made of a foam or gel layer. The fabric layer 50 can include at least one polymer or natural fiber, such as polyester, acetate, polyethylene, acrylic, nylon, rayon, spandex, wool, cotton, silk, bamboo, linen, hemp, urethane or any material that can be separated by a laser beam. Any foam layer used as the bottom layer 60 may include at least one of polyurethane, ethylene vinyl acetate copolymer, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene or other suitable materials for cushioning. Any gel layer used as the bottom layer 60 may include at least one of polyurethane, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene, silicone, hydrogel, or other suitable materials for cushioning. The footwear insole 10 may take any of a variety of shapes in order to fit within a variety of shoes. Also, the footwear insole 10 can have any of a variety of contoured, flat, curved surfaces or other surfaces in order to fit within a variety of shoes. Additionally, the tearing strength of the upper layer may be greater than the tearing strength of the lower layer.

Figure 3A is a schematic view of a laser cutter cutting a channel in a shoe insole 110, according to one embodiment of the present invention. The laser cutter 112 focuses a laser beam 114 on the shoe insole 110 (shown in cross section) and moves through a surface of the shoe insole 110, so as to cut a depression or channel 116 in the shoe insole 110. The laser cutter can cut channels to vary the width and depth. An example of a laser cutter used to cut channel 116 is an Epilog Mini 24, 35 Watt laser, manufactured by Epilog Laser of Golden, Colorado. Figure 3B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the non-limiting embodiment of the shoe insole 110 of Figure 3A, having a channel produced by the laser cutter of Figure 3A, and Figure 3C is a detail of the schematic cross-sectional view shown in Figure 3B, indicated by an interrupted circle 118. As illustrated in Figures 3B and 3C, the channel 116 can be completely cut through a top fabric layer 150 of the shoe insole 110. Additionally, the channel 116 may be partially extended in a lower foam or gel layer 160.

The examples of properties in the Epilog Mini laser 24 laser that allowed the laser to burn essentially through only the fabric layer 150 of an example polyester woven laminate where the speed is 100%, power 50%, 400 DPI (dots per inch) and 500 Hz. This laminated example polyester fabric is comprised of a woven polyester fabric bonded to a urethane film using a hot-melt urethane adhesive, in which the cloth laminate was molded to urethane foam using an open molten urethane molding technique. For different materials that can integrate the fabric layer, a person skilled in the art could have the ability to modify the properties of the laser depending on the different material properties of the fabric layer, such as thickness, density, moisture content, and other properties. For example, for a thicker fabric layer, one skilled in the art could have the ability to adjust various properties, such as laser power, in order to cut through the fabric layer.

Figure 3D, is an alternative schematic cross-sectional view of a non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole 110, having a channel produced by the laser cutter of Figure 3A and Figure 3E, is a detail of the sectional view alternative schematic cross-section shown in Figure 3D, indicated by a dashed circle 119. As illustrated in Figures 3D and 3E, the channel 16 may be substantially cut into the upper fabric layer 150 of the shoe insole 110, so that the channel 116 does not extend into a lower foam or gel layer 160. Additionally, the channel can be cut to various other depths (not shown) that varies only partially from the cut within a top 150 layer of fabric until completely cut through a top fabric layer 150 and substantially cutting into a bottom foam or gel layer 160 of the footwear insole 110. In each of these modali Non-limiting darts, a clean and orderly tear line has is the result when a consumer tears along the previously determined channel.

Figure 4A is a schematic plan view of a shoe insole 210 according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 4B is a schematic cross-sectional view along the line B-B '. , of the modality of a shoe insole 210 of Figure 4A. The shoe insole 210 includes a finger portion 220, a heel portion 230, and a midbow portion 240 interconnecting the finger and heel portions 220., 230. The template 210 includes a top layer 250 of fabric and a bottom layer 260 of cushion material fixed to the top layer 250. However, the top layer 250 may also include multiple fabric layers and the bottom layer 260, they can include layers of multiple cushioning material. A channel 216 cut by the laser cutter 112 is placed in the finger portion 220 of the template 210. Figure 4A illustrates three separate channel cuts 216 in the finger portion 220 of the template 210. The channel 216 extends laterally and curvilinearly across the upper surface of the template 210 and configured to correspond to a possible shoe size of a user. Additionally, as illustrated in Figure 4B, the channel 216 may extend approximately perpendicularly through the upper layer 250 and partially within the lower layer 260. Optionally, a channel 226 cut by the laser cutter 112 is placed in the heel portion 230 of the insole 210. Figure 4A illustrates separate channel cutouts 226 in the heel portion 230 of the insole 210. The channel 226 extends laterally and curvilinearly through the upper surface of the insole 210 with a direction of curvature opposite a direction of curvature of the channel 216. A channel 236 cut by the laser cutter 112 is positioned in the middle arc portion 240 of the template 210 and extends curvilinearly and longitudinally with respect to the template 210. The template 210 may include one or more channels 216 in the finger portion 220, one or more channels 226 in the heel portion 230, and / or one or more channels 236 in the middle portion of the arch 240. Additionally, with respect to the channels 216, 226, 236, cutting the channels 216, 226, 236 with the laser cutter 112 advantageously produces a clean cutting line in the fabric layer 250. Additionally, if the fabric layer 250 includes a polymeric fabric, the laser beam 114 cauterizes the fabric layer 250, thus preventing the fabric from fraying in the cutting line.

Additionally, with respect to Figures 4A and 4B, the lower foam layer 260 may have a relatively low tear force, for example, less than 4.5359 kilograms force, so that the user tears the template 210 cleanly and easily as required. length of the channels 216, 226, 236. However, the lower foam layer 260 may also have a sufficiently high modulus of elasticity, or flexural modulus, in order to ensure that the template 210 does not permanently bend or wrinkles along the channels 216, 226, 236, when slipped into a footwear article.

Figure 5A is a schematic plan view of a shoe insole 310, according to another non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. Figure 5B is a schematic cross-sectional view of the non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole 310 of Figure 5A, along the line D-D '. Figures 5C and 5D are alternate schematic cross-sectional views of the non-limiting embodiment of a shoe insole 310 of Figure 5A along the line C-C. As in the embodiment shown in Figure 4A, the shoe insole 310 includes a finger portion 320, a heel portion 330, and a midbow portion 340 that It connects the finger and heel portions 320, 330. Additionally, the shoe insole 310 includes a top fabric layer 350 and a bottom layer 360 made of a cushioning material. The template 310 additionally includes a laser cutting channel 316 which is located on the finger portion 320 of the template 310 and runs laterally and curvilinearly through the upper surface of the template 310. As illustrated in FIG. Figure 5B, channel 316 may extend through upper layer 350 and partially into lower layer 360. Figure 5A illustrates three separate channel cuts 316 in the finger portion 320 of template 310. Additionally, the Template 310 may further include a laser cutting channel 326, which is located in the bead portion 330 of the jig 310 and runs laterally and curvilinearly through the upper surface of the jig 310 with a direction of curvature opposite to that of the stencil 310. a direction of the curvature of the channel 316. Figure 5A illustrates two separate channel cuts 326 in the heel portion 330 of the template 310. A laser cutting channel 336 is located op in the middle arc portion 340 of the jig 310 and running curvilinearly and longitudinally with respect to the jig 310. As plated with respect to the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the jig 310 may include one or more channels 316 in the finger portion 320, one or more channels 326 in the heel portion 330, and / or one or more channels 336 in the middle arc portion 340 of the jig 310.

However, in contrast to the embodiment shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the template 310 includes scores 317 in the lower gel layer 360. These scores can be produced by a die (not shown). As illustrated in Figure 5C, the scores 317 can be fully extended through the lower layer 360 and run along the channels 316, 326, 336. Alternatively, as illustrated in Figure 5D, the scores 317 can extend substantially, although not completely, through the lower layer 360 and run along the channels 316, 326, 336. Additionally, as shown in Figure 5A, the scores 317 are separated from each other at the address of channels 316, 326, 336 by mesh elements 318. A separation of the scores 317, and consequently a thickness of the mesh elements 318 can be adjusted so that a user of the template 310 can tear the template 310 cleanly and easily to along the channels 316, 326, 336, while, at the same time, the jig 310 does not bend or wrinkle along any intact channel in the jig 310 when the jig 310 is slipped into a shoe article. The scores 317 and the mesh elements 318 can be formed from a variety of patterns including, without limitation, circular, square, rectangular, polygonal and other shapes, and combinations thereof. Additionally, scores such as those described in the present disclosure include patterns that may otherwise be referred to as perforations, jagged edges, cuts, scores, notches, holes, grooves, etc., some of which are illustrated in Figure 5A.

Figure 6 is a flowchart of a method for manufacturing a footbed laminated in multi-layer footwear, according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method begins at step 400. In step 410, a footbed for laminated footwear is assembled. The template has at least one upper layer and one lower layer. The top layer may include one or more layers of fabric or film, and the bottom layer may include one or more layers of foam or gel. In step 420, a channel is cut in the upper layer of the template, for example, by a laser cutter. The channel corresponds to the sizes of the feet in humans and extends through the upper layer and may extend partially into the lower layer. In step 430, a search is made as to whether another channel will be cut in the upper layer of the template, for example, by a laser cutter. If so, then the method is repeated in step 420. If not, then in step 440 of the method, a search is made as to whether the lower layer should be punctuated in the channels. If it is not, then the method ends in step 460. If so, then the lower layer is punctuated in the channel (s) in step 450. The method then ends in step 460.

Figure 7 is a flowchart of a method for reducing a dimension of a footbed for multi-layer footwear according to a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention. The method starts at step 500. At step 510, a search is performed on whether a heel region of the template has a channel corresponding to a desired foot size. If not, then the method proceeds to step 530. If so, at step 520, the template is then torn by hand along the channel mentioned above in the bead region, after which the method advances to the step 530. In step 530, a search is performed on whether a heel region of the template has a channel corresponding to the desired foot size. If not, then the method proceeds to step 550. If so, in step 540, the template is then torn by hand along the channel mentioned above in the bead region, after which the method advances to step 550. In step 550, a search is performed if the middle region of the arch of the template has a channel corresponding to the desired size of the foot. If not, then the method ends in step 570. If so, then, in step 560, the template is torn by hand along the channel mentioned above in the middle region of the arch. The method then terminates at step 570. Alternatively, search 510 and step 520, search 530 and step 540, and search 550 and step 560 may be ordered again, as desired by the consumer.

In a preferred non-limiting embodiment of the present invention, a multi-layered footwear insole having an upper layer having an upper surface and a lower layer having a lower surface, the lower layer including at least one layer of cushion, comprises a channel in the template, where the channel cuts across the top layer of the template, and one or more scores in the channel, where the score cuts across the bottom layer of the template. The template for footwear laminated in multiple layers can be a unique template without distinctions, which can be adjusted to different sizes according to the channels previously specified. Each channel can have a preferred score within the channel. Additionally, consumers can tear out each punctuated channel by hand by default in order to adjust the size of the template to fit within the shoes.

The foregoing description describes only the non-limiting embodiments of the present invention. The modification of the multi-layer footwear footbed described above, as well as the methods for making and using same, which are within the scope of the present invention, will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.

Accordingly, while the present invention has been described in relation to the above non-limiting embodiments, it should be understood that other embodiments may be found within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined by the following claims.

Claims

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION CLAIMS

1. - A footbed for footwear laminated in multiple layers having an upper layer having an upper surface, a lower layer having a lower surface, the lower layer includes at least one layer of cushioning, the insole comprises: a channel in the insole , where the channel cuts across the top layer of the template, and one or more scores on the channel, where the score cuts across the bottom layer of the template.

2 - . 2 - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the channel completely cuts across the upper layer.

3. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the score cuts transversely the lower surface of the lower layer.

4. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the channel penetrates at least part of the lower layer.

5. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized by the channel It transversally cuts the top surface of the top layer from the opposite edges of the template.

6. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the at least one layer of cushioning is a layer of foam.

7. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 6, further characterized in that the foam layer comprises at least one of polyurethane, copolymer of ethylene vinyl acetate and styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene.

8. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the at least one layer of cushioning is a layer of gel.

9. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 8, further characterized in that the gel layer comprises at least one of polyurethane, styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene, silicone and hydrogel.

10. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the upper layer includes at least one of a layer of fabric or film.

11. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 10, further characterized in that the at least one layer of fabric or film comprises at least one of a polymer or natural fiber.

12. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the channel is cut by laser.

13. - The insole for footwear laminated in multiple layers according to claim 1, further characterized in that the scoring is done in predetermined patterns.

14. - A method for the manufacture of a footbed for footwear laminated in multiple layers having an upper layer with an upper surface and a lower layer with a lower surface, the lower layer including at least one layer of cushioning, the method comprises the steps of: cutting a channel in the upper surface of the upper layer of the template, wherein the channel cuts transversely the upper layer of the template; and the score of the lower layer in the channel.

15. - The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that the score cuts transversely the lower surface of the lower layer of the template.

16. - The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that the cut includes cutting two or more channels.

17 -. 17 - The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that the upper layer is cut transversely in part by the channel.

18. - The method according to claim 14, further characterized in that the channel is cut using a laser.

19. - A method to reduce a dimension of a footbed for laminated footwear in multiple layers to alter a size of the template that has a channel with previously determined score, the method comprises the steps of: tearing the template by hand along the channel with previously determined score.