WO2006103619A2

WO2006103619A2 - Supporting sole

Info

Publication number: WO2006103619A2
Application number: PCT/IB2006/050927
Authority: WO
Inventors: Simon La Rochelle
Original assignee: Simon La Rochelle
Priority date: 2005-04-01
Filing date: 2006-03-27
Publication date: 2006-10-05
Also published as: CA2502396A1; WO2006103619A3

Abstract

The invention relates to a shoe sole for efficiently maintaining the other parts thereof therebetween, more particularly, the parts whose assembling by gluing or by other methods is difficult to carry out and, consequently causes premature breakage problems. The inventive sole consists of a part overlapping and/or superimposing the other sole parts in such a way that they are fixedly attached to each other. A specific shape of the inventive sole enables different sole parts, for example contact soles, to be assembled by the insertion thereof between L or U -shaped edges of said sole and the shoe insoles. The projected part or the inverted L -shaped edge of the parts supported by the inventive sole are fixedly and definitively inserted between the inventive sole surface the insole surface.

Description

Description Support sole

[1] Field of the invention

[2] The present invention relates to a shoe sole piece; more specifically a piece whose function is to retain in place other parts that have technical incompatibilities gluing or assembly.

[3] Contextualization

[4] Every shoe is made up of two distinctive parts: the upper and the sole.

While the upper covers the upper part of the foot and ensures the holding of the shoe, the sole has several functions, including protecting the foot against the severity of the ground.

[5] Different qualities are sought with regard to the sole (lightness, flexibility, compressibility, adhesion, durability, hold, memory, etc.) and various materials respond more or less effectively to each of these qualities sought. In addition, the costs of using these various materials vary.

[6] This is why a multitude of materials (rubbers, polyurethanes, EVA, PVC, thermoplastic polyurethanes, etc.), produced in various formulas and densities, are often combined to form a multi-piece sole. For example, the contact sole, which directly touches the ground, requires optimal adhesion and requires other qualities such as abrasion resistance, heat resistance, etc. The inter-sole, which marries the underside of the foot, requires both lightness, flexibility, compression property, memory, etc. There are, therefore, notorious advantages in combining various materials, formulas and densities to form a multi-piece and, therefore, multi-function sole.

[7] The parts that make up these multi-piece soles are assembled by bonding processes (chemically or with the aid of an adhesive agent) or by other well-documented processes in the field of footwear manufacturing. For example, several soles are assembled by "vulcanization", by "injection" or sewn according to various techniques (Goodyear Weit, Opanka, Strobel, etc.) and many variants. These assembly methods must take into account the compatibility of the various materials, formulas and densities of all the parts that form the sole. Compounds of closely related families combine easily while materials from distant families have assembly problems, which causes designers and manufacturers of shoes technical incompatibilities and / or the user premature break after take-off of parts that constitute the sole.

[8] Description of the prior art [9] In recent years, shoe designers and manufacturers have used increasingly sophisticated techniques to create and produce shoes that are increasingly durable, comfortable and safe.

[10] Initially, the appearance of dual density injected soles separated the soles into two parts with distinct functions: the insole, both flexible and lightweight, offers the user a high degree of comfort. high compression to absorb shocks. The contact sole, on the other hand, improves the resistance to abrasion - and therefore durability - of the shoe. The use of dual-density soles, however, requires designers and manufacturers to make a compromise, as far as the outsole is concerned, between a very durable material and a very adherent material. Indeed, it is well known that a material more resistant to abrasion - and therefore more dense and hard - is equally slippery. With regard to the instep, designers and manufacturers have to choose between an ultra-light material - but with a lower compression ratio - and a heavier material - but so the compression ratio and the memory are best. That's why double density soles have been replaced by triple and quadruple soles, then multi-piece soles.

[11] Various patents have been filed concerning the manufacture of these multi-piece soles.

[12] Canadian Patent 2153082, for example, suggests the use of a three-way injection machine to successively produce three layers superimposed on each other, the second layer passing through the third layer to provide two different materials. in contact with the ground. This method of manufacture allows the use of a very abrasion resistant material for the third layer, while the second layer contributes to the adhesion of the sole. However, this method of manufacture requires the use of chemically compatible materials since the first layer juxtaposes the second and the second juxtaposes the third. It is not possible, according to such a method of manufacture, to use a part - for example for the second layer - which is incompatible with the first or the third layer. In addition, it is not possible to use a material that is "injectable", since said patent relates exclusively to the use of an injection machine.

[13] Canadian Patent 2215511 paves the way for the insertion of two separate parts through a contact sole having one or more windows. The preferred embodiment presented in this patent comprises two transparent windows through which the user can observe the damping parts. The contact sole includes a surface for supporting and supporting the translucent windows. The object of the invention essentially concerns the idea that the user can observe the damping parts. Again, the parts constituting the windows must be chemically compatible with the sole that supports them and where they are glued. With this in mind, it is impossible to combine various materials, densities and various formulas of distant families in a multi-part sole.

[14] The invention here described and claimed proposes the use of a piece specifically designed to retain and secure other pieces of a sole (one or more pieces) with the insole or with the part la closer to the upper of a shoe. The present invention is essentially distinguished from existing patents by its ability to assemble parts and / or materials with technical incompatibilities and, consequently, problems of gluing or assembly. In addition, the present invention is distinguished by its ability to assemble parts from various manufacturing processes - and thus manufactured by various techniques and using various machines.

[15] Description of the drawings

[16] Figure A shows a side view of a shoe. The stem (1), traditionally made of leathers and / or textile materials, is distinguished as is the sole (2), which is composed of two component parts: the insole (3), also called "insole of comfort ", and the contact sole (4), also called" surface sole ".

[17] Figure B is a partially exploded perspective view and torn off a sole having three distinctive parts: the inter-sole (3), the contact sole (4) and a preferred embodiment of a support sole (5) the invention of which is here described and claimed. It should be noted that in the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. B, the contact sole (4) consists of two separate pieces, one under the heel and the other under the sole of the foot. The configuration of the contact plate can however be realized in a multitude of ways. In the particular embodiment illustrated in FIG. B, the contact sole (4) which lies under the sole of the foot can be designed and manufactured in a completely different material and / or density (and according to different methods and processes) of the contact sole (4) under the heel, creating a sole with four parts and distinct functions.

[18] Figure C is a schematic vertical section in the center of a shoe from front to back. It distinguishes the rod (1) and the sole (2), the latter being composed of the inter-sole (3), a contact sole (4) at the front and heel, as well as a preferred embodiment of a support sole (5). It is worth noting that the support sole (5) firmly attaches the parts of the contact flange (4) to the front and back by trapping their projecting parts (7) by means of its "L". In the center, the support sole (5) superimposes the front and rear parts of the contact sole (4) by embedding them by its shape in "U". [19] Figure D shows a schematic section perpendicular to Figure C, located at the front of the shoe. It distinguishes inter-sole (3), the contact sole (4) and a preferred embodiment of the support sole (5). The "L" shape of the latter overlaps the projecting portion (7) of the contact sole (4) and traps the latter between the support sole (5) and the insole (3). It is also noted that the common surfaces (6) between the support sole (5) and the inter-sole (3) allow an ideal and solid assembly of these two parts.

[20] Figure E also shows a schematic section perpendicular to the figure

C, but this time at the back of the shoe. There are substantially the same elements and the same configurations as in Figure D, the inter-sole (3), the contact sole (4) and a preferred embodiment of a support sole (5). As in Figure D, we notice the protruding flanges (7) of the contact flange (4) which shoulder each side on the "L" part of the support sole (5). Finally, the common surfaces (6) at the inter-sole (3) and the support sole (5) make it possible to firmly and permanently attach the contact sole (4). It should be noted that these common surfaces (6) are quite distinctive and fit the present invention.

[21] Detailed description of the invention

[22] The object of the invention is to allow the assembly of sole parts from materials and / or formulas and / or densities and / or alloys which, by their nature or constitution, are not do not associate chemically easily and / or by various bonding processes and, consequently, cause various problems of technical incompatibilities and / or premature break after takeoff of said parts.

[23] The invention, known as a support sole (5), consists of a part whose object is to permanently solidify other pieces (4) with the insole (3), or any other parts the sole likely to present some problem of technical incompatibility, gluing or assembly. The invention can also solidify parts directly with the rod or with some part itself attached to the rod, and whatever the method of assembly of this piece to the rod.

[24] The novelty lies in the way of solidifying the pieces by trapping them with the aid of the support sole (5) which, because of its particular "L" shape (which can be seen in Figures C and D) or "U", overlaps and / or superimposes the other pieces (4) and holds them well in place. These last pieces (4) have an inverted "L" shape or a protruding flange (7) coming to be supported on the support sole (5) and allowing the support sole (5) to hold them securely in place against the inter-sole (3) against the rod (1) or any other part assembled to the latter.

[25] Optionally, the support sole (5) can be made of a material or chemically and physically compatible alloy with all other parts of the sole. This "transverse compatibility" has the advantage of increasing the strength of the link between the support sole (5) and the third parties (3 and 4) incompatible with each other.

[26] Still optionally, the support sole (5) may be made of a material having excellent abrasion resistance and excellent bending rate, so as to contribute - in addition to its primary function of assembly - to the durability of the sole and, consequently, the durability of the shoe.

[27] To allow a durable assembly of parts that have incompatibilities with the rod (1), the inter-sole (3) or any other part connected to the rod (1) or the inter-sole (3) the support sole (5) must be securely and permanently joined to the upper (1) or to the insole (3) or to any other part firmly and permanently connected to the upper (1) or at the inter-sole (3), whatever the assembly method used. A solid and durable contact surface (6) between the support sole (5) and the insole (3) - or the rod or any other part connected to the stem or the inter-sole - appears as a essential and constitutive element of the present invention.

[28] According to a preferred embodiment, a support sole (5) of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) makes it possible to securely fix rubber contact soles (4) with a sole (3) of polyurethane (PU). This has the advantage of combining, in a durable and functional sole, the advantages of adhesion and heat resistance of the rubber with the advantages of lightness, flexibility, compressibility and memory of the polyurethane. In addition, the support sole (5), in the preferred embodiment described herein, contributes to the improvement of the abrasion resistance by its constituent material.

[29] The invention is useful in many respects. It allows to design, create, manufacture and use durable and functional soles combining different parts that offer different qualities: lightness, flexibility, adhesion, compressibility, memory, abrasion resistance, thermal resistance, resistance to chemicals, etc.

[30] The invention is novel in that it makes it possible to design, create, manufacture and use insoles whose parts are made of materials and / or formulas and / or densities and / or alloys that are not chemically compatible or not easily assembled together by gluing and / or other traditional methods of assembly.

[31] The inventive contribution lies in the way the support sole (5) in the form of

"L" or "U" secures between them separate pieces (4) by overlapping and / or superimposing and / or fitting them and / or by supporting their projecting flanges (7) while ensuring a solid and durable assembly of by the contact surfaces (6) between said support sole (5) and either: the rod (1), the inter-sole (3) or any other part permanently and firmly connected to the rod or the insole.

[32] In this way, the invention improves the technique for joining together the parts of a shoe sole and improves the quality and durability of the result of the assembly of the parts of a multi-piece shoe sole. .

Claims

[1] A part making it possible to assemble in a solid and permanent manner other parts of a shoe sole, said parts offering different qualities and/or being designed for different functions.

[2] A part, according to claim 1, making it possible to resolve, in the assembly of the parts of a shoe sole, various technical incompatibilities of materials and/or formulas and/or different densities.

[3] A part, according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is made of a material whose assembly properties are compatible with all of the other parts of the sole, even if these parts have assembly incompatibilities between them.

[4] A part, according to claim 1 or 2, offering superior assembly quality with the upper, the midsole or part of the shoe permanently linked to the upper or the midsole.

[5] A part, comprising an “L”-shaped rim allowing it to fit the inverted “L”-shaped rim or the protruding part of third parts and comprising a lateral surface allowing assembly with the rod, the midsole or part of the shoe permanently attached to the upper or midsole.

[6] A part, comprising a “U”-shaped surface allowing the surface of third parts to be embedded and comprising a side surface allowing assembly with the upper, the midsole or a part of the shoe linked to permanently to the upper or midsole.

[7] A part, according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that said part is capable of firmly retaining the third parts by overlapping their edge and/or by superimposing their surface.

[8] A part, according to claim 5 or 6 or 7, which can be assembled to the part closest to the rod in a permanent and solid manner, while trapping third parts which have, by their different materials and/or different formulas and/or different densities, technical incompatibilities with said midsole.

[9] A method of manufacturing a shoe sole consisting of assembling by interlocking and/or shoulder and/or embedding parts in the shape of an “L” and an inverted “L” or having a protruding edge with a part called “support” which traps and secures said parts between its surface and the surface of the upper, the midsole or any other part linked to the upper or the midsole permanently.

[10] A method of manufacturing a shoe sole consisting of assembling by nesting and/or embedding and/or embracing “U”-shaped parts and third parts having a convex surface with a so-called “of” part. support” which traps and secures said parts between its surface and the surface of the upper, the midsole or any other part permanently linked to the upper or midsole.

[11] A manufacturing method, according to claim 9 or 10, consisting of the assembly by injection, bonding, vulcanization, sewing (or other techniques and variants) of the group of parts assembled by interlocking and/or shoulder and/or embedding and/or kissing the upper, the midsole or the part closest to the upper of a shoe.

[12] The product resulting from the use of the manufacturing methods claimed in 9, 10 and 11, consisting essentially of a shoe sole with multiple pieces supported by a so-called “support” piece which retains them by superposition or overlapping .

[13] The product resulting from the assembly of the sole claimed in 12 with any upper and consisting essentially of a shoe comprising a durable multi-piece sole.