US5779834A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Process of making a shoe with a spray-molded sole and shoe manufactured therefrom
Assignee: Akzo Nobel NV
•
Filing: 1996-09-05
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Granted: 1998-07-14
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Expires: 2016-09-05
Abstract
Abstract A process of making a shoe includes bonding a flat structure to an upper layer of the shoe to form a bonded structure. The flat structure has a melting temperature T 2 and provides stability to a shape of the upper layer. The bonded structure is positioned into a mold so that an underside of the bonded structure faces the mold. A liquid sole material at a temperature T 1 which is greater than T 2 is sprayed into the mold, thereby contacting and melting the flat structure. The sole material cools and solidifies to form a shoe. The flat structure has a melting temperature T 2 and provides stability to a shape of the upper layer.
Inventors
- 👤 Liviu Mihai Pavelescu
- 👤 Manfred Haderlein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 13:45
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D35/00; B29D35/06; B29D35/061; B29D35/064; A; A43; A43B; A43B7/00; A43B7/12; A43B7/125
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A process of making a shoe wherein said process comprises the steps of: bonding a flat structure to an upper layer of the shoe, the flat structure having a melting temperature T 2 and providing stability to a shape of the upper layer, to form a bonded structure; positioning the bonded structure into a mold so that an underside of the bonded structure faces the mold; spraying a liquid sole material into the mold, the sole material being at a temperature T 1 which is greater than temperature T 2 , the sole material contacting and melting the flat structure; allowing the sole material to cool and solidify; and removing the shoe from the mold, wherein the shoe does not have an insole.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A process of making a shoe wherein said process comprises the steps of: bonding a flat structure to an upper layer of the shoe, the flat structure having a melting temperature T 2 and providing stability to a shape of the upper layer, to form a bonded structure; positioning the bonded structure into a mold so that an underside of the bonded structure faces the mold; spraying a liquid sole material into the mold, the sole material being at a temperature T 1 which is greater than temperature T 2 , the sole material contacting and melting the flat structure; allowing the sole material to cool and solidify; and removing the shoe from the mold, wherein the shoe does not have an insole.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
35 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the shape of the upper layer is further stabilized by at least one object which restricts movement of the upper layer during the spraying of the sole material.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
A process according to claim 2, wherein said at least one object restricting movement of the upper material is selected from the group consisting of a last, a rear cap in a heel area of the shoe, a stitch in a toe area of the shoe, and a wall surface of the mold.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the mold is shaped such that the liquid sole material first contacts the upper layer along an outside periphery of the upper layer, the sole material providing stability to the shape of the upper layer.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
21 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the flat structure is porous, the flat structure being penetrated by the sole material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
A process accordingly to claim 1, wherein the flat structure comprises a grid having openings which are penetrated by the liquid sole material.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the flat structure comprises a thermoplastic material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
13 words
A process according to claim 6, wherein the flat structure comprises a net.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the flat structure comprises a textile material.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
20 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the flat structure and the upper layer are bonded by a sewing thread.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the sewing thread has a melting temperature T 3 which is lower than temperature T 1 of the liquid sole material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
27 words
A process according to claim 11, wherein the melting temperature T 3 of the sewing thread is at least 5° C. lower than temperature T 1 .
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 12, wherein the melting temperature T 3 of the sewing thread is about 10° to 25° C. lower than temperature T 1 of the sole material.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
30 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein the melting temperature T 2 of the flat structure is at least 5° C. lower than temperature T 1 of the sole material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
31 words
A process according to claim 14, wherein the melting temperature T 2 of the flat structure is about 8° to 25° C. lower than temperature T 1 of the sole material.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
28 words
A process according to claim 10, wherein the flat structure and the sewing thread comprise a material selected from the group consisting of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester, and polyamide.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
61 words
A process according to claim 1, wherein a lining containing a waterproof, water vapor-permeable functional layer is arranged on at least a portion of an inner surface of the upper layer, a portion of the lining extending inward from an outer periphery of the upper layer, the lining being arranged prior to bonding of the flat structure to the upper layer.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
47 words
A process according to claim 17, wherein the flat structure is porous and is penetrated by the sole material, the sole material melts the flat structure and forms a continuous surface with the portion of the lining extending inward from the outer periphery of the upper layer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
36 words
A process according to claim 18, wherein the portion of the lining extending inward from the outer periphery of the upper layer is adhesively attached to the flat structure prior to spraying of the sole material.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-07-13 | 2002-01-12 | 2002-07-14 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-07-13 | 2006-01-12 | 2006-07-14 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-07-13 | 2010-01-12 | 2010-07-14 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |