Boot and shoe making – Processes – Miscellaneous parts
Patent
1990-06-19
1992-09-29
Sewell, Paul T.
Boot and shoe making
Processes
Miscellaneous parts
36 43, 36 71, A43D 900, A43B 1338
Patent
active
051504901
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a cushioning or padding body for insertion into shoes, such as for example an insole, a foot support, an inner shoe for ski boots, or the like.
Such cushioning or padding bodies may be manufactured from various materials. Examples are natural materials, such as cork, rubber or the like, as well as resiliently cushioning materials of plastic and in particular of foam.
For reasons of, for example, simplicity in manufacturing as well as for the individual adaptation of such cushioning or padding bodies to the corresponding anatomical shape of the wearer, it has already been attempted to manufacture the respective shaped parts from a thermoplastically deformable, resiliently cushioning foam material. However, problems arise with such a manufacture. As a rule, thermoplastically deformable materials having a relative density suitable for practical use are not sufficiently stable. During use of the shaped parts formed from the thermoplastically deformable material, the interior structure of the foam material collapses sooner or later due to constant stress, because of which the characteristic shape and cushioning properties of the body are lost. If, to increase stability, the relative density of the foam material is increased, the resiliently cushioning properties decrease to such an extent that the shaped part is no longer satisfactorily usable as a cushioning or padding body.
Although it is possible to manufacture cushioning and padding bodies with excellent resiliently cushioning properties from thermoplastically non-deformable plastic and foam materials, such as polyurethane foam, silicone rubber, or the like, it is, for example, impossible to subsequently change their shape by heating.
SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a cushioning or padding body manufactured from a thermoplastically deformable foam material, where the disadvantages described above are avoided.
This object is attained by the provision of a body composed of individual beads of the foam material. These beads are provided with a closed surface, essentially impermeable to air, and are fixed in place with respect to each other by the effects of heat by means of sintering. Thus the body comprises a plurality of completely closed cells, the surface of which, impermeable to air, encloses an air cushion. The latter acts in the manner of an air spring and mechanically stabilizes the beads by creating a counterpressure in the interior when they are deformed, and thus restoring force. For this reason the foam material can have a low relative density without losing its long-term stability. The shape in which the cushioning or padding material is to be manufactured is determined by means of the spatial fixation of the individual beads by the effects of heat by means of sintering. Sintering means that the beads are baked together at their respective contact surfaces.
The cushioning or padding body according to the present invention has a plurality of excellent properties with respect to its use. These are superior cushioning properties, great restoration ability, even after multiple and heavy stress due to pressure, viscoplasticity and stability of shape, yet great flexibility and breaking resistance, little moisture absorption as well as excellent cold insulation. Based on the high degree of stability it would even be conceivable to form entire parts of a shoe completely in the manner of the subject of the present invention, such as for example the piece for the sole of a sandal. Additionally, because of the construction of the body from individual beads, the result is a structure of its surface in the shape of slight rises and depressions which have a physiologically advantageous effect on the sole of the foot, perhaps in the manner of a massaging effect, for example when the body is used as an insole. The formation of so-called reflex zones is possible without a problem in this connection. Furthermore, air can circulate over the
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Busch Waldemar
Lutz Norbert
Kavanaugh Ted
Sewell Paul T.
Storopack Hans Reichenecker GmbH & Co.
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