Shoe

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD [Detailed description of the invention]

【0001】

[Technical field to which the invention belongs]

The present invention relates to at least partially reinforced or waterproof shoes, especially for walking or hiking.

【0002】

[Conventional technology]

Various methods are known for waterproofing shoes. Their method is to provide, for example, an inner shoe made of breathable waterproof material, but this configuration is waterproofed by a seal with all seams glued in because the breathable waterproof material is very expensive. It is expensive because it has to be done.

【0003】

Another method is to immerse the shoe in a solution of latex or a solution of PVC after completion until the desired level of waterproofing is obtained. This configuration is also expensive to implement. This configuration requires a long processing time and a high cost investment.

【0004】

The term waterproof, as used herein, means resistance to water penetration, which may be desired to be somewhat higher, depending on the type of use required for the shoe. There is sex.

【0005】

It is also desired that in the case of hiking shoes or walking shoes, the body is reinforced against the phenomenon of considerable wear due to the presence of stones, rocks, etc., for example. This is true even if the body is made of a material that is considered to be thick and resistant, such as leather or reinforcing fibers known by the trade name "Cordura".

【0006】

For lighter sports, leisure and mountain walking shoes made of breathable materials, this wear resistance issue is even more acute. These shoes are used for mountaineering competitions, for example during sports competitions called "Raids", and are designed to allow good ventilation / ventilation of the foot above all. These shoes are made of a mesh / mesh-type breathable material, commonly referred to as a "mesh", for good ventilation.

【0007】

It should be noted that this type of material is particularly fragile and has low resistance to wear, and more specifically to wear due to wear. In addition, these materials have the disadvantage that they are very flexible and do not support the foot sufficiently.

【0008】

Therefore, for this type of shoe using a stitched material, it is required to enhance the strength and resistance to wear / wear.

【0009】

It is also required that these same materials have improved resistance to the ingress of water or other dirt (pebbles, dust, sand grains ... etc.), yet not impair the breathability / ventilation of the shoe.

【0010】

Finally, it is desired to be able to strengthen the shoe while allowing it to remain aesthetically pleasing and even improving it. This is not the case with known waterproofing methods, in which the shoe is immersed in a latex or PVC solution, which results in a straight, unaesthetic boundary between the reinforcement and the rest of the torso. Has a line.

【0011】

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

An object of the present invention is to eliminate this inconvenience, and for this purpose, the present invention is a new method of coating a type of shoe having a torso and a sole, wherein the torso is placed on the sole. We propose a method comprising assembling, applying at least one layer of flexible or semi-rigid liquid polymer within a predetermined area of the body, and drying.

【0012】

[Means for solving problems]

Such coating methods are particularly flexible to implement and do not require complex tools such as aquariums. This is because the polymer is applied in layers on top of the shoe after it has been assembled, either with a brush or by spraying.

【0013】

This allows for decorative effects. This is because one or more polymer layers can be applied exactly where desired, allowing the straight lines obtained by the soaking coating method to be avoided.

【0014】

In any case, the following description with reference to the accompanying schematic will better understand the invention and clarify other features of the invention.

【0015】

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The shoe shown in FIG. 1 consists of a torso 1 and an outer sole 2 combined to the torso by adhesive or double molding, in a manner known per se. After the shoe has been assembled, i.e., after the sole 2 has been secured onto the torso 1 by adhesion or double molding, at least one layer of liquid polymer 3 is applied over a predetermined area of the torso. The entire polymer layer is then dried until it cures. This polymer is a flexible or semi-rigid polymer that adapts to the flexing movements of the shoe during use. This is a solution, ie a polymer diluted with a solvent such as water (eg, latex diluted with water), or a polymer diluted with an organic solvent for polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, silicone.

【0016】

This solvent serves to liquidate the polymer in order to apply it with a brush or by spraying. The viscosity of the polymer solution will be adapted to the coating method of choice, thus the solution will be more viscous when applied by brush, brush, on the other hand, by spraying, eg, spray gun. In the case of application of, the fluidity becomes higher.

【0017】

The solvent volatilizes during the drying phase, which is carried out naturally or facilitated by ventilation / heating means. Also, the polymer can be liquefied by heating and then solidified by cooling.

【0018】

Other polymers such as thermoplastic material based impact resistant polystyrene and polyamide can also be used. Polyurethane is the preferred polymer because of its excellent semi-rigidity properties, adhesiveness, low temperature stability and excellent resistance to abrasion.

【0019】

Of course, the other polymers mentioned above are also very interesting if the required mechanical properties are not so stringent.

【0020】

The number of layers of polymer to be applied also depends on the required properties such as abrasion resistance, waterproofness, aesthetics, and the like. In the following, even if the layer is obtained by a plurality of subsequent applications, it will be simply referred to as a layer.

【0021】

Similarly, fillers such as rubber, graphite, colorants, glass fiber, etc. can be added to improve adhesion, abrasion resistance, and aesthetics.

【0022】

The polymer layer is applied on the shoes already assembled by brushing or spraying, so that any aesthetic effect such as wavy patterns can be obtained.

【0023】

Therefore, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the layer 3 rises along the curve 3a toward the front of the shoe and along the curve 3b toward the rear of the shoe.

【0024】

This coating method has the important advantage of avoiding the effect of horizontal straight lines obtained by coating by soaking in the aquarium, and thus enabling a clearly improved aesthetic effect.

【0025】

Layer 3 can be applied to the shoe torso in place to increase adhesion, waterproofness, abrasion resistance, or to obtain a particular aesthetic effect.

【0026】

According to a preferred embodiment, the polymer layer 3 is simultaneously applied to the peripheral portion of the shoe in a band shape across the body 1 and the outer sole 2.

【0027】

Therefore, as shown in more detail in FIG. 2, the band of polymer 3 covers the line of seam 4 between the torso 1 and sole 2, and on both sides of this line 4 is above the torso 1 and sole 2. Is spreading at the same time. This ensures that the polymer 3 band is completely waterproof at the torso / sole seam. The band can be applied somewhat higher on the torso, depending on the degree of waterproofness desired for the shoe.

【0028】

Depending on the aesthetic effect sought, the band of polymer 3 can be applied onto the shoe after masking areas that it does not want to cover with a suitable mask. This makes it possible to have a clear boundary between the covered and uncovered areas. Conversely, if a "blurring" effect is desired between the covered and uncovered areas, the mask will not be used.

【0029】

FIG. 3 shows another embodiment in which the polymer layer 3 is applied there on a highly breathable body 1 material, such as a stitch. The stitches are used to achieve a very lightweight and breathable shoe, and the inconvenience of this type of material obtained by knitting is that it is very fragile and vulnerable to wear.

【0030】

Surprisingly, the polymer layer applied over the stitched fiber material does not impede the passage of air and thus maintains the material's breathability while significantly improving its material's resistance to abrasion. Has been confirmed.

【0031】

Preferably, the stitches used are stitches called three-dimensional stitches, that is, they are tied together by the intermediate layer 13 of the yarn and kept away from each other, as Figure 4 shows. Consisting of two parallel fiber surfaces or fiber layers 11, 12, the intermediate layer of this yarn extends substantially perpendicular to the plane formed by each of these surfaces, these two surfaces 11, 12 It defines an elastic and compressible air space between them. Such three-dimensional fiber materials are generally constructed during the same manufacturing stage. The material can also be constructed by utilizing two fiber layers that are independent of each other and then tied together by a layer that is breathable according to its thickness.

【0032】

The two faces 11 and 12 are preferably composed of layers of knitted stitches or jerseys, and can also be composed of layers of woven or non-woven fibers.

【0033】

For the three-dimensional stitch material 10, the polymer layer 3 is applied over the outer surface 11 and thus improves its resistance to wear on the outer surface, but nevertheless the passage of air A through the inner surface 12 and the layer 13 of the yarn (arrows). It does not interfere with (see A).

【0034】

In this case, the outer surface 11 of the thin fabric 10 can even be made completely waterproof by applying a sufficiently thick polymer layer, but still does not limit its breathability. This is because air can escape through the intermediate layer 13 (see arrow A).

【0035】

In all cases, the polymer layer 3 makes the thin fabric at least partially protected, especially "protected" against the ingress of pebbles and sand.

【0036】

Of course, the coating of the polymer 3 does not necessarily stop at the first surface 11, especially depending on the viscosity of the polymer 3 and the size of the holes in the stitches that make up the first surface.

【0037】

The degree of waterproofness of the material depends on the degree of penetration of the polymer into the inside of the three-dimensional material.

【0038】

According to a preferred embodiment, the stitch material on the outer surface 11 will have holes of small size to ensure that the polymer coating does not penetrate the tip of the thin fabric. In this case, the inner surface 12 is, advantageously, a thin woven fabric with large holes for better breathability.

【0039】

Preferably, as in the previous embodiment, the polymer layer is applied across the seam 4 between the sole 2 and the torso 1.

【0040】

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above as non-limiting examples, but includes all similar or equivalent embodiments.

[Simple explanation of drawings]

[Figure 1]

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing shoes obtained by using the method according to the present invention according to the first embodiment.

[Figure 2]

It is a detailed view of FIG.

[Fig. 3]

It is a side view which shows the shoe by 2nd Embodiment.

[Fig. 4]

It is sectional drawing which shows a three-dimensional stitch.