Method and device for the manufacture of sporting goods and sporting goods manufactured thereby

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016262489-A1
Application number	US-201615016073-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2016
Priority date	Feb 5, 2015
Publication date	Sep 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Described are methods for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, sporting goods manufactured by such methods, for example a shoe, as well as a device for performing such methods. The method for the manufacture of sporting goods, in particular a shoe, is provided, wherein the sporting goods has a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface. The method includes activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact, and connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first connection surface and the second connection surface.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1 . A method for the manufacture of sporting goods, the sporting goods comprising a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface, the method comprising:
activating at least one portion of the first connection surface by providing heat energy without contact; and connecting the first component with the second component by joining the first and the second connection surfaces.

2 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein connecting the first component with the second component further comprises forming a bond between the at least one portion of the first connection surface and at least one portion of the second connection surface.

3 . The method according to claim 2 , wherein the bond is at least one of a chemical bond and a mechanical bond.

4 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein activating the first connection surface further comprises providing heat energy to the first connection surface such that an activation temperature of at least one material of the first connection surface is reached.

5 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein activating the first connection surface further comprises providing heat energy to the first connection surface such that a viscous layer of at least one material of the first connection surface is formed.

6 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein activating the first connection surface further comprises providing heat energy to the first connection surface such that the first connection surface is at least partially melted.

7 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein connecting the first component and the second component further comprises joining the first and second connection surfaces without an additional adhesive.

8 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first component and the second component comprise one or more of the following: a sole unit, a midsole, an outsole, an outsole element, a sole plate, a film or foil material, a shoe upper, and a functional element.

9 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein the activating is performed by irradiating with heat energy originating from at least one heat source, in particular by irradiating with infrared radiation originating from at least one infrared radiation source.

10 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising activating at least one portion of the second connection surface by providing heat energy without contact and wherein the first connection surface and the second connection surface are spaced apart during their activation.

11 . The method according to claim 10 , wherein the first connection surface and the second connection surface are simultaneously activated by heat energy emitted from a common heat source.

12 . The method according to claim 11 , wherein the common heat source is arranged in a gap between the first and the second connection surfaces.

13 . The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the second component and the second connection surface comprise a textile material.

14 . The method according to claim 13 , wherein the textile material comprises one or more of the following: a knitted construction, a woven construction, a non-woven construction, randomly deposited fibers, a multi-directional layered material, and a mesh structure.

15 . The method according to claim 1 , further comprising a solidifying of the connection of the first component and the second component.

16 . The method according to claim 15 , wherein the solidifying is at least partially performed by cooling.

17 . Sporting goods comprising;
a first component with a first connection surface and a second component with a second connection surface; the first connection surface bonded to the second connection surface without an added adhesive; wherein the bond between the first connection surface and the second connection surface has a bonding strength greater than 15 N/cm when measured according to DIN ISO 6133.

18 . The sporting goods according to claim 17 , wherein the sporting goods is a shoe.

19 . The sporting goods according to claim 18 , wherein at least one of the first component and the second component comprise one or more of the following: a sole unit, a midsole, an outsole, an outsole element, a sole plate, a film or foil material, a shoe upper, and a functional element.

20 . A device for manufacturing sporting goods comprising:
a first component mounting for receiving a first component and a second component mounting for receiving a second component; and a heat source for providing heat energy without contact, wherein the first and the second component mounting can be moved apart from one another and moved together under pressure.

Assignees

• Adidas Ag

Inventors

• Holmes Christopher Edward
• Hill Jan
• Dyckmans Clemens Paul
• Kirupanantham Giridharan
• Manz Gerd Rainer
• Drummer Ing Dietmar Klaus

Classifications

• B29C66/91935

  lower than said fusion temperature · CPC title

• B29C66/1122

  Single lap to lap joints, i.e. overlap joints (B29C66/45, B29C66/472, B29C66/52272 take precedence) · CPC title

• B29C65/20

  with direct contact, e.g. using "mirror" · CPC title

• A43B9/20 Primary

  welded · CPC title

• B29C65/1667

  at the same time, i.e. simultaneous laser welding · CPC title