HOT-MOLDING METHOD USING PLASTIC ELASTOMER TO FABRICATE VAMP

Abstract

A hot-molding method using a plastic elastomer to fabricate a vamp comprises steps: fabricating a hot-molding mold according to a pattern design of a vamp; fabricating blanks of different thicknesses, shapes, sizes, colors and materials; placing the blanks in the hot-molding mold; placing the hot-molding mold in a hot-molding machine to undertake a hot-molding process; and taking the hot-molding mold out of the hot-molding machine and then taking out the vamp from the mold after cooling. The method enables a single vamp to simultaneously use blanks of different thicknesses, shapes, colors and materials and diversifies vamp designs. The method fixes blanks securely in the mold and joins blanks of different colors to an identical vamp in a single process. The blanks are hard to peel off the vamp after molding. The method features a short fabrication cycle, high efficiency and high yield.

Claims

1. A hot-molding method using plastic elastomer to fabricate vamp, characterized in comprising the steps of: Step 1: fabricating a hot-molding mold according to a pattern design of a vamp; Step 2: respectively using different specifications of polymeric materials to fabricate blanks having different thicknesses, shapes, sizes and colors according to the pattern design of the vamp, wherein the sizes of the blanks match the hot-molding mold; Step 3: respectively placing the blanks in corresponding positions of the hot-molding mold, covering a vamp material over the blanks, and closing the hot-molding mold; Step 4: placing the hot-molding mold in a hot-molding machine to undertake a hot-molding process at a temperature of 90-150° C. under a pressure of 20-55 kg/cm.sup.2 for 1-5 minutes; and Step 5: taking the hot-molding mold and a vamp thereinside out of the hot-molding machine, cooling the hot-molding mold and the vamp thereinside to secure the shape of the vamp, and then opening the hot-molding mold to take out the vamp.

2. The hot-molding method using plastic elastomer to fabricate vamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the blanks are made of materials having an identical hardness or materials having two or more different hardnesses in Step 2.

3. The hot-molding method using plastic elastomer to fabricate vamp according to claim 1, characterized in that the blanks are made of materials having an identical color or materials having two or more different colors in Step 2.

4. The hot-molding method using plastic elastomer to fabricate vamp according to claim 1, characterized in that positioning holes are formed in the hot-molding mold.

5. The hot-molding method using plastic elastomer to fabricate vamp according to claim 1, characterized in that color-separation grooves are formed in the hot-molding mold.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] FIG. 1 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of blanks according to one embodiment of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the structure of a mold according to one embodiment of the present invention; and

[0022] FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically showing the assemblage of a mold and blanks according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0023] Below, embodiments and drawings are used to demonstrate the present invention in detail. Refer to FIGS. 1-3. In one embodiment, the present invention proposes a hot-molding method using a plastic elastomer to fabricate a vamp, which comprises Steps 1-5.

[0024] In Step 1, fabricate a hot-molding mold 1. The hot-molding mold 1 normally has recessed structures. The hot-molding mold 1 includes a plurality of blank basins 2 where the blanks 3 are placed and fixed.

[0025] In Step 2, respectively use different specifications of polymeric materials to fabricate blanks 3 having different thicknesses, shapes, sizes and colors according to the requirements of the vamp patterns. Normally, the zones adjacent to each other, having an identical color and made of an identical material are fabricated jointly to form an independent blank 3. The finished blanks 3 are assembled to the hot-molding mold 1. The sizes of the blanks 3 should match blank basins 2 of the hot-molding mold 1.

[0026] In Step 3, respectively place the blanks 3 in the corresponding blank basins 2, cover a vamp material over the blanks 3, and close the hot-molding mold 1. The vamp material is usually a mesh fabric.

[0027] In Step 4, place the hot-molding mold 1 in a hot-molding machine to undertake a hot-molding process at a temperature of 90-150° C. under a pressure of 20-55 kg/cm.sup.2 for 1-5 minutes.

[0028] In Step 5, take the hot-molding mold 1 and the vamp thereinside out of the hot-molding machine, cool the hot-molding mold 1 and the vamp thereinside to secure the shape of the vamp, and then open the hot-molding mold 1 to take out the vamp.

[0029] In practical application, the temperature, pressure and processing time in Step 4 can be modified according to the hardness and thickness of the materials.

[0030] Refer to FIG. 1. In order to obtain different colors and functions in Step 2, the blanks 3 are made of materials having an identical hardness or materials having two or more different hardnesses; the blanks 3 are made of materials having an identical color or materials having two or more different colors. If the blanks 3 are made of an identical material and having an identical color, the identical material is fabricated to have the desired thickness and color and then cut to have the desired shapes. Therefore, the blanks 3 made of an identical material and having an identical color can be fabricated in a lower cost.

[0031] Refer to FIG. 2. Positioning holes 5 are formed in the hot-molding mold 1 to position the hot-molding mold 1 and prevent the hot-molding mold 1 from sliding during the hot-molding process lest the blanks 3 cannot be stuck to the vamp accurately.

[0032] Refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. In order to decrease the mutual interference between neighboring blanks 3, the hot-molding mold 1 includes color-separation grooves 4 between blanks 3 respectively using different materials or having different colors. The color-separation grooves 4 of the hot-molding mold 1 can form narrow convex structures in the vamp to separate neighboring blanks 3 lest they overlap during the hot-molding process. The surfaces of the color-separation grooves 4 of the hot-molding mold 1 are electroplated to prevent from stickiness during the hot-molding process.

[0033] In order to acquire the optimized theimal adhesion effect of blanks from the hot-molding process, the polymeric material normally adopts TPE or TPU, wherein TPE denotes thermoplastic elastomer materials and TPU denotes thermoplastic polyurethane materials. TPE and TPU have appropriate hardness and thermoplasticity and can be formulated to obtain materials having different hardnesses and different toughnesses. Therefore, TPE and TPU are suitable materials for blanks of vamps.