METHOD FOR PRODUCING A FOOT PART

Abstract

A method for producing of a foot part for a sports shoe includes the steps of producing a flexible forming part for the shoe collar and shoe sole of the foot part, and joining the edges of the forming part along the shoe sole and around the toe cap. In addition, a foot part for a sports shoe and a sports shoe are provided. The foot part for a sports shoe includes a flexible forming part having edges joined along shoe soles and around a toe cap. The sports shoe includes the foot part.

Claims

1. A method for producing a foot part for a sports shoe, the method comprising: producing a flexible forming part for a shoe collar and a shoe sole of the foot part; and joining edges of the flexible forming part along the shoe sole and around a toe cap.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the edges of the flexible forming part are joined by sewing, heating, or gluing.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flexible forming part comprises a layer of polyurethane foam.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the flexible forming part is produced by punching out from a layer material or by casting into a blank.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the layer material comprises a layer of polyurethane foam.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foot part is an inner shoe.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the foot part is glued with a hard shell.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: forming in the flexible forming part a deepening in an area of an ankle.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: creating in the flexible forming part venting slots or venting openings.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising: forming venting slots or venting openings in an area of the shoe sole.

11. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: forming in a heel region of the flexible forming part or in an area in front of ankle cutout channels or holes to increase flexibility of the flexible forming part.

12. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: attaching a middle of the flexible forming part to a heel section of a shoe last.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: bending side sections of the flexible forming part around a heels section in a direction to a toe of a shoe last.

14. A foot part for a sports shoe, the foot part comprising: a flexible forming part having edges joined along shoe soles and around a toe cap.

15. The foot part according to claim 14, wherein the flexible forming part comprises on one side an overlapping section for forming a strap on another side of the flexible forming part.

16. The sports shoe comprising a foot part according to claim 14.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0028] The disclosure will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein:

[0029] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an inline skate;

[0030] FIG. 2 shows a top view onto a forming part;

[0031] FIG. 3 shows a schematic view of a shoe last;

[0032] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a shoe last having a forming part attached to;

[0033] FIG. 5 shows a further schematic view of the shoe last having side sections of the forming part bended in front direction;

[0034] FIG. 6 shows a further schematic view of the forming part having a sewed heel region;

[0035] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view the foot part made from the forming part;

[0036] FIG. 8 shows a schematic view of another foot part made from the forming part;

[0037] FIG. 9 shows a further schematic view of the foot part made from the forming part; and

[0038] FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a method for producing the foot part.

DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0039] FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of an inline skates 300 as an exemplary embodiment of a sports shoe 300. The inline skate 300 comprises a foot part 100 with a hard shell 111 that together form the sports shoe 300. The hard shell 111 forms the lower part of the sports shoe 300. The sports shoe 300 is attached with the hard shell 111 with a rail 400 having rollers 401. The foot part 100 comprises a shoe collar 105 and a shoe sole 107.

[0040] Inline skates 300 are roller skates in which the rollers 401 are arranged in-line. The rail 400 can be made from aluminum and has in subregions a reverse U-shaped profile. Cross holes in the rail 400 serve for mounting the ball bearing rollers 401 with screwable axes.

[0041] The sports shoe 300 can also be a bike shoe. In general, the sports shoe 300 can be every sports shoe, in which the foot part 100 can be used.

[0042] FIG. 2 shows a top view onto a forming part 101 for production of the foot part 100 for the inline skate 300. The forming part 101 is produced from foam-like layer material 103 and has a specially adapted form for building a shoe collar 105 and a shoe sole 107 of the foot part 100. The forming part 101 can be designed in one single piece.

[0043] The forming part 101 is essentially axially symmetrical to the middle 109 and comprises two u-shaped or tongue-shaped side sections 115 with a round toe cap 123, from which the shoe sole in combination with the circumjacent foot part 100 is formed. Further, the forming part 101 comprises two middle sections 119 that surround a rearward and lateral heel or calf region of the foot. The side sections 115 protrude laterally with respect to the middle sections 119. The forming part 101 can have on the one side an overlapping section 131 for forming a strap on the other side of the forming part 101. By this the ready-made foot part 100 can be closed on the front side. The overlapping section 131 can be formed on one side of the forming part 101. Due to the overlapping section 131 the forming part 101 has on one side a larger width in the area of the middle section 119 as on the other side. The overlapping section 131 on one side of the forming part 101 overlaps with the other side, when the foot part 100 is ready formed.

[0044] The forming part 101 is produced in one piece from a layer material 103 that at least comprises a layer from foam-like plastic material. But the forming part 101 can comprise also two or more parts that are glued, sewed, or welded on the joint.

[0045] The layer material 103 comprises for example a layer from cushioning polyurethane foam or another cushioning foam, for example in thickness of 5 mm. The material for the foam can be used in different hardness degrees. When using softer materials, the focus is more on comfort, whereas harder materials rather strive for performance. By a mixture of soft and hard material layers a compromise can be reached with respect to comfort and performance.

[0046] The forming part 101 or the layer material 103 can also comprise a layer of ethylene-vinyl-acetate (EVA). The EVA-layer can be produced by EVA-injection molding. The forming part 101 or the layer material 103 can also comprise a gel-cushion material. The layer material 103 or the forming part 101 has for example a thickness of 5 mm. Further, the layer material 103 can comprise further layers, such as a more durable outer layer (liner) for the upper shoe. The upper material for the upper shoe can be heat welded, glued, or cast onto. The more durable outer layer can be made from plastics and serve for supporting the foot or against a wear of the foot part 100. This outer layer can be glued or sewed with the other layers of the forming part 101. In general, the layer material 103 of the forming part 101 can be built in several layers with different functional materials and components. Different materials are glued, sewed, or welded together in several layers for the layer composition.

[0047] In the forming part 101 deepenings 129 or embossments can be additionally provided to increase wearing comfort of the sports shoe 300 or to support a certain function of the sports shoe 300. For example, in heels or ankle region 117 deepenings 129 in the forming part 101 can be provided to prevent pressure marks on the foot.

[0048] In the area of the sole the forming part 101 can have for example a protrusion to support the arch or a weight function or cushioning function. However, also a separate inner sole can be provided. Also, in the area of the front sole or in a side area of the foot part 100 embossments can be provided in the forming part 101 so that a better adaptation to edges of a hard shell 111 can be achieved. Further embossments in the forming part 101 can be provided for massage or comfort purposes.

[0049] The deepening can be stamped or impressed with corresponding tools into the forming part 101. The embossments can be created by adding material on the inner or the outer side of the forming part 101, for example by foaming, sewing, or gluing the corresponding parts.

[0050] The forming part 101 is either punched out in the required form from a layer material 103 or cast in the required form, such as in an injection molding method. The forming part 101 can adapt after spatial forming to the anatomical conditions of the foot. The forming part 101 has in addition for example rounded edges 113 or a rounded outer contour so that injuries or irritations of the foot can be prevented, as for example in the area of the stepping-in opening.

[0051] Further, the forming part 101 can have at certain positions cutouts 121 for increasing flexibility. For example, in the area of the heel recesses 121 can be provided which cause that the forming part 101 can be bent or adapts to a shoe last in an easier manner. In addition, cutout channels 125 or wholes 127 can be formed to increase flexibility of the forming part.

[0052] The cutouts can be V-shaped or U-shaped in their run direction or in cross-section. Such cutouts 121 for increasing the flexibility can be provided on each position, at which a high bendability of the forming part 101 is required.

[0053] Further the forming part 101 can be provided with venting openings or venting channels, as for example in the region of the shoe sole. The venting openings or the venting channels enable an air stream in the interior of the foot part 100 and increase the wearing comfort of the foot part 100. These can correspond with corresponding openings in the hard shell 111 and can be provided on corresponding positions. The hard shell 111 is made from firm plastics and can be glued or sewed onto the foot part 100.

[0054] The production of the foot part 100 can be performed by using a shoe last. In general, it is also conceivable, to produce the foot part 100 having the forming part 101 without a shoe last. The forming part 101 can for example can be flat and can be put in a casting mold and so being connected with the shell and being brought into shape. Then it is glued in or welded.

[0055] FIG. 3 shows a shoe last 200. The shoe last 200 serves for production of the foot part 100 and represents a spatial imitation of the human foot. The shoe last 200 can be one, two, or in several pieces. The shoe last 200 is the shaping tool that determines the inner dimensions and the outer form of the foot part 100. Foot length, foot width and ball circumference of the shoe last 200 are in a certain proportion to each other. The shoe last 200 has amongst others a heels section 201 and a toe 203. The shoe last 200 can be made from different materials, like wood or plastics.

[0056] FIG. 4 shows a schematic view of a shoe last 200 with a forming part 101 attached to. In last-based production of the foot part 100 at first the forming part 101 is attached in the middle 109 onto the heels section 201 of the shoe last 200. Then the further forming of the foot part 100 is performed by adapting the forming part 101 to the shoe last 200.

[0057] FIG. 5 shows a further schematic view of the shoe last 200 having side sections 115 of the forming part 101 bent in front direction. For further production of the foot part 100 the side sections 115 of the forming part 101 are bent around the heels section 201 into the direction of the toe 203 of the shoe last 200. By this a further forming of the foot part 100 takes place.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows a further schematic view the forming part 101 with sewed heels region 117. After the side sections 115 of the forming part 101 are bent around the shoe last 200, the edges 113 of the forming part 101 in the heels region 117 are joined together. This can be done by sewing. However, it is also possible to glue the edges 113 with each other.

[0059] FIG. 7 shows a schematic view the foot part 100 made from the forming part 101. The edges 113 of the forming part 101 are joined along the shoe sole 107 around the toe cap 123. Both sides of the forming part 101 form in the middle of the foot part 100 a stepping-in opening. The forming part 101 for production of the foot part 100 can comprise in the corresponding region an anatomical footbed with an arch. The shoe last 200 still resides within the foot part 100 and will be removed later.

[0060] FIG. 8 shows a further schematic view of another foot part 100 made from the forming part 101. In this foot part 100 one side of the forming part 101 is designed with an overlapping section 131. Instead of this the forming part 101 can have the same features as the one shown in FIG. 2.

[0061] The overlapping section 131 on the one side of the forming part 101 lies on the other side of the forming part 131 onto the surface. By the overlapping section 131 a strap is created at the front side of the foot part 100. By the strap, an ingress of moisture into the foot part 100 can be prevented and the tongue can be formed integrally within the foot part 100.

[0062] FIG. 9 shows a further schematic view of the foot part 100 made from the forming part 101. In this view it can be seen, how the edges 113 of the forming part 101 are sewed together along the shoe soles 107.

[0063] Finally, the shoe last 200 can be removed and the so formed foot part 100 can be glued directly with the hard shell 111 or the collar of the foot part 100 or joined with a hook-and-loop fastener. A tongue of the foot part 100 can be produced in the same way. This is sewed into in the foot part 100 and riveted. The tongue of the foot part 100 can be also sewed, heat-sealed, or glued or connected with a hook-and-loop fastener or a press button. Further, eyelets can be formed in the foot part 100. In this way shoes 100 for inline skates can be produced in a simple manner and with low technical effort from sheet-like layered materials 103.

[0064] FIG. 10 shows a block diagram of a production method for an inline skate. In a first step S101 the one-pieced, flexible forming part 101 for the shoe collar 105 and shoe sole 107 of the foot part 100 are created. In a second step S102 the edges 113 of the forming part 101 are joined along the shoe sole 107 and around the toe cap 123. Thereby, the foot part 100 for the sports shoe 300 is created, that can be provided with further components, such as a hard shell, to build the sports shoe 300. In general, the foot part 100 can be used in each sports shoe 300, for which this adapted, like for example bike shoes.

[0065] All features discussed and shown with respect to particular embodiments of the disclosure can be provided various combination within the subject-matter according to the disclosure to realize their beneficial effects concurrently.

[0066] All method steps can be implemented by means that are adapted to perform the corresponding method step. All functions that are performed by objective features can be a method step in a method.

[0067] The scope of the present disclosure is given by the claims and will not be restricted by the features discussed in the description or shown in the figures.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0068] 100 Foot part [0069] 101 Forming part [0070] 103 Layer material [0071] 105 Shoe collar [0072] 107 Shoe sole [0073] 109 Middle [0074] 111 Hard shell [0075] 113 Edges [0076] 115 Side sections [0077] 117 Heel region [0078] 119 Middle sections [0079] 121 Cutouts [0080] 123 Toe cap [0081] 125 Cutout channel [0082] 127 Holes [0083] 129 Deepening [0084] 131 Overlapping section [0085] 200 Shoe last [0086] 201 Heels section [0087] 203 Toe [0088] 300 Inline skate/Sports shoe [0089] 400 Rail [0090] 401 Rollers