Shoe, in particular a sports shoe, and method for tightening such a shoe

Abstract

A shoe, and a method for tightening such a shoe, in particular to a sports shoe, having a sole and a shoe upper, wherein the shoe upper has a first material section, which at least partially extends around the foot of the wearer of the shoe. To enable the tightening of the shoe on the foot of the wearer in a comfortable manner, a second material section is arranged on the outside of the first material section, in which the second material section at least partially covers the first material section, wherein the second material section is a plastic material having a shape memory effect.

Claims

1. A shoe, comprising a sole and a shoe upper, wherein the shoe upper has a first material section, which is configured to at least partially extend around a foot of a wearer of the shoe, and a second material section that is arranged on an outside of the first material section, wherein the second material section at least partially covers the first material section, wherein the second material section consists of a plastic material having a shape memory effect, and a battery and a switch element, wherein the material of the second material section is electrically conductive and the electrically conductive material of the second material section is in connection with the battery via the switch element, wherein the switch element is selectively switchable to a charge position in which the electrically conductive material is charged with electrical energy by the battery, wherein the second material section exerts a first compression force onto the first material section at a first temperature, the first compression force being configured to press the first material section against the foot of the wearer of the shoe, the second material section conducts the electrical energy and heats up to a second temperature when the switch element is in the charge position, the second temperature being greater than the first temperature, and the second material section contracts and exerts a second compression force onto the first material section at the second temperature, wherein the second compression force is greater than the first compression force, and wherein the second material section is: (i) applied onto the first material section as a laminar coating; or (ii) designed as a net or a lattice which rests on the first material section, wherein the net or the lattice comprises a plurality of apertures.

2. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second material section is applied onto the first material section as the laminar coating.

4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the first temperature is less than 25 C. and the second temperature is greater than 35 C.

5. The shoe according to claim 4, wherein the second temperature is greater than 40 C.

6. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the second material section is designed as the net or the lattice which rests on the first material section, wherein the net or the lattice comprises the plurality of apertures.

7. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the second compression force is at least 20% greater than the first compression force.

8. A method for tightening a shoe according to claim 1, comprising the steps: a) putting the shoe on the foot of the wearer when the second material section has the first temperature, wherein the first temperature is less than 25 C.; b) heating up the second material section to the second temperature, so that the second material section exerts the second compression force onto the foot of the wearer of the shoe, wherein the second temperature is greater than 35 C.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the step of heating up of the second material section takes place by using the electrically conductive material of the second material section which is charged with current.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the step of heating up of the second material section takes place by actuating the switch element which induces current from the battery into the material of the second material section.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(1) In the FIGURE an embodiment of the shoe according to the invention can be seen. The shoe 1 has a sole 2 and a shoe upper 3 which is connected with the sole 2. The shoe upper 3 has as a base layer a first material section 4; this material section is designed continuous and laminar and surrounds the foot of the wearer (not depicted). On the first material section 4 a second material section 5 is arranged; presently, this is designed like a net which comprises a plurality of apertures 6. The inner of the shoe upper 3 is formed by a sock-like section 9 which surrounds the foot of the wearer.

(2) It is essential that the second material section 5 consists of a plastic material with shape memory effect. With respect to this material already specific explanations are made above.

(3) The mentioned shape memory effect is basing on the factas already explainedthat shape memory polymers comprise a network structure, wherein the excess of a phase transition goes along with a significant change of the mechanical properties. The above mentioned material DESMOPAN DP 2795A SMP fulfils those requirements as a phase segregated block copolymer.

(4) The mentioned material differs from conventional TPU thus by the presence of an additional phase transition. Those phase transitions are used here in applications for shape memory polymers. Thus, a mechanical conditioning is possible at which the material is brought under force into a temporary shape.

(5) A switching temperature between 34 C. and 45 C. is provided at which the crystallisation of the soft segments take place.

(6) In the FIGURE, it can be seen that, in the sole 2, a battery 7 is arranged. A cable which is shown only schematically is connected with the material of the second material section 5, wherein the material of the second material section 5 can be flowed through by the current from the battery 7 via a switch element 8 (electrical switch). This is reached by the fact that the material of the second material section 5 was made conductive which is possible for example by inclusion of carbon particles into the plastic material. The current which is flowing through the second material section creates the required (but relatively minor) heating of the material because the material is acting as an ohmic resistance; thus, if a current is flowing from the battery through the material of the second material section 5, the material section 5 is heated up. If this takes place up to a temperature above ca. 40 C. (i. e. above the switching temperature), the explained shape memory effect takes place which triggers the tightening process.

LIST OF REFERENCES

(7) 1 Shoe 2 Sole 3 Shoe upper 4 First material section 5 Second material section 6 Apertures 7 Battery 8 Switch element 9 Sock-like section