HYBRID MOLD FOR SHOE SOLE

Abstract

A hybrid mold (1) for a shoe sole comprises a body (7) affording a molding surface (3) and at least one molding insert (2), the molding insert (2) being produced according to a first method and the molding surface (3) being produced according to a second method distinct from the first.

Claims

1.-10. (canceled)

11. A hybrid mold for a shoe sole, the mold comprising: a body affording a molding surface; and at least one molding insert, wherein the molding insert is produced according to a first method and the molding surface is produced according to a second method distinct from the first, and wherein the molding insert is produced using a method of manufacture by addition of material.

12. The hybrid mold according to claim 11, wherein the material is a metallic material.

13. The hybrid mold according to claim 11, wherein the molding surface is produced according to a method not involving the addition of material.

14. The hybrid mold according to claim 11, wherein the insert comprises a plurality of textures.

15. The hybrid mold according to claim 14, wherein the plurality of textures of the insert are obtained by laser etching.

16. The hybrid mold according to claim 11, further comprising securing means for securing the insert to the body of the mold, wherein the securing is accomplished by bonding, welding, clipping, screwing or clamping.

17. The hybrid mold according to claim 11, wherein the molding insert comprises a plurality of complex molding shapes for sole treads.

18. The hybrid mold according to claim 17, wherein at least one complex molding shape comprises a main plane that is not parallelepipedal.

19. The hybrid mold according to claim 17, wherein at least one complex molding shape comprises a main plane that has a bulging zone.

20. The hybrid mold according to claim 17, wherein at least one complex molding shape comprises a main plane in the shape of an elongated Y or S.

21. The hybrid mold according to claim 17, wherein at least one complex molding shape comprises a main plane and a plurality of secondary planes which are substantially perpendicular.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0026] All the embodiment details are given in the description which follows, which is supplemented by FIGS. 1 to 16 give solely by way of nonlimiting examples and in which:

[0027] FIGS. 1A and 1B are views in cross section of examples of hybrid moulds according to the invention;

[0028] FIGS. 2 and 3 are examples of shoe soles manufactured by means of a hybrid mould according to the invention;

[0029] FIGS. 4a to 16 illustrate examples of moulding shapes for complex sole treads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] What is meant by texture is an organized arrangement of a plurality of elements (stripes, holes, strands, blades) all or some of these elements being repeats of the one same basic element, the pattern present on the mould making it possible to obtain a particular texture on a sole.

[0031] What is meant by complex moulding shape for a sole tread is a shape that can be achieved by selective laser melting, that allows the moulding of a sole tread pattern profile the shape of which is nonplanar.

[0032] FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate examples of hybrid moulds 1 for a shoe sole according to the invention. The body 7 of the mould comprises a moulding surface 3 and at least one moulding insert 2.

[0033] The moulding insert 2 is produced according to a method involving selective laser melting.

[0034] The moulding surface 3, and preferably the adjacent mass of material in which the moulding surface is readied, is produced according to a second method distinct from the first, for example by machining, stamping, etc.

[0035] As illustrated in the examples of FIGS. 1A and 1B, the insert is provided with textures 4. These textures are obtained for example by laser etching or by the addition of material.

[0036] FIGS. 2 and 3 are schematic perspective depictions of exemplary soles 10 that can be moulded using a hybrid mould as described hereinabove. The textures 11 generated by the mould in various specifically chosen zones on the sole can be seen. The soles comprise an alternation of textured zones 11 and of nontextured zones 12. This original configuration is down to the fact that the hybrid mould itself comprises a surface provided with an alternation of textured inserts 4 and untextured surfaces 3.

[0037] FIGS. 4a to 16 illustrate exemplary embodiments of insert portions provided with complex moulding shapes 5 for sole treads.

[0038] FIGS. 4a, 4b, 4c and 5 show examples of thin blades provided with a substantially rectangular main plane with a boss on one or two sides of the main plane. FIGS. 4a and 4b are elevations, whereas 4c and 4d are plan views. When two bosses are present, these may or may not be symmetrical. The cross section of the bosses may follow a determined profile, for example according to a mathematical law.

[0039] FIGS. 5, 6a and 6b show examples in which the substantially rectangular main plane is supplemented by a plurality of substantially perpendicular secondary planes, of appreciably smaller dimensions than the main plane. FIG. 5 is a side view whereas FIGS. 6a and 6b are plan views. The example of FIG. 6a has projections on one side and that of FIG. 6b has projections on both sides.

[0040] The examples in FIGS. 7a and 7b are side views in which the main plane is supplemented by a head the thickness of which is greater than that of the rest of the thin blade. FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate examples in which the main planes are provided with junctions in order to avoid stress concentration zones.

[0041] FIG. 10a shows a side view of a straight (reference) main plane. FIGS. 10b to 10f illustrate examples of main planes of any non-straight (or non-planar) shapes, for example in the shape of an S, of a Z, of a curve, etc. FIG. 11 illustrates an exemplary embodiment in the shape of an elongated S. FIGS. 12a and 12b show examples, in side view, with thicknesses that vary along the vertical profile.

[0042] FIGS. 13a and 13b show examples in side view, with thicknesses varying along the longitudinal direction, in FIG. 13a, and along the longitudinal and vertical directions, in FIG. 13b.

[0043] FIGS. 14a and 14b illustrate an exemplary embodiment in the shape of an elongate Y. FIG. 14c illustrates an exemplary embodiment in the shape of an elongate fork.

[0044] FIGS. 15 and 16 illustrate examples of combinations of complex shapes selected for example from among the shapes already described and illustrated. FIG. 15 combines Y-shaped and rectilinear profiles. In FIG. 16, three Y-shaped profiles are mounted in opposition and supplemented by a rectilinear profile surmounted by an enlarged head.

[0045] All the foregoing examples (FIGS. 4a to 16) are advantageously produced using additive manufacturing.

REFERENCE NUMERALS USED IN THE FIGURES

[0046] 1 Hybrid mould [0047] 2 Insert [0048] 3 Moulding surface [0049] 4 Textures [0050] 5 Complex moulding shape for sole tread [0051] 6 Securing means [0052] 7 Mould body [0053] 10 Sole [0054] 11 Texture obtained after moulding [0055] 12 Untextured sole surface