SHOE, IN PARTICULAR SPORTS SHOE, AND METHOD FOR TYING SUCH A SHOE

Abstract

A shoe, and a method for tying 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 tying 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 which 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, in particular sports shoe, comprising 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, wherein a second material section is arranged on the outside of the first material section which 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, wherein the second material section is designed in such a manner that it exerts a first tensioning force onto the first material section at a first, low temperature which presses the first material section against the foot of the wearer of the shoe and that it exerts a second tensioning force onto the first material section at a second, high temperature which second tensioning force is higher than the first tensioning force, preferably at least 20% higher than the first tensioning force.

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

3. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the second material section is designed in such a manner that the first temperature is lower than 25? C. and the second temperature is higher than 35? C., preferably higher than 40? C.

4. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the second material section consists of thermoplastic polyurethane or comprises this material.

5. The shoe according to claim 4. wherein the thermoplastic polyurethane comprises hard segments and soft segments which form a block copolymer.

6. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the hard segments consist of polyurethane groups.

7. The shoe according to claim 5, wherein the soft segments consist of long-chained polyester regions.

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

9. The shoe according to claim 1, wherein the material of the second material section is electrically conductive.

10. The shoe according to claim 9, wherein the electrically conductive material of the second material section is in connection with a battery by which the electrically conductive material can be charged with electrical energy via a switch element.

11. The shoe according to claim 10, wherein the battery is rechargeable.

12. A method for tying a shoe, in particular a sports shoe according to claim 10, wherein it comprises the steps: a) Putting on the shoe, wherein the second material section made of plastic material having a shape memory effect has a first low temperature, wherein the first temperature is preferably below 25? C.; b) Heating up the second material section made of plastic material having a shape memory effect to a second high temperature, so that the second material section exerts a higher tensioning force onto the foot of the wearer of the shoe than at the first temperature, wherein the second temperature is preferably above 35? C., specifically preferred above 40? C.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the heating up of the second material section takes place by using electrically conductive material for the second material section which is charged with current.

14. The method according to claim 13, wherein the heating up of the second material section takes place by actuating a switch element which induces current from a battery into the material of the second material section.

Description

[0024] In the drawing an embodiment of the invention is shown.

[0025] 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.

[0026] 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.

[0027] 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.

[0028] 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.

[0029] A switching temperature between 34? C. and 45? C. is provided at which the crystallisation of the soft segments take place.

[0030] In the FIGURE is 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 tying process.

List of References:

[0031] 1 Shoe

[0032] 2 Sole

[0033] 3 Shoe upper

[0034] 4 First material section

[0035] 5 Second material section

[0036] 6 Apertures

[0037] 7 Battery

[0038] 8 Switch element

[0039] 9 Sock-like section