Abstract

The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a stiffener material comprising: providing an uncompressed felt layer comprising a primary fibrous material having a density of between 0.08 g/cm3 and 0.16 g/cm3; passing the felt layer through a double belt press; wherein as the felt layer is passed through the double belt press it is maintained under constant pressure whilst first being heated to within 20°C of a melting point of the primary fibrous material and is subsequently cooled to below the glass temperature of the primary fibrous material to form a compressed material. A stiffener material manufactured according to the method of the present invention is also provided.

IPC Classes  ?

• B32B 5/02 - Layered products characterised by the non-homogeneity or physical structure of a layer characterised by structural features of a layer comprising fibres or filaments
• A43B 1/00 - Footwear characterised by the material
• A43B 23/00 - UppersBoot legsStiffenersOther single parts of footwear
• B29C 70/50 - Shaping or impregnating by compression for producing articles of indefinite length, e.g. prepregs, sheet moulding compounds [SMC] or cross moulding compounds [XMC]
• B30B 5/06 - Presses characterised by the use of pressing means other than those mentioned in groups and wherein the pressing means is in the form of an endless band co-operating with another endless band
• B32B 7/12 - Interconnection of layers using interposed adhesives or interposed materials with bonding properties
• B32B 37/00 - Methods or apparatus for laminating, e.g. by curing or by ultrasonic bonding

Abstract

The present invention provides a woven upper formed of warp yarns and weft yarns comprising a first area that is elastic in at least one of the warp or weft direction. The warp yarns and/or the weft yarns comprise at least 5% elastic yarns. The woven upper being characterised in that the elastic yarns are woven in tension. The upper may also comprise a second area having a different elasticity to the first area, wherein the the warp yarns and/or weft yarns of the second area comprise at least 5% fewer elastic yarns than the equivalent yarns of the first area. Advantageously the woven upper is woven using a jacquard machine. The present invention also provides a method of weaving the woven upper.

IPC Classes  ?

• A43B 1/05 - Footwear characterised by the material made of fibres or fabrics made therefrom woven

Abstract

The present invention provides a woven upper formed of warp yarns and weft yarns comprising a first area that is elastic in at least one of the warp or weft direction. The warp yarns and/or the weft yarns comprise at least 5% elastic yarns. The woven upper being characterised in that the elastic yarns are woven in tension. The upper may also comprise a second area having a different elasticity to the first area, wherein the the warp yarns and/or weft yarns of the second area comprise at least 5% fewer elastic yarns than the equivalent yarns of the first area. Advantageously the woven upper is woven using a jacquard machine. The present invention also provides a method of weaving the woven upper.

IPC Classes  ?

• D03D 15/56 - Woven fabrics characterised by the material, structure or properties of the fibres, filaments, yarns, threads or other warp or weft elements used characterised by the properties of the yarns or threads elastic
• D03D 13/00 - Woven fabrics characterised by the special disposition of the warp or weft threads, e.g. with curved weft threads, with discontinuous warp threads, with diagonal warp or weft

Goods & Services

Woven textiles for use as footwear uppers.

Goods & Services

Imitation leather; imitation leather labels; imitation leather sheets for use in manufacture; luggage, luggage components, wallets, bags, travel cases, key cases, briefcases, card holders, baggage tags, handbags, laces, leads, luggage straps, straps, purses, all being made of imitation leather. Belts made of imitation leather.

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of moulding a mouldable reinforcing element of an item of footwear (12). The method comprises the steps of: providing a microwave heatable mouldable reinforcing element and locating said element at an appropriate location as part of an item of footwear (12); positioning the item of footwear (12) on a last (17) to hold the item of footwear (12) in an appropriate shape; locating the item of footwear (12) in a microwave field within a microwave chamber (2) that contains the microwave field and thereby heating the mouldable reinforcing element to a temperature at which it is mouldable; and moving the appropriate location of the item of footwear (12) relative to the microwave field during said heating. The method is particularly advantageous over prior art microwave methods for moulding footwear in that it does not require specific control of the microwave field and it does not require the use of external moulds. The present invention also provides a heater (1) for moulding footwear comprising a chamber (2), a microwave generator (7) and apparatus (6) for moving an item of footwear (12) located in the chamber (2) relative to a microwave field generated by the microwave generator (7).

IPC Classes  ?

• B29D 35/12 - Producing parts thereof, e.g. soles, heels or uppers, by a moulding technique
• A43D 11/12 - Machines for forming the toe part or heel part of shoes, with or without use of heat

Goods & Services

Polymers and extruded polymers in sheet form (semi-finished product) for use as inner soles, counters, mid soles, toe pieces and shoe components.

Abstract

The present invention provides an apparatus (1) and method for heating heel counters and toe puffs. The apparatus (1) and method are advantageous as they utilise microwave heating, rather than conventional conduction heating to heat a heel counter or toe puff. This can result in much faster heating of the heel counter or toe puff and much less heating of adjoining components: of a shoe. The apparatus (1) and method of the present invention can only be used to form heel counters or toe puffs formed of suitable materials that heat under the action of microwaves. The apparatus (1) includes integral cooling means that cool a heel counter or toe puff after heating whilst in-situ within the apparatus, thereby removing the need for an additional cooling station. The method of the present invention includes the step of cooling a heel counter or toe puff within a heater.

IPC Classes  ?

• B29D 35/12 - Producing parts thereof, e.g. soles, heels or uppers, by a moulding technique
• A43D 11/12 - Machines for forming the toe part or heel part of shoes, with or without use of heat

Abstract

The present invention provides a heel counter or toe puff formed of a composite material comprising a polymer component and a non-polymeric additive, wherein the composite material has a dielectric loss tangent of more than 0.05 and the non- polymeric additive increases the dielectric loss tangent of the composite material. The non-polymeric additive may be a metallic powder with a conductivity greater than 106Sm-1 and the composite contains between 0.01wt% and 0.5wt% of the metallic powder. Alternatively or additionally, the non-polymeric additive may be a material with a conductivity between 100 and 10,000 Sm-1 and the composite contains more than 1wt% of the material, A particularly, preferred non-polymeric' additive is zinc oxide.

IPC Classes  ?

• A43B 23/16 - Heel stiffenersToe stiffeners made of impregnated fabrics, plastics or the like
• A43B 23/08 - Heel stiffenersToe stiffeners

Goods & Services

Resin-impregnated fibre materials and board; rubber-impregnated fibre materials and board; cellulose filled or reinforced materials and board.

Abstract

Laminar material (10) for use in the manufacture of footwear comprises a non- woven felt layer (11) comprising recycled polyester fibres and a polyester fabric layer (12) laminated to at least one side of the non- woven felt layer (11) by a polyester adhesive (13). The recycled polyester fibres in the non- woven felt layer (11) comprise recycled scrap laminar material (10) comprising a non- woven felt layer (11) formed of polyester fibres and a polyester fabric layer (12) laminated to at least one side of the non- woven felt layer (11) by a polyester adhesive (13). A method for manufacturing the laminar material (10) is also described.

IPC Classes  ?

• A43B 13/38 - Built-in insoles joined to uppers during the manufacturing process, e.g. structural insolesInsoles glued to shoes during the manufacturing process
• B32B 5/26 - Layered products characterised by the non-homogeneity or physical structure of a layer characterised by the presence of two or more layers which comprise fibres, filaments, granules, or powder, or are foamed or specifically porous one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer another layer also being fibrous or filamentary
• B32B 27/00 - Layered products essentially comprising synthetic resin
• B32B 27/12 - Layered products essentially comprising synthetic resin next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• B32B 27/36 - Layered products essentially comprising synthetic resin comprising polyesters

Goods & Services

Extruded thermoplastic materials and plastic materials for use in the manufacture of toe puffs and heel counters for footwear. Footwear components, namely toe puffs and heel counters.

Abstract

A recycled material comprising leather particles having a size up to a desired particle size combined with an extrudable binder, the material comprising up to 30% by weight of leather particles associated with the extrudable binder to provide a sheet or pellet. The extrudable binder material's having a thermoplastic binder such as materials used to form footwear components, e.g. toe puffs and counters.

IPC Classes  ?

• A43B 1/00 - Footwear characterised by the material
• A43B 13/02 - SolesSole-and-heel integral units characterised by the material
• A43B 17/00 - Insoles for insertion, e.g. footbeds or inlays, for attachment to the shoe after the upper has been joined
• B32B 27/00 - Layered products essentially comprising synthetic resin
• C08L 89/06 - Products derived from waste materials, e.g. horn, hoof or hair derived from leather or skin

Goods & Services

Sound-proofing materials. Non-woven fabric and textiles; impregnated fabric and textiles.

Goods & Services

Extruded thermoplastic materials and plastics materials for use in manufacture. Non-woven fabric and textiles; impregnated fabric and textiles. Components for use in the manufacture of footwear including shoe reinforcing elements, toe puffs and counters.

Goods & Services

(1) Adhesives for use in the manufacture of footwear; solvents and thinners for adhesives used in the manufacture of footwear, all being chemicals for use in industry; plastics in the form of granules used in the manufacture of thermoplastic sheet material, namely pellets of polymers (2) Resin-impregnated fibre materials, rubber-impregnated fibrous materials, cellulose filled or reinforced materials and board and plastic materials in the form of sheets, blocks, rods and cubes, all for use in the footwear, headgear, apparel, clothing, filtration, automotive, sound-proofing, packaging, agricultural and construction industries (3) Imitation leather materials and components made from these materials, namely jeans labels and stiffeners and separators for luggage (4) Resin-impregnated fibre materials, rubber-impregnated fibrous materials all for use in the footwear, headgear, apparel and clothing industries (5) Non-woven fabric and textiles and impregnated fabric and textiles, all for use in the footwear, headgear, apparel, clothing, filtration, automotive, sound-proofing, packaging, agricultural, construction, medical, orthopaedic and carpeting industries (6) Components for footwear, namely insoles, linings, toe puffs, counters, midsoles and protective guards and components for headgear, namely stiffeners; reinforcements made of metals for footwear, namely toe caps, midsoles and protective guards

Goods & Services

[ Adhesives, chemical solvents and thinners for use in manufacturing footwear ] [Nails, tacks, screws, metal reinforcement elements, namely shanks; metal toe-caps and metal reinforced insoles or midsoles for use in manufacturing footwear] Resin-impregnated fiber materials, rubber-impregnated fibrous materials and cellulose-filled or reinforced materials, all for use in manufacturing footwear [, headgear, luggage, industrial filters and absorbent products; sound-proofing materials for motor vehicles; extruded plastics in the form of sheets, blocks, rods and cubes for use in manufacturing of footwear, headgear, luggage and industrial filters ] Non-woven fabric and textiles, impregnated fabric and textiles, all for use in manufacturing footwear [, headgear, luggage, industrial filters and absorbent products, non-woven fabric and textiles and layered non-woven fabric and textiles, all for use in manufacturing sanitary or incontinence products, wound dressings or bandages, and parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods ] Footwear components, namely, insoles, midsoles, heels, toe puffs and counters

Goods & Services

Woven or non-woven fibrous materials consisting principally of synthetic materials (plastics) or of rubber and impregnated with synthetic or natural polymeric materials, all included in class 17. Leather imitation material and components made of these materials not included in other classes; luggage components; all included in class 18. Non-woven fabric and textiles; impregnated fabric and textiles; all included in class 24. Footwear components including insoles and linings; all included in class 25.

Goods & Services

Adhesive substances; solvents and thinners for adhesives; all being chemicals for use in industry; plastics in the form of granules, powder, liquids and paste; all included in class 1. Nails, tacks, screws; reinforcements made of metals for boots and shoes; all included in Class 6. Resin-impregnated fribre materials; rubber impregnated fibrous materials; cellulose filled or reinforced materials and board; materials for packing, fabrication or insulation; sound-proofing materials; plastics materials in the form of sheets, blocks, rods and cubes being for use in manufacture; impregnated fibre products; flexible pipe made from impregnated fibrous material; gaskets; all included in Class 17 Curable resins and plastics to rigidise structures including pipes and tubes; curable resins and plastics to rigidise fabrics. Non-woven fabric and textiles; impregnated fabric and textiles; all included in Class 24; non-woven fabrics; layered non-woven fabric for use in sanitary or incontinence products and pre-requisites; fabric for use in wound dressings or bandages; parts and fittings for all the aforesaid goods; non-woven or woven textiles for structural reinforcement; non-woven and woven textiles combined with durable resins and plastics in roll, sheet or tubular form. Footwear components including insoles, shoe reinforcing elements, linings, toe puffs, counters and box-toe elements; all included in class 25.

Goods & Services

Adhesive substances; solvents and thinners for adhesives; all being chemicals for use in industry; plastics in the form of granules, powder, liquids and paste; all included in class 1. Machines for use in the manufacture of shoes and parts therof, including wire roughing brushes, cutters, abrasive bands, polishing mops, skiving knives and adhesive applicator brushes all included in Class 7. Lasts (not being parts of machines) for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes and parts and fittings therefor; hand tools and implements especially, but not exclusively, for use in the manufacture of boots and shoes, including scissors (shears), knives, hammers, mallets, pincers; adhesive dispensers, brushes; polishing mops, abrasive bands; all included in class 8.

Goods & Services

BRUSHED FABRICS OF STYRENE MATRIX FIBROUS REINFORCEMENT LAMINATED WITH PLASTIC FILM IN WEB FORM USABLE AS FACINGS, COVERINGS OR PADDINGS IN FOOTWEAR, AUTOMOBILE AND MARINE PRODUCTS

Goods & Services

BRUSHED FABRICS OF STYRENE MATRIX FIBROUS REINFORCEMENT LAMINATED WITH PLASTIC FILM IN WEB FORM USABLE AS FACINGS, COVERINGS OR PADDINGS IN FOOTWEAR, AUTOMOBILE AND MARINE PRODUCTS

Goods & Services

SHEET MATERIAL INCLUDING A SYNTHETIC POLYMERIC IMPREGNANT, FOR GENERALIZED USE IN THE INDUSTRIAL ARTS