CN103202576B - Cushioning device with ventilation - Google Patents

Abstract

An insole for a shoe is characterized by a cushioning device that circulates air between a plastic bottom layer and a soft, porous upper layer. The air is directed to designated areas of the insole via vertical apertures, which circulate air to and over the foot of a user. The bottom layer is formed with air capturing structures that when collapsed expel air that is forced through the apertures and to the surface of the user's foot. The bottom layer and the upper layer are separated by a porous middle layer that may be foam or other light weight but breathable material.

Description

With the buffer unit ventilated

Technical field

The present invention relates to a kind of footwear product, particularly for inserting the novel shoe-pad/inner sole in footwear, or other buffering application things, it utilizes unique multilayer layer structure to provide liner and forced ventilation.

Background technology

On the market today, there is the multiple shoe insert and the liner that are used for being placed on shoe lining face, its objective is as making pin comfortable.Just know that shoe insert and liner can provide the mechanism of deliquescing for a long time, to absorb the impact that the weight of bearing user due to pin produces, and the result of this impact absorbing function provides many and orthopedic relevant beneficial outcomes.Bibliography below provides background technology to the prior art of current shoe insert device by way of example.

The U.S. Patent No. 1,605,558 of Huiskamp discloses a kind of sole with the air cushioned bumping bag of grabbing between lower sole and upper surface.Air cushioned bumping bag extends between vola (ball) and toe, and this device also comprises when a wearer walks by the eyelet compressed, and thinks that sole is supplied gas thus makes sole more soft and soft.

The U.S. Patent No. 2,474,815 of Braham discloses the shoe-pad that a kind of air for footwear circulates, and it is by sucking air at heel and utilizing dump valve that air is led to loe zone.It has opening in intermediate layer, to arrange the air duct along excessively longitudinally passing through.Therefore, the air below of footwear be inhaled into and make air by before footwear out.Airport is set around loe zone, thus is forced air formation escape route.

The U.S. Patent No. 3,225,463 of Burnham discloses another kind of Ventilated shoe-pad, the compressible chamber being included in heel and the air bleeding valve guided towards toe.Chamber is used as pump, to order about air from this valve out and through instep.Outlet opening is around toe and arrange between toe, before leaving shoes at air, bring it to loe zone.

The U.S. Patent No. 4,215,492 of Sandmeier discloses a kind of shoe-pad for footwear, and it provides airflow patterns on pin.This shoe-pad comprises the ripple of massage pin, and has be isolated that thing separates two-layer, to form gap in-between.Upper strata has makes air enter air intlet in this gap, and air is forced to flow to loe zone when user walks, and loe zone is provided with the opening of discharging air.This gap is filled again in a repetitive fashion because pressure reduces air.

The open a kind of three layers of sole of U.S. Patent No. 5,400,526 of Sessa, it has continuous print basal surface, and forms the intermediate layer of airbag or bubble with bottom.Top layer has vertical air duct air being guided to upper surface from airbag, can contact feet at upper surface air.Air sucking in sole through heel below at insert, and be forced upwardly through pin.

The U.S. Patent No. 5,675,914 of Cintron discloses a kind of dismountable sole (footbed) insert, and this insert has the single volume structure being formed in molded lower floor at heel place, and comprises top layer of foam.These layers have the hole as air duct, and this volume structure is used as the hair-dryer that driving air passes through all three layers.

The US Patent No of Cheng, 6,041,519 structures disclosing multiple domed shape, it drives air for the passage by specifying towards loe zone.Air is driven forwards and insert utilizes passage to guide air to loe zone.

Ahlb the U.S. Patent No. 7,617 of umer, a kind of insert with ventilation function of 618 teachings, in order to comfortable, the shelf structure pumped air of the domed shape of its elastic deformation of keeping in touch via the arch of foot with wearer is by this insert.Fill due to dome air and then extruded by pin, so air is driven through the hole in this insert.

The U.S. Patent No. 7,178,267 of Skaja discloses a kind of construction of footwear, two material layer overlaps, thus these two material layers contact with each other.This materials at two layers is heated to certain formation temperature and then forms vacuum together, forms the composite layer of construction of footwear with three-dimensional form.This sole assembly comprises the first material layer of plastics manufacture and is connected to the second material layer of this first material layer.

As what can see from above, prior art is that a large amount of adjoint walking motion cushions and insert of breathing freely.But the mechanism that air is forced through insert utilizes large flat piece or buffer board to start at heel usually, it utilizes the passage of identical type along this insert driven forward air.This has obvious shortcoming, if comprise the irregular working of hair-dryer failure mechanisms and also have insert must be configured to hold this single large air receiver.And this cavity of Fast Filling requires ventilating opening that can be easily blocked, thus makes whole unit efficiency not high.In fact, most of this blower system is complicated and air distribution can not runs through shoe-pad.These devices are complicated and need a large amount of assembly.Together with too high labour cost, the complexity of this mechanism also causes in the mill and the high percent defective of consumer level.Therefore, coml success is not in fact had by this approach.Therefore, this area needs a kind of like this technology of shoe insert, does not namely rely on the single hair-dryer of this insert afterbody and more reliable, simultaneously for wearer provides better comfortableness.

Summary of the invention

The multilayer buffer unit being suitable for following anthropolith comprises the bottom formed with plastic material; this bottom has lower surface, and this lower surface comprises the structure (normal or reverse) of the domed shape that the extension length of this lower surface and multiple uniform intervals of width are substantially opened.Buffer unit is also included in the intermediate layer of the porous on this bottom, and this intermediate layer can be gas, foam or other padded coamings.Also be provided with top layer, top layer has and extends through intermediate layer and down to multiple vertical holes of this bottom from top layer, thus between top layer and bottom, provide multiple air flue.In a preferred embodiment, buffer unit also comprises the lateral protrusion upwards extended as arch support, and the side direction upwards extended (lateral) projection comprises the vertical groove of cylindrical shape on outer surface, for being communicated with the air wherein passed through.

Accompanying drawing explanation

Fig. 1 a is the side view of first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 1 b is the contrary side view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 a;

Fig. 2 is the top view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 a;

Fig. 3 is the upward view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 a;

Fig. 4 a is the sectional view of embodiment of the Fig. 2 intercepted along 4a-4a line; And

Fig. 4 b is the sectional view of embodiment of the Fig. 2 intercepted along 4b-4b line.

Detailed description of the invention

The first embodiment of the present invention is shown in Fig. 1-Fig. 4.The feature of insert 10 is to have buffer unit, and this buffer unit is circulating air between bottom 12 and upper strata 14.Air is directed into the appointed area of insert 10 via hole 16, hole 16 circulating air to user pin and cross the pin of user.Bottom 12 and upper strata 14 are separated by air layer 18, or alternatively, but intermediate layer can be foam or other lightweight breathable (breathable) materials.Although other buffering embodiment of such as gloves, knee-pad etc. also can comprise in the present invention, this insert shape is made and to be conformed to the profile of people's pin and to be engaged in the inside of footwear closely.The basal surface 20 of insert 10 comprises multiple deformable geometry, such as the object 22 of roughly evenly spaced reverse domed shape on whole basal surface as shown in Figure 3.The domed shape structure 22 of viscosity point that can be used as connecting adjacent layer subsides under being configured to the pressure when such as applying weight owing to taking a step user, thus forces air escape from the structure of domed shape and circulate around bottom in shoe lining face.Some air are forced through the hole 16 vertically extended between bottom 12 and top layer 14, to discharge the air below sole.Therefore the structure 22 of domed shape not only cushions pin with its weight capacity by some energy absorbed from the downward pressure of pin, and provides around this insert in the position of specifying and vertically through the pressure air stream of insert.

Insert is preferably formed with the projection or wing 26 that extend laterally, and it upwards extends to conform to the profile of the arch of foot of user from basal surface 12.The upper surface of wing is level and smooth, and the feature of its lower surface 26b is the groove 28 of the cylindrical shape substantially extended along the height of wing 26.The arc 32 that can extend to vertically slightly higher than the height of heel 34 is formed on the top of wing 26.The groove 28 of cylindrical shape provides two objects, and namely they increase rigidity for insert 10, and the outside simultaneously along insert provides vertical passage, moves from basal surface for air to top surface.These passages or groove contribute to the air inside circulation shoe when user walks and compresses the structure 22 of domed shape.The periphery of insert 10 can comprise the lip limit 30 extended around insert.Lip limit 30 can to contribute to insert 10 to be positioned at inside footwear and to prevent insert from moving, and can form semitight with the inner surface of footwear, to force the vertical holes 16 of more air by extending between lower surface 12 and upper surface 14.

Fig. 4 a and Fig. 4 b illustrates the cross section of insert 10, and the top surface that the intermediate layer 18 being preferably air separates and basal surface are shown.In an alternative embodiment, air layer 18 is replaced by the gas permeable material of the permeable foam of softness or other lightweights.The structure 22 of domed shape roughly extends length and the width of basal surface, and extends in foamed material 18 only about half of between lower surface 12 and upper surface 14.The structure of each domed shape has and the curved profile at adjacent profile interval equably.Similarly, vertical holes 16 is also evenly spaced apart (but alternatively in order to the object of various function and decoration can interval brokenly), and extend to top surface 14 from basal surface 12, thus provide air can from the bottom of insert to the passage that the top of insert is passed.When weight puts on insert (will occur when user takes a step), the structure 22 of domed shape is subsided under the weight of the pin of user, forces the air in the cavity being collected in domed shape structure 22 to be discharged along the basal surface of insert.The shape of dome, thickness and material behavior are selected to subsides to control the air stream by shoe-pad with predetermined speed.The air of some this discharges will be flowed around insert by the assistance of the groove 28 of vertical cylindrical shape, and groove 28 guides air from the side of insert upwards and cross pin.Air also will be forced through vertical holes 16, and preferably apertures 16 concentrates on below the heel (ball) of pin and arch of foot and in loe zone.Make pin cooling via the air of vertical holes through insert and insert is ventilated, contributing to preventing moisture from concentrating in footwear.When user lifts his or her pin, the structure 22 of flexible domed shape turns back to its normal shape and state immediately, is ready to realize along with each walks the circulation of again subsiding and reduce, with cooling shoe continuously and for its ventilation.By this way, the bottom cycle of air constantly from the top of insert to insert, vice versa, and this contributes to preventing moisture accumulation and helps cooling pin.

Should be appreciated that other shapes also can provide the function of domed shape structure 22, the volume of such as conical, block shape and various shape and size, reverse or forward, still is within the scope of the present invention.Illustrating and not meaning that any specific shape or structure are limited by any way for description and accompanying drawing.

Insert 10 is formed by this way, that is, between upper strata 14 and bottom 12, there is air-gap or foamed material 18.The plastics manufacture be formed in the former of insert of preferred bottom.When there is air-gap between the two layers, after plastic bottom layer is formed and under the state still heated, the upper strata engaging (interfacing) is heated to forming temperature and is placed on bottom.Then pressure is applied so that it is formed and contacts the tie point of plastic bottom layer 12 to combining structure.In a preferred embodiment, binding agent puts on tie point to form instant and permanent combination between plastic bottom layer and the upper strata of joint.

In order to manufacture plastic bottom layer 12, sheet material is loaded in fixture mount.Support is closed with the edge of fixing sheet material and reliably keeps it between processing period.The fixture mount with sheet material is placed in the baking oven of high-temperature control, and the heat for optimization material is saturated and be preferably placed between two baking ovens.When material reaches its fusing point, so it is reduced on the mould with positive or negative feature.As all parts of this process, various ways is had to complete its each aspect.Such as, substitute mobile backing material, can baking oven be moved and mould can replace its position, and not mobile material.Secondly, apply vacuum, move material to die surface tightly.Mould is maintained at 60 stable degree celsius temperature, and this is starkly lower than can traditional fusion temperature up to 180 degrees Celsius, thus causes shorter ground section cool time with curing materials.Open moulding part place arrange fan with accelerates solidify.Then fixture mount pulls molded parts to leave mould or mould is lowered to realize identical object.Then from machine, take out molded insert bottom and repeat this process.This all can complete in the time less than 10 seconds.For this insert, the cycle can the scope of 60 seconds.Multiple shoe-pad can utilize suitable mould and fixture hot forming simultaneously.

By adding shaping operation, sponge layer 18 can be added to shoe-pad 10 simultaneously.Foam 18 (such as Ethyl vinylacetate (ethyl vinyl acetate)) is heated and is then arranged on plastic buffer layer 12.This plastic layer 12 is stayed in former, and therefore all contact points are reinforced by this mould.Mold is lowered on yin shaping up body mould, therefore clamps and seals froth bed 18.What then have heat activated binding agent or hot-melt adhesive is pressed in the tie point of specifying by the froth bed 18 heated by the air pressure accurately applied.Meanwhile, the edge of froth bed 18 is closely pressed on plastic buffer layer.This process very accurately by froth bed 18 securely and be as one man connected to bottom plastic layer 12, and provides spatial operation placed in the middle between levels.While froth bed, the molded molded foam in advance that eliminates operates and equipment.Also shorten the total elapsed time of half, and reduce the needs to precise match instrument, the instrument of this precise match is needs when not having this process.

Utilize the air pressure controlled to connect these two or more viscosity points of planting material permission complicated to be set up.This keep the whole function of buffering geometry and allow accurately to control two-layer between air-gap.Alignment hold down gag is very difficult and expensive to complete this processing.If really there is any not lining up or material thickness variation, result can be defective parts.

Plastic web also can be used as lower floor 12.These nets are ventilative (breathable) materials that can be thermoformed into any shape by installing vacuum dividing plate (barrier) in forming machine.This dividing plate is preferably silicones sheet material, it can between itself and vacuum closed-cage thing, therefore net is drawn in die surface.Other all process all keep identical.The present inventor does not understand any other method that can obtain the parts with profit porosity levels obtained in this way.Such as, injection moulding (injection molding) can be molded net, but only on more smooth surface, and too high for any product cost needing repeatedly to be molded of such as footwear.

Above-described technique reduces the molding costs being generally used for footwear greatly.Aluminium manufacture used usually by low pressure mould, and do not need the die set of cooperation.The cost of this mould is than the few half of the cost of typical compacting tool set and 80%-90% fewer than injection moulding mold.The manyfold faster than the typical pressing mold cycle of footwear cycle time of this technique, does not therefore need multi-mould to reduce molding costs further to meet manufacturing purpose.At the same time when foam-molded operation, do not need whole set of die and molding equipment.

Due to its shape keeping property, preferably, bottom is the elastomer with high recovery characteristics and very high physical characteristic.Plasticity or thermoplastic urethane (TPU) have the combination of these character, comprise the hot formed operational characteristic that relatively can operate well with above-mentioned technique and product, such as fabulous " calorific intensity " and very short " shaping window " (forming window).These two kinds of importance, because it makes shoe-pad can the very fast demoulding and being stretched on whole mold component and side somatotype (undercut) during the demoulding.Its fast return afterwards to be shaped shape and without any adverse consequences.This characteristic reduces molding costs widely compared with injection molding (injection), and can make with the price of commericially feasible the shape that other techniques can not make.TPU material is squeezed into the sheet size of hope.The thickness that shoe-pad is suitable is 0.5mm, has width and the length of relative hot forming machine foresees.Sheet material can be sent in hot forming machine with the form of spool or sheet material.Other material is also suitable, such as block acid amides, polyester, ethylene vinyl acetate resin, alkene, TPO, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), thermosets and other.Foam and material layer also can be used in such a process.But TPU has the best of breed of technique and physical characteristic and lower cost.Because it was also project treatment (over engineered), used for the mankind, thus for most of purposes use it be safe material and do not need a large amount of test.

Three kinds of basic hot forming Machine Types are had to can be used in performing the present invention.

A) section transmission device (cut sheet shuttle).This equipment utilization has cut into the sheet material of suitable dimension.Then material moves around between baking oven and mould.On the contrary, material can rest on a position and then baking oven and mould on material or below material.To compare this machine both economical and fairly simple with other equipment.Also material consumption is controlled than being easier to this machine.Technological flexibility is also very high.But, potential cycle time and output therefore restricted.The heat forming equipment of type is the same as in all, and computer-controlled baking oven and machine movement are wished, to control uniformity and the production efficiency of product.

Rotate hot former.Because then material arrives mold station and demoulding station by baking oven, so this equipment is with the form mobile material of circle.It can carry out more operation in less space.Be easy to carry out with the operation of this equipment such as insert loading or preheated material.Even can realize multiple mold station or be molded multiple material simultaneously.Due to preferably by property (access) and more space, so can be semi-automatic or even full-automatic.Upper die and lower die and other equipment can independent operations, so as each layer and insert can with simultaneously or the mode of order, with loss minimum cycle time, be set up in a machine.

In-line arrangement roll feed (In-line roll-fed).This equipment utilization is through baking oven, then through the material roller of mould, and cooling and then die-cut, is simultaneously still in roll form.Remaining material is also rolled automatically even after die-cutting.Then its recirculation is got back in material.The advantage of this equipment is speed.Cycle time is common near ten seconds usually.Even material extrusion process also can combine with this equipment, greatly reduces raw-material cost.The investment cost of this equipment higher than other types equipment and have many set up (set up) and technique restriction.

By inserting various material and object, can with the senior product of single manufacture technics.Ornamental and functional fabric and net can be molded (in-molded) in shoe-pad or other products in type.The details of structure and color, mark, function element also can by molded in type.This is because hot forming relates to lower pressure and rapid mass solidification.The material be molded is without undergoing high pressure required in other techniques.This obtains the insert being only little by little fused into melted material with middle pressure.Therefore, insert non-warping or distortion.Specifically, TPU is consistent and freezing rapidly around insert, construct neatly (frame) it, therefore it is as technique is connected by hand.

In addition, during heat forming technology, almost the material of any reinforcing insert can both add in product.By utilizing heat activated binding agent or hot-melt adhesive, insert can be securely connected.In some cases, binding agent is not needed.All material layer can be inserted into for various decoration and functional object.Insert can manufacture in many ways, but preferably they are by identical heat forming technology and device fabrication.This is the ability manufacturing the very efficient mode of insert and be molded the uniqueness of very thin parts due to hot forming machine, often reduces their cost.This also makes expense (over head) optimization of former and factory.The insert being designed to the countless other types strengthening final products also can be added during manufacture process.Comfortableness, fitting well property (traction), bacterial control, conductivity of heat, structure, decoration, label, impression, temperature control, function point analysis and other fine finishining details many can be passed through internal mold (in-mold) insertion and solve.

In fact any design or figure can put on material before or after it.Texture (texture) can be made an addition on shaping dies or on material.Most of plastics can by extrusion molding pellucidly, and therefore decoration can add one or both sides to, the decoration of being wished very much.Drawing or transfer printing also can put on mould before formation so that (pick up) material picked up by plastics.Mould and/or material also can by veinings.When material hot forming by applying air pressure to its top.Mould texture and details by with very high horizontal transfer printing to material.

Formpiston also can be used for forming the present invention.The advantage of formpiston to obtain steep side somatotype in final parts.This does not allow facile with other molding technique.The product feature that " side somatotype " can not realize before being combined with the material of such as TPU and making it possible to produce.The buffer element can aiming to be crowded with the object conformed to the profile of such as body part exactly can be produced cheaply by this way.Another advantage of formpiston is that the flood of plastics can be molded on insert or layer.This makes the surface of final products more tough and tensile and protects insert.

Because heat forming technology does not need the die set that coordinates, and there is outstanding calorific intensity due to the material of such as TPU, therefore previously can not the shape of the demoulding and the easy demoulding of parts.And because the final parts of heat forming technology carry heat, that therefore assists can be eliminated with undesirable bonding operation.The binding agent only activated when being heated to specified temp is well suited for for connecting each layer of the present invention.So the applying of binding agent is limited in material piece before hot forming.This operation can be controlled and automation to heavens, and eliminates the release of Toxic and direct Human body package.

Then on them, form plastic sheet by being placed in shaping dies simply by additional parts, additional element can be connected to hot formed insert.In most of the cases, first heat activated binding agent must put on the parts in conjunction with plastic sheet at shaping.Same thing can be carried out in former, but this element will not carry out over-moldedly making/rubber-coating module (overmold) in this case, but is connected to plastic sheet simply.

As noted above, the second material can be molded simultaneously and be connected to plastic sheet.Make plastic sheet more comfortable and consumer perception ground acceptable on this is very useful feature.Foam or tissue layer are very important as interface, top layer (skin interface).Press-in connection bi-material technology is utilized to be very important when assembling final products.Otherwise, need the tool set coordinated, and point-device scantling, will cost and the percent defective of final products be increased like this.This will make final products very expensive and infeasible.The product conformed to profile of the such as helmet, protective device and conform to especially true with other products of applicable human region with profile.

Except these materials discussed above, shoe-pad can also comprise the non-stretching material acted on as moderator (moderator), such as, and can the non-woven polyester fabric of distribution impinges load preferably.It is densified that this moderator also can prevent around bottom dome shape and structure.Moderator can be added on any layer, but is arranged to adjacent underlayer.By the careful selection to domed shape, size and thickness, shoe-pad can also adjust specially specific user or regulate, to control to turn one's hand over, distribution of weight, comfort level and other factors.And except except whole shoe-pad distributed air, other configurations of such as deodorant, sanitizer etc. also can be distributed in whole shoe-pad.When dome is not exposed by the top layer of sole shoe-pad, be useful ethylene vinyl acetate resin being assembled to this element (component) in hot formed dome.

The other materials that can be used in top layer or top layer is chitin (chitin), it is a kind of material with celluloid same nature that has, and be soft, biocompatible, can bacterial growth be prevented, and easily dye to form color graphics at shoe-pad top.

Another kind of assembling selection forms every layer material independently, with heat activated adhesive coated they, then they are alignd.Then this assembly to be inserted in mould and to heat.Then pressure puts on top layer to be pressed together by all layers.Only connect these materials in the place of hope with viscosity point.Single layer or whole product can be the objects for aeration or perception of rear perforation.

Also find, multilayer buffer unit of the present invention can superpose or be formed Rotating fields to increase pooling feature, particularly in other application.Superposition or embed arrange in utilize multiple buffer unit can increase integrated buffer ability widely, and provide low cost possibility to very complicated and expensive material.

Claims (16)

1. be suitable for the multilayer buffer unit following human body parts, it comprises:

With the bottom that the material selected from plasticity and thermosetting plastic is formed, this bottom has lower surface, and this lower surface comprises the structure of the domed shape that the extension length of this lower surface and multiple uniform intervals of width are substantially opened;

Intermediate layer on this bottom, wherein the structure of this domed shape approximately extends to the half in this intermediate layer; With

Top layer, this top layer has and extends through this intermediate layer and the multiple vertical holes by this bottom.

2. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, also comprises the lateral protrusion upwards extended, and this lateral protrusion upwards extended comprises the vertical groove of cylindrical shape on the outer surface, for passing through conducting air in it.

3. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 2, wherein the top edge of this lateral protrusion is arc.

4. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, wherein this intermediate layer comprises foam thing.

5. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, wherein this intermediate layer comprises air.

6. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, the heat activated binding agent of this bottom is bonded in this top layer.

7. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, wherein the structure of this domed shape is reverse.

8. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, wherein the shape of this device is made and is conformed to the profile of people's pin.

9. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, wherein the structure of this domed shape is flexible and once be compressed, is back to original-shape.

10. multilayer buffer unit according to claim 1, also comprises the lip limit extended around its periphery.

11. multilayer buffer units according to claim 1, wherein the structure of this domed shape is selected to the structural collapse of this domed shape when trampling on it, and then is discharged from this bottom by air.

12. multilayer buffer units according to claim 1, wherein this bottom is plastic web.

13. multilayer buffer units according to claim 1, also comprise the non-stretching moderator of this bottom contiguous.

14. multilayer buffer units according to claim 1, also comprise the deodoring materials of the diffusion when the structure of this domed shape is compressed.

15. multilayer buffer units according to claim 1, wherein can individually adjust this buffer unit by adjusting the size of the structure of this domed shape, shape and thickness.

16. multilayer buffer units according to claim 1, wherein at least one deck comprises chitin.