FOOTWEAR OUTSOLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
An outsole construction having an integral display layer. The outsole includes a main body and a plurality of lugs extending from the main body to define a plurality of ground engaging elements. The display layer is disposed at the surface of the main body such that it is visible in the main body of the outsole and is spaced away from the surface of the lugs such that it is not visible on the surface of the lugs. The display layer may include a printed pattern, such as a camouflage pattern. The present invention also provides a method for manufacturing an outsole including the general steps of (a) providing a mold defining a main body and a plurality of lugs extending from the main body, (b) placing a permeable display layer in the mold and (c) injecting sole material into the mold. In this method, the permeability of the display layer and/or the viscosity of the sole material may be selected so that the display layer lies along the surface of the main body of the sole but not the surface of the lugs.
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The present invention relates to footwear and more particularly to an outsole for an article of footwear and a method for manufacturing an outsole.
It is often desirable to provide the sole of an article of footwear with a particular appearance. For example, in footwear intended for use in hunting it is known to provide the outsole with a camouflage pattern. As another example, it is known to provide the outsole of an athletic shoe with an aesthetically pleasing pattern that may, among other things, draw the attention of potential purchasers. There are other applications in which it may be desirable to provide the undersurface of a sole with a desired printed pattern.
One construction for providing a patterned outsole is to laminate a patterned layer to the undersurface of the outsole. In this construction the pattern is on the surface of the outsole where it is clearly visible. Unfortunately, the layer is also exposed to the dangers associated with use. For example, the patterned layer is subjected to wear, scuffing and other damage during use. This wear or other damage can obscure the pattern over time.
Another method for providing a pattern or other display layer to the undersurface of a sole is to sandwich a patterned layer within the sole. In this construction, the patterned layer may be disposed above the outsole and the outsole may be manufactured from a transparent or translucent material that allows the pattern to be seen through the outsole. This construction has the benefit of protecting the patterned layer behind the outsole. Unfortunately, it limits the materials that can be used to manufacture the outsole because the outsole must be at least partially see-through. To the extent it is not fully transparent, the outsole will obscure viewing of the patterned layer. Also, the outsole material can be marred, scuffed or otherwise damaged during use, thereby further obscuring view of the patterned layer.
Accordingly, there remains a longfelt and unmet need for a construction that is simple and inexpensive, but that is durable and aesthetically pleasing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe aforementioned problems are overcome by the present invention wherein an outsole having a main body and a plurality of lugs is provided with a permeable display layer that extends along the surface of the main body, but does not extend along the surface of the lugs. In one embodiment, the display layer is manufactured from a fabric that is sufficiently permeable to permit liquid outsole material to pass through and form the lugs during injection molding.
In one embodiment, the outsole is manufactured from an opaque material that obscures view of the display layer when the display layer is not exposed on the surface of the outsole. In this embodiment, the lugs provide an opaque surface that bears a majority of ground contact. As a result, the majority of wear occurs on the lug surfaces where it does not impact the appearance of the display layer.
In one embodiment, the display layer is a layer of camouflage material. The outsole may be manufactured from an opaque material having a color that compliments the camouflage pattern. The camouflage material may be a tricot fabric having a printed camouflage pattern.
In another aspect, the present invention includes a method for manufacturing an outsole including the steps of (a) providing a mold defining a cavity having main body region and a plurality of lug regions extending from the main body region, (b) placing a permeable display layer in the mold, (c) injecting sole material into the mold, and (d) permitting the sole material to cure while in intimate contact with the display material thereby providing a one-piece sole having a display layer integral with the outsole; wherein the permeability of the display layer and/or the viscosity of the sole material is selected so that the sole material permeates or flows through the display layer at the lug regions so that the display layer is not visible at the surface of the lugs.
The present invention provides a simple and effective outsole construction that permits a display layer to be placed on the undersurface of an outsole. Because the lugs bear a majority of the ground contact, scuffing, marring and wear have little effect on the display layer. Accordingly, the display layer remains visible in good condition for a relatively long time. The manufacturing process is simple and effective and can be implemented without significant changes to existing tooling or other equipment. In some applications, the display layer may simply be closed between the mold halves without any modification to the mold. In these applications the display layer is gripped between the mold halves, for example, between the shut-off portions of the mold. In other applications, the display layer may be held by pins or not held at all.
These and other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will be readily understood and appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and the drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An outsole in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is shown in
A boot 100 incorporating the sole 10 is shown in
In the illustrated embodiment, the outsole 10 is a one-piece component having the display layer 20 integrated connected with the sole material 18 (See
In the illustrated embodiment, the outsole 10 is molded from conventional outsole materials, such as polyurethane (“PU”). Alternative outsole materials include without limitation thermoplastic resin (“TPR”), ethylene vinyl acetate (“EVA”) and rubber. The outsole material 18 may be opaque and may have a color selected to compliment the display layer 20. For example, if the display layer 20 includes a camouflage pattern, the outsole material 18 may be selected with a color that corresponds with one of the colors in the camouflage pattern. Alternatively, the outsole material 18 may be selected with a color that contrasts with the display layer 20.
The display layer 20 of the described embodiment is a fabric having interstices between the fabric material that permit the sole material to flow through the fabric. In this embodiment, the display layer 20 is a tricot fabric that is manufactured from 100% nylon using a plain weave having 80 grams per square meter. The characteristics of the fabric may vary from application to application provided that it will remain on or embedded in the surface of the main body of the sole while having sufficient permeability to permit the sole material to pass through the fabric in the lugs. Although the present invention is described in connection with a conventional tricot fabric, it is not limited to the use of tricot fabrics, but may instead be used with other fabrics or other types of permeable materials, such as perforated films or other sheet materials. In some applications, fabrics with relatively open weaves will be desired. Open weave fabrics may facilitate the flow of sole material through the fabric to fill the lugs. The characteristics of the sole material may impact the choice of materials for the display layer 20. For example, more viscous materials may require a higher degree of permeability (e.g. a more open weave or a more perforated material) to provide appropriate flow-through of the sole material into the lug regions.
The outsole 10 may be manufactured using conventional injection molding equipment.
Although the illustrated mold 200 is intended to mold a pair of outsoles 10, the mold may alternatively be configured to mold a different number of outsoles. For example, the mold may be configured to individually mold a single outsole. In this alternative, the mold parts (not shown) may include a single mold cavities defining either a left or right outsole. The mold may alternatively be configured to mold more than two outsole by shaping the upper and lower molds to define more than two separate mold cavities.
Manufacture of the outsole 10 using the mold 200 will now be described in connection with
Once the display layer 20 is placed between the mold parts 220 and 222, the mold 200 is closed. As noted above, the mold parts 220 and 222 in this embodiment hold the periphery of the display layer 20 (See
Liquid sole material 18 is then injected into the mold 200. The material 18 may be introduced into the mold 200 above the display layer 20 so that flow of the material 18 pushes the display layer 20 down against the surface of the lower mold part 222. The precise location of the injection inlets may vary from application to application, but in the illustrated embodiment, a first injection inlet is located approximately at the center of the forefoot region and a second injection inlet is located approximately at the center of the heel region. Additional sprues and runners may interconnect the to cavities. As the sole material 18 pushes against the display layer 20 over the lug regions 206, the permeability of the display layer 20 allows the sole material to pass through the display layer 20, for example, through the interstices between the strands of the fabric weave. As perhaps best shown in
Once the appropriate volume of sole material has been injected into the mold cavity 202, the sole material 18 is permitted to cure. Depending on the nature of the sole material 18 curing may occur with the passage of time and/or by cooling. Once the sole material 18 is sufficiently cured, the mold 200 is opened and the outsole 10 is removed (See
The above description is that of a preferred embodiment of the invention. Various alterations and changes can be made without departing from the spirit and broader aspects of the invention as defined in the appended claims, which are to be interpreted in accordance with the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents. Any reference to claim elements in the singular, for example, using the articles “a,” “an,” “the” or “said,” is not to be construed as limiting the element to the singular.
Claims
1. An outsole comprising:
- a main body having an outer surface;
- a plurality of lugs integral with and extending from said main body, said plurality of lugs extending from said outer surface to define a plurality of ground engaging surfaces;
- a display layer integral with the outsole, said display layer extending along said outer surface of said main body whereby said display layer is visible on said outer surface, said display layer being embedded within the outsole above said ground engaging surfaces of said plurality of lugs whereby said display layer is hidden from view above said ground engaging surfaces.
2. The outsole of claim 1 wherein said display layer is coextensive with the outsole.
3. The outsole of claim 1 wherein said main body and said plurality of lugs are manufactured from an opaque sole material.
4. The outsole of claim 1 wherein said display layer includes a pattern, said pattern being visible on said outer surface of said main body and not being visible on said ground engaging surface of said plurality of lugs.
5. The outsole of claim 1 wherein said display layer is permeable.
6. The outsole of claim 1 wherein said display layer is a fabric.
7. The outsole of claim 1 wherein said display layer is a tricot fabric.
8. The outsole of claim 4 wherein said pattern is further defined as a camouflage pattern.
9. An article of footwear comprising:
- an upper; and
- a sole affixed to said upper;
- wherein said sole includes a sole component having an integral display layer, said sole component including a main body and a plurality of lugs extending from said main body, said lugs defining a plurality of ground engaging surfaces, said display layer being visible along a surface of said main body and not being visible along said ground engaging surfaces of said plurality of lugs.
10. The article of claim 9 wherein said main body includes an outer surface, said display layer being visible along said outer surface.
11. The article of claim 10 wherein said lugs extend from said outer surface, whereby said display layer is visible on said main body around said plurality of lugs.
12. The article of claim 11 wherein said display layer includes permeable regions at least adjacent said plurality of lugs.
13. The article of claim 11 wherein said display layer is manufactured from a permeable material.
14. The article of claim 13 wherein said display layer is a fabric.
15. The article of claim 13 wherein said display layer is a tricot fabric having a camouflage pattern.
16. The article of claim 11 wherein said display layer is visible along and coextensive with said outer surface of said main body.
17-24. (canceled)
25. An outsole comprising:
- a main body having an outer surface;
- a plurality of lugs molded integral with and extending from said main body, said plurality of lugs extending from said outer surface to define a plurality of ground engaging surfaces;
- a fabric display layer integral with the outsole and defining a plurality of interstices, said display layer extending along said outer surface of said main body whereby said display layer is visible on said outer surface, said display layer being embedded within the outsole above said ground engaging surfaces of said plurality of lugs with portions of said lugs extending through said interstices, whereby said display layer is hidden from view above said ground engaging surfaces.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 12, 2007
Publication Date: Mar 13, 2008
Applicant: WOLVERINE WORLD WIDE, INC. (Rockford, MI)
Inventors: Mark Morgan (Rockford, MI), Wen-Jong Liu (Shi-Lin)
Application Number: 11/938,513
International Classification: A43B 13/00 (20060101);