Abstract: The invention relates to a cut-to-size format comprising a more particularly sheeting-shaped or layer-shaped backing material (2) comprising a fibrous nonwoven web and/or loop-formingly knitted and/or woven fabric comprising polyamide and/or polyester threads, more particularly polyamide and/or polyester microfibers and/or cotton threads and, applied atop the backing material (2), a coating (4) comprising polyurethane dispersion on a patterned silicone rubber support/mold attached to the backing material (2), optionally via an adhesive layer (7) comprising polyurethane dispersion.

Abstract: A user interface method, including presenting by a computer executing a user interface, multiple interactive items on a display. A first sequence of images is captured indicating a position in space of a hand of a user in proximity to the display, and responsively to the position, one of the interactive items is associated with the hand. After associating the item, a second sequence of images is captured indicating a movement of the hand, and responsively to the movement, a size of the one of the items is changed on the display.

Abstract: To endow a velourlike carrier (7), which has a finely fibrous surface, in particular a grain leather having a buffed topside or a synthetic velour material, and has been provided with a dressing (1) which has a grain texture on its face side the dressing (1) consisting of a consolidated polymeric dispersion and being produced separately on a substrate having a textured surface corresponding to the grain texture, with the requisite properties in terms of softness and abrasion resistance, but particularly in terms of air and water vapor permeability, the dressing (1) has capillaries (11) which extend throughout its entire thickness, which everywhere is substantially the same, and is bonded to the carrier (7) via a thin bonding layer (12) formed of a consolidated polymeric dispersion.

Abstract: A coated leather, in particular split cowhide leather, has a preferably nubuck-like appearing surface structure. The coating is formed with a surface layer formed with a mechanically and moisture-stable polymer and bonded to the surface of the leather or split leather by a polymer-based bonding layer. The outer layer is notable for inner smoothness and is formed with soft polyurethane. It includes in the non-embossed region microdepressions which are essentially closed in the direction of the leather but are open towards the outside, have an internal width of less than 130 ?m and are arranged close-packed to each other in the manner of soapy foam cells. The microdepressions are each separately bounded by thin mutually crosslinked stays which have on the outside a matt or finely fibrous fine-roughness structure surface, and have an essentially semispherical-shaped concave inner surface which faces outward and is smooth.

Abstract: In order to impart the requisite softness and friction-resistance properties, but especially the requisite air- and water vapor-permeability properties, to a substrate having a velvet-like, fine-grained surface, in particular a shagreen having a polished surface or a synthetic velvet provided on its visible side with a dressing having a shagreened structure and made of a solidified plastic dispersion separately produced on a support having a structured surface that corresponds to the shagreened structure, the dressing comprises capillaries which extends through its entire and substantially constant thickness, and is joined to the substrate by a thin connection layer made of a solidified plastic dispersion.

Abstract: A full-grained milled napa leather is provided on its grain side with a dressing formed from a solidified plastics dispersion. Required leather properties are still ensured and the production process is substantially simplified and more economical. First, the leather, such as cowhide, is subjected on a mechanically untreated grain side to a milling process for at least two hours. This results in a typical napa structure with a natural pebbled grain. Then, a polyurethane dispersion is applied to the grain side containing pigment particles and optionally further additives. Then the hide is allowed to dry. The solidified dispersion forming the dressing has a thickness of, preferably, from 0.05 mm to 0.07 mm.

Abstract: In order to provide leather with the desired cushioning properties and desirable soft handling properties, especially a grained leather with a grain structure on its upper surface, or a split leather with a surface finish, even if this leather is of minimal thickness, a foam layer is created on the non-visible underside surface of the leather. This foam layer is formed by applying a liquid plastic material containing means to create the foam and is subsequent solidified by removal of the solvent.

Abstract: In order to create a full grain napa cowhide which exhibits the characteristics with respect to grain pipeyness and water vapor permeability that are required by the automotive and upholstery industries, a finish is applied to the grain side of the full grain leather. The finish includes a pigmented layer with a thickness of between 0.015 mm and 0.04 mm and is formed of a stabilized polyurethane and/or polyacrylate dispersion. The dispersion contains microspheres with a diameter of less than 45 &mgr;m, which form primarily closed cells, and at least 10% open cells by volume. The top side of the layer is provided with a napa embossing. A second layer, placed on the first layer, is formed from a cross-linked polyurethane-based varnish application containing a dulling agent. The leather undergoes a milling treatment.

Abstract: A full-grained milled napa leather is provided on its grain side with a dressing formed from a solidified plastics dispersion. Required leather properties are still ensured and the production process is substantially simplified and more economical. First, the leather, such as cowhide, is subjected on a mechanically untreated grain side to a milling process for at least two hours. This results in a typical napa structure with a natural pebbled grain. Then, a polyurethane dispersion is applied to the grain side containing pigment particles and optionally further additives. Then the hide is allowed to dry. The solidified dispersion forming the dressing has a thickness of, preferably, from 0.05 mm to 0.07 mm.

Abstract: In order to create a full grain napa cowhide which exhibits the characteristics with respect to grain pipeyness and water vapor permeability that are required by the automotive and upholstery industries, a finish is applied to the grain side of the full grain leather. The finish includes a pigmented layer with a thickness of between 0.015 mm and 0.04 mm and is formed of a stabilized polyurethane and/or polyacrylate dispersion. The dispersion contains microspheres with a diameter of less than 45 &mgr;m, which form primarily closed cells, and at least 10% open cells by volume. The top side of the layer is provided with a napa embossing. A second layer, placed on the first layer, is formed from a cross-linked polyurethane-based varnish application containing a dulling agent. The leather undergoes a milling treatment.

Abstract: The leather has a finish on a buffed surface. The finish layer is formed in a plurality of layers including an outer layer with a given hardness and a particular surface effect preformed in a hot substrate having a structure corresponding to the particular surface effect the outer layer being formed of a solidified, cross-linked, hydrolysis-resistant, lightfast, polyurethane-containing dispersion, and having a thickness of between 0.01 and 0.08 mm, and an inner layer bonded to the buffed surface leather and comprising a solidified, highly crosslinked, hydrolysis-resistant, lightfast, polyurethane-containing dispersion and having a hardness less than a hardness of the outer layer.

Abstract: An athletic shoe, such as a soccer shoe, has an upper defining a toe region, an insole connected to the upper, and an outsole secured to the insole. A vamp in the toe region is joined to the insole. The vamp is a full-grain leather composed of a grain layer and a leather fiber layer joined to the grain layer. An elastomeric coating is disposed on and partway penetrates into the leather fiber layer in a region where the fiber layer is joined to the insole. The coating has a thickness above the surface of the leather fiber layer of at least 0.1 mm. The coating may also be disposed in a region adjoining the region where the fiber layer is joined to said insole. The coating may also be reinforced with an embedded reinforcement.

Abstract: The invention also relates to a process for dressing a flat, water-absorbing and water-permeable substrate having a rough surface with depressions at least on that side to be provided with the dressing.

Abstract: A dressed leather is provided at least on one side with depressions and have on this side absorbent protruding fibres. At this side the leather is bonded with a layer formed of an aqueous dispersion of synthetic plastics material, said layer fills the depressions and completely receives the protruding fibres and forms at least a part of the dressing, which dressing is provided with a structured surface at the side turned away from the leather.Preferably, the dressing consists of two layers, the inner layer, which is adjacent the leather and completely receives the protruding fibres, is formed of the aqueous dispersion of synthetic plastics material and the outer layer, which has the structured surface, consists of an aqueous dispersion of synthetic plastics material or of a liquid solution of synthetic plastics material.

Abstract: In a process for dressing a substantially flat substrate having on at least one side a rough surface fibers protruding therefrom, there is first heated a support member, the upper side of which consists of silicone rubber having anti-adhesive properties and comprises small recesses for transmitting a pattern to said dressing, whereupon a first aqueous dispersion of synthetic plastics material is applied onto the upper side of this support member for forming a first layer of the dressing. Subsequently, this support member is heated from the bottom side located opposite the upper side of the support member at least till solidification of the first layer. Subsequently a second aqueous dispersion of synthetic plastics material is applied onto the solidified first layer or onto the rough surface of the substrate, said second dispersion forming a second layer of the dressing when having become solidified.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing a coating on a laminar carrier member, in particular for dressing split leather or similar substrates, comprises a supporting base having a surface consisting of silicon rubber or silicone resin, onto which surface is applied a liquid coating material by means of an electrostatic spraying device arranged above the supporting base for the purpose of producing a foil forming the visible side of the coating after solidification of the coating material. The surface of the supporting base is preferably provided with an embossed pattern, for example with the grain structure of natural leather. For the purpose of improving the adhesion of the foil, formed by solidification of the liquid coating material, on the supporting base, the surface of this supporting base is provided with a microscopic roughness. Alternatively, the area of the supporting base adjacent the aforesaid surface is made electrically conductive and held at a predetermined electrical potential.

Abstract: A dressed leather is provided which comprises a split leather having one side from which fibers protrude, a first layer of solidified aqueous dispersion having a thickness between 0.07 mm and 0.22 mm of a synthetic plastics material in which the fibers are completely immersed on the one side, and a second layer of a synthetic plastics material of generally the same thickness of the first layer bonded to the first layer and having turned away therefrom a textured or non-textured surface. Additionally, there may be a finish layer overlying the textured or non-textured surface of the second layer. The split leather is substantially free of the dispersion except at the fibers.

Abstract: A substrate having an appearance similar to that of nubuk-leather or pile-leather, respectively, or of a textile pile consists of a textile carrier body being at least partially impregnated with a, preferably cross-linked, polymeric synthetic plastics material consisting of a foam which has open cells formed by introducing air and optionally has closed cells formed of hollow microspheres. The textile carrier body consists of a fleece or of a knitting, preferably of a crimped fleece of synthetic fibres, which is needled together with a knitting or with a fleece, strengthened by thermal embossing, in such a manner that the fibres extend through the knitting. The knitting may consist of a roughened stockinet, i.e. a stockinet having opened loops. The carrier body is ground at least at its one impregnated surface and is thus rough and can be provided with a coating.

Abstract: A felting of synthetic fibers having an embossed pattern that forms depressions in at least one surface of the felting is disclosed. The surface of the felting with depressions contains, in at least the area of the depressions, a layer of small hollow spheres that are bonded to one another and to the felting by means of a binding agent. The layer of hollow spheres fills up, at least partially, the depressions in the surface of the felting produced by embossing. This reinforces and strengthens the thinner areas of felting in the vicinity of these depressions. When the reinforced felting is applied to a shoe upper, for example, the resulting upper has improved stiffness and strength. Furthermore, the excessive penetration of adhesive into the felting, which can cause a spotty or uneven appearance of the reinforced upper, is prevented. Resistance to splitting and separating is likewise improved.

Abstract: A dressed leather comprises a split leather having one side from which fibers protrude, a first layer of a solidified aqueous dispersion having a thickness between 0.07 mm and 0.22 mm of a synthetic plastics material in which the fibers are completely immersed on the one side, a second layer of a synthetic plastics material of generally the same thickness as the first layer bonded to the first layer and having turned away therefrom a textured surface, and a finish layer overlying the textured surface of the second layer. The split leather is substantially free of the dispersion except at the fibers.