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.

Abstract: A foamed material, which is adapting under pressure to the shape of parts, particularly of parts of the human body, but which on pressure relief again returns to a vast extent and after a certain restoring time into the original shape, consists of the following constituents:(a) substantially saturated liquid hydrocarbons;(b) unsaturated liquid hydrocarbons, preferably polybutadiene;(c) a reactive agent, preferably polyisocyanate, with which the unsaturated liquid hydrocarbons are reacted;(d) a cross-linking agent, for example ethylene hexane diol;(e) hollow microspheres, the thin shell of which consists of vinylidene chloride copolymer and the interior of which contains a gas.

Abstract: A molding compound for molding body portions preferably serves the purpose of producing a counterpart for the production of a model for making prostheses, particularly teeth prostheses or orthopaedic prostheses, or the purpose of cladding such prostheses for adapting same to a changed shape of body portions. This molding compound consists of a silicone containing pressure-elastic hollow microspheres the thin shell of which consists of a vinylidene chloride copolymer and the interior of which contains a gas. This silicone is initially liquid or pasty and, respectively, kneadable and solidifies after a certain time to a rubber-like consistency by adding a hardener, so that the molding compound reproduces the shape of the body portion to be molded.

Abstract: An elastic molded body comprising a cell structure consists of an elastic synthetic plastics material produced by a polyaddition reaction between a liquid diisocyanate or polyisocyanate and a reactant containing at least 18 percent by weight polybutadiene. Elastic hollow microspheres having thin shells consisting of a vinylidene chloride copolymer are embedded within this synthetic plastics material and are firmly an unseparably connected with the elastomeric synthetic plastics material, the hollow microspheres, the interior of which contains a gas, forming closed cells within the synthetic plastics material. These hollow microspheres can be formed in situ within the synthetic plastics material when producing the molded body by inflating compact particles of a vinylidene chloride copolymer and containing an inflating agent under the influence of heat, particularly under the influence of the heat of reaction generated. The hollow microspheres have a diameter between 10 and 100 micrometer.

Abstract: A material for use in resilient conforming pads, cushions and the like and cushions filled with such material as described. The material comprises elastic gas-filled hollow microparticles cohered to a mass by a thermoplastic bonding agent semi-liquid at body temperature. The material is useful for providing contour-conforming resilient padding for garments, athletic equipment, prosthetic devices, surgical or vehicular cushions and the like. The gas-filled hollow particles each have a resilient gas-impermeable thermoplastic shell enclosing a quantity of a gas.

Abstract: Tires are improved against puncture damage by at least partially filling the inside of the tire with hollow spheres which contain a gas and whose thin shell consists of synthetic material, these spheres having a diameter of between 0.01 and 0.04 mm. and a density of 0.005 to 0.25 g/cc., and/or by lining at least a portion of the surface of the inner wall of the tire with a strip of composite material of low density comprising a suspension of said hollow spheres in a mass of liquid or pasty synthetic material of low molecular weight.