Soles for sports shoes
AssigneeReebok International Ltd.
InventorRobert Andrew Bischoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Described are soles for a shoe having a region with a plurality of pellets, each pellet having a hollow core structure. The plurality of pellets are formed of a composite material comprising a base layer and an outer layer. The base layer is formed of a material having a first melting temperature, and the outer layer is formed of a material having a second melting temperature. The first melting temperature is greater than the second melting temperature, and the plurality of pellets are bonded through melting of the outer layers while the inner layers retain the hollow core structure without melting.
Claims23
A sole for a shoe comprising:
- a region comprising a plurality of pellets, each pellet having a hollow core structure and an opening therethrough;
- wherein the plurality of pellets are formed of a composite material comprising a base layer and an outer layer, the base layer formed of a material having a first melting temperature, and the outer layer is formed of a material having a second melting temperature, wherein the first melting temperature is greater than the second melting temperature;
- and
- wherein the plurality of pellets are bonded through melting of the outer layers while the inner layers retain the hollow core structure without melting.
A sole for a shoe comprising:
- a first region comprising a plurality of pellets, each pellet having a hollow core structure and an opening therethrough, wherein the plurality of pellets are formed of a composite material comprising a base layer and an outer layer, wherein the pellets are bonded through melting of the outer layers;
- a second region bordering at least a portion of a side surface of the first region, wherein the second region is free of the plurality of pellets.
A method of forming a shoe sole comprising:
- introducing a plurality of pellets into a mold, each pellet having a hollow core structure and an opening therethrough, the plurality of pellets formed of a composite material comprising a base layer and an outer layer, the base layer formed of a material having a first melting temperature, and the outer layer having a second melting temperature, wherein the first melting temperature is greater than the second melting temperature;
- introducing steam into the mold;
- and
- joining the pellets to one another to form at least a region of the shoe sole.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.