# US 2014/0151918 A1 · Method for producing a sole or a sole part of a shoe

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- Number: US 2014/0151918 A1
- Document ID: US20140151918A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 14/235,676
- Filed: 2012-07-16
- Published: 2014-06-05
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-28
- Assignees: Puma SE
- Inventors: Matthias Hartmann
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151918A1

## CPC

- B29D 35/06: having soles or heels formed and joined on to preformed uppers using a moulding technique, e.g. by injection moulding, pressing and vulcanising
- B29C 44/1285: {the preformed part being foamed}
- B29D 35/00: Producing footwear
- B29D 35/0009: {by injection moulding; Apparatus therefor}
- B29D 35/0054: {by compression moulding, vulcanising or the like; Apparatus therefor}
- B29D 35/122: {Soles}
- C08J 9/232: by sintering expandable particles
- C08J 9/236: using binding agents
- C08J 9/33: Agglomerating foam fragments, e.g. waste foam
- B29L 2031/50: Footwear, e.g. shoes or parts thereof
- C08J 2375/04: Polyurethanes
- C08J 2377/12: Polyester-amides
- C08J 2475/04: Polyurethanes
- B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00)
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29)
- B29L: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASS B29C, RELATING TO PARTICULAR ARTICLES

## Abstract

The invention relates to a method or producing a sole (1) or a sole part of a shoe (2), in particular of a sports shoe. To obtain a lightweight shoe which has good rebound characteristics, the invention provides the following steps: a) Producing plastic elements (3), the extent (a, b, c) of which in the three spatial direction lies between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 9 mm, wherein the plastic elements (3) consist of a foamed thermoplastic elastomer based on urethane (TPU, E-TPU, TPE-U) and/or based on polyether block amide (PEBA); b) Introducing the plastic elements (3) into a moulding tool which has a cavity which corresponds to the shape of the sole (1) or the sole part to be produced; c) Connecting the plastic elements (3) located in the moulding tool to one another, wherein a binder is put into the moulding tool to make the connection and/or wherein heat is allowed to act on the plastic elements (3) to make the connection.

## Claims

### Claim 1

Method for producing a sole or a sole part of a shoe, in particular of a sports shoe, comprising the steps:
a) Producing plastic elements, the extent of which in the three spatial direction lies between 2 mm and 15 mm, preferably between 3 mm and 9 mm, wherein the plastic elements consist of a foamed thermoplastic elastomer based on urethane (TPU, E-TPU, TPE-U) and/or based on polyether block amide (PEBA);
b) Introducing the plastic elements into a moulding tool which has a cavity which corresponds to the shape of the sole or the sole part to be produced;
c) Connecting the plastic elements located in the moulding tool to one another, wherein heat is allowed to act on the plastic elements to make the connection, by conducting of steam under pressure into the moulding tool.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic elements have a globular or ellipsoid shape.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the base material for the production of the plastic elements has a hardness between 75 and 90 Shore A, preferably between 80 and 85 Shore A.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the plastic elements have a bulk density between 100 and 300 kg/m3.

### Claim 5

(canceled)

### Claim 6

(canceled)

### Claim 7

(canceled)

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure of the steam lies between 1.6 and 2,4 bar, preferably between 1.9 and 2.1 bar.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the whole sole of the shoe is produced by the method.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

Method according to claim 1, characterized in that a midsole of the shoe is produced by the method.