US 5,843,268 A · Chemical bonding of rubber to plastic in articles of footwear

Abstract

An article of footwear comprising relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials chemically bonded together is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials are arranged in such a fashion to impart flexibility to the article of footwear. In particular, plastic and rubber materials are bonded together to improve the flexibility of an outsole of an article of footwear. The invention also is directed to the fabrication of new or improved devices and elements for use in articles of footwear and their associated methods of construction such as closure mechanisms comprising relatively elastic straps bonded to relatively inelastic anchor portions and vice versa, articulating inelastic and elastic exoskeleton constructions useful in skates and ski boots, and elastic or inelastic eyelets surrounded by inelastic or elastic materials. The invention also is directed to chemically bonding relatively elastic to relatively inelastic materials for contemplated use in protective athletic equipment such as helmets and protective padding, and for use in prosthetic devices.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A method of making an outsole for an article of footwear, wherein the outsole comprises a plate of relatively inelastic material chemically bonded to a plurality of substantially independent segments of relatively elastic material, said method comprising the steps of

(a) modifying the relatively inelastic material by addition of a functional moiety to yield pendant reactive functional groups;
and
(b) employing the pendant reactive functional groups to facilitate a chemical bond between the relatively inelastic material of the plate and the relatively elastic material of the segments, thereby forming the outsole for the article of footwear.

(a) modifying the relatively elastic material by addition of a functional moiety to yield pendant reactive functional groups;
and
(b) employing the pendant reactive functional groups to facilitate a chemical bond between the relatively inelastic material of the plate and the relatively elastic material of the segments, thereby forming the outsole for the article of footwear.

(a) modifying the relatively inelastic material by addition of a functional moiety to yield a first set of pendant reactive functional groups;
(b) modifying the relatively elastic material by addition of a functional moiety to yield a second set of pendant reactive functional groups;
and
(c) employing the first and second sets of pendant reactive functional groups to facilitate a chemical bond between the relatively inelastic material of the plate and the relatively elastic material of the segments, thereby forming the outsole for the article of footwear.

1 more element

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Chemical bonding of rubber to plastic in articles of footwear

Life of this patent

Chemical bonding of rubber to plastic in articles of footwear

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19