Sole structure with complex waterproof and gas-permeable material and manufacturing method thereof

Abstract

A sole structure with complex waterproof and gas-permeable material and a manufacturing method thereof. A plane blank having a through with a pattern of an array is provided. At least one waterproof and gas-permeable film is combined with the plane blank to cover the through hole. The plane blank with the film is located in a predetermined position inside a sole mold. Then a molten plastic material is filled into the mold to associate the plane blank and the film with the plastic material to form an integral large substrate of the sole. The sole provides waterproof and gas-permeable effect to prevent water from tarrying between the large substrate and middle substrate.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention is related to a waterproof and gas-permeable sole structure and a manufacturing method thereof, and more particularly to an improved sole structure which overcomes the problem that the vapor tarries between the large substrate and the middle substrate (or insole) of the conventional gas-permeable shoe. [0002] The conventional waterproof gas-permeable film such as Gore-Tex film (so-called century fabric) is composed of two kinds of unique polymers. One of the polymers is a nearly thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material which provides high stiffness. The other is ePTFE which provides waterproof and gas-permeable effect. Nine billion micro-voids are distributed over each square inch area of such material. The size of such void is two hundred millionth the size of liquid water molecule. However, the size of such void is seven hundred times the size of vapor. Therefore, the water molecule cannot pass through the voids, while the ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0005] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a sole structure with complex waterproof and gas-permeable material and a manufacturing method thereof. The sole provides waterproof and gas-permeable effect to prevent water from tarrying between the large substrate and middle substrate of the sole. A plane blank having a through with a pattern of an array is provided. A waterproof and gas-permeable film made of a material identical to or compatible with the material of the plane blank is combined with the plane blank to cover the through hole. The plane blank with the film is located in a predetermined position inside a sole mold. Then a molten plastic material is filled into the mold to associate the plane blank and the film with the plastic material to form an integral sole.

[0008] In addition, a sheet material such as a mesh tissue sheet or porous sheet with high stiffness (such as TPU sheet) is associated with at least one face of the film to reinforce the film and prolong using life of the film.

Problems solved by technology

This makes a user feel uncomfortable.

Moreover, in use of the shoe, the sole will bear great bending force and impact.

Therefore, it is quite hard to combine the materials with each other with glue.

However, such structure fails to overcome the problem that the water tarries between the large substrate 11 and the middle substrate 12.

As a result, during the molding procedure, when filling the material of higher temperature into the sole, the waterproof and gas-permeable film 40 is often previously molten or unexpectedly damaged.

Therefore, it is hard to associate the waterproof and gas-permeable film 40 with the large substrate 11.

Images