Integrally-formed structure of 3D grating icon and vamp

Abstract

The utility model discloses a 3D grating icon and vamp integrated structure, including vamp and 3D grating icon subassembly, the 3D grating icon subassembly includes TPU base layer and 3D grating pattern layer, TPU base layer has pattern binding surface and connecting surface, 3D grating pattern layer is provided with the pattern binding surface of TPU base layer, is provided with transparent protective film, and the connecting surface is provided with the transparent protective film. A hot melt adhesive film is attached to the connecting face, and the 3D grating icon assembly is fused and formed through the hot melt adhesive film. According to the utility model, the quality and attractiveness of footwear products are improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a shoe upper, specifically a 3D grating icon integrated with the shoe upper in a single molding structure. Background Technology

[0002] As a crucial component of footwear, the upper has evolved beyond its initial design goals of durability and resistance to damage; it now also demands greater decorative appeal. With consumers increasingly prioritizing personalization and aesthetics in footwear, visually striking icons have become increasingly important in shoe design. Printing patterns on the upper, especially 3D icons, with their three-dimensional and dynamic visual effects, has garnered widespread attention. However, current technologies primarily employ adhesive bonding or direct printing. The former suffers from poor bonding stability and insufficient material performance, while the latter struggles to achieve a durable three-dimensional effect and is prone to wear and tear, limiting its practical application. For instance, in areas of athletic shoes where frequent bending occurs, traditional bonding methods easily lead to icon cracking or delamination, impacting product lifespan. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To address the aforementioned technical problems, this invention provides an integrated structure for 3D grating icons and shoe uppers.

[0004] To solve the above-mentioned technical problems, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0005] An integrated structure of a 3D grating icon and a shoe upper includes a shoe upper and a 3D grating icon assembly. The 3D grating icon assembly includes a TPU base layer and a 3D grating pattern layer. The TPU base layer has a pattern bonding surface and a connecting surface. The 3D grating pattern layer is disposed on the pattern bonding surface of the TPU base layer. A transparent protective film is disposed on the 3D grating pattern layer. A hot melt adhesive film is bonded to the connecting surface. The 3D grating icon assembly is fused and formed by the hot melt adhesive film.

[0006] As a further improvement, the protective film is a PET film.

[0007] As a further improvement, the size of the 3D grating pattern layer is smaller than or equal to the size of the TPU base layer.

[0008] As a further improvement, the 3D grating icon component is pressed and molded with the shoe upper using a press.

[0009] As a further improvement, at least one 3D grating icon component is provided on the shoe surface. When two or more 3D grating icon components are provided, the 3D grating icon components are distributed at intervals.

[0010] As a further improvement, the shoe upper is provided with a recessed slot, and the 3D grating icon component is located in the recessed slot.

[0011] As a further improvement, the 3D grating icon component is flush with the outer surface of the shoe upper.

[0012] As a further improvement, the 3D grating icon is formed on the surface of the TPU base layer by printing or pressing.

[0013] This utility model has the following beneficial technical effects:

[0014] By forming 3D lenticular icons on TPU material and fusing them with a hot melt adhesive film, the 3D lenticular icon components are integrated with the shoe upper, solving the problem of insufficient bonding strength in traditional adhesive methods. This method offers advantages such as improved bonding strength, prevention of detachment, and maintenance of the 3D visual effect, enhancing the aesthetics and quality of the shoe upper. It maintains the three-dimensional visual effect of the 3D lenticular icons while adapting to the dynamic deformation of the shoe upper. Hot melt adhesive film is used instead of ordinary glue, and a hot-pressing process is used to achieve material fusion. Secondly, to address the issue of easy wear and tear on printed patterns, a transparent protective film is introduced to cover the surface of the lenticular layer. In addition, TPU is chosen as the base material, leveraging its flexibility and abrasion resistance to prevent the icon components from breaking easily when the shoe upper is bent. Attached Figure Description

[0015] Figure 1 This is a schematic cross-sectional view of the present invention.

[0016] Figure 2 This is a cross-sectional structural diagram of the 3D grating icon component in this utility model.

[0017] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the effect of this utility model. Detailed Implementation

[0018] Embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below, examples of which are shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein the same or similar reference numerals denote the same or similar elements or elements having the same or similar functions throughout. The embodiments described below with reference to the accompanying drawings are exemplary and are only used to explain the present invention, and should not be construed as limiting the present invention.

[0019] In the description of this invention, it should be understood that if terms such as "center," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise" are used to indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation, and therefore should not be construed as a limitation of the invention. Furthermore, the terms "first" and "second" are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, features defined with "first" and "second" may explicitly or implicitly include one or more of the stated features. In the description of this invention, "a plurality of" means two or more, unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0020] In the description of this invention, it should be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," and "joining" should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral connection. They can refer to a mechanical connection or an electrical connection. They can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium, and they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms in this invention can be understood according to the specific circumstances.

[0021] like Figure 1-3 As shown, an integrated structure of a 3D grating icon and a shoe upper includes a shoe upper 1 and a 3D grating icon assembly. The 3D grating icon assembly includes a TPU base layer 2 and a 3D grating pattern layer 3. The TPU base layer 2 has a pattern bonding surface and a connecting surface. The 3D grating pattern layer 3 is disposed on the pattern bonding surface of the TPU base layer 2. A transparent protective film 4 is provided on the 3D grating pattern layer 3. A hot melt adhesive film 5 is bonded to the connecting surface. The 3D grating icon assembly is fused to the shoe upper 1 through the hot melt adhesive film 5.

[0022] The TPU base layer is a support layer made of thermoplastic polyurethane, which can be manufactured using injection molding. Its flexibility allows it to adapt to the bending and deformation of the shoe upper, while providing a flat base for the grating layer. The 3D grating pattern layer is a three-dimensional pattern layer with microlens arrays or grating stripes, which can be formed using UV transfer or nanoimprinting processes, creating a three-dimensional visual effect through light refraction. The transparent protective film is a protective layer covering the surface of the grating layer, such as PET film, which is bonded using a hot-pressing composite process to prevent external friction damage to the grating structure. The hot melt adhesive film is an adhesive layer with hot-melt properties, which can be made of EVA or PUR material. Under heat and pressure, it melts and bonds with the shoe upper material to form a stable bonding interface.

[0023] The manufacturing process begins by creating a 3D lenticular pattern layer on the bonding surface of the TPU base layer. This can be achieved through printing or pressing. A transparent protective film is then applied to prevent scratches during processing and use. A hot melt adhesive film is then bonded to the bonding surface of the TPU base layer to form the complete icon component. During assembly, heat and pressure are applied to fuse the hot melt adhesive film with the upper material. For example, a flatbed press is used to apply pressure at a specific temperature, causing the adhesive film to melt and penetrate into the gaps between the upper fibers. After cooling, a strong bond is formed. The temperature resistance of the TPU base layer ensures that the component does not deform during hot pressing, while the protective film prevents direct pressure on the lenticular structure from causing deformation.

[0024] Compared to existing technologies, traditional adhesive bonding relies on surface adhesion, which is prone to failure in humid and hot environments or after repeated bending. This solution achieves molecular-level bonding by melting and interpenetrating a hot-melt adhesive film with the shoe upper material, significantly improving interfacial strength. Compared to direct printing processes, the independently molded TPU components avoid compatibility issues between ink and shoe upper materials, and the protective film effectively extends the lifespan of the grating layer.

[0025] Through the above technical solution, this application achieves a highly stable integration of 3D lenticular icons with the shoe upper, maintaining pattern integrity even under dynamic usage environments. The synergistic effect of the TPU base layer and the hot melt adhesive film gives the component bending resistance, making it suitable for high-intensity usage scenarios such as sports shoes. The introduction of a transparent protective film significantly reduces the risk of lenticular layer wear, ensuring the durability of the 3D visual effect.

[0026] The protective film is selected as PET film. Ordinary plastic protective films used in traditional processes are prone to softening or shrinking during hot pressing, leading to edge lifting or localized deformation of the pattern layer. PET film, however, has a higher glass transition temperature, reaching approximately 80°C, and maintains rigidity even under typical shoe material processing temperatures, ensuring uniform stress distribution on the grating structure during pressure transmission. Furthermore, the surface hardness of PET film is significantly superior to conventional materials such as PVC, preventing microscopic scratches caused by contact surfaces with processing equipment.

[0027] The dimensions of the 3D grating pattern layer are smaller than or equal to the dimensions of the TPU base layer. Its size range can be controlled to be 0.5-2mm smaller than the edge of the TPU base layer.

[0028] Specifically, the TPU base layer is pre-set into a rectangular or irregular shape during die-cutting, and the grating pattern layer is precisely covered in the central area of ​​the TPU base layer surface using a positioning fixture. During hot-pressing lamination, the four edges of the TPU base layer form a patternless, pure adhesive area, allowing the hot melt adhesive film to completely wrap around the outer edge of the grating pattern layer during pressing. When using an implementation scheme with equal dimensions, the grating pattern layer is precisely aligned with the edge of the TPU base layer using laser alignment marks, ensuring uniform distribution of the adhesive film during pressing.

[0029] Additionally, multiple 3D grating pattern layers can be set on the TPU base layer, arranged at predetermined intervals. The components are precisely placed at designated positions on the shoe upper using a positioning mold, and then a hot-pressing process is used to melt and penetrate the hot-melt adhesive film into the gaps between the shoe upper fibers. The pressure and temperature parameters applied during hot pressing must ensure that the component spacing remains constant to prevent component displacement due to material thermal expansion. This spaced layout ensures that each component receives sufficient support area while avoiding visual interference caused by dense arrangement.

[0030] Compared to existing technologies, traditional shoe upper decorative icons often use continuous or random arrangements, which can easily lead to component edges lifting or them squeezing and falling off. This solution controls the spacing between components, ensuring the structural strength of individual components while creating an orderly visual arrangement. Existing technologies often suffer from localized hardening issues in areas where multiple icons are stacked; the spaced distribution effectively disperses stress areas on the shoe upper while also meeting diverse visual requirements.

[0031] The shoe upper has recessed slots, and the 3D lenticular icon component is placed in these recessed slots. After installation, the upper surface of the 3D lenticular icon component is flush with the surface of the shoe upper to ensure aesthetics.

[0032] The recessed slot refers to a groove structure formed on the surface of the shoe upper, which can be achieved through mold pressing or laser cutting. Its function is to provide a fixed installation position for the 3D lenticular icon component. The 3D lenticular icon component is placed in the recessed slot because the component contacts the bottom and sidewalls of the recessed slot through a hot melt adhesive film, using the physical limiting function of the recessed structure to enhance the bonding stability.

[0033] Specifically, during the processing of the shoe upper material, a recessed area is formed using a pre-set mold. The outline and dimensions of this recessed area match the edge of the 3D lenticular icon component. During the thermoforming process, the 3D lenticular icon component with a hot-melt adhesive film is embedded into the recessed slot. The adhesive film melts upon heating and fuses with the shoe upper material in the recessed area. The sidewalls of the recessed slot provide a wrapping constraint to the component, preventing lateral displacement when the shoe upper bends or is subjected to stress.

[0034] Compared to existing technologies, traditional methods rely solely on adhesive strength to fix icon components using a planar bonding method. The recessed locking mechanism, however, enhances bonding strength through both physical positioning and bonding. Once embedded in the recessed structure, the component interlocks with the shoe upper, effectively preventing edge lifting or delamination, while maintaining a smooth transition between the component surface and the shoe upper.

[0035] Through the above technical solution, this application solves the problem of poor stability of the 3D grating icon component combined with the shoe upper. The recessed locking structure enables the component to maintain a fixed position in dynamic usage scenarios, avoiding the risk of falling off due to repeated friction or bending. At the same time, the design of the component being flush with the outer surface of the shoe upper maintains the consistency of the overall appearance.

[0036] Alternatively, the 3D lenticular icon component can be directly attached to the shoe surface, which will make it protrude to a certain height.

[0037] The specific production process is as follows:

[0038] 1. First, fabricate the 3D lenticular logo assembly. TPU raw material is used to create a transparent TPU film through a casting process. Then, a 3D lenticular pattern layer is formed on the TPU transparent film using a high-precision printing or pressing process, resulting in a 3D lenticular logo component with a three-dimensional effect. Next, a hot-melt adhesive film is applied to the hot-pressed surface of the shoe upper, and a layer of PET transparent protective film is applied to the surface of the display side.

[0039] 2. Next, prepare the main body of the shoe upper. Select a suitable upper material, cut and sew it according to the requirements of the shoe design to form the basic shape of the upper, and determine the position for hot pressing with the 3D lenticular logo component.

[0040] 3. Finally, the fabricated 3D lenticular logo component is placed in the predetermined position on the main body of the shoe upper. A hot press is then used to perform a hot pressing operation at a specific temperature (120-125 degrees Celsius), pressure (5 kg), and time (30-40 seconds) to fully fuse the TPU base layer with the main body of the shoe upper, achieving a one-piece molding. During the hot pressing process, the hot pressing parameters need to be adjusted appropriately according to the characteristics of the TPU material and the material of the shoe upper to ensure the best bonding effect.

[0041] It should be noted that the above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention and are not intended to limit the present invention. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the embodiments, those skilled in the art can still modify the technical solutions described in the foregoing embodiments or make equivalent substitutions for some of the technical features. However, any modifications, equivalent substitutions, improvements, etc., made within the spirit and principles of the present invention should be included within the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A one-piece molded structure for a 3D lenticular icon and a shoe upper, comprising a shoe upper and a 3D lenticular icon component, characterized in that, The 3D grating icon component includes a TPU base layer and a 3D grating pattern layer. The TPU base layer has a pattern bonding surface and a connecting surface. The 3D grating pattern layer is located on the pattern bonding surface of the TPU base layer. A transparent protective film is provided on the 3D grating pattern layer. A hot melt adhesive film is bonded to the connecting surface. The 3D grating icon component is fused and formed by the hot melt adhesive film.

2. The integral molding structure of the 3D lenticular icon and the shoe upper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The protective film is a PET film.

3. The integral molding structure of the 3D lenticular icon and the shoe upper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The dimensions of the 3D grating pattern layer are less than or equal to the dimensions of the TPU base layer.

4. The integral molding structure of the 3D lenticular icon and the shoe upper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The 3D grating icon component is pressed and molded onto the shoe upper using a press.

5. The integral molding structure of the 3D lenticular icon and the shoe upper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shoe surface is provided with at least one 3D grating icon component. When two or more 3D grating icon components are provided, the 3D grating icon components are distributed at intervals.

6. The integral molding structure of the 3D grating icon and the shoe upper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shoe upper has a recessed slot, and the 3D grating icon component is located in the recessed slot.

7. The integral molding structure of the 3D lenticular icon and the shoe upper according to claim 6, characterized in that, The 3D grating icon component is flush with the outer surface of the shoe upper.

8. The integral molding structure of the 3D lenticular icon and the shoe upper according to claim 1, characterized in that, The 3D grating icons are formed on the surface of the TPU base layer by printing or pressing.

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