String-reinforced shoe upper, preparation method for string-reinforced shoe upper, and shoe having string-reinforced shoe upper

Abstract

Disclosed in the present invention are a string-reinforced shoe upper, a preparation method for a string-reinforced shoe upper, and a shoe having a string-reinforced shoe upper. The string-reinforced shoe upper comprises a base layer and a reinforcement layer; the base layer comprises one or more first yarns laid uniformly in warp and weft directions and secured by fusing at overlapping points; the reinforcement layer comprises one or more second yarns laid on the base layer back and forth; the second yarn is secured to the first yarn of the base layer by fusing, and at the overlapping points where the second yarns cross each other, the second yarns are secured to each other by fusing; the reinforcement layer comprises a plurality of reinforcement portions formed by overlapping and laying the second yarns, wherein adjacent second yarns in each reinforcement portion are secured to each other by fusing; and each second yarn has a flattened cross section of which the dimension in an up-down direction is smaller than that in a left-right direction. The string-reinforced shoe upper using such a structure can improve the fit of the shoe upper.

Description

A chord-reinforced shoe upper, a method for preparing the chord-reinforced shoe upper, and a shoe with a chord-reinforced shoe upper. Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of shoe upper technology, specifically to a string-reinforced shoe upper, a method for preparing a string-reinforced shoe upper, and a shoe with a string-reinforced shoe upper. Background Technology

[0002] Footwear products consist of two main components: the upper and the sole. The upper provides a wrap around the foot, accommodating and positioning it relative to the sole. It may also have a breathable construction to wick away sweat. The sole is typically attached to the upper and located beneath it, forming a cavity that accommodates the foot. Furthermore, the sole provides cushioning and rebound to enhance the overall comfort of the footwear.

[0003] Different materials can be used to manufacture shoe uppers. For example, the uppers of athletic footwear products can be made from a variety of different materials to form the outer, middle, and inner layers. Depending on the structural characteristics required for each layer, such as the need for better abrasion resistance for the outer layer, materials such as leather, synthetic leather, and rubber can be selected; while materials with good moisture absorption properties can be used for the inner layer.

[0004] To improve breathability, shoe uppers are made thinner and incorporate more ventilation holes. For example, mesh is often used as part of the upper, typically at the toe area. These lighter, more breathable uppers are generally made by weaving fibers and yarns together using a warp and weft method. However, because of this weaving technique, the connections between the yarns can easily loosen, resulting in poor shoe support. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to overcome the above-mentioned defects or problems in the prior art and to provide a string-reinforced upper, a method for preparing a string-reinforced upper, and a shoe with a string-reinforced upper, which can improve the fit of the upper.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention adopts the following technical solution:

[0007] Technical Solution 1: A string-reinforced shoe upper, comprising: a base layer, which includes one or more first yarns evenly laid along the warp and weft directions and fused together at overlapping points; a reinforcing layer, which includes one or more second yarns laid back and forth on the base layer; the second yarns are fused together with the first yarns of the base layer, and at overlapping points where the second yarns intersect, the second yarns are fused together with each other; the reinforcing layer has multiple reinforcing sections formed by overlapping second yarns, and adjacent second yarns in the reinforcing sections are fused together with each other; the cross-sectional shape of the second yarns is flat, with the vertical dimension smaller than the horizontal dimension.

[0008] Technical Solution 2 based on Technical Solution 1: In the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn, its vertical dimension is less than half of its horizontal dimension.

[0009] Technical Solution 3 based on Technical Solution 1: Both the first yarn and the second yarn are core-spun yarns, and the outer layer of both is a thermoplastic elastomer material, with the melting point of the core layer being higher than that of the outer layer.

[0010] Technical Solution 4 based on Technical Solution 3: The welding between the first yarns, the welding between the second yarns and the first yarns, and the welding between the second yarns are all only welding the skin layers of the first yarns and the second yarns together.

[0011] Technical Solution 5 based on Technical Solution 3: The thermoplastic elastomer material used for the skin layer of the first yarn and the second yarn is polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer, polyester thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide thermoplastic elastomer or polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer.

[0012] Technical Solution Six based on Technical Solution Three: The core layer of the first yarn and the second yarn is made of one or more of polyester, nylon, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, carbon fiber, and glass fiber.

[0013] Technical solution seven based on technical solution three: In the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn, the cortex occupies 10%-80% of the area and the core occupies 20%-90%.

[0014] Technical solution eight based on technical solution one: The cross-sectional shape of the first yarn is circular, and its diameter is smaller than the left and right dimensions of the second yarn.

[0015] Technical Solution Nine based on Technical Solution One: The cross-sectional shape of the first yarn is a flat shape with the top and bottom dimensions smaller than the left and right dimensions, and its left and right dimensions are smaller than the left and right dimensions of the second yarn.

[0016] Technical solution ten based on technical solution one: also includes a surface layer, which is formed by one or more third yarns being laid back and forth on the reinforcing layer; the third yarns are fused and fixed to the second yarns of the reinforcing layer and / or to the first yarns of the base layer, and at the overlapping points where the third yarns intersect, the third yarns are fused and fixed to each other.

[0017] Technical solution eleven based on technical solution ten: The cross-sectional shape of the third yarn is a flat shape with the top and bottom dimensions smaller than the left and right dimensions, and its left and right dimensions are smaller than or equal to the left and right dimensions of the second yarn.

[0018] Technical solution 12 based on technical solution 1: The base layer further includes a first yarn that is uniformly laid along an oblique direction at a 45° angle to the warp and weft directions respectively, and the first yarn laid obliquely is fused with the first yarn laid in the warp and weft directions at the overlapping point.

[0019] In addition, the present invention provides a thirteenth technical solution: a method for preparing a string-reinforced shoe upper, comprising: uniformly laying first yarns along the warp and weft directions on a soluble base fabric, and fusing and fixing the first yarns together at overlapping points by hot pressing; dissolving the base fabric to obtain a base layer; repeatedly laying flat second yarns with a cross-sectional shape that is smaller in the top and bottom dimensions than in the left and right dimensions on the base layer, and overlapping multiple layers of second yarns at a preset position, and then fusing and fixing the second yarns and the first yarns together at overlapping points by hot pressing, while fusing and fixing the second yarns together at overlapping points and between the overlapping multiple layers of second yarns.

[0020] Technical solution fourteen, based on technical solution thirteen: The base fabric is made of a water-soluble material.

[0021] Based on technical solution 14, technical solution 15: both the first yarn and the second yarn are core-spun yarns, and both of their sheaths are thermoplastic elastomer materials, with the melting point of the core layer being higher than that of the sheath; during hot pressing, the hot pressing temperature is higher than the melting point of the sheath of the first yarn and the second yarn but lower than the melting point of the core layer of the first yarn and the second yarn.

[0022] In addition, the present invention provides a sixteenth technical solution: a shoe with a string-reinforced upper, comprising a sole and a string-reinforced upper as described in any one of technical solutions one to twelve, wherein the upper is fixedly attached to the sole.

[0023] Technical solution 17 based on technical solution 16: In the reinforcing layer of the shoe upper, a portion of the second yarn extends obliquely upward from the heel to the shoelace eyelet, and multiple reinforcing parts are provided on the portion of the second yarn.

[0024] Technical solution 18, based on technical solution 17: At the edge where the reinforcing layer of the shoe upper connects to the sole, a reinforcing connection is formed by a second yarn arranged in parallel and closely.

[0025] As can be seen from the above description of the present invention, compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0026] This invention provides a string-reinforced upper, a method for preparing the string-reinforced upper, and a shoe with a string-reinforced upper. When the string-reinforced upper is applied to a shoe, it can improve the shoe's fit.

[0027] The reinforced upper mainly consists of a base layer and a reinforcing layer. This multi-layered design establishes a foundation for improved upper support. The first yarn, the second yarn, and the first and second yarns are all fixed together by welding, increasing the connection strength between the yarns and reducing the loosening that can occur with traditional weaving methods. Furthermore, the reinforcing layer has multiple reinforcing sections formed by overlapping second yarns. This overlapping structure further enhances the structural strength of the reinforcing layer at these sections. The second yarns in these reinforcing sections are also welded together, preventing loosening and ensuring good structural stability. Additionally, the second yarns have a flat cross-section with a vertical dimension smaller than its horizontal dimension. Compared to round yarns, flat second yarns better conform to the curves of the upper during installation, reducing material waste and increasing the contact area with the first yarns or other second yarns, thus improving welding strength. This results in a thinner reinforcing layer while providing the same structural strength, and more economical material usage. Furthermore, since the upper is not made of warp and weft knitting, ventilation channels of varying sizes can be formed between the first yarn and the second yarn, which can further improve the breathability of the upper. Therefore, the string-reinforced upper has good structural strength and breathability, improves the fit of the foot, and is more suitable for high-intensity sports.

[0028] Both the first and second yarns are core-spun yarns with a thermoplastic elastomer outer layer. The core layer has a higher melting point than the outer layer. During welding, the outer layers of the first and second yarns will slightly melt, and the parts of the yarns that come into contact with each other will fuse together. After cooling, the fused parts of the yarns will be connected as one piece. At the same time, the core layer ensures that the structural strength of the shoe upper is not affected, so that the shoe upper maintains sufficient strength and performance.

[0029] The cross-sectional shape of the first yarn can be circular or flat. In both shapes, the size of the first yarn is smaller than that of the second yarn, so that the second yarn can simultaneously form a fusion bonding relationship with more first yarns, thereby improving the connection strength between the reinforcing layer and the base layer.

[0030] The upper layer can further enhance the overall structural strength of the shoe upper, improve the shoe upper's fit around the foot, and at the same time, the upper layer can be designed to form distinctive patterns, increasing the shoe upper's aesthetics and functionality.

[0031] In the base layer, the weaving direction of the first yarn can include not only the warp and weft directions, but also the oblique direction. The oblique extension of the first yarn increases the connection strength between the first yarns extending in different directions, which can improve the tensile performance of the shoe upper in all directions and better adapt to the stress conditions during movement.

[0032] The method for preparing a string-reinforced shoe upper provided by this invention includes laying a first yarn on a soluble base fabric and welding it together by hot pressing. After dissolving the base fabric, a base layer is obtained. Then, a second yarn is repeatedly laid on the base layer and welded together. This preparation method can easily produce a uniform and stable base layer, and then the second yarn is welded together to form a reinforcing layer. The base fabric can be made of a water-soluble material, which will not produce harmful substances during the dissolution process, making it environmentally friendly and easy to handle. During hot pressing, the difference in melting points between the outer layer and the core layer of the first and second yarns is utilized to ensure that the hot pressing temperature is higher than the melting point of the outer layer but lower than the melting point of the core layer. During the hot pressing process, only the outer layer melts and fuses together after cooling, while the core layer remains unaffected and maintains its performance.

[0033] The shoe with a filament-reinforced upper provided by the present invention includes the aforementioned filament-reinforced upper and a sole fixedly connected to the upper. In the reinforcing layer of the upper, a portion of the second yarn extends obliquely upwards from the heel to the lace eyelets, and multiple reinforcing portions are provided along this portion of the second yarn. This arrangement effectively improves the structural strength of the upper in the lateral region. When applied to footwear products requiring high lateral strength, such as basketball shoes, the strength provided by the upper in this area effectively enhances athletic performance.

[0034] In addition, at the edge where the upper's reinforcing layer connects to the sole, a second yarn is arranged in parallel and closely to form a reinforced connection, giving the upper higher structural strength at the connection point with the sole and preventing the upper from detaching from the sole when stretched. Attached Figure Description

[0035] To more clearly illustrate the technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention, the drawings used in the following description of the embodiments will be briefly introduced. Obviously, the drawings described below are some embodiments of the present invention. For those skilled in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative effort.

[0036] Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the unfolded state of the wire-reinforced shoe upper provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0037] Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic diagram of part A in Figure 1;

[0038] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the wire-reinforced shoe upper provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0039] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the wire-reinforced shoe upper provided in an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figure 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the second yarn provided in an embodiment of the present invention.

[0041] Explanation of key figure labels:

[0042] 1. Base layer; 2. First yarn; 3. Reinforcing layer; 4. Second yarn; 5. Reinforcing part; 6. Leather layer; 7. Core layer; 8. Outer layer; 9. Third yarn; 10. Heel part; 11. Shoelace eyelet part; 12. Reinforcing connection part. Detailed Implementation

[0043] The technical solutions of the embodiments of the present invention will be clearly and completely described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Obviously, the described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and should not be considered as excluding other embodiments. All other embodiments obtained by those skilled in the art based on the embodiments of the present invention without creative effort are within the scope of protection of the present invention.

[0044] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the use of terms such as "first," "second," or "third" in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this invention is for distinguishing different objects and not for describing a specific order.

[0045] Unless otherwise expressly defined, in the claims, description, and accompanying drawings of this invention, the use of directional terms such as "center," "lateral," "longitudinal," "horizontal," "vertical," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "clockwise," and "counterclockwise" to indicate orientation or positional relationships is based on the orientation and positional relationships shown in the accompanying drawings and is only for the convenience of describing the invention and simplifying the description, and is not intended to 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 limiting the specific scope of protection of this invention.

[0046] Unless otherwise expressly defined, the terms "fixed connection" or "fixed connection" used in the claims, description and drawings of this invention should be interpreted broadly to refer to any connection in which there is no displacement or relative rotation relationship between the two parties, including non-removable fixed connection, detachable fixed connection, integral connection and fixed connection by other means or components.

[0047] In the claims, description and accompanying drawings of this invention, the terms "comprising," "having," and variations thereof are used to mean "including but not limited to."

[0048] This invention relates to a string-reinforced upper, which can be applied to footwear products and provides restraint and support for the user's foot, improving the fit of the foot while also being lightweight and breathable.

[0049] Referring to Figure 1, the chord-reinforced upper provided in this embodiment includes a base layer 1 and a reinforcing layer 3. The base layer 1 includes one or more first yarns 2 that are evenly laid along the warp and weft directions and fused together at their overlaps; the reinforcing layer 3 includes one or more second yarns 4 that are laid back and forth on the base layer 1; the second yarns 4 are fused together with the first yarns 2 of the base layer 1, and at the overlapping points where the second yarns 4 intersect, the second yarns 4 are fused together with each other; the reinforcing layer 3 has a plurality of reinforcing portions 5 formed by overlapping and laying the second yarns 4, and adjacent second yarns 4 in the reinforcing portions 5 are fused together with each other.

[0050] Referring to Figures 2, 3, or 5, the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4 is a flat shape with the top and bottom dimensions smaller than the left and right dimensions.

[0051] Before describing the specific structure of the wire-reinforced upper, it is necessary to further define the positional terms used in this specification and claims to describe the upper or shoe. For example, referring to Figure 1, which shows a schematic diagram of the wire-reinforced upper in a flat, unfolded state, based on conventional orientational references, the side of the upper facing outwards from the paper in Figure 1 is the upper side, and the side facing away from the paper is the lower side. The meanings of "upper" and "lower" are the same as the definitions of upper and lower positions for the upper. Furthermore, when this upper is applied to footwear products, it forms a three-dimensional shape that adapts to the user's foot. The upper is also defined as "inner" and "outer," where "inner" refers to the side formed by the upper and sole that accommodates the user's foot, and "outer" is the opposite side. For footwear products, the definitions also include "front side" and "back side," where the front side refers to the side away from the user's body midline, and the back side refers to the side facing the user's body midline; for example, for a right-footed shoe, the left edge of the shoe is the back side, and the right edge of the shoe is the front side. In addition, the above description also includes the part defined by "left" and "right". Depending on the object being described, "left" and "right" have different definitions, but in general, they refer to the direction that is perpendicular to the up and down direction and perpendicular to the front and back direction. For the first yarn 2 or the second yarn 4, the left and right directions of its cross-section are defined with its extension direction as the reference to the front and back direction.

[0052] The base layer 1 includes one or more first yarns 2 evenly laid along the warp and weft directions and fused together at their overlap. Here, warp and weft refer to two mutually perpendicular directions on a plane; in this embodiment, warp and weft can be considered as the front-back direction and the left-right direction, respectively. When forming the base layer 1, the first yarns 2 are first evenly laid along the left-right direction at predetermined intervals, forming the warp yarns. Then, the first yarns 2 are evenly laid along the front-back direction at predetermined intervals, forming the weft yarns. Finally, at the overlap of the warp and weft yarns, hot pressing is used to fuse and fix the first yarns 2 together, thus obtaining the base layer 1.

[0053] Taking the laying of warp-direction yarns as an example, a single first yarn 2 can be laid at each position in the left-right direction. Alternatively, a first yarn 2 can start from a predetermined position, for example, laid from front to back to a predetermined endpoint, then turn back and be laid in the opposite direction, from back to front, to the predetermined endpoint. Between these two laying operations, adjacent yarns at different positions in the left-right direction will be spaced at a predetermined distance. This process is repeated until the warp-direction yarns in the base layer 1 are formed. It is easy to understand that the laying of weft-direction yarns is similar, and it is even possible for the first warp-direction yarn 2 and the first weft-direction yarn 2 to be the same yarn.

[0054] In another embodiment, the base layer 1 may further include first yarns 2 uniformly laid at an angle of 45° to the warp and weft directions, respectively, with the obliquely laid first yarns 2 fused to the warp and weft first yarns 2 at their overlap points. Specifically, referring to Figure 2, which is an enlarged schematic diagram of part A in Figure 1, it can be seen that in addition to the first yarns 2 extending in the front-back and left-right directions, the base layer 1 also includes first yarns 2 extending in an oblique direction. The oblique direction here includes two directions: one from front to back and left to right, and the other from front to back and right to left. Therefore, it can be considered that in the base layer 1, the first yarns 2 are actually laid in four layers from bottom to top, with the bottommost layer being the first layer and the topmost layer being the fourth layer. The first layer can be a warp yarn, the second layer can be a weft yarn, the third layer can be a yarn extending from front to back and left to right, and the fourth layer can be a yarn extending from front to back and right to left. Furthermore, the first yarns 2 on different layers will overlap at different locations due to the spacing between the first yarns 2 in the same layer. For example, the first yarn 2 of the first layer will overlap with the first yarn 2 of the second layer at a certain location, and the first yarn 2 of the third layer and the fourth layer will overlap at the same location, or at other locations. It should also be noted that although the base layer 1 can be considered to have a multi-layered structure, because the first yarns 2 of different layers are fixed together by welding, and there are gaps between the first yarns 2 in the same layer, the overall thickness of the base layer 1 is not the thickness of four overlapping first yarns 2, but is determined by the number of overlapping first yarns 2. For example, in some locations only two layers of first yarns 2 overlap, while in others four layers overlap. Therefore, the base layer 1 is not a flat structure, but has different thicknesses at different locations depending on the number of overlapping first yarns 2.

[0055] The base layer 1 is formed by overlapping and interweaving multiple layers of first yarn 2 and fusing and fixing them at the overlapping points, so that the base layer 1 itself has sufficient structural strength and can be used as the base for the reinforcing layer 3. By working with the reinforcing layer 3, the overall structural strength of the shoe upper is further improved.

[0056] Referring to Figure 1, the reinforcing layer 3 includes one or more second yarns 4 that are laid back and forth on the base layer 1, and the second yarns 4 in the reinforcing layer 3 are fused and fixed to the first yarns 2 of the base layer 1 located below them. Here, "laid back and forth" refers to the routing of the second yarns 4 in the reinforcing layer 3. "Laying back and forth" means that the second yarns 4 do not have a specific and restricted routing direction. For example, the second yarns 4 can be restricted to extending in a left-right direction and then turning to run forward, or the second yarns 4 can run from left to right and then turn to run from right to left. "Layed" means that the second yarns 4 are laid on the base layer 1, and the second yarns 4 may not be connected to each other. The base layer 1 fixes the reinforcing layer 3, so that the reinforcing layer 3 also forms a whole.

[0057] Of course, in practical applications, the second yarn 4 in the reinforcing layer 3 will have multiple overlapping points. Similar to the first yarn 2 in the base layer 1, the second yarn 4 in the reinforcing layer 3 will also form a fixed connection at the overlapping points by welding.

[0058] Furthermore, in areas where the structural strength of the shoe upper needs further reinforcement, the reinforcing layer 3 is also provided with reinforcing sections 5. Reinforcing sections 5 are formed by overlapping second yarns 4, and adjacent second yarns 4 in the reinforcing sections 5 are fused together for fixation. Referring to Figure 1, at the location of the reinforcing section 5, the second yarns 4 can be repeatedly overlapped in the same position, resulting in more layers of second yarns 4 in the reinforcing layer 3 at the location of the reinforcing section 5. Simultaneously, the second yarns 4 at the location of the reinforcing section 5 are all fixedly connected by fusion, allowing the second yarns 4 at the location of the reinforcing section 5 to form a tight whole, providing higher structural strength and tensile performance. The routing of the second yarns 4 in the reinforcing section 5 can be as follows: they can be routed in approximately the same direction and stacked in the same position; they can be routed in intersecting directions and repeatedly overlapped at the intersections; or most of the second yarns 4 can be routed in approximately the same direction, while a small portion of the second yarns 4 can be routed in other intersecting directions and intersect and overlap with the majority of the second yarns 4. By setting the reinforcing part 5, the structural strength of the wire-reinforced upper at a specific location can be effectively improved.

[0059] Furthermore, referring to Figures 3 and 5, in this embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4 is flat, with its vertical dimension smaller than its horizontal dimension. Specifically, the second yarn 4 does not use a conventional circular cross-section yarn, but rather a more flattened shape. The elliptical shape of the second yarn 4 shown in Figure 5 is only one example. In other embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4 may be a rectangular shape with rounded corners, which is mainly determined by the molding die of the second yarn 4. However, it is certain that the dimensional relationship of the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4 is that its vertical dimension is smaller than its horizontal dimension. Here, the horizontal dimension refers to the approximate distance between the left and right edges of the second yarn 4 in a direction perpendicular to the extension direction of the second yarn 4 and perpendicular to the vertical direction. Similarly, the vertical dimension refers to the approximate distance between the upper and lower edges of the second yarn 4. Since the outer edge of the second yarn 4 may not be flat, the above dimensions are all limitations on the shape of the second yarn 4 on a larger scale, as long as the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4 is approximately flat. When the flat second yarn 4 is repeatedly laid back and forth to form the reinforcing layer 3, compared with the yarn with a circular cross-section, the flat second yarn 4 can occupy a larger planar area under the same weight. At the same time, when the second yarns 4 are welded together, they have a larger connection area, which makes the connection between the second yarns 4 and between the second yarn 4 and the first yarn 2 more secure.

[0060] Therefore, the filament-reinforced upper in this embodiment mainly includes a base layer 1 and a reinforcing layer 3. Through this multi-layer arrangement, a foundation is established for improving the upper's wrapping properties. The first yarns 2, the second yarns 4, and the first yarns 2 and second yarns 4 are all fixed by welding, thereby improving the connection strength between the yarns and reducing the loosening that may occur in traditional weaving methods. Furthermore, the reinforcing layer 3 also has multiple reinforcing sections 5, which are formed by overlapping and laying the second yarns 4. This overlapping structure further enhances the structural strength of the reinforcing layer 3 at the reinforcing section 5 locations, while also strengthening... The second yarns 4 of the reinforcing section 5 are also fixed together by welding, so the second yarns 4 of the reinforcing section 5 are not prone to loosening, and the reinforcing section 5 has good structural stability. At the same time, the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4 is flat, with the vertical dimension smaller than the horizontal dimension. Compared with round yarns, the flat second yarn 4 can better conform to the curvature of the shoe upper when laid, reducing material waste, while increasing the contact area with the first yarn 2 or other second yarns 4, improving the welding strength. Under the same structural strength, the thickness of the reinforcing layer 3 is thinner, and more material is used. Furthermore, since the shoe upper does not use a warp and weft knitting structure, ventilation channels of different sizes can be formed between the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4, which can further improve the breathability of the shoe upper. Therefore, this filament-reinforced shoe upper has good structural strength and breathability, improves the fit of the foot, and is more suitable for high-intensity sports.

[0061] In another aspect of the wire-reinforced upper described in this specification, the wire-reinforced upper also includes a surface layer 8, which is formed by one or more third yarns 9 repeatedly laid back and forth on the reinforcing layer 3; the third yarns 9 are fused and fixed to the second yarns 4 of the reinforcing layer 3 and / or to the first yarns 2 of the base layer 1, and at the overlapping points where the third yarns 9 intersect, the third yarns 9 are fused and fixed to each other. The cross-sectional shape of the third yarn 9 is flat, with its vertical dimension smaller than its horizontal dimension, and its horizontal dimension is smaller than or equal to the horizontal dimension of the second yarn 4.

[0062] Referring to Figure 4, the upper layer 8, similar to the reinforcing layer 3, is formed by repeatedly laying the third yarn 9 on top of the reinforcing layer 3. Furthermore, since the reinforcing layer 3 does not completely cover the base layer 1, there are gaps between the second yarns 4 of the reinforcing layer 3, so the third yarn 9 may also contact the first yarn 2 of the base layer 1. The upper layer 8 can further enhance the overall structural strength of the shoe upper, improve the shoe upper's fit around the foot, and at the same time, the upper layer 8 can be designed to form distinctive patterns, increasing the aesthetics and functionality of the shoe upper. Similar to the second yarn 4, the cross-sectional shape of the third yarn 9 can also be flat, with its vertical dimensions smaller than its horizontal dimensions. Besides having the advantage of the flat structure of the second yarn 4, the similar cross-sectional shape of the third yarn 9 to the second yarn 4 can improve the overall consistency of the appearance of this thread-reinforced upper, and also improve the connection strength between the third yarn 9 and the second yarn 4 and the first yarn 2, preventing the upper layer 8 from detaching from the shoe upper. In addition, the left and right dimensions of the third yarn 9 used in the surface layer 8 are smaller than or equal to the left and right dimensions of the second yarn 4. This can prevent the third yarn 9 from crossing multiple second yarns 4 to form a welded fixation. Instead, it only forms a welded fixation with a single second yarn 4 or two second yarns 4. This prevents the second yarn 4 below from peeling off or coming apart when the third yarn 9 of the surface layer 8 is scratched by the outside. This can provide a certain degree of protection for the reinforcing layer 3.

[0063] In another aspect of the string-reinforced upper described in this specification, as a preferred embodiment, the vertical dimension of the second yarn 4 is less than half its horizontal dimension. That is, the second yarn 4 has a higher degree of flatness, which allows for a larger contact area between the second yarn 4 and the first yarn 2, the contact area between the second yarns 4 themselves, and the contact area between the second yarn 4 and the third yarn 9. This ensures a sufficiently strong connection between the reinforcing layer 3 and the base layer 1 and the surface layer 8, and a sufficiently strong connection between the multiple overlapping second yarns 4 in the reinforcing section 5 of the reinforcing layer 3, preventing the second yarns 4 in the reinforcing section 5 from unraveling due to excessive tension.

[0064] In this configuration, both the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 are core-spun yarns, and their sheaths 6 are both made of thermoplastic elastomer material. The melting point of their core layers 7 is higher than that of their sheaths 6. The welding between the first yarns 2, the welding between the second yarn 4 and the first yarn 2, and the welding between the second yarns 4 are all achieved by welding the sheaths 6 of the first yarns 2 and the second yarns 4 together.

[0065] Specifically, when welding and fixing the yarns together, the yarns need to be partially molten first. After melting, the yarns will mix together and then connect into one piece after cooling. The first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 are core-spun yarns, which are yarns with a sheath layer 6 and a core layer 7. In this embodiment, the sheath layer 6 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 is made of thermoplastic elastomer material. This material is easy to melt, has good bonding performance, and has good physical properties, such as elasticity, abrasion resistance, and aging resistance. As the sheath layer 6 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4, it can improve the overall physical properties of the shoe upper. Meanwhile, the core layer 7 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 uses other materials with a melting point higher than that of the leather layer 6. When welding and fixing, the melting temperature can be set to be higher than that of the leather layer 6 and lower than that of the core layer 7. At this time, the leather layer 6 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 will be melted, while the core layer 7 will not be affected, which reduces the difficulty of the welding and fixing process. At the same time, the core layer 7 can give the shoe upper better structural strength.

[0066] Depending on actual needs, the thermoplastic elastomer material used for the skin layer 6 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 is polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer, polyester thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide thermoplastic elastomer, or polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer. The core layer 7 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 is one or more of polyester, nylon, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, carbon fiber, and glass fiber. It should be noted that this embodiment does not limit the other physical properties of the specific materials used for the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4, as long as the materials used can be classified into the materials listed above in the art. It is also readily known that even materials of the same type can exhibit different chemical and physical properties by adjusting their components, but this does not affect the implementation of the base layer 1 and the reinforcing layer 3 provided in this specification and claims.

[0067] In another aspect of the string-reinforced upper described in this specification, in the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn 4, the portion occupied by the leather layer 6 is 10%-80% and the portion occupied by the core layer 7 is 20%-90% in terms of area. Under different proportions, the second yarn 4 will obviously have different physical properties and welding performance. The impact on physical properties can be discerned by those skilled in the art depending on the specific materials selected. The impact on welding performance needs to be pointed out here. Specifically, when the leather layer 6 occupies a larger portion, the second yarn 4 will have a greater shape change during welding because more of the material of the leather layer 6 is melted, resulting in a larger contact area between the second yarn 4 and other yarns during welding, thereby improving the connection strength between the yarns. When the core layer 7 occupies a larger portion, the second yarn 4 can provide better structural strength through the material of the core layer 7. Therefore, based on different needs, the proportions of the leather layer 6 and the core layer 7 can be adjusted to adapt to different application scenarios.

[0068] In a preferred embodiment, the sheath 6 of the second yarn 4 occupies 40% of the portion, and the core layer 7 occupies 60% of the portion. The second yarn 4 provided in this embodiment achieves a good balance between the yarn's connection strength and its structural strength.

[0069] In addition, the third yarn 9 also uses a core-spun yarn similar to the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4, and the materials of its sheath 6 and core 7 can also be selected from the materials used in the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4, which will not be elaborated here.

[0070] In another aspect of the wire-reinforced upper described in this specification, referring to Figures 3 or 4, the cross-sectional shape of the first yarn 2 is circular, and its diameter is smaller than the left and right dimensions of the second yarn 4. That is, the first yarn 2 used in the base layer 1 is finer than the second yarn 4, and the second yarn 4 in the reinforcing layer 3 can be connected to multiple first yarns 2 simultaneously. This allows the base layer 1 to form a denser planar mesh structure, making the connection between the reinforcing layer 3 and the base layer 1 more robust.

[0071] Alternatively, as another preferred embodiment, the cross-sectional shape of the first yarn 2 is flat, with its vertical dimension smaller than its horizontal dimension, and its horizontal dimension smaller than that of the second yarn 4. The flat shape of the first yarn 2 can reduce the thickness of the base layer 1 and increase the contact area between the first yarns 2, between the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4, and between the first yarn 2 and the third yarn 9, thereby further improving the connection strength between the base layer 1, the reinforcing layer 3, and the surface layer 8. At the same time, it can also improve the structural strength of the base layer 1 itself, and improve the tensile strength and foot wrapping properties of the base layer 1.

[0072] As another part of this invention, a method for preparing the aforementioned wire-reinforced shoe upper is also included, the method comprising:

[0073] Step 1: The first yarn 2 is evenly laid on the soluble base fabric along the warp and weft directions, and the first yarn 2 is fused together and fixed at the overlapping points by hot pressing.

[0074] Step 2: Dissolve the base fabric to obtain base layer 1;

[0075] Step 3: Lay flat second yarns 4 with a cross-sectional shape that is smaller in the top and bottom than in the left and right on the base layer 1, and overlap multiple layers of second yarns 4 at preset positions. Then, use hot pressing to fuse and fix the second yarns 4 and the first yarns 2 at the overlapping points. At the same time, fuse and fix the second yarns 4 at the overlapping points of each other and between the multiple layers of second yarns 4.

[0076] The base fabric is made of a water-soluble material. Typically, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) is used; PVA is a high-molecular-weight polymer with excellent water solubility. After dissolving in water, PVA leaves no harmful residues, making it environmentally friendly and safe. Furthermore, the melting temperature of PVA is lower than the melting point of the thermoplastic elastomer in the sheath layer 6 of the core-spun yarn, so the dissolution of the base fabric will not affect the yarns in the string-reinforced upper. Simultaneously, during processing, the base fabric possesses a certain level of mechanical strength, allowing it to serve as the foundation for the base layer 1.

[0077] In addition, both the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 are core-spun yarns, and the sheath 6 of both are thermoplastic elastomer materials. The melting point of the core layer 7 of both is higher than that of the sheath 6. During hot pressing, the hot pressing temperature is higher than the melting point of the sheath 6 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4 but lower than the melting point of the core layer 7 of the first yarn 2 and the second yarn 4.

[0078] During the process of laying the first yarn 2 on the base fabric, the first yarn 2 can be drawn out and laid on the base fabric by a device similar to the head of a 3D printer. However, unlike a 3D printer, the first yarn 2 is not in a molten state when drawn out, but rather has a complete yarn structure. To ensure a good temporary connection between the first yarn 2 and the base fabric during the laying process, the skin layer 6 of the first yarn 2 can be kept at a high temperature, giving it a certain viscosity to adhere to the base fabric. After the first yarn 2 has been laid, pressure and heat are applied to it through hot pressing, melting the skin layer 6. After the first yarn 2 cools, the base fabric is melted to obtain the desired base layer 1.

[0079] After obtaining the base layer 1, the second yarn 4 is laid back and forth on the base layer 1 in a similar manner to the base layer 1, and multiple layers of the second yarn 4 are overlapped at the preset position to form the corresponding reinforcing part 5 on the reinforcing layer 3. Then, pressure is applied to the second yarn 4 and heated by hot pressing to melt the skin layer 6 of the second yarn 4 and the first yarn 2. After waiting for the second yarn 4 and the first yarn 2 to cool, the desired string-reinforced shoe upper can be obtained.

[0080] On this basis, a surface layer 8 can be added. The laying and fixing method of surface layer 8 is similar to that of base layer 1 and reinforcement layer 3, so it will not be elaborated here.

[0081] As another part of the present invention, it also includes a shoe with a wire-reinforced upper, the shoe including a sole and the aforementioned wire-reinforced upper, the upper being fixed to the sole.

[0082] Specifically, referring to Figure 1, in the reinforcing layer 3 of the shoe upper, a portion of the second yarn 4 extends obliquely upward from the heel portion 10 to the shoelace eyelet portion 11, and multiple reinforcing portions 5 are provided along this portion of the second yarn 4. Furthermore, at the edge of the reinforcing layer 3 of the shoe upper that connects to the sole, a reinforcing connection portion 12 is formed by the second yarn 4 arranged in parallel and closely.

[0083] Figure 1 shows a schematic diagram of the shoe upper in its unfolded state, specifically the upper of the left shoe. The front side of the upper requires a reinforcing section 5 to enhance its structural strength. Therefore, in the reinforcing layer 3 of the upper, a portion of the second yarn 4 extends obliquely from the heel portion 10 to the eyelet portion 11. The heel portion 10 refers to the part of the upper corresponding to the heel of the foot, with its end approximately close to the rear of the foot. The eyelet portion 11 refers to the part of the upper for setting shoelace holes. Furthermore, the reinforcing section 5 can be configured to extend a certain length along a predetermined direction, that is, by repeatedly stacking the second yarn 4 extending in the same direction to form the reinforcing section 5, thereby increasing the overall proportion of the reinforcing section 5 and improving the structural strength of the upper. When applied to footwear products such as basketball shoes that require high lateral strength, the strength provided by the upper in this area can effectively improve athletic performance.

[0084] Furthermore, referring to Figure 1, a reinforcing connection portion 12 is also provided in the reinforcing layer 3 of the upper. The reinforcing connection portion 12 is located at the edge where the upper connects to the sole, which is actually the entire outer edge of the upper. This is because when the upper is fixed to the sole, its outer edge is inserted into the sole to form a fixed connection. The reinforcing connection portion 12 of the upper is formed by parallel and tightly arranged second yarns 4. That is, at the edge of the upper, the second yarns 4 in the reinforcing layer 3 can repeatedly run around the edge of the upper, and the second yarns 4 of the back are closely attached to the second yarns 4 of the front, thereby forming multiple tightly arranged second yarns 4 at the edge of the upper. Then, by heat pressing, the reinforcing connection portion 12 can be formed at the edge of the upper, improving the connection between the upper and the sole and preventing the upper from detaching from the sole when stretched.

[0085] The foregoing description of the specifications and embodiments is intended to explain the scope of protection of this invention, but does not constitute a limitation on the scope of protection of this invention. Modifications, equivalent substitutions, or other improvements to the embodiments of this invention or a portion thereof that can be obtained by those skilled in the art through logical analysis, reasoning, or limited experimentation, based on the teachings of this invention or the foregoing embodiments, in conjunction with common knowledge, general technical knowledge, and / or existing technology, should all be included within the scope of protection of this invention.

Claims

1. A type of string-reinforced shoe upper, characterized in that, include: The base layer (1) includes one or more first yarns (2) that are evenly laid along the warp and weft directions and fused together at the overlap. The reinforcing layer (3) includes one or more second yarns (4) that are laid back and forth on the base layer (1); the second yarns (4) are fused and fixed to the first yarns (2) of the base layer (1), and the second yarns (4) are fused and fixed to each other at the overlapping points where they intersect; the reinforcing layer (3) has a plurality of reinforcing portions (5) formed by overlapping and laying the second yarns (4), and adjacent second yarns (4) in the reinforcing portions (5) are fused and fixed to each other; The cross-sectional shape of the second yarn (4) is flat, with the top and bottom dimensions smaller than the left and right dimensions.

2. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 1, characterized in that, In the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn (4), its vertical dimension is less than half of its horizontal dimension.

3. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4) are both core-spun yarns, and the sheath (6) of both are thermoplastic elastomer materials. The melting point of the core layer (7) of both is higher than that of the sheath (6).

4. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The welding of the first yarn (2) to each other, the welding of the second yarn (4) to the first yarn (2) and the welding of the second yarn (4) to each other are all done by welding the skin (6) of the first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4) together.

5. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The thermoplastic elastomer material used for the skin layer (6) of the first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4) is polyurethane thermoplastic elastomer, polyester thermoplastic elastomer, polyamide thermoplastic elastomer or polyethylene thermoplastic elastomer.

6. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The core layer (7) of the first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4) is made of one or more of polyester, nylon, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, carbon fiber, and glass fiber.

7. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 3, characterized in that, In the cross-sectional shape of the second yarn (4), the sheath (6) occupies 10%-80% of the area and the core (7) occupies 20%-90%.

8. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the first yarn (2) is circular, and its diameter is smaller than the left and right dimensions of the second yarn (4).

9. A wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the first yarn (2) is flat with the top and bottom dimensions smaller than the left and right dimensions, and its left and right dimensions are smaller than the left and right dimensions of the second yarn (4).

10. A wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 1, characterized in that, It also includes a surface layer (8), which is formed by one or more third yarns (9) being laid back and forth on the reinforcing layer (3); the third yarns (9) are fused and fixed to the second yarns (4) of the reinforcing layer (3) and / or to the first yarns (2) of the base layer (1), and the third yarns (9) are fused and fixed to each other at the overlapping points where they intersect.

11. A wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 10, characterized in that, The cross-sectional shape of the third yarn (9) is flat with the top and bottom dimensions smaller than the left and right dimensions, and its left and right dimensions are smaller than or equal to the left and right dimensions of the second yarn (4).

12. The wire-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The base layer (1) also includes a first yarn (2) that is laid evenly along an oblique direction at an angle of 45° to the warp and weft directions respectively, and the first yarn (2) laid obliquely is fused with the first yarn (2) laid in the warp and weft directions at the overlapping point.

13. A method for preparing a string-reinforced shoe upper, characterized in that, include: The first yarn (2) is evenly laid on the soluble base fabric along the warp and weft directions, and the first yarn (2) is fused together at the overlapping point by hot pressing. Dissolve the base fabric to obtain the base layer (1); On the base layer (1), a flat second yarn (4) with a cross-sectional shape that is smaller in the top and bottom than in the left and right is laid back and forth, and multiple layers of the second yarn (4) are laid in a preset position. Then, the second yarn (4) and the first yarn (2) are fused and fixed at the overlapping point by hot pressing. At the same time, the second yarn (4) is fused and fixed between the overlapping points of the two yarns and between the multiple layers of the second yarn (4).

14. The method for preparing a string-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 13, characterized in that, The base fabric is made of a water-soluble material.

15. The method for preparing a string-reinforced shoe upper as described in claim 14, characterized in that, Both the first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4) are core-spun yarns, and both of their sheaths (6) are thermoplastic elastomer materials. The melting point of both of their core layers (7) is higher than that of the sheaths (6). During hot pressing, the hot pressing temperature is higher than the melting point of the sheaths (6) of the first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4) and lower than the melting point of the core layers (7) of the first yarn (2) and the second yarn (4).

16. A shoe with a string-reinforced upper, comprising a sole, characterized in that, It also includes a string-reinforced upper as described in any one of claims 1-12, the upper being fixed to the sole.

17. A shoe with a filament-reinforced upper as described in claim 16, characterized in that, In the reinforcing layer (3) of the shoe upper, a portion of the second yarn (4) extends obliquely upward from the heel portion (10) to the shoelace hole portion (11), and multiple reinforcing parts (5) are provided on the portion of the second yarn (4).

18. A shoe with a filament-reinforced upper as described in claim 16, characterized in that, At the edge of the reinforcing layer (3) of the shoe upper that connects to the sole, a reinforcing connection part (12) is formed by parallel and tightly arranged second yarns (4). Type claim 1 here.

Images