CN1121830C - Blast and fragment resistant polyurethane boot sole for safety footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

A blast and fragment resistant polyester or polyether-based polyurethane boot sole (13) is described, comprising embedded protective material composed of at least one woven polyaramid (Kevlar) layer (18). One or more layers of graphite fibres, ceramic fibres, S-glass fibres or mineral fibres may be also interwoven with or placed between the polyaramid layers.

Description

Hard impact and crack resistant polyurethane safety shoe sole

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a structure of a shoe sole, in particular to a new and improved structure of a safety shoe sole capable of preventing high-energy, high-velocity projectiles from piercing. This shoe provides greater protection to the human foot without excessively restricting movement .

Description of prior art

U.S. Patent No. 5,237,758 to Zachman, employing semi-elliptical sections intersected at the rings by adjacent webs of adjacent rings which in turn are intersected by ductile rods passing directly through the intersecting rings, Lateral movement of adjacent webs is thereby minimized.

U.S. Patent No. 5,285,583 to Aleven employs a protective layer of plastic comprising a flexible front which, during molding of said protective layer, has a An inner bottom plate is attached to its bottom surface and a fiber lining is attached to its top surface. The plastic used by Aleven is molten plastic that is injected during the final bonding process.

International patent application DE4214802 transferred to SPORTARRIKELFABRIK UHLGMBH KARL by ZEPF H discloses a multi-layered sole with a surface for walking, a cushioning midsole and an upper inner bottom. The base layer (base e) is a thermoplastic molding or a molding made of metal, ceramic or graphite, in which multifilament organic or inorganic reinforcing fibers are embedded in the form of a pad or woven or woven into the molding in the structure. The elastic profile is formed on the underside of the base layer by injection molding or extrusion. The bottom layer may contain only a single layer of woven fibers, the total thickness of which is about 0.5 mm.

Aleven uses plastic plates in the sole for reinforcement and impact resistance, and fiber mesh is used to reinforce the plastic rather than provide impact resistance. ZEPF H can only produce single-layer woven fibers with a thickness of no more than 0.5mm by injection molding or extrusion. Aleven did not discuss metal, ceramic or graphite materials. So far, due to the problems of rigidity and adhesion, the technology of using aramid (aramid), ceramics or graphite fibers on the thickness structure of the sole to prevent high-energy and high-speed projectiles from piercing the sole has not been reported and practical.

Summary of the invention

When the sole is required to maintain a toe-to-heel curvature for running, jumping and crossing obstacles such as rope ladders, climbing ropeways, small steps, etc., and has sufficient or sensitive feeling for sharp objects, pits and small stones , the soles described in the prior art are not sufficiently resistant to violent impacts and projectiles. To this end, the present invention provides a polyester and/or polyether-based polyurethane shoe sole, resistant to severe impacts and cracks, including a protective material embedded therein, which material is embedded throughout the sole and consists of At least one layer of woven polyaramid (Kevlar) having a density less than or equal to 5.086×10 ⁻¹ kg/square meter (15 oz/square yard). Increasing the density and number of layers of the woven polyaramid layer will enhance the resistance to severe impact and cracking.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a shoe sole that is well bonded together by multiple layers of polyaramid (Kevlar) layers and/or graphite fiber bundles, despite the inherent bonding properties of polyaramid fibers, graphite fibers and polyurethane very bad. Due to the extremely thin coating of various polyaramid (Kevlar) and/or graphite fiber bundles before weaving and/or due to the relatively loose or rough weaving of polyaramid (Kevlar) fibers, polyurethane can penetrate into the fibers, Allows the layers to bond together well, thereby preventing delamination of the sole during subsequent use.

According to the present invention, polyaramid (Kevlar) and/or graphite fibers can be thinly coated with polyester or polyether-based polyurethane before being woven into the shape of the desired liner, which will greatly improve polyaramid Adhesion to polyurethane materials.

Also, according to the invention, polyester fibres, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET) fibres, may be interwoven with (coated or uncoated) polyaramid fibers or interwoven with (coated or uncoated) Coated) polyaramid (Kevlar) fibers to improve the bonding of polyaramid and polyurethane materials.

According to the invention, carbon graphite fibers can be interwoven with polyaramid (Kevlar) or interwoven between polyaramid layers to further strengthen and stiffen the sole.

According to the invention, a layer woven of mineral fibres, especially ceramic fibers or vulcanized glass fibres, can be included in the sole as an insulating barrier against hot gases at a temperature of 815-1650°C.

Brief description of the drawings

The present invention will be better understood and objects of the present invention other than those described above will become apparent in conjunction with the following detailed description. This description is made with reference to the accompanying drawings below, in which,

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe with a first specific sole structure according to the present invention;

Figure 1-A is an enlarged view of the sole structure in Figure 1 .

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe with a second specific sole structure according to the present invention;

Fig. 2-A is an enlarged view of the sole structure in Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe with a third specific sole structure according to the present invention;

Fig. 3-A is an enlarged view of the sole structure in Fig. 3;

Figure 3-B is an enlarged view of an alternative to the sole structure shown in Figure 3-A;

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of a shoe with a fourth specific sole structure according to the present invention;

Figure 4-A is an enlarged view of the sole structure in Figure 4;

Figure 4-B is an enlarged view of an alternative to the sole structure shown in Figure 4-A.

Description of Best Practices

A shoe having a first specific sole structure according to the invention is indicated generally at 10 in FIGS. 1 and 1-A.

The shoe 10 has a standard shaped upper 11 and a composite sole 13 . The composite sole 13 comprises an outer polyurethane sole 14 having a bottom surface 17 , a midsole 15 in which a polyaramid layer 18 is embedded, and optionally an upper sole 16 .

The composite safety sole is produced using conventional multi-stage molds commonly used in the polyurethane sole industry.

First, polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane is injected into the cavity of the composite sole to form the outer (lower) sole 14, which generally has a density in the range of 500-2000 kg/ ^m3 .

The top plate of the mold used to prepare the outer (lower) bottom is removed and a thick layer 18 of woven aramid fiber material is placed on the outer (lower) bottom 14 still in the mold cavity.

Polyaramid (Kevlar) fiber material can be pre-coated with polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane prior to weaving. The polyurethane coating can promote the adhesion of the polyaramid layer to the polyurethane injected into the mold cavity or facilitate the penetration of the polyaramid layer into the polyurethane injected into the mold cavity.

Each layer of woven aramid material of polyaramid layer 18 has a density of at least 1.696×10 ⁻¹ kg/square meter (5 oz/square yard), preferably 5.086×10 ⁻¹ kg/square meter (15 oz/square yard). code).

This thick aramid layer 18 is preferably composed of aramid strands woven into a four-warp satin or leno weave, 70-90% of these aramid strands being in the direction from X to Y ( perpendicular to the direction from toe to heel), 10-30% along the direction from toe to heel.

The polyaramid layer 18 has a thickness of at least 1.778 x 10 ^-3 meters (0.07 inches), more typically 2.794 x 10 ^-3 meters (0.11 inches), using the latest 7100 bundle diameters of 1.778 x 10 ^-3 meters ( 0.07 inches) of Kevlar 49 fiber. The aramid fiber had a tensile strength of 3.025×10 ⁷ kg/square meter (43,000 psi) and a modulus of 1.337×10 ¹⁰ kg/square meter (19,000,000 psi).

After the polyaramid layer 18 has been placed, a polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane is injected into the cavity containing the outsole 14 to form the midsole 15 . The typical density of polyurethane injected into the mold is less than 1000 kg/ ^m3 .

A good bond is formed between the outer (lower) sole 14 and the midsole 15 due to polyurethane penetration into or through the polyaramid layer 18, which is sandwiched in between.

So far, the upper part 11 can be directly connected with the polyurethane composite bottom 13, and the composite bottom 13 includes an outer (lower) bottom 14 and a middle bottom 15, and a third upper bottom 16 can also be added on the middle bottom to increase the comfort of the shoes. In the latter case, when the outer (lower) bottom 14 and the middle bottom 15 are left in the mold cavity as described above, the polyurethane based on polyester and/or polyether is injected therein and directly injected into the 15 above the middle bottom.

The shoe sole 13 containing the polyaramid layer 18 of preferably 5.086×10 ⁻¹ kg/square meter (15 oz/square yard) prepared as described above can effectively provide resistance to 60 particles at a velocity of 4.115×10 ² m/sec ( 1350 ft/s) projectile with violent impact and shattering capabilities. At the same time, this kind of sole can well maintain the curvature from toe to heel so that it is easy to run, jump and cross obstacles such as rope ladders, climbing ropeways, small steps, etc., and prevent the sole from delamination during subsequent use.

A shoe having a second specific sole structure according to the invention is designated 20 in FIGS. 2 and 2-A.

In this embodiment, like features are given the same reference numerals as in the previous example, and the sole 13 has further layers 18 of polyaramid material.

As shown in Figure 2-A, the outsole may include no more than two polyaramid layers 18. The midsole 15 generally contains 2 to 6 layers of polyaramid fibers, typically 3 layers, as shown in Figure 2-A.

To prepare the sole shown in FIGS. 2 and 2-A , 2 polyaramide woven layers 18 are placed in the cavity in which the outer (lower) sole 14 is prepared.

The polyaramid layer 18 is preferably composed of polyaramid fibers having a diameter of 2.540 x 10 ^-4 meters (0.01 inches). The fibers are woven into layers having a thickness of less than 1.524 x 10 ^-3 meters (0.06 inches), more typically about 1.016 x 10 ^-3 meters (0.04 inches).

Polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane is then injected into ^the composite sole mold cavity to form the outer (lower) sole 14, whereby the typical density of the outer sole 14 is in the range of 500-2000 kg/m Inside.

The mold top plate used to make the outer (lower) bottom 14 is removed and 2-6 layers of the same polyaramid (Kevlar) textile material layer 18 embedded in the outer (lower) bottom 14 are added to the bottom of the mold cavity The outer (lower) bottom 14 above.

At this point, the midsole 15 is formed by injecting polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane into the cavity, the polyurethane layer thus obtained having a typical density of less than 1000 kg/m ³ .

A good bond is formed between the outer (lower) sole 14 and the midsole 15 due to the penetration of the polyurethane into or through the polyaramid layer 18, in which the polyaramid layer 18 is sandwiched.

So far, the upper part 11 can be directly connected to the polyurethane composite bottom 13, which includes the outer (lower) bottom 14 and the middle bottom 15, or can also include a third polyurethane upper bottom 16 to increase the comfort of the shoe. This can be achieved by injecting a polyester and/or polyether based polyurethane onto the midsole 15, leaving the outsole and midsole (prepared as described above) in the mold cavity.

Compared with the sole of the first embodiment, the shoe sole prepared by the above-mentioned method is more effectively resistant to severe impacts and cracks due to the multi-layered polyaramid layer.

The third embodiment of the present invention is that the polyaramid layer 18 in the sole shown in Figure 1 and Figure 2 is that polyaramid and polyester (PET) fibers are interwoven, and the preparation method of the sole is the same.

The advantage of interweaving polyaramid and polyester (PET) fibers is that the adhesion of polyurethane to the embedded layer 18 can be further increased.

The fourth embodiment of the present invention is that the polyaramid layer 18 as described in the above embodiment is further interwoven with carbon graphite fibers containing 12,000 fiber bundles and having a tensile strength of 3.306×10 ⁸ kg/ square meter (470,000 psi), with a modulus of 2.462×10 ¹⁰ kg/m2 (35,000,000 psi). The preparation method of the sole is the same as above.

The advantage of using carbon graphite fiber interweaving is to further increase the strength and hardness of the sole and improve wear resistance.

The next embodiment of the present invention is marked as 30 among Fig. 3 and Fig. 3-A, and sole 13 is to adopt the above-mentioned same method to prepare, just added one deck by composite ceramic fiber and Layer 31 woven from polyaramid fibers.

The ceramic fiber woven layer preferably includes ceramic fibers with a diameter of 1.270×10 ⁻³ meters (0.05 inches), and 70-90% of these ceramic fibers are covered in the XY direction (perpendicular to the direction from the toe to the heel) Woven into a four-way broken satin or leno weave, 10-30% is woven along the toe-to-heel direction. This layer is embedded in the midsole above the polyaramid (Kevlar) layer 18 (see FIG. 3-A ). In another case, as shown in FIG. 3-B , a thin composite layer 32 formed of ceramic/polyaramid fibers, preferably composed of standard bidirectional weave, is embedded in the upper bottom 16 .

The sole containing this composite layer 32 formed of ceramic/polyaramid fibers can resist hot gas, and can withstand a high temperature of 1650° C. during a very short period of severe impact.

In a further embodiment 40 of the present invention, a vulcanized fiberglass composite layer may be added to the midsole or upper sole 15, 16 (see Figures 4, 4-A, and 4-B).

A layer 41 formed of vulcanized glass fibers with a diameter of 1.270 x 10 ^-3 meters (0.05 inches) is embedded in the midsole above the polyaramid (Kevlar) layer 18 (Fig. 4-A), of which 70-90% 10-30% of the vulcanized glass fibers are woven along the direction from toe to heel. Alternatively, a thinner 6.350 x 10 ^-4 meter (0.025 inch) layer 42 of vulcanized glass fiber, preferably having a standard bi-directional satin weave, is embedded in upper sole 16 (FIG. 4-B).

The sole 13 containing vulcanized glass fiber layers 41, 42 can resist hot gas, and can withstand a high temperature of 815° C. during a short period of severe impact.

The method of use and operation of the present invention should be apparent from the foregoing disclosure, and thus no further discussion of the method of use and operation of the present invention will be made.

With respect to the foregoing description, it should be appreciated that the best dimensional relationships and materials of the present invention, including various dimensions, materials, shapes, forms, functions and methods of operation, assembly and use, will be apparent to those skilled in the art , clear, and all the same relationships as described in the drawings and specification are included in the present invention.

Accordingly, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Since many improvements and changes are possible for those skilled in the art, the present invention cannot be limited to the specific structures and operations shown or described, and all suitable improvements and the same practices will fall into the present invention in the range.

Claims (10)

1. An anti-fierce impact and anti-split with at the bottom of polyester or the polyurethane shoe based on polyethers; comprise embedding protective material wherein; it is characterized in that this material embeds whole sole; and form by the weaving of one deck at least aromatic polyamide fibre layer; the density of this layer is less than or equal to 0.5 Kilograms Per Square Meter, and described aromatic polyamide fibre applied in order to polyester and/or based on the thin polyurethane unfertile land of polyethers before being woven the Nomex layer.
2. 2. according to the sole of claim 1, it is characterized in that described insert material is made up of a thick Nomex weaving layer, the thickness of this layer is at least 0.07 inch.
3. 3. according to the sole of claim 2, wherein said thick Nomex layer by the edge of 70-90% perpendicular to toe to the direction of heel direction, the Nomex Shu Zucheng that the direction of 10-30% along toe to heel is woven to the crowfoot or lace stitch.
4. 4. according to the sole of claim 1, it is characterized in that described insert material comprises at least 3 stratas virtue acid amides weaving layer, every layer thickness is less than 0.06 inch, and these layers bond together with polyurethane material.
5. 5. according to the sole of claim 1, it is characterized in that the aromatic polyamide fibre that constitutes described Nomex layer interweaves with polyester fiber.
6. 6. according to the sole of claim 1, it is characterized in that the aromatic polyamide fibre that constitutes described Nomex layer interweaves with carbon-graphite fibre.
7. 7. according to the sole of claim 1, it is characterized in that described insert material comprises at least one carbon-graphite fibre layer.
8. 8. according to the sole of claim 1, it is characterized in that described insert material comprises at least one mineral fibres layer.
9. 9. sole according to Claim 8 is characterized in that described mineral fibres is made up of ceramic fibre.
10. 10. sole according to Claim 8 is characterized in that described mineral fibres is made up of sulfide glass fiber.

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