Vulcanized shoe component with fibrous reinforcement

Abstract

A shoe component for a shoe includes a composite part which has a vulcanized rubber matrix and a woven fabric sheet bonded integrally to the surface of the rubber matrix during the vulcanization of the rubber matrix. In an embodiment, the composite part is shaped as an outsole, and the surface of the rubber matrix is formed with a tread surface. The fabric sheet includes warp and weft yarns, and pores having a size smaller than 1 mm 2 so as to limit the amount of the material of the rubber matrix which penetrates through the pores and covers the fabric sheet during vulcanization. A large part of the fabric sheet uncovered at the surface of the rubber matrix can provide the surface of the rubber matrix with a woven texture and different tones of colors.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A shoe component for a shoe, comprising: 
 a composite part including a vulcanized rubber matrix which has a surface adapted to face an exterior side of the shoe; and    a woven fabric sheet integrally overlying and connected to said surface of said rubber matrix via a bonding between said rubber matrix and said woven fabric sheet, said bonding being produced upon vulcanization of said rubber matrix under heat and pressure, said fabric sheet including warp and weft yarns and pores formed among said warp and weft yarns, said pores having a size smaller than 1 mm 2 , said fabric sheet imparting a woven texture to said surface of said rubber matrix.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said composite part is shaped as an outsole, said surface of said rubber matrix being formed with a tread surface.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said composite part is fabricated by laying a vulcanizable rubbery sheet material on top of a woven fabric sheet material and by vulcanizing and pressing said vulcanizable rubbery sheet material against said woven fabric sheet material.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe component as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said woven fabric sheet material is made from a material selected from a nylon fiber, a polyester fiber, and a mixture of nylon and polyester fibers.