Shoe outsole and methods for manufacturing same

Abstract

A shoe having a fabric outsole and method for manufacturing are disclosed. In described embodiments, a shoe outsole with a bottom surface wherein an adhesive is applied to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole and a plurality of fibers are embedded within the adhesive. In the described method embodiment, once the adhesive is applied to the outsole, fibers are sifted down through an electrostatic field onto the adhesive. Once sufficient fibers have been embedded, the adhesive is cured and then cooled.

1 . A shoe outsole, the outsole comprising: 
 a bottom surface of the shoe outsole;    an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole; and    a plurality of fibers electrostatically embedded within the adhesive.    
     
     
         2 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the shoe outsole is made from a fiber reinforced composite material.  
     
     
         3 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the shoe outsole is made from a material such as polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic resin, ethylene vinyl acetate, or rubber.  
     
     
         4 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole is masked off before the adhesive is applied thus to prevent any fibers from attaching to the masked-off portion.  
     
     
         5 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole is configured with a plurality of protuberances and depressions forming ridges or a ribbed surface thereon to give the shoe a more aggressive tread.  
     
     
         6 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fibers are comprised of textile material.  
     
     
         7 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the size of the fibers is variable depending on the coverage and look desired.  
     
     
         8 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of fibers attached to the adhesive are angled such that the fibers are substantially normal to the bottom surface of the shoe outsole.  
     
     
         9 . The shoe outsole of  claim 1 , further comprising at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole being configured to be a heel of a shoe.  
     
     
         10 . A shoe, the shoe comprising: 
 a shoe outsole having an upper surface and a bottom surface wherein the upper surface is connected to a shoe upper;    an adhesive applied to at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole; and    a plurality of fibers electrostatically embedded within the adhesive.    
     
     
         11 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein the shoe outsole is made from a fiber reinforced composite material.  
     
     
         12 . The shoe outsole of  claim 10  wherein the shoe outsole is made from a material such as polyvinyl chloride, thermoplastic resin, ethylene vinyl acetate, or rubber.  
     
     
         13 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole is masked off before the adhesive is applied thus to prevent any fibers from attaching to the masked-off portion to give the shoe a more aggressive tread.  
     
     
         14 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole is configured with a plurality of protuberances and depressions forming ridges or a ribbed surface thereon.  
     
     
         15 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of fibers are made from textile materials such as nylon or rayon.  
     
     
         16 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein the size, diameter, or color of the fibers are selected depending on the coverage and look desired.  
     
     
         17 . The shoe of  claim 10  wherein the plurality of fibers attached to the adhesive are angled such that the fibers are substantially normal to the bottom surface of the shoe outsole.  
     
     
         18 . The shoe of  claim 10 , further comprising at least a portion of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole being configured to be a heel of a shoe.  
     
     
         19 . A method for applying fibers to a shoe outsole, the method comprising: 
 applying an adhesive to a first region of a bottom surface of the shoe outsole;    placing the shoe outsole on top of a support plate, the bottom surface facing upward;    providing for the support plate and a screen to be in vertical proximity of one another;    creating an electrostatic field in a region above the support plate;    drawing a plurality of fibers through the screen wherein the fibers are charged and gravitationally drawn toward the support plate due to the electro-static field region, the fibers continuing downward through the electro-static field region until at least some of the fibers become embedded into the adhesive;    removing the support plate with the shoe outsole; and    curing the adhesive with the embedded fibers therein.    
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19  wherein a second region of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole is masked off before applying the adhesive.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 19  further comprising a sifting device located above the screen wherein the electric field region is created between the screen and the support plate and the fibers are sifted downward toward the screen.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21  wherein power is supplied to the screen before the support plate is placed under the conductive screen.  
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 21  wherein the fibers are electrostatically charged as they pass through the screen and thereafter become substantially aligned with the electro-static field.  
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising a sifting motor coupled to the sifting device for actuation thereof.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising a conductive plate located above the screen and insulated therefrom, the conductive plate powered as to create the electric-static field region between the conductive plate and the support plate wherein the screen containing the fibers is located therebetween.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the fibers, upon impact with the adhesive, are substantially normal to the first region of the bottom surface of the shoe outsole.  
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the curing of the adhesive is accomplished by placing the support plate with the shoe outsole into an oven.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising the support plate having a plurality of rollers for moving the support plate under the screen.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19  wherein the fibers are comprised of textile material.  
     
     
         30 . A fiber transfer means for attaching fibers to a shoe outsole, the fiber transfer means comprising: 
 a charging means for electrostatically charging the fibers, the charging means being electrically powered;    a screening means for negotiating the fibers into an electro-static field region; and    a support means for supporting the outsole and for creating the electro-static field region between the charging means and the support means.    
     
     
         31 . The fiber transfer means of  claim 30  wherein the support means is moveably located underneath the charging means during a fiber application process.  
     
     
         32 . The fiber transfer means of  claim 30  wherein the charging means is located above the screening means.  
     
     
         33 . The fiber transfer means of  claim 30  wherein the charging means is located beneath the screening means, the charging means configured with a plurality of perforations.