Self cleaning outsoles for shoes

Abstract

This invention relates to shoe outsoles, for sport and street wear, which exhibit a resistance to the adherence of foreign material. Certain adherence modifying agents, which help resist the adherence of foreign material, can be either incorporated into materials from which a shoe's outsole or outer are formed, or applied as a coating thereto.

1 - 24 . (canceled) 
   
   
       25 . A shoe outsole or outer, at least of a portion of the outer surface of which comprises a resin into which is incorporated at least one adherence modifying component which comprises a member of the group comprising: fluorocarbons, silicones, siloxanes, and polysiloxanes, modified polyacrylates, modified polysiloxanes, and acrylates. 
   
   
       26 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which an adherence modifying component comprises an OH-functional silicone modified polyacrylate. 
   
   
       27 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in either claim  1  which includes a particulate material, the particulate material being formed of a member of the group comprising: polytetrafluoroethylene, polyethylene, polypropylene, hydrophobic fumed silica, functionally modified PTFE compounds, functionally modified polyethylenes, and functionally modified polypropylenes. 
   
   
       28 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 27 , in which a said particulate material has an average particle diameter within the range of 0.001 nanometres to 100 microns inclusive. 
   
   
       29 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25 , in which the proportion of adherence modifying component(s) present in the resin is within a loading range of 0.5 to 20% (inclusive) by weight. 
   
   
       30 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which the proportion of adherence modifying component(s) present in the resin is within a loading range of 5 to 15% (inclusive) by weight. 
   
   
       31 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which a said resin with adherence modifying component has a surface energy which is below 50 dynes/cm. 
   
   
       32 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which a said resin with adherence modifying component has a surface energy below 25 dynes/cm. 
   
   
       33 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which said resin comprises at least one of a cross-linkable resin, a self cross-linking resin, and a compatible film-forming binder. 
   
   
       34 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 33  in which the resin is an acrylic or polyurethane resin. 
   
   
       35 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 34  in which the resin includes a cross-linking agent. 
   
   
       36 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which a said resin with adherence modifying component is present as a coating on the outsole or outer. 
   
   
       37 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 36  in which the resin with adherence modifying component(s) is applied as a coating to an outsole or outer by a method comprising: spraying, dipping, plasma coating, corona discharge, brushing, or rolling. 
   
   
       38 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 36  in which the outsole or outer to which the coating is applied is of a TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane). 
   
   
       39 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 36  in which the coating applied to the outsole or outer is based on a water based solvent system. 
   
   
       40 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 39  in which the coating is applied to a thermoplastic outsole or outer. 
   
   
       41 . A shoe outsole or outer, as claimed in  claim 25  in which the outsole, or a portion thereof, is formed of a resin incorporating one or more adherence modifying components. 
   
   
       42 . A shoe which possessing either or both of an outsole or outer of which at least a portion thereof comprises a shoe outsole or outer as claimed in  claim 25 . 
   
   
       43 . A shoe as claimed in  claim 42  which falls into one or more of the following categories: soccer boot, rugby boot, shoe or boot for ball sports, shoe for court sports, golf shoe, athletic shoe, cross-trainer, sporting shoe, hiking or tramping boot, walking shoe, and climbing shoe. 
   
   
       44 . A method for modifying the resistance of at least part of an outsole to the adhesion of foreign material, said method comprising the application of a coating of a resin including one or more adherence modifying components to produce an outsole or outer according to  claim 25 .