Fiber-containing structure, method for manufacturing the same and uses thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a fiber-containing structure comprising an interwoven and welded base material and a welded elastomer layer, and at least one part of the base material and the welded elastomer layer are welded to each other. The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing the fiber-containing structure and a shoe structure containing the fiber-containing structure.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fiber-containing structure comprising:
 a woven base material comprising base fibers, the base fibers being interwoven with each other and being welded to each other in at least one interlacing place; and   a welded elastomer layer comprising a welded elastomer, wherein the base fibers and at least one part of the welded elastomer are welded to each other.   
     
     
         2 . The fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base fibers are multi-component fibers, and the multi-component fibers are in a shape of core/sheath, side by side or segmented pie. 
     
     
         3 . The fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base fibers comprise a first component and a second component, the base fibers in the first component are welded together in at least one interlacing place, and the base fibers in the second component are not welded. 
     
     
         4 . The fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base fibers comprise an elastic fiber. 
     
     
         5 . The fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the welded elastomer layer comprises a welded mesh layer comprising mesh fibers, the mesh fibers are crossing, nonwoven and welded together in at least one crossing place, and the base fibers and at least one part of the mesh fibers are welded together. 
     
     
         6 . The fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 , wherein the base fibers comprise a first component and a second component, the base fibers in the first component are welded together with at least one part of the welded elastomer, and the base fibers in the second component are not welded. 
     
     
         7 . A method for manufacturing the fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 , comprising:
 (a) providing a woven fabric, wherein the woven fabric comprises fibers, and the fibers are interwoven with each other;   (b) heating the woven fabric for welding the fibers in at least one interlacing place to obtain the woven base material; and   (c) melt blowing an elastomer on the woven base material to form the welded elastomer, and welding the fibers and at least one portion of the welded elastomer.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fibers are multi-component fibers, and the multi-component fibers are in a shape of core/sheath, side by side or segmented pie. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fibers comprise a first component and a second component, the base fibers in the first component are welded together in at least one interlacing place, and the base fibers in the second component are not welded. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fibers comprise an elastic fiber. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the welded elastomer layer comprises a welded mesh layer comprising mesh fibers, the mesh fibers are crossing, nonwoven and welded together in at least one crossing place, and the fibers and at least one part of the mesh fibers are welded together. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the fibers comprise a first component and a second component, the fibers in the first component are welded together with at least one part of the welded elastomer, and the fibers in the second component are not welded. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step (b) comprises providing an inner mold, covering the inner mold with the woven fabric, and heating the woven fabric for welding the fibers in at least one interlacing place. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the step (c) comprises providing an outer mold, covering the elastomer with the outer mold, and heating the elastomer to form the welded elastomer for welding the fibers and at least one portion of the welded elastomer. 
     
     
         15 . A shoe structure comprising the fiber-containing structure of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         16 . The shoe structure of  claim 15 , wherein the base fibers are multi-component fibers, and the multi-component fibers are in a shape of core/sheath, side by side or segmented pie. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe structure of  claim 15 , wherein the base fibers comprise a first component and a second component, the base fibers in the first component are welded together in at least one interlacing place, and the base fibers in the second component are not welded. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe structure of  claim 15 , wherein the base fibers comprise an elastic fiber. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe structure of  claim 15 , wherein the welded elastomer layer comprises a welded mesh layer comprising mesh fibers, the mesh fibers are crossing, nonwoven and welded together in at least one crossing place, and the base fibers and at least one part of the mesh fibers are welded together. 
     
     
         20 . The shoe structure of  claim 15 , wherein the base fibers comprise a first component and a second component, the base fibers in the first component are welded together with at least one part of the welded elastomer, and the base fibers in the second component are not welded.