Patent Publication Number: US-2006006567-A1

Title: Method for manufacturing an anti-microbial shoe pad

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a shoe pad, and more particularly to a process for manufacturing an anti-microbial shoe pad having the steps of: 1. first step of raw material preparation; 2. second step of raw material preparation; 3. blending process; 4. foaming process; and 5. cutting into shape.  
      2. Description of the Prior Arts  
      Shoe will emit an unpleasant smell after a certain time of usage, people has to clean and wash it after a regular time. However, the smell comes again after another certain time of use. It is a headache for people to get rid of the smell.  
      The shoe pad, as an indispensable part of the shoe, is conventionally made of TDI material (toluene diisocyanate) by foaming process, and the TDI has toxicity. Thereby, the manufacturing method for making the shoe pad will endanger the worker&#39;s health.  
      Furthermore, a light shoe can make the user feel comfortable when walking. However, the shoe pad also affects weight of a shoe, besides being decided by the raw material of the shoe. Therefore, to manufacture a light shoe pad has become one of motivations of the present invention.  
      The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of a conventional shoe pad.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an anti-microbial shoe pad capable of deodorizing the smell of a shoe.  
      The secondary object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an anti-microbial shoe pad that can prevent positioning being caused during manufacturing process.  
      The third object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing an anti-microbial shoe pad, which can produce a light shoe pad.  
      The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show, for purpose of illustrations only, the preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block flowchart of a method for manufacturing an anti-microbial shoe pad in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is an illustrative view in accordance with the present invention for showing a first and second step of the manufacturing method;  
       FIG. 3  is an illustrative view in accordance with the present invention for showing a third step of the manufacturing method;  
       FIG. 4  is a shoe pad in accordance with the present invention;  
       FIG. 5  is a shoe pad, in accordance with the present invention, at the top surface of which is laminated with fabric. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a method for manufacturing a shoe pad having anti-microbial properties in accordance with the present invention is shown and generally comprising the following steps: 1. first step of raw material preparation  10 ; 2. second step of raw material preparation  20 ; 3. blending process  30 ; 4. foaming process  40 ; and 5. cutting into shape.  
      The above-mentioned steps are illustrated in detail as follows: 
          1. first step of raw material preparation  10 : providing a prepolymer resin as a first material  11  which is synthesized by MDI (Methylene diphenyl diisocyanate) and polyatomic alcohol, the polyatomic alcohol includes Polyester Polyol and polyether polyol.     2. second step of raw material preparation  20 : providing a powder product as a second material  21  which is blended by mixed polyatomic alcohol  210 , plastic wastes  211  and anti-microbial powder  212 , the mixed polyatomic alcohol  210  is mixed by polyatomic alcohol, addition agent and catalysis, the plastic wastes  211  comprises the foaming materials, like: polyurethane, EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate), rubber, the plastic wastes  211  will be pulverized, the anti-microbial powder  212  is Chinese herbal anti-microbial powder, the weight of the second material  21  is made up of 95-99.5% plastic wastes  211  and 0.05-5% anti-microbial powder  212 .     3. blending process  30 : producing a foaming material  31  by blending 10-60% (weight percentage of) the first material  11  with 50-100% (weight percentage of) the second material  21 .     4. 4) foaming process  40 : producing a foamed member  41  by foaming the foaming material  31 ;     5. 5) cutting into shape  50 : getting a shoe pad  51  by cutting the foamed member  41  into the shape of a shoe pad.        

      The process for manufacturing a shoe pad in accordance with the present invention has the advantages as follows:  
      First, since the shoe pad made based on the process of the present invention contains anti-microbial powder (the herbal anti-microbial powder), besides sterilizing the bacteria and the microbial from the recovery wastes (the plastic wastes), the anti-microbial powder further can improve the breath ability of the shoe pad and make the wearer&#39;s feet feel breathable and comfortable. Thus, the shoe pad will not have an unpleasant smell after a certain time of use.  
      Second, since the first material contains MDI, and the toxicity of MDI is lower than that of TDI, besides improving the physical character of the shoe pad, the present invention provides a safe and relative low-toxicity work surrounding.  
      Third, the second material (the mixed polyatomic alcohol, the plastic wastes and the anti-microbial powder) is low density, therefore, the shoe pad is relatively lighter than the conventional shoe pad.  
      Fourth, the second material includes the mixed polyatomic alcohol, the plastic wastes and the anti-microbial powder. The plastic wastes can improve the effect of plastic recovery system. Furthermore, Is the anti-microbial powder doesn&#39;t contain heavy metal and can be discomposed naturally. Thus, the shoe pad in accordance with the present invention is of benefit to environmental protection.  
      It is to be noted that, as shown in  FIG. 5 , the top surface of the formed member can be provided with a fabric  60  by adhering method or by hot pressing.  
      While we have shown and described various embodiments in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.