Adidas Ag

Sabrina Kerling

Tru Huu Minh Le

Christopher Edward Holmes

Angus Wardlaw

James Tarrier

Paul Leonard Michael Smith

Stuart David Reinhardt

John Whiteman

Heiko Schlarb

Robert Leimer

Warren Freeman

Jan Hill

Daniel Stephen Price

Christopher Robertson

Amir Fathi

Thomas Koeppl

Huu Minh Tru Le

Dharan Kirupanantham

Volker Altstädt

Daniel Raps

Clemens Keilholz

Paul Smith

Thomas KÖPPL

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded to polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

Expanded pellets and method for manufacturing molded components using them

Described are a method for the manufacture of a shoe sole, the sole manufactured by the method, and a shoe including the sole. The method includes loading a pre-manufactured article comprising thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) material into a mold; loading pellets of an expanded thermoplastic polyurethane (eTPU) material into said mold; and connecting the pellets with each other and to the pre-manufactured TPU article by providing an interconnecting medium, wherein the material of the pre-manufactured TPU article either comprises an additive to increase the viscosity of the material of the pre-manufactured TPU article, or has been annealed.

Method for the manufacture of a shoe sole, shoe sole, and shoe with pre-manufactured TPU article

Describes are support elements for a sole of a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, a sole and a shoe with such a support element, as well as a method for the manufacture of a support element. As examples, the support element includes a first partial member formed of a first material, and a second partial member formed of a second material. The first partial member is mechanically joined to the second partial member in a connection region, wherein the connection region is configured to allow the first partial member to rotate or slide relative to the second partial member. The first partial member, the second partial member, and the connection region can be co-molded and joined together in a single fabricating step.

Co-molded 3D elements

The invention refers to a method for producing expanded polymer pellets, which comprises the following steps: melting a polymer comprising a polyamide; adding at least one blowing agent; expanding the melt through at least one die for producing an expanded polymer; and pelletizing the expanded polymer. The invention further concerns polymer pellets produced with the method as well as their use, e.g. for the production of cushioning elements for sports apparel, such as for producing soles or parts of soles of sports shoes. A further aspect of the invention concerns a method for the manufacture of molded components, comprising loading pellets of an expanded polymer material into a mold, and connecting the pellets by providing heat energy, wherein the expanded polymer material of the pellets or beads comprises a chain extender. The molded components may be used in broad ranges of application.

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Herzogenaurach, Germany

Sabrina Kerling