	US 12,138,900 B2
	Compositions for manufacturing footwear stiffeners
Dale Martell, Jersey City, NJ (US); Bruce Goldberg, Clifton, NJ (US); and Leo Provencher, Pass Christian, MS (US)
Assigned to Stanbee Company, Inc., Roseland, NJ (US)
Filed by Stanbee Company, Inc., Carlstadt, NJ (US)
Filed on Nov. 2, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/086,611.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/928,858, filed on Oct. 31, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0129482 A1, May 6, 2021
Int. Cl. B32B 5/20 (2006.01); A43B 23/08 (2006.01); B29C 44/24 (2006.01); B29C 44/34 (2006.01); B29C 48/00 (2019.01); B29C 48/21 (2019.01); B29K 67/00 (2006.01); B29K 75/00 (2006.01); B29K 105/00 (2006.01); B29K 105/04 (2006.01); B29L 31/50 (2006.01); B32B 7/12 (2006.01); B32B 27/06 (2006.01); B32B 27/36 (2006.01); B32B 27/40 (2006.01)

CPC B32B 5/20 (2013.01) [A43B 23/081 (2013.01); A43B 23/088 (2013.01); B29C 44/24 (2013.01); B29C 44/3446 (2013.01); B29C 48/0011 (2019.02); B29C 48/21 (2019.02); B32B 7/12 (2013.01); B32B 27/065 (2013.01); B32B 27/36 (2013.01); B32B 27/40 (2013.01); B29K 2067/003 (2013.01); B29K 2075/00 (2013.01); B29K 2105/0097 (2013.01); B29K 2105/041 (2013.01); B29K 2105/046 (2013.01); B29K 2995/0097 (2013.01); B29L 2031/505 (2013.01); B32B 2266/08 (2013.01); B32B 2266/104 (2016.11); B32B 2307/718 (2013.01); B32B 2307/732 (2013.01); B32B 2437/02 (2013.01)]

14 Claims

1. A microcellular foam box toe stiffener material or heel counter stiffener material, comprising:

a stiffener core with opposite first and second surfaces,

at least a first adhesive layer coextruded with the stiffener core and carried on at least the first surface of the stiffener core,

the stiffener core having a thickness in a range of about 0.55 mm to about 1.40 mm, and comprising a polymeric material, a nucleating agent, and nitrogen gas,

the polymeric material being selected from the group consisting of polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), PETG co-polyester, polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PU), polyethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), recycled PETG, recycled PET, recycled PU, recycled EVA, thermoplastic polyolefin elastomers (TPE), and combinations thereof,

the nucleating agent comprises 0.014% to 0.25% by weight based on 100% by weight of the polymeric material,

the nitrogen comprises from about 0.016% to about 0.0228% by weight based on 100% by weight of the polymeric material,

wherein the stiffener core achieves a weight reduction of up to 30% compared to an identical stiffener core without the nitrogen gas, and

wherein the stiffener core meets or exceeds 1^stcollapse and 10^thcollapse product specifications using SATRA TM83 test method.