Soft step top lift for shoes and method thereof

Abstract

A soft top lift member for a shoe heel wherein the top lift member is made by mixing a filler carbon material with a thermoplastic elastomer to form a filled elastomer. The filled elastomer is then formed into a top lift member for a shoe heel by using an injection molding process. The top lift member is then attached to a shoe heel. The thermoplastic elastomer can be a relatively soft thermoplastic polyurethane material and the carbon material can be a carbon powder. The filler or carbon powder is provided to enhance abrasion resistance properties.

1 . A molded shoe top lift member comprising:
 a base material including a thermoplastic elastomer; and   a filler of carbon material mixed in the base material to form a substantially uniformly distributed filled elastomer.   
     
     
         2 . The molded shoe top lift member of  claim 1  wherein said carbon material is present in the range of between about 2% and about 5% by weight of the base and filler material. 
     
     
         3 . The molded shoe top lift member of  claim 1  wherein the carbon material is in the form of a powder. 
     
     
         4 . The molded shoe top lift of  claim 1  wherein the particle size of the carbon material is about 2-4 microns. 
     
     
         5 . A method for making a shoe top lift member comprising the steps of:
 providing carbon particles;   mixing the carbon particles and a base material in predetermined quantities to form a substantially uniformly distributed filled elastomer; and   forming the thus filled elastomer into a top lift member.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the carbon particles comprise about 5% by weight of the filled elastomer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the carbon particles are in powder form. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the size of the carbon particles is in the range of about 2 microns to about 4 microns.