Abstract: A mold for making a sandal having an injected molded sole comprises a last for receiving an upper, a ring, and a sole plate. The last, ring and sole plate form a sealed cavity where the sole is formed in response to plastic material being injected into the sealed cavity. The injected plastic material has tendencies to (1) adhere to portions of the upper on a portion of the last forming a wall of the sealed cavity and (2) remain in the cavity as the last is removed from the cavity. The portion of the last forming the sealed cavity wall includes an ear extending into the cavity for overcoming the tendency of the injected plastic material to remain in the cavity. The ear frictionally engages an interior surface of the sole to pull the sole from the cavity as the last is being removed from the cavity.

Abstract: A sewing plate, without a cover, is employed to support parts of flexible sheet material that are joined by stitching to form a shoe upper. Pins for locating and holding the parts to be joined project outwardly from one face of the plate about an opening in the plate through which stitching is performed. The flexible material is provided with slits, cut without removal of material, and the slits are pressed onto associated pins. At least some of the pins have a tapered configuration in which the pin cross-section increases progressively from an exposed tip of the pin to a point intermediate the length of the pin and then decreases progressively to the base of the pin.

Abstract: Apparatus for molding the sole of a shoe and the like to an upper comprises a pair of mold elements adapted to come together laterally and having peripheral edge portions for engaging the upper. Corresponding ends of the peripheral edge portions are configured for defining a gap therebetween where the mold elements join together. An edge portion of a pivoted blade member spans the gap when the mold elements come in contact.

Abstract: In an automatic sewing apparatus, a relay controlled by a backstitch control switch de-energizes a presser foot solenoid to raise the presser foot during backstitching to prevent damage that would result from the presser foot striking a pallet holding a workpiece. A switch, adapted to be actuated by the pallet, disables the operation of the sewing apparatus until the pallet is in a predetermined aligned position with respect to a support carriage which moves the pallet in a predetermined pattern with respect to the sewing head.

Abstract: This invention is directed to a mold for injection molding a sole onto an upper made of textile, vinyl, suede, leather, or any other suitable materials in which the lower periphery of the sole slopes downwardly and inwardly and forms a downwardly extending continuation of the peripheral face of the bumper. The mold is capable of using a single sole plate to produce a shoe in which the bumper and integral first sole part is formed of one color, a second sole part is formed of another color and the periphery of the second sole part is visible from the sides and ends of the shoe beneath the bumper. The upper surface of the sole plate of the mold includes an upstanding peripheral fin. The sole plate is capable of producing a skid-resistant surface on the bottom of the second sole part.