Abstract: A method and apparatus for proportionally stretching a skin in multiple directions from the center of the skin. The degree of stretching is proportional to the distance of the periphery of the skin from its center. The skin is clamped at its periphery to multiple perforated pivotable plates which stretch the skin upon contact with a cover member. The cover member hermetically seals the skins whereupon a subatmospheric pressure is applied thereto at a temperature below 75.degree. C.

Abstract: The device comprises an adjusting element having a variable working length and being associated, at the ends thereof, with two separate and mutually movable points on a boot, the adjusting element including a cylindrical body on the interior whereof a piston is slidably mounted which acts on a fluid and a valve controlling the passage opening of the fluid for varying the elastic bias developed by the adjusting element as it is adjusted in one direction independently from the bias applied during an adjustment in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A ski boot and lever locking device includes a plastics boot body having a front opening defining an adjustable closure and an encircling element on the portion of the boot body affected by adjustment of the front opening and provided with traction elements toward the rear of the boot body.

Abstract: Shoe upper conforming machine for use in side lasting shoe uppers using lasting rollers which operate progressively along opposite side portions of the shoe has a facility for varying the speed of relative movement between the shoe support and the side lasting instrumentalities. To this end two preset speeds ("slow" and "fast") are available and either the operator can select which speed, using a manually operable switch, or, by selecting an automatic cycle, the speed can be automatically switched during the machine cycle. In particular, it has been found desirable that, with certain styles of shoe the speed of traverse is reduced in the joint region of the shoe bottom. Where adhesive applying nozzles are also provided, if desired the rate of flow of adhesive can be similarly controlled (viz. by selecting from two pre-settings).

Abstract: A conventional ski boot is provided with a walking attachment configured as a removable, curved sole arranged with toe and heel straps configured to be clipped over the front and rear ledges of the boot, the deepest portion of the curved sole being located under the ball of the foot for allowing the foot to rock rearward, thus enabling the leg to be straightened at the knee for normal walking.

Abstract: Reversible treated hides are obtained by a process for treating animal skins. The process includes physiochemical operations, such as tanning, retanning, and finishing, to provide an aniline, semi-aniline, or pigmented hair-side appearance on the flesh side of the skin. By providing reversible skins in accordance with the process, finished leather articles can be manufactured without the necessity of providing linings.

Abstract: An improved runner's athletic shoe for training and/or racing is disclosed. The improved shoe comprises a preformed, cushioned unitary sole-heel structure and a lightweight, laced vamp upper structure extending from the base structure. The improvement comprises a weight pocket at the outside of a toe region of the upper structure, for receiving removeable weights therein at a maximum moment arm relative to rotation of the runner's ankle. Further improvements in heel and side pockets for additional weights are also disclosed.

Abstract: A hopping and dancing shoe comprises a sole member, a base member parallel thereto, and a spring therebetween. Two means are provided by the spring to resist yawing of the sole member relative to the base member: (1) the spring has an axial extension of each end which is connected to the sole member and base member, respectively; and (2) the extreme outer coils of the spring are in contact with the sole member and base member, respectively, to provide frictional contact there between.

Abstract: A warming cap mountable on the toe of a boot. A flexible, heat conductive inner core can be shaped to conform the cap to the shape of the boot and an upper receptacle holds a heat source for generating heat.

Abstract: A ski boot comprises a boot leg linked to a boot shell for free pivotal movement and a device for delimiting the pivotal movement of the boot leg formed of a resilient and damping element which is pivotally fixed between the boot leg and the boot shell on the boot leg and on the boot shell.

Abstract: The ski boot of the invention comprises a shank and a rigid shell base. The shank is at least partially journalled on the shell base, and flexion means for adjusting the flexional characteristics of the shank relative to the shell base are also provided. The flexion means is generally positioned at the lower portion of the shank and comprises:(a) first support means associated with the shank;(b) second support means associated with the shell base, the first and second support means forming at least one groove therebetween; and(c) transmission means for transmitting flexional forces exerted by the leg of a skier on the shank from the first support means to the second support means.

Abstract: An improved shoe construction to be worn on a human foot includes a foot bag made of sheet-like material as a unitary structure. The foot bag comprises an inner sole for underlying and that conforms generally to at least the lower surfaces of the toes, sole and heel of the foot. The foot bag also includes an outer covering for overlying and that conforms generally to the upper surfaces of the toes and the instep of the foot and to the side surfaces of the heel of the foot. The inner sole and lower edges of the outer covering meet at and are joined together at at least a portion of the periphery of the inner sole. The shoe construction further includes a flexible outer sole member that has an upper foot bed surface for underlying and supporting and that conforms generally to the lower surfaces of the toes, sole and heel of the foot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing outer footwear such as a shoe comprises the step of dry or moist heat setting a lasted shoe (9, 10) by partially or totally immersing it in a fluidized solid material (2) in a bath (1). It is now proposed that the lasted shoe (9, 10) should be enclosed in a sleeve (7) of flexible impervious material, the upper open end (6) of the sleeve being fixed with respect to the bath (1) while the remainder of the sleeve including its closed end (7a) is partially or totally immersed in the fluidizable material. Apparatus for the performance of the method comprises a plurality of sleeves (9) fitted as aforesaid with their open upper ends (6) secured to the top (5) of the bath (1) and their lower closed ends (7a) secured by hooks (8) to the floor of the bath. The material is fluidized by admission of heated air to the bottom of the bath of which the top cover (5) has an air outlet (5b) including a filter for preventing escape of fluidized material.

Abstract: A system and method for forming a custom-made resilient insert for a given person's shoe in which the contour of the support surface of the insert conforms to the contour of the undersurface of a person's foot.

Abstract: A press comprising a flexible pocket or elastic membrane, that is adjustable in height and serves as a means for exerting a uniform enveloping pneumatic or hydraulic pressure, between the glued insole and the mounted upper of an article of footwear, which is held between locking elements during the exertion of pressure by the pocket. The locking elements consist of a single shaper closely contacting the contours of the footwear and remaining fixed on the press frame, during operation of said pocket, and a toe support that is placed against the base of the upper at the level of the instep. Thus, any creasing of the upper portion of the footwear is avoided by securely holding the footwear immobile during the pressure operation.

Abstract: A ski boot including a shell base with a sole on its bottom, and a calf, the calf being adapted to accommodate the leg of a skier and being pivotably mounted to the shell base along a first pivot axis. The shoe further includes at least one vertical extension extending from the shell base, the calf being pivotably secured along a second pivot axis on the extension.

Abstract: A computer-controlled machine for progressively roughing marginal portions of shoe bottoms comprises a tool carrier on which two rotary roughing brushes (168) are carried side-by-side, and a shoe support (18) between which and the tool carrier relative movement takes place lengthwise, widthwise and heightwise of the shoe bottom. Each tool (168) is mounted so as to "float" heightwise in relation to the tool carrier, resilient means (175) being provided for urging each tool independently downwardly towards the shoe support (18). In this way the pressure applied by each tool to the shoe bottom in the operation of the machine can be controlled and/or regulated. For effecting relative movement between tool carrier and shoe support, numerically controlled motors are provided, operating in response to a programmed instruction. Such instruction can be made using the machine in a path-determining mode.

Abstract: A convertible shoe having a sole and releasable upper strap portions. Anchoring means attached to the sole edge cooperate with ring means at the ends of the strap portions to releasable secure the upper and sole portions.

Abstract: A method of making an article of footwear includes attaching a connecting strip to the peripheral lower edge portion of a pre-formed upper so that the connecting strip surrounds the upper. The connecting strip has a profiled section providing a projecting extension, and a pre-formed ring-like welt member having an inner surface shaped for snapping engagement with the projecting extension of the connecting strip, is snapped into engagement with the connecting strip. A pre-formed sole and heel unit is then attached to the welt member by causing the upper peripheral surface of the sole and heel unit to adhere to the lower surface of the welt member. Alternatively, the pre-formed welt member may be omitted, and the pre-formed sole and heel unit snapped directly onto the connecting strip. In a further alternative arrangement, two separate connecting strips are used on opposite ends of the article of footwear.

Abstract: Quick release means for a pair of footwear. The quick release means enables one to readily extract one's feet from the footwear without the use of one's hands. In that regard, each footwear of the pair includes a notch in the toe portion of the outsole and a projection extending generally upwardly from the heel portion. The removal of the footwear is accomplished when one positions his or her feet so that a portion of the outsole of one of said pair of footwear overlies the projection of the other of said pair, with the notch receiving the projection, therein. This enables the wearer to readily extract one of his or her feet from one of the footwear. Obviously, to extract both feet, the first foot is only partially extracted from the footwear initially selected for removal, enabling that same footwear to then be used to extract the other foot from its footwear.