Abstract: A shoe incorporating dynamic Orthotic means which adapt to the foot in a prescribed manner, controlling heel "strike" and weight bearing loads, establishing a cup-shape to "catch" the heel and foot to stabilize it, balancing and maintaining the sub-talar joint in a neutral attitude and the mid-tarsal joint locked, enabling the foot and ankle to maintain optimum integrity as an efficient support and propulsion system, and resisting the symptomatic tendency for the sub-talar joint and foot to overcompensate and overstress the anatomy.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for making disposable shoe covers from a substantially continuous supply of material, the material is moved continuously through a plurality of operating stations wherein two parallel sheets of the material are joined to form a shoe cover. The webs of material are drawn from two supply sources along a parallel path where an elastic band of material is attached to one edge of both webs and are united by glueing and stitching operations. In addition, when desired, a static strip is added as the web moves through the apparatus. After the webs of material have been joined, the apparatus cuts the length of joined webs into discrete lengths to define the individual shoe covers.

Abstract: Shoes with bonded type soles may be made at a higher rate of speed on a line with continuous travel of the lasts, at a predetermined and variable rate, where the series of automatic machines come, in most cases, to work on the last. Either a complete installation, with automatic, programmed cycle, or a series of automated units particularly make possible: placing of the insoles on the last with foot and size selection and centering of the insoles; simultaneous gluing and assembly of the sides after placing of the uppers; roughing operations with preregistration of the depth and following of the profile of the sides; overturning of the sole, prepositioning on the upper, reactivation of the glue, attachment and bonding of the sole; and removal from the last. The installation may be used for the production of various types of shoes by units assembled by unit in pairs or by pairs.

Abstract: An anti-slipping attachment for shoes is disclosed in two embodiments, one for both the sole and heel and the other for the sole alone. The sole portion of each embodiment includes a pair of overlapped plates pivotted together at their rear ends permitting adjustment of the width of the device at its front end. One plate includes an integral tab bent over the other plate to serve as a guide and the other plate includes an integral stop which cooperates with the tab to limit the maximum angular displacement of the plates. The plates, which have integral teeth and integral apertured ears for receiving a strap, are each formed by bending from identical sheet metal blanks.

Abstract: A boot suitable for after skiing is described which comprises a sole portion, an exterior vamp portion connected to the sole portion, the exterior vamp portion being turned at the top to form a turned over portion, an interior layer continuous with the turned over vamp portion, a chamber between the exterior portion and the interior layer, the chamber being closed and being inaccessible to the exterior environment. The ski boot may be of knee-high type or ankle-high type. The interior layer may be manufactured separate from the vamp portion and may be joined to the vamp portion by a seam. The interior layer may consist of a stocking which is joined to the top edge of the vamp portion, the stocking having the shape of a foot opposite to the foot portion of the boot, with the stocking being turned in the interior of the boot.

Abstract: A shoe buildup and a method for making the same wherein a block of rigid foam material is cut and shaped to follow the contour of an existing shoe and is then preferably adhesively secured to the sole of the shoe. Although the buildup may be formed of one piece, it is generally formed in two parts, one for the front portion of the shoe and one for the heel portion thereof. After the buildups have been attached, a ground engaging second sole and a heel are nailed to the bottoms of the buildups. Side coverings of leather or other appropriate material may be adhesively secured to the front and rear buildups to provide a finished shoe having an attractive appearance.

Abstract: An athletic shoe having an upper, an outer sole, and an intermediate sole, the intermediate sole being made essentially of a peripheral portion extending the full length of the shoe and underlying the inner and outer peripheral sides and the periphery of the heel, and surrounding an inner core portion. The peripheral portion of the intermediate sole is made of a relatively hard closed cell foam and the core portion is made of a relatively soft closed cell foam.

Abstract: Improvement in a jumping shoe attachment having a sole plate and an arrangement for attaching the sole plate to a user's shoe, the improvement comprising an arrangement including a ground operative hinge device disposed beneath the sole plate for yieldably holding the jumping shoe attachment against the user's weight in an elevated position above the ground, the hinge device comprising a pair of hinge plates hinged about a pair of stationary hinge axes affixed to the sole plate, the hinge axes being both centered and spaced apart lengthwise in respect to the sole plate, the lower ends of the hinge plates being operative against the ground, the hinge device including a plurality of tension springs for predetermining the amount of force by which a pair of the jumping shoe attachments overcomes the user's weight, the tension springs being connected to the inside walls of the hinge plates for yieldably pulling them together during use of the jumping shoe attachment, the tension springs being preselectable as to n

Abstract: A pliable inner boot for insertion within a rigid outer shell of a ski boot is formed of resinous foam material. The inner boot is bifurcated at the front, and is provided with recesses in the vicinity of the shin region and preferably at the heel pocket. These recesses soften the feel of the inner boot at the shin and ankle regions when it is compressed by closure of the rigid outer shell.A pliable custom fitting reservoir (fit pack) is interposed between the rigid outer shell and the inner surface of the inner boot in the vicinity of the heel pocket and the instep portions of the inner boot. This reservoir may be either integral with or separate from the inner boot. It may include a conduit adapted to receive a liquid resin reaction mixture from a source remote from the ski boot. Alternatively, the fit pack may contain isolated components of a reaction mixture which are mixed by kneading just prior to use.

Abstract: There is shown and described an extremely simple, inexpensive, easily useable apparatus for covering footwear, such as bowling shoes, to avoid an undesirable contamination of the soles thereof.

Abstract: An article of footwear being in the form of a sandle includes a platform, two straps anchored to the platform to secure the platform to a wearer's foot, and an expedient, such as a velcro strip, mounted to the edge of the platform for removably fastening an upper foot covering to the platform to convert the sandal to a shoe and vice versa. The sandal includes a sole, a heel provided on the sole, an arch-engaging loop, an ankle-encircling loop, and one or more toe-receiving loops. The sole, an arch, a wedged heel, and a plurality of channels for movably receiving the straps are formed in a single molded platform to reduce the number of fabrication steps and make the sandle lighter. Each of the loops is anchored to the sole for adjustably securing the sole to a wearer's foot and for adjustably engaging the toe or toes of the wearer's foot. The arch-engaging loop and the toe-receiving loops are formed by a first strap and the ankle-encircling loop is formed by a second strap.

Abstract: Clog-type shoes are produced by combining foamed polymeric soles with conventional vamps by interposing selected adhesives and application of pressure and heat to the assembled clog-type shoe.

Abstract: An accessory removably mounted on a sheet music support stand is provided for musicians to accommodate accessories to musical instruments as well as other varied paraphernalia for which no convenient temporary storage place is provided when the musician is playing. In modified form, the accessory tray is separable into three elongated, compact parts easily transported in a separate custom-made carrying bag or together with a collapsible music stand.

Abstract: Improved footwear, such as a ski boot having a substantially rigid shell, a split section in the rear, lower boot heel portion with a slit commencing at a circular aperture in the shell and extending upwardly, and adjustable fastening means mounted across the slit for varying the slit width and thereby adjusting the split section at the heel portion to the wearer's heel width size.

Abstract: A boot appliance for improved traction for attachment to the sole of a boot includes a toe portion, a heel portion and a resilient middle portion for stretchably connecting the toe and heel portions. Both the toe and heel portions include stud tread designs on the bottom surfaces whereby to provide improved traction, cushion and wear prevention. The toe and heel portions also include toe and heel restraining straps, respectfully, for releaseably connecting the boot appliance for improved traction to the sole and heel of a boot.

Abstract: A running or jogging shoe having an improved outer sole equipped with replaceable synthetic insert elements having a uniquely contoured shape adapted to be threadedly secured in overlapping relationship to raised projections on the sole exterior. In a first embodiment, the insert elements are adapted to receive and retain conventional spikes. In a second embodiment, the insert elements include integrally formed gripping projections. By replacing worn insert elements, the useful life of the outer sole, and thus the shoe as well, can be extended significantly.

Abstract: There is disclosed an improved system of footwear which permits the wearer to customize the fit and aesthetics of her footwear. A substantially E shaped channel is provided along the length of, and inward of the perimeter of the sole of the assembly. The central arm of the E channel is provided with a series of lacing engagement members in the form of slots. Through selective choice and engagement of the lacings with slots, a myriad of styling and fit adjustments can be made by a wearer.

Abstract: A method for the continuous processing of laminar flexible workpieces, especially in the production of leather, shoes or clothing is disclosed. The method involves the pressing, especially hot-press gluing of workpieces wherein the workpieces are conveyed along a continuous path in pressure zones comprising at least one low-pressure zone on the input side for spreading or smoothing the workpieces and at least one succeeding high-pressure zone for pressing the workpieces. The workpieces are preferably conveyed in a generally upwardly direction from the inlet toward an outlet generally superposed above and in a direction opposite the inlet feed of the workpieces.

Abstract: A process for temporarily fastening the flaps of shoe uppers for a lasting step includes aligning pairs of opposed eyelets of the flaps, propelling one of a pair of substantially parallel legs of each of a plurality of generally U or H shaped fastening element through respective pairs of the aligned opposed eyelets and positioning the thus prepared upper on a last for a lasting operation. The substantially parallel legs of the fastening elements serve to maintain the flaps in connected relationship and are readily removed from the eyelets by severing of a bridge element which extends between and connects the legs.

Abstract: A shoe containing a cushioned sole assembly includes in one embodiment a spring cushion feature inserted between two flexible hinged sole segments and in a second embodiment a spring cushion fastened to an adjustable hinged spring mounting plate. The cushion assembly can be a part of the shoe manufacture or the assembly can be a separate unit fastened and adjusted to the sole of a shoe by clamp brackets. The sole cushioning assembly can be adapted for any tipe of shoe including jogging and other athletic shoes, protecting the feet of joggers and others from injuries that occur during use on hard surfaces, shoes for workers, providing comfort for those who must stand on hard surfaces for many hours during a day and insulating the feet of the user from surfaces that have extreme hot or cold temperatures.