Abstract: A shoe side or combined heel seat and side lasting machine has two side lasting assemblies, each comprising wiping elements mounted for pivotal movement, independently of adjacent elements, about first and second axes extending respectively transversely and lengthwise of the last bottom. For providing a substantially continuous wiping surface, the first axis lies in the plane of the work-engaging surface of its associated element, along the longitudinal center line thereof, when said surface lies horizontally. Also each shoe lasting assembly can pivot bodily about an axis adjacent the edge of the work-engaging surface of the most heelwardly disposed element, in the plane of its work-engaging surface. Associated with each pair of wiping elements is a clamp pad, said pad being caused clampingly to engage the shoe, while the inwiping movement of the elements continues, by operation of a common piston-and-cylinder arrangement.

Abstract: A leather press in which two wedges are synchronously driven to raise a lower platen in the press from an open condition to a position adjacent an upper platen of the press. The lower platen is movably mounted on a support. The support and the wedges are in slidable engagement with one another to effect a preliminary closing of the press. A plurality of pressurizable members such as hydraulic pancake cylinders may be mounted between the movable platen and the support so that the platens are secondarily urged together by the application of hydraulic pressure, to apply the required working pressure, to a leather workpiece disposed between the platens. The hydraulic pancake cylinders are arranged to be disposed over a broad area of the lower platen to efficiently provide maximum pressure thereacross.

Abstract: In an athletic shoe having a pocket, generally disposed laterally and mounted upon the quarter portion for the shoe, the pocket comprises a liner of material, or a pair of the same, each stitched or otherwise fastened to the side of the shoe, so that the front and back edges of the pocket are confiningly affixed to the shoe, while the bottom edge of the pocket may be stitched to the quarter panel upwardly of the sole, or the same may be secured with the shoe through the effort of the stitching that holds the sole shank to the shoe quarter portion. Proximate the upward edge of the formed pocket, in one embodiment, is stitched to the shoe near the location of its eyestay, and having a zipper provided through the pocket, or at least its front liner, to attain access into the pocket and wherein miscellaneous personal items may be located for safe keeping, particularly during shoe usage, as when jogging.

Abstract: A boot or shoe comprises a pre-formed portion and a portion which is moulded in one piece on to the pre-formed portion and which includes the sole unit and those parts of the upper not constituted by the pre-formed portion. The pre-formed portion comprises side panels extending along each side of the shoe and a sock for underlying the foot, which sock interconnects the side panels and the side panels and sock may be made in one piece or in separate pieces which are fastened together, as by sewing, before the moulded portion is moulded on to the pre-formed portion. The moulded portion is made from a plastics material, e.g. polyurethane, and the material does not overlap the inner face of the pre-formed portion but overlaps at least some of the marginal regions of the two side panels. The sock lies in the top surface of the sole unit. The two side panels may together extend also round the heel region of the upper and the plastics material may cover the outer face of the panels in the heel region.

Abstract: A sole attachment or undersupport in the form of a plate attached to the sole of footwear, in particular a ski boot, wherein the lower tread or walking surface is domed in the direction of the sole. The plate is provided with holder elements which engage over the sole. One of the holder elements is rigid, the other holder element is movable. Fixing means, for instance pins are provided, which engage into bores provided at the ski boot sole. The plate consists of telescopically adjustable plate portions. There are also provided recesses in the tread surface and adjustable anti-skid elements, such as adjustable pins serving to prevent slipping or skidding by the user. Holders can be provided for securing the sole attachment at a ski when it is not worn at the ski boot or the like.

Abstract: This invention relates to boots for divers, used in association with a wet suit, dry suit, other diving gears or for other aquatic activities. Each boot comprises a sock, made of elastomeric material, preferably covered by nylon fabric on one or two sides, and an outsole, together with a back stay, a toe-cap and a foxing, made of non-cellular rubber and directly vulcanized as a unit on the sock. The resulting boot is long-lasting because the outsole does not become detached from the sock. Vulcanization is carried out in such a way that it does not affect the cellular elastomeric material.

Abstract: What is disclosed is a method for the recovery of hair from an animal hide and for a concurrent opening of the hide structure using a proteolytic enzyme, which method comprises first pre-treating the hide, free of preservative salt, in the acid pH region with a material cleaving disulfide bridges and then, without a previous softening, concurrently loosening hair and opening the hide structure by treating said hide with a protease, effective in the alkaline region, at a pH value of about 11 to about 13.

Abstract: Athletic footwear for non-contact or light-contact sports having a resilient sole portion to which front and rear upper portions of reinforced canvas or rubber material are securely attached. Foot protection and mobility are optimized by isolating the plural upper portions, one from the other, and by positioning the front and rear upper portions so as to be effective at points of maximum foot flexibility, namely, over the ball of the foot and across the ankle. Leather reinforcement of the canvas portions at both the bosses through which laces are passed for drawing the shoe to the wearer's foot and at the exposed edges of the canvas uppers prevents discomfort to a sockless user while permitting maximum absorption of stress at these points.

Abstract: A one-piece outer sole for logging boots is described which includes pointed metal calks received by receptacles in portions of the outersole which are located beneath the ball, arch and heel portions of the wearer's foot. The sole is made of a flexible material; and the receptacles beneath the ball portion of the wearer's foot are aligned in multiple rows each of which is parallel to a line through the metatarsal phalangeal joints of the wearer's foot. The rows are spaced apart a sufficient distance that an uninterrupted, straight, lateral area of the outersole extends between adjacent rows so that the portion of the outersole beneath the ball portion of the wearer's foot is longitudinally flexible along an axis which is normal to the rows.

Abstract: A ski boot device for facilitating walking comprises a profiled member for connection to the sole of a ski boot, and mobile from a first position in which it is flush with the plane defined by the sole to a second position in which it projects from the sole plane.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing insoles from flexible, porous and stickable sheet plastic material by sheering the sheet to form a peripheral cut of the insole and an internal cut in the heel area to form an open area surrounded by a land area. The insole is then placed in a mold die and plastic is injected to fill in the open area and surround the land area to conform to a predetermined contour. The insole is stabilized in the die by a plurality of rods positioned within the die.

Abstract: An article of footwear having an improved outsole formed with uniformly distributed small apertures therethrough throughout its area, the apertures being of circular, oval or other curvilinear or angular or polygonal cross-section or any combination of them throughout their axial length and tapering convergently upwardly.The apertures optimally have diameters, or spans defining equivalent cross-sectional areas, on the order of about 1.6-2 millimeters at their inner ends and 2.4-2.8 millimeters at their outer ends, with center to center spacings on the order of about 5-7 millimeters. Small untapered holes may be employed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ski-boot more particularly designed to enable deliberate release of a ski-boot from a ski by means of a ski-stick.The ski-boot comprises bearing-surfaces and retention means especially comprising a hole 18 adapted to cooperate with the ski-boot from the ski and in order on the other hand to avoid its slipping during the release of the ski-boot from the ski.The boot in accordance with the invention offers the advantage of facilitating the deliberate release of the fastening between the ski-boot and the ski.

Abstract: A control device for footwear, such as an athletic shoe, including a body having a base with relatively flat upper and lower surfaces and a wall extending upwardly around a heel portion to extend along both a medial and lateral portion to an end. The body is formed of plastic to be yieldable, but relatively sturdy for support of the foot in a neutral plane and control roll of the foot during a running cycle.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a shoe stiffener directly on a selected surface of a shoe assembly (such as a shoe shank on the bottom of an insole) from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material encased in a sleeve. The apparatus supports a shoe assembly, bottom up, to expose the insole bottom to a radiant heater. Means are provided for automatically locating a strip of the shank material on the insole bottom and for raising the shoe assembly, together with the insole strip, into engagement with a means for urging the shank strip against and into conformity with the contour of the insole bottom. A radiant heater then is operated to activate the shank strip. The ball and heel ends of the shank strip are pressed firmly toward the insole by heat absorbing presser pads which cause the ends of the shank strip to be tapered and to promote secure bonding of the ends of the shank strip to the insole bottom.

Abstract: A process for the production of synthetic plastic chamois leather footwear, comprising injection molding of the uppers of the footwear of plastics, attaching the sole and heel thereto, coating the uppers with adhesive and flocking them in a flocking machine with rayon flock having a certain count and length. To prevent the sole and heel from being flocked, too, they are inserted in an appropriate sole protection mold during the flocking operation.

Abstract: A counter for footwear, such as athletic shoes mounted on the sole of the footwear within the region of the heel and superposed on the lasted upper to extend toward the instep. The counter has a body contoured to extend around the heel and along the sides of the footwear and tapers from a maximum height at the heel toward the sole. The counter is formed of a stiff, relatively unyielding material. The medial side extends to the instep and together with the material of the body encourages normal range of motion to reduce running related injury.

Abstract: The present invention provides apparatus attachable to an Alpine ski boot for aiding the wearer in walking. This apparatus comprises an auxiliary sole attachable under the sole of the ski boot and having an upper surface for accommodating the ski boot sole and a lower surface for engaging the ground. A given curvature is provided on the lower surface for approximating the normal heel-to-toe walking motion. A pocket in a leading end portion of the auxiliary sole surroundingly engages a toe portion of the ski boot sole. An elongate, elastically deformable cord grippingly engages the heel portion of the ski boot. This cord has a pair of studs attached to its respective ends. A plurality of stud-engaging slots are spaced at predetermined intervals longitudinally of the auxiliary sole for releasably engaging these studs to provide a range of adjustment of the effective length of the unstressed cord.

Abstract: A traction device for removable attachment to a user's shoes to assist in walking on ice has a steel plate with depending ice-piercing teeth and an elastic attachment band. The teeth lie in transverse planes and are struck and bent from a flat plate.

Abstract: A conventional shoe last is provided with an adapter assembly to facilitate lasting of boots and/or other ankle-covering malleoli circumventing footwear. The assembly includes an upward extension that has medially, laterally adjustable medial and lateral portions, each preferably with an adjustable cup-forming member, and each with a skirt for filling in around the thinner top backpart of the conventional shoe last. The V-notch of the conventional shoe last is provided with an adjustable cone portion that at least partially covers the cone portion of the shoe last in order to provide the close fit needed for active wear boots.