Abstract: A ballet dancer's toe dancing ballet shoe is designed and manufactured more simply than conventional ballet toe shoes. A sole supporting shank of the toe shoe has a tip flap at the front thereof which may be folded up to define the front panel of the completed ballet toe shoe. The shank is applied to a male mold member which is inserted into a female mold member cavity and resin is inserted into the space between the mold members for defining a toe box support frame in which the inserted portion of the shank and tip flap are embedded. The shank is comprised of a leather-like material. The completed combination of the shank and toe box support frame are removed from the mold members. A ballet toe shoe upper is fastened to the shank and over the exterior and in the interior, as well, of the toe box support frame.

Abstract: An apparatus for the parting of hide hair is provided with a hide hair divider moved reciprocally in a longitudinal direction and comprising a plurality of wedge-shaped parting points and similarly formed counter-points. Between the parting and counter-points which are directed against each other, a comparatively narrow gap is provided, which widens to a wide opening. Because of the narrow gap, the parting and counter points cover each other in their path of motion, whereby the danger of the hide hair divider becoming hooked at the hide is reduced.

Abstract: A click stop mechanism for an interchangeable lens. A first click stop ball is adapted to engage with any of a plurality of click grooves formed in an inner wall of an aperture preset ring corresponding to both manual aperture preset marks and an automatic aperture preset mark. A switch button protrudes through a stationary ring in which the first click ball is fitted and the switch pin is slidably disposed in the hollow switch button with a coil spring therebetween. A second click ball is disposed so as to engage in either of two click grooves formed on opposite sides of the base portion of the switch button corresponding to the minimum manual aperture preset mark and the automatic aperture preset mark.

Abstract: A one-piece, washable and sterilizable plastic shoe comprising a lower part with a top on which the foot bears and a bottom enveloping an outsole and a heel, and an upper part having ventilating openings in a substantially vertical lateral area, these openings having upper and lower outer boundary edges that are lower, respectively, than the corresponding upper and lower inner boundary edges thereof. The method for producing such a plastic shoe includes the steps of introducing mouldable plastic into a mould comprising top and bottom halves with a shoe last therebetween and simultaneously forming the lateral ventilating openings by means of spaced pins extending between the bottom-half mould and the last. The apparatus for producing the shoe comprises a mould having top and bottom halves with a shoe last therebetween and a plurality of pins extending from the bottom-half mould into removeable engagement with the shoe last.

Abstract: In a process for manufacturing shoes in which an out-sole moulded in a sole mould by a first injection operation is joined to a lasted upper by a second injection operation the mould cavity for the second injection operation is defined by the lasted upper, side moulds and the out-sole while positioned within its sole mould and the joint between the side moulds and the sole mould is sealed by engagement of a marginal portion of the out-sole with the facing surfaces of the side moulds. In the case where the out-sole is shaped so as to provide in the finished shoe an exposed welt face the desired seal is effected by engagement of an inner marginal portion of the out-sole with the facing surface of the side moulds so as to leave an outer marginal portion, which forms the welt face, outside of the seal. Where this outer marginal portion is formed with a pattern the arrangement is such as to provide a small clearance between this outer marginal portion and the facing surface of the side moulds.

Abstract: A single-station combined toe and side lasting machine comprises pulling over instrumentalities 20, 22 for tensioning an upper over its last, toe lasting instrumentalities, including toe wipers 38, toe pad 48 and toe band 50, a heel support 56, two adhesive applying nozzles 28 and side lasting instrumentalities 114 constituted by two lasting rollers 176. In operation, with the upper tensioned, first the shoe is clamped by the toe lasting instrumentalities and heel support to allow adhesive to be applied progressively along opposite side portions from the toe to heel breast. Then the lasting rollers operate progressively from the ball region to the heel breast, and, when the rollers have cleared the ball region, the inwiping movement of the toe wipers is completed. The nozzles and side lasting rollers are mounted on a common carriage 26 which moved rectilinearly, supports 116 for the rollers being mounted for movement thereon about three perpendicular axes 82, 122, 140.

Abstract: The crankshaft of a crank mechanism has a projecting crank pin which is connected to an eye at the big-end of a connecting rod. An eye at the little-end of the connecting rod is connected to a gudgeon pin attached to the piston, being slidable axially of the gudgeon pin and being kept centered relative to the piston by resilient means. The eye at the big-end of the connecting rod is defined by a bush which is rotatably connected with the crank pin and has a pair of diametrically-opposing pins. The end of the connecting rod associated with the big-end is fork-shaped, and the arms of the fork are each articulated to one of the pins about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to both the axis of the crank pin and the longitudinal axis of the connecting rod.

Abstract: A sport shoe (1, 50, 70) is described having a tongue assembly (15, 30, 35, 76) comprising an upper section (16, 31, 56, 83) and a lower section (17, 32, 37, 86). The upper and lower sections (16, 17, 31, 32, 35, 57, 85, 86) are movably coupled so that, as the upper section (16, 31, 56, 86) is moved toward the toe of the sport shoe (1, 50, 70), the lower portion of the upper section (16, 31, 56, 85) and the lower section (17, 32, 57, 86) press a foot rearwardly and downwardly toward a heel cup (5, 79) of the sport shoe (1, 50, 70).

Abstract: The machine comprises a shoe support (20) on which a shoe can be positioned, and which includes a toe end engaging member (48) which senses the shoe length, two abutment faces (84, 90) being set along shoe length sensed. The machine also comprises adhesive-applying nozzles (262) and side lasting rolls (224) mounted on a carriage (216) for movement relative to the last support. The "start" position of the nozzles is set by valves (334,336) actuated by cams (330, 332) positioned by a sensing member (326) engaging with one abutment face (84). Various other machine operations, which take place at the ball region of the shoe bottom, the position of which region thus varies proportionately with shoe length, are controlled by further valves (354, 356) actuated by cams (350, 352) carried on a control rod (344) the position of which is determined by a sensing member (338) engaging the other abutment face (90), an appropriate length grading arrangement (342) connecting said member and said control rod.

Abstract: A shoe support comprises toe support means (34) and heel support means (30), the toe support means being mounted for adjusting movement relative to the heel support means in directions extending lengthwise, widthwise and heightwise of the bottom of a shoe supported by the shoe support. The heel support means (30) comprises a last pin (32') mounted for limited rocking movement abut an axis (412) extending lengthwise of the shoe bottom, the last pin being supported on a support member (420) which is angularly displaceable on a support rod (28), the arrangement being such that the rocking axis (412) of the last pin (32') can be adjusted angularly on the support rod, thus to locate said axis (412) substantially in the heel-to-toe plane of the shoe, as determined by the position of the toe support means (34). In this way, the shoe is supported in a more stable manner for operations to be performed thereon, e.g. a heel seat lasting operation.

Abstract: A skiing boot having a lower shell, which substantially encloses the foot, a gaiter, which is hinged to the lower shell adjacent to the ankle, and a device for adjusting the inclination of the gaiter relative to the lower shell and to exert a force which opposes the forward pivotal movement of the gaiter. Projections or similar holders are respectively provided on the rear portion of the lower shell and on the rear portion of the gaiter, in a manner known per se. An adjusting screw having oppositely handed screw threads is provided between said projections and an adjusting wheel is mounted on said screw between its screw threads. A guide pin is longitudinally slidably mounted on the projection of the gaiter and interengages with the adjusting screw and carries a biasing spring or the like.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stripping a sleeve from a length of resin-impregnated fiberglass rovings and for cutting a length of the impregnated fibers. The invention severs and separates the sleeve in a manner which assures that the fibers will remain compact and in which substantially all of the resin remains with the fiber rovings. The material is advanced through the stripper solely by drawing on the severed sleeve and without gripping or otherwise disrupting the fibers.

Abstract: In the sole the invention assembles a piece of electronic counter which can automatically accumulate the steps when walk. It includes a piece of touch stick which will be compressed for the action of walking with interval, apiece of knowing stick which compresses with interval to produce electronic sign, a set of apparatus which arranges above every electronic sign to be a stable electric circuit of pulse, and a set of apparatus can make electronic counter select the above-number or below-number.

Abstract: A boot shaper for treating crease or stretch marks in legged boots, comprises an inflatable sock which is inflatable through an air inlet means and is deflatable through an air pressure relief means so that the sock can be pulled from a boot after use by a handle means in use of this boot shaper, the at least partially deflated sock, is inserted into the boot to be treated, inflated to pressurize the boot to an extent sufficient to reduce or eliminate the crease or stretch marks over a period of treatment, the sock then being deflated and removed from the boot using the handle means.

Abstract: In tack seat lasting machines, operator skill is often required because of irregularities in last manufacture, especially in drilling the last pin hole. Thus, automatic presentation is difficult. In accordance with the invention the last pin (32') is mounted for limited rocking movement about an axis extending lengthwise of the shoe bottom, and shoe centralizing means (424) engages edges of the shoe, at opposite sides of the last pin, to ensure alignment with a longitudinal center line of the machine. The centralized shoe is then clamped by a holddown (406), the centralizing means released, and the shoe heel end clamped by a heel band (520) which, by equalized pressure being applied to both "legs" thereof, holds, the shoe in position as presented.

Abstract: A plastic ski boot having an attachment member mounted on its lower between the toe and heel, is adapted to be releasably attached to a ski. The toe and heel portions of the boot are shaped to facilitate safe and comfortable walking and standing, and at least part of the sole walking surfaces are covered with a high friction plastic for walking purposes. The forward lean angle of the boot when out of the binding can be lesser than normal to provide comfortable standing and walking, and the ski binding with which the boot is adapted to cooperate adds sufficient forward lean angle for skiing purposes when the boot is in the binding.

Abstract: An athletic shoe is disclosed which is primarily adapted for use in rapid start-stop sports, such as tennis, racquetball, handball and the like. The athletic shoe includes a sole, an upper secured to the sole and a toe cap which is secured to the sole and the upper. The toe cap defines a plurality of narrow slits which extend generally longitudinally of the sole. The narrow slits increase the flexibility of the toe cap and provide room for the toes of the user during rapid stops primarily to prevent bruising of the big toe.

Abstract: A protective shoe for use during the practice of the art of karate and other sports. The shoe has a foot surrounding member shaped to surround a portion of the wearer's foot. The foot surrounding member is adapted to hold a shoe member shaped to surround the upper part of the foot. The shoe member is fabricated from a shock absorbing material.

Abstract: A side lasting machine having a last support, for supporting a last bottom uppermost, and two side lasting assemblies, arranged one at each side of the last support, each assembly comprising a plurality of lasting elements (fingers), a plurality of clamp pads arranged beneath the fingers, and depending from each finger and interposed between the pads and the upper, a plurality of lasting bands. In operation, the pads hold the bands against the upper under a pressure sufficient to allow slipping between the bands and the pads, while causing the bands to apply a drafting force to the upper. As the fingers move inwardly, they draw the bands upwards so that the upper is updrafted before the lasting margin is secured to the insole. The fingers, in the rest condition, are spaced above the level of the last bottom and move downwardly thereonto as they are moved inwardly, thus avoiding the need to set their heightwise position for different styles of shoe.

Abstract: A sports shoe having a thick sole and an enclosed upper in which the toe cap is divided by means of articulating hinge joints into several narrow strips each of which enclose an acute angle with respect to longitudinal axis of the shoe. The articulating hinges are approximately parallel to each other and run from the inside edge of the shoe and towards the heel. The sole is provided with grooves running in parallel to and beneath the moving joints.