Abstract: The machine comprises a plurality of substantially enclosed channels in which a lasted shoe upper is subjected to hot air blown from both sides of the channel. Conveyors carry the uppers along the channels past inlets located at a distance of from 6 to 20 cms from the center-line of the lasted upper as it passes longitudinally along the channel. This arrangement enables air to be blown on to the uppers at high velocity. Moistening means may be provided to introduce moisture into the air before it is blown on to the uppers.

Abstract: Separation of the upper from the midsole, and separation of the midsole from the main sole, of shoes resulting from the kind of forces that are applied during the practice in bowling and other sports is minimized or prevented by the use of a wrap-around member in the toe region of the shoe. The lower margin of that wrap-around member is sandwiched between the midsole and the sole of the shoe, and it is wrapped around and over the midsole and up the side of the upper where it is fastened in a way that combines with a lock stitch that binds together the wrap-around member, the midsole, and the sole so that forces that would otherwise tend to separate midsole from the upper tend, if anything, to relieve pressure on that juncture.

Abstract: A golf shoe having improved transverse ground traction provided by a novel spike pattern which differs between the right-foot and the left-foot shoes in which the spikes are affixed to the lowermost surface of a specially designed sole and heel assembly. Improved comfort and foot stability can also be provided by use of a cushion pad insert of special configuration having a lateral arch support associated therewith. A first set of ground engaging spikes are arranged adjacent to the leading edges of both the right and the left shoe and at least two spikes in the set are positioned in the instep region of the shoes. A second set of spikes is also provided on the trailing edge of the shoes as defined by the direction of a golf club swing.

Abstract: A cementing press for cement attaching outsoles to lasted footwear from their toe up to the lower end of the heel breast by using a counter support applying pressure to the waist regian. A heel support takes up the pressure exerted to the heel breast during cement attaching. The heel support is arranged on a lever pivoted around a fulcrum running transversely to the longitudinal direction of the shoe towards the heel.

Abstract: An improved athletic shoe having an injection-molded intermediate portion bonding a fabric upper portion and a rubber outsole portion, for improved fit and comfort, and decreased injury-causing fatigue, particularly adapted for use in the playing court-type sports such as basketball is disclosed. The injection-molded intermediate portion conforms to and partially envelopes the metatarsal area and the heel area of the wearer's foot, and has an intermediate portion which gives lateral support to the instep area of a wearer's foot, such that the shoe moves as a unit together with the wearer's foot. An elastic band is provided about the ankle opening, which is disposed in the area of the subtalar ankle joint, put into tension to retain the shoe upon the foot of the wearer as the shoelace is tied.

Abstract: There is disclosed an athletic shoe that finds most efficacy with joggers. The shoe is supplied with a conventional upper and sole. The usual lacing arrangement is provided with the exception that additional lacing means is provided along both sides of the shoe whereby the counter containing heel portion of the shoe is constrained in a manner so that the heel portion of the athletic shoe is brought inward in the direction of the centerline of the shoe to effectively lock the heel portion with the front portion. The tying arrangement may be a continuation of the usual lacings or may be two separate laces, but in any event essentially locks the front and back of the shoe together. The lace arrangement extending to the counter or heel portion is positioned whereby the means is substantially parallel to a "spring" ligament as normally located in the foot.

Abstract: In footwear of most varieties including boots and shoes, there is described improved footwear wherein the upper or boot portion of the footwear, including a safety toe cap, is detachably connected to the lower or heel and sole portion of the footwear. Known footwear is integrally formed such that damage to the safety toe cap necessitates replacement of the footwear if the safety features of the boot are to be maintained. In this invention, releasable fasteners such as hooks are deployed about the periphery of the sole. These hooks engage a continuous flexible wire which extends around the lower periphery of the upper portion of the footwear. A toe cap is formed with similar hook fasteners along its lower periphery which also engage the flexible wire. The toe cap hooks are spaced to fit between the hooks deployed about the periphery of the sole when installed. Accordingly, the toe cap may be secured to the upper portion prior to attachment of the upper portion to the sole.

Abstract: A safety waterproof boot of molded plastics material is provided having an integral sole and upper, the upper including a toe portion and a metatarsal portion, a metallic plate provided in the sole portion and extending the width and length thereof and allowing for longitudinal flexing of the sole, a box-shaped rigid toe guard provided in the toe portion, a rigid arched metatarsal guard member extending laterally and having side portions connected to the sole plate, the trailing edge of the toe guard being spaced inwardly relative to the leading edge of the metatarsal guard and the molded plastics material extending between the metatarsal guard and the toe guard having a flexible hinge portion in the form of a reverse fold such that the trailing edge of the toe guard will pivot inwardly of the leading edge of the metatarsal guard when the toe portion of the boot is being pivoted relative to the boot.

Abstract: A ventilated article of footwear, such as a shoe, is provided with an outer sole of deformable material having a raised peripheral portion of enlarged thickness surrounding the entire periphery thereof. An inner sole of non-deformable material is mounted above the outer sole in normally spaced relation therefrom to define an air chamber between the soles. The inner sole is perforated with a plurality of apertures providing communication between the air chamber and the interior of the shoe. A compressible supporting material is located in the air chamber between the inner and outer soles and normally biases the deformable outer sole away from the inner sole to provide a relatively deep air chamber. When the wearer of the shoe applies his weight upon the outer sole, the latter deforms upwardly compressing the compressible supporting material and reducing the depth of the air chamber.

Abstract: A device to be detachably connected to a roller skate having wheels to facilitate walking including a bottom portion held onto the skate with spring clips. An enclosing wall extends up from the bottom portion to shield the clips and wheels from view.

Abstract: A shoe sole attaching press in which a pressure member is moved by a relatively small cylinder from a retracted location into engagement with a shoe whereupon an interlocking means locks a relatively large pressure applying cylinder to means for applying force to the pressure member.

Abstract: Each of a plurality of readily detachably attachable heels and each of a plurality of readily detachably attachable uppers are selectively mounted upon a sole and offer a user the freedom of rapid facile changes in style of footwear.

Abstract: A shoe, particularly a sport shoe, has a sole with a shallow recess therein that is closed by a lining impervious to air. The upper of the shoe also has air chambers therein, in surrounding relationship to the heel, these latter chambers also communicating with the air chamber of the sole. A crescent-shaped piece at the rear of the upper protects the Achilles' tendon of the wearer and is hollow and flexible and communicates with the air chamber in the shoe sole. As a result, the air chambers can deform substantially so as to absorb shock and protect the rear of the foot of the wearer, at the same time that the pressure in the various chambers does not greatly change.

Abstract: A track shoe is described having a cushion member of resilient elastomer material secured to the bottom surface of its spike plate beneath the metatarsal bones of the wearer's foot. The cushion member is positioned behind and separate from the rearmost spikes on such spike plate. Such cushion member has an average width longitudinally of the shoe greater than its thickness. The cushion member absorbs shock, helps runners stay on their toes by preventing "rock-back" onto the heel of the shoe, and aids in foot stability during landing.

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 pedal shoe particularly useful for use with bicycles lacking shoe pedal clips, comprising a relatively thick, high strength lower sole provided with a transverse cylindrical bore having such interior dimension as to accommodate the rotatable pedal shaft which is connected to the crank gear of the bicycle.

Abstract: A sport shoe (1,30,50) is described provided with a cuff means (3,52) and means (17,57,58,70,71) responsive to forward lean coupled to said cuff means (3,52) for tightening said cuff means (3,52) about a leg enclosed thereby. In one embodiment the tightening means (17) is coupled to a cuff-mounted buckle means (10,31) for pulling cuff flap means (4,5) together with forward lean of the cuff means (5). In another embodiment a tongue member (53), in cooperation with the tightening means (57,58,70,71) pulls the cuff means (55,56) together with forward lean. In all of the embodiments forward and rearward lean dynamically adjust the fit of the cuff means (3,52) with respect to a leg enclosed thereby.

Abstract: A spring device for a shoe such as a skate shoe having a sole plate provided with threaded bolts for mounting wheels which includes a unitary strip of spring metal having upper and lower portions arranged in vertically spaced, parallel relationship and having a length corresponding generally to the distance between the toe and heel of the shoe, the upper and lower portions being interconnected by a rearwardly and downwardly inclined intermediate portion with apertures in the upper portion for accommodating the bolts so that with the use of nuts the upper portion may be detachably mounted on the sole plate thereby providing a spring action for movement on the ground by the wearer of the shoes.

Abstract: In tack seat lasting machines, variation of the tack (nail) pattern is achieved by varying the wiper inwiping movement, itself dependent upon their lengthwise movement. Such variation also alters the "back tack" position (i.e. relationship between the heel band backseam region and corresponding region of the wipers). In accordance with the invention, the nail pattern is varied by an operator-set reference potentiometer (198) by matching with its signal that of a linear potentiometer (190) which controls operation of wiper-operating motor (72, 74). The back tack position is controlled by a motor (105) according to an operator setting of a reference potentiometer (208). The combined signal from the reference potentiometers (198, 208) is compared with a control signal of a linear potentiometer (202) associated with the heel band, the motor (105) being operated until the compared signals match.

Abstract: A two part ski boot, one part being slidably connected to the other part, such as through a tongue and groove arrangement, is shown in which the parts may be locked to one another in any of a plurality of locations. A series of bores extending transversely through the tongue and groove are provided so that at least one bore in one part can be brought into alignment with a bore in the other part and a pin can be received in the aligned bores to lock the parts together. The tongue and groove may extend the full length of the boot or only a portion of its length. An end cap can be attached to the open end of the boot if desired.