Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing an article of footwear in which an upper and a sole meet at a juncture which is covered by a foxing tape applied to the upper and sole. The foxing tape is constituted of a curable elastomeric material and is applied to the upper and sole in partially cured condition. Stitches of material are formed in the foxing tape along the length thereof when the foxing tape is partially cured and thereafter the foxing tape is fully cured with the stitches in place.

Abstract: A shoe construction which includes an upper formed of leather or like material not easily bonded to rubber, an inner sole and an outer sole in which shoe the upper is indirectly anchored into the inner sole and an outer rubber or rubber-like enclosing member seals any exposed joints in the sole structure. An intermediate strip formed of a textile material is secured to the lower portion of the leather or like upper and is lasted into the inner sole, such textile strip thus being compatible with the outer enclosing member in the sense that they can be firmly bonded by means of vulcanization or other adhesion effecting techniques.

Abstract: Article of footwear having a sole, an upper, and at least one recessed area in the sole, with a three-dimensional inset figure placed in the recessed area, having a matching overlay illustration on its exposed surface. The inset figure may be constituted by a representation and/or a text, and it may be at least partly embossed, the exposed surface being substantially flush with the walking surface of the sole. At least portions of the inset figure may be colored. The inset figure may be slightly smaller in its outlines than those of the recessed area of the sole, thereby presenting a set-off border to the inset figure.

Abstract: An article of footwear wherein a rubber-like shoe base portion is joined to a shoe upper and vulcanized in conjunction therewith so as to form an integrally bonded construction while concurrently being molded so as to define at least the bottom surface pattern of the shoe sole, and with a foxing and, if required, a toe bumper portion adapted to be subsequently manually fastened to the circumference of the shoe sole in accordance with the desired aesthetic characteristics of the sport shoe.