DEVICE AND RELATED METHODS FOR COUPLING A SHOE UPPER AND SHOE SOLE

Abstract

A coupling device molded into a shoe sole for allowing a user to detachably couple a shoe upper to the shoe sole. The coupling device includes a socket with a set of ratchet teeth that are movable between an unbiased position and biased position by touching a button. The coupling device also includes a prong that can be inserted into the socket and has a plurality of complementary ratchet that can engage with the ratchet teeth of the socket.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to provisional Application No. 61/504,584 filed Jul. 5, 2011 and titled “Improved Coupling Device and Method for Making a Molded Shoe,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to an apparatus for footwear. More specifically, the apparatus relates to footwear having a device associated with a sole and a detachable upper shoe part that allows a user to exchange shoe uppers and shoes soles at will.

BACKGROUND

In slipper-type footwear of the type comprising a molded sole and an upper part, particularly although not exclusively lady shoes, it is desirable to have a variety of shoe uppers which can be exchanged onto a sole at will, for instance to match colors and patterns of attire for a particular occasion.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,684 issued on 27 Apr. 1999 to Lin, discloses a simple shoe such as a sandal or slipper having detachable toe and ankle straps. Each strap has at least a pair of mounting strips, each having a serrated plug strip, that fasten to a corresponding pair of locating members in the sole of the shoe. The locating members have a serrated constraing tongue that engages the serrated plug strips to secure the uppers to the sole. A pin-like tool is manipulated by the user for disengaging the serrated plug strip from the contstraint tongue to detach the show upper from the sole. A housing means in provided in the show upper for keeping the tool at hand.

The need for a tool to detach the shoe upper from the sole represents several disadvantages in practice. Maneuverings and wedging a tool in between the plug strip and the tongue is unappealing to most ladies. Furthermore, although housing means are provided for the tool, it could get lost. Again, many ladies do not enjoy tinkering about with a tool box to look for a suitable replacement, such as a screw-driver, especially after they are dressed up and have decided that they prefer a different shoe color or pattern to match a particular dress, purse, hat, etc.

SUMMARY

In view of the foregoing, an object of the invention is to provide a coupling device comprising elements affixed to the sole and shoe upper of a shoe to enable a user to fasten the shoe upper to the sole, and to easily detach the shoe upper from the sole without requiring a separate tool. The shoe upper can be detached with hardly any force, such as by a lady or a young child, yet the coupling device resists unwillful detachment under extreme walking, jogging, jumping and climbing conditions, whatever the terrain. The shoe can have any design or type, such as a slipper or sandal, ranging from leisure to evening dress. Certain aspects of the invention provide a coupling device for use in detachably coupling a shoe upper to a sole to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will, the sole having a body having a foot-bearing topside bounded by at least on lateral side, the coupling device comprising: a socket, embeddable in the sole, the socket comprising: (i) an inner wall, an outer wall and two connecting side walls, forming a shaft passage having a slotted opening penetrable through a foot-bearing topside of the sole; (ii) a tongue comprising a plurality of ratchet teeth, the tongue being resiliently movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengage position; and (iii) a button, depressible by a finger of the user, the button having a first rest position and a second depressed position, the button being in direct communication with the tongue whereby when the button is in its rest position, the tongue is in its unbiased engaged position, and when the button is in the depressed position, the tongue is in its biased disengaged position; and (b) a plug having a generally flat body and comprising: (i) an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and (ii) at least one prong insertable into the shaft passage through the slotted opening, the prong comprising a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the shaft passage, thereby coupling the plug to the socket; whereby when the button is depressed to its depressed position, the tongue moves to the biased disengaged position, whereupon the ratcheted teeth of the tongue disengage from the ratcheted teeth of prong, and thereby the plug is uncoupled from the socket

Certain aspects of the invention provide a coupling device configured for to be molded into a shoe sole for detachably coupling a shoe upper to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will, the coupling device comprising a socket, the socket having a shaft passage there through and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through a opening in the socket, and a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket, and a socket enclosure configured to surround the socket and button and to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button during molding of the sole.

Certain aspects of the invention also provide a footwear manufacturing method, utilizing the coupling device of the invention, to incorporate more and new designs, functional lines and shoetrees with versatility and economy. The invention includes a method for manufacturing a socket, for embedding in the sole of a shoe and receiving for insertion therein a removable plug for coupling a detachable shoe upper to the sole to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will. The method comprises: (a) molding integrally the socket walls, base, tongue and button into a single piece, wherein the base is molded as a flat sheet having a first base portion forming an open bottom end of the socket shaft passage, a thin hinge portion along one side of the first portion, and a second base portion joined by the hinge portion to the first portion; and a frangible membrane affixed to the button and the outer wall to temporarily seal off the in the outer socket wall; (b) folding the second base portion back under the first base portion to form the base of the socket shaft passage, thereby forming an assembled socket; (c) molding the assembled socket into a resin-based shoe sole using a flowable resin; and (d) depressing the button, thereby breaking the frangible membrane. The method further preferably comprises the step of placing a cap over the assembled socket, the cap having an outer resilient wall enclosing an air space surrounding the button, thereby preventing flowable resin from entering the air space during molding of the sole.

Certain aspects of the invention provide a method for manufacturing footwear, the method comprising: (a) providing a socket having a shaft passage there through and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft passage and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through a opening in the socket, and a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket; (b) providing a socket enclosure configured to surround a lower portion of the socket and the button, (c) affixing the socket enclosure to the socket, thereby covering the opening to the shaft passage ‘and the enclosing the air space surrounding the button, (d) molding the socket into a resin-based shoe sole using a flowable resin, wherein the flowable resin is prevented from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button.

Certain aspects of the invention provide a method where a plurality of plugs are attached to a shoe upper, the plug having a generally flat body and comprising: (i) an upper portion affixed to the shoe upper; and (ii) at least one prong insertable into the shaft passage through the slotted opening, the prong comprising a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the shaft passage, thereby coupling the plug to the socket, and thereby attaching the shoe upper to the sole.

The invention also provides a shoe that is adaptable to an array of exchangeable shoe uppers.

Certain aspects of the invention provide a two-part coupling device that is hardly visible to observers of a lady wearing the shoe, yet is simple for her to access.

Certain aspects of the invention further provide a method for molding a shoe sole comprising a shoe upper attachment/detachment socket.

These and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will be better appreciated in view of the following detailed description of preferred embodiments.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sole and a detached shoe upper than can be assembled into a shoe by means of two or more coupling denies of the present invention consisting of sockets 11 and plugs 15.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of a socket embedded in the shoe sole showing a partial cut-away of the sole.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a two-pronged plug.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through lines 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view partially cut away of a coupling device in an uncoupled position.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling device of FIG. 5 through line 6-6, shown in a coupled position.

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling device of FIG. 5 taken through line 6-6, shown in the uncoupled position, with the button depressed and with the plug withdrawn.

FIG. 8A is a plan view of a one-piece socket for a coupling device of the invention. FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the one-piece socket of FIG. 8A through line 8B-8B.

FIG. 9 is a partial view of the cross-sectional view of the socket of FIG. 8B, with the button depressed and showing a breached socket sidewall.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cap used with another coupling device of the invention.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the socket of FIG. 8A with the cap of FIG. 10, when viewed through sectional line 11-11 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a socket and an enclosure cap.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the socket of FIG. 12 with the affixed enclosure cap.

FIG. 14 is a plan view of the socket shown in FIG. 12 through line 13-13, embedded in a shoe sole, showing a partial cut-away of the sole.

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a set of molds for making a shoe sole incorporating the coupling devices.

FIG. 16 is an illustration of an original push button for the upper.

FIG. 17 is an illustration of a push button for the upper with a stopper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the Summary above and in the Detailed Description of Preferred Embodiments, reference is made to particular features (including method steps) of the invention. It is to be understood that the disclosure of the invention in this specification includes all possible combinations of such particular features. For example, where a particular feature is disclosed in the context of a particular aspect or embodiment of the invention, that feature can also be used, to the extent possible, in combination with and/or in the context of other particular aspects and embodiments of the invention, and in the invention generally.

As used herein, “upper” (when used as a noun) or “shoe upper” refers to an upper part of a shoe or other footwear, and can include a toecap part, a toecap patch, or an open-toe strap that covers the forward part of the foot of a user, can include ankle and heel straps, and can include unitary and integral combinations thereof.

As used herein, “horizontal” refers to a normal shoe position, i.e. with the sole resting on a horizontal surface. As used herein, “outer” and “inner” refer to elements of the coupling device positioned nearer and further away, respectively, from the nearest lateral side of the sole.

A coupling device, according to an embodiment of the invention comprises two parts: a socket and a plug. The socket is typically embedded into a shoe sole, while the plug is typically affixed to the shoe upper. However, the socket can be affixed to one of the sole and shoe upper, while the plug can be affixed to the other of the sole and shoe upper.

The socket includes a plurality of sidewalls that form a shaft passage that is adapted to receive the plug, a toothed tongue for engaging and latching to the plug, and an integral release means for releasing the tongue from the plug, whereby the shoe upper can be detached from the sole. The tongue is resiliently connected at a first end to at least one of the inner wall or the outer wall, and is preferably resiliently connected at an upper end by a resilient bridge to the inner wall proximate the slotted opening. The tongue comprises an upper portion and a lower portion having a surface facing the outer wall, the surface preferably having two toothed surfaces, each comprising the plurality of ratcheted teeth, astride a middle portion.

Each plug and socket part can be separately advantageously manufactured in one piece. Alternatively, the devices can be made in two or more parts. For example, the socket can comprise a separate button that can be secured to the socket, for the movement within the outer wall of the socket.

In a preferred embodiment, the plug has two spaced-apart toothed prongs, and the tongue has an end resiliently affixed to a sidewall of the socket. The integral release means, preferably a button, extends through an orifice in the socket toward a nearest sidewall of the sole. The button communicates with the tongue by a stem joined to the button, the stem traversing the outer wall and connecting to a lower portion of the tongue. Within the socket, the button preferably passes between the pair of toothed prongs, and is integrally attached to the tongue, preferably to the middle, lower portion of the tongue, to communicate the finger pressure applied to the button. The applied pressure on the button displaces the tongue away from the plug sufficiently to separate the respective engaged teeth of the tongue and the prongs, thereby disengaging and releasing the plug.

Preferably the button is positioned within the sole in close proximity to the lateral outer wall 9, as shown in FIG. 2. The sole can have a raised mark 19 in lateral sidewall indicating the position of the button positioned proximately thereto. Alternatively, the button may barely project from the flush surface of the sidewall of the sole.

The button is preferably positioned to go generally unnoticed by a casual observer, yet is easily manipulated simply by pressing with a finger, without use of tools. In a method of manufacture as put, the shaft passage of the socket is sealed to keep it free from mold resin during molding of the sole body into which it is incorporated. The method comprises providing a socket body having a fold-over base that can cover the socket opening. Preferably, the socket has a frangible membrane that closes off the socket space inside from the button housing. Preferably, the button has a base end joined to the stem, the outer wall has an inner-facing surface, and the membrane joins the button base end and the inner surface of the outer wall. The thin membrane temporarily seals off the orifice in the outer wall to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket during molding of the sole. The frangible membrane can be breached or broken after the socket has been molded into the sole, by simply pressing the button, thereby making the coupling device operational.

In a preferred embodiment, the socket is enclosed around its sidewalls by a cap prior to placing the socket inside the molded sole. The cap maintains an air gap in the space around the button. The cap serves to keep the injected molding resin out from around the button, and provides a projecting surface outward from and engageable with the button to facilitate access to the button by a user. Although the cap obviates the need for the membrane as a barrier to molding resin, the membrane is preferably also used since it helps to withstand inward depression of the button under the injection pressures of the molding resin.

Construction and Operation: FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention of a shoe, such as a lady's high-heeled slipper, comprising a sole 1 molded from a resin and a shoe upper 3. The shoe sole 1 has a top or foot-bearing surface 5, and a lateral outer wall 9. Six sockets 11, forming part of a like number of coupling devices, are embedded in the body of the sole 1. A like number of plugs 15 are attached to the bottom edge 7 of the shoe upper 3. Each socket 1 comprises a tongue 33 to engage with its corresponding plug 15. The tongue 33 is associated with a button 45 positioned proximate to the later outer wall 9 of the sole.

FIG. 2 shows a plan view of the socket 11 positioned in the top surface 5 of the sole 1. The socket 11 has a shaft passage 27 and a slot-shaped opening 13 level with the top surface 5 that can receive a corresponding plug 15. The socket shaft passage 27 is generally oriented parallel to the nearest lateral side 9 of the sole 1. The tongue 33 communicates with the button 45 via short stem 47 that traverses an orifice 41 (see FIG. 8B) in the outer wall 43 of the socket. The rounded button 45 is positioned proximate the later outer wall 9, as shown by the cut-away portion of the sole of FIG. 2. The button 45 is preferably positioned adjacent to the outer wall 9 of the sole whereby a hump mark 19, formed from the sole resin material covering the button 45, identifies the position of the button 45 to allow a user to locate and depress the button with a finger while being generally unnoticeable.

FIG. 3 shows a plug 15. The plug 15 is molded as a substantially flat piece from a suitable, generally stiff material selected from materials including but not limited to plastics, metal, and rubber. Preferably, the plug 15 has a top portion 17 that is affixed to the edge 7 of the shoe upper 3 by any suitable means, such as stitching or adhesive. The top portion 17 is preferably trapezoidal, measuring about 20.5 mm across the top, 11 mm down and about 1.1 mm thick.

A pair of prongs 21 depends from the top portion 17, leaving a rectangular cut-out portion 23 between the prongs. Preferably, each prong 21 is about 13 mm long and 8 mm across, and has an inner face ratcheted with a plurality of ratchet teeth 25 that have a 1 mm pitch. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a prong that shows the shape of the teeth 25. The thickness of each prong is preferably about 2.10 mm at its widest portion and 1.34 mm at its thinner portion. The teeth 25 are shaped in a typical saw-tooth configuration such that a first edge of each tooth 25 is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of the prong 21 during insertion into the socket opening 13 for properly latching into the socket with the teeth of the tongue. The adjacent second edge of each tooth 25 is at an angle of about 30 degrees to said direction of movement, to facilitate insertion.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, the socket 11 comprises a prism body having an outer wall 43, an inner wall 35, and connecting walls which enclose a shaft passage 27, and an integral laminar base 29. The sidewalls and the base are fixed within the sole 1. The base 29 closes off the bottom of the shaft passage 27 of the socket 11. The base 29 is preferably provided with holes 31A and cut-outs 31B for better anchoring of the socket 11 into the resin of the sole.

A tongue 33 has a top edge attached to the inner wall 35 by a relatively thin resilient hinge portion 37 that enables the tongue member 33 to sway or pivot in an arch toward and away from the inner wall 35. As shown in FIG. 6, the outward-facing surface of the tongue 33 has a plurality of vertically spaced ratchet teeth 39 that are sawtoothed shaped and are dimensioned to mesh with the plug teeth 25 when the plug 15 is inserted in the socket 11. Short flat valleys 26, as shown in FIG. 4, positioned between each tooth 25 of the prong 21 and tooth 39 of the tongue 33, ensure proper engagement even when the prong 21 is not inserted perfectly straight into the socket 11, and preserve the sharp edges of the teeth from breaking off. For a 1.0 mm spacing between the teeth, the flat valley 26 can be about 0.3 mm, or 30% of the spacing.

A shot stem 47 connects the button 45 to the tongue 33, at about the middle of the tongue member 33 between the pairs of extended teeth 39. The shaft passage 27 is sized to accommodate the plug 15. The shaft passage is preferably about 10.0 mm long, 28.5 mm wide and 2.3 mm across (i.e. the shaft passage portion receiving the plug prongs 21 and excluding the shaft passage portion housing the tongue 33 or 5.9 mm across including the portion housing the tongue 33). The socket walls 35, 43 are preferably 2.2 mm thick and formed at about a 12 degree angle with the base 29 so that the plug 15 is not exactly vertical when plugged into the socket 11. The tongue 33 is preferably about 24.5 mm wide and can be pushed back 14 degrees from its normal position (i.e. when the plane of its teeth 39 is parallel to the inner and outer socket walls 35, 43) against the inner wall 35, and the resilient hinge 37 is preferably about 0.4 mm thick. Preferably, the orifice 41 is about 11.8 mm wide and 6.0 mm down, the button 45 is about 5.3 mm long, 3.0 mm down, and 8.7 mm at the base, narrowing at 8 degrees towards the outer end, and the stem 47 is about 6.0 mm across.

A user can attach a shoe upper 3 to a sole 1 by inserting and pushing each plug 15 down into its corresponding socket 11, until each prong 21 engages the tongue 33. To exchange the shoe upper for one of a different pattern, color or design, the user depresses with a finger each button 45, causing the respective stem 47 to urge the tongue member 33 towards the inner wall 35 of the socket 11 sufficiently for the teeth 39 of the tongue 33 thereof to disengage and unlatch from the plug teeth 25, and pulls the unlatched plug 15 upwards. No accessory tool is kept at hand, fetched or searched for, and scant human force is required to unlatch the plugs. The buttons are sufficiently conspicuously arranged so that a user can locate and press the buttons, even if her fingernails are long or have just been painted, and yet are sufficiently concealed so as not to interfere with the aesthetics of the shoe sole.

Manufacture:

The sockets 11, the plugs 15 and the sole 1 can be molded. Integrated one-piece constructions are preferred. Methods for molding the plug 15 are well known in the art. The socket elements, including the socket walls, base, tongue, stem and button, are preferably formed integrally in a single piece. However, creating a die for manufacturing the socket 11 is complicated when the tongue 33 and button 45 are to be integrated into a single piece with the socket walls 35, 43, and 29. According to another aspect of the invention, the socket 11 is initially molded with a shaft passage 27 open from the top opening 13 to its bottom. FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the initial socket design. The die is shaped to include an extended base sheet comprised of a proximal portion 51 about the bottom shaft opening and a remote portion 53 connected to the proximal portion by a thin hinge portion 55. The hinge portion 55 is preferably about 0.2 mm thick. The base portions 51, 53, and 55 are molded integrally with the rest of the socket components in one piece.

Once the mold is set and the socket 11 is removed from the die, the remote base portion 53 is folded back under the proximal base portion 51 about the base hinge portion 55, thereby closing off the base 29 of the socket shaft passage 27. The socket 11 can thereafter be placed in a die for molding the sole 1, with the socket opening 13 against the bottom of the upside-down sole die. Both ends of the shaft passage 27 are thus effectively sealed to avoid resinous sole material from seeping into the shaft passage, which if it remained would obstruct the insertion of the plug during use.

A further problem of keeping the flowable sole material out of the socket shaft passage during molding is associated with the orifice 41 in the outer wall 43. The orifice 41 allows the button 45 and/or stem 47 to movably traverse the outside wall 43 FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment that provides a solution to this problem. The socket 11 is molded with a thin, frangible membrane 59, preferably about 0.1 mm thick, flush with the outer wall 43 that seals the orifice 41. The membrane 59 prevents resin from seeping into the socket 11 through the orifice 41 during the molding of the sole.

Furthermore, the button 45 can be shaped so as to provide a large base area bearing against the membrane 59. The sole 1 is cast in a die wherein the entire socket shaft passage is maintained free of resinous material. Once the sole has set and is removed from the die, with the sockets 11 (preferably about six sockets per shoe) embedded therein, the release operation can include a step of pressing each button 45 to breach the frangible membrane 59, since the latter has already served its resin prevention purpose.

A particularly preferred embodiment is shown in FIGS. 10 and 11. FIG. 10 shows a cap 61. FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the socket of FIG. 8A, taken through a horizontal plane as shown in FIG. 9, showing the cap 61 positioned to surround the outer wall 43, sidewalls, and part of the inner wall 35 of the socket 11, thereby covering the button 45 and enclosing an air space environment or gap 63 surrounding the button 45. The cap 61 is generally a four-sided piece of plastic partially opened at an inner side 65, and has a rounded convex outer side 67, which, in position, forms a cover for the button 45. During manufacture of the sole 1, the outer wall 76 of the cap 61 prevents the flowable resin (for example, polyurethane) that is injected inot the mold from entering in the air gap 63, which upon curing would prevent the button from being depressed with a finger.

The invention has herein been described in relation to an injection system. The component parts of the push button system can be glued in place in the cavity of the out sole. The glue system works the same as the injection system, but using glue is less expensive and has a high yield rate.

The outer cap wall 61 further provides a button area which is both enlarged and resilient. The cover wall 67 is more preferably convexly curved to provide resilient inward flexure for optimum operation. One or more recesses 69 provided at the bottom of the sidewalls accommodate anchorage flanges 71 provided in the socket base, as shown in FIG. 5.

Another embodiment of a socket is shown in FIGS. 12 and 13. The socket 11 comprises an anchoring flange 71 extending from the inner wall 35 from a position intermediate the slot opening 13 and the base of the shaft passage 27. A socket enclosure, shown as a boat-shaped cap 61, surrounds the lower portion of the socket 11, and seals off the shaft passage 27 at the base. The cap 61 has a base 75, a back wall 72, and a pair of side walls 73 having a lower rear portion 74, and a front wall 67. The back wall 72, the side walls 73, and the front wall 67 surround the lower perimeter of the socket 11, and affix the cap 61 to the socket 11. The base 75 of the cap 61 seals the bottom of the socket. The height of the back wall 72 and the rear portion 74 of the side walls accommodate the anchoring flange 71. In the illustrated embodiment, the cap 61 snaps onto the bottom of the socket 11 and remains affixed throughout the molding process. The taller, forward portions 76 of the sidewalls and the front wall 67 each extend up to the top end of the socket, and surround and seal off the air space surrounding the button 45 extending from the outer wall 43 of the socket 11. Depressing the outer wall 67 engages the button 45 to operate the coupling device. The large surface area of the cap wall 67 provides an outer resilient wall that has a much larger area for the finger to apply the disengaging force, which increases the force that can be exerted on the tongue 33.

The cap 61 seals the socket and the air space around the button 45 to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button. When using a resilient resin such as polyurethane, invasion of the resin into the socket or in the air space around the button can lock the tongue and button in position, and prevent proper operation of the coupling device.

FIG. 14 shows a plan view of a socket assembly 18 consisting of the socket 11 with the cap 61 affixed, positioned in the top surface 5 of the sole 1. The rounded button 45 is positioned within the air space defined by the sidewall portions 76 and front wall 67 of the cap 61. The socket 11 and cap 61 are disposed proximate the lateral outer wall 9 of the sole. The front wall 67 of the cap is typically configured to be sufficiently flexible to allow facile depression of the front wall 67 and of the button 45, making facile the operation of the socket. The hump mark 19, formed from the sole resin material covering the outer wall 67, identifies the position of the cap front wall 67 and the button 45 to allow a user to locate and depress the button with a finger, while being generally unnoticeable.

FIG. 15 shows a set of molds that can be used to make the show sole that incorporates a plurality of the coupling devices. Illustrated are a top mold Ill, a middle mold 112, and a base mold 113. The molds are arranged so that the lower surface 114 of the top mold element 111 mates with the upper surface (not shown) of the middle mold 112, and the lower surface 115 of the middle mold 112 mates with the upper surface 116 of the base mold 113. The lower surface 114 of the top mold 111 provides the imprint of the top surface of the completed shoe sole, while the upper surface 116 of the base mold 113 provides the imprint for the bottom surface of the shoe sole. The molds are configures so that hinge members 119 on the base mold 111 engage with hinge members 120 on the middle mold 112 for easy positioning and alignment. The opposing ends of the molds are typically secured with a clamp means (not shown). The top mold 111 is likewise held in the proper position to the other two molds with a clamp means. The molds are positioned in the proper molding position with one another using mated alignment pins and 118 and orifices 117. In the illustrated embodiment, four socket assemblies 18 which are semi-permanently affixed along the edge 121 defined by the inner opening 122 of the middle mold 112. A flowable resin is then injected into the mold to form the sole 1 having the imbedded sockets, according to well-known molding techniques.

During the molding process, the socket can also be provided with a top cover that covers the slot opening 13. The cover typically has at least one pin depending downward from the cover into the slot passage 27 and between the tongue 33 and the inner wall 35. The pin prevents the tongue from being biased toward the inner wall (toward its disengaged position) in response to pressure exerted upon the button 45 during the molding process. The cover also covers the top opening of the socket during the process of spray painting the molded sole, preventing paint from entering inside the socket, which could sabotage its operation.

Although the cover wall 67 provides the resin-exclusion function of the membrane 59 in the first embodiment, it is preferred to include the membrane 59 since it resists depression of the cover wall 67 and the button 45 under the pressure of the injected molding resin, which otherwise might prematurely depress the cover wall and button and, if cured under this condition, could cause the coupling device to malfunction.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or step to the teachings of the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A coupling device for use in detachably coupling a shoe upper to a shoe sole to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will, where the coupling device is molded into the shoe sole, the coupling device comprising:

(a) a socket having a shaft passage therethrough and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft passage and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through an opening in the socket;

(b) a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratchet teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket; and

(c) a socket enclosure configured to surround the socket and button for preventing flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button during molding of the sole.

2. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the shaft passage is formed from an inner wall, and outer wall, and two connecting side walls and includes a slotted opening penetrable through a foot-bearing topside of the sole, wherein the tongue is resiliently movable from a unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position and the button has a first rest position and a second depressed position, whereby when the button is in its rest position, the tongue is in its unbiased engaged position, and when the button is in the depressed position, the tongue is in its biased disengaged position.

3. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the socket enclosure seals the shaft passage at the base.

4. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the socket walls, tongue, stem and button are integral in a single piece.

5. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the socket is formed with a thin membrane sealing off the opening from the shaft to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket during molding of the sole, the membrane being breakable by pressing the button after the sole has been molded.

6. The coupling device according to claim 1, wherein the socket enclosure comprises an outer resilient wall enclosing an air space environment surrounding the button.

7. The coupling device according to claim 6, wherein the outer wall is convexly curved to provide resilient inward flexure.

8. The coupling device according to claim 7, wherein the outer wall has a larger area than that of the button to apply the disengaging force.

9. A shoe sole comprising an embedded socket of the coupling device according to claim 1.

10. A method for manufacturing footwear, the method comprising:

(a) providing a socket having a shaft passage therethrough and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft passage and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, the button extending through an opening in the socket, and a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratchet teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket;

(b) providing a socket enclosure configured to surround a lower portion of the socket and the button;

(c) affixing the socket enclosure to the socket, thereby covering the opening to the shaft passage and enclosing the air space surrounding the button; and

(d) molding the socket into a resin-based shoe sole using a flowable resin, wherein the flowable resin is prevented from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button.

11. The method according to claim 10, the socket enclosure is a cap that snaps onto the bottom of the socket.

12. The method according to claim 10, wherein the tongue of the socket is secured from movement during the molding process by pressure upon the button of the device.