SHOE WRAP AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING SHOE

Abstract

A shoe wrap for a shoe and a method for manufacturing a shoe are disclosed. The shoe wrap includes an outsole portion having a toe portion disposed at an anterior end of the outsole portion, a toe rand portion at least partially connected to the outsole portion at a lateral side of the outsole portion and extending in an anterior direction beyond the toe portion of the outsole portion, a medial portion connected to a medial side of the outsole portion, and a heel rand portion connected to a heel portion of the outsole portion. The method includes disposing a main body on an outsole portion of the shoe wrap, folding at least a heel rand portion of the shoe wrap up a back of the main body, and folding a toe rand portion of the shoe wrap about a toe box of the main body.

Description

BACKGROUND

Field

The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear and, more particularly, a shoe wrap for an article of footwear to protect materials of an upper of the article of footwear as well as a foot disposed in the article of footwear.

Discussion of the Background

Articles of footwear, commonly referred to as shoes, have become increasingly specialized for various intended uses. FIG. 1 illustrates a method of manufacturing a shoe according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 1, a shoe includes an upper 10 and an outsole 20 attached to each other to define the general shape of the shoe. The shoe may be, for example, designed to be worn by a user engaged in climbing sports, such as indoor climbing, bouldering, or rock climbing. The upper 10 may be a fully or almost fully-constructed upper shoe body including a tongue, an insole, a midsole, laces, eyelets, buckles, etc. The outsole 20 may be an integrated outsole including an outsole, a rand, a side wall, a heel cup, and a tread pattern formed in a final shape of the outsole 20. For example, the outsole 20, as shown in FIG. 1, is shaped as the outsole 20 will be shaped upon completion of the shoe. In other words, the shape of the outsole 20 is not changed during construction of the shoe. According to the related art, the integrated outsole 20 is disposed about a lower portion of the constructed upper 10 and adhered to and/or stitched to the constructed upper 10 to complete manufacture of the shoe. Often, disposing the outsole 20 about the constructed upper 10, or vice versa, is difficult to perform in general and difficult to perform well. In high performance shoes, like those used for climbing, the rand, side wall, and heel cup are used to grip edges of rocks while the climber traverses a rock face. In shoes manufactured according to the related art, adherence of the outsole 20 to the upper 10 often fails due to the demands of climbing on the shoe as well as the poor fit of the outsole 20 to the upper 10. As such, it is necessary to increase durability of the shoe by improving the adherence between the upper 10 and the outsole 20.

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a shoe having a shoe wrap according to the related art. As shown in FIG. 12, a shoe wrap 30 includes an outsole portion 33 and a rand portion 35. The shoe wrap 30 includes at least two pieces, the outsole portion 33 and the rand portion 35, which are separately adhered to an upper 10. The upper 10 may be a fully or almost fully-constructed upper shoe body including a tongue, an insole, a midsole, laces, eyelets, buckles, etc. During the construction of the shoe as shown in FIG. 12, separate operations are required to place and/or adhere the outsole portion 33 and the rand portion 35 to the upper 10. When multiple pieces of the shoe wrap 30 are applied to the upper 10, manufacturing time and costs are high because each operation requires both time and money. Further, when placing each piece of the shoe wrap 30, precision is low and quality manufacturing is difficult to maintain because each piece is individually placed and applied to the upper 10. The rand portion 35 includes an overlap portion 37 in which one portion of the rand portion 35 overlaps another portion of the rand portion 35. When multiple pieces of the shoe wrap 30 are applied to the upper 10, portions of overlap similar to overlap portion 37 are difficult to avoid and are difficult to secure to the upper 10, resulting in decreased quality of manufacture. As such, increased quality of manufacture at decreased time and cost is desirable.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe wrap and a method of manufacturing a shoe that allow for easier joining of a main body of a shoe with the sole of the shoe as well as improved comfort, fit, and durability of the shoe. Further, decreased manufacturing time and cost may be achieved.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a shoe wrap for a shoe, the shoe wrap including an outsole portion having a toe portion disposed at an anterior end of the outsole portion, a toe rand portion at least partially connected to the outsole portion at a lateral side of the outsole portion, the toe rand portion extending in an anterior direction beyond the toe portion of the outsole portion, a medial portion connected to a medial side of the outsole portion, and a heel rand portion connected to a heel portion of the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a sling rand portion connected to the heel rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that the sling rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions than the heel rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that the heel rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions than the sling rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that a distal end of the toe rand portion extends farther in a lateral direction beyond the extent to which other portions of the toe rand portion extend in the lateral direction.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a folding line disposed about a periphery of the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that at least one of the outsole, the toe rand portion, the medial portion, and the heel rand portion comprises a bevel.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a notch disposed between an anterior end of the medial portion and the toe portion of the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that the heel rand portion has a trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed away from the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that each of the heel rand portion and the sling rand portion has a trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed away from the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that each of the heel rand portion and the sling rand portion has trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed toward the outsole portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide a shoe comprising the shoe wrap.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention provide a method of manufacturing a shoe, the method including disposing a main body on an outsole portion of a shoe wrap, the main body comprising at least an upper, folding at least a heel rand portion of the shoe wrap up a back of the main body, and folding a toe rand portion of the shoe wrap about a toe box of the main body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide folding lateral and medial portions of the heel rand portion along lateral and medial sides of the main body, respectively.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that the folding of the toe rand portion further comprises folding the toe rand portion up a lateral side of the main body to cover at least a portion of the lateral portion of the heel rand portion.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that the folding at least the heel rand portion further comprises folding a sling rand portion of the shoe wrap up the back of the main body, and the method further comprises folding lateral and medial portion of the sling rand portion along lateral and medial sides of the main body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide folding a medial portion of the shoe wrap up a medial side of the main body.

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention further provide that the folding the medial portion of the shoe wrap occurs before the folding the toe rand portion of the shoe wrap such that the toe rand portion of the shoe wrap at least partially covers a portion of the medial portion of the shoe wrap.

Additional features of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention, and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention.

FIG. 1 illustrates a method of manufacturing a shoe according to the related art.

FIG. 2 illustrates a shoe having a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 illustrates a shoe having a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 5. is a bottom view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 illustrates a method for manufacturing a shoe according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9 illustrates a method for manufacturing a shoe according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 10 illustrates a method for manufacturing a shoe according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 12 illustrates a bottom perspective view of a shoe having a shoe wrap according to the related art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments are shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the exemplary embodiments set forth therein. Rather, these exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of this disclosure to those skilled in the art. In the drawings, like reference numerals denote like elements. The shape, size and regions, and the like, of the drawing may be exaggerated for clarity.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of this disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. Furthermore, the use of the terms a, an, etc. does not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denotes the presence of at least one of the referenced item. The use of the terms “first,” “second,” and the like does not imply any particular order, but they are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms first, second, etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” or “includes” and/or “including” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, regions, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

FIG. 2 illustrates an article of footwear having a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure, and FIG. 3 illustrates a shoe having a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. The article of footwear 200, herein referred to as a shoe 200, includes an upper 210, a tongue 220, at least one strap 230, at least one buckle 240, a pull strap 250, and a shoe wrap 260.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the shoe may be arranged to correspond to a right foot of a wearer. As such, FIG. 2 illustrates a lateral side of a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer while FIG. 3 illustrates a medial side of the right shoe to correspond to the right foot of the wearer. Although only the right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of a wearer.

The upper 210 and the tongue 220 of the shoe 200 are connected to the to define an opening through which a foot is inserted to wear the shoe 200. Closure mechanisms, for example, straps 230 and buckles 240 may be provided to extend between portions of the upper 210 over the tongue 220 to secure the shoe 200 to a foot. Additional or other closure mechanisms may secure the shoe 200 to a foot, for example, laces, ratchets, hooks, and the like may be used. The pull strap 250 may be connected to the upper 210 at a portion of the opening to aid in placing the shoe 200 on the foot of the wearer. One or more pull straps 250 may be included at locations near the opening of the shoe 200 formed by the upper 210 and the tongue 220. Although the opening of the shoe 100 is shown to be about ankle height, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the opening may be lower or higher, for example, the shoe 200 may be provided in as a high top style shoe.

The upper 210 may be a wrap upper and includes any material appropriate for construction of a shoe upper and may include vents, padding, and the like. For example, the upper 210 may include one or more of a natural or synthetic leather, a rubber material, a polymeric material, a polymeric mixture, a polymeric alloy, a laminate, a natural or synthetic textile material, a mesh material, or a combination thereof. The upper 210 may include multiple pieces of material sewn, adhered, welded, or the like together.

The upper 210 may be combined with an insole (not shown) and/or a midsole (not shown) to construct a main body of the shoe 200. The main body of the shoe 200 is combined with the shoe wrap 260 to complete construction of the shoe 200.

The shoe wrap 260 includes a toe rand portion 261, a heel rand portion 262, a sling rand portion 263, a medial portion 264, and an outsole portion (not shown). The shoe wrap 260 may be made of at least one of leather, rubber, polymer, and the like, and different portions of the shoe wrap 260 may be made of different materials to provide different properties for the shoe 200. The outsole portion extends under the upper 210 and is the sole of the shoe 200. The toe rand portion 261 is at least partially connected to the outsole portion and extends in an anterior direction from the connection with the outsole portion to wrap about at least a portion of a toe box of the upper 210. The toe rand portion 261 is connected to a lateral side of the outsole portion. The toe rand portion 261 may extend laterally from the outsole portion to be foldable up a lateral side of the upper 210 to protect the lateral side of the upper 210 and the lateral side of the foot of the wearer from the heel to the toe of the shoe.

The toe rand portion 261 may have one of various shapes to protect the toes of the wearer and increase durability of the shoe 200. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the toe rand portion 261 extends medially about the toe box and medially over the toe box of the upper 210 to protect the toes of a wearer and the materials of the upper 210 in the toe box region. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that, for example, the toe rand portion 261 may only extend medially about the front end, or anterior end, of the toe box of the upper 210 or the toe rand portion 261 may extend to cover the entire toe box of the upper 210 of the shoe 200.

The heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 of the shoe wrap are at least partially connected to the outsole portion and extend in a posterior direction from the outsole portion to be foldable up the back of the upper 210 to form a heel cup of the shoe 200. The heel rand portion 262 is disposed between the outsole portion and the sling rand portion 263 and extends between the side portion of the toe rand 261 and the upper 210. The sling rand portion 263 is disposed to cover at least a portion of the heel rand portion 262 and is disposed to extend between the side portion of the toe rand 261 and the upper 210. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the side of the toe rand portion 261, the heel rand portion 262, and the sling rand portion 263 may be foldable and disposable in any order such that, for example, one or more of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may be disposed over the side of the toe rand portion 261 such that the side of the toe rand portion 261 is disposed between the upper 210 and the one or more of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263. As another example, the heel rand portion 262 may be disposed over at least a portion of the sling rand portion 263 such that the sling rand portion 263 is disposed between the upper 210 and at least a portion of the heel rand portion 262.

Each of the heel rand portion 262 and sling rand portion 263 may have one of various shapes so as to provide protection and support for the upper 210 and the heel of the wearer of the shoe 200. One or more of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may be foldable and disposable to extend forward from the back of the heel of the shoe 200 down both lateral and medial sides of the upper 210 and under the heel area of the upper 210 to be disposed between the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 260 and the insole or midsole of the main body of the shoe 200. Such extension of the one or more of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 would provide additional support for heel of the upper 210 and the heel of the wearer by extending under the heel of the wearer when the shoe 200 is disposed on the foot of the wearer.

The sling rand portion 263 may extend from the heel rand portion 262 to the top of the heel portion of the upper 210 and may be connected to or formed to include the pull strap 250. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the sling rand portion 263 need not extend to the top of the heel portion of the upper 210. And, the sling rand portion 263 may extend under a portion of the upper 210 as shown in FIG. 3; however, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the sling rand portion may remain disposed outside of the upper 210.

Although both the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 are described, aspects need not be limited thereto such that only one of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may be included or neither of the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 are included in the shoe wrap 260. Further, the heel rand portion 262 and the sling rand portion 263 may be combined or subdivided to provide fewer or more portions, for example, for more stable support or for more custom shapes of the heel cup.

The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 is at least partially connected to the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 260. As shown in FIG. 3, the medial portion 264 extends in a medial direction from the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 260 to be foldable and disposable along a medial side of the upper 210 of the shoe 200 to provide protection and support for a medial side of the upper 210 and the medial side of a foot disposed in the shoe 200. The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may be foldable and disposable up the medial side of the upper 210 to support an arch of the shoe 200 and an arch of a foot disposed in the shoe 200. Further, the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260, along with other portions of the shoe wrap 260, may be shaped to define and/or support the overall shape of the shoe 200. For example, the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may be shaped to define and/or support the shoe 200 as a low tension, medium tension, or high tension climbing shoe.

The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may extend from the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 260 up the medial side of the upper 210 of the shoe 200 to the at least one strap 230 and may be disposed over at least a portion of the at least one strap 230 such that the at least a portion of the at least one strap is disposed between the upper 210 and the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260. Further, the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may be connected to or formed to include at least a portion of the at least one strap. For example, the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may extend up the medial side of the upper 210 to hold the buckle 230 for closing the shoe 200 with the other portion of the strap 230.

The medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260 may extend in an anterior direction toward the toe box of the shoe 200. The medial portion 264 may extend between the upper 210 and at least a portion of the toe rand portion 261. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the medial portion 264 may be disposed on the toe rand portion 261 such that the toe rand portion 261 is disposed between the upper 210 and the medial portion 264 of the shoe wrap 260. Further, the medial portion 264 and the toe rand portion 261 need not meet or overlap such that a portion of the upper 210 may be exposed therebetween to provide for flexibility of the shoe 200. The medial portion 264 and the toe rand portion 261 may meet or not at a location of the upper 210 that corresponds to a location anterior to a ball of a foot disposed in the shoe 200. Such location may provide for flexibility of a toe portion of the shoe 200 while also providing stability for an arch portion of the shoe 200.

FIG. 4 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 5. is a bottom view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a shoe wrap 400 includes a toe rand portion 401, a heel rand portion 402, a sling rand portion 403, a medial portion 404, and an outsole portion 405. The shoe wrap 400 is formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for a right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of a wearer.

The toe rand portion 401, similar to as described herein, is at least partially connected to the outsole portion 405 and extends in a lateral direction from the outsole portion 405 as well as extends in an anterior direction beyond a toe portion of the outsole 405. As shown in FIG. 4, the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may extend in the lateral direction beyond the extent to which other portions of the toe rand portion 401 extend, for example, in the portion of the toe rand portion 401 connected to the outsole portion 405, so as to provide an increased area of coverage of the toe box of the upper of the shoe when wrapped about the toe box of the shoe as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. The shape of the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may be larger or smaller than that shown in FIG. 4 so as to provide more or less coverage of the toe box of the upper of the shoe as described herein. Further, a side of the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 separate from but adjacent to the toe portion of the outsole portion 405 has a shape to complement the shape of the toe portion of the outsole 405 so that such sides of the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may touch or be connected to the toe portion of the outsole portion 405 to provide complete coverage of the corresponding portion of the toe box of the upper. And, the end of the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may be shaped to complement a portion of the medial portion 404 of the shoe wrap 400 when the shoe wrap 400 is wrapped about a main body of a shoe.

The heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 extend in a posterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 405 as shown in FIG. 4. The heel rand portion 402 is connected to the heel portion of the outsole 405, and the sling rand portion 403 is connected to the heel rand portion 402. Further, each of the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 extend in lateral and medial directions, i.e., to the outside and to the inside with respect to a foot. The sling rand portion 403 may extend farther in the lateral and medial directions than the heel rand portion 402 such that, when the shoe wrap 400 is wrapped about a main body of a shoe, the sling rand portion 403 may extend in the anterior direction farther than the heel rand portion 402 extends in the anterior direction. Taken together and individually, the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may be of a general trapezoidal shape having the long base disposed away from the outsole portion 405. Although medial and lateral sides of the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may be generally be symmetric, aspects need not be limited thereto such that at least one of the medial and lateral side of at least one of the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may have a different shape or length in the medial and/or lateral directions.

During construction of the shoe, the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 are folded or disposed up the back of a heel portion of the main body of the shoe, including the upper, and disposed along lateral and medial sides of the main body of the shoe back toward the outsole 405 so as to form a heel cup to protect and support the main body of the shoe and the heel of a foot disposed in the shoe. The shapes of each edge of the heel rand portion 402 may be complementary to adjacent portions of the shoe wrap 400 so that, when the shoe is constructed to include the shoe wrap 400, the edges of the heel rand portion 402 align with or overlap edges of the toe rand portion 401, the medial portion 404, and the sling rand portion 403. Similarly, the shapes of the edges of the sling rand portion 403 may be complementary to adjacent portions of the shoe wrap 400 so that, when the shoe is constructed to include the shoe wrap 400, the edges of the sling rand portion 403 align with or overlap edges of the toe rand portion 401, the medial portion 404, and the heel rand portion 402.

For example, a lower edge of the heel rand 402, i.e., an edge adjacent to the heel portion of the outsole portion 405, may be curved away from the outsole portion 405 so that a good and comfortable fit of the heel cup may be achieved because extraneous material is not present. Further, an upper edge of the heel rand 402, i.e., an edge adjacent to the sling rand portion 403, and a lower edge of the sling rand portion 403, i.e., an edge adjacent to the heel rand portion 402, may also be complementary and have slight curves toward the outsole portion 405 with the curvature of the heel rand portion 402 being slightly greater than the curvature of the sling rand portion 403 so as to provide a good and comfortable fit of the heel cup in a fully constructed shoe according to aspects of the present disclosure. And, the upper edge of the sling rand portion 403, i.e., an edge of the sling rand portion 403 disposed away from the outsole 405, as well as anterior edges of the sling rand portion 403, i.e., distal most edges from a center of the sling rand portion 403, may have complementary shapes to provide appropriate protection and support for the upper and a heel of a foot disposed in the shoe.

The medial portion 404 extends in the medial direction from the outsole portion 405 from a heel portion to a toe portion of the outsole portion 405. The medial portion 404 may extend in the anterior direction beyond an area of the outsole portion 405 corresponding to a ball of a foot disposed in the shoe. The shape of the medial portion 404 provides protection and support for an arch of the upper of the shoe and an arch of a foot disposed in the shoe. Further, the medial portion 404 is foldable and disposable along a medial side of the upper and the shoe from the outsole portion 405. The medial portion 404 may extend from the heel portion of the outsole portion 405, along a medial side of the outsole portion 405, to a notch 407 formed in the outsole portion 405. The notch 407 may be only a groove in a portion of a top of the outsole portion 405 as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, i.e., the groove extending into but not completely through the outsole portion 405 such that the notch 407 is not present in the bottom of the shoe wrap as shown in FIG. 5, or the notch 407 may extend completely through the outsole portion 405 to provide independent folding or disposing of the medial portion 404 and the edge of a toe portion of the outsole portion 405. The notch 407 may extend from the folding line 406 to the edge of the shoe wrap 400. If the notch 407 is a groove extending into but not completely through the outsole portion 405, the notch 407 provides for increased flexibility due to the decreased thickness of the outsole portion 405 at the notch 407 but not independent folding of the medial portion 404 and the edge of the toe portion of the outsole portion 405. Further, the outsole portion as shown in FIG. 5 may have no tread or may have tread formed therein.

During construction of a shoe including the shoe wrap 400, the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion 404 may be folded up sides of the upper of the main body of the shoe along folding line 406. Upon folding of the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion 404, the shoe wrap 400 may change from the generally planar shape as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 to a shape appropriate for one of various shoe designs according to aspects of the present disclosure. For example, the shapes of the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion 404, and the folding line 406 may be arranged such that, when folded about a main body of the shoe, the shoe wrap 400 may support a shape of a low, medium, or high tension climbing shoe. For example, upon folding of the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion 404, the outsole portion 405 of the shoe wrap 400 may be curved in accordance with a low, medium, or high tension climbing shoe.

Further, the toe portion of the outsole portion 405 of the shoe wrap 400 may be shaped to include a connecting edge of sufficient width and shape to complement and correspond to the adjacent edge of the toe rand portion 401. For example, the connecting edge of the toe portion of the outsole portion 405 may have a width equal to or almost equal to the length of the notch 407 of the outsole portion 405. One of the adjacent edge of the toe rand portion 401 and the connecting edge of the toe portion of the outsole portion 405, upon construction of the shoe, may be disposed over or overlap the other of the adjacent edge of the toe rand portion 401 and the connecting edge of the toe portion of the outsole portion 405 to provide a continuous coverage of the upper in that region of the toe box of the upper, i.e., near the connection between the insole/midsole and the upper in the toe box.

The folding line 406 may be a scored line in the top surface of the shoe wrap 400 in the shape of a sole of a shoe to make folding easier and more consistent, may be a marked line to indicate where a fold is to be made, or may be theoretical and understood to be where a main body of a shoe is placed during construction of the shoe.

Although the shoe wrap 400 may have different shapes and sizes, the shoe wrap 400 may, in general, be about 15 to 22 inches long from the distal portion of the toe rand portion 401 to a farthest edge of the sling rand portion 403 when disposed generally flatly as shown in FIG. 4. The outsole portion 405 may be about 8 to 12 inches long from a toe area to a heel area of the outsole portion 405. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the outsole portion 405 may be shorter or longer for various sizes of shoes. For example, the outsole portion 405 may be 3 to 8 inches or 12 to 15 inches long. The widest portion of the outsole portion 405 may be 2.5 to 5 inches wide at a portion corresponding to a ball of a foot disposed in a shoe having the shoe wrap 400. Portions of the outsole corresponding to an arch and/or a heel of a foot disposed in a shoe having the shoe wrap 400 may be narrower than the widest portion of the outsole portion 405. For example, the portions corresponding to the arch and/or the heel may be about 1 to 3 inches wide.

As described herein, the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may extend in the lateral direction beyond the extent to which other portions of the toe rand portion 401 extend; for example, the distal end of the toe rand portion 401 may extend in a lateral direction 1 to 2 inches beyond the extent to which the portion of the toe rand portion 401 connected to the outsole portion 405 extends. The toe rand portion 401 may be 10 to 18 inches long from the distal end to a portion connected to the heel portion of the outsole portion 405. And, the toe rand portion 401 may be 0.5 to 3 inches wide, for example, about 1 to 2 inches wide.

The heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may each be 0.5 to 4 inches long and may each be 4 to 10 inches wide. For example, the heel rand portion 402 may be about 1 inch long in a posterior-anterior direction, and may be about 5 inches wide in a medial-lateral direction, and the sling rand portion 403 may be about 1 inch long in a posterior-anterior direction, and may be about 9 inches wide in a medial-lateral direction.

The medial portion 404 may be about 4 to 12 inches long in a posterior-anterior direction, and may be about 0.5 to 4 inches wide in a medial-lateral direction. For example, in the heel portion of the outsole portion 405, the medial portion 404 may be the widest and may be, for example, 2 inches wide. The medial portion 404 may be less wide nearer to the notch 407, and may be, for example, about 1 inch wide.

Portions described herein as connecting portions and beveled portions may be about 0.1 to 1 inch in width. For example, connecting edges and bevels may be about 0.25 inches in width. Similarly, the notch 407 may be about 0.1 to 1 inch long, for example, the notch 407 may be about 0.25 inches long.

Although shown as an integral, one-piece shoe wrap 400, aspects need not be limited thereto. For example, the shoe wrap 400 may include a first shoe wrap portion and a second shoe wrap portion to be joined together before applying to an upper to form an integral shoe wrap. For example, the first shoe wrap portion may include the outsole portion 405 and a second shoe wrap portion may include the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, and the medial portion 404. The first shoe wrap portion and the second shoe wrap portion may be joined along the folding line 406 or close thereto for form the single shoe wrap. For example, in such case, each of the first shoe wrap portion and the second shoe wrap portion may include additional edges, similar to the edge of the toe portion of the outsole 405 between the toe rand portion 401 and the notch 407 as described herein, for connecting the first shoe wrap portion and the second shoe wrap portion. Similarly, the second shoe wrap portion may include individual pieces. For example, the toe rand portion 401 and the medial portion 404 may be one piece and the heel rand portion 402 and the sling rand portion 403 may be another piece. Or, one or more of each of the toe rand portion 401, the heel rand portion 402, the sling rand portion 403, the medial portion 404, and the outsole portion 405 may be individual pieces connectable with the others to construct the shoe wrap 400 before being applied to an upper or main body.

FIG. 6 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 6, a shoe wrap 600 includes a toe rand portion 601, a heel rand portion 602, a sling rand portion 603, a medial portion 604, and an outsole portion 605, and a notch 607. The shoe wrap 600 is formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for a right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of a wearer. The shoe wrap 600 includes portions similar to those describe elsewhere herein, and such features described with respect to FIG. 6 and the shoe wrap 600 may be individually or separately combined with any features described with respect to any other figure or shoe wrap described herein.

The shoe wrap 600 includes bevels 606, 608, and 609. The bevels 606, 608, and 609 may be portions of the shoe wrap 600 that are sloping or relatively thinner other portions of the shoe wrap 600. For example, the outsole portion 605 includes a bevel 606 about the lateral, heel, and medial edges of the outsole portion 605. The bevel 606 may slope down to get thinner farther away from the outsole portion 605. Such bevel 606 provides for easier folding of the first toe rand portion 601, the heel rand portion 602, the sling rand portion 603, and the medial portion 604 during construction of a shoe.

The toe rand portion 601 includes the bevel 608, and the medial portion 604 includes the bevel 609. The bevel 608 of the toe rand portion 601 extends in an anterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 605 along the edge of the toe rand portion 601 and may extend for a portion of the length of the toe rand portion 601. For example, the bevel 608 may extend ¼, ⅓, ½, of the length of the toe rand portion 601 or may extend the entire length of the toe rand portion 601. The bevel 609 of the medial portion 604 extends in an anterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 605 along the edge of the medial portion 604 and may extend for a portion of the length of the medial portion 604. For example, the bevel 609 may extend ¼, ⅓, ½, of the length of the medial portion 604 or may extend the entire length of the medial portion 604. The bevels 608 and 609 may slope toward the edges of the toe rand portion 601 and the medial portion 604, i.e., the edges of the toe rand portion 601 and the medial portion 604 decrease in thickness so as to be thinner than other portions of the toe rand portion 601 and the medial portion 604, such that transitions between the upper and the toe rand portion 601 and the medial portion 604 are smoother than without the bevels 608 and 609, respectively.

Further, although not shown, other portions of the shoe wrap 600 may include bevels. For example, one or more of edges of one or more of the heel rand portion 602 and the sling rand portion 603 may include bevels to provide improved fit and comfort of the heel cup of the shoe. Further, the toe portion of the outsole 605 from the toe rand portion 601 to the notch 607 may include a bevel and the entire outsole 605 may include a bevel disposed about a periphery of the outsole 605. And, one or more of the edges of one or more of the toe rand portion 601, the heel rand portion 602, the sling rand portion 603, the medial portion 604, the outsole portion 605, and the notch 607 may include a bevel such that each of the edges of each of the toe rand portion 601, the heel rand portion 602, the sling rand portion 603, the medial portion 604, and the outsole portion 605, and the notch 607 includes a bevel.

FIG. 7 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. The shoe wrap 700 is formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for a right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of a wearer. The shoe wrap 700 includes portions similar to those describe elsewhere herein, and such features described with respect to FIG. 7 and the shoe wrap 700 may be individually or separately combined with any features described with respect to any other figure or shoe wrap described herein.

As shown in FIG. 7, a shoe wrap 700 includes a toe rand portion 701, a heel rand portion 702, a sling rand portion 703, a medial portion 704, and an outsole portion 705. The outsole portion 705 does not include a notch according aspects of the present disclosure.

The heel rand portion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 extend in a posterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 705 as shown in FIG. 7. Further, each of the heel rand portion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 extend in lateral and medial directions, i.e., to the outside and to the inside with respect to a foot. The heel rand portion 702 may extend farther in the lateral and medial directions than the sling rand portion 703 such that, when the shoe wrap 700 is wrapped about a main body of a shoe, the heel rand portion 702 may extend in the anterior direction farther than the sling rand portion 703 extends in the anterior direction. Taken together and individually, the heel rand portion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 may be of a general trapezoidal shape having the long base disposed closer to the outsole portion 705. Although medial and lateral sides of the heel rand portion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 may be generally be symmetric, aspects need not be limited thereto such that at least one of the medial and lateral side of at least one of the heel rand portion 702 and the sling rand portion 703 may have a different shape or length in the medial and/or lateral directions. For example, as shown in FIG. 8, below, the medial side of the heel rand portion 802 may have a truncated corner portion instead of a rounded corner portion as in the lateral side of the heel rand portion 802.

FIGS. 8, 9, and 10 illustrate a method for manufacturing a shoe according to aspects of the present disclosure. As shown in FIG. 8, a main body 810 of a shoe is disposed on a shoe wrap 800. The shoe wrap 800, as shown in FIG. 8, is an integral, one piece shoe wrap 800. If any of the various portions of the shoe wrap 800 are separate, the portions of the shoe wrap 800 are adhered or stitched together to form an integral shoe wrap 800 before applying any portion of the shoe wrap to the main body 810. The shoe wrap 800 and the main body 810 are formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap and a main body for a right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of a wearer. The main body 810 may be manufactured according to any method and may include at least an upper. The shoe wrap 800 includes a toe rand portion 801, a heel rand portion 802, a sling rand portion 803, a medial portion 804, and an outsole portion. The outsole portion of the shoe wrap 800 may perform as an insole, midsole, or outsole of the resultant shoe.

The main body 810 of the shoe is disposed on the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 800 and may be aligned on the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 800 with a folding line or bevel on the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 800. Further, adhesive may be disposed on the insole and/or the midsole of the main body 810 or on a bottom portion of the main body 810 and/or on the outsole portion of the shoe wrap 800 such that adhesive is disposed between the main body 810 and the shoe wrap 800. Additionally, or separately without adhesives, the main body 810 and the shoe wrap 800 may be stitched together.

In Operation S820, the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 are folded up the back of the main body 810 of the shoe. In Operation S830, lateral and medial portions of the heel rand portion 802 are disposed along lateral and medial sides of the main body 810, respectively. In Operation S840, lateral and medial portions of the sling rand portion 803 are disposed along lateral and medial sides of the main body 810, respectively. Adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made to secure the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 to the main body 810 at each of one or more of the Operations S820, S830, and S840 or adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made before and/or after all of the Operations S820, S830, and S840. Further, according to aspects of the present disclosure, the order Operations S830 and S840 may be determined according to various factors, for example, the respective sizes of the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803, the stiffness or flexibility of the resultant heel cup of the shoe, size of the heel cup, etc.

In Operation S850 in FIG. 9, the toe rand portion 801 is folded up the lateral side of the main body 810. Here, the toe rand portion 801 is folded up the lateral side of the main body 810 to cover portions of the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the toe rand portion 801 may be folded up the lateral side of the main body 810 before the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 are folded along the lateral side of the main body 810 so that the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 cover a portion of the toe rand portion 801. Adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made to secure the toe rand portion 801 to the main body 810 before and/or after Operation S850.

In Operation S860 in FIG. 10, the toe rand portion 801 is folded about an anterior portion of the main body 810 of the shoe. And, in Operation S870, the medial portion 804 is folded up the medial side of the main body 810 so as to cover at least a portion of the toe rand portion 801, the heel rand portion 802, and/or the sling rand portion 803. However, aspects need not be limited thereto such that the medial portion 804 may be folded up the medial side of the main body 810 before the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 are folded along the medial side of the main body 810 so that the heel rand portion 802 and the sling rand portion 803 cover a portion of the toe rand portion 804. Further, the medial portion 804 may be folded up the medial side of the main body 810 before the toe rand portion 801 is folded about the anterior end of the main body 810 such that the toe rand portion 801 may cover a portion of the medial portion 804. Adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made to secure the toe rand portion 801 and the medial portion 804 to the main body 810 at each of the Operations S860 and S870 or adhesives may be applied and/or stitches may be made before and/or after all of the Operations S860 and S870.

Although described herein as adhesives and stitches used to secure the shoe wrap to the main body of the shoe, aspects need not be limited thereto such that adhesives may be applied and stitches may be formed to secure at least portions of the shoe wrap to other portions of the shoe wrap. For example, for securing the toe rand portion 801 to the medial portion 804 and/or the connecting edge of the toe portion of the outsole portion of the shoe wrap, adhesives and/or stitches may be used.

FIG. 11 is a top view of a shoe wrap according to aspects of the present disclosure. The shoe wrap 1100 is formed to correspond to a right shoe to correspond to a right foot of a wearer. Although only a shoe wrap for a right shoe is shown, aspects need not be limited thereto such that aspects of the present disclosure may be applied to a left shoe arranged to correspond to a left foot of a wearer. The shoe wrap 1100 includes portions similar to those describe elsewhere herein, and such features described with respect to FIG. 11 and the shoe wrap 1100 may be individually or separately combined with any features described with respect to any other figure or shoe wrap described herein.

As shown in FIG. 11, a shoe wrap 1100 includes a toe rand portion 1101, a heel rand portion 1102, a medial portion 1104, an outsole portion 1105, and a notch 1107.

The heel rand portion 1102 extends in a posterior direction from a heel portion of the outsole 1105 as shown in FIG. 11. Further, the heel rand portion 1102 extends in lateral and medial directions, i.e., to the outside and to the inside with respect to a foot. The heel rand portion 1102 is similar to the heel rand portions and the sling rand portions as described herein but is one piece instead of two or more. The heel rand portion 1102 may be folded up the heel portion of a main body of a shoe and may extend along at least a portion of each of the lateral and medial sides of the main body of the shoe. The heel rand portion 1102 may be of a general trapezoidal shape having the long base disposed away from the outsole portion 1105, as shown in FIG. 11, or closer to the outsole portion 1105.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variation can be made in the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents

Claims

1. A shoe wrap for a shoe, the shoe wrap comprising:

an outsole portion having a toe portion disposed at an anterior end of the outsole portion;

a toe rand portion at least partially connected to the outsole portion at a lateral side of the outsole portion, the toe rand portion extending in an anterior direction beyond the toe portion of the outsole portion;

a medial portion connected to a medial side of the outsole portion; and

a heel rand portion connected to a heel portion of the outsole portion.

2. The shoe wrap of claim 1, further comprising:

a sling rand portion connected to the heel rand portion.

3. The shoe wrap of claim 2, wherein the sling rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions than the heel rand portion.

4. The shoe wrap of claim 2, wherein the heel rand portion extends farther in medial and lateral directions than the sling rand portion.

5. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein a distal end of the toe rand portion extends farther in a lateral direction beyond the extent to which other portions of the toe rand portion extend in the lateral direction.

6. The shoe wrap of claim 1, further comprising:

a folding line disposed about a periphery of the outsole portion.

7. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein at least one of the outsole, the toe rand portion, the medial portion, and the heel rand portion comprises a bevel.

8. The shoe wrap of claim 1, further comprising a notch disposed between an anterior end of the medial portion and the toe portion of the outsole portion.

9. The shoe wrap of claim 1, wherein the heel rand portion has a trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed away from the outsole portion.

10. The shoe wrap of claim 2, wherein each of the heel rand portion and the sling rand portion has a trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed away from the outsole portion.

11. The shoe wrap of claim 2, wherein each of the heel rand portion and the sling rand portion has trapezoidal shape having a long base disposed toward the outsole portion.

12. A shoe comprising the shoe wrap of claim 1.

13. A method of manufacturing a shoe, the method comprising:

disposing a main body on an outsole portion of a shoe wrap, the main body comprising at least an upper;

folding at least a heel rand portion of the shoe wrap up a back of the main body; and

folding a toe rand portion of the shoe wrap about a toe box of the main body.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

folding lateral and medial portions of the heel rand portion along lateral and medial sides of the main body, respectively.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the folding of the toe rand portion further comprises folding the toe rand portion up a lateral side of the main body to cover at least a portion of the lateral portion of the heel rand portion.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein the folding at least the heel rand portion further comprises folding a sling rand portion of the shoe wrap up the back of the main body, and the method further comprises folding lateral and medial portion of the sling rand portion along lateral and medial sides of the main body.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

folding a medial portion of the shoe wrap up a medial side of the main body.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the folding the medial portion of the shoe wrap occurs before the folding the toe rand portion of the shoe wrap such that the toe rand portion of the shoe wrap at least partially covers a portion of the medial portion of the shoe wrap.

19. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

connecting separate portions of the shoe wrap to form an integral shoe wrap before applying any portion of the shoe wrap to the main body.