Abstract: A method for manufacturing a shoe, which includes the steps of:arranging an upper-insole assembly about a last;coupling an intermediate member comprising a toe portion and a heel portion to a lower region of the upper-insole assembly arranged about the last; andarranging the intermediate member in a mold and introducing plastic material into the mold so as to form an injected plastic material member which surrounds the intermediate member and which is integrally connected with both the intermediate member and the upper-insole assembly.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe, provided with a front region and a heel region. The method comprises the steps of stitching an upper to a piece of fabric in order to obtain an inner shoe which is closed at its lower portion, providing a rubber mid-sole having at least one inner cavity or seat and at least one outer cavity or seat, filling the at least one inner cavity with a lightweight filler, coupling said inner shoe with the mid-sole by a peripheral cover band, vulcanizing and placing one or more inserts in the at least one outer cavity or seat.

Abstract: A process which serves to seal and waterproof the outsole-side end area of a waterproof shoe shaft and/or to pad the outsole-side end of a shoe by putting a liquid, curable, filling material into the space between the insole and outsole is described. The outsole is provided with an input opening for putting in the filling material. The outsole is adhered to the shaft only in a circumferential area and in such a way that the outsole-side end area of the shaft remains unadhered. The liquid filling material is put in through the input opening, between the insole and the outsole, from where it flows into the outsole-side end area of the shaft due to its good flowability. The liquid material contains polyurethane precursor ingredients which react to form a foam polyurethane.

Abstract: In a safety shoe provided with a toecap, a vamp, an insole, and a two-layer structure sole, the a two-layer structure sole includes an outsole part comprising a high hardness rubber material and a midsole part, laminated in the above outsole part, comprising a low hardness sponge rubber material and has a heel part. The outsole part is fused integrally with the midsole part by vulcanization molding, and the upper circumferential edge of the outsole part is fused integrally with the lower circumferential edge of the vamp by the vulcanization molding described above. Since the outsole part in a side in contact with the ground has a high physical strength and is excellent in an oil resistance, a chemical resistance and a heat resistance, and the midsole part in an inner side has a cushioning property, the shoe is less liable to bring about fatigue even after wearing it for a long period of time.

Abstract: A shoe structure includes an upper, including at least an outer layer and a lining, an insole, and a sole. The lining lines the inside of the outer layer and includes a waterproof and water-vapor permeable functional layer. The insole is connected to a lower end area of the outer layer. The lower end area of the lining is turned back to the inside in the sole area at least approximately parallel to the direction in which the sole extends, whereby the turned back area of the lining is shortened to a width of between 0.5 and 3 cm. Cut-outs are made in the insole, at least in the area in which the turned back lower end area of the lining ends. The lower end area of the lining is embedded in a synthetic material which fills the cut-outs in the insole in such a manner that at least the surface of the end area of the lining facing the inner area of the shoe structure forms a continuous surface with the surface of the synthetic material facing the inner area of the shoe structure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe having an outersole with a removable protective covering, including the steps of applying a sheet of protective covering to a sheet of outersole material with adhesive to form a composite sheet; applying printed indicia on the protective covering at predetermined locations; stamping out the composite sheet to form a plurality of outersoles, each having the protective covering and the printed indicia to form finished outersoles; and attaching each of the finished outersoles to a shoe upper to form a shoe so that the protective covering is removable.

Abstract: An article of footwear comprising relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials chemically bonded together is disclosed. In one embodiment, the relatively elastic and relatively inelastic materials are arranged in such a fashion to impart flexibility to the article of footwear. In particular, plastic and rubber materials are bonded together to improve the flexibility of an outsole of an article of footwear. The invention also is directed to the fabrication of new or improved devices and elements for use in articles of footwear and their associated methods of construction such as closure mechanisms comprising relatively elastic straps bonded to relatively inelastic anchor portions and vice versa, articulating inelastic and elastic exoskeleton constructions useful in skates and ski boots, and elastic or inelastic eyelets surrounded by inelastic or elastic materials.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a shoe, particularly for skates, entails the positioning of a soft innerboot on an adapted last and the subsequent dry assembly of a rigid shell made of plastics to the innerboot. An overlap injection-molding or pouring of thermoplastic or thermosetting material is then performed on at least part of the edge of the shell so as to affect the innerboot and the frame, in order to achieve a skate that simultaneously provides comfort for the user's foot and optimum transmission of forces at the underlying supporting frame for the wheels that are associated below the shell.

Abstract: A process of making a shoe includes bonding a flat structure to an upper layer of the shoe to form a bonded structure. The flat structure has a melting temperature T.sub.2 and provides stability to a shape of the upper layer. The bonded structure is positioned into a mold so that an underside of the bonded structure faces the mold. A liquid sole material at a temperature T.sub.1 which is greater than T.sub.2 is sprayed into the mold, thereby contacting and melting the flat structure. The sole material cools and solidifies to form a shoe. The flat structure has a melting temperature T.sub.2 and provides stability to a shape of the upper layer.

Abstract: The method for obtaining a shoe entails the execution of a nonrigid sock or upper, which is tensioned by means of an adapted last to allow the coupling thereto of an intermediate member on which multiple through holes are formed and which has an optional cavity at the arch region. Then the intermediate member is placed inside a mold and at least one first injection or pouring of preferably but not necessarily compact thermoplastic or thermosetting or expandable material is performed, so as to affect at least the intermediate structural element to obtain a semifinished item below which a sole is associable.

Abstract: A method for forming a pattern on a shoe sole includes preparing a film having a pattern attaching and transferring to an EVA material. The EVA material is then molded so as to allow infiltrating of the pattern in the EVA material and so as to form a shoe sole. The pattern is solidly formed on the outer peripheral surface of the shoe sole and will not be easily worn out. The shoe sole includes a cavity formed in the bottom portion for receiving an insert. The insert may be made of waste or recycled EVA materials.

Abstract: A method for forming a composite sole to an upper of a shoe includes molding a blank midsole to an upper of a shoe while protecting the material of the upper from the heat involved in molding the midsole to the upper, and subsequently adhering an outsole having a desired traction surface to the blank midsole. The method requires less heat and less time than prior art vulcanization processes that form entire soles to footwear uppers, and also requires less equipment than prior art processes.

Abstract: A novel method of footwear construction. A specially designed outer sole with a lip is used. It insures accurate positioning between upper and shoe linings. After the upper is complete, a sock lining is attached to a leather lining by stitching the edges of the linings to the edge of the insole. The insole is made of soft leather or soft flexible fabric. The next step is uniting the linings with the upper. Then, the upper of the shoe is assembled onto the last by inserting the last into the upper which now is completely closed by the linings only. Only the lower edge of the upper (about 1 inch) is floating loose. The fourth step is to cement the sock lining, which is attached to the upper via the vamp and quarter linings, to the specially designed sole. With the last in place, the fifth step is to cement the lower edge of the upper that was left free to the recessed lip of the sole. After this attachment has been completed, the shoe assembly is dropped into a pressure device to further set the cement bonds.

Abstract: A waterproof article of manufacture and method of manufacturing the same including a waterproof, breathable shell and an aqueous based waterproof sealant disposed on the shell adjacent seams used to assemble the shell into an article. The article may be a lining for footwear.

Abstract: Process for producing shoe soles of injected plastics material, which soles have an empty chamber visible through a transparent material, which process comprises the following steps:a) injection, into a hollow region comprised between a mobile die and a first removable plate, of a multipart tread sole, with at least one of said sole parts being made from a transparent material;b) injection, into a region comprised between said first removable matrix and a second, removable matrix, of a shaped body comprising a perimetrical wall 13 and a top wall 14;c) removal of said first matrix and injection, into the hollow region comprised between said tread sole and said shaped body, of a layer 17 made of a material suitable for bonding the shoe sole and said shaped body to each other;d) removal of said second matrix and injection, into the hollow region comprised between the vamp, the tread sole and the external side of said shaped body, of a material which constitutes the intersole;e) possible either partial or total f

Abstract: A gritted outsole suitable for intervulcanization with a rubber boot has a layer of inorganic grit particles secured to its outer face. The grit particles are chemically bonded to the rubber of the outsole by an adhesive having both polar and non-polar components. The adhesive may comprise a pair of successive primer coatings on the grit particles. The first primer coating is made of a polar organic polymer which has a high affinity for the grit particle. The second primer overcoats the first primer and serves to intervulcanize the first primer with the rubber of the outsole. An intervulcanized gritted outsole according to the invention provides improved traction and has greater durability than conventional gritted outsoles.

Abstract: In order to produce a shoe without insole, the lasting fold of a shoe upper (4) is glued directly on the underside of a last (1), specifically with the use of an adhesive which is selectably releasable at some later time. Next, an outside sole (5), which is provided with an adhesive layer (6) in the area of the lasting fold and possibly in the area of the side leather, is glued to the shoe upper (4). Next, the adhesive power of the selectably releasable adhesive is cancelled, for example, by means of heating, and the adhesive power of the adhesive (6) between the shoe upper (4) and the outside sole (5) is increased. Now the last (1) can be removed from the completed shoe. Such a shoe without insole is particuarly suited as an orthopedic shoe which makes possible a direct contact between the foot and the soft upperside of the outside sole (5).

Abstract: The device is intended to dry the glue (containing polyurethane, neoprene, natural or synthetic rubber or mixtures thereof) after it has been spread on shoe uppers and/or soles. The device can be included in a system which includes carding, spreading and reactivation of the parts in order to press them together. The device comprises one or more vacuum chambers into which the shoe uppers and soles to which a water dispersion glue has previously been applied are fed, the vacuum chamber being subject to heat and decreased pressure under conditions to produce rapid evaporation of water and drying of the glue. The temperature can be fixed beforehand and increased by a source of heat.

Abstract: An improved composite polymeric leisure shoe having the upper portion of a shoe sole bonded to the lower surface of the shoe upper-insole using a non-visible porous interlayer (preferably a loosely woven fabric) and one or more adhesives. The bonding between the different synthetic polymeric surfaces of shoe upper-insole and the shoe sole is improved, and does not separate with normal use. A method of manufacture of the composite polymeric leisure shoe comprises applying an adhesive to both surfaces of the interlayer, placing the suitable adhesive side of the interlayer on the superior surface of the front part of a shoe upper-insole mold, bonding the interlayer to the lower surface of the shoe upper-insole by injection molding, applying the same or second adhesive to the lower interlayer surface of the shoe upper-insole and to the top surface of a shoe sole, and forming the leisure shoe by contacting the adhesive-coated surfaces of the shoe parts using suitable pressure.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe (10) includes joining a toe bottom sock portion (54) on a join line (56) to a toe portion (46) of an upper (12) to form a shoe sock (57). The join line (56) is near toe portion bottom margin (60) and the front perimeter of sock portion (54), and extends from a first side (50) of shoe (10) around the front (51) to a second side (52). A sole (30) is joined to the shoe sock (57) to complete the shoe (10).

Abstract: The shoe of the invention consists of a thermally-moldable material which is secured in a cut-out region of the shoe sole.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a shoe which comprises forming a foamed outsole in a mold cavity and cementing an insole to the formed outsole during molding. The mold is made of a silicone rubber and has a deeper cavity for forming the outsole and a shallow cavity for receiving an insole. An upper with multi-colors is fabricated by cementing differently colored plastic segments and a lining cloth by high frequency sealing.

Abstract: A machine is disclosed for assembling box sole footwear semiautomatically. The machine provides for carrying out a number of operations through a completely new method of footwear assembly, thus affording significant labor savings and low investment costs. Specifically, this machine for semiautomatically assembling footwear having so-called box soles comprises, in essence, a former provided, at the sides, with a plurality of perforations connected to a suction pump and mounted on an arm adapted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis. The machine further comprises a rubber plate and members cooperating with it which are adapted to press the sole edge against the sides of the former.

Abstract: A two-layer sole is molded onto the bottom of a lasted upper by molding a first color outer sole with a recess in the top thereof, molding a second color inner sole to fill the recess. The inner sole including a flange which covers the outer sole and extends slightly outwardly from the periphery thereof between the outer sole and the upper, coloring the flange a third color, and removing a portion of the flange so that the resulting sole appears to include an outer layer, a midsole and a separate welt.

Abstract: The manufacture of a sole unit for footwear, such as an athletic shoe including an integral midsole/wedge or a separable wedge for use with a midsole. The integral midsole/wedge unit and the separable wedge comprise a shell and a core at least partially encapsulated within the shell. In the manufacture the core is supported in a mold by a plurality of pins extending from an upper and lower mold half toward a parting line; or the core is supported on one or the other of an outsole or insole of the sole unit and closed in the mold. The material of the shell is poured or injected into the mold.

Abstract: A shoe upper is directly joined to a shoe sole and contoured to a last by stitching a socklining to an upper and providing a mold engaging lip between the lower periphery of the upper and the stitched seam. The stitched socklining and upper are then mounted on a last. The lasted socklining and upper are mounted in a two piece, resilient upper mold and the upper mold is then mounted on a bottom mold having expanding, foaming resin therein with the mold engaging lip resiliently held between the edges of the upper and lower molds. An integrally joined shoe upper and sole are formed thereby.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process and tooling for producing a shoe of open top form having for example two parts of an upper (secured together by means of a buckle or other arrangement) are anchored by pegs within one part of a mould defining the bearing surface for the foot against the bottom of the shoe; the other part of the mould being shaped in such a manner as to define the periphery and the base of the shoe bottom the edges of the mould acting in conjunction to define the upper edge of the bottom of the shoe and to form clefts through which each of the two parts of the upper pass, filling of the mould with mouldable material resulting in the upper components being secured in the bottom of the shoe.

Abstract: A sport shoe in which the shoe sole is bonded to an insert layer during the formation of the shoe sole by injection-molding and the assembly of the shoe sole and the insert layer is secured to the shoe upper by an adhesive applied between the insert layer and the shoe upper.

Abstract: Shaped articles are formed from a composition comprising a mixture of (1) a thermoplastic elastomer copolymer of at least one conjugated diene and at least one vinyl arene, preferably a butadiene-styrene block copolymer and (2) at least one poly(vinyl arene) resin, preferably poly(alphamethyl styrene), which is thermally bonded sans adhesive to smooth plastics consisting essentially of polymers or copolymers of vinyl chloride.

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

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of footwear manufacture in which a footwear component for incorporation into an article of footwear is made. The footwear component is made by simultaneously forming from a piece of sheet material a rand extending at least part-way around an innersole, the rand and innersole being substantially coplanar whereby the rand forms a substantially lateral extension of the innersole. The rand may be integral with, separable from or separated from the innersole. The sheet material may be a single layer or may be multi-layered. A footwear article incorporating the the component of the invention is also contemplated.

Abstract: A sport shoe in which the shoe sole is bonded to an insert layer during the formation of the shoe sole by injection-molding and the assembly of the shoe sole and the insert layer is secured to the shoe upper by an adhesive applied between the insert layer and the shoe upper.

Abstract: A shoe upper is directly joined to a shoe sole and contoured to a last by stitching a socklining to an upper and providing a mold engaging lip between the lower periphery of the upper and the stitched seam. The stitched socklining and upper are then mounted on a last. The lasted socklining and upper are mounted in a two piece, resilient upper mold and the upper mold is then mounted on a bottom mold having expanding, foaming resin therein with the mold engaging lip resiliently held between the edges of the upper and lower molds. An integrally joined shoe upper and sole are formed thereby.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method of making boots for aquatic activities, more particularly for underwater diving. The method consists in the steps of forming a sock from a sheet of cellular elastomeric material and adhering an outsole assembly, including unvulcanized non-cellular rubber composition, to the sole portion and to the adjacent part of the upper of the sock all around the sole portion; placing the resulting unit in an oven; and vulcanizing under pressure said outsole assembly in situ on said sock at a maximum temperature below the degrading temperature of the cellular elastomeric material of the sock.

Abstract: A shoe buildup and a method for making the same wherein a block of rigid foam material is cut and shaped to follow the contour of an existing shoe and is then preferably adhesively secured to the sole of the shoe. Although the buildup may be formed of one piece, it is generally formed in two parts, one for the front portion of the shoe and one for the heel portion thereof. After the buildups have been attached, a ground engaging second sole and a heel are nailed to the bottoms of the buildups. Side coverings of leather or other appropriate material may be adhesively secured to the front and rear buildups to provide a finished shoe having an attractive appearance.

Abstract: A boot or shoe comprises a pre-formed portion and a portion which is moulded in one piece on to the pre-formed portion and which includes the sole unit and those parts of the upper not constituted by the pre-formed portion. The pre-formed portion comprises side panels extending along each side of the shoe and a sock for underlying the foot, which sock interconnects the side panels and the side panels and sock may be made in one piece or in separate pieces which are fastened together, as by sewing, before the moulded portion is moulded on to the pre-formed portion. The moulded portion is made from a plastics material, e.g. polyurethane, and the material does not overlap the inner face of the pre-formed portion but overlaps at least some of the marginal regions of the two side panels. The sock lies in the top surface of the sole unit. The two side panels may together extend also round the heel region of the upper and the plastics material may cover the outer face of the panels in the heel region.

Abstract: At least two overlapping portions of plastic material are overmolded successively on a lining formed by a slipper so as to cover the slipper sole and upper at least to a partial extent. The method involves the following successive operations:overmolding of a plastic layer which covers the entire upper of the slipper;overmolding of a plastic stiffening reinforcement having greater rigidity than the previous layer and constituting a shell around the rear counter as well as a thin intermediate sole;addition of an outer wearing sole of molded plastic material.

Abstract: In the injection molding of plastic boots, a reinforced arch and heel construction is disclosed wherein a reinforced insole member, of comparatively rigid material formed in a single piece with a rigid heel portion, is incorporated into the two step process of molding the upper portion and then the sole portion of the boot. In one embodiment the reinforced member is molded to the boot upper during the first step of the molding process, and in an alternative embodiment the reinforcement member is incorporated into the boot during the second step of the molding process. A third simpler embodiment utilizes a conventional wood screw as the heel portion of the reinforcement member, and the member may be inserted after molding of the boot.

Abstract: A unit sole construction, including a sole body of molded, rubbery material, and a welt extending along the body, the welt having an exposed upper wall portion, and a tongue portion extending from the wall portion into the body, the tongue being embedded in the body to secure the welt to the body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for manufacturing footwear and apparatus for use in the method. The method includes the steps of procuring an upper constituted by at least one strap or band and an insole, assembling the upper and the insole by passing end portions of the strap(s) through apertures provided in marginal portions of the insole and securing the strap end portions to an under surface of the insole, inserting a positioning support within the upper/insole assembly, positioning the assembly in a mould closing member of a moulding apparatus, providing mouldable plastics material to a mould cavity of a second member of the moulding apparatus and closing said mould cavity by means of said mould closing member so as to trap marginal edge portions of the insole against the two mould members.

Abstract: There is provided a method of manufacturing a footwear item in which the molded outsole can be firmly affixed to the combination of an upper and an insole. A piece of prime rib tape is bonded to the underside of the insole, placed further inwardly from the edge than is the case in the Goodyear Welt construction, and stitched. The lower free edge of the upper is then stitched to the rib, roughened, and impregnated with bonding cement. Following this the outsole is molded against the underside of the insole so that the outsole contacts and bonds to the roughened region of the upper.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an instep cover section of a footwear, comprising placing an instep cover member in a molding cavity, pressure-injecting molten synthetic resin material into the cavity, and thus connecting the synthetic resin material with the instep cover member whereby the synthetic resin material and the instep cover member form at least the main part of the three-dimensional instep cover section of a footwear. Also, a footwear comprises an upper including prefabricated members connected with resin sections.

Abstract: A method and means are disclosed for use in a press whereby a sole and an upwardly projecting portion thereof, for instance, such as is used in many athletic type shoes, are attached adhesively to a shoe. An elastically deformable pad mounted in a relatively rigid support is recessed closely to fit the sole therein and has a wall overlying the projecting portion of the sole, the pad also having walls sloping toward the tread surface of the sole and inwardly of the pad. Sloping surfaces of the support engage external walls of the pad positioned thereon so that, when the support and pad are assembled in the press and the latter operated to cause the shoe to deform the pad, the heightwise projecting portion of the sole will be pressed against the upper of the shoe.

Abstract: An article of footwear and method of making the same which does not require adhesives on the upper to attach a smooth upper to an insole, outsole and foxing. A first strip having an outer surface of uncured elastomeric material is stitched to the lower edge of the upper and a second strip having inner and outer surfaces of uncured elastomeric material is stitched to the first strip at approximately a right angle thereto. An insole and an outsole are attached to the inner and outer surfaces, respectively, of the second strip.

Abstract: Improvements in the safety and comfort of footwear having the appearance of having very thick soles and improvements in the method of their manufacture.

Abstract: An improved process for the dry blending of block copolymer-based compositions is disclosed which process comprises dry blending the various components at a temperature between about 175.degree. F and 250.degree. F.

Abstract: Apparatus for connecting the sole of a shoe with its shaft comprising a mold having a contour corresponding to the shape of the sole and at least two jaws being movably supported and being arranged for being pressed against the mold and for laterally enclosing the mold so as to bend an edge portion of the shaft against the side of the mold, said jaws being provided with rims extending in an inward direction and overlapping the edge of the mold over its total circumference, said rims having a smaller height as compared with the width of the protruding and bent edge of the shaft, and a press ram cooperating with the mold and having a contour approximately corresponding to the border line, facing the center of the mold, of the rims of the jaws, the mold and the press ram being formed as electrodes connected to a radio frequency generator.

Abstract: A method for the formation of inserts in the edge of footwear or shoe soles made by means of injected plastic material, in which either the edge of the sole or the whole sole of the footwear is first moulded by injection, and successively at least a lateral recess is obtained in said edge of the sole itself, and thereafter a differently colored plastic material is injected into said recess for forming a lateral insert in the previously moulded edge of the footwear sole.

Abstract: A tennis shoe outsole, a tennis shoe, the method of making the outsole and the method of making the tennis shoe. The outsole has a preformed abrasion-resistant insert therein in an outer region thereof. The method of making the outsole is by injection molding the outsole adherent to the insert which is held in position in an outsole cavity mold by indexing pins.

Abstract: A method for the formation of inserts in the edge of footwear or shoe soles made by means of injected plastic material, in which either the edge of the sole or the whole sole of the footwear is first moulded by injection, and successively at least a lateral recess is obtained in said edge of the sole itself, and thereafter a differently colored plastic material is injected into said recess for forming a lateral insert in the previously moulded edge of the footwear sole.