Abstract: Footwear, in particular sports footwear, which includes a vamp associated with a substantially flat foot-supporting lower part or sole unit. This latter includes at least one portion formed of woven composite material having a part positioned in correspondence with the metatarsal region of the user's foot and a part positioned corresponding with the arch region of the user's foot, wherein the part of the portion present in the metatarsal region is flexible and enables the sole unit to flex during the use of the footwear and wherein part of the portion present in the plantar arch region is rigid.

Abstract: Polymer matrix composite materials containing a thermoplastic composite core bonded integrally with a fabric layer are provided. The fabric layer has a greater elasticity than the core, so that the fabric layer can conform smoothly to the core during thermoforming. This improvement has been demonstrated to improve aesthetic appearance and nearly eliminate wrinkling and distortion of the fabric layer when compared to conventional composite materials.

Abstract: Footwear with an improved arch support including an exposed gripping surface through a window in the outer sole is presented. The arch support includes a heel flange and brace which stabilizes the support between the inner and outer soles and the serrated gripping surface provides the wearer with needed traction for activities such as climbing ladders, horseback riding or the like.

Abstract: A rigid orthotic insert made of a plurality of layers bonded to one another, with each of the layers comprising parallel fibers, some of which are graphite. Along an outside edge of the insert, there is a layer of reinforcing graphite fibers. This arrangement desirably alleviates certain force patterns when high heels are worn, and also adds to comfort.

Abstract: A rigid orthotic insert made of layers bonded to one another, with each of the layers being made of graphite fibers positioned parallel to one another. At least one of the inserts is made of several sections, with some of the sections having the fibers oriented at different angles, thus causing a desired pattern of transmission of forces through the insert.

Abstract: A rigid orthotic insert having an elongate reinforcing member at a localized position in the orthotic. The reinforcing member comprises a fiberglass reinforced plastic core, around which is wrapped several layers of a sheet made of graphite fibers impregnated with resin. The graphite fibers are oriented with the lengthwise axis of the reinforcing member, and these are formed as an integral part of the insert.

Abstract: An orthotic insert formed of a plurality of layers bonded to one another. Some of the layers are made from fiberglass reinforced plastic, having the fibers oriented at 45.degree. from the longitudinal axis. At least one of the layers is made of parallel graphite fibers, having an axis of orientation offset from the longitudinal axis of the insert.

Abstract: A spring-type shank for a shoe sole is formed on the bottom of a shoe assembly during manufacture of the shoe. The heel end of the shank is formed so that it is raised slightly from the heel seat region of the insole to provide a "spring shank". The shank is formed directly on the bottom of the shoe insole from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material which may be fiber reinforced. The spring portion at the heel end of the shank is formed by placing a wedge between the shoe insole and the heel end of the shank strip during the curing process thereby to cause the heel end of the shank strip to cure in a raised, inclined attitude, spaced from the bottom of the insole, while the more forward, remaining portions of the shank strip cure in secure attachment to the insole bottom.

Abstract: An orthotic insert for use in various types of foot gear consisting of a first blank and a second blank fused together. The first blank is a flexible pad generally contoured to the bottom of a person's foot and the second blank is more rigid and contoured to the calcaneal and arch regions of a specific individual's foot. In combination the first and second blank form an orthotic insert which offers support to and is resiliently deformable in the heel area and flexible in the toe area thus emulating the requirement of the human gait cycle.

Abstract: A system for stiffening the shank of an insole uses a stiffener which is formed from an initially flexible and deformable strip of thermosetting resin, preferably mixed with reinforcing fibers such as fiberglass. A length of such shank strip material is applied onto the bottom of an insole and the insole, with the shank strip in place, is mounted in a special fixture. The fixture holds the strip on the bottom of the insole and also assures that the insole and shank strip will be held in the proper configuration, with the proper bend at the ball and the arch. With the shank strip and insole so held an external stimulus, such as radiant heat, is applied to the shank strip to activate and cure it in place on the insole bottom.

Abstract: A shanked innersole with laminated construction having a rigid street side layer, shank attached to foot side surface of the street side layer, shank board layer extending from heel to ball of innersole and a flexible layer attached to rigid street side and shank board thereby sandwiching the shank board between the top and street side layers so that only the shank attaching means are exposed on one side of the innersole construction.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for stripping a sleeve from a length of resin-impregnated fiberglass rovings and for cutting a length of the impregnated fibers. The invention severs and separates the sleeve in a manner which assures that the fibers will remain compact and in which substantially all of the resin remains with the fiber rovings. The material is advanced through the stripper solely by drawing on the severed sleeve and without gripping or otherwise disrupting the fibers.

Abstract: A spring-type shank for a shoe sole is formed on the bottom of a shoe assembly during manufacture of the shoe. The heel end of the shank is formed so that it is raised slightly from the heel seat region of the insole to provide a "spring shank". The shank is formed directly on the bottom of the shoe insole from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material which may be fiber reinforced. The spring portion at the heel end of the shank is formed by placing a wedge between the shoe insole and the heel end of the shank strip during the curing process thereby to cause the heel end of the shank strip to cure in a raised, inclined attitude, spaced from the bottom of the insole, while the more forward, remaining portions of the shank strip cure in secure attachment to the insole bottom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a shoe stiffener directly on a selected surface of a shoe assembly (such as a shoe shank on the bottom of an insole) from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material encased in a sleeve. The apparatus supports a shoe assembly, bottom up, to expose the insole bottom to a radiant heater. Means are provided for automatically locating a strip of the shank material on the insole bottom and for raising the shoe assembly, together with the insole strip, into engagement with a means for urging the shank strip against and into conformity with the contour of the insole bottom. A radiant heater then is operated to activate the shank strip. The ball and heel ends of the shank strip are pressed firmly toward the insole by heat absorbing presser pads which cause the ends of the shank strip to be tapered and to promote secure bonding of the ends of the shank strip to the insole bottom.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a shoe stiffener directly on a selected surface of a shoe assembly (such as a shoe shank on the bottom of an insole) from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material encased in a sleeve. The apparatus supports a shoe assembly, bottom up, to expose the insole bottom to a radiant heater. Means are provided for automatically locating a strip of the shank material on the insole bottom and for raising the shoe assembly, together with the insole strip, into engagement with a means for urging the shank strip against and into conformity with the contour of the insole bottom. A radiant heater then is operated to activate the shank strip. The ball and heel ends of the shank strip are pressed firmly toward the insole by heat absorbing presser pads which cause the ends of the shank strip to be tapered and to promote secure bonding of the ends of the shank strip to the insole bottom.

Abstract: A strip which will form a rigid shoe stiffener, such as a shoe shank, is applied to the surface of a shoe to be stiffened, such as to the bottom of an insole. The shank strip is flexible and includes a carrier sleeve or envelope containing a plurality of fiberglass strands in thermosetting plastic matrix. After the shank strip is in place on the insole, the matrix is activated by exposing it to an external stimulus such as radiant heat which is applied locally to the shank strip. Curing takes place in situ on the insole bottom. The carrier sleeve is formed in a manner which provides control over the shape of the cured stiffener as well as a means to facilitate handling of the shank strip.

Abstract: A strip which will form a rigid shoe shank is applied to the bottom of an insole. The shank strip is flexible and includes a carrier sleeve which contains a plurality of fiberglass strands in a thermosetting plastic matrix. After the shank strip is in place, the matrix is activated by exposing it to an external stimulus such as heat or radiation. Heat can be applied locally to the shank strip and curing takes place directly on the insole bottom. The thermosetting resin can polymerize with or without an exothermic reaction. Preferably, sufficient heat is developed from exothermic heat or from the energy source and directed to melt the carrier sleeve to fuse it with the resin and to effect a bond to the insole for forming a unitary and rigid shank attached firmly to the insole bottom. The shank strip may be cut from a "rope" which may be wound onto a reel for storage and to facilitate continuous paying out of the rope to enable a shank length to be severed and applied to the insole bottom.

Abstract: A light insole, with a high modulus of elasticity, which has a shank comprising a fiber-reinforced resin sheet and which is produced by putting a shank element on an insole element and heating under pressure to mold the sheet and adhere the sheet to the insole element.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a shoe shank directly on the bottom of a shoe insole from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material includes a radiant heater and resilient means for engaging the shank strip to orient, retain and resiliently urge the shank strip against the insole bottom while the radiant heater activates the shank strip.

Abstract: A strip which will form a rigid shoe stiffener, such as a shoe shank, is applied to the surface of a shoe to be stiffened, such as to the bottom of the insole. The shank strip is flexible and includes a carrier sleeve containing a plurality of fiberglass strands in an externally activatable thermosetting plastic matrix. The sleeve is formed from a pair of sheets of material which are bonded to each other along their lateral, longitudinally extending margins to seal the strip as well as to provide a means by which the strip may be handled and maintained in place on the shoe bottom during activation of the strip. The margins are heat sealed in a doubled-over, folded configuration which insures that the margins will not curl over and will remain substantially flat, to facilitate handling of the strip.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for forming a shoe shank directly on the bottom of a shoe insole from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material encased in a sleeve. The machine includes a shoe jack for supporting the shoe assembly, bottom up, to expose the insole bottom to a radiant heater. Means are provided for automatically locating and placing a strip of shank material on the insole bottom and for raising the shoe assembly, together with the insole strip into engagement with a means for urging the shank strip against and into conformity with the contour of the insole bottom while the radiant heater is operated to activate the shank strip.

Abstract: A strip which will form a rigid shoe stiffener, such as a shoe shank, is applied to the surface of a shoe to be stiffened, such as to the bottom of an insole. The shank strip is flexible and includes a carrier sleeve or envelope containing a plurality of fiberglass strands in a thermosetting plastic matrix. After the shank strip is in place on the insole, the matrix is activated by exposing it to an external stimulus such as radiant heat which is applied locally to the shank strip. Curing takes place in situ on the insole bottom. The carrier sleeve is formed in a manner which provides control over the shape of the cured stiffener as well as a means to facilitate handling of the shank strip.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming a shoe shank directly on the bottom of a shoe insole from a strip of initially flexible, uncured thermosetting material includes a radiant heater and resilient means for engaging the shank strip to orient, retain and resiliently urge the shank strip against the insole bottom while the radiant heater activates the shank strip.

Abstract: A strip which will form a rigid shoe shank is applied to the bottom of an insole. The shank strip is flexible and includes a carrier sleeve which contains a plurality of fiberglass strands in a thermosetting plastic matrix. After the shank strip is in place, the matrix is activated by exposing it to an external stimulus such as heat or radiation. Heat can be applied locally to the shank strip and curing takes place directly on the insole bottom. The thermosetting resin can polymerize with or without an exothermic reaction. Preferably, sufficient heat is developed from exothermic heat or from the energy source and directed to melt the carrier sleeve to fuse it with the resin and to effect to a bond to the insole for forming a unitary and rigid shank attached firmly to the insole bottom. The shank strip may be cut from a "rope" which may be wound onto a reel for storage and to facilitate continuous paying out of the rope to enable a shank length to be severed and applied to the insole bottom.

Abstract: A hole is drilled into the sole of a conventional shoe. The user's foot is then placed into the shoe and a curable plastic material is injected into the shoe. The hole is located directly below the metatarsal arch of the user's foot. The foot is removed after the plastic has set.

Abstract: An orthotic insert for use in various types of foot gear consisting of a first blank and a second blank fused together. The first blank is a flexible pad generally contoured to the bottom of a person's foot and the second blank is more rigid and contoured to the calcaneal and arch regions of a specific individual's foot. In combination the first and second blank form an orthotic insert which offers support to and is resiliently deformable in the heel area and flexible in the toe area thus emulating the requirement of the human gait cycle.