Abstract: A process and apparatus for automatically applying heel covers to women's heels including a rotatable work table with jigs for holding the heels fixed around the periphery. Positioned outwardly from the periphery of the table are work stations with independently programmed operating machines which are responsive to the instructions as to heel size and style which are placed into the controller for the process. The controller operates motors and air valves which control the operation and positioning of an automatic top trimmer, a seat roller, a breast notcher, upper and lower nippers, a dowel and lift inserter and a dowel setting device. Each of these is preset depending on the style and size heel being worked on. Instructions as to new styles or types can be inserted into the controller while the machine is running.

Abstract: A plastic heel of shoes or boots decorated with irregular figure on its surface. The irregular figure is a copy of leather or leather-like material. The heel has high quality of appearance and excellence in strength, water resistance and heat resistance so as to extend the life thereof. The costs of producing the heel is reduced by using a metal mold thereof compared with the method for producing a heel by bonding leather or leather-like material to a surface of a heel body one by one.

Abstract: An integral sole and heel construction for footwear having a wear resistent under-heel is formed by molding a fluid pre-polymeric compound using the under-heel as a piston to displace the fluid compound at least in part through channels formed in the under-heel.

Abstract: A method of rigidly fixing an end portion of an elongated column member within a cavity in a body member. A quantity of hardenable adhesive material is placed into the cavity such that when the column member end portion is inserted into the cavity, the resulting displacement of a portion of the adhesive material causes the adhesive material substantially exactly to fill the cavity. The column member end portion is then inserted into the cavity, and the adhesive material is allowed to harden. The angular position of the column member relative to the body member can be adjusted as desired prior to hardening of the adhesive material. Preferably, the method is automated, including injecting a measured amount of adhesive material into the cavity and holding the column member and the body member in a jig while the adhesive material hardens. The adhesive material can be an epoxy resin, and if desired, the hardening can be accomplished by heat curing.

Abstract: Intensity of vibrations emitted by tool and workpiece acted upon is reduced by an enveloping mat of floppy fibres. In a heel attacher, for instance, the mat reduces by 14 or more decibels, and an operator incurs no risk of injury to his hands should they be in the path of the mat when it is moved to or from a heel and shoe being attached.