EP2641497B1

EP2641497B1 - Method for producing a leather shoe upper that is adaptable to foot deformations

Info

Publication number: EP2641497B1
Application number: EP20130001476
Authority: EP
Inventors: Margherita Montanari
Original assignee: Gold Star Srl
Current assignee: Gold Star Srl
Priority date: 2012-03-23
Filing date: 2013-03-22
Publication date: 2014-10-22
Anticipated expiration: 2033-03-22
Also published as: EP2641497A1; ITAN20120029A1

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to the footwear manufacturing sector, and more specifically consists in making a series of micro-cuts with a cutting die having small blades to adapt the part of the leather upper next to the wearer's foot deformation.

Background

Currently, people who have foot deformation problems (hallux valgus - commonly called "bunion"; hammer-toes, etc.) cannot wear normal shoes because it is necessary to insert elastic inserts at the rubbing points between the leather upper and the foot deformation to prevent pain and other discomforts for the wearer.
It follows that the current leather shoes for people with foot deformations are very expensive due to the use of technical materials and because they require a particular type of production process for the insertion of elastic inserts to be stitched onto the parts of the leather upper next to the foot deformation. Besides being highly visible and unsightly, the elastic inserts and their stitching are also the cause of irritation to, or laceration of, the wearer's foot.
In order to remedy the said problems, preference has currently been given to using uppers made of synthetic material that however have the disadvantage of being the cause of allergic reactions promoted by lack of foot breathability.
US 2004/261295 A1 shows a shoe production method for rendering a leather upper elastic and adaptable to foot deformations consisting in cutting the part of the leather upper subject to the foot deformation so that the cuts obtained on the required part of the leather upper due to their arrangement, length and distance, will allow the leather upper to become elastic over the affected part of the foot and adapt to the pressure of its deformation and to remain compact in the other parts of the upper.
It is an object of the present invention to fit people who have foot deformation problems (hallux valgus, commonly called "bunion"; hammer-toes, etc.) with a type of shoe with a leather upper that can be made elastic on the foot deformation part without having to resort to stitching on elastic inserts.
It is another object of the present invention to have a leather upper that allows foot breathability to prevent foot irritation and to increase the wearer's comfort.
It is a further object of the present invention to allow people who have foot deformation problems (hallux valgus, commonly called "bunion"; hammer-toes, etc.) to wear a shoe that is aesthetically identical to those made for the majority of consumers.
It is still another object of the present invention to allow people who have foot deformation problems to wear shoes with leather upper that are less expensive and with better characteristics than those known in the state of the art.

Disclosure of the invention

These and other objects are achieved with the present invention that concerns a method for producing the leather upper of a shoe for people who have foot deformation problems (hallux valgus, commonly called "bunion"; hammer-toes, etc.) that consists in cutting the leather upper with a cutting die having a series of small blades that produce a series of micro-cuts on the leather upper that are 4 mm long, 4 mm apart and form sequences staggered from each other by 4 mm, so as to render the leather upper elastic next to the foot deformation and compact in the other parts.
Further features and advantages of the invention will be more readily apparent from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of the production process that is the subject of the present patent application, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the drawing units in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting die (1) having a series of small blades (2);
Fig. 2 is an enlargement of a portion of the sequences of the small blades (2) with which the cutting die (1) is provided: the blades are 4 mm long, 4 mm apart and the sequences are staggered from each other by 4 mm;
Fig. 3 shows from above the inside of the upper (3) with the leather lining (4) before being subjected to the cuts of the cutting die (1);
Fig. 4 is a view from above of a fibrous cardboard model (6) that is used to position and centre a metal or plastic mask (5) on the area of the leather upper (3) next to the wearer's foot deformation;
Fig. 5 is a view from above of the metal or plastic mask (5) that has the function of marking the boundary of the area of the leather upper (3) next to the foot deformation that is to be cut by the small blades (2) of the cutting die (1);
Fig. 6 is a view from above of the cutting die (1) on which have been placed the upper (3) and the fibrous cardboard (6) laid on top of it with the metal or plastic mask (5) inserted, which is thicker than the fibrous cardboard model (6), before the cutting die is inserted in a plating machine or in a shearing machine (not shown) to commence the cutting operation;
Fig. 7 is a view from above of the leather upper (3) from the outside of it (4-bis) with the series of micro-cuts (9) in the part bounded by the positioning of the metal or plastic mask (5).

Detailed description

The invention that is the subject of the present application concerns a shoe production process for rendering the leather upper (3) elastic and adaptable to foot deformations (hallux valgus, commonly called "bunion"; hammer-toes, etc.) that consists in cutting the part of the leather upper (3) subject to foot deformations with a cutting die (1) having a series of small blades (2), with sequences staggered from each other by 4 mm, that are 4 mm long and 4 mm apart, so that the micro-cuts (9) obtained on the required part of the leather upper (3), due to their arrangement, length and distance, will allow the upper to become elastic next to the affected part of the foot and adapt to the pressure of its deformation and to remain compact in the other parts of the upper (3).
The production process of the present invention involves:

bonding the leather (4-bis) of the upper (3), by the known method, to a leather lining (4) [shown in the figures referred to above and in any case the said bonding is optional];
using a metal or plastic mask (5) having the function of marking the boundary of the area of the leather upper (3), next to the foot deformation, to be cut;
positioning the metal or plastic mask (5) on the part of the leather upper (3) to be cut, which takes place by positioning the mask inside a fibrous cardboard model (6);
positioning the assembly of the leather upper (3), with the side of the leather lining (4), of the fibrous cardboard model (6) and of the metal or plastic mask (5) facing the blades (2) of the cutting die (1) in turn positioned on a plating machine or on a shearing machine (not shown);
the pressure of the plating machine or the shearing machine (not shown) on the blades (2) of the cutting die (1) on which is positioned the assembly of the leather upper (3), the leather lining (4) (optional), the fibrous cardboard model (6) and the metal or plastic mask (5) that is thicker than the fibrous cardboard model, in such a way that the blades (2) of the cutting die (1) will come into contact only with the area of the upper (3) bounded by the mask (5), so making micro-cuts (9) only next to the wearer's foot deformation.

The details of the method as described above, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and later claimed, can be of any kind according to requirements and can be replaced with other technically equivalent ones, without for this reason straying from the protective scope of the present invention patent application.

Claims

Shoe production method for rendering a leather upper (3) elastic and adaptable to foot deformations (hallux valgus, hammer-toes, etc.) consisting in cutting the part of the leather upper (3) subject to the foot deformation with a cutting die (1) having a series of small blades (2) so that the micro-cuts (9) obtained on the required part of the leather upper (3) due to their arrangement, length and distance, will allow the leather upper (3) to become elastic over the affected part of the foot and adapt to the pressure of its deformation and to remain compact in the other parts of the upper (3), comprising the following stages:
a) positioning, on a plating machine or on a shearing machine, of the cutting die (1);

b) the leather (4-bis) of the leather upper (3) can be bonded, by the known method, to a leather lining (4);

c) positioning of the leather upper (3) optionally bonded to a leather lining (4) facing the blades (2) of the cutting die (1);

d) laying of a fibrous cardboard model (6) on top of the leather upper (3) bonded to a leather lining (4);

e) laying of a metal or plastic mask (5) on top of the fibrous cardboard model (6);

f) cutting, by means of a plating machine or a shearing machine, of the part of the leather upper (3) next to the mask (5).
Shoe production method for rendering a leather upper (3) elastic and adaptable to a foot deformation according to claim 1 wherein the cutting die (1) has a series of small blades (2) 4 mm long, 4 mm apart and forming sequences staggered from each other by 4 mm.
Shoe production method for rendering a leather upper (3) elastic and adaptable to a foot deformation according to claim 1 wherein the metal or plastic mask (5):
• marks the boundary of the area of the leather upper (3) next to the foot deformation that must be cut by the small blades (2) of the cutting die (1);

• is thicker than the fibrous cardboard model (6) so as to obtain micro-cuts (9) next to it only.
Shoe production method for rendering a leather upper (3) elastic and adaptable to a foot deformation according to claim 1 wherein the fibrous cardboard model (6) is used to position and centre the metal or plastic mask (5) on the area of the leather upper (3) next to the wearer's foot deformation.