GB1600899A - Footwear - Google Patents

Description

(54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOTWEAR (71) We, CLARKS LIMITED, a British Company, of Street, Somerset, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and is concerned more particularly with footwear of the kind in which a cushion of foamed rubber or plastics is supported on the upper surface of the sole unit. Shoes incorporating such a cushion are commonly called "comfort" shoes.

According to the present invention there is provided an article of footwear having an insole assembly comprising a flexible resilient support layer. a cushion layer of foamed rubber or plastics material supported on the support layer, the support layer having a greater compressive loadbearing capacity than the cushion layer, a flexible sock over the cushion layer, and an edge binding extending along the periphery of support layer and the sock and holding the support layer and the sock together, an upper having its lasting edge turned outwardly and attached to the upper side of the insole assembly, and a sole unit attached to the lower side of the insole assembly.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a side elevation of a finished shoe according to the invention and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view at right angles to the lengthwse dimension of the shoe.

Referring to the drawings, the shoe comprises an upper 10, a sole unit 11, and an insole assembly 12 intermediate the upper and sole unit. The shoe is of the kind commonly called a "comfort" shoe, and the description derives from the use of particularly soft insole constructions. In the present instance the insole assembly 12 comprises a supporting layer 13 of microcellular rubber, a cushion layer 14 of plastics foam, and a covering sock 15 which is in this instance made from leather, the assembly being held together by an edge binding 16 which is also made from leather. The layer 13 has a greater compressive load-bearing capacity than the plastics foam, so that although the plastics foam will flatten to a greater or lesser extend under the weight of the wearer, the supporting layer deflects to a substantially lesser extent.

The leather sock protects the foam layer from abrasion by the foot and provides, by reason of its capacity for absorbing perspiration, additional underfoot comfort in wear.

In making the shoe, the insole assembly is clamped against the bottom of the last and the out-turned lasting edge of the upper is attached to the assembly by stitching 17.

The bottom of the insole assembly is then given any necessary preparation, e.g.

roughing, and the sole unit 11 is adhesively secured to it. The sole unit may be made from crepe rubber.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An article of footwear having an insole assembly comprising a flexible resilient support layer, a cushion layer of foamed rubber or plastics material supported on the support layer, the support layer having a greater compressive loadbearing capacity than the cushion layer, a flexible sock over the cushion layer, and an edge binding extending along the periphery of support layer and the sock and holding the support layer and the sock together, an upper having its lasting edge turned outwardly and attached to the upper side of the insole assembly, and a sole unit attached to the lower side of the insole assembly.

2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support layer is made from microcellular rubber.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (3)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. (54) IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO FOOTWEAR (71) We, CLARKS LIMITED, a British Company, of Street, Somerset, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a Patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performed, to be particularly described in and by the following statement: This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear and is concerned more particularly with footwear of the kind in which a cushion of foamed rubber or plastics is supported on the upper surface of the sole unit. Shoes incorporating such a cushion are commonly called "comfort" shoes. According to the present invention there is provided an article of footwear having an insole assembly comprising a flexible resilient support layer. a cushion layer of foamed rubber or plastics material supported on the support layer, the support layer having a greater compressive loadbearing capacity than the cushion layer, a flexible sock over the cushion layer, and an edge binding extending along the periphery of support layer and the sock and holding the support layer and the sock together, an upper having its lasting edge turned outwardly and attached to the upper side of the insole assembly, and a sole unit attached to the lower side of the insole assembly. One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure I is a side elevation of a finished shoe according to the invention and Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view at right angles to the lengthwse dimension of the shoe. Referring to the drawings, the shoe comprises an upper 10, a sole unit 11, and an insole assembly 12 intermediate the upper and sole unit. The shoe is of the kind commonly called a "comfort" shoe, and the description derives from the use of particularly soft insole constructions. In the present instance the insole assembly 12 comprises a supporting layer 13 of microcellular rubber, a cushion layer 14 of plastics foam, and a covering sock 15 which is in this instance made from leather, the assembly being held together by an edge binding 16 which is also made from leather. The layer 13 has a greater compressive load-bearing capacity than the plastics foam, so that although the plastics foam will flatten to a greater or lesser extend under the weight of the wearer, the supporting layer deflects to a substantially lesser extent. The leather sock protects the foam layer from abrasion by the foot and provides, by reason of its capacity for absorbing perspiration, additional underfoot comfort in wear. In making the shoe, the insole assembly is clamped against the bottom of the last and the out-turned lasting edge of the upper is attached to the assembly by stitching 17. The bottom of the insole assembly is then given any necessary preparation, e.g. roughing, and the sole unit 11 is adhesively secured to it. The sole unit may be made from crepe rubber. WHAT WE CLAIM IS:

1. An article of footwear having an insole assembly comprising a flexible resilient support layer, a cushion layer of foamed rubber or plastics material supported on the support layer, the support layer having a greater compressive loadbearing capacity than the cushion layer, a flexible sock over the cushion layer, and an edge binding extending along the periphery of support layer and the sock and holding the support layer and the sock together, an upper having its lasting edge turned outwardly and attached to the upper side of the insole assembly, and a sole unit attached to the lower side of the insole assembly.

2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1, wherein the support layer is made from microcellular rubber.

3. An article of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.