GB2317811A

GB2317811A - Footwear with customised insole

Info

Publication number: GB2317811A
Application number: GB9620728A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Carlo Fini
Original assignee: Testoni A SpA; A Testoni SpA
Current assignee: Testoni A SpA; A Testoni SpA
Priority date: 1995-09-05
Filing date: 1996-10-04
Publication date: 1998-04-08
Anticipated expiration: 2016-10-04
Also published as: FR2755350A1; DE19645439A1; ITBO950413A0; GB2317811B; JPH10119148A; CH691662A5; IT1279614B1; FR2755350B1; ITBO950413A1; BE1010723A4; GB9620728D0

Abstract

The production of footwear comprises the creation of a shoe with an upper and base; the moulding of a standard inner sole made of a material which may be plastically thermoformed; the insertion of the standard inner sole in the shoe and fixing in place, with a gap between the sole and inner sole; the heating of the shoe - inner sole assembly to a temperature for the thermoforming of the inner sole and the insertion of a foot in the shoe, so as to mould the inner sole to the sole of the foot.

Description

2317811 A method for the production of footwear and the footwear produced

according to this method The present invention relates to a method for the p,roduction of footwear and the footwear produced according to this method, particularly of the type which adapts to the shape of the wearer's foot.

The invention relates to footwear which offers a high degree of comfort, the characteristic basic features, dimensions and appearance of a conventional type, for men, women and children.

Footwear is normally produced in a substantially standardized form, that is to say, having fitting features which adapt to determined average foot shapes, according to the size of foot for which the shoe is intended.

Obviously, such a footwear shape cannot be intended for all consumers; the problem arises from the fact that every individual has his or her own foot shape, which determines a unique distribution of body weight on the sole, weight which is taken directly by the inner sole of the shoe during movement or while standing. Since the inner sole is of standard shape and does not reflect the shape of the foot, the reaction of the shoe's sole and 2 base to the wearer's weight is normally insufficient, reducing the degree of comfort and often preventing the wearer from appreciating the quality of his or her footwear.

A further problem which often affects footwear is poor aeration of the foot, causing an increase in sweating.

The aim of the present invention is to eliminate the said disadvantages using a method for the production of, footwear which allows the said footwear to be shaped to the wearer's foot, in particular through the adaptation of the inner sole to the sole of the foot according to the way in which the latter rests on the former.

The present invention, as described in the claims, provides a method for the production of footwear which envisages a sole designed for contact with the ground, an upper which covers the top of the foot, and an inner sole which can-be plastically thermoformed for a given period of time at a given temperature; the upper and sole define the first volume, or total volume, of the shoe, whilst the second volume, or partial volume, whose value is less than the first, is def ined by the upper and the inner sole, so that when the shoe is heated to the said temperature, the shape of the shoe can be adapted to the shape of a foot which is inserted in it during the given period of time.

3 The present invention, therefore, allows the inner sole to be shaped to the foot, thanks to the thermoforming nature of the inner sole.

Moreover, by making a series of holes in the inner sole, it is possible to obtain optimum aeration of the foot thanks to the circulation of air between the upper surface of the inner sole and one or more gaps in the shoe between the lower surface of the inner sole and the top of the sole.

The present invention thus allows the wearer's body weight to be distributed over a significantly greater surface with respect to the standard surface offered by conventional footwear, reducing harmful stress on the foot and consequently tiring it less. Moreover, the distribution of body weight over a significantly greater surface, particularly in ladies' medium or high-heeled shoes, helps to prevent sprains caused by incorrect positioning of the foot due to the heel and the presence of a notably reduced contact surface in this type of shoe.

This feature is emphasized by the use of an inner sole with sides which extend upwards in an attempt to cover the sides of the foot in shoes produced according to this method.

An inner sole which substantially encloses the foot, that 4 is to say, an inner sole which ref lects the shape of the sole and sides of the foot, together with the presence of a volume of air between the inner sole and the top of the sole, attenuates the shock produced by the wearer's movements, a shock which in known types of footwear is much more consistent and is felt by the wearer with every step he or she takes.

The technical features of the present invention, in accordance with the said aims, are clearly illustrated in the claims herein, and the advantages of the invention are more clearly shown in the detailed description below, with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate an embodiment by way of example only and in which:

- Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an item of footwear without inner sole illustrating a stage in the production footwear in accordance with the present invention; - Figure 2 is a perspective view of an inner sole, shown upside down, and a form used for making the inner sole; Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of an inner sole made in accordance with the present invention; - Figure 4 is a perspective view, with some parts transparent and with an enlarged detail, of an item of footwear made in accordance with the present invention; Figure 5 is a. perspective view, with an enlarged detail, of an item of footwear made in accordance with the present invention and worn on a foot.

In accordance with the accompanying drawings, the method disclosed may be used for the production of footwear. The a,ccompanying drawings illustrate, by way of example, a man's lace-up shoe, a type of footwear which may be produced using the method disclosed. Obviously, the present invention applies to shoes which vary in shape and type, for example, ladies' and children's shoes, as well as low and high-heeled shoes.

The method envisages the following stages.

As shown in the example illustrated in figure 1, a shoe la without inner sole is initially created. In is particular, working which allows the creation of a sole whose upper surface is completely smooth, that is to say, free of roughness is employed.

The shoe consists of an upper 2, designed to cover the top of the foot, and a sole 3, whose lower surface is to make contact with the ground.

Obviously, the sole 3 section may vary in ply count.

A first volume V1 is defined between the upper 2 and the sole 3, which is also called the total shoe volume.

For the inner sole, to be inserted in the shoe, a standard inner sole 4 is made in a material which can be 6 plastically thermoformed. The shape of the inner sole 4 may be altered if it is heated to a temperature Tl for a given period of time.

Figure 2 shows that for the creation of the inner sole 4 an inner sole form or model 5 is used, having a contact surface (for the formation of the inner sole) which defines the second volume V2, less than the first volume V1 (total shoe volume), so as to allow the formation of an inner sole which, when inserted in the shoe, defines an inte=al shoe volume or partial volume. V2 which is less than the total volume V1. A hypothetical mould of the form or model 5 would define a volume less than that of the afore-mentioned shoe la without inner sole.

As shown by the drawings f or the embodiment illustrated in figures 2, 3 and 4, the inner sole 4 may have an edge 40designed to enclose a corresponding section of the side of the foot. In other words, the inner sole may partly enclose the lower side of the foot, in a similar way to the vertical sides of the shoe. To obtain an inner sole 4 with this shape, the form 5 may have an upper section 50, the shape of which complements the shape of the inner sole to be obtained.

The inner sole 4 is then inserted in the shoe la and fixed in place so as to form a shoe sole assembly 1 in which, thanks to the difference between the total shoe 7 volume V1 and the partial volume V2 def ined by the inner sole 4, there is a gap V3 between the inner sole 4 and the upper surface of the sole 3 of the shoe 1.

Inside the shoe 1 and below the inner sole 4, a third volume therefore exists, corresponding substantially to the difference between the total volume V1 and the partial volume V2. The third volume V3, thus defined, may be distributed over various zones of the inner sole 4, defining a plurality of gaps.

The shoe - sole assembly 1 is heated to the inner sole thermoforming temperature T1 and, during the forming period, the wearer's foot 7 is inserted in the shoe, as shown in figure 5 (where the number 7 indicates both the foot and the lower part of the leg).

In this way the inner sole 4 is shaped, at least in the zones which correspond with the gap V3 (or gaps), according-to the shape of the sole of the foot 7 (and/or sections of the side of the foot), adapting the standard inner sole to the shape of the foot, in accordance with the distribution of weight P on the surface of the inner sole and any contact between the sides of the foot and the inner sole edge 40.

In addition to the features disclosed, it is possible to make a series of holes 6 in the standard inner sole 4, to allow, once the inner sole 4 is shaped to the foot 7, air 8 to f low between the top and bottom of the inner sole 4, that is to say, between one or more residual portions of the gap and the resulting part of the partial volume.

This air flow is better illustrated in the details of figures 4 and 5, which illustrate respectively a c-onfiguration of the shoe in the absence, and in the presence of the wearer's weight P, with the corresponding air flow F from one side of the inner sole 4 to the other.

Air flows from one side of the inner sole 4 to the other mainly as the wearer walks, when the f eet are prone - supine.

An alternative to the creation of holes 6 is the use of a material which is permeable to air for the inner sole.

The holes 6 are preferably made before fixing the inner sole 4 to the shoe la, for example, using glue, to be carefully- distributed at the points of certain contact between the inner sole 4 and sole 3, obviously taking care not to block the afore-mentioned holes.

A shoe made according to the present invention, therefore, includes a sole 3 designed to make contact with the ground, an upper 2 to cover the top of the foot, and an inner sole 4 made of a material which can be plastically thermoformed.

The upper 2 and sole 3 can, obviously, vary in shape, 9 according to the aesthetic - functional requirements of the shoe.

The upper 2 and the sole 3 respectively define a first volume or total shoe volume V1 and, with the inner sole, a second or partial volume V2, less than the first. Thus, i-t is possible by heating the shoe to the thermoforming temperature T1, to shape the shoe to the foot 7 inserted in it.

As described in the method, the inner sole 4 may have a series of throughholes 6, designed to allow air to flow between the upper and lower part of the inner sole 4 itself, at least where there is a gap between the inner sole and the upper surface of the shoe sole. The inner sole 4 may be made of a material which is permeable to air.

The present invention, thus designed for the said objects, -may be subject to numerous variations, all encompassed by the original design concept, and all parts may be replaced with technically equivalent elements.

Claims

Claims

A method for the production of footwear, characterized in that it envisages the following stages:

creation of a shoe (1a) which includes an upper (2), designed to cover the top of the foot (7), and a sole (3), whose lower surface is designed to make contact with the ground, there being between the upper (2) and base (3) a first volume or total shoe volume (V1); 1 shaping of a standard inner sole (4), made of a material which can be plastically thermoformed for- a given period when heated to a given temperature (T1), using a form or model (5) for an inner sole which has a second volume (V2) less than the said f irst volume (V1), so as to allow the shaping of an inner sole which, once inserted in the shoe, def ines an internal shoe volume or partial volume less than that of the said total volume; insertion of the said standard inner sole (4) in 11 the shoe (1a) to which it is then fixed, so as to create a shoe - inner sole assembly (1) in which, between the sole (3) and standard inner sole, at least one gap is envisaged, defining a third volume (V3) which substantially corresponds to the difference between the total volume (V1) and the partial volume (V2); heating of the shoe - inner sole assembly (1) created in this way to the said given temperature (T1); insertion of a foot (7) in the said shoe during the said given period of time, so as to shape the standard inner sole (4), at least at the said gap or gaps, to at least the sole of the foot, thus shaping the standard inner sole (4) to the shape of the foot (7).

The method according to claim 1, characterized in that a series of holes (6) are made in the standard inner sole (4), so that once the inner sole has been shaped to the f oot (7), air f lows between the top and bottom of the inner sole, that is to say, between one or more residual portions of the said gap (V3) and the resulting 12 part of the partial volume (V2) 3) The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the said holes (6) in the standard inner sole (4) are made before the inner sole is fixed inside the shoe (1a).

4) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner sole (4) with an edge (40) designed to partially enclose the side of the foot (7) is shaped so as to model it to the surface of the sole and sides of the foot, in such a way that the standard inner sole (4) is adapted to the form of the foot (7).

5) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the creation of the shoe (1a) envisages the creation of a sole (3) whose upper surface is substantially smooth, that is to say, free of roughness.

6) The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the standard inner sole (4) is made of a material which is permeable to air, so that once the inner sole has been shaped to the foot (7), air f lows between the bottom and the top of the inner sole, that is to say, between one or more residual portions of the said gap (V3) and the resulting part of the partial volume (V2).

7) A shoe characterized in that it consists of a sole (3) designed to make contact with the ground, an upper (2) which covers the top of the foot, and an inner sole (4) made of a material that can be plastically thermoformed for a given period of time when heated to a given temperature (T1); said upper (2) and base (3) defining a first or total shoe volume (V1), and said upper and inner sole (4) defining a second or partial volume (V2) less than the first, so that when the shoe is heated to a given temperature (T1) it can be shaped to the foot (7) inserted in it during a given period of time.

14 The shoe according to claim 7, characterized in that the said inner sole (4) has a series of through-holes (6), designed to allow air to flow between the top and bottom of the inner sole, at least at the gaps present between the inner sole (4) and the upper surface of the sole (3) of the shoe.