GB2374515A

GB2374515A - Sandal with integrally formed sole

Info

Publication number: GB2374515A
Application number: GB0108379A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Mao-Cheng Tsai
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-04-03
Filing date: 2001-04-03
Publication date: 2002-10-23
Also published as: FR2824239B3; GB0108379D0; FR2824239A3

Abstract

A sandal comprises an integrally formed sole 70 having a plurality of anchor members 40 disposed therein. The anchor members are preferably embedded in the sole during moulding and are typically provided to facilitate attachment of a securing strap (60, Fig. 6). Each anchor member may comprise a wedge web 41 having at least one hollow neck 42 in which a first serrated tooth section (441, Fig. 7) may be located. A buckle (50, Fig. 7) for the securing strap typically comprises one or more fastening fingers (52, Fig. 7), which may each comprise a second serrated tooth section (521, Fig. 7) for mating against the first tooth section. A buffer member 30 may be provided at the rear of the sandal and may comprise a snap-fit connector (31, Fig. 3) at each end for engagement with the wedge webs. A sandal comprising an integrally formed sole having a strap is also disclosed.

Description

INTEGRATED FORMING SANDAL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a shoe and particularly a sandal that has

an integrated sole for reducing production cost and improving 9 product quality.

A conventional method of making the sole for shoe as shown in FIG. 1 generally includes forming a crepe sole and midsole by injection forming process, disposing the strap through a strap slot formed at a selected location in the sole, coating adhesive between the crepe sole and midsole, and compressing the crepe sole against the midsole to glue the crepe sole and midsole together to become an integrated body. It is a lengthy and tedious process. As shown in FIG. 2, the conventional sole making process comprises the steps of injection, grinding, coating adhesive. compression, adhering, scraping, and waiting. The sole cannot be made in a mass production fashion. Moreover, once the sole is made, the strap is attached to the midsole at a selected location by stitching operation.

The stitching operation needs skillful workers. It becomes a heavy burden of manpower deployment to the producers. The stitching operation is a slow speed process because of the curved and irregular shape of the shoe, thus increases the production cost and time. The stitching threads are prone to wearing and breaking during the stitching operation, and might result in exposed and broken threads at the sole surface. The quality of the finished product is difficult to maintain and could cause poor user satisfaction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of aforesaid disadvantages, it is therefore an object of this . & J. I'L %., v 11 1. vI Ul L C) invention to provide an improved and integrated forming crepe sole and midsole structure for shoes and sandals be made without using adhesive or skillful workers to enable the producer gaining competitive edge.

Another object of this invention is to predispose a buffer member, an anchor member and strap in the molds at selected locations, then injecting molding material into the molds to form the sole so that the sole will have integrated buffer member, anchor member and strap thereby to reduce assembly time and cost.

To attain aforesaid objects, the technique employed by this invention includes a first mold and a second mold which have respectively a sole-shaped cavity formed therein. The cavity in the first mold further has a first groove. The second mold has a plurality of solid protrusive blocks located in the cavity thereof for engaging with anchor members and a second groove corresponding to the first groove for housing the buffer member. The strap also may be predisposed in the molds for integrally forming such that the finished sole will have the anchor member, buffer member and strap to become an integrated sandal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention, as well as its many advantages. may be further understood by the following detailed description and drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a conventional crepe sole and a midsole.

FIG. 2 is a conventional production flow for making the sole of .,

the shoe.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the molds for making the shoe of this invention..

FIG. 4 is a schematic sectional view of the molds according to this invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a sole according to this invention.

FIG. 6 is an exploded view of the sole and strap according to this invention.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view of a strap buckle engaged with an anchor member.

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view of a strap buckle being disengaged from an anchor member.

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary sectional view of another embodiment of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS This invention is an integrated forming sandal which has integrated forming crepe sole and midsole made by injection forming process without assembly or adhering. Referring to FIG.

3, this invention includes a first mold 10 and a second mold 20 which have respectively a first cavity 11 and a second cavity 21 mating with each other for forming a sole. In the cavities 11 and 21, there are respectively a first groove 12 and second groove 22 corresponding to each other for housing a buffer member 30 therebetween. In the second cavity 21, there is a solid protrusive block 23 disposed at a selected location for engaging with an anchor member 40. The buffer member 30 has two ends each forms 3

an indented snap section 31.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5 for the making of the sole of this invention, the anchor member 40 has a fastening neck 42 disposed upwards for engaging with the protrusive block 23. The buffer member 30 is disposed in the grooves 12 and 22. Then the molds 10 and 20 are coupled together with the anchor member 40 and buffer member 30 located at selected heights in the molds 10 and 20. The snap section 31 engages securely with a wedge web 41 of the anchor member 40 for holding the buffer member 30 firmly in the cavities 12 and 22. Then molding material (such as molten elastic or foaming material) is injected into the molds 10 and 20 to completely cover the buffer member 30 and anchor member 40.

After a selected time period, the molds 10 and 20 are opened and separated to get the finished sole 70. The fastening neck 42 has an opening 43 formed therein which will be exposed to the surface of the sole 70. Hence, by means of predisposing the buffer member 30 and anchor member 40 in the grooves 12 and 22 of the molds 10 and 20 and protrusive blocks 23, an integrated forming sole 70 may be made with the buffer member 30 and anchor member 40 embedded therein.

As mentioned above, the anchor member 40 has a wedge web 41, a fastening neck 42 located above the wedge web 41, and a through opening 43 formed longitudinally in the center of the fastening neck 42. Inside the opening 43, there is a first saw type strip 44 which has one end attached to a side wall of the opening 43 and a free end extended upwards to the top rim of the opening 43 and spaced from the side wall thereof. The first saw type strip 44 has a first

transverse teeth section 441 formed at the outer side which has slant sides of the teeth pointing upwards and plane sides of the teeth pointing downwards (also shown in FIG. 7).

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 7 for the assembly of this invention, at least two strap buckles 50 are provided. Each buckle 50 has a through slot 51 formed at an upper section thereof for one end of a strap 60 to pass through and folded and stitched thereon. The buckle 50 has a bottom end which forms at least one fasten finger 52. The fasten finger 52 has one side formed a second saw type strip which has a second transverse teeth section 521 mating against the first transverse teeth section 441 but with the teeth pointing in opposite direction. Hence the fasten finger 52 may be inserted by sliding into the opening 43 easily over the slant teeth section 441 and 521. Once the fasten finger 52 is inside the opening 43, the transverse teeth sections 441 and 521 will engage with each other securely to prevent the buckle 50 from disengaging from the sole 70.

Referring to FIG. 8, the strap 60 has a slit 61 formed at an inner side in a sideward direction for holding a wedge flake 62. When there is a need for disengaging the strap 60 from the sole 70, insert the wedge flake 62 into the opening 43 to push the free end of the saw type strip 44 toward the side wall of the opening 43, the saw type strip 44 may be separated from the fasten finger 52 thereby the buckle 50 may be pulled out from the opening 43. Then the buckle 50 or strap 60 of different colors or types may be replaced as desired.

Referring to FIG. 9 which shows another embodiment of this invention, it also has a first and second molds 10'and 20'with a 5

I buffer member 30'predisposed in the grooves 12'and 22'at a I selected height in the coupled molds 10'and 20'. The strap 80'is also being disposed in the sole 70'at a selected location. Then molding material is injected into the molds 10'and 20'to completely cover the buffer member 30'and strap 80'to form an integrated sole 70'having the strap 80'and buffer member 30'.

Claims

What is claimed is :

1. An integrated forming sandal comprising an integrally formed sole which has a buffer member and a plurality of anchor members disposed therein at selected locations.

2. The integrated forming sandal of claim 1, wherein the anchor member has a wedge web upon which at least one of the fastening neck being mounted thereon, the fastening neck having a longitudinal opening formed in the center thereof, in the opening a saw type strip being provided which has one end attached to a side wall of the opening and a free end extended upwards to the top rim of the opening spaced from the side wall thereof, the saw type strip having a first transverse teeth section at an outer side, the first transverse teeth section having slant teeth surfaces pointing in an upward direction and plane teeth surfaces pointing in a downward direction.

3. The integrated forming sandal of claim 1, wherein the buffer member has two ends each forming a snap section for engaging securely with a wedge web of the anchor member.

4. The integrated forming sandal of claim 1, wherein the buckle has at least one fasten finger located at the bottom thereof which has a second transverse teeth section formed at one side corresponding to the first transverse teeth section, the second transverse teeth section having slant teeth formed thereon.

5. An integrated forming sandal comprising an integrally formed sole which has a pre-made strap disposed thereon at a selected location.

6. An integrated forming sandal substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 3 to 9.

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