GB726722A - Shoes, lasts and method for making shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

726,722. Lasts for moulding shoes. UNITED STATES RUBBER CO. April 22, 1953 [May 10, 1952], No. 11013/53. Class 87 (2) [Also in Group VII] In making a rubber-soled " toe sprung " shoe, an upper on a last 10, of which the toe portion 11 is hinged, Fig. 2, is lowered in to a flexible mould 37 containing a layer of rubber latex, Fig. 1, which is then gelled. The toe portion is then moved to the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2 to give the " toe spring " and the sole is cured. An insole 73 comprising a layer of sponge rubber 74 bonded to a layer of fabric 75, and a midsole 70 comprising a layer of sponge rubber 76 and a layer of mouldable curable perforated material such as rag-stock 77, Fig. 6, may be applied tc the bottom of the lasted upper before casting the rubber sole 78 thereon. The shoe may incorporate an arch support, Fig. 5 (not shown). The last comprises a hollow shell 10 having a heel part 12 and a toe part 11 connected by a spring- controlled hinge 13 extending across the width of the last and hand operated by rod 23 and key-turned crank 25 to " snap " the part 11 between the pull line position, Fig. 2, and dotted line " toe-sprung " position. When casting a sole on the upper, the last is attached to jig 35, Fig. 1, by a hand wheel 42 screwed into thread 47 of the last, the wheel being rotatably secured to jig 35 by pin 45 lying in groove 46. The jig 35 moves in a vertical plane on shaft 49 in bracket 50 and is secured in the two positions shown by spring-loaded rods 54 in sockets 52 and 53 on arcuate plate 51. In operation the shoe-upper is lasted to the insole and the last lowered into liquid latex in an elastic flexible mould 37 until the latex rises to the top edge of the outer periphery 32a of the shoe-last, the plane of the periphery of the bottom of the last being substantially parallel to the plane of the liquid level. When the latex is sufficiently hard the last is raised and moved into the " toe-sprung " position after which the sole is cured. To compensate for shrinkage on curing the bottom of the last has at least the toe part of convex shape. Specification 712,052 is referred to.