IE43173L - Manufacture of footwear - Google Patents

Description

43173 This invention relates to the manufacture of footwear.

According to this invention there is provided a method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of securing tape by a longitudinal edge portion thereof to an edge portion of the upper on the inner face of the upper such that the tape over its width faces the inner face of the upper, then using the tape to last the upper on a last so that the tape extends inward from the feather edge of the last, and moulding a sole unit on to the tape and the lasted upper such that the said edge portion of the upper is embedded in the sole unit.

One embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing which shows a sectional view of a lasted upper disposed on a sole mould.

Referring to the drawing, after the formation of the upper 10 has been completed, strong lasting tape 11 about V wide is attached at one longitudinal edge by stitching 11a to the edge portion of the upper along its whole periphery at a position such as tc be close to the feather edge of a 'making' last on which the upper is disposed and at an even distance from the edge 10a of the upper. As shown, the tape is so stitched to the upper that over its width it faces the Internal surface of the upper and is effectively completely overlapped by the upper. In this respect the method of attachment of the tape differs from previous methods, as for example in our'/'patlent Specification No. 1170063, where the tape forms effectively a continuation of the upper. The tape is then used to last the upper on a last 16, using grippers or the like if desired but preferably by string laBting using Terylene ( trade mark) string or other strong string 14 attached to the other longitudinal edge of the tape by overlocked stitching 15.

A sole unit is now moulded on to the lasted upper by any convenient method. In the illustrated arrangement the lasted upper is gripped between side mould knife i 43173 t&gee 17 and placed on a cavity mould 18 into the cavity 19 of which the sole mould material Is injected.

In an alternative method (not illustrated) of moulding the sole unit on to the lasted upper, a zone of the lasted upper directly above 5 th» location of the sido edge portion of the sole unit has disposed about it a mould member made from polyurethane which forms a ceal with the upper and which Is clamped on the top of the cavity mould. The mould aeaber is preferably split along the longitudinal central plane of the scold cavity to assist In the positioning of the mould member on and its 10 removal from the upper. The mould member has parts which bear against tha cone of the 'inking' last on which the upper is disposed and against an area on the fore part of the top of the upper to hold the lasted upper a£ain8t the pressure of the material Injected into the mould cavity.

TVr said member defines the shape of tl._ top face of the side edge portion 15 of the sole unit and can be used to form a desired pattern, e.g. simulated decorative stitching, on said top face. This method of forcing the sole unit is described more fully in our British Patent Application No. 36347/75 of even date.

It has been found thr- t the nothod described above of lasting the 20 upper has the advantage that only unusual force applied during the laatiog process will cause the upper caterial to be pulled under the last; the poiat at which the tape is stitched to the upper is usually found to be •very close to the feather ed^e of the lest after lasting. In consequence we car. for exesple provide crna-entstion on the parts of the upper adjoining 25 th-. sole unit before the upp.r is lasted without having to exercise critical ce-j in the lasting of the u;p.*r to ensure that the ornamentation is at th- saice height with respcct to t'-.e sole unit all round the upper. 43173 Provided that the ornamentation is uniformly positioned with respect to the ctitching llti, the ornamentation will be correctly positioned on the finished boot or shoe.

Claims (5)

1. A method of making an article of footwear comprising the steps of securing tape by a longitudinal edge portion thereof to an edge portion of the upper on the inner face of the upper such that- the tape over its width faces the inner face of the upper* then using the tape to last the upper on a last so that the tape extends inward from the feather edge of the last, and moulding a sole unit on to the tape and the lasted upper such that the said edge portion of the upper is embedded in the sole unit.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper is string lasted on said last, the string being attached to the opposite longitudinal edge portion of the tape.

3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the lasted upper on a last is gripped between side mould knife edges positioned to define the upper surface of laterally projecting portions of the moulded sole unit and is placed on a cavity mould having a cavity which in conjunction with said knife edges and the undersurface of the lasted upper define the shape of the sole unit the sole mould material being then injected into the cavity.

4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein a plasties mould member is disposed about a zone of the upper on a last to form a seal therewith and to define the upper surface of laterally projecting portions of the moulded sole unit, said mould member >eing then clamped to the surface of a cavity mould member about the periphery of the cavity and overhanging the edge of the cavity, and injecting the sole mould material into the mould cavity whilst restraining the last from moving in a direction eway from the cavity mould member. 43173

5. A method of making an article of footwear which method is substantialljr as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. Dated this 1st day of September, 1976. TOMKINS & CO., Applicants' Agents, (Signed) t , 5, (Dartmouth Road, DUBLIN 6.