IE43477B1

IE43477B1 - Improvements in or relating to footwear

Info

Publication number: IE43477B1
Application number: IE122076A
Authority: IE
Original assignee: Clarks Ltd
Priority date: 1975-06-09
Filing date: 1976-06-08
Publication date: 1981-03-11
Also published as: GB1504615A; IE43477L

Abstract

1504615 Shoe soles CLARKS Ltd 28 April 1976 [9 June 1975] 24701/75 Heading A3B A shoe has a sole with an upwardly extending flange around its edge about which the bottom edge of an upper is folded and secured. In one form, a shoe sole 10, Fig. 2, moulded from polyurethane has an upwardly and outwardly inclined flange 12 surrounded by a ledge (13), Fig. 1 (not shown). An upper 18 has its bottom edge 19 folded and -secured by adhesive and by stitching 20 to embrace the flange 12. In another form, the flange 12, Fig. 4, extends vertically and the ledge is omitted.

Description

This invention relates to the manufacture of sandals, shoes, boots and similarly relatively stiff-soled articles of footwear.

According to this invention there is provided an article of footwear comprising a sole unit having extending about its periphery an upwardly projecting flange, and an upper, the bottom edge portion of which is folded aboul and secured to the flange so as to embrace the flange. In one arrangement the flange projects upwardly and outwardly.

According to a preferred feature of the invention the peripheral portions of the sole unit project upwardly to form a cavity for the foot, the flange being formed at the top edge of the upward projection and being of thinnei section than the adjoining part of said upward projection, and a step being form where the flange joins the upward projection. The sole unit preferably is of moulded construction and has its inner surface, viewed in cross-section, concave radiussed where the upper face of the platform or central part of the sole unit joins the inner face of the upward projection, so as generally to fit to the convex curvature between the bottom and sides of the foot.

The sole unit may conveniently be moulded from polyurethane or other suitable material.

In one embodiment of the invention the bottom surfaces of the sole and heel portions of the unit merge smoothly together to form a sole unit of the wed heel type. The flange, which is preferably of tapered section, has a cross-sect which is adequate to ensure reliable stitch holding properties.

The bottom edge portion of the upper may be secured to the flange by any convenient means, e.g. by adhesive and/or by stitching. - 2 4 3477 • The invention will now. be described in more detail with reference by way of example to the accompanying drawings, in which; Figure 1 shows, in cross-sectional view, a sole unit for an article of footwear according to the invention, Figure 2 illustrates the attachment of the upper to the sole unit of Figure 1, . .

Figure 3 is a aide view of a finished shoe, and Figure 4 shows, in cross-sectional view, another form of sole unit.

Referring to Figures 1 to 3 of the drawing, the illustrated sole unit 10 is moulded from polyurethane end is of the wedge-heel type. The edge portionsll of the sole unit are directed upward and terminate in an upwardly and outwardly inclined flange 12, a step 13 being formed in the outer surface of the edge portion at the lower extremity of the flange.

The edge portions 11 of the sole unit thus form a depression or cavity to receive the foot, end the depression ie conveniently concavely curved at the position 14 to receive the convexly curved part of the foot between the bottom and side qf the foot. In the illustrated construction the bottom surface 45'of the sole pSit merges smoothly with the side surfaces 16 of the unit by of a convexly curved surface 17. The depth of the cavity may be io excess of half:the Vertical dimensions of the front portiona of the foot.

Referring now particularly to Figure 2, the upper 18 is attached to the sole unit by securing the bottom edge portion 19 of the upper about the flange 12, ao that tha edge portion embracee the fieng·.

To assist in correctly locating the upper relative to the sole unit, complementary locating marks may be provided on the flange or other peripheral surface of the sole unit which will eventually be concealed, - 3 iso* and on the periphery of the upper. The upper may he secured to the flange hy applying adhesive to the outer face of the flange 12 and to the inner surface of the corresponding parts of the upper and then positioning the upper on the sole unit, checking thet the location narks are correctly aligned. This having been done, the attachment of the edge portions of the upper to the flange 12 is completed by folding the edge portions 19 about the flange, using adhesive end/or stitching 20 or any other suitable means to make the attachment permanent.

If desired a sock may be attached to the top surface of the sole 10 unit 10 before or after attachment-of the upper.

An alternative form of sole unit i&· shown in Figure 4. In this instance the flenge 12 is upright and its outer surface Is a smooth continuation of the outer surface 21 of the edge portion 19. The technique of attaching the upper to this sole unit is similer to that in the arrangement of Figuree 1 to J, except that when using the sole'unit of Figure 4 the appropriate edge part of the upper is adhesively sacu^e^ to -Hie inner face of the flange 12, to enable the location marks to be.Correctly matched, before the edge part 19 of the upperyTs folded.ebout ahd.'permanently connected to the flenge by adhesive, stitcglng· or other convenient means.

The toe portion of the -sole unit may be upwardly curved as shown

Claims

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole unit having extending about its periphery an upwardly projecting flange, and an upper, the bottom edge portion of which is folded about and secured to the flange so as to embrace the flange.

2. An article of footwear as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said flange is inclined upwardly and outwardly.

3. An article of footwear as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the peripheral portions of the sole unit project upwardly to form a cavity for the foot, the flange being formed at the top edge of the upward projection and being of thinner section than the adjoining part of said upward projection, and a step being formed where the flange joins the upward projection.

4. An article of footwear as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the step is formed at the outer side of the flange.

5. An article of footwear as claimed in Claim 3 or Claim 4 wherein the sole unit is of moulded construction and has its inner surface, viewed in cross-section, concavely radiussed where the upper face of the platform or central part of the sole unit joins the inner face of the upward projection, so as generally to fit to the convex curvature between the bottom and sides of the foot.

6. An article of footwear as claimed in any one of claims l to 5, wherein the bottom surfaces of the sole and heel portions of the sole unit merge smoothly together to form a sole unit of the wedge-heel type.

7. An article of footwear substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 and 3 or Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.