IE85995B1 - Method for making shoes - Google Patents

Abstract

ABSTRACT A method for making shoes includes a first mold made of stiff material and a second mold has a concavity in which the shoe is received. The shoe includes a top portion, a connection member and an outsole, wherein the connection member and the outsole are connection member and the outsole, so that the connection member and the outsole are properly shrank and securely matched to the top portion.

Description

METHOD FOR MAKING SHOES FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for making shoes, and more particularly, to an improved method for making shoes by using ultra-sonic conductive mold to securely attach the connection to the top portion of the shoes.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional way to make shoes is shown in Fig. l and generally includes top portion l, a connection member 2 and an outsole 3, wherein the outsole 3 is connected to the top portion 1 by way of pouring molding or adhering. The outsole 3 has to be connected with the connection member 2 before being connected with the top portion and the methods for the connection between the connection member 2 and the outsole 3 are adhering or stitching. However, it is noted that the sizes of the connection member 2 generally includes tolerances which make the connection member 2 be larger than the outsole 3. When adhering or stitching the connection member 2] to the outsole 3, the shoe will have lumps on the periphery thereof and which are not accepted in the market.

The present invention intends to provide a method for making shoes by using ultra-sonic to vibrate the mold to generate heat to securely connect and shrink the connection member and the outsole to the top portion of the shoe to eliminate the drawbacks happened in the conventional way.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a method for making shoes and comprises a first mold made of stiff material and a second mold. The second mold includes a concavity and the shoe is received in the cavity. The shoe comprises a top portion, a connection member and an outsole. The connection member and the outsole are connected to the top portion and the second mold transmits ultra-sonic thermo energy to the connection member and the outsole.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a method for making shoes and the method reduces defective products when connecting the connection member and the outsole to the top portion of the shoes.

The present invention will become more obvious from the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings which show, for purposes of illustration only, a preferred embodiment in accordance with the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. I is an exploded view to show a conventional way to make a shoe; Fig. 2 is an exploded view to show the method for making shoes of the present invention, and Fig. 3 is a cross sectional View to show the method for making shoes of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, the method for making shoes comprises a first mold 10 made of stiff material and is shaped as s shoe. The first mold 10 has a first surface l0l to which the shoe 20 is mounted.

A shoe 20 comprises a top portion 201, a connection member 202 and an outsoie 203. The top portion includes a bottom 20l1 and a vamp 2012. The connection member 202 and the outsole 203 are mounted to the bottom 201] of the top portion 201. The connection member 202 and the outsole 203 are made of thermo-plastic material.

A second mold 30 has a concavity and the shoe 20 is received in the cavity. The second mold 30 is electrically connected with an ultra-sonic generating device (not shown) and is able to transmit ultra-sonic thermo energy to the connection member 202 and the outsole 203. The second mold 30 includes an ultra-sonic wave transmittal portion 30] and an ultra-sonic wave non-transmittable portion 302.

The ultra-sonic generating device vibrates the second mold 30 at a frequency range between 15, 000 to , 000 times per second which make the second mold 30 to transmit ultra-sonic thermo energy to the connection member 202 and the outsole 203. The thermal energy properly shrinks and melts the connection member 202 and the outsole 203, and the connection member 202 and the outsole 203 are securely mounted to the bottom 2011 of the top portion 20]. Therefore, when stitching, there will be no lumps formed on the connection member 202 and the outsole 203.

By the method of the present invention, the connection member 202 and the outsole 203 are perfectly matched with the top portion 201 and the method makes the stitching processes be easily and efficiently. There will be no lumps or gaps formed between the connection member 202 and the top portion 201.

While we have shown and described the embodiment in accordance with the present invention, it should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims (11)

Claim

1. A method of making an item of footwear comprising an outsole, a connection member and an upper, the method comprising securing the outsole and connection member together by means of ultrasonic welding, wherein the method is carried out using ultrasonic apparatus having a first mould for receiving the connection member and a second mould having a concave region for receiving the outsole.

2. A method according to claim 1, further comprising securing the upper to the connection member.

3. A method according to claim 2, where the upper is secured to the connection member by stitching.

4. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the ultrasonic welding is carried out at a frequency in the range 15,000 to 20,000 Hz.

5. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the connection member comprises thermoplastic material.

6. A method according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outsole comprises thermoplastic material.

7. Ultrasonic apparatus for making an item of footwear comprising an outsole, a connection member and an upper, the apparatus comprising a first mould for receiving the connection member; a second mould having a concave region for receiving the outsole; means for bringing the connection member received on the first mould into contact with the outsole received on the second mould; and means for generating ultrasonic waves and for transmitting uitrasonic energy to the connection member and outsole to secure the connection member and outsole together by ultrasonic welding.

8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the first mould comprises a generally foot~shaped member.

9. Apparatus according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the first mould is made of rigid material.

10. Apparatus according to claim 7, 8 or 9, wherein the second mould includes a first portion, remote from the concave region, capable of transmitting ultrasonic waves, and a second portion, including the concave region, that transmits thermal energy but does not transmit ultrasonic waves.

11. A method of making an item of footwear, substantially as herein described with reference to