IE882645L - Manufacturing boots - Google Patents

Description

60607 The present invention relates to the manufacture of boots for use in hill walking,, touring generally,, and industrial heavy duty applications. In this specification^ the term "boot" is intended to cover any such footwear.

Such boots are required to have both strength and flexibility to provide comfort for a user walking long distances» It is also desirable that these boots may be easily repaired.

The present invention is directed towards providing a method of producing such a boot.

According to the invention there is provided a method of manufacturing a boot comprising the steps of:- folding and bonding with adhesive an upper between an insole and a throughsole around their edges; bonding with adhesive a midsole to the throughsole? ■) V stitching together the insole,, upper, throughsole and midsole ~ 3 - inserting screws through the midsole, throughsole,, upper and insole; and bonding with adhesive an outsole to the midsole.

In one embodiment, the method comprises the further step of 5 inserting filler material in a cavity formed between the insole and throughsole at its upper and lower sides respectively, and between the edge surfaces of the upper at each transverse side.

Ideallythe throughsole is of leather board material and the 10 midsole is micro-rubber material.

Preferably, the step of stitching the insole P upper, throughsole and midsole together is carried out using the chain stitch method.

In one embodiment, the upper is of leather with a relatively 15 high fat content.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which s - 4 ~ Fig. 1 is a perspective view from above of a boot produced according to a method of the invention; Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional end view of the boot in the direction of the arrows II- II of Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional end view of the sole of the boot.

Referring to the drawings., there is illustrated a boot indicated generally by the reference numeral 1 produced by a method according to the invention- The boot 1 comprises a 10 leather upper 2 having a lining 3 folded between an insole 4 and a throughsole 5. The upper 2 is bonded to the insole 4 and throughsole 5 by an adhesive. In this case ^ the throughsole is of leather board material. A midsole 6 of micro-rubber material is bonded with adhesive to the 15 throughsole 5. The insole 4, upper 2f throughsole 5 and midsole 6 are then chain stitched together around their edges. The thread is identified by the reference numeral 7. Screws are inserted through the midsole, throughsole f upper and insole around the edges. In this casef brass screws 10 are 20 used. A hardened rubber outsole 11 is then bonded with adhesive to the midsole 6. In this case, the boot 1 comprises a filler 12 of any suitable material between the insole 4 and the throughsole 5.

It wi 11 be appreciated that the boot 1 is extremely durable and flexible to provide both strength and comfort. By using a midsole of micro-rubber„ stitching is allowed to sink in and there are no protrusions in the surface so that the outsole 5 may be easily bonded with adhesive. This is an important feature as the outsole forms both the sole and the heel of the boot and it is thus important that it is bonded sufficiently well. Another advantage is that micro-rubber is less expensive and lasts longer than leather. As the various sole 10 are bound with adhesive, and additionally stitched and screwed f, the boot 1 is waterproof over a prolonged period of time and the use of a high fat content, leather is possible. High fat content leather could not be used if adhesive bonding only was used.

In the embodiment illustrated the thicknesses of the various soles and the upper are as follows s - upper (with lining) insole 2.5 mmj »0 mm; filler 2.5 mm throughsole 3.0 mm midsole 3.0 mm and outsole 12 Him.

For clarity, the drawings are not drawn at this scale. It has been found that these thicknesses are suitable both for manufacturing and user comfort. For example, the 3 mm thick midsole is thick enough to provide enough support for the stitching and the screw heads, %.?ithout being unnecessarily thick.

The manner in which each of the steps of the method of the invention are carried out are not the subject of this Patent Application.

The invention is not limited to the embodiments hereinbefore described but may be varied in construction and detail-

Claims (7)

1. A method of manufacturing a boot comprising the steps of s - folding and bonding with adhesive an upper between an insole and a throughsole around their edges; bonding with adhesive a midsole to the throughsole? stitching together the insole, upper, throughsole and midsole; inserting screws through the midsole, throughsole, upper and insole; and bonding with adhesive an outsole to the midsole.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 comprising the further step of inserting filler material in a cavity formed between the insole and throughsole at its upper and lower sides respectively, and between the edge surfaces of the upper at each transverse side.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2t in which the throughsole is of leather board material and the midsole is micro-rubber material.
4. 4. A method as claimed in any preceding claim,, in which the step of stitching the insole,, upper, throughsole and midsole together is carried out using the chain stitch method -
5. 5. A method as■claimed in any preceding claim in which the upper is of leather with a relatively high fat content. S.
6. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the drawings.
7. 7. A boot whenever produced by a method as claimed in any preceding claim,, Dated this 1st day of September,. 1988 CRUICKSHANK & CO, Agents for the Applicant 1 Holies Street Dublin 2