US20130067769A1

US20130067769A1 - Footwear device

Info

Publication number: US20130067769A1
Application number: US13/614,859
Authority: US
Inventors: Stephen HAMEL
Original assignee: New Miracle Trading Ltd
Current assignee: New Miracle Trading Ltd
Priority date: 2011-09-15
Filing date: 2012-09-13
Publication date: 2013-03-21

Abstract

The disclosure provides a footwear device, a footwear assembly, a method for making the footwear device, and a method for making the footwear assembly that can reduce manufacturing costs and complexities.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO PRIOR APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/535,134, filed Sep. 15, 2011, and titled “FOOTWEAR DEVICE,” the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to a footwear device, a footwear assembly, a method for making the footwear device, and a method for making the footwear assembly.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Footwear comes in various types, styles, shapes and sizes. However, footwear generally includes certain common components, such as, for example, an outsole and an upper. Various methodologies have been employed in attaching an upper to an outsole of a shoe. For example, it is known to sew an upper lip of an outsole to a shoe upper, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,757,408. These attachment methodologies can be costly in terms of time and complexity.
The disclosure provides a footwear device, a footwear assembly, a method for making the footwear device, and a method for making the footwear assembly that can reduce manufacturing costs and complexities.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

According to one aspect of the disclosure, a footwear device is disclosed that may be implemented as an interface between an upper portion and a lower portion of footwear. The footwear device may comprise a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The footwear device may further include a substantially curved wall and at least one substantially planar wall. The footwear device may further comprise a stitch that is configured, for example, longitudinally along the footwear device. The footwear device may be made from a material comprising, for example, leather, plastic, rubber, silicone, metal, or any other material suitable for footwear.
According to another aspect of the disclosure, a footwear assembly is disclosed. The footwear assembly comprises the upper portion, the lower portions, and the footwear device.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a method for making the footwear device is disclosed. The method comprises forming a longitudinal member from a material that may include, for example, rubber, synthetic rubber, leather (e.g., composition leather or patent leather), plastic (e.g., plastic sheeting or cellular plastic sheeting), textiles (both woven and non-woven), plaiting materials, neoprene, wood, cork, rubber, silicone, metal, or any other material suitable fir footwear. The longitudinal member may be formed to have a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The longitudinal member may be further formed to include a curved wall and a substantially planar wall.
The footwear device may comprise a stitch member that may be configured, for example, substantially longitudinally along the longitudinal member. The footwear device may further comprise a second stitch member that is configured, for example, substantially longitudinally along the longitudinal member. The first stitch member may be fastened to the longitudinal member by means of the second stitch member. The first and second stitch members may be made of a material comprising, for example, natural fibers (e.g., manila hemp, hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, sisal, silk, wool, or the like) or synthetic fibers (e.g., nylon, rayon, polypropylene, polyesters, polyethylene, aramids, polyaramids, or the like). The first and second stitch members may each be braided.
According to a still further aspect of the disclosure, a method for making the footwear assembly is disclosed. The method comprises attaching a footwear device to a lower portion, and attaching an upper portion to the footwear device. The lower portion may comprise an outsole. The process of attaching the footwear device to the lower portion may comprise applying an adhesive to a section of the lower portion and a section of the footwear device, and affixing the section of the footwear device to section of the lower portion. The process of attaching the upper portion to the footwear device may comprise applying an adhesive to another section of the footwear device and a section of the upper portion, and affixing the section of the dipper portion to the section of the footwear device. The footwear assembly may comprise, for example, a shoe, a sneaker, a boot, a slipper, or the like.
Additional features, advantages, and embodiments of the disclosure may be set forth or apparent from consideration of the detailed description and drawings. Moreover, it is to be understood that the foregoing summary of the disclosure and the following detailed description and drawings are exemplary and intended to provide further explanation without limiting the scope of the disclosure as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the disclosure, are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the disclosure and together with the detailed description serve to explain the principles of the disclosure. No attempt is made to show structural details of the disclosure in more detail than may be necessary for a fundamental understanding of the disclosure and the various ways in which it may be practiced. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a footwear device according to the instant disclosure;

FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of the footwear device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a side view of an example of a lower portion of a footwear assembly;

FIG. 4 shows a side view of the footwear device of FIG. 1 attached to the lower portion of the footwear assembly of FIG. 3;

FIGS. 5-7 show various steps of a process for manufacturing a footwear assembly; and

FIG. 8 shows an example of a footwear assembly comprising the lower portion and a footwear device according to the instant disclosure.

The present disclosure is further described in the detailed description that follows.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The disclosure and the various features and advantageous details thereof are explained more fully with reference to the non-limiting embodiments and examples that are described and/or illustrated in the accompanying drawings and detailed in the following description. It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may be employed with other embodiments, even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-known components and processing techniques may be omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments of the disclosure. The examples used herein are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the disclosure may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments of the disclosure. Accordingly, the examples and embodiments herein should not be construed as limiting the scope of the disclosure. Moreover, it is noted that like reference numerals represent similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.
The terms “including,” “comprising,” and variations thereof as used in this disclosure, mean “including, but not limited to,” unless expressly specified otherwise.
The terms “a,” “an,” and “the,” as used in this disclosure, means “one or more,” unless expressly specified otherwise.
Although process steps, method steps, algorithms, or the like, may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described does not necessarily indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of the processes, methods or algorithms described herein may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously.
When a single device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that more than one device or article may be used in place of a single device or article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described herein, it will be readily apparent that a single device or article may be used in place of the more than one device or article. The functionality or the features of a device may be alternatively embodied by one or more other devices which are not explicitly described as having such functionality or features.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a footwear device 100, according to the principles of the disclosure. The footwear device 100 may be implemented as an interface between an upper portion (not shown) and a lower portion (not shown) of a footwear assembly. A non-limiting example of a footwear assembly is shown in FIG. 8. The footwear device 100 comprises a substantially L-shaped cross-section 120. The footwear device 100 may include a substantially curved wall 140 and a pair of walls 150, 155.
The substantially curved wall 140 may include a substantially uniform and smooth surface (not shown), or a surface that is configured to substantially match a shape of a part of the upper (and/or the lower) portion of a footwear assembly, so that it may snuggly attach to the upper (and/or lower) portion of the footwear assembly.
The walls 150, 155 may be substantially planar. The wall 150 may include a surface that is configured to substantially match a shape of a part of the lower portion of a footwear assembly, so that it may snuggly attach to the lower portion of the footwear assembly. The wall 155 may have any shape desired for aesthetic appeal, including, e.g., a substantially planar surface, a curved surface, a surface comprising patterns, and the like.
According to an aspect of the disclosure, the walls 150, 155 may be substantially perpendicular to each other (as seen, e.g., in FIG. 2). However, the walls 150, 155 may have any angle with respect to each other including, for example, less than about 90° or more than about 90°.
The term “substantially planar wall,” as used in this disclosure, refers to a wall that lies mostly, or completely, within one plane. Typically, about 50% to about 100%, about 60% to about 100%, or about 80% to about 100% of the wall lies within one plane.
The footwear device 100 may further comprise a stitch 130 that is configured, for example, longitudinally along the footwear device 100. The footwear device 100 may include a channel 135 along the longitudinal direction. The stitch 130 may be provided along the entire (or a part of the) length of the channel 135.
The footwear device 100 may be made from a material comprising, for example, rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, metal silicone, leather (e.g., composition leather or patent leather), plastic (e.g., plastic sheeting or cellular plastic sheeting), textiles (both woven and non-woven), plaiting materials, neoprene, wood, cork, rubber, or any other material suitable for footwear.
FIGS. 2-4 show various views of the foot wear device 100 and/or a lower portion 200 of footwear. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a cross-section view of the footwear device 100; FIG. 3 shows a side view of the lower portion 200 that may be used in a footwear assembly; and FIG. 4 shows a side view of the footwear device 100 attached to the lower portion 200. As seen in the illustrations, the lower portion 200 may include an outsole 210, an interface section 220, and a bottom 230.
According to a further aspect of the disclosure, a method for making the footwear device is disclosed. The method comprises forming a longitudinal member 110 from a material that may include, for example, leather, plastic, rubber, silicone, metal, or any other material suitable for footwear. The longitudinal member 110 may be formed to have a substantially L-shaped cross-section. The longitudinal member 110 may be further formed to include a curved wall and a substantially planar wall.
The footwear device may comprise a first stitch member (not shown) that is configured, for example, substantially longitudinally along the longitudinal direction of the footwear device 100. The footwear device 100 may further comprise a second stitch member (not shown) that is configured, for example, substantially longitudinally along the longitudinal member 110. The first stitch member may be fastened to the longitudinal member 110 by means of the second stitch member. In this regard, the second stitch member may be pierced through the longitudinal member 110 at regular (or irregular) intervals and fastened to the first stitch member to provide a stitching, for example, as seen in the illustrations. The first and second stitch members may be made of a material comprising, for example, natural fibers (such as, e.g., manila hemp, hemp, linen, cotton, coir, jute, sisal, silk, wool, or the like) or synthetic fibers (such as, nylon, rayon, polypropylene, polyesters, polyethylene, aramids, polyaramids, or the like). The first and second stitch members may each be braided.
FIGS. 5-7 show various steps of a process for manufacturing a footwear assembly comprising a footwear device 100 according to the present disclosure.
Referring to FIG. 5, after a footwear device 100 has been selected and cut (or made) to a size that fits a lower portion 200, an adhesive (e.g., a glue, rubber cement, polychloroprene-based adhesives, solvent based polyurethanes, polyurethane dispersions, copolyamide or ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) hot melts, reactive hot melt urethanes, or the like) may be applied to a portion or the entire surface of the wall 150 of the footwear device 100 (shown in FIGS. 1-2).
Referring to FIG. 6, the adhesive may be applied to a portion of or the entire surface of the interface section 220 of the lower portion 200 (shown in FIG. 3). The interface section 220 and the wall 150 may be configured to substantially seamlessly mate with each other. The adhesive may be applied to the interface section 220 at the same time that the adhesive is applied to the wall 150, or it may be applied at a different time (e.g., before or after).
Referring to FIG. 7, after the adhesive is applied to the surface 150 and the interface section 220, the surface 150 may be aligned with and affixed to the interface section 220 around the entire perimeter of the lower portion 200 (shown in FIG. 3). A section of the upper portion (not shown) may also be treated with the adhesive and affixed to, for example, the wall 140 (shown in FIGS. 1-2), so as to assemble the footwear assembly. The wall 140 may be configured to mate with the treated section of the upper portion.
FIG. 8 shows an example of a footwear assembly (i.e., a sneaker) that comprises a footwear device according to the instant disclosure. Other footwear assemblies besides sneakers are contemplated by the instant disclosure. For example, the footwear assembly may be a shoe, a boot, a slipper, a dress shoe, a dance shoe, a sandal, a pump, an athletic shoe, and the like. The footwear assembly comprises an upper portion, the lower portion 200, and the footwear device 100.
While the disclosure has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure can be practiced with modifications in the spirit and scope of the appended claims. These examples are merely illustrative and are not meant to be an exhaustive list of all possible designs, embodiments, applications or modifications of the disclosure.

Claims

What is claimed:

1. A footwear device comprising:

a longitudinal member comprising:

a substantially curved wall; and

a first substantially planar wall,

wherein the substantially curved wall and the first substantially planar wall form at least a portion of an outer boundary of the longitudinal member.

2. The footwear device of claim 1, further comprising a second substantially planar wall.

3. The footwear device of claim 2, wherein the substantially curved wall, the first substantially planar wall, and the second substantially planar wall form at least a portion of an outer boundary of the longitudinal member.

4. The footwear device of claim 1, further comprising a first stitch member that is configured to extend longitudinally along the longitudinal member of the footwear device.

5. The footwear device of claim 4, wherein the first stitch member comprises either a natural fiber material or a synthetic fiber material.

6. The footwear device of claim 4, further comprising a second stitch member that is configured to extend longitudinally along the longitudinal member of the footwear device.

7. The footwear device of claim 6, wherein the second stitch member fastens the first stitch member to the longitudinal member.

8. The footwear device of claim 1, further comprising a material that is selected from the group consisting of: rubber, synthetic rubber, silicone, metal silicone, leather, plastic, a textile, a plaiting material, neoprene, wood, cork, and rubber.

9. A footwear assembly comprising the footwear device according to claim 1.

10. The footwear assembly of claim 9, further comprising:

an upper portion; and

a lower portion,

wherein an interface section of the lower portion is affixed to a first surface of the first substantially planar wall of the longitudinal member arid a section of the upper portion is affixed to a first surface of the substantially curved wall of the longitudinal member.

11. The footwear assembly of claim 10, wherein the footwear assembly is selected from the group consisting of: a shoe, a boot, a slipper, a dress shoe, a dance shoe, a sandal, a pump, and an athletic shoe.

12. The footwear assembly of claim 10, wherein the interface section of the lower portion is affixed to the first surface of the first substantially planar wall of the longitudinal member with an adhesive selected from the group consisting of: glues, rubber cements, polychloroprene-based adhesives, solvent based polyurethanes, polyurethane dispersions, copolyamide or ethylene vinyl acetate hot melts, and reactive hot melt urethanes.

13. The footwear assembly of claim 10, wherein the section of the upper portion is affixed to the first surface of the substantially curved wall of the longitudinal member with an adhesive selected from the group consisting of: glues, rubber cements, polychloroprene-based adhesives, solvent based polyurethanes, polyurethane dispersions, copolyamide or ethylene vinyl acetate hot melts, and reactive hot melt urethanes.

14. A method of making a footwear assembly, comprising:

providing a footwear device comprising a longitudinal member that comprises:

a substantially curved wall; and

a first substantially planar wall,

wherein the substantially curved wall and the first substantially planar wall form at least a portion of an outer boundary of the longitudinal member;

providing an upper portion;

providing a lower portion;

affixing an interface section of the lower portion to a surface of the first substantially planar wall of the longitudinal member; and

affixing a section of the upper portion to a surface of the substantially curved wall of the longitudinal member.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the method further comprises at least one of:

applying an adhesive to at least one of the interface section of the lower portion of the footwear assembly and the surface of the first substantially planar wall of the longitudinal member before affixing the interface section of the lower portion to the surface of the first substantially planar wall; and

applying an adhesive to at least one of the section of the upper portion of the footwear assembly and the surface of the substantially curved wall of the longitudinal member before affixing the section of the upper portion to the surface of the substantially curved wall.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the adhesive is applied to both the interface section of the lower portion and the surface of the first substantially planar wall of the longitudinal member.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the adhesive is applied to both the section of the upper portion and the surface of the substantially curved wall of the longitudinal member.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the interface section of the lower portion is affixed to the surface of the first substantially planar wall of the longitudinal member with an adhesive selected from the group consisting of glues, rubber cements, polychloroprene-based adhesives, solvent based polyurethanes, polyurethane dispersions, copolyamide or ethylene vinyl acetate hot melts, and reactive hot melt urethanes.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the section of the upper portion is affixed to the surface of the substantially curved wall of the longitudinal member with an adhesive selected from the group consisting of glues, rubber cements, polychloroprene-based adhesives, solvent based polyurethanes, polyurethane dispersions, copolyamide or ethylene vinyl acetate hot melts, and reactive hot melt urethanes.