WO1995019718A1

WO1995019718A1 - Shoe sole attaching press

Info

Publication number: WO1995019718A1
Application number: PCT/GB1995/000063
Authority: WO
Inventors: Raymond Hanson
Original assignee: British United Shoe Machinery Limited; Usm España, S.L.
Priority date: 1994-01-19
Filing date: 1995-01-13
Publication date: 1995-07-27

Abstract

A shoe sole attaching press has a pad box (10) and forepart and heel end jack arrangements (50, 52), between which relative movement of approach takes place in order to clamp and apply pressure to a shoe assembly comprising a shoe (S) on its last (L) with a sole unit (U) on the shoe bottom whereby, with adhesive therebetween, the sole unit can be bonded to the shoe bottom. The forepart jack arrangement (50) supports a deformable pad (60), having a hardness in the range 20° to 55° Shore A, so that when pressure is applied the pad will deform and thus spread the applied pressure over a relatively large area of the shoe forepart. Various configurations and/or constructions of deformable pad (60) are proposed. Each pad is preferably bombe-shaped. In one embodiment, the pad (60f) is secured to a base plate (68) having an upstanding rim (70) by which sideways deformation of the pad can be contained. In another embodiment, the pad (60g, 60h) is supported by a domed or conical support (80, 80') and has a centrally disposed chamber (90, 106).

Description

SHOE SOLE ATTACHING PRESS

This invention is concerned with improvements in or relating to sole attaching presses, to pad assemblies for use with forepart jack arrangements of such presses, and to methods of attaching sole units to lasted shoe bottoms using such presses.

Conventionally, and e.g. as disclosed in GB-A-2042887, sole attaching presses comprise a pad box, on which a shoe assembly of a lasted shoe carried on a last and a sole unit located against the shoe bottom can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement by which can be supported a pad assembly engageable with the upper surface of such lasted shoe in the forepart region thereof, a heel end jack arrangement by which can be supported a pad assembly engageable with such last in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box and the forepart and heel end jack arrangements to cause pressure to be applied to the shoe assembly supported as aforesaid whereby, with adhesive applied to at least one of the engaging surfaces of the shoe bottom and sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom.

In such press the forepart jack arrangement conventionally supports a pad assembly comprising a pad made of a relatively incompressible material, typically having a Shore A hardness in the region of 90° to 95°, so that the shoe assembly is solidly clamped between the pad box and the forepart jack arrangement prior to the application of pressure to the shoe assembly. Because of the hardness of such pad, however, it is often the case that the shoe upper material is detrimentally marked, by reason of the pressure applied, in the area of contact between the pad and the shoe upper, which is of course undesirable in the finished shoe. To avoid the damage thus caused to the shoe upper, it has been proposed, and indeed practised, to use a thin layer of material between the pad and the shoe upper, usually by securing such a layer over the shoe- engaging surface of the pad. While such intermediate layer, which typically is of soft leather or perhaps a plastic foam material, provides some protection against damage caused by actual contact between the relatively incompressible pad and the shoe upper, nevertheless because the material of the layer is relatively thin, and thus its compressibility is inconsequential, the risk of damage caused by the application of high pressure over a small area nevertheless remains.

It is one of the various objects of the present invention to provide an improved pad assembly for support by the forepart jack arrangement of a sole attaching press, which pad assembly is such as to minimise the risk of damage to a forepart of a shoe when clamped between the pad assembly and the pad box of the press.

It is also one of the various objects of the present invention to provide an improved sole attaching press in which the risk of damage to the shoe upper by the clamping action of the pad assembly supported by the forepart jack arrangement is minimised.

It is a still further one of the various objects of the present invention to provide an improved method of attaching sole units to lasted shoe bottoms wherein the risk of damage to the forepart of the shoe when pressure is applied to the shoe assembly by the forepart and heel end jack arrangements is minimised.

The invention provides, in one of its several aspects, - in or for use in a sole attaching press comprising a pad box, on which a shoe assembly of a lasted shoe carried on a last and a sole unit located against the shoe bottom can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement by which can be supported a pad assembly engageable with the upper surface of such lasted shoe in the forepart region thereof, a heel end jack arrangement by which can be supported a pad assembly engageable with such last in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box and the forepart and heel end jack arrangements to cause pressure to be applied to the shoe assembly supported as aforesaid whereby, with adhesive applied to at least one of the engaging surfaces of the shoe bottom and sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom, - a pad assembly, for support by the forepart jack arrangement, characterised by a deformable pad made of a material the Shore A hardness of which is in the region of 20° to 55°, said pad, when supported by the forepart jack arrangement, being caused to deform and thus spread progressively over the forepart region of the shoe as pressure is applied to the shoe assembly as aforesaid.

It has been found that using such a deformable pad, and thus causing the applied pressure to be spread over a wider area, the assembly can be readily clamped in position and the desired degree of pressure can thus be applied, while avoiding the application of localised pressure which proved detrimental in the conventional arrangement referred to above.

The deformable pad, moreover, is preferably generally bombe-shaped, and when in use in a sole attaching press the region of first contact thereof with the shoe surface is the apical region thereof. It has been found that using a deformable pad of such shape the quantity of material forming the pad is not so excessive that, when pressure is applied and the pad is thus deformed, the pad spreads beyond the shoe surface and against the surface of the pad box, since of course if the latter situation were to arise the pressure applied to the shoe would be co mensurately less.

Where a bombe-shaped deformable pad is used, by positioning the pad so as first to engage the shoe surface at or adjacent to the base of the instep portion of the shoe, the clamping of the shoe forepart portion takes place well away from the toe, thereby militating against a tendency of the shoe to tip forwardly by reason of the application of pressure to the forepart portion. Where, moreover, the heel end jack arrangement is placed well forward in relation to the crown of the last, the tendency to cause the shoe to be tipped rearwardly is militated against, and in combination the tendency of the last to be "broken" by the applied pressure at the forepart and heel end, which is a not uncommon tendency, is thereby reduced.

The invention also provides, in another of its several aspects, a sole attaching press comprising a pad box, on which an assembly of a lasted shoe carried on a last and a sole unit located against the shoe bottom can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement engageable with the upper surface of the shoe in the forepart region thereof and a heel end jack arrangement engageable with the last in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box and the jack arrangements thus to cause the shoe assembly to be clamped therebetween and to cause pressure to be applied to the assembly whereby, with adhesive applied to at least one of the engaging surfaces of the shoe bottom and sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom, wherein the forepart jack arrangement supports a pad assembly comprising a deformable pad made of a material the Shore A hardness of which is in the region of 20° to 55°, said pad being caused to deform and thus spread progressively over the forepart region of the shoe as pressure is applied to the shoe assembly as aforesaid.

The invention also provides in another of its several aspects, a sole attaching press comprising a pad box, on which an assembly of a lasted shoe carried on a last and a sole unit located against the shoe bottom can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement engageable with the upper surface of the shoe in the forepart region thereof and a heel end jack arrangement engageable with the last in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box and the jack arrangements thus to cause the shoe assembly to be clamped therebetween and to cause pressure to be applied to said assembly whereby, with adhesive applied to at least one of the engaging surfaces of the shoe bottom and sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom, wherein the forepart jack arrangement supports a pad assembly comprising a deformable pad which is generally bo be-shaped, the region of first contact thereof with the shoe surface being the apical region thereof.

In other embodiments of the invention, of course, pads of different shape may be used, e.g. a generally cylindrical pad or a pad having a centrally disposed recess formed in the shoe-engaging surface thereof, more particularly a pad having an annular presser portion surrounding the recess, i.e. a pad of a generally "doughnut" shape. Alternatively, the centrally disposed recess may extend across the shoe-engaging surface of the pad, thus effectively forming two parallel presser pad portions, such a pad facilitating the attachment of sole units to the bottom of lasted shoes which include, as part of the upper, a decorative or other trim. (Conventionally, it is necessary to attach decorative trim of this type after the sole unit has been attached to the shoe bottom. )

In some instances the deformable pad has shown some tendency to split or otherwise suffer damage during the application of pressure as aforesaid. In one pad assembly in accordance with the invention, therefore, the deformable pad used is supported by a holder comprising a recess in which a portion of the deformable pad remote from the shoe-engaging surface thereof is accommodated, and which thus restricts deformation of such remote portion. Moreover, preferably the holder comprises a base plate and a rim upstanding from the base plate, thus to define the recess of the holder, the rim having a rounded surface over which the pad "rolls" when deformed as aforesaid. The deformable pad is preferably secured to the base plate, e.g. by adhesive bonding or vulcanising. In such a case the rim defining the recess serves to prevent sideways deformation of the pad in the vicinity of the rim and thus substantially reduces the risk of shearing of the bond between the rearward surface of the pad and the base plate. Moreover the provision of a round surface on the rim militates against damage to the body of the deformable pad during deformation thereof.

In other pad assemblies in accordance with the present invention preferably the deformable pad may have a chamber formed in the interior thereof. It has been found that by the provision of such a chamber in the interior of the pad any tendency of the body of the pad to split is significantly reduced if not indeed eliminated.

In one embodiment the chamber comprises a passageway extending through the thickness of the pad and opening into opposite surface portions thereof. In such case, moreover, a resiliently deformable tubular insert may be fitted within the passageway. Such an insert has been found to enhance the prevention of splitting of the deformable pad during deformation as well as serving to vary the hardness or stiffness characteristics of the pad.

In another embodiment the chamber is formed within the body of the deformable pad and opens into a rearward surface thereof, i.e. the surface remote from the shoe-engaging surface thereof.

In each of said embodiments the pad assembly preferably comprises a domed or conical support to which a rearward surface portion of the deformable pad is secured and by which the pad assembly can thus be mounted on the forepart jack arrangement. Preferably, furthermore, the rearward surface of the deformable pad extends beyond the domed or conical support and the pad assembly further comprises a flat washer to be interposed between the forepart jack arrangement and the support and extending over the whole of the extent of the rearward surface of the pad. It has been found that using such a support any tendency of the pad to split has been militated against by the domed or conical support affecting the manner in which the deformation of the material of the pad can take place and in particular by reducing the shearing action within the body of the pad.

In the case of said one embodiment referred to above the domed or conical support is conveniently in the form of an integral element having a domed or conical head and a shank by which it can be connected to the forepart jack arrangement thus to mount the deformable pad on the latter. In the case of said other embodiment, on the other hand, the support preferably comprises an annular outer element to which the deformable pad is secured and an inner element insertable in the outer element, by which inner element the pad assembly can be mounted on the forepart jack arrangement. Conveniently, furthermore, the inner element is threadedly received in the outer element, locking means being provided for maintaining it in its adjusted position.

Furthermore, in order to vary the deformability of the pad either the chamber may be left empty or, if desired, an insert may be accommodated within the chamber, said insert being of a material the hardness of which is less than that of the pad. Conveniently such insert is mounted on the inner element of the support and may be smaller than the volume of the chamber and creates a sub-chamber therewithin. It has thus been found that using a deformable pad as described above, any tendency of the pad to split under heavy pressure is mitigated while the application of pressure thereby progressively over the forepart region of the shoe is reliably achieved.

The invention further provides, in another of its several aspects, a shoe sole attaching press comprising a pad box, on which an assembly of a lasted shoe carried on a last and a sole unit located against the bottom of such shoe can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement by which through a pad assembly supported thereby the upper surface of a shoe supported as aforesaid can be engaged in the forepart region thereof, a heel end jack arrangement also by which through a pad assembly supported thereby the upper surface of the last carrying such shoe can be engaged in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box and the jack arrangements whereby, with said pads supported by the latter, to cause pressure to be applied to press the assembly against the pad box and thus, with adhesive applied between the shoe bottom and the sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom, characterised in that the pad assembly supported by the forepart jack arrangement is constituted by a pad assembly as set out above.

The invention still further provides, in another of its several aspects a method of attaching sole units to lasted shoe bottoms using a press as set out in the last preceding paragraph characterised in that the pad box comprises one or more pads engageable with the sole unit in the waist region thereof, said one pad or the heelward one of the pads, as the case may be, engaging the sole unit adjacent the heel breast line thereof, and the heel end jack arrangement is arranged in opposed relationship with said one pad or the heelward one of the pads, as the case may be, characterised in that the deformable pad of the pad assembly supported by the forepart jack arrangement first engages the shoe surface at or adjacent the base of the instep portion of the shoe and spreads progressively outwards in all directions from the region of first contact as pressure is applied as aforesaid.

The above and other of various objects and several aspects of the invention will become clearer from the following detailed description, to be read with reference to the accompanying drawings, of various pad assemblies in accordance with the invention, a method of attaching sole units to lasted shoe bottoms and also a shoe sole attaching press. It will of course be appreciated that these pad assemblies, this method and this press have been selected for description merely by way of exemplification of the invention and not by way of limitation thereof.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Fig. 1 is a side elevation view, with parts broken away, of a so-called pad box of the sole attaching press in accordance of the invention showing a shoe assembly comprising a lasted shoe and sole unit placed thereon and also showing a forepart jack arrangement and a heel end jack arrangement of said press;

Figs. 2 and 3 are section views indicating different bombe-shaped configurations of deformable pad constituting part of a pad assembly which can be supported by the forepart jack arrangement of the press;

Fig. 4 is a section view of another pad assembly in accordance with the invention having a recessed holder for the deformable pad;

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively plan and front elevational views of a further pad assembly in accordance with the invention for support by the forepart jack arrangement; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively a plan view and a section view of another pad assembly in accordance with the present invention.

The sole attaching press in accordance with the invention now to be described comprises a pad box generally designated 10, the pad box itself comprising a so-called toe pad 12 mounted in a support 14 for pivotal movement about an axis 16, whereby to accommodate to the angle of the shoe bottom in the forepart region thereof, a plurality of pressure pads 18, 20 engageable with the sole unit/shoe bottom assembly in the waist region thereof, a heel support 22 and a heel abutment pad 24, to which reference is made hereinafter.

The toe pad 12 of the pad box 10 has an initial or rest position about the axis 16 determined by an adjustable stop pin 26. Moreover, typically the pad box will be locked in a position according to the angle of the shoe bottom, e.g. as described in detail in GB-A-2042867, when the press is in use.

The waist pads 18 are relatively narrow, so that they can conform to the "spring" of the last, ie according to the heel height of the shoe, each pad having associated therewith a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 28 so that the pads are movable individually. As shown in Fig 1, the pad 20 is in an advanced condition in relation to the heel pads 18 even when the press is in its rest position and serves in this way to determine the position of the shoe lengthwise of the pad box, the arrangement being such that the heel breast engages or the heel breast region is otherwise aligned with the heelward side of the pad 20.

The heel support 22 is mounted for heightwise movement into and out of engagement with the heel end portion of the sole unit/shoe assembly under the action of a piston-and-cylinder arrangement 30; this support is conventionally used in the case of men's shoes, where the heel is relatively low, and indeed of relatively large area, and thus applies an upward clamping force to the assembly. The heel abutment pad 24, on the other hand, is used in the case of ladies' shoes or high-heeled shoes and is so shaped as to apply a pressure to the shoe with both lengthwise and heightwise components. The heel abutment pad is mounted on a slide 32 which is carried on a column 34 mounted for pivotal movement about an axis 36 of the pad box. Moreover, the column 34 is caused to pivot through a pin-and-slot connection 38,40 with the heel support 22, as the latter is caused to rise under the action of the piston-and-cylinder arrangement 30. (When the heel abutment pad 24 is not required, the pin 38 can be withdrawn, and the column then swings to a rest position determined by an abutment 42. At the same time, a pad (not shown) is placed on the heel support 22 and provides a shoe-engaging surface for the support; when, on the other hand, the abutment 24 is in use, the pad is removed from the support 22 so it does not interfere with the shoe as the support is caused to rise.) The arrangement is also described in greater detail in GB-A-2042887. The sole attaching press also comprises a heel end jack arrangement 52 arranged in opposed relationship with the pad 20 so that pressure is applied by the heel end jack arrangement to the crown of the last of the assembly in the region of the heel breast of said assembly. Supported on the arrangement 52, by a pin-and- slot connection 54, is a heel pad 56 which engages with the crown of the last. By arranging for the pad 56 to engage the crown of the last as closely as possible to the joint region of the last, any tendency for the shoe to tip rearwardly by reason of the pressure applied through the heel end jack to the shoe assembly is militated against.

The sole attaching press further comprises a forepart jack arrangement 50 which supports a pad assembly comprising a deformable forepart pad 60 movable into engagement with the shoe at or adjacent to the bottom of the instep region thereof. The deformable pad 60 which, as will be hereinafter described with reference to Figs. 2 to 8, may be of various configurations and/or constructions, is made of a deformable elastomeric material having a Shore A hardness in the region of 20° to 55°; thus, the pad 60 will tend readily to deform when brought into pressing engagement with the forepart region of the shoe and thus spread the applied pressure over a relatively large area. Ideally the pad should be so dimensioned that, when it thus deforms, its contact is nevertheless solely with the shoe, and in particularly contact should not be made with the forepart pad 12 of the pad box 10, since this would diminish the applied pressure.

Viewing Fig. 2, a first deformable pad 60a is bombe-shaped; this is regarded as an optimum shape for ensuring a good spread of applied pressure while avoiding contact between the deformable pad and the forepart pad 12, regardless of the amount of pressure applied. In this case the shape is generally conical and tapered sharply to the apex.

Turning to Fig. 3, a second bombe-shaped deformable pad 60b is shown, and in this case is made up of a first, generally frustoconical, portion and a second, shoe-engaging, portion which is essential semi- spherical, said portions being integral with one another. Again, the shoe-engaging end tapers, and thus does not comprise excess material in the shoe-engaging portion, so that in deforming the risk of the material of the pad engaging with the forepart pad of the pad box is only slight.

In the case of both of these bombe-shaped pads, moreover, the material is a rubber and its hardness is in the order of 40° on the Shore A scale.

Turning to Fig. 4, a third deformable pad 6Of: is again bombe-shaped and its hardness is in the order of 40° Shore A, but in this case the pad is supported by a holder 66 comprising a base plate 68 having an integral upstanding rim 70. The rim is substantially parallel- sided with a hemispherical top edge. For securing the pad 60f_ to the base plate a rearward surface of the pad, i.e. the surface thereof remote from the shoe-engaging surface, is bonded by any suitable adhesive bonding technique, the preferred method of securement being by vulcanising. It should be noted that whereas the pad is secured to the base plate, for optimum effectiveness it should not be secured to any part of the rim 70. By the provision of the rim 70 a recess is formed for accommodating a portion of the pad 60f_ remote from the shoe-engaging surface thereof. The rim, moreover, prevents sideways movement of such remote portion when the pad is deformed and thus prevents or substantially reduces the risk of the bond shearing. The provision of the hemispherical top edge, moreover, reduces the risk of damage to the body of the pad as it "rolls" over the edge when deformed.

Turning first to Figs. 5 and 6 a fourth deformable pad 60cj shown therein comprises a main body a rearward surface of which, i.e. the surface remote from the shoe-engaging surface thereof, is secured to a support element 80 having a head 82 in the shape of a truncated dome or cone and an integral shank 84 which is threaded. The rearward surface of the pad, moreover, extends beyond the head 82. The threaded shank 84 serves threadedly to mount the pad 60cj on the forepart jack arrangement 50. Interposed between the forepart jack and the rearward surface of the pad/head 60282, furthermore, is a flat washer 86 which provides in particular support for the rearward surface of the pad outside the confines of the head 82. (If desired, the washer 86 may be formed integral with the support element 80.)

As will be seen from Figs. 5 and 6, extending through the body of the pad 60a ^{is a} cylindrical bore or passageway 90, said passageway opening into opposite surface portions of the pad. The passageway is arranged so that its axis intersects the axis of the shank 84 of the support element 80 and is thus arranged symmetrically through the body of the pad. Moreover, when the pad assembly is supported by the forepart jack arrangement of the shoe sole attaching press, the passageway 90 should extend lengthwise of the shoe being operated upon; to this end, where the pad is moulded on to the support element 80 care must be taken to ensure the correct location of the support element 80, and in particular of the thread of its shank 84, during the pad moulding process.

It has been found that by providing such a passageway, especially in the region where splitting has been found to take place, the problem of splitting is mitigated.

If desired, the passageway may be reinforced by a tubular sleeve or similar insert (not shown) force- fitted therein, said sleeve or insert being made of a resiliently deformable material and thus providing support for the interior surface of the pad. In addition, also if desired the passageway (with or without a sleeve or insert) may have accommodated therein a plug (again not shown) of a material which is less hard than the material of the pad; this plug moreover may extend along substantially the whole length of the passageway or alternatively two plugs may be provided, one inserted at each end of the passageway, leaving a sub-chamber centrally thereof.

All these various modifications will depend upon the amount of deformation required when pressure is applied to the forepart portion of a shoe in an operating cycle of the shoe sole attaching press.

In the case of the fourth deformable pad the hardness of the body is preferably in the order of 40* Shore A; where one or more plugs are used, moreover, their hardness is preferably in the order of 20 to 25* Shore A, but may of course be greater according to the deformation requirements, as mentioned above.

Turning to Figs. 7 and 8, a fifth pad assembly is shown comprising again a bombe-shaped pad 6Oh. Said pad is of the same degree of hardness as the pad 6θ£, but in this case a support element 80' is provided which is made up of an outer annular element 100 and an inner circular element 102 threadedly secured together. In this way the heightwise position of the inner element 102 relative to the outer element 100 can be varied. For securing the inner element 102 in the desired adjusted relationship with the outer element, moreover, locking means generally designated 104 is provided. The inner element 102, furthermore, has formed integral therewith a shank 84' by which the pad assembly can thus be supported on the forepart jack arrangement 50.

As in the case of the fourth pad assembly, a rearward surface of the pad 6Oh is secured to, but extends beyond, the outer element 100, and to this end during the moulding operation the inner element 102 is removed and replaced by a suitable inner mould member (not shown) by which a chamber 106 can be formed in the body of the pad 6Oh, opening into the rearward surface. In this way, when the inner element 102 is then screwed into the outer element the chamber 106 is closed. Again as in the case of the first deformable pad a flat washer 86 is provided which extends over, and provides support for, the rearward surface of the pad and the elements 100, 102, said washer being then interposed between the pad and the forepart jack arrangement when the pad assembly is mounted on the latter.

The chamber 106 may be left empty or alternatively an insert or plug 110 may be accommodated therein. As shown in Fig. 8, the insert 110 may be secured to the forward face of the inner element 102. This is particularly preferable where, as shown in Fig. 8, the insert does not fill the whole of the chamber 106. In other embodiments the chamber may be completely filled by an insert, in which case it need not be secured to the inner element 102. In the latter event the insert may of course be slightly greater than the chamber and the inner element 102 may then be used to control its deformability by compressing it appropriately into the desired chamber volume.

As in the case of the fourth pad assembly, the insert 110 is preferably of a lower degree of hardness than that of the pad 6Oh as a whole, and indeed the insert 110 will generally be similar in this respect to the insert or plug of the first embodiment.

Again, in the case of the fifth pad assembly the chamber 106 is arranged in a region of the pad where splitting has previously been encountered, and it has been found that by the provision of such a chamber the problem of splitting is mitigated.

In using the sole attaching press in accordance with the invention and incorporating one of the deformable pads referred to above, in carrying out the method in accordance with the invention, as already mentioned the pad 60 is aligned with the forepart of the shoe assembly located on and supported by the pad box 10 such that it first engages with the shoe assembly at or adjacent to the bottom of the instep region of the forepart thereof when the pad and shoe assembly are brought into pressing engagement. As the relative advancing movement between the pad and shoe assembly continues the area of such engagement then spreads progressively outwardly in all directions from the initial area of engagement by reason of the deformability of the pad 60. In this way the shoe assembly is held firmly against the pad box 10 and attaching pressure is thus able to be applied to consolidate the bond between the lasted shoe bottom and the sole unit while at the same time minimising, if not indeed eliminating, the risk of marking the surface of the shoe upper in the forepart region thereof.

Claims

Claims:

1. In or for use in a sole attaching press comprising a pad box (10), on which a shoe assembly of a lasted shoe (S) carried on a last (L) and a sole unit (U) located against the shoe bottom can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement (50) by which can be supported a pad assembly (60) engageable with the upper surface of such lasted shoe in the forepart region thereof, a heel end jack arrangement (52) by which can be supported a pad assembly (56) engageable with such last in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box and the forepart and heel end jack arrangements to cause pressure to be applied to the shoe assembly supported as aforesaid whereby, with adhesive applied to at least one of the engaging surfaces of the shoe bottom and sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom, a pad assembly (60), for support by the forepart jack arrangement (50), characterised by a deformable pad (60a, 60b, 60f, 60g, 60h) made of a material the Shore A hardness of which is in the region of 20" to 55°, said pad, when supported by the forepart jack arrangement, being caused to deform and thus spread progressively over the forepart region of the shoe as pressure is applied to the shoe assembly as aforesaid.

2. A pad assembly according to Claim 1 characterised in that the deformable pad (60a, 60b, 60f, 60g, 6Oh) is generally bombe-shaped, and in that when in use in a sole attaching press the region of first contact thereof with the shoe surface is the apical region thereof.

3. A pad assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the deformable pad (60f) is supported by a holder (66) comprising a recess in which a portion of the deformable pad remote from the shoe- engaging surface thereof is accommodated, and which thus restricts deformation of such remote portion.

4. A pad assembly according to Claim 3 characterised in that the holder (66) comprises a base plate (68) and a rim (70) upstanding from the base plate, thus to define the recess of the holder, and in that the rim (70) has a rounded surface over which the pad "rolls" when deformed as aforesaid.

5. A pad assembly according to Claim 1 or Claim 2 characterised in that the deformable pad (60g;60h) has a chamber (90;106) formed in the interior thereof.

6. A pad assembly according to Claim 5 characterised in that the chamber (90) comprises a passageway extending through the thickness of the pad (60g) and opening into opposite surface portions thereof.

7.. A pad assembly according to Claim 6 characterised in that a resiliently deformable tubular insert is fitted within the passageway (90).

8. A pad assembly according to Claim 6 further characterised by a domed or conical support (80) to which a rearward surface portion of the deformable pad (60g) is secured and by which the pad assembly can thus be mounted on the forepart jack arrangement (50).

9. A pad assembly according to Claim 8 characterised in that the rearward face of the deformable pad (60g) extends beyond the domed or conical support

(80), and further characterised by a flat washer (86) to be interposed between the forepart jack arrangement (50) and the support (80) and extending over the whole of the extent of the rearward surface of the pad.

10. A pad assembly according to Claim 5 characterised in that the chamber (106) is formed within the body of the deformable pad (6Oh) and opens into a rearward surface thereof.

11. A pad assembly according to Claim 10 further characterised by a domed or conical support (80') to which a rearward surface portion of the deformable pad (60h) is secured and by which the pad assembly can thus be mounted on the forepart jack arrangement (50).

12. A pad assembly according to Claim 11 characterised in that the support (80') comprises an annular outer element (100) to which the deformable pad (60h) is secured and an inner element (102) insertable in the outer element, by which inner element the pad assembly can be mounted on the forepart jack arrangement (50).

13. A pad assembly according to Claim 12 characterised in that the inner element (102) is threadedly received in the outer element (100), locking means (104) being provided for maintaining it in its adjusted position.

14. A pad assembly according to Claim 12 characterised in that an insert (110) is accommodated within the chamber (106), said insert being of a material the hardness of which is less than that of the pad.

15. A pad assembly according to Claim 14 characterised in that the insert (110) is mounted on the inner element (102) of the support (80').

16. A pad assembly according to Claim 14 characterised in that the insert (102) is smaller than the volume of the chamber (106) and creates a sub-chamber therewithin.

17. A shoe sole attaching press comprising a pad box (10), on which an assembly of a lasted shoe (S) carried on a last (L) and a sole unit (U) located against the bottom of such shoe can be supported, a forepart jack arrangement (50) by which through a pad assembly (60) supported thereby the upper surface of a shoe supported as aforesaid can be engaged in the forepart region thereof, a heel end jack arrangement (52) also by which through a pad assembly supported thereby the upper surface of the last carrying such shoe can be engaged in the region of the crown thereof, and means for effecting relative movement of approach between the pad box (10) and the jack arrangements (50,52) whereby, with said pads supported by the latter, to cause pressure to be applied to press the assembly against the pad box and thus, with adhesive applied between the shoe bottom and the sole unit, to cause the sole unit to be bonded to the shoe bottom, characterised in that the pad assembly (60) supported by the forepart jack arrangement (50) is constituted by a pad assembly in accordance with any one of the preceding Claims.

18. A method of attaching sole units to lasted shoe bottoms using a press according to Claim 17 characterised in that the pad box (10) comprises one or more pads (18,20) engageable with the sole unit (U) in the waist region thereof, said one pad or the heelward one (20) of the pads (18,20), as the case may be, engaging the sole unit adjacent the heel breast line thereof, and the heel end jack arrangement (52) is arranged in opposed relationship with said one pad or the heelward one (20) of the pads, as the case may be, characterised in that the deformable pad (60a; 60b; 60f; 60g; 60h) of the pad assembly supported by the forepart jack arrangement (50) first engages the shoe surface at or adjacent the base of the instep portion of the shoe and spreads progressively outwards in all directions from the region of first contact as pressure is applied as aforesaid.