WO2001097643A1

WO2001097643A1 - A shoe and a process for its manufacture

Info

Publication number: WO2001097643A1
Application number: PCT/IT2001/000226
Authority: WO
Inventors: Vittorio Checcucci; Marco Antonini
Original assignee: Vittorio Checcucci; Marco Antonini
Priority date: 2000-06-21
Filing date: 2001-05-09
Publication date: 2001-12-27
Also published as: IT1314851B1; ITFI20000140A0; ITFI20000140A1; AU6264401A

Abstract

The shoe comprises at least an upper and a sole sewn together, and has a relatively high flexibility, to enable the shoe to be turned inside out without damage. The sole (3) has, on its surface (3B) inside the shoe, a channel (5), formed in the proximity of the edge on the line along which the sole is joined to the upper, and the upper (1) is applied to the sole (3) by means of a sewn joint (7) formed between the edge of the turned-over upper (1) and the lip of the channel.

Description

A SHOE AND A PROCESS FOR ITS MANUFACTURE

DESCRIPTION

The invention relates to a shoe - comprising at least an upper and a sole sewn together - which has a relatively high flexibility, to enable the shoe to be turned inside out without damage. In the following description, the terms

"inner" and "outer" will generally relate to the finished shoe in the configuration in which it is worn. According to the invention, the sole has, on its surface inside the shoe, a channel formed in the proximity of the edge on the line along which it is joined to the upper, and the upper is applied to the sole by means of a sewn joint formed between the edge of the upper, turned inside out, and the lip of the channel: the sewing can be carried out manually, but more conveniently it can be^'carried out by a machine of the type known as a "welt stitcher". Thus a light and flexible shoe is produced economically without visible stitches and with the lower surface of the sole free of stitches which may appear on the surface as the sole becomes worn.

Preferably, the lip of said channel is orientated toward the central part of the sole. Additionally, the inner part of the sole with the channel and the edge of the upper sewn to the sole can be covered by an insole.

The invention also relates to a process of manufacturing a highly flexible shoe, which comprises at least the steps of:

- forming a channel in the inner part of the sole on the line along which it is joined to the upper;

- positioning the upper with the side intended to remain on the outside of the shoe facing the inner part of the sole and the edge turned over the edge of the sole and brought up to the lip of the channel;

- joining the edge of the upper to the lip of the channel by sewing;

- if necessary, applying, by sewing and/or bonding, an insole to cover the inner part of the sole;

- turning the shoe inside out, making use of the high elasticity of the sole and the upper, thus causing it to assume the final configuration for wearing. The invention will be more clearly understood from the description and the attached drawing, which shows a non-restrictive example of the invention. In the drawing,

Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of the finished front part of a shoe according to the- invention, cut along a transverse plane;

Fig. 2 shows a sectional view of the seam through ll-ll in Fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 shows a similar view to that of Fig. 2, but in an earlier step of the process;

Figs. 4 and 5 show, respectively, the enlarged details IV and V of Figs. 2 and 3;

Fig. 6 shows a partial view of the shoe cut along the line VI-VI in Fig. 5; and

Fig. 7 shows a partial enlarged cross section of the edge of the sole before it is joined to the upper. The shoe comprises an upper 1 (Fig. 1) and a sole 3 sewn together, the upper and sole being formed from materials having relatively high flexibility, such that the shoe can be turned inside out without damage. For example, the upper can be made from soft leather and the sole can be made from soft leather, rubber or the like. For ease of description, the outer surfaces 1A, 3A and inner surfaces 1 B, 3B respectively of the upper 1 and the sole 3 are identified with reference to the shoe in the normal configuration in which it is worn. In the inner surface 3B of the sole 3, a channel 5 is formed in the proximity of the edge, on the line along which the sole is joined to the upper, the lip 5A of the channel facing toward the central part of the sole 3. The channel 5 extends along the whole of the line along which the sole is joined to the upper. The upper 1 is sewn to the edge 5A of the channel 5 by means of sewing threads 7 (see Figs. 4 to 7). An insole 9, also made from flexible material, is applied - by bonding, for example - to the inner surface 3B of the sole 3, to cover the sewn edges of the upper 1. In the manufacturing process according to the invention, after the sole

3 with the channel 5 has been prepared, the edge of the upper 1 is brought into contact with the lip of the channel by curving said edge around the edge of the sole 3, with the outer surface 1A of the edge of the upper facing the inner surface 3B of the sole (Figs. 3 and 4), while the upper is turned under the outer surface 3A of the sole, as shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the edge of the upper 1 and the lip 5A of the channel 5 are easily accessible for the execution of the sewing with the threads 7, either by manual sewing or with a machine. For example, a machine of the type called a "welt stitcher" can be used for machine sewing. On completion of the sewing, the shoe, because of the high flexibility of the upper and the sole, is turned inside out and brought into its normal configuration for use. A covering insole 9 is then applied, in the finishing step, to the inner surface of the sole and to the edges of the upper sewn to it.

It should be understood that the drawing shows only one example provided solely as a practical demonstration of the invention, and that this invention can be varied in its forms and arrangements without departure from the scope of the guiding concept of the invention. The presence of any reference numbers in the attached claims has the purpose of facilitating the reading of the claims with reference to the description, and does not limit the scope of protection represented by the claims.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A shoe comprising at least an upper and a sole sewn together, having a relatively high flexibility, to enable the shoe to be turned inside out without damage, characterized in that the sole (3) has, on its surface (3B) inside the shoe, a channel (5), formed in the proximity of the edge on the line along which the sole (3) is joined to the upper (1) and extending along this line, and in that the upper (1) is applied to the sole (3) by means of a sewn joint (7) formed between the edge of the upper (1) and the lip (5A) of the channel.

2. The shoe as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the lip (5A) of said channel is orientated toward the central part of the sole (3).

3. The shoe as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the inner part (3B) of the sole (3) and the edge of the upper (1) sewn to the sole are covered by an insole (9).

4. A process for manufacturing a highly flexible shoe of the type claimed in one or more of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it comprises at least the steps of:

- forming a channel (5) in the inner surface (3B) of the sole (3) on the line along which it is joined to the upper (1); - positioning the upper (1) with the side (1A) intended to remain on the outside of the shoe facing the outer part (3A) of the sole, and joining, by means of sewing (7), the edge of the upper (1), turned over the edge of the sole (3), to the lip (5A) of said channel (5);

- turning the shoe inside out, making use of the high elasticity of the sole and the upper, thus causing it to assume the final configuration for wearing.

5. The process for manufacturing a shoe as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that, after the shoe has been turned inside out, an insole (9) is bonded to the inner surface of the sole (3) and if necessary to the edges of the upper (1 ) sewn to the sole.

6. A shoe and a process for its manufacture, the whole as described and represented by way of example in the attached drawing.