WO2019019061A1 - A self-assembled shoe and a method of manufacturing thereof - Google Patents
A self-assembled shoe and a method of manufacturing thereof Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2019019061A1 WO2019019061A1 PCT/CN2017/094556 CN2017094556W WO2019019061A1 WO 2019019061 A1 WO2019019061 A1 WO 2019019061A1 CN 2017094556 W CN2017094556 W CN 2017094556W WO 2019019061 A1 WO2019019061 A1 WO 2019019061A1
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- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- shoe
- locking member
- shoe base
- self
- base
- Prior art date
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-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/10—Low shoes, e.g. comprising only a front strap; Slippers
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/28—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B13/00—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units
- A43B13/28—Soles; Sole-and-heel integral units characterised by their attachment, also attachment of combined soles and heels
- A43B13/36—Easily-exchangeable soles
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/10—Low shoes, e.g. comprising only a front strap; Slippers
- A43B3/108—Low shoes, e.g. comprising only a front strap; Slippers characterised by the sole
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/12—Sandals; Strap guides thereon
- A43B3/128—Sandals; Strap guides thereon characterised by the sole
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
- A43B3/244—Collapsible or convertible characterised by the attachment between upper and sole
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B9/00—Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts
Definitions
- the invention relates generally to footwear and a method of manufacturing thereof.
- Footwear such as shoes and sandals are typically purchased in their finished forms with designs and configurations predetermined by the footwear companies and/or the manufacturers. Once a certain part of a shoe is worn out or when the appearance of the shoes is no longer favored due to a fashion change, the shoes may be less frequently worn or even disposed of as there is normally no easy way to replace the worn out part or to customize the appearance of the shoes by the user.
- An object of the present invention is to provide a self-assembled shoe, in which the aforesaid shortcomings are mitigated or at least to provide a useful alternative.
- Another object of the invention is to mitigate or obviate to some degree one or more problems associated with known self-assembled footwear.
- the invention provides a self-assembled shoe.
- the self-assembled shoe comprises one or more locking systems for connecting a shoe base with one or more shoe components, the locking system being manually releasable upon actuation by a user at an actuating portion of the shoe base, and is substantially covered from view from an exterior of the shoe when assembled; wherein the locking system comprises an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of the shoe base at the actuating portion, such that actuation at the actuating portion of the shoe base is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator of the locking system to thereby actuate the locking system.
- the invention provides a covering member adapted to substantially cover one or more recesses defined by a female locking member of a locking system for a self-assembled shoe of the first aspect.
- the covering member comprises one or more extensions configured to conform with the respective one or more recesses thereby, when the covering member is arranged to engage the female locking member, the one or more extensions are receivable by the respective one or more recesses to substantially cover the one or more recesses.
- the invention provides a method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe.
- the method comprises the steps of providing a mold for molding a shoe base; arranging a female locking member at the mold; covering substantially one or more recesses defined by the female locking member; introducing a molding material into the mold with the female locking member arranged therein, such that, when the molding material is solidified to form the shoe base, the female locking member is incorporated into the molding material of the shoe base.
- the invention provides a method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe.
- the method comprises the steps of providing a shoe base formed from a selected material; and fixedly accommodating a female locking member within the material forming the shoe base near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base in such a manner that the accommodated locking member is concealed from view by the material of the shoe base when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral edge; the material forming the shoe base is selected as one that has sufficient flexibility or resilience as to enable a locking mechanism of the locking member to be actuated through manual depression the shoe base material at a position on an exterior surface of the shoe base adjacent to the concealed locking member; wherein the female locking member comprises an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with an inner wall of the shoe base, such that the manual depression of the shoe base material is directly transmissible to the actuator to thereby actuate the locking system.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the self-assembled shoe according to the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a top view showing a number of shoe components of an embodiment of the self-assembled shoe prior to the assembly;
- FIG. 1 is a top view showing a shoe base of the shoe of Figure 2 having a plurality of locking systems;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of an actuator of the locking system of Figure 3;
- FIG. 3 is a top view showing a female locking member of a locking system of Figure 3;
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing two male locking members of the corresponding locking systems of the shoe of Figure 2;
- FIG. 1 is perspective view showing a retention unit as embodied in the present invention.
- FIG. 1 is a front view showing an embodiment of a covering member according to the present invention.
- FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the covering member of Figure 8.
- FIG. 8 is a front view of the covering member of Figure 8 engaged with a female locking member in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 10 is a top view of the engaged female locking member and covering member as shown in Figure 10;
- FIG. 10 is a rear view of the engaged female locking member and covering member as shown in Figure 10;
- FIG. 10 is a side view of the engaged female locking member and covering member as shown in Figure 10;
- FIG. 1 is a top view showing another embodiment of the female locking member of a locking system of the present invention.
- FIG. 14 is a top view showing a shoe base having a plurality of the female locking members of Figure 14.
- any element expressed as a means for performing a specified function is intended to encompass any way of performing that function. It is thus regarded that any means that can provide those functionalities are equivalent to those shown herein.
- FIG. 1 shown is an embodiment of the self-assembled shoe according to the present invention in its assembled state.
- the self-assembled shoe 10 comprises a shoe base 12 and a number of shoe components such as, but not limited to, one or more shoe straps 14 and a shoe sole 16.
- Figure 2 shows an embodiment of the shoe 10 in its disassembled state, with the shoe base 12, the shoe straps 14 and the shoe sole 16 detached from one another.
- Figure 2 also shows a plurality of locking systems 20 each comprising a female locking member 22 and a male locking member 24 releasably connectable with each other.
- the locking systems 20 are provided to connect the shoe base 12 with the other shoe components during the assembling process so as to form a shoe in its wearable form, and are adapted to release and thus detach the shoe base 12 from the other shoe components when the locking systems 20 are actuated manually by a user at an actuating portion 18 of the shoe base 12.
- the locking systems 20 are actuatable by manual depression or applying pressure at the corresponding actuating portions 18 of the shoe base 12.
- the female locking members 22 are arranged at the shoe base 12, and the male locking members 24 are provided at the shoe straps 14, although a person skilled in the art would appreciate that the female locking members 22 may possibly be arranged at any one of the shoe components and that the male locking members 24 may be provided at the shoe base 12 for connecting the shoe components with the shoe base 12.
- the locking system 20 may also be applied to connect different shoe components together for assembling the shoe 10.
- the locking system 20 when locked is located in or at the shoe base 12. More preferably, the locking system 20 when locked is located near a peripheral edge of the shoe base 12, such that the actuating portion 18 can be provided at, for example, one or more outer surfaces or side walls at the peripheral edge of the shoe base 12 adjacent the locking system 20.
- This arrangement allows the locking systems 20 to be substantially covered or concealed from view from an exterior of the shoe 10 when assembled. This is advantageous in that it provides the flexibility and customizability to the shoe 10 and yet, with the connections being substantially invisible from the exterior of the shoe 10, the self-assembled shoes 10 are aesthetically pleasing and are indistinguishable from the traditional, ready-made shoes.
- Figure 3 shows the shoe base 12 of Figure 2 having a plurality of female locking members 22 arranged near the peripheral edge of the shoe base 12.
- the female locking members 22 each comprises one or more recesses 30, with at least one of the recesses 30 adapted to releasably engage the male locking member 24 to thereby connect the female locking member 22 with the male locking member 24.
- the female locking member 22 also comprises an actuator 40 manually actuatable to release the female locking member 22 from the male locking member 24.
- the actuator 40 is arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of the shoe base 12 at the actuating portion 18, such that manual pressure at the actuating portion 18 is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator 40 to thereby actuate the locking system 20 to release the male locking member 24.
- the actuator 40 may comprise an enlarged head portion 42 and a neck portion 44, as shown in Figure 4.
- the head portion 42 may comprise a substantially flat engaging surface which allows a direct, close contact between the actuator 40 and the medium of the shoe base 12.
- the direct contact between the actuator 40 and the medium of the shoe base 12 at the actuating portion 18 is advantageous in that it allows a more effective actuation of the locking system 20 by reducing the distance of depression by the user and improving the transmission of pressure once the manual depression is applied.
- the applied pressure is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator 40 to allow a more sensitive actuation and thus, allowing a more precise actuation with less effort required from the user.
- the longer is the distance between the medium of the shoe base 12 and the actuator 40 the more stretching of the medium is required for the actuator 40 to be actuated.
- the direct contact between the shoe base medium and the actuator 40 therefore reduces the mechanical fatigue of the shoe base 12 and thus prolongs the lifespan of the shoe base 12.
- the direct engagement between the flat head portion 42 of the actuator 40 and the shoe base medium also minimizes or substantially prevents the building up of stress at the contact point when the shoe base medium engages the actuator 40 during a depression.
- the female locking members 22 are arranged such that they are accessible from an upper surface of the shoe base 12 adjacent the shoe sole 16 and the sole of the user when in use.
- the female locking member 22 comprises a housing 23 defining the recess 30 for receiving an arm 32 of the male locking member 24.
- the female locking member 22 comprises a stopping means 36 adapted to engage the arm 32 of the male locking member 24 when the arm 32 is inserted into the recess 30.
- at least one of the stopping means 36 of the female locking member 22 and the arm 32 of the male locking member 24 comprises a plurality of teeth members 38, 39, respectively, for securing the engaged stopping means 36 and the arm 32.
- At least one of the stopping means 36 of the female locking member 22 and the arm 32 of the male locking member 24 is resilient, such that when one of the members is resiliently flexed by, for example, an applied pressure from the user at the actuation portion 18, the other one of the members disengages from the counterpart so as to release the shoe base 12 from the shoe strap 14.
- the actuator 40 When the actuator 40 is actuated by, for example, a manual depression by a user at the actuation portion 18 at the peripheral edge of the shoe base 12, the applied pressure is directly transmitted through the medium of the shoe base 12 to the actuator 40 due to the direct contact between the shoe base medium and the head portion 42 of the actuator 40.
- the actuator 40 is thereby depressed inwardly towards the housing 23 to flex at least one of the stopping means 36 of the female locking member 22 and the arm 32 of the male locking member 24 to disengage the female and the male locking members 22, 24.
- the actuator 40 may cause the engaged teeth 38, 39 of the locking members 22, 24 to part and thus become disengaged from each other.
- the actuator 40 is embedded within the shoe base 12, and the actuation thereof is achievable by an indirect pressing action via the medium of the peripheral edge of the shoe base 12 at the actuation portion 18, it is therefore not necessary for the actuator 40 to be exposed from the exterior of the shoe 10, but still, can be easily accessible and actuatable by the user.
- the female locking member 22 may comprise a base member 26 for anchoring the locking system 20 at the medium of the shoe base 12.
- the base member 12 may comprise one or more extended portions 28, with at least one of the extended portions 28 as comprising a hollow space or aperture 29 adapted to allow the medium of the shoe base 12 to pass through to thereby fixedly secure the female locking member 22 at the shoe base 12.
- Figure 6 further shows an embodiment of the shoe strap 14 having two male locking members 24.
- the male locking member 24 is configured substantially in a U-shape such that it is adapted to receive partially the actuator 40, or more specifically, the neck portion 44 of the actuator 40 when the locking system 20 is in a locked configuration.
- the male locking member 24 and/or the female locking member 22 can be provided in other possible configurations, as long as they fulfil the purpose of the present invention.
- the shoe 10 may further comprise one or more retention units 50 for connecting the shoe base 12 with the other shoe components.
- a retention unit 50 having an enlarged stud part 52 depending from a narrower neck portion can be provided at the shoe strap 14 for engaging a corresponding hole at the shoe base 12 via a snap-fitting connection.
- a plurality of snap fitting studs 52 can also be provided at the under surface of the shoe sole 16 for engaging corresponding holes at the shoe base 12 in a similar manner.
- a covering member 60 adapted to substantially cover the one or more recesses 30, such as the gap 30A and/or the recess 30B as defined by the female locking member 22 of the locking system 20 for the self-assembled shoe 10 according to the present invention.
- the covering member 60 may comprise one or more extensions 70 configured to conform with the respective one or more recesses 30 of the female locking member 22.
- the covering member 60 In use, when the covering member 60 is arranged to engage the female locking member 22 prior to the molding of the shoe base 12, the one or more extensions 70, due to their specific shapes and configurations, will be allowed to be snugly received by the respective one or more recesses 30 of the female locking member 22 to substantially cover or seal the one or more recesses 30.
- the covering or sealing of the recesses 30 is of particular importance during the molding process of the shoe base 12 to reduce, minimize or substantially prevent any molding material from entering the recesses or gaps 30. After the molding material is solidified and the shoe base 12 is formed, the covering member 60 can be easily removed to disengage the female locking member 22 and to uncover the recesses 30.
- the covering member 60 can be configured with extensions 70 having one or more leg members 72 and/or one or more block members 74 configured to conform with the respective one or more gap 30A and/or one or more recess 30B.
- the leg members 72 will be inserted into the gap 30A between an outer wall of the housing 23 and the head portion 42 of the actuator 40, such that the leg members 72 are allowed to substantially surround the neck portion 44 of the actuator 40.
- the block members 74 will be inserted into the recess 30B defined by the housing 23 of the female locking member 22.
- the leg members 72 are configured substantially in a U-shape to surround at least partially the neck portion 44; and that the block members 74 are substantially elongate for receiving the male locking member 24 of the locking system 20.
- the covering member 60 may comprise either one of the leg member 72 and the block member 74 for blocking or covering the gap 30A or the recess 30B.
- the recess 30 which is not covered by the covering member 60 may possibly be filled, masked or covered by other masking means such as, but are not limited to, one or more resilient materials, for example, silicone rubber prior to the molding step. After the molding and that the shoe base 12 is formed, the resilient materials may then be removed to release the recess 30.
- a method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe 10 comprises steps of providing a mold for molding a shoe base 12; arranging a female locking member 22 at the mold; covering substantially one or more recesses 30 defined by the female locking member 22; and introducing a molding material into the mold with the female locking member 22 arranged therein, such that, when the molding material is solidified to form the shoe base 12, the female locking member 22 is incorporated into the molding material of the shoe base 12.
- the molding material may comprise one or more resilient materials, such as, but are not limited to, synthetic polymers, rubbers and/or foamed materials, etc.
- the shoe base 12 can be formed of or at least partially formed of one or more rubbery materials.
- the manufactured shoe base prefferably possess a resilient, flexible and/or depressible physical property at least at its peripheral edge such that the self-assembled shoe can be easily disassembled by pressing onto the shoe base by the user.
- the resiliency prevents the shoe base from being deformed by the applied pressure.
- the covering step comprises releasably engaging a covering member 60 with the female locking member 22.
- the covering member 60 comprises one or more extensions 70 receivable into the respective one or more recesses 30 to thereby substantially cover the one or more recesses 30.
- the method may further comprise a step of uncovering the recesses 30 after the molding material is solidified.
- the arranging step comprises positioning the female locking member 22 near a side wall of the mold such that, when the shoe base 12 is formed, the female locking member 22 is incorporated near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base 12.
- the female locking member 22 is incorporated near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base 12, but not at said peripheral edge such that the female locking member 22 is covered from view by the material of the molded shoe base 12 when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral edge.
- the method of manufacturing the self-assembled shoe 10 may further comprise a step of connecting a male locking member 24 with a shoe component such as a shoe strap 14, such that the shoe base 12 and the shoe strap 14 are connectable by engaging the female locking member 22 with the male locking member 24.
- a method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe 10 comprises steps of providing a shoe base 12 formed from a selected material; and fixedly accommodating a female locking member 22 within the material forming the shoe base 12 near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base 12 in such a manner that the accommodated locking member is concealed from view by the material of the shoe base 12 when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral edge; the material forming the shoe base 12 is selected as one that has sufficient flexibility or resilience as to enable a locking mechanism of the locking member to be actuated through manual depression the shoe base material at a position on an exterior surface of the shoe base 12 adjacent to the concealed locking member.
- the female locking member 22 comprises an actuator 40 arranged to be in direct contact with an inner wall of the shoe base 12, such that the manual depression of the shoe base material is directly transmissible to the actuator to thereby actuate the locking system 20.
- the female locking member 22 can be secured at the shoe base 12 via one or more connecting means such as screws or any suitable connectors instead of being molded into the shoe base 12.
- the female locking member 22 can be configured to comprise one or more connecting means engaging portions 62 adapted to engage or receive one or more respective connecting means, such as but not limited to, screws (not shown) for connecting and positioning the female locking members 22 at the shoe base 12.
- screws not shown
- the connecting means engaging portions 62 can be provided at the base member 26 of the female locking member 22, such as the extended portions 28 in the form of through holes to allow screw connections at two lateral sides of the housing 23 for a stable connection of the female locking member 22 at the shoe base 12.
- the shoe base 12 can be previously formed or molded with a plurality of cavities 64 adapted to snugly accommodate the corresponding female locking members 22.
- the female locking members 22 may subsequently be positioned and secured at the shoe base 12 by, for example, screw connections via the respective connecting means engaging portions 62.
- the provision of the connecting means engaging portions 62 at the female locking member 22 allows a convenient alternative for mechanically connecting and positioning the female locking members 22 at the shoe base 12.
- the mechanical connection may also be applicable along with the earlier described molding method to further enhance the strength of connection between the female locking member 22 and the shoe base 12.
- footwear or a shoe in the form of a sandal is embodied in the drawings and the corresponding description, a person skilled in the relevant art would appreciate that the present invention should not be limited to the specific embodiment of a sandal. Instead, various kinds of footwear or shoes such as boots, sport shoes or sneakers, thongs, slippers and footwear with or without heels, etc. should also be encompassed.
- the present invention provides a footwear with parts which can be releasably connected and detached in a quick and easy manner. This is particularly useful when a certain part of a shoe is worn out and thus requires a replacement. It is also beneficial in allowing a user the flexibility to customize the appearance of the shoes by changing one or more parts of the shoes with parts of different designs such as variations in colors, patterns and/or textures. The customization may also be provided by variation in structural components of the shoes such as top covers, straps or heels etc. so as to vary the style of the shoes.
- connections between the parts are substantially invisible from the exterior of the shoe when assembled.
- the connections can be released by simply pressing on the actuating portion at the peripheral edge of the shoe base by the user to thereby actuating the release mechanism.
- the exterior surface of the shoe base may carry discrete indicators of where a user should depress the material of the shoe base to actuate a locking member. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the actuator to be exposed at the exterior of the shoe in order to be accessible by the user.
- the present invention allows the self-assembled shoes with flexibility and customizability over the traditional, ready-made shoes and yet, the self-assembled shoes are aesthetically pleasing and are substantially indistinguishable from the traditional, ready-made shoes.
- the self-assembled shoe of the present invention comprises a locking system with an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of a shoe base.
- the direct contact is advantageous in that it allows a more effective actuation of the locking system by reducing the distance of depression by the user and improving the transmission of pressure once the manual depression is applied.
- the applied pressure is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator to allow a more sensitive actuation and thus, allowing a more precise actuation with less effort required from the user.
- the longer is the distance between the medium of the shoe base and the actuator the more stretching of the medium is required for the actuator to be actuated.
- the direct contact between the shoe base medium and the actuator therefore reduces the mechanical fatigue of the shoe base and thus prolongs the lifespan of the shoe.
- the direct engagement between the flat head portion of the actuator and the shoe base medium in accordance with the present invention also minimizes or substantially prevents the building up of stress at the contact point when the shoe base medium engages the actuator during a depression.
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- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
A self-assembled shoe (10) and a method of manufacturing thereof. The self-assembled shoe (10) comprises one or more locking systems (20) for connecting a shoe base (12) with one or more shoe components. The locking system (20) is manually releasable upon actuation by a user at an actuating portion (18) of the shoe base (12), and is substantially covered from view from an exterior of the shoe (10) when assembled. The locking system (20) further comprises an actuator (40) arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of shoe base (12) at the actuating portion (18), such that actuation at the actuating portion (18) of the shoe base (12) is directly transmissible through the shoe base (12) medium to the actuator (40) of the locking system (20) to thereby actuate the locking system (20).
Description
The invention relates generally to footwear
and a method of manufacturing thereof.
Footwear such as shoes and sandals are
typically purchased in their finished forms with designs
and configurations predetermined by the footwear
companies and/or the manufacturers. Once a certain part
of a shoe is worn out or when the appearance of the
shoes is no longer favored due to a fashion change, the
shoes may be less frequently worn or even disposed of as
there is normally no easy way to replace the worn out
part or to customize the appearance of the shoes by the user.
An object of the present invention is to
provide a self-assembled shoe, in which the aforesaid
shortcomings are mitigated or at least to provide a
useful alternative.
Another object of the invention is to mitigate
or obviate to some degree one or more problems
associated with known self-assembled footwear.
The above object is met by the combination of
features of the main claims; the sub-claims disclose
further advantageous embodiments of the invention.
One skilled in the art will derive from the
following description other objects of the invention.
Therefore, the foregoing statements of object are not
exhaustive and serve merely to illustrate some of the
many objects of the present invention.
In a first main aspect, the invention provides
a self-assembled shoe. The self-assembled shoe comprises
one or more locking systems for connecting a shoe base
with one or more shoe components, the locking system
being manually releasable upon actuation by a user at an
actuating portion of the shoe base, and is substantially
covered from view from an exterior of the shoe when
assembled; wherein the locking system comprises an
actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium
of the shoe base at the actuating portion, such that
actuation at the actuating portion of the shoe base is
directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to
the actuator of the locking system to thereby actuate
the locking system.
In a second main aspect, the invention
provides a covering member adapted to substantially
cover one or more recesses defined by a female locking
member of a locking system for a self-assembled shoe of
the first aspect. The covering member comprises one or
more extensions configured to conform with the
respective one or more recesses thereby, when the
covering member is arranged to engage the female locking
member, the one or more extensions are receivable by the
respective one or more recesses to substantially cover
the one or more recesses.
In a third main aspect, the invention provides
a method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe. The
method comprises the steps of providing a mold for
molding a shoe base; arranging a female locking member
at the mold; covering substantially one or more recesses
defined by the female locking member; introducing a
molding material into the mold with the female locking
member arranged therein, such that, when the molding
material is solidified to form the shoe base, the female
locking member is incorporated into the molding material
of the shoe base.
In a fourth main aspect, the invention
provides a method of manufacturing a self-assembled
shoe. The method comprises the steps of providing a
shoe base formed from a selected material; and fixedly
accommodating a female locking member within the
material forming the shoe base near an inner peripheral
edge of the shoe base in such a manner that the
accommodated locking member is concealed from view by
the material of the shoe base when viewed from an
exterior surface of said peripheral edge; the material
forming the shoe base is selected as one that has
sufficient flexibility or resilience as to enable a
locking mechanism of the locking member to be actuated
through manual depression the shoe base material at a
position on an exterior surface of the shoe base
adjacent to the concealed locking member; wherein the
female locking member comprises an actuator arranged to
be in direct contact with an inner wall of the shoe
base, such that the manual depression of the shoe base
material is directly transmissible to the actuator to
thereby actuate the locking system.
The summary of the invention does not
necessarily disclose all the features essential for
defining the invention; the invention may reside in a
sub-combination of the disclosed features.
The foregoing and further features of the
present invention will be apparent from the following
description of preferred embodiments which are provided
by way of example only in connection with the
accompanying figures, of which:
The following description is of preferred
embodiments by way of example only and without
limitation to the combination of features necessary for
carrying the invention into effect.
Reference in this specification to "one
embodiment" or "an embodiment" means that a particular
feature, structure, or characteristic described in
connection with the embodiment is included in at least
one embodiment of the invention. The appearances of the
phrase "in one embodiment" in various places in the
specification are not necessarily all referring to the
same embodiment, nor are separate or alternative
embodiments mutually exclusive of other embodiments.
Moreover, various features are described which may be
exhibited by some embodiments and not by others.
Similarly, various requirements are described which may
be requirements for some embodiments but not other embodiments.
In the claims hereof, any element expressed as
a means for performing a specified function is intended
to encompass any way of performing that function. It is
thus regarded that any means that can provide those
functionalities are equivalent to those shown herein.
Referring to Figure 1, shown is an embodiment
of the self-assembled shoe according to the present
invention in its assembled state. The self-assembled
shoe 10 comprises a shoe base 12 and a number of shoe
components such as, but not limited to, one or more shoe
straps 14 and a shoe sole 16. Figure 2 shows an
embodiment of the shoe 10 in its disassembled state,
with the shoe base 12, the shoe straps 14 and the shoe
sole 16 detached from one another. Figure 2 also shows a
plurality of locking systems 20 each comprising a female
locking member 22 and a male locking member 24
releasably connectable with each other. The locking
systems 20 are provided to connect the shoe base 12 with
the other shoe components during the assembling process
so as to form a shoe in its wearable form, and are
adapted to release and thus detach the shoe base 12 from
the other shoe components when the locking systems 20
are actuated manually by a user at an actuating portion
18 of the shoe base 12. In one embodiment, the locking
systems 20 are actuatable by manual depression or
applying pressure at the corresponding actuating
portions 18 of the shoe base 12.
In the embodiment as shown in the figure, the
female locking members 22 are arranged at the shoe base
12, and the male locking members 24 are provided at the
shoe straps 14, although a person skilled in the art
would appreciate that the female locking members 22 may
possibly be arranged at any one of the shoe components
and that the male locking members 24 may be provided at
the shoe base 12 for connecting the shoe components with
the shoe base 12. In a further embodiment, the locking
system 20 may also be applied to connect different shoe
components together for assembling the shoe 10.
Preferably, the locking system 20 when locked
is located in or at the shoe base 12. More preferably,
the locking system 20 when locked is located near a
peripheral edge of the shoe base 12, such that the
actuating portion 18 can be provided at, for example,
one or more outer surfaces or side walls at the
peripheral edge of the shoe base 12 adjacent the locking
system 20. This arrangement allows the locking systems
20 to be substantially covered or concealed from view
from an exterior of the shoe 10 when assembled. This is
advantageous in that it provides the flexibility and
customizability to the shoe 10 and yet, with the
connections being substantially invisible from the
exterior of the shoe 10, the self-assembled shoes 10 are
aesthetically pleasing and are indistinguishable from
the traditional, ready-made shoes.
Figure 3 shows the shoe base 12 of Figure 2
having a plurality of female locking members 22 arranged
near the peripheral edge of the shoe base 12. In this
embodiment, the female locking members 22 each comprises
one or more recesses 30, with at least one of the
recesses 30 adapted to releasably engage the male
locking member 24 to thereby connect the female locking
member 22 with the male locking member 24. The female
locking member 22 also comprises an actuator 40 manually
actuatable to release the female locking member 22 from
the male locking member 24. Specifically, the actuator
40 is arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of
the shoe base 12 at the actuating portion 18, such that
manual pressure at the actuating portion 18 is directly
transmissible through the shoe base medium to the
actuator 40 to thereby actuate the locking system 20 to
release the male locking member 24.
In one embodiment, the actuator 40 may
comprise an enlarged head portion 42 and a neck portion
44, as shown in Figure 4. Preferably, the head portion
42 may comprise a substantially flat engaging surface
which allows a direct, close contact between the
actuator 40 and the medium of the shoe base 12.
The direct contact between the actuator 40 and
the medium of the shoe base 12 at the actuating portion
18 is advantageous in that it allows a more effective
actuation of the locking system 20 by reducing the
distance of depression by the user and improving the
transmission of pressure once the manual depression is
applied. The applied pressure is directly transmissible
through the shoe base medium to the actuator 40 to allow
a more sensitive actuation and thus, allowing a more
precise actuation with less effort required from the
user. In addition, the longer is the distance between
the medium of the shoe base 12 and the actuator 40, the
more stretching of the medium is required for the
actuator 40 to be actuated. The direct contact between
the shoe base medium and the actuator 40 therefore
reduces the mechanical fatigue of the shoe base 12 and
thus prolongs the lifespan of the shoe base 12. The
direct engagement between the flat head portion 42 of
the actuator 40 and the shoe base medium also minimizes
or substantially prevents the building up of stress at
the contact point when the shoe base medium engages the
actuator 40 during a depression.
Particularly, the female locking members 22
are arranged such that they are accessible from an upper
surface of the shoe base 12 adjacent the shoe sole 16
and the sole of the user when in use.
In the embodiment as shown in Figures 5 and 6,
the female locking member 22 comprises a housing 23
defining the recess 30 for receiving an arm 32 of the
male locking member 24. Particularly, the female locking
member 22 comprises a stopping means 36 adapted to
engage the arm 32 of the male locking member 24 when the
arm 32 is inserted into the recess 30. Preferably, at
least one of the stopping means 36 of the female locking
member 22 and the arm 32 of the male locking member 24
comprises a plurality of teeth members 38, 39,
respectively, for securing the engaged stopping means 36
and the arm 32. More preferably, at least one of the
stopping means 36 of the female locking member 22 and
the arm 32 of the male locking member 24 is resilient,
such that when one of the members is resiliently flexed
by, for example, an applied pressure from the user at
the actuation portion 18, the other one of the members
disengages from the counterpart so as to release the
shoe base 12 from the shoe strap 14.
When the actuator 40 is actuated by, for
example, a manual depression by a user at the actuation
portion 18 at the peripheral edge of the shoe base 12,
the applied pressure is directly transmitted through the
medium of the shoe base 12 to the actuator 40 due to the
direct contact between the shoe base medium and the head
portion 42 of the actuator 40. The actuator 40 is
thereby depressed inwardly towards the housing 23 to
flex at least one of the stopping means 36 of the female
locking member 22 and the arm 32 of the male locking
member 24 to disengage the female and the male locking
members 22, 24. For example, the actuator 40 may cause
the engaged teeth 38, 39 of the locking members 22, 24
to part and thus become disengaged from each other.
Since the actuator 40 is embedded within the shoe base
12, and the actuation thereof is achievable by an
indirect pressing action via the medium of the
peripheral edge of the shoe base 12 at the actuation
portion 18, it is therefore not necessary for the
actuator 40 to be exposed from the exterior of the shoe
10, but still, can be easily accessible and actuatable
by the user.
In the specific embodiment as shown in Figure
5, the female locking member 22 may comprise a base
member 26 for anchoring the locking system 20 at the
medium of the shoe base 12. The base member 12 may
comprise one or more extended portions 28, with at least
one of the extended portions 28 as comprising a hollow
space or aperture 29 adapted to allow the medium of the
shoe base 12 to pass through to thereby fixedly secure
the female locking member 22 at the shoe base 12.
Figure 6 further shows an embodiment of the
shoe strap 14 having two male locking members 24. In
this embodiment, the male locking member 24 is
configured substantially in a U-shape such that it is
adapted to receive partially the actuator 40, or more
specifically, the neck portion 44 of the actuator 40
when the locking system 20 is in a locked configuration.
Nevertheless, it is appreciated that the male locking
member 24 and/or the female locking member 22 can be
provided in other possible configurations, as long as
they fulfil the purpose of the present invention.
In one further embodiment as shown in Figure
7, the shoe 10 may further comprise one or more
retention units 50 for connecting the shoe base 12 with
the other shoe components. For example, a retention unit
50 having an enlarged stud part 52 depending from a
narrower neck portion can be provided at the shoe strap
14 for engaging a corresponding hole at the shoe base 12
via a snap-fitting connection. A plurality of snap
fitting studs 52 can also be provided at the under
surface of the shoe sole 16 for engaging corresponding
holes at the shoe base 12 in a similar manner.
In a second aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a covering member 60 adapted to
substantially cover the one or more recesses 30, such as
the gap 30A and/or the recess 30B as defined by the
female locking member 22 of the locking system 20 for
the self-assembled shoe 10 according to the present
invention. As shown in Figures 8-13, the covering member
60 may comprise one or more extensions 70 configured to
conform with the respective one or more recesses 30 of
the female locking member 22. In use, when the covering
member 60 is arranged to engage the female locking
member 22 prior to the molding of the shoe base 12, the
one or more extensions 70, due to their specific shapes
and configurations, will be allowed to be snugly
received by the respective one or more recesses 30 of
the female locking member 22 to substantially cover or
seal the one or more recesses 30. The covering or
sealing of the recesses 30 is of particular importance
during the molding process of the shoe base 12 to
reduce, minimize or substantially prevent any molding
material from entering the recesses or gaps 30. After
the molding material is solidified and the shoe base 12
is formed, the covering member 60 can be easily removed
to disengage the female locking member 22 and to uncover
the recesses 30.
For example, the covering member 60 can be
configured with extensions 70 having one or more leg
members 72 and/or one or more block members 74
configured to conform with the respective one or more
gap 30A and/or one or more recess 30B. Specifically,
when the covering member 60 is arranged to engage the
female locking member 22, the leg members 72 will be
inserted into the gap 30A between an outer wall of the
housing 23 and the head portion 42 of the actuator 40,
such that the leg members 72 are allowed to
substantially surround the neck portion 44 of the
actuator 40. At the same time, the block members 74 will
be inserted into the recess 30B defined by the housing
23 of the female locking member 22. Preferably, the leg
members 72 are configured substantially in a U-shape to
surround at least partially the neck portion 44; and
that the block members 74 are substantially elongate for
receiving the male locking member 24 of the locking
system 20.
In yet a further embodiment, the covering
member 60 may comprise either one of the leg member 72
and the block member 74 for blocking or covering the gap
30A or the recess 30B. The recess 30 which is not
covered by the covering member 60 may possibly be
filled, masked or covered by other masking means such
as, but are not limited to, one or more resilient
materials, for example, silicone rubber prior to the
molding step. After the molding and that the shoe base
12 is formed, the resilient materials may then be
removed to release the recess 30.
In a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of manufacturing a
self-assembled shoe 10. The method comprises steps of
providing a mold for molding a shoe base 12; arranging a
female locking member 22 at the mold; covering
substantially one or more recesses 30 defined by the
female locking member 22; and introducing a molding
material into the mold with the female locking member 22
arranged therein, such that, when the molding material
is solidified to form the shoe base 12, the female
locking member 22 is incorporated into the molding
material of the shoe base 12. The molding material may
comprise one or more resilient materials, such as, but
are not limited to, synthetic polymers, rubbers and/or
foamed materials, etc. In one embodiment, the shoe base
12 can be formed of or at least partially formed of one
or more rubbery materials. It is preferred for the
manufactured shoe base to possess a resilient, flexible
and/or depressible physical property at least at its
peripheral edge such that the self-assembled shoe can be
easily disassembled by pressing onto the shoe base by
the user. The resiliency prevents the shoe base from
being deformed by the applied pressure.
Preferably, the covering step comprises
releasably engaging a covering member 60 with the female
locking member 22. The covering member 60 comprises one
or more extensions 70 receivable into the respective one
or more recesses 30 to thereby substantially cover the
one or more recesses 30. The method may further comprise
a step of uncovering the recesses 30 after the molding
material is solidified.
Preferably, the arranging step comprises
positioning the female locking member 22 near a side
wall of the mold such that, when the shoe base 12 is
formed, the female locking member 22 is incorporated
near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base 12.
Particularly, the female locking member 22 is
incorporated near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe
base 12, but not at said peripheral edge such that the
female locking member 22 is covered from view by the
material of the molded shoe base 12 when viewed from an
exterior surface of said peripheral edge.
The method of manufacturing the self-assembled
shoe 10 may further comprise a step of connecting a male
locking member 24 with a shoe component such as a shoe
strap 14, such that the shoe base 12 and the shoe strap
14 are connectable by engaging the female locking member
22 with the male locking member 24.
In a further aspect of the present invention,
there is provided a method of manufacturing a
self-assembled shoe 10. The method comprises steps of
providing a shoe base 12 formed from a selected
material; and fixedly accommodating a female locking
member 22 within the material forming the shoe base 12
near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base 12 in
such a manner that the accommodated locking member is
concealed from view by the material of the shoe base 12
when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral
edge; the material forming the shoe base 12 is selected
as one that has sufficient flexibility or resilience as
to enable a locking mechanism of the locking member to
be actuated through manual depression the shoe base
material at a position on an exterior surface of the
shoe base 12 adjacent to the concealed locking member.
Particularly, the female locking member 22 comprises an
actuator 40 arranged to be in direct contact with an
inner wall of the shoe base 12, such that the manual
depression of the shoe base material is directly
transmissible to the actuator to thereby actuate the
locking system 20.
In yet a further embodiment of the present
invention, the female locking member 22 can be secured
at the shoe base 12 via one or more connecting means
such as screws or any suitable connectors instead of
being molded into the shoe base 12. For example, as
shown in Figs. 14 and 15, the female locking member 22
can be configured to comprise one or more connecting
means engaging portions 62 adapted to engage or receive
one or more respective connecting means, such as but not
limited to, screws (not shown) for connecting and
positioning the female locking members 22 at the shoe
base 12. In the embodiment as shown in Figs. 14 and 15,
the connecting means engaging portions 62 can be
provided at the base member 26 of the female locking
member 22, such as the extended portions 28 in the form
of through holes to allow screw connections at two
lateral sides of the housing 23 for a stable connection
of the female locking member 22 at the shoe base 12. In
one embodiment, the shoe base 12 can be previously
formed or molded with a plurality of cavities 64 adapted
to snugly accommodate the corresponding female locking
members 22. The female locking members 22 may
subsequently be positioned and secured at the shoe base
12 by, for example, screw connections via the respective
connecting means engaging portions 62. The provision of
the connecting means engaging portions 62 at the female
locking member 22 allows a convenient alternative for
mechanically connecting and positioning the female
locking members 22 at the shoe base 12. The mechanical
connection may also be applicable along with the earlier
described molding method to further enhance the strength
of connection between the female locking member 22 and
the shoe base 12.
Although a footwear or a shoe in the form of a
sandal is embodied in the drawings and the corresponding
description, a person skilled in the relevant art would
appreciate that the present invention should not be
limited to the specific embodiment of a sandal. Instead,
various kinds of footwear or shoes such as boots, sport
shoes or sneakers, thongs, slippers and footwear with or
without heels, etc. should also be encompassed.
In general, the present invention provides a
footwear with parts which can be releasably connected
and detached in a quick and easy manner. This is
particularly useful when a certain part of a shoe is
worn out and thus requires a replacement. It is also
beneficial in allowing a user the flexibility to
customize the appearance of the shoes by changing one or
more parts of the shoes with parts of different designs
such as variations in colors, patterns and/or textures.
The customization may also be provided by variation in
structural components of the shoes such as top covers,
straps or heels etc. so as to vary the style of the
shoes.
In addition, the connections between the
parts, including the means for connecting and releasing
the connections, are substantially invisible from the
exterior of the shoe when assembled. Particularly, the
connections can be released by simply pressing on the
actuating portion at the peripheral edge of the shoe
base by the user to thereby actuating the release
mechanism. The exterior surface of the shoe base may
carry discrete indicators of where a user should depress
the material of the shoe base to actuate a locking
member. Accordingly, it is not necessary for the
actuator to be exposed at the exterior of the shoe in
order to be accessible by the user. As a result, the
present invention allows the self-assembled shoes with
flexibility and customizability over the traditional,
ready-made shoes and yet, the self-assembled shoes are
aesthetically pleasing and are substantially
indistinguishable from the traditional, ready-made shoes.
Furthermore, the self-assembled shoe of the
present invention comprises a locking system with an
actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium
of a shoe base. The direct contact is advantageous in
that it allows a more effective actuation of the locking
system by reducing the distance of depression by the
user and improving the transmission of pressure once the
manual depression is applied. The applied pressure is
directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to
the actuator to allow a more sensitive actuation and
thus, allowing a more precise actuation with less effort
required from the user. In addition, the longer is the
distance between the medium of the shoe base and the
actuator, the more stretching of the medium is required
for the actuator to be actuated. The direct contact
between the shoe base medium and the actuator therefore
reduces the mechanical fatigue of the shoe base and thus
prolongs the lifespan of the shoe. The direct engagement
between the flat head portion of the actuator and the
shoe base medium in accordance with the present
invention also minimizes or substantially prevents the
building up of stress at the contact point when the shoe
base medium engages the actuator during a depression.
The present description illustrates the
principles of the present invention. It will thus be
appreciated that those skilled in the art will be able
to devise various arrangements that, although not
explicitly described or shown herein, embody the
principles of the invention and are included within its
spirit and scope.
Moreover, all statements herein reciting
principles, aspects, and embodiments of the invention,
as well as specific examples thereof, are intended to
encompass both structural and functional equivalents
thereof. Additionally, it is intended that such
equivalents include both currently known equivalents as
well as equivalents developed in the future, i.e., any
elements developed that perform the same function,
regardless of structure.
While the invention has been illustrated and
described in detail in the drawings and foregoing
description, the same is to be considered as
illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being
understood that only exemplary embodiments have been
shown and described and do not limit the scope of the
invention in any manner. It can be appreciated that any
of the features described herein may be used with any
embodiment. The illustrative embodiments are not
exclusive of each other or of other embodiments not
recited herein. Accordingly, the invention also provides
embodiments that comprise combinations of one or more of
the illustrative embodiments described above.
Modifications and variations of the invention as herein
set forth can be made without departing from the spirit
and scope thereof, and, therefore, only such limitations
should be imposed as are indicated by the appended claims.
In the claims which follow and in the
preceding description of the invention, except where the
context requires otherwise due to express language or
necessary implication, the word “comprise” or variations
such as “comprises” or “comprising” is used in an
inclusive sense, i.e. to specify the presence of the
stated features but not to preclude the presence or
addition of further features in various embodiments of
the invention.
It is to be understood that, if any prior art
publication is referred to herein, such reference does
not constitute an admission that the publication forms a
part of the common general knowledge in the art.
Claims (28)
- A self-assembled shoe comprising:
one or more locking systems for connecting a shoe base with one or more shoe components, the locking system being manually releasable upon actuation by a user at an actuating portion of the shoe base, and is substantially covered from view from an exterior of the shoe when assembled;
wherein the locking system comprises an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with a medium of shoe base at the actuating portion, such that actuation at the actuating portion of the shoe base is directly transmissible through the shoe base medium to the actuator of the locking system to thereby actuate the locking system. - The self-assembled shoe according to claim 1, wherein the locking system is actuatable by applying pressure at the actuating portion of the shoe base.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 1, wherein the locking system when locked is located near a peripheral edge of the shoe base.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 1, wherein the locking system comprises a male locking member and a female locking member releasably connectable with each other, with one of the male and female locking members being arranged at the shoe base, and the other one being arranged at the shoe component.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 4, wherein the locking member arranged at the shoe base is accessible from a surface of the shoe base adjacent a sole of the user when in use.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 3, wherein the actuating portion is located at the peripheral edge of the shoe base adjacent the locking system.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 4, wherein the female locking member comprises a recess for receiving an arm of the male locking member.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 7, wherein the female locking member comprises a stopping means adapted to engage the arm of the male locking member.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 8, wherein at least one of the stopping means of the female locking member and the arm of the male locking member is resilient.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 9, wherein the actuator is arranged at the female locking member, the actuator, when actuated, is adapted to flex at least one of the stopping means of the female locking member and the arm of the male locking member to thereby disengage the male and the female locking members.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 4, wherein the female locking member and the male locking member each comprises a plurality of teeth members for engaging with one another.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 8, wherein the actuator is arranged between the stopping means and a wall of the shoe base.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 7, wherein the arm of the male locking member is arranged such that it receives partially the actuator when the male locking member engages the female locking member.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 4, wherein the female locking member comprises a base member for anchoring the locking system at the medium of the shoe base.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 14, wherein the base member comprises one or more extended portions, at least one of the extended portions comprises a hollow space adapted to allow the medium of the shoe base to pass through.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 4, wherein the female locking member comprises one or more connecting means engaging portions adapted to engage one or more respective connecting means for connecting the female locking member at the shoe base.
- The self-assembled shoe according to claim 1, wherein the actuator comprises a head portion having a substantially flat engaging surface at which the medium of the actuating portion is in direct contact.
- A covering member adapted to substantially cover one or more recesses defined by a female locking member of a locking system for a self-assembled shoe in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 17, the covering member comprising:
one or more extensions configured to conform with the respective one or more recesses thereby, when the covering member is arranged to engage the female locking member, the one or more extensions are receivable by the respective one or more recesses to substantially cover the one or more recesses. - The covering member according to claim 18, wherein at least one of the one or more extensions comprises one or more leg members insertable into the respective recess to engage a neck portion of the actuator of the lock system.
- The covering member according to claim 19, wherein the one or more leg members are configured substantially in a U-shape to surround at least partially the neck portion.
- A method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe, comprising steps of:
providing a mold for molding a shoe base;
arranging a female locking member at the mold;
covering substantially one or more recesses defined by the female locking member;
introducing a molding material into the mold with the female locking member arranged therein, such that, when the molding material is solidified to form the shoe base, the female locking member is incorporated into the molding material of the shoe base. - The method according to claim 21, wherein the covering step comprises releasably engaging a covering member with the female locking member, the covering member comprising one or more extensions receivable into the respective one or more recesses to thereby substantially cover the one or more recesses.
- The method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of uncovering the one or more recesses after the molding material is solidified.
- The method according to claim 21, wherein the arranging step comprises positioning the female locking member near a side wall of the mold such that, when the shoe base is formed, the female locking member is incorporated near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base.
- The method according to claim 21, wherein the female locking member is incorporated near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base, but not at said peripheral edge such that the female locking member is covered from view by the material of the molded shoe base when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral edge.
- The method according to claim 21, wherein the molding material comprises one or more resilient materials.
- The method according to claim 21, further comprising a step of connecting a male locking member with a shoe component such that the shoe base and the shoe component are connectable by engaging the female locking member with the male locking member.
- A method of manufacturing a self-assembled shoe, comprising steps of:
providing a shoe base formed from a selected material; and
fixedly accommodating a female locking member within the material forming the shoe base near an inner peripheral edge of the shoe base in such a manner that the accommodated locking member is concealed from view by the material of the shoe base when viewed from an exterior surface of said peripheral edge; the material forming the shoe base is selected as one that has sufficient flexibility or resilience as to enable a locking mechanism of the locking member to be actuated through manual depression the shoe base material at a position on an exterior surface of the shoe base adjacent to the concealed locking member;
wherein the female locking member comprises an actuator arranged to be in direct contact with an inner wall of the shoe base, such that the manual depression of the shoe base material is directly transmissible to the actuator to thereby actuate the locking system.
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CN201790000330.8U CN209547053U (en) | 2017-07-26 | 2017-07-26 | A kind of self assembly shoes and a kind of covering component for the self assembly shoes |
PCT/CN2017/094556 WO2019019061A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 | 2017-07-26 | A self-assembled shoe and a method of manufacturing thereof |
US16/610,509 US20210153601A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 | 2017-07-26 | A Self-Assembled Shoe and A Method of Manufacturing Thereof |
TW107201569U TWM564942U (en) | 2017-07-26 | 2018-01-31 | Self-assembling shoe and covering member thereof |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CN2017/094556 WO2019019061A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 | 2017-07-26 | A self-assembled shoe and a method of manufacturing thereof |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2019019061A1 true WO2019019061A1 (en) | 2019-01-31 |
Family
ID=63961735
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/CN2017/094556 WO2019019061A1 (en) | 2017-07-26 | 2017-07-26 | A self-assembled shoe and a method of manufacturing thereof |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20210153601A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN209547053U (en) |
TW (1) | TWM564942U (en) |
WO (1) | WO2019019061A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
USD880116S1 (en) * | 2018-04-26 | 2020-04-07 | Birkenstock Sales GmbH | Sandal |
USD1009418S1 (en) * | 2019-12-27 | 2024-01-02 | Sorel Corporation | Article of footwear |
USD964000S1 (en) * | 2020-12-02 | 2022-09-20 | Columbia Insurance Company | Upper for a shoe |
USD990108S1 (en) * | 2021-10-13 | 2023-06-27 | B.A.G. S.P.A. | Sandal |
USD990107S1 (en) * | 2021-10-13 | 2023-06-27 | B.A.G. S.P.A. | Sandal |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030145490A1 (en) * | 2002-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | Mao-Cheng Tsai | Shoe attachment device |
CN103564977A (en) * | 2012-07-05 | 2014-02-12 | 卡西里公司 | Device used for connecting vamp and sole and method thereof |
CN204580074U (en) * | 2015-05-06 | 2015-08-26 | 泉州拼拼乐鞋业科技有限公司 | A kind of shoes of removable vamp |
CN205321374U (en) * | 2015-08-26 | 2016-06-22 | 许秋霞 | Changeable shoes of assembling |
CN106108219A (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2016-11-16 | 泉州拼拼乐鞋业科技有限公司 | Segmental shose and manufacture method thereof |
CN205682584U (en) * | 2016-05-10 | 2016-11-16 | 泉州拼拼乐鞋业科技有限公司 | Junction button assembly and the Segmental shose being formed by connecting with this junction button assembly |
-
2017
- 2017-07-26 CN CN201790000330.8U patent/CN209547053U/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2017-07-26 WO PCT/CN2017/094556 patent/WO2019019061A1/en active Application Filing
- 2017-07-26 US US16/610,509 patent/US20210153601A1/en not_active Abandoned
-
2018
- 2018-01-31 TW TW107201569U patent/TWM564942U/en not_active IP Right Cessation
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20030145490A1 (en) * | 2002-02-05 | 2003-08-07 | Mao-Cheng Tsai | Shoe attachment device |
CN103564977A (en) * | 2012-07-05 | 2014-02-12 | 卡西里公司 | Device used for connecting vamp and sole and method thereof |
CN204580074U (en) * | 2015-05-06 | 2015-08-26 | 泉州拼拼乐鞋业科技有限公司 | A kind of shoes of removable vamp |
CN205321374U (en) * | 2015-08-26 | 2016-06-22 | 许秋霞 | Changeable shoes of assembling |
CN205682584U (en) * | 2016-05-10 | 2016-11-16 | 泉州拼拼乐鞋业科技有限公司 | Junction button assembly and the Segmental shose being formed by connecting with this junction button assembly |
CN106108219A (en) * | 2016-07-07 | 2016-11-16 | 泉州拼拼乐鞋业科技有限公司 | Segmental shose and manufacture method thereof |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
TWM564942U (en) | 2018-08-11 |
US20210153601A1 (en) | 2021-05-27 |
CN209547053U (en) | 2019-10-29 |
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