U.S. patent application number 09/920537 was filed with the patent office on 2002-02-21 for shoe construction.
This patent application is currently assigned to DEWKS, LLC.. Invention is credited to Duclos, Gary.
Application Number | 20020020080 09/920537 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 22831170 |
Filed Date | 2002-02-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020020080 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Duclos, Gary |
February 21, 2002 |
Shoe construction
Abstract
A shoe is provided in which an external wrapper covers an outer
surface of a midsole along at least a portion of a perimeter of the
show. An upper assembly forms an external upper surface of the
show. A wrapper locator abuts an inner surface of the external
wrapper and includes an upper edge region extending above a top
edge of the external wrapper. A lower edge region of the upper
material overlaps the upper edge region of the wrapper locator. A
lower edge of the upper material abuts an upper edge of the
external wrapper. In this manner, the shoe construction is provided
having a midsole wrapper that does not result in large ridges or
bulky wrinkles.
Inventors: |
Duclos, Gary; (Newburyport,
MA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WEINGARTEN, SCHURGIN, GAGNEBIN & LEBOVICI LLP
TEN POST OFFICE SQUARE
BOSTON
MA
02109
US
|
Assignee: |
DEWKS, LLC.
|
Family ID: |
22831170 |
Appl. No.: |
09/920537 |
Filed: |
August 1, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60222172 |
Aug 1, 2000 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/78 ;
36/17R |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 9/12 20130101; A43B
9/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/78 ;
36/17.00R |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/18 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A shoe comprising: an outsole; a midsole overlying the outsole;
an external wrapper covering an outer surface of the midsole along
at least a portion of a perimeter of the shoe, a lower region of
the external wrapper sandwiched between the midsole and the
outsole; an upper assembly including an upper material forming an
external upper surface of the shoe; and a wrapper locator
comprising: a lower region abutting an inner surface of the
external wrapper, and an upper edge region extending above a top
edge of the external wrapper, a lower edge region of the upper
material overlapping the upper edge region of an outside surface of
the wrapper locator, and an upper edge of the external wrapper
abutting a lower edge of the upper material.
2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wrapper locator comprises a
flexible sheet material.
3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wrapper locator comprises
canvas.
4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wrapper locator has a thickness
of approximately 0.5 mm.
5. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wrapper locator is thinner than
the upper material.
6. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the upper material has a thickness
ranging from 2.0 to 2.2 mm.
7. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wrapper locator is adhesively
affixed to the inner surface of the external wrapper.
8. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the lower edge region of the upper
material is affixed with stitching to the upper edge region of the
wrapper locator.
9. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the lower edge region of the upper
material is adhesively affixed to the upper edge region of the
outside surface of the wrapper locator.
10. The shoe of claim 1, wherein a contacting surface of the lower
edge region of the upper material is skived.
11. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the external wrapper and the
wrapper locator are proved along a heel portion of the shoe.
12. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the external wrapper and the
wrapper locator are provided along a toe portion of the shoe.
13. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the external wrapper and the
wrapper locator are provided along a toe portion and a heel portion
of the shoe.
14. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the external wrapper and the
wrapper locator are provided completely around the perimeter of the
shoe.
15. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the wrapper locator wraps around
an outer surface of the midsole.
16. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the external wrapper has a
thickness ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 mm.
17. The shoe of claim 1, further comprising a lining affixed to an
inner surface of the upper material and an inner surface of the
wrapper locator.
18. The shoe of claim 17, further comprising a Strobel board
overlying the midsole, the lining affixed to the Strobel board.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Benefit is claimed under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.119(e) of prior
U.S. provisional application No. 60/222,172 filed Aug. 1, 2000, the
disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] N/A
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] In certain shoe designs, a midsole formed from a lightweight
material is provided above the outer sole to provide additional
cushioning and comfort for the wearer. Often, the midsole is left
exposed on the outside. See FIG. 10. It would be desirable to
provide a covering for the midsole.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a shoe construction having a
midsole wrapper with a pleasing appearance that does not result in
large ridges or bulky wrinkles. More particularly, the present shoe
includes a midsole covering an outsole, and an external wrapper
covering an outer surface of the midsole along at least a portion
of a perimeter of the shoe. The shoe also includes an upper
assembly forming an external upper surface of the shoe. A wrapper
locator abuts an inner surface of the external wrapper and includes
an upper edge region extending above a top edge of the external
wrapper. A lower edge region of the upper material overlaps and is
preferably affixed to the upper edge region of an outside surface
of the wrapper locator. This construction allows an upper edge of
the external wrapper to abut a lower edge of the upper material,
resulting in no or a minimal ridge and a clean, attractive
appearance.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] The invention will be more fully understood from the
following detailed description taken in conjunction with the
accompanying drawings in which:
[0006] FIG. 1 is a side view of a shoe in accordance with the
present invention;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of
FIG. 1;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of
FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of
FIG. 1;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a partial isometric view of the upper material and
wrapper locator of the shoe of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a side view of a further embodiment of a shoe in
accordance with the present invention;
[0012] FIG. 7 is a side view of a completed shoe construction of
the shoe of FIG. 6;
[0013] FIG. 8 is a side view of a still further embodiment of a
shoe in accordance with the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the shoe of FIG. 8 on a
last;
[0015] FIG. 10 is an exploded view of a prior art shoe;
[0016] FIG. 11 is a side view of a shoe illustrating one problem in
wrapping a midsole of a shoe; and
[0017] FIG. 12 is a side view of a shoe illustrating another
problem in wrapping a midsole of a shoe.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] For some shoe designs, it is desirable to cover the midsole
with an attractive material rather than leave the midsole exposed.
In prior art shoes, however, the midsole is not typically covered
with the upper material, as this would entail wrapping the upper
material around and under the midsole and, in the heel area, the
upper material would wrinkle and look unattractive. See FIG. 11.
Alternatively, if the midsole were to be covered with another
material that wraps around the midsole, that material would extend
upwardly along the side of the upper for a distance and would leave
a large ridge along its upper edge. Such a ridge would be likely to
catch and tear while the shoe was being worn. See FIG. 12. The
present shoe overcomes these problems.
[0019] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a shoe according to the present
invention includes a midsole 12 overlying an outsole 14. A Strobel
board 16 overlies the midsole. The midsole is typically formed of a
lightweight, supporting or cushioning material, such as E.V.A. or
polyurethane. An external wrapper 18 covers the midsole 12 along at
least a portion of the shoe's perimeter, such as along the heel
region 20 and the toe region 22 in the embodiment shown. A lower
region 24 of the external wrapper 18 is sandwiched between the
midsole 12 and the outsole 14. Many materials are suitable for the
external wrapper, such as plantation crepe, rubber, urethane, or
thermoplastic rubber. The external wrapper is discussed further
below.
[0020] The shoe of the present invention also includes an upper
assembly 26 including an upper material 28 that forms the external
upper surface of the shoe. The upper material my be formed of any
suitable material, such as leather, suede, canvas, or various
synthetics. It will also be appreciated that the upper material may
also be formed from two or more layers of suitable materials
affixed together. The total thickness of the upper material
typically ranges from 2.0 to 2.2 mm, although it can range up to
3.0 mm. The upper assembly 26 also includes a lining 30 that is
affixed to the upper material in any suitable manner, such as by
spot cementing with a suitable adhesive, as is known in the art.
The lining 30 is fastened to the Strobel board 16 by Strobel
stitching 32, as is known in the art. The lining may be formed of
any suitable material, such as leather or synthetics as known in
the art.
[0021] The shoe includes a wrapper locator 34 that abuts and runs
along a lower edge portion 36 of the outer surface of the lining 30
along the portion of the shoe's perimeter corresponding to the
external wrapper 18. The wrapper locator 34 is affixed to the outer
surface of the lining 30 in any suitable manner, such as with any
suitable adhesive appropriate for the materials used, as would be
known in the art. The wrapper locator is preferably as thin as
possible, generally about 0.5 mm. The wrapper locator is made from
a fabric such as canvas or other flexible sheet material that
accepts adhesive bonding.
[0022] A lower edge region 38 of the upper material 28 overlaps an
upper edge region 40 of the outside surface of the wrapper locator
34. The joint between the upper material 28 and the wrapper locator
34 may be fastened in any suitable manner, such as by stitching or
with adhesive appropriate for the materials used, as would be known
in the art. See FIG. 5. The contacting surface of the upper
material 28 may be suitably skived prior to application of the
adhesive if necessary, as would be known in the art. Suitable
adhesives used in the construction of the shoe may include, for
example, a heat-activated urethane cement or a rubber based cement,
depending on the materials to be joined.
[0023] An upper portion 42 of the external wrapper 18 extends over
the wrapper locator 34 and is fastened to the wrapper locator with
a suitable adhesive appropriate for the materials used, as would be
known in the art. An upper edge 44 of the external wrapper 18 abuts
against the lower edge 46 of the upper material 28. The external
wrapper 18 typically has a thickness ranging from 2.0 to 3.0 mm,
which is generally equal to or only slightly greater than the
thickness of the upper material 28. In this way, the upper edge 44
of the external wrapper 18 does not form a large protruding ridge
where it abuts the upper material 28. The external wrapper may be
formed of a variety of flexible sheet materials, such as crepe,
rubber, polyurethane, or thermoplastic rubber, as would be known in
the art. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 to 8, the external wrapper of
the completed shoe is flush with the upper, providing a desirable
appearance, while adhering strongly to the material underneath.
[0024] In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-4, the external wrapper
and consequently the wrapper locator are provided along the heel
portion and the toe portion of the shoe. It will be appreciated
that the external wrapper and wrapper locator may be provided along
any desired portion of the shoe, such as the heel region only, the
toe region only, or the entire perimeter of the shoe. FIGS. 6-8
illustrate shoe constructions in which the wrapper locator and
wrapper extend around the entire perimeter of the shoe.
[0025] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1-6, in which the wrapper locator
34 does not extend over the midsole 12, the midsole is cemented to
the shoe using standard lasted construction. The wrapper 18 then
placed against the wrapper locator, butted against the lower edge
46 of the upper material 28, and wrapper around the midsole. The
outsole is then cemented on. FIG. 7 illustrates the resulting
construction of the shoe of FIG. 6.
[0026] FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a further embodiment in which the
midsole 12 is attached to the shoe using standard lasted
construction of the last 52. A wrapper locator 34' and the wrapper
18 are then both wrapped over the midsole 12, and the outsole 14 is
cemented on. The resulting finished construction has the same
outward appearance as in FIG. 7. The choice in manufacturing
methods is primarily dependent on factory preference. The method of
FIGS. 8 and 9 is generally simpler, but uses slightly more
materials for the wrapper locator 34'.
[0027] The invention is not to be limited by what has been
particularly shown and described, except as indicated by the
appended claims.
* * * * *