U.S. patent application number 10/299438 was filed with the patent office on 2003-12-11 for footwear having a preformed closed-loop welt structure.
Invention is credited to Ho, James, Ho, Shu Tzu.
Application Number | 20030226282 10/299438 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 29708768 |
Filed Date | 2003-12-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20030226282 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ho, James ; et al. |
December 11, 2003 |
Footwear having a preformed closed-loop welt structure
Abstract
A footwear having an outsole coupled to an upper by a preformed
closed-loop welt. The welt is a formed ring-shaped structure having
no ends or breaks. The welt is sized and shaped to receive the
upper-outsole junction. The welt provides an intermediary structure
for coupling the outsole to the upper. The welt includes a sidewall
that facilitates stitching and gluing an upper portion of the
sidewall to the upper.
Inventors: |
Ho, James; (Northridge,
CA) ; Ho, Shu Tzu; (Northridge, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Wen Liu
LIU & LIU
Suite 1100
811 West 7th Street
Los Angeles
CA
90017
US
|
Family ID: |
29708768 |
Appl. No.: |
10/299438 |
Filed: |
November 19, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/17R ;
36/78 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 9/12 20130101; A43B
9/06 20130101; A43B 7/12 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/17.00R ;
36/78 |
International
Class: |
A43B 013/18 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 11, 2002 |
TW |
091,208,706 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A footwear comprising: an upper; an outsole coupled to the
upper; and a preformed closed-loop welt coupling the upper and the
outsole.
2. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop welt is
preformed by coupling the ends of a welt material to form a loop
configuration prior to coupling with the upper and the outsole.
3. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop welt is
seamless.
4. The footwear of claim 1, wherein the closed-loop welt comprises
a tall sidewall and a rib extending from the tall sidewall, wherein
the tall sidewall has a height substantially greater than a width
of the rib.
5. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the height of the sidewall is
substantially variable along the periphery of the sidewall.
6. The footwear of claim 5, wherein the sidewall includes an upper
portion above the rib and a lower portion below the rib, wherein
the height of the upper portion is substantially variable along the
periphery of the upper portion.
7. The footwear of claim 6, wherein the height of the sidewall is
substantially taller at a toe section of the welt than at a middle
section of the welt.
8. The footwear of claim 6, wherein the height of the sidewall is
substantially taller at a heel section of the welt than at a middle
section of the welt.
9. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the sidewall is shaped to
substantially conform to the shape of the upper.
10. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the height of the sidewall is
substantially uniform along the periphery of the welt.
11. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the closed-loop welt includes
an aesthetic element defined on an outer surface of the
sidewall.
12. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the closed-loop welt includes
a functional element defined on an outer surface of the
sidewall.
13. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the closed-loop welt includes
a groove defined on an outer surface of the sidewall, wherein the
groove is adapted to receive a stitching.
14. The footwear of claim 13, wherein the groove is defined on an
upper portion of the sidewall.
15. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the closed-loop welt is sized
and shaped to substantially snugly receive the upper and the
outsole at an upper-outsole junction.
16. The footwear of claim 15, wherein the closed-loop welt is sized
and shaped to substantially specifically receive the upper-outsole
junction of either a right or left footwear.
17. The footwear of claim 15, wherein the welt is sized and shaped
to substantially universally receive the upper-outsole junction of
both a right or left footwear.
18. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the closed-loop welt includes
an adhesive material layer for securely coupling the sidewall to
the upper.
19. The footwear of claim 4, wherein the sidewall is coupled to the
upper by a stitching.
20. The footwear of claim 19, wherein the sidewall is coupled to
the upper at an upper portion of the sidewall, wherein the upper
portion is sized and shaped to define a surface area with the upper
to facilitate coupling the upper portion with the upper.
21. The footwear of claim 20, wherein the upper portion includes a
groove adapted to receive the stitching, wherein the upper portion
is stitched to the upper along the groove.
22. A preformed closed-loop welt for coupling a shoe upper to a
shoe outsole, the welt comprising: a tall sidewall; and a rib
extending from the tall sidewall; wherein the tall sidewall has a
height substantially greater than a width of the rib.
23. The welt of claim 22, wherein the welt is preformed by coupling
the ends of a welt material to form a loop configuration prior to
coupling with the upper and the outsole.
24. The welt of claim 22, wherein the height of the sidewall is
substantially variable along the periphery of the sidewall.
25. The welt of claim 22, further comprising an adhesive material
layer on an inner surface of the sidewall.
26. A method of constructing a footwear having an upper and an
outsole coupled to the upper, the method comprising: providing a
preformed closed-loop welt having a tall sidewall and a rib
extending from the tall sidewall; coupling the welt to the upper;
and coupling the welt to the outsole.
27. The method of claim 26, wherein coupling the welt to the upper
includes gluing the sidewall to the upper.
28. The method of claim 27, wherein gluing the sidewall to the
upper includes gluing an upper portion of the sidewall to the
upper.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority to Taiwan Patent
Application No. 091,208,706, filed on Jun. 11, 2002, entitled,
"Reinforced Welt", which is incorporated by reference in its
entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] This invention relates to footwear construction,
particularly to durable and rugged footwear construction.
[0004] 2. Description of Related Art
[0005] Footwear worn for outdoor hiking or on rugged surfaces often
feature better durability than other types of footwear thanks to
their comparatively higher structural and manufacturing standards.
The Goodyear Welt Construction is a well-known standard in rugged
footwear construction. The Goodyear Welt Construction involves
using a welt strip as an intermediary structure for joining an
outsole to a shoe upper. FIG. 1 is a side view of portions of a
footwear 1 employing the conventional Goodyear Welt Construction,
in which the toe section of the footwear 1 is shown in
cross-sectional view. The footwear 1 includes a conventional welt
strip 2, an upper 5 (having a vamp 7 and a quarter 9), an outsole
12, and a midsole 13. The welt strip 2 provides an intermediary
structure for joining the outsole 12 to the upper 5.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the conventional welt 2. The
welt 2 is an open-loop strip-like structure made of plastic or
leather having two ends 14 and 15. The welt 2 has a substantially
L-shaped cross section having a sidewall 16 and a rib 17 extending
from the sidewall 16. The sidewall 16 has an upper portion 18 above
the topside of the rib 17 and a lower portion 19 below the bottom
side of the rib 17. The height "h" of the upper portion 18 is
substantially uniform along the length of the welt strip 2. As
shown in FIG. 1, the height of the upper portion 18 is short as
compared to the height of the vamp 7 or the quarter 9. Furthermore,
in this particular welt configuration, the height "h" of the upper
portion 18 is shorter than the width "w" of the rib 17. In other
words, the surface area of the sidewall 16 is substantially
negligible as compared to the surface area of the upper 5. The welt
2 can also include a groove 21 located on the bottom side of the
rib 17 at the junction of the lower portion 19 and the rib 17.
[0007] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the welt 2 facilitates the
joining of the outsole 12 to the upper 5. In accordance with
Goodyear Welt Construction, the welt strip 2 is placed along the
junction of the outsole 12 and the upper 5. The welt strip 2 is
then coupled to the upper 5 by horizontally machine stitching
(i.e., in a direction along the periphery of the upper 5) or
stapling the lower portion 19 of the sidewall 16 to the upper 5
and/or the insole 13 along the groove 21. The upper portion 18 is
not coupled to the upper 5. The welt strip 2 is also coupled to the
outsole 12 by horizontally machine stitching or stapling the rib 17
of the welt strip 2 to the outsole 12. The horizontally machine
stitching commences from the end 14 of the welt strip 2 and
continues around the periphery of the upper-outsole junction until
the end 15 is almost joined with the end 14. FIG. 3 is a bottom
perspective view of the footwear 1 showing the ends 14 and 15 of
the welt strip 2 almost joined together.
[0008] Because the welt 2 has an open-loop strip shape, the two
ends 14 and 15 of the strip must inevitably be joined together,
resulting in seam 22. Current Goodyear inseam trimming machines do
not allow the welt 2 to be cut and the two ends 14 and 15 to be
stitched together smoothly. Consequently, manual operation is
required to precut the welt strip 2 to a length slightly longer
than the periphery of the upper-outsole junction. FIG. 3 shows the
extra length of welt strip 23. The extra length of welt strip 23 is
shown by the dotted line. The welt strip 2 is stitched from the end
14 to almost the other end 15. Before the ends 14 and 15 are
joined, the extra length 23 of welt strip 2 is manually cut and the
remaining unstitched welt strip 2 is stitched. It is critical that
the ends 14 and 15 be cut so that the ends 14 and 15 match with
each other. FIG. 3 shows the break 22 where the ends 14 and 15
meet. This manual operation has caused some obstacles in the
streamline automation of the footwear-making process. Thus, it is
desirable to have a footwear construction that lends itself to
minimal manual operation in the construction process to allow for a
more streamlined automation in the footwear-making process.
[0009] Wearers of rugged footwear also require a certain amount of
water proofing in their footwear. Under current Goodyear Welt
Construction, the upper portion 18 of the sidewall 16 and the upper
5 are not coupled together. The lower portion 19 of the sidewall 16
is stitched to the upper 5 along groove 21. As the conventional
welt strip 2 is sewn along the upper 5, chinks can form between the
welt 2 and the upper 5. Any chinks can render the footwear I
pervious to water, especially in light of the fact that the chinks
can occur near the bottom of the footwear 1 where there is more
chance of water contact. The chinks can reduce the footwear's
durability and life span. As such, it is desirable to have a
footwear construction that minimizes chinks in the footwear.
[0010] Use of the conventional welt strip in footwear construction
is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,226,895, to McClelland, issued on
May 8, 2001, entitled Footwear Construction. McClelland describes
the welt strip as being conventional (col. 3, lines 38-54) and
being manufactured by conventional techniques and apparatus such as
extruding the welt from a hard durable rubber material (col. 4,
lines 64-66), suggesting a welt having a strip shape. The reference
discloses stitching the welt by conventional apparatus and
techniques, which suggests use of the conventional process of
manually precutting an additional length of welt and then manually
sizing the ends of the welt just prior to completion. Use of the
conventional welt is also disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 09/777,130, by Ho, filed Feb. 5, 2001,
entitled Footwear with Fixedly Secured Insole for Structural
Support.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] The present invention is directed to a footwear having a
preformed closed-loop welt that lends itself to a footwear-making
process that is more streamlined and automated than footwear
employing conventional welts. The preformed closed-loop welt of the
present invention allows the footwear to be manufactured more
durable and water-resistant.
[0012] In one aspect of the present invention, the welt is
preformed to a closed-loop structure. Unlike conventional welts
that are open loop strip-shaped having ends, the welt of the
present invention is a formed welt that has no ends. The welt is
formed to a continuous closed-loop shaped structure prior to
coupling with the footwear upper and outsole. In some aspects of
the present invention, the welt is preformed to the closed-loop
shape by coupling the ends of the welt prior to coupling the welt
to the footwear upper and outsole. In some aspects of the present
invention, the welt is preformed to the closed-loop shape having no
seams. In some aspects of the present invention, the welt can be
specifically sized and shaped to receive a particular footwear or
be universally sized and shaped for any particular footwear.
[0013] In another aspect of the present invention, the closed-loop
welt has a tall sidewall and a rib extending from the tall
sidewall, such that the height of the sidewall is longer than the
width of the rib. The tall sidewall defines a sufficiently large
surface area that provides the welt with a larger contact surface
for coupling the sidewall to an upper of the footwear.
Additionally, the larger surface area allows aesthetic and
functional elements to be defined on the welt. In some aspects of
the present invention, the sidewall has a variable height that is
taller near the toe and heel sections of the welt. In another
aspect of the present invention, the closed-loop welt includes an
adhesion layer for facilitating coupling the welt to the
footwear.
[0014] The present invention is also directed to a method of
manufacturing a footwear that is more durable and water-resistant,
in which the method lends itself to a more fully automated process.
The method includes providing a preformed closed-loop welt,
coupling the welt to the upper, and coupling the welt to the
outsole. Providing the preformed closed-loop welt permits coupling
the welt to the upper and the outsole with conventional stitching
means from beginning to end, thus allowing for a continuous
automated process. In some aspects of the present invention,
coupling the welt to the upper includes bonding the welt to the
upper with an adhesive material. The larger surface area of the
sidewall provides a larger contact surface for applying the
adhesive material between the sidewall and the upper. The bonding
step allows the footwear to be manufactured more durable and
water-resistant.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0015] The present invention will be more clearly understood when
considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In the
following drawings, like reference numerals designate like or
similar parts throughout the drawings.
[0016] FIG. 1 is a side view of portions of a footwear employing
the conventional Goodyear Welt Construction, wherein the toe
section of the footwear is shown in cross-sectional view.
[0017] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional Goodyear
welt. FIG. 3 is a bottom perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 1
showing the ends of the welt strip almost joined together.
[0018] FIG. 4 is a side view of a footwear having a preformed
closed-loop welt in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0019] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the preformed closed-loop
welt in accordance with one embodiment of the present
invention.
[0020] FIG. 6 is a side view of the preformed closed-loop welt
shown in FIG. 5.
[0021] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the preformed closed-loop welt
shown in FIG. 5.
[0022] FIG. 8 is a side view of the footwear shown in FIG. 4, in
which the welt is shown in cross-sectional view.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0023] The present description is the best contemplated mode of
carrying out the invention. This description is made for the
purpose of illustrating general principles of the invention and
should not be taken in a limiting sense.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a side view of a footwear 25 having a preformed
closed-loop welt 30 in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. The footwear 25 includes an upper 60, an outsole
70, and the preformed closed-loop welt 30. The upper 60 includes a
vamp 63 and a quarter 66. The upper 60 is sized and shaped to
receive a foot of a wearer and to secure the foot of the wearer
within the upper 60. The outsole 70 is coupled to the upper 60 at
an upper-outsole junction 72. The outsole 70 is adapted to support
the weight of the wearer on top and is capable of traction against
rough outside contact surfaces on bottom. The outsole 70 can be
formed from a substantially wear resistant material, such as
high-density carbon rubber.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a top perspective view of the preformed
closed-loop welt 30 in accordance with one embodiment of the
present invention. The preformed closed-loop welt 30 includes a
tall sidewall 32 and a rib 34 extending from the sidewall 32. FIG.
6 is a side view of the preformed closed-loop welt 30 shown in FIG.
5. The sidewall 32 has an upper portion 35 above the rib 34 and a
lower portion 46 below the rib 34. The sidewall 32 is tall in that
the height "h" of the upper portion 35 is substantially greater
than the width "w" of the rib 34 (shown in FIG. 5). Accordingly,
the tall sidewall 32 defines a substantially large surface area,
which enhances the contact surface the sidewall 32 has with the
upper 60.
[0026] Referring to FIG. 's 5 and 6, the height "h" of the upper
portion 35 is variable along the periphery of the welt 30. For
example, the height of the upper portion 35 at a toe section 36 and
a heel section 37 is taller than at a middle section 38. As such,
the surface area of the upper portion 35 at the toe and heel
sections 36 and 37 are greater than at the middle section 38. The
upper portion 35 at the toe and heel section 36 and 37 is sized and
shaped such that the welt 30 can include any number of aesthetic
and/or functional elements. For example, at the toe section 36, the
upper portion 35 can include an anti-friction corrugated surface
39. The added surface area also provides the welt 30 with a larger
contact surface with the upper 60 to facilitate the upper portion
35 being coupled to the upper 60 during construction of the
footwear 25. In alternative embodiments of the present invention
(not shown), the height of the upper portion can be substantially
uniform along the periphery of the welt or can be taller at the
middle section than at the other sections of the welt.
[0027] In certain embodiments of the present invention, the welt 30
is preformed to the relative shape of the upper 60. For example,
the vamp 63 and the quarter 66 portions of the upper 60 have a
slight curved or arched profile. As shown in FIG. 6, the toe and
heel sections of the welt 36 and 37 are preformed having
substantially the same relative curved profile. The formed shape of
the sidewall 32 facilitates securely coupling the welt 30 to the
upper 60 and minimizes the formation of chinks between the upper 60
and the sidewall 32.
[0028] FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the preformed closed-loop welt 30
shown in FIG. 5. FIGS. 5 and 6 show the rib 34 extending from the
sidewall 32. The width "w" of the rib 34 is substantially uniform
along the periphery of the welt 30. The rib 34 can be shaped and
sized to coextend with the periphery of the outsole 70. As will be
discussed below, the rib 34 provides an intermediary structure for
coupling the upper 60 to the outsole 70.
[0029] Referring to FIG. 's 5 through 7, the seamless welt 30 can
include grooves 40 and 42. The groove 40 is defined in the upper
portion 35 of the sidewall 32 and is provided substantially along
the toe section 36. Alternatively, this groove can be provided
substantially along the whole periphery of the welt (not shown).
The groove 40 is adapted to receive a stitching 44 (shown in FIG.
4) for coupling the welt 30, and more specifically the upper
portion 35 of the sidewall 32, to the upper 60. The groove 42 is
defined at the junction of the lower portion 46 and the rib 34. The
groove 42 can be provided substantially along the toe section 36
(as shown in FIG. 7), substantially along the heel section 37, or
substantially along the whole periphery of the welt (not shown).
The groove 42 is likewise adapted to receive a stitching for
coupling the welt 30, and more specifically the lower portion 46,
to the upper 60.
[0030] Referring to FIG. 6, the rib 34 extends from the sidewall 32
such that the lower portion 46 of the sidewall 32 extends below the
bottom side of the rib 34. The lower portion 46 of the sidewall 32
provides a structure for coupling the welt 30 to the upper 60. The
lower portion 46 and the groove 42 (shown in FIG. 7) facilitate
stitching the welt 30 to the upper 60.
[0031] As mentioned herein, the conventional Goodyear welt 2 (shown
in FIG. 2) is in an open-loop strip having the two ends 14 and 15.
In the conventional footwear-making process, the welt strip 2 is
machined stitched around the periphery of the footwear 1 until the
ends 14 and 15 almost meet. At this point in the process, one end
15 of the welt strip 2 is manually cut to match the other end 14 so
that the ends 14 and 15 can be joined. Conventional Goodyear inseam
trimming machines do not allow for a smooth cutting and joining of
the welt strip ends 14 and 15. The seam or break 22 is formed at
the junction where the two ends 14 and 15 of the welt strip 2
meet.
[0032] In contradistinction, the welt 30 of the present invention
is in a preformed closed-loop configuration. In other words, the
welt 30 is preformed having no seams or breaks and the material of
the welt 30 is not joined at a seam to form the ring-shaped
structure. The welt 30 is preformed as a continuous loop-shaped
structure. As will be described below, the welt 30 has no ends that
would require joinder of the ends in the footwear construction
process. In some embodiments of the present invention, the welt 30
is preformed by coupling ends of the welt material into the
closed-loop shape. The ends of the welt material can be coupled by
an adhesive material, a staple, a stitching, or other coupling
means allowing for secured coupling of the ends. In some
embodiments of the present invention, the welt 30 is preformed
having no seams.
[0033] In some embodiments of the present invention, the welt 30 is
sized and shaped to receive the periphery of the upper-outsole
junction. For instance, the welt 30 can be sized for a specific
footwear size. Also, the welt 30 can be universally shaped for
either a left or right foot construction (e.g., in a flexible
circular ring), or can be specifically shaped for either left or
right foot construction. In some embodiments of the present
invention, the welt 30 is sized and shaped to snugly fit about the
periphery of the upper-outsole junction 72. In other words, the
welt 30 is slightly undersized but is capable of being stretched
slightly when being stitched.
[0034] The preformed closed-loop welt 30 allows for a more
streamlined footwear construction process. In one embodiment of the
present invention, a method for constructing a footwear includes
providing a preformed closed-loop welt 30, coupling the welt 30 to
the upper 60, and coupling the welt 30 to the outsole 70.
[0035] A preformed welt 30 is selected for the particular size and
shape of the footwear under construction. The welt 30 can be
selected so that the welt 30 snugly fits the periphery of the
upper-outsole junction 72. Because the welt material may stretch as
the welt 30 is being stitched, selecting the welt 30 so that it is
undersized or snugly fitting the upper-outsole junction 72
minimizes the formation of chinks during the stitching process.
[0036] The welt 30 provides an intermediary structure for coupling
the upper 60 to the outsole 70. FIG. 8 is a side view of the
footwear 25 shown in FIG. 4, in which the welt 30 is shown in
cross-sectional view. The welt 30 is coupled to the upper 60 by
stitching the sidewall 32 to the upper 60 with treated cotton twine
48 and 50. The sidewall 32 can be stitched along grooves 40 and 42,
which are adapted to receive the stitching 48 and 50. The upper
portion 35 is stitched to the upper 60 along groove 40. The lower
portion 46 is also stitched to the upper 60 along groove 42. By
stitching the sidewall 32 at both the upper portion 35 and the
lower portion 46, the welt 30 can be more securely coupled to the
upper 60, which can result in the footwear 25 being manufactured
more durable and rugged. The sidewall 32 being tall facilitates
coupling the sidewall 32 to the upper 60 at both the upper portion
35 and the lower portion 46. The welt 30 can be stitched with
stitching means well known in the art, such as a Jupiter brand
welt-stitching machine. Alternatively, the sidewall 32 can be
stapled or nailed to the upper 60.
[0037] In certain embodiments of the method, coupling the welt 30
to the upper 60 can include bonding the welt 30 to the upper 60
with an adhesive material. The welt 30 can include an adhesive
material layer 51 (shown in FIG. 5). The adhesive material layer 51
can be an adhesive material well known in the art that allows for
sufficient adhesion between the materials of the upper 60 and the
welt 30. The adhesive material layer 51 can be preformed on the
welt 30 or can be applied just prior to fitting the welt 30 to the
upper-outsole junction 72. The adhesive material layer can be
provided on the inner side of the sidewall 32 as shown in FIG. 5.
The tall sidewall 32 is sized and shaped to define a contact
surface with the upper 60 that allows for effective adhesion with
the upper 60. The adhesive material can enhance the bond between
the welt 30 and the upper 60 to more securely couple the welt 30 to
the upper 60, and can minimize the formation of chinks between the
sidewall 32 and the upper 60, which can render the footwear 25 less
water-resistant.
[0038] The outsole 70 is also coupled to the welt 30. The outsole
70 is coupled to the welt 30 by stitching the rib 34 to the outsole
70 with twine 49. The welt 30 can be stitched substantially along
the periphery of the rib 34 or along portions of the periphery of
the rib 34. The welt 30 can be stitched with stitching means well
known in the art, such as a Jupiter brand welt-stitching machine.
Alternatively, the rib 34 can be stapled or nailed to the outsole
70.
[0039] The preformed closed-loop welt 30 of the present invention
lends itself to a seemingly streamlined footwear construction
process. Because the welt 30 is preformed to the size and shape of
the particular footwear 25 under construction, there is no manual
welt precutting and sizing steps needed in the footwear-making
process. The welt 30 does not have ends that would require any
additional manual cutting and sizing in the construction process.
The welt 30 can be fitted over the upper-outsole junction 72 and
stitched in place. The entire stitching process can be entirely
completed by conventional inseam trimming machines. The process of
stitching the welt 30 to the upper 60 and to the outsole 70 is
substantially uninterrupted, which can result in a more streamlined
and automated footwear-making process, which in turn results in
reducing the manufacturing time.
[0040] The welt 30 also provides footwear manufacturers with
greater latitude in designing the footwear 25 with aesthetic and
functional elements on the welt 30. The sidewall 32 of the welt 30
is sized and shaped such that the sidewall 32 allows for a wider
range of aesthetic and functional elements to be defined on the
welt 30. FIG. 4 shows elements 36 and 37 defined on the sidewall
32. Elements 36 and 37 can be an aesthetic and/or functional
element such as an anti-friction corrugated surface.
[0041] While the invention has been described in detail with
respect to the illustrated embodiments in accordance therewith, it
will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes,
modifications, substitutions, alterations and improvement may be
made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention
as defined by the appended claims.
* * * * *