U.S. patent application number 11/353437 was filed with the patent office on 2007-08-16 for panel shoe and method of making same.
This patent application is currently assigned to AEROGROUP INTERNATIONAL INC.. Invention is credited to Daniel P. Amado, Luca Bizzo.
Application Number | 20070186442 11/353437 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38366839 |
Filed Date | 2007-08-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070186442 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Amado; Daniel P. ; et
al. |
August 16, 2007 |
Panel shoe and method of making same
Abstract
A panel shoe is provided. The shoe has a blank having a heel and
an insole; a shoe upper assembly comprising a first panel, a second
panel and a foot base, the first and second panels extend upwardly
from a periphery of said foot base and have an upper edge disposed
on a side opposite said foot base, the foot base being disposed
over the blank, the shoe upper assembly having a geometric
dimension smaller than a peripheral edge of the blank; and center
panel having a peripheral edge, the center panel being positioned
over the upper edges of the first and second panels such that the
upper edges of the first and second panels align with the
peripheral edge of the center panel.
Inventors: |
Amado; Daniel P.;
(Bridgewater, NJ) ; Bizzo; Luca; (Holmdel,
NJ) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LACKENBACH SIEGEL, LLP
LACKENBACH SIEGEL BUILDING, 1 CHASE ROAD
SCARSDALE
NY
10583
US
|
Assignee: |
AEROGROUP INTERNATIONAL
INC.
Edison
NJ
|
Family ID: |
38366839 |
Appl. No.: |
11/353437 |
Filed: |
February 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
36/11.5 ;
36/45 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A43B 9/02 20130101; A43B
23/0295 20130101; A43B 3/103 20130101; A43B 1/0045 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
36/11.5 ;
36/45 |
International
Class: |
A43B 3/12 20060101
A43B003/12; A43B 23/00 20060101 A43B023/00 |
Claims
1. A panel shoe, comprising: a blank having a heel and an insole; a
shoe upper assembly comprising a first panel, a second panel and a
foot base; said first and second panels extending upwardly from a
periphery of said foot base, said first and second panels having an
upper edge disposed on a side opposite said foot base, said foot
base being disposed over said blank, said shoe upper assembly
having a geometric dimension smaller than a peripheral edge of said
blank; and a center panel having a peripheral edge, wherein said
center panel is positioned over the upper edges of said first and
second panels such that said upper edges of said first and second
panels align with the peripheral edge of said center panel, wherein
said center panel is secured to said shoe upper assembly; and
wherein the peripheral edges of said center panel are trimmed as
necessary to form a completed shoe.
2. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said blank is formed of wood,
cork, rubber, rope, resin, plastic and any combinations
thereof.
3. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said shoe upper assembly is
integrally formed.
4. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said shoe upper assembly is
formed of discrete components including said first and second
panels and said foot base said components being attached to form an
assembly.
5. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said shoe upper assembly
further comprises cushioning materials, odor absorbing materials,
insulating materials, decorative materials and any combinations
thereof.
6. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said center panel has a
larger profile than a space defined between said first panel and
said second panel.
7. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said foot base is attached to
said shoe upper assembly by adhering means such as stitching,
gluing, hot welding, or any combination thereof.
8. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said shoe upper assembly is
formed of leather, imitation leather, plastic, vinyl, rubber,
canvas, mesh, cotton or any combination thereof.
9. The panel shoe of claim 1, wherein said center panel 130 is
canted, pivoted or otherwise manipulated to form a proper seam in
said panel shoe.
10. A method for making a panel shoe, comprising the steps of:
preparing a blank having a heel and an insole; preparing a shoe
upper assembly comprising a first panel, a second panel and a foot
base; said first and second panels extending upwardly from a
periphery of said foot base, said first and second panels having an
upper edge disposed on a side opposite said foot base, said foot
base being disposed over said blank, said shoe upper assembly
having a geometric dimension smaller than a peripheral edge of said
blank; preparing a center panel; positioning said center panel over
the upper edges of said first and second panels such that said
first and second panel upper edges align with the peripheral edges
of said center panel; securing said center panel to said shoe upper
assembly; and trimming the edges of said center panel as necessary
to form a completed shoe.
11. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of forming said shoe
upper assembly and said blank is automated.
12. The method of claim 10, wherein said positioning step
compensates for inaccuracies and misalignment of said first and
said second panel.
13. The method of claim 10, wherein said positioning of center
panel is accomplished by canting, pivoting, or other manipulation
so that a proper seam is achieved.
14. The method of claim 10, wherein said step of trimming is
automated.
Description
PRIORITY CLAIM
[0001] This application claims priority from U.S. Design
application Ser. No. 29/239,963 filed on Oct. 6, 2005, the contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a panel shoe and methods of
making same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a
three panel shoe that provides ease of construction and a method of
making the same.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] Panel shoes are popular for the comfort they provide to a
wearer. However, panel shoes can be time consuming and costly to
manufacture. The panels must be accurately measured, cut and sewn
to form a finished shoe that appears symmetrical and does not have
bulky or uneven seams that cause wearer discomfort.
[0006] The precision required for the positioning and cutting
processes of panel shoe manufacture cut down on the degree to which
manufacture can be automated, and therefore the speed with which
the shoe can be manufactured. Because manual work is required,
panel shoes are costly to manufacture.
[0007] Therefore, a need exists for a panel shoe wherein at least a
part of the manufacturing process may be automated. Specifically, a
need exists for a panel shoe wherein a blank and insole are
manufactured in a highly automated process that does not require
precise measuring and trimming and wherein the center panel or
tongue may be added later in the manufacturing process and canted,
pivoted, or further adjusted and trimmed to accommodate for
inaccuracies in measurement and positioning of the side panels,
thereby forming a finished shoe.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is an object of the present invention to provide a panel
shoe wherein some part of the manufacturing process is
automated.
[0009] It is another object of the present invention to provide
such a panel shoe wherein manufacture of the panel shoe is less
costly due to automation of part of the process.
[0010] It is yet another object of the present invention to provide
a panel shoe wherein a shoe upper assembly having a first panel, a
second panel and a foot base is manufactured in a first phase of
construction of the panel shoe.
[0011] It is a further object of the present invention to provide a
panel shoe, wherein a center panel is positioned over the upper
edges of the first and second panels in a later phase of
construction of the panel shoe.
[0012] It is a still further object of the present invention to
provide such a panel shoe wherein the center panel is secured to
the shoe upper assembly and is canted, pivoted, or further adjusted
and thereafter trimmed to accommodate for inaccuracies in
measurement and positioning of the shoe upper assembly side
panels.
[0013] It is a yet further object of the present invention to
provide a method of making a panel shoe using a minimal number of
manufacturing steps.
[0014] These and other objects and advantages of the present
invention are achieved by a panel shoe having a blank having a heel
and an insole; a shoe upper assembly comprising a first panel, a
second panel and a foot base; the first and second panels extending
upwardly from a periphery of the foot base, the first and second
panels having an upper edge disposed on a side opposite the foot
base, the foot base being disposed over the blank, the shoe upper
assembly having a geometric dimension smaller than a peripheral
edge of the blank; and a center panel having a peripheral edge,
wherein the center panel is positioned over the upper edges of the
first and second panels such that the upper edges of the first and
second panels align with the peripheral edge of the center panel,
wherein the center panel is secured to the shoe upper assembly; and
wherein the peripheral edges of the center panel are trimmed as
necessary to form a completed shoe.
[0015] The objects and advantages of the present invention are
further achieved by a method for making a panel shoe, comprising
the steps of preparing a blank having a heel and an insole;
preparing a shoe upper assembly comprising a first panel, a second
panel and a foot base; the first and second panels extending
upwardly from a periphery of the foot base, the first and second
panels having an upper edge disposed on a side opposite the foot
base, the foot base being disposed over the blank, the shoe upper
assembly having a geometric dimension smaller than a peripheral
edge of the blank; preparing a center panel; positioning the center
panel over the upper edges of the first and second panels such that
the first and second panel upper edges align with the peripheral
edges of the center panel; securing the center panel to the shoe
upper assembly; and trimming the edges of the center panel as
necessary to form a completed shoe.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The foregoing and still other objects and advantages of the
present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed
explanation of the preferred embodiments of the invention in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
[0017] FIG. 1 is a side view of the panel shoe of the present
invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is an exploded side view of the panel shoe of the
present invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the shoe upper assembly of
the panel shoe of the present invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a front view of the panel shoe of the present
invention; and
[0021] FIG. 5 is a side view of the panel shoe of the present
invention highlighting the panel shoe blank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to the drawings and, in particular, FIGS. 1 and 2,
there is illustrated a wrap around shoe system or panel shoe
according to the present invention generally represented by
reference numeral 100. Panel shoe 100 is preferably a three panel
construction; however it is conceivable that panel shoe 100 may
have more than three panels or fewer than three panels. Panel shoe
100 has a shoe upper assembly 110, a blank 120 and a center panel
or tongue 130.
[0023] As illustrated in FIG. 5, blank 120 has an insole 122 and a
heel 124. Blank 120 may be formed by any means known in the art
and, similarly, may be constructed of any materials known in the
art. Non-limiting examples of materials for constructing blank 120
include wood, cork, rubber, rope, resin, plastic and any
combinations thereof.
[0024] Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 3, shoe upper assembly 110
has a first panel 110a, a second panel 10b and a foot base 110c.
First and second panels 110a and 110b extend in an upward direction
from the periphery of foot base 110c, which forms the food bed of
finished panel shoe 100. Referring to FIG. 4, first and second
panels 110a and 110b define a space 127 therebetween. First and
second panels 110a and 110b each have an upper edge 115a and 115b,
respectively, disposed on said first and second panels 110a and
110b disposed opposite foot base 110c. Shoe upper assembly 110 may
be formed from one integral piece or may be formed from separate
components that are connected to form shoe upper assembly 110. Shoe
upper assembly may optionally have further features including, for
example, cushioning materials, odor absorbing materials, insulating
materials and decorative materials. These materials are preferably
disposed on or under foot base 110c as illustrated in FIG. 3.
[0025] Shoe upper assembly 110 has a geometric dimension smaller
than a peripheral edge of blank 120. Foot base 10c of shoe upper
assembly 110 is attached to blank 120, thereby forming a foot bed
that is suitable for mass production and eliminates the need for a
separate insole board. Attachment of foot base 110c to shoe upper
assembly 110 may be accomplished by any means known in the art for
adhering such as stitching, gluing, hot welding, or any combination
thereof. Shoe upper assembly may be formed of materials including,
but not limited to, leather, imitation leather, plastic, vinyl,
rubber, canvas, mesh, cotton or any combinations thereof.
[0026] First and second panels 110a and 110b are then trimmed to a
specific height. The trimming step need not be entirely accurate,
as center panel 130 is designed to compensate for inaccuracies in
positioning and length of first and second panels 110a and
110b.
[0027] As illustrated in FIG. 4, center panel 130 has a peripheral
edge 135. Center panel 130 is cut to have a larger profile or size
than is necessary for simply forming a seam with first and second
panels 110a and 110b and covering space 127. This large size allows
for centering of center panel 30 on first and second panels 110a
and 110b and for cutting of excess center panel 30. As illustrated,
center panel 130 forms a downward facing arc that is joined with
the upper edges 115a and 115b of first and second panels 110a and
110b. Center panel 130 is positioned over upper edges 115a and 115b
of first and second panels 110a and 100b such that the upper edges
115a and 115b align with peripheral edge 135 of center panel 130.
Center panel 130 is secured to shoe upper assembly 110 by any means
known in the art including sewing, gluing or hot welding. The
peripheral edges 135 of center panel 130 are then trimmed as
necessary to form finished panel shoe 100.
[0028] Improper attachment or poor alignment of center panel 130
with shoe upper panel assembly 110 renders panel shoe 100
uncomfortable to the wearer. Accordingly, the added manufacturing
step of attaching oversized center panel 130 to a finished shoe
upper assembly 110 enables proper positioning of the stitched seam
formed by upper edges 115a and 115b of first and second panels 110a
and 110b and peripheral edge 135 of center panel 130. Specifically,
addition of center panel 130 at a later point in the manufacturing
process enables center panel 130 to be oriented and adjusted over
upper edges 115a and 115b of first and second panels 110a and 110b,
thereby correcting any deficiencies in cut, size or positioning of
first and second panels 110a and 110b. This process provides for
speed of manufacture by enabling the step of forming the shoe upper
assembly 110 and blank 120 combination to be automated, thereby
reducing the cost of manufacture.
[0029] At a later point in the manufacturing process, center panel
130 is added to the shoe upper assembly 110 and blank 120
combination, as described above. Positioning of center panel 130
may require canting, pivoting, or other manipulation so that a
proper seam is achieved. Thus, the method of the present invention
is an improvement over the art in that it allows for mass
production of the shoe upper assembly 110 and blank 120 combination
in a manner that does not require measuring precision. The task of
precisely forming a seam between upper edges 115a and 115b of first
and second panels 110a and 110b and peripheral edge 135 of center
panel 130 is undertaken later in the manufacturing process,
preferably by hand, thereby compensating for any non-conformity in
the automated steps of the manufacturing process. Once center panel
130 is positioned and centered, any overhang of peripheral edge 135
of center panel 130 may be trimmed away in a second automated step.
Preferably, center panel 130 is capable of accommodating mistakes
about 1/2 cm to about 1 cm in size.
[0030] The present invention has been described with particular
reference to the preferred embodiments. It should be understood
that the foregoing descriptions and examples are only illustrative
of the present invention. Various alternatives and modifications
thereof can be devised by those skilled in the art without
departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
Accordingly, the present invention is intended to embrace all such
alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
* * * * *