Footwear With Molded Sole

Abstract

Improvements in the safety and comfort of footwear having the appearance of having very thick molded soles.

Description

PRIOR ART

It is old in the art to stitch an elastomeric welt to the lasting margin of an upper of leather, or similar material, and to mold a sole comprising elastomeric material to the shoe bottom so that the welt forming the upper level of the visible sole edge is on the level of the insole of the footwear. The substantial increase in sole thickness, as is presently fashionable, often to three times the usual thickness of a sole, results in an uncomfortable shoe which is dangerous to the wearer because of the stilt effect of such a shoe.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing is a sectional view of a portion of the footwear showing the connection between the upper and sole.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The preferred embodiment of the disclosure, as shown in the drawing, includes a sealing strip 1 secured by stitching 2 to portion 3 of the upper above the level of the insole 4. The strip 1 preferably comprises an extrusion of an elastomer of the thermoplastic type compatible with the elastomer material of the sole 5. The strip 1 can be reinforced by fiber material 6 to strengthen the stitching 2. The upper portion 3 may extend to the insole level and form the lasting margin 7, or it may terminate just below the stitching 2. As an alternative, the portion 8 of the upper may be of a different, less expensive material secured to the strip 1 by stitching 9 or by heat sealing.

The upper is then lasted on a mold last (not shown) by a lasting string 10. Thereafter the sole is attached to the shoe bottom, preferably by the customary injection molding of elastomeric sole material. The sealing edge of the sole mold cavity used for this purpose rests against the strip 1 which includes a ledge 11 essentially parallel to the insole which forms the upper surface of the sole edge 12. The strip 1 also comprises the portion 13 secured to the upper and may also include an upward extension 14 for ornamental purposes.

By locating the strip 1 substantially above the insole level, the thickness of the sole under the insole is a fraction of the apparent thickness of the sole as established by the sole edge 12. The height of the ledge 11 above the shoe sole may be approximately three times the height of the insole surface to satisfy the fashion demand without elevating the insole level to dangerous and uncomfortable heights.

The portion 8 of the upper is tilted inwardly towards the center of the shoe bottom throughout the periphery of the insole to increase the thickness of section 15 of the sole edge 12 even if the projection 16 of the sole edge is kept within the accustomed limits. The thickness of the elastomer section is always more than the thickness of the leather or other material to which it is molded.

Reduction of the weight of the footwear with the appearance of a very heavy sole is obtained by strong slanting of the side surface of the sole edge 12. This makes it possible to provide substantial thickness of the elastomeric material near the strip 1 without an increase in the total weight of the shoe sole. For footwear with a stringlasted upper, a more uniform elastomeric sole is obtained even if the sole thickness is reduced by providing a rim section or part of the insole extending from the feather-edge, i.e. the junction of upper and insole, towards the center of the insole by about half, or less than the width of the lasting margin. The main part of the insole surface is slightly higher than the rim part which allows the elastomeric material of the sole to embed the edge of the lasting margin with the lasting string and also increases the flexibility of the footwear.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. Footwear comprising an upper, a tread sole, said tread sole having a portion thereof extending upwardly to form a peripheral side edge, said sole and side edge being formed of elastomeric material, a strip of material secured to said upper above the insole level and said side edge being molded directly to said strip.

2. Footwear as described in claim 1 wherein said side edge extends upwardly from the bottom of said tread sole a distance at least twice the thickness of said tread sole.

3. Footwear as described in claim 1 wherein said side edge has a thickness substantially the same as said tread sole.

4. Footwear as described in claim 2 wherein said side edge has a thickness substantially the same as said tread sole.

5. Footwear as described in claim 1 wherein said upper includes an extension extending to said sole and said strip is stitched to said upper and to said extension.

6. Footwear as described in claim 1 wherein said strip comprises elastomeric material and is stitched to said upper.

7. Footwear as described in claim 1 wherein the portion of the upper below said strip is tapered inwardly throughout its periphery.

8. Footwear as described in claim 1 wherein the said outer surface of said side edge is tapered towards the center of the shoe.