Patent Application
20060196080
The present invention relates to footwear, especially footwear having a full upper, e.g., a shoe upper, and a sandal type sole.
Sandals are a very comfortable, and usually inexpensive, form of footwear comprised of a sole and one or more straps for holding the sole to the plantar surface of a wearer's foot. For enhanced comfort and attractiveness, the upper surface of the sole may also be provided with a foot bed engageable with the plantar surface of the wearer's foot as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. D-429,555 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,811,734.
However, in cold and/or inclement conditions, sandals are not a practical form of footwear because they do not protect the wearer's foot from the wet and cold. Even if worn with socks, which can be quite unsightly, sandals do not provide sufficient protection from the wet and cold and, of course, are totally impractical in snow.
The object of the invention is to embody the comfort of a sandal into a shoe or slipper or slip-on shoe having a full upper, i.e., one that covers the toes and instep and, preferably though optionally, the heel of the wearer's foot.
Another object of the invention is to provide an improved shoe construction and an improved method of making shoes comprised of a full upper and a sandal type sole.
In accordance with the invention, a shoe is comprised of an upper, a footbed or sock liner, an outer or out sole, and means for concealing the mode of assembly of the same. In preferred embodiments, a mid-sole or sock liner is provided between the footbed and the outsole.
More particularly, the shoe of the invention is comprised of a full upper having a lower marginal edge with a plurality of spaced fingers or tabs extending downwardly from the lower marginal edge, a footbed or sock liner having a plurality of spaced slots or openings therein for receiving the fingers or tabs of the upper, the fingers or tabs being folded under and secured to the lower surface of the footbed, an outsole secured to the lower surface of the footbed and confining the fingers or tabs between the footbed and the outsole, and means extending around the periphery of the footbed and the lower margins of the upper for concealing the connection between the upper and the footbed.
In one embodiment, the concealing means comprises a marginal rib extending around the periphery of the footbed. In another embodiment, the concealing means comprises a foxing strip extending around the periphery of the lower margins of the shoe.
In preferred embodiments, a mid-sole, preferably of the same material as the footbed, is installed between and secured to the footbed and the outsole and the stitch-down board required in conventional shoes is eliminated.
The invention thus provides a very comfortable, economical and attractive shoe having a full upper.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those of reasonable skill in the art from the following detailed description, as considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
a and 6b are, respectively, a fragmentary plan view and a fragmentary cross-section of one embodiment of a footbed of the invention providing a groove for receiving and concealing the lower margins of the upper;
a and 7b are, respectively, a fragmentary plan view and a fragmentary cross-section of a second embodiment of a footbed of the invention providing a peripheral rib for receiving and concealing the lower margins of the upper;
a and 8b are, respectively, a fragmentary plan view and a fragmentary cross-section of an embodiment of the invention comprised of a footbed and a mating mid-sole and including a foxing strip for concealing the lower marginal edges of the upper and the marginal edges of the footbed and mid-sole; and
The following is a detailed description of certain embodiments of the invention presently contemplated by the inventor to be the best mode of carrying out his invention.
Referring to
The upper 12 may be any conventional shoe upper, such as a lace up full shoe upper that covers the toes, instep and heel, a slip-on upper, i.e., without a heel, a loafer upper, a moccasin upper, a slipper upper and even a boot upper. The upper 12 has a lower marginal edge 20 and a plurality of spaced fingers or tabs 22 extending from the edge 20 around the periphery of the edge.
The footbed or sock liner 14, herein referred to as footbed, may comprise any material customarily used for footbeds and is preferably cushiony material consistent with sandal design and construction. The footbed has a peripheral edge 24 and a plurality of spaced slots 26 extending through the footbed adjacent the peripheral edge and aligned respectively with the fingers 22 on the upper 12.
As shown in
The mid-sole 16, if employed, is preferably comprised of the same material as the footbed. It has an upper surface and a lower surface and is adhered at its upper surface to the lower surface of the footbed 14 and the folded end portions 28 of the fingers 22, thereby to secure the finger end portions 28 between the footbed and the mid-sole. Use of the same materials for the lower surface of the footbed and the upper surface of the mid-sole or outsole ensures an extremely secure bond between the two, and thus a highly reliable securement of the finger end portions within the shoe. This results in a very economical way of securing an upper to a sole structure and eliminates the need for the stitchdown board required in most conventional full shoe constructions.
The outsole 18 may be made of any conventional outsole material and has a lower ground engaging surface and an upper surface adhered to the lower surface of the mid-sole 16. If the mid-sole is omitted from the structure, as is permissible, the upper surface of the outsole is preferably comprised of the same material as the footbed and is adhered directly to the lower surface of the footbed 14 and the folded over end portions 28 of the fingers 22 to confine and secure the fingers between the footbed and the outsole.
Absent further considerations, the shoe as thus far described would reveal a stepped lower margin on the upper and the marginal portions of the upper between the fingers 22 would not be adhered to the footbed. Thus, means for covering, concealing and sealing the marginal edges of the upper to the footbed are important and the present invention provides several solutions, as illustrated in
a and 6b illustrate a construction wherein a groove 30 is provided in the upper surface of the footbed 14 adjacent and extending continuously around the peripheral edge of the footbed. The slots 26 are formed in the base of the groove 30. Thus, when the fingers 22 are pulled through the slots 26, the lower marginal edges of the upper are pulled into the groove to cover and conceal the marginal edges and fingers of the upper. Additionally, the lower marginal edge of the upper may be adhered e.g., with glue or sealant, within the groove thereby to seal the upper to the footbed.
If desired, a recess 32 maybe formed in the lower surface of the footbed for reception of the folded end of a respective finger extended through a respective slot 26. Alternatively, the recess 32 could be provided in the upper surface of the mid-sole.
a and 7b illustrate a modification wherein the footbed 14 includes an upstanding peripheral rib 34 extending around its peripheral edge outwardly of the slots 26 within which the lower marginal edges and fingers of the upper are received and to which they may be adhered, thereby to seal the upper to the footbed. Again, a recess 36 may be provided in the footbed or mid-sole for reception of the folded end portion of a respective finger.
a and 8b illustrate a further embodiment wherein slots 26 are formed directly at or in the peripheral edge of a footbed 14, a mid-sole 16 has a recess 36 for receiving the end portion of a respective finger extending inwardly through the peripheral edge of the footbed and the laterally or outwardly open ends of the slot and recess and the lower margins of the upper are covered and concealed by a strip 38, called a foxing strip, adhered and sealed to the marginal edges of the mid-sole, footbed and upper.
Thus, in any of these ways, the lower marginal edges of the upper may be covered and sealed to the footbed and concealed from view.
The assembly of the shoe 39 is carried out in substantially the same manner as above described for the shoe 10.
The assembly produces footwear wherein all of the components are adhered and sealed together in a very efficient, economical and practical manner to produce footwear that are very comfortable, practicable, and usually economical.
The objects and advantages of the invention have therefore been shown to be attained in a convenient, practical, economical and facile manner.
While preferred embodiments of the invention have been herein illustrated and described, it is to be appreciated that various modifications, rearrangements and variations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
