(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to a simple, inexpensive shoe construction of a lightweight, comfortable shoe. In particular, the present invention pertains to a shoe construction that employs a midsole molded of flexible, resilient material around a rigid plate, where the midsole and encapsulated plate are insertable into a separately constructed outsole and shoe upper.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Many different types of shoe constructions and methods of shoe construction exist in the prior art. In the construction of shoes that are primarily intended to cushion the foot and support the foot laterally, for example athletic or running shoes, the number of components in the shoe construction and the number of the construction steps can be numerous. The additional component parts used in the construction of a shoe and the additional method steps involved in the construction of the shoe add to the overall manufacturing cost of the shoe.
While many comfortable shoes have been designed, the designs of the shoes have required elaborate and expensive constructions. It follows that a shoe having a simple, inexpensive construction that is also lightweight and comfortable to wear would be very desirable.
The present invention provides a lightweight, comfortable shoe that is constructed according to a simplified and inexpensive method. The shoe is constructed of a reduced number of parts, and the method of constructing the shoe involves separately assembling two separate subassemblies that are fit with each other in producing the manufactured shoe.
The shoe of the invention has an outsole that is unitarily molded of a flexible, resilient material. The outsole is formed with a top surface and an opposite bottom surface that are separated from each other by a peripheral edge that extends around the outsole. The outsole bottom surface is formed with a tread.
An upper of flexible material is secured to the outsole. In the preferred embodiment, the material of the upper is a mesh material which enhances the lightweight and comfortable characteristics of the shoe. The upper is secured around the outsole peripheral edge and extends over the outsole top surface. An opening in the upper provides access into the shoe interior between the upper and the outsole. The upper secured to the outsole comprises a first subassembly of the shoe construction.
The shoe midsole is also unitarily molded of a flexible, resilient material. The material of the midsole is preferably more flexible and more resilient than the material of the outsole. The midsole is molded with opposite top and bottom surfaces that are separated by a peripheral edge of the midsole that extends around the midsole.
A rigid plate is encapsulated in the midsole between the midsole top and bottom surfaces. The plate is constructed of a material that is significantly more rigid than the material of the midsole. The plate extends along the length of the midsole from a heel area of the midsole, through an arch area of the midsole and ends adjacent a ball area of the midsole. The plate is thin and is curved in two mutually perpendicular directions to cup the bottom of the shoe wearer's heel and arch. The rigid material of the plate helps to control the extent of cushioning in the heel preventing the heel area of the midsole from overcompressing, and also helps stabilize the heel laterally in the shoe. The midsole and encapsulated plate comprise a second subassembly of the shoe that is inserted into the interior volume of the first subassembly and is positioned on the top surface of the outsole inside the shoe upper in completing the construction of the shoe.
The method of constructing the shoe involves molding the material of the midsole around the rigid plate to encapsulate the plate in the midsole. Employing a midsole mold having top and bottom surfaces, the mold bottom surface is provided with a plurality of projections. The rigid plate is positioned on the projections to position the plate in an area where the material of the midsole will flow over the top surface and beneath the bottom surface of the plate. Thus, the projections positively locate the rigid plate inside the material of the midsole spaced below the midsole top surface and above the midsole bottom surface.
The simplified construction of the shoe described above provides an inexpensively constructed shoe that is lightweight and comfortable to wear and provides cushioning and support for the shoe wearer's foot.
Further features of the shoe of the invention are set forth in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the shoe, and in the following drawing figures wherein:
As stated earlier, the present invention provides a lightweight, comfortable shoe that is constructed according to a simplified and inexpensive method. The shoe is constructed of a reduced number of parts, and the method of constructing the shoe involves separately assembling two separate subassemblies that are fit with each other in producing the manufactured shoe. Manufacturing the subassemblies separately simplifies the shoe construction and reduces the cost of manufacturing.
The shoe 12 of the invention includes an outsole 14, an example of which is shown in
An upper 24 of flexible material is secured to the outsole 14. In the preferred embodiment shown in the drawing figures, the material of the upper 24 is predominantly a mesh material which enhances the lightweight and comfortable characteristics of the shoe. The upper 24 has an outer peripheral edge 26 that is secured around the outer peripheral edge 22 of the outsole. The material of the upper extends over the outsole top surface 16. The upper 24 is constructed with a conventional opening 28 that, in the embodiment shown in the drawing figures, is closed over the foot of a shoe wearer by a lacing assembly 32. The opening 28 in the upper provides access into the shoe interior enclosed between the outsole top surface 16 and the upper 24. The upper 24 secured to the outsole 14 comprises a first subassembly of the shoe construction. The interior of the shoe between the upper 24 and the outsole 14 is dimensioned to receive a second subassembly of the shoe construction to be described.
The midsole 34 is formed with a plurality of locator holes 44, 46 in the midsole bottom surface 38. The locator holes 44, 46 extend from the midsole bottom surface 38 into the interior of the midsole and terminate at end surfaces 48, 52 of the respective locator holes 44, 46. As shown in
A rigid plate 54 is encapsulated in the midsole 34 spaced between the midsole top surface 36 and the midsole bottom surface 38. The plate 54 is shown removed from the midsole in
The plate 54 is provided with a plurality of pin holes 68 in the plate bottom surface 58. The pin holes 68 are utilized in the method of constructing the midsole 34, yet to be explained. The midsole 34 and encapsulated plate 54 comprise the second subassembly of the shoe that is inserted into the interior volume of the first subassembly and is positioned on the outsole top surface 16 inside the shoe upper 24 in completing the construction of the shoe.
Referring to
A plurality of plate locator projections 82 are provided on the mold bottom surface 72. Each of the plate locator projections 82 has a narrow, elongate configuration and each of the projections 82 extends outwardly a short distance from the mold bottom surface 72.
A plurality of pins 84 project outwardly from each of the plate locator projections 82. An additional pair of locator pins 86 project outwardly from the mold bottom surface 72 adjacent to the plate locator projections 82.
The midsole material 88 is added to the mold completely covering over the mold bottom surface 72 within the mold bottom peripheral edge portion 74. The portion of the mold containing the mold top surface 76 is then closed over the mold bottom surface 72, and the material of the midsole 88 is cured, forming the midsole 34 of the invention. The molded midsole 34 is formed with the plate 54 positioned between the midsole top surface 36 and the midsole bottom surface 38 by the plate locator projections 82. The locator holes 44, 46 formed in the midsole bottom surface 38 are formed by the plate locator projections 82 and pins 84, and the additional pair of pins 86, respectively.
The formed midsole 34 is removed from the mold and is inserted in the opening 28 in the shoe upper 24, positioning the midsole bottom surface 38 on the outsole top surface 16 in combining the two subassemblies of the shoe as shown in
The simplified construction of the shoe described above provides an inexpensively constructed shoe that is lightweight and comfortable to wear and provides cushioning and support for the shoe wearer's foot.