The developments described herein relate to an article of footwear with artwork visible through the sole of the footwear, and a method by which artwork may be displayed through the sole of the footwear.
The process of boot or shoe manufacturing utilizing a Goodyear welt has existed since at least 1871. It is a manner in which boots have been constructed since that time.
Generally speaking, in the Goodyear welting process, the upper part of a shoe is shaped over a last and fastened to the inner and upper sole by sewing a welt (i.e. a leather strip or other suitable material). As well as using a welt, a thread 12 strands thick may be used. The sole is then attached to the welt of the shoe with a high strength adhesive.
Heretofore, visible soles or artwork on the bottom side of products have been seen on skateboards, snowboards and in various examples, skate shoes. For example, a transparent medium can be used to display a variety of images on the side of the shoe or on an interchangeable tongue on a lace-up shoe. A clear sole may be used to provide an internal view of the fit of the shoe, as opposed to a means to display art. A clear sole may also be used to display various artwork in the context of a cemented outsole, but not in a boot or shoe utilizing the Goodyear welt process.
A multi layer sole, using a translucent exterior layer, is also known, however, it also uses cemented construction and shows underlying colors and patterns, rather than artwork. Furthermore, the design features cemented construction, rather than Goodyear welted construction. Other types of footwear may have a transparent bottom over a basic sole pattern. The use of a rubber outsole to provide durability is known in the art for example, boots which uses welted construction and a black rubber outsole to increase durability.
Thus, it may be desirable to have a sturdy, durable item of footwear, made by a process that results in a well-made shoe or boot, that incorporates an individualized graphic or piece of artwork that can be incorporated into and displayed on the bottom or sole of the footwear.
These developments may graphically present an image on the sole of a well-made boot or shoe, as well as allow for a system, method and process of manufacturing a boot or shoe with a durable design and with a graphic image on the sole of the boot or shoe. In the claimed process, many of the typical processes of boot manufacturing can remain intact and utilize a time-honored boot making tradition, yet utilize current state-of-the-art materials, such as the a transparent sole with integrally incorporated graphics. The development allows for a boot that displays art on the sole, yet is functional and durable for everyday use.
The development also provides quality and craftsmanship, works within the current requirements for performance and durability that has come to be expected from a Goodyear welted boot, and allows the user to “show” their soles (and whatever art they may choose) as they use their boots.
In the drawings:
FIG. 1—Shows an exploded isometric view of the footwear
FIG. 2—Shows a bottom elevational view of the sole of the footwear
FIG. 3—Shows an exploded side elevational view of the footwear
The developments hereof relate to an article of footwear configured to display an item of artwork or graphic elements visible on the sole of the footwear. In various implementations, the footwear has at least an upper portion, a midsole portion, an article of artwork which may include a graphic design, and an outsole portion. The artwork or graphic elements may be integrated with the footwear so as to be visible from the bottom of the footwear. The artwork may be visible through the sole of the footwear or on the heel of the footwear or both. In some implementations, the artwork or graphic elements may take a variety of styles, shapes and sizes to suit an individual's taste while being of a size and shape suitable for display through the sole of the footwear.
As generally shown in
The midsole 30 is shown in position relative to the heel counter or spur ridge 20 and relative to the vamp or upper portion 10. The midsole 30 may be made of any suitable material known to those of ordinary skill in the art, such as rubber or textured rubber.
Also shown in
The outsole 50 is shown as outsole portion 50a and heel outsole 50b, in their respective positions relative to the artwork portion 40. The outsole 50 may be made from a clear or translucent material, such as polyurethane or other suitable materials known to those skilled in the art.
The Goodyear welt 60 is shown as ultimately holding together the various components 10, 30, 40a and 50a of the footwear 5. The Goodyear welt 60 may be a plain stitch through at least the outsole, mid-sole and welt.
The heel 70 is shown in position relative to the other components at the heel end of the footwear. The heel 70 may be made of rubber, composite leather or leather, or any other suitable materials. The heel nails 100 ultimately affix the heel to the footwear 5.
The upper portion 10 of the boot or shoe 5 may be constructed in the typical manner, using traditional materials and processes. The mid-sole 30 (of rubber or other material) may be fixedly attached to the vamp or upper portion 10 of the boot or shoe 5 as a substrate for a decal or other material bearing a graphic.
Artwork 40 as shown in
As shown in
The heel 70 may be of any typical constructions—for example, Leather, Robus, Synthetic, rubber, or other typical constructions or materials known to those of skill in the art. In any case, the heel 70 serves as the substrate for the application of a decal or other artwork on the second outsole portion 40b, or a point of adhesion for an integrally molded heel.
As shown in
Additional processes for assembling the heel portion of the footwear 5, shown in
Although the above description contains many specificities, these should not be construed as limiting the scope of the development rather providing illustrations of some embodiments of this development.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20110277251 A1 | Nov 2011 | US |