Boots – shoes – and leggings – Sole-attaching means – Welt connected
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-13
2001-02-27
Patterson, M. D. (Department: 3728)
Boots, shoes, and leggings
Sole-attaching means
Welt connected
C036S0170PW, C036S021000, C036S012000, C012S1420MC, C012S1420MC
Reexamination Certificate
active
06192605
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present investigation generally relates to shoe constructions and, more particularly, to a welted shoe construction and a method of making same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the construction of a walking shoe, it is known to hand- or machine-stitch a welt, i.e., a strip of leather or other material, between the outsole and the shoe upper, typically to resist the entry of water into the shoe. In one popular welted shoe construction known as the Goodyear welt, an insole is formed with an upstanding wall or rib which is positioned several millimeters inwardly from the outer edge of the insole. During lasting, i.e., the stage in the shoe manufacture where the upper takes its final shape and is fastened to the insole, the upper and any optional linings are secured to this rib. The welt is then sewn to this rib. After the welt has been combined with the shoe upper, an outsole is then stitched to the welt, thereby attaching the outsole to the upper via the welt.
Although generally satisfactory for its intended purpose, the Goodyear welt, as well as other welted shoe constructions, are labor-intensive and costly to manufacture due primarily to the number of handling steps during the lasting process. Simplifying and reducing the cost of manufacture of well-made, water-resistant walking shoes are desirable goals in the field of footwear manufacturing.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Objects of the Invention
Accordingly, it is a general object of this invention to provide a novel welted shoe construction and method which will simplify and reduce the cost of manufacture of welted shoes.
Another object of this invention is to provide an attractive, durable, welted shoe.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
In keeping with the above objects and others which will become apparent hereafter, one feature of the present invention resides, briefly stated, in a welted shoe construction which includes an upper having a periphery, and an insole mounted within the upper. A molded midsole has a molded welt located exteriorly adjacent, and extending around the periphery of, the upper. The molded midsole has a molded midsole flange of one-piece with, and extending outwardly away from, the molded welt. The midsole flange extends around the periphery of the upper. The molded midsole, the upper and the insole are stitched together in a sub-assembly.
The construction also includes an outsole having an outsole flange underneath the midsole flange and extending around the periphery of the upper. The outsole is stitched to the sub-assembly by stitching the flanges together along the periphery of the upper.
In a preferred embodiment, the upper has edge regions underneath the insole and sandwiched between the insole and the midsole. A plurality of stitches extends through the molded midsole, the edge regions of the upper, and the insole. The molded welt and the midsole flange are preferably molded of a rubber or a synthetic plastic material. The flanges contact each other entirely along the periphery of the upper. A plurality of stitches extends through the flanges in contact with each other to complete the construction.
Another feature resides in a method of making a welted shoe. The method includes mounting an insole within a shoe upper having a periphery; and molding a midsole with a molded welt and a molded midsole flange of one-piece with each other. The midsole flange extends outwardly away from the molded welt. The molded midsole, the upper and the insole are stitched together in a sub-assembly in which the molded welt is located exteriorly adjacent the upper, and in which each of the molded welt and the midsole flange extends around the periphery of the upper.
The method further includes positioning an outsole flange of an outsole underneath the midsole flange. The outsole flange contacts the midsole flange and extends around the periphery of the upper. The outsole is stitched to the sub-assembly by stitching the flanges together along the periphery of the upper.
In the preferred method, the mounting is performed by folding edge regions of the upper underneath the insole and above the midsole. The first stitching step is performed by stitching through the molded midsole, the edge regions of the upper, and the insole. The second stitching step is performed by stitching through the flanges entirely along the periphery of the upper. The molding is performed by molding the welt and the midsole flange of a rubber or a synthetic plastic material.
In accordance with this invention, the welt is not separately attached to any other shoe part, because the welt is of one-piece with the midsole. The insole, upper and midsole are conveniently stitched together in one sewing operation, while the outsole is conveniently stitched to the midsole in another sewing operation. The resulting welted shoe is durable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture due to the limited number of sewing operations.
The novel features which are considered as characteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its construction and its method of operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1522564 (1925-01-01), White
patent: 1922430 (1933-08-01), Game
patent: 2337121 (1943-12-01), Miner
patent: 2958965 (1960-11-01), Scala
patent: 4182055 (1980-01-01), Turner, Jr.
patent: 5743027 (1998-04-01), Barma
E.S. Originals Inc.
Kirschstein et al.
Patterson M. D.
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