WO2000027234A1

WO2000027234A1 - Method for the manufacturing of open footwear, and footwear obtained by such method

Info

Publication number: WO2000027234A1
Application number: PCT/IB1999/001779
Authority: WO
Inventors: Dino Guiotto; Nicola Vittori
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-11-05
Filing date: 1999-11-05
Publication date: 2000-05-18
Anticipated expiration: 2001-05-05
Also published as: ITVI980214A1; IT1302453B1

Abstract

A method for the manufacturing of open footwear, of the sandal and slipper type, including the steps of preparing an arch-support (2) destined to contact the foot of the user, preparation of an outersole (3) of substantially rigid or semirigid material, preparation of an upper (4) of comparatively flexible material, coupling of these three elements (2, 3, 4) by means of stitching and/or gluing. The arch-support (2) includes a preformed core, shaped as a plantar so as to present a corresponding anatomic configuration to the sole of the foot of the user. The preformed core (5) is covered on the upper side and peripherally by a lining (6) of laminar flexible material and is superposed to an innersole (7) of fibrous material. An open footwear, obtained by means of the cited method, includes an arch-support (2) with a preformed core (5), shaped so as to present a corresponding anatomic configuration with the shape of the foot of the user.

Description

METHOD FOR THE MANUFACTURING OF OPEN FOOTWEAR, AND FOOTWEAR OBTAINED BY SUCH METHOD

Technical field

The object of the present invention is a method for the manufacturing of "open" footwear, of the sandal, slipper[, mule] type and similar, and a footwear of the above mentioned type obtained by means of the above mentioned method.

Background art

It is known that the footwear of the above indicated type is essentially obtained by providing a so called footbed or arch-support destined to support the sole of the foot of the user, to which a shoe sole is normally glued or stitched which is in contact with the ground, and an open extremity upper is stitched or in any manner anchored to this assembly, the upper being for example constituted by one or more bands made of leathers, fabric or any other flexible material placed in the metacarpal zone, possibly associated with a heel counter formed from belts or straps provide normally with closing buckles, for example with Velcro fabric.

In particular, the arch-support is generally formed by a core of elastic yielding material, for example of polyurethane foam or pressed cardboard, of essentially plane shape, i.e. without any shaping, covered on the upper side with a lining of natural or synthetic material, for contact with the foot of the user and is coupled to an insole on the lower side.

The industrial process described above is generally called "ideal" by specialists in this field for its great facility and low cost of manufacturing, and for the excellent practical results that can be obtained.

The footwear obtained in this manner has a reasonable degree of comfort that is however limited by the fact that the arch-support has a substantially plane shape, not perfectly adapted to the podalic arch.

Nowadays it is necessary to make open footwear for home and free time which are more comfortable and safe, able to suit to the anatomic shape of the foot, although maintaining the production costs in rather low ranges.

Presentation of the invention

A primary aim of the present invention is provide a method for the manufacturing of open footwear, of the sandal and slipper [and mule] type with a high degree of comfort and finishing level.

A further aim is to conceive a method for the manufacturing of open footwear, of the above indicated type, with elements easy to find in commerce so as to result economically advantageous.

Another aim is to realise open footwear obtainable by means of the above indicated method, providing a high finishing degree and comfort.

In accordance with a preferred aspect of the invention, there is provided a method for the manufacturing of open footwear, of the sandal and slipper type, as defined in the attached claim 1 .

According to another preferred aspect of the invention, there is provided an open footwear of the sandal and slipper type or similar, in accordance with the attached claim 7. Brief description of the drawings

The particular characteristics and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of some preferred but not exclusive embodiments of a method for the manufacturing of open footwear and of an open footwear according the invention, illustrated by way of non limitative example with the help of the attached drawings in which: FIG. 1 shows a schematic view of a detail of an open footwear in a particular step of the method according the invention; FIG. 2 shows a schematic view of the detail of Fig. 1 completely assembled and finished;

FIG. 3 shows an exploded schematic view of some details of an open footwear during a subsequent step of the method according to the invention; FIG. 4 shows a schematic perspective view of an open footwear obtained with the method according the invention;

FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8 represent sectional views of some particular embodiments of the detail of Fig. 2.

Detailed description of the preferred embodiments

With reference to the cited figures, there is illustrated an open footwear, for example a slipper, indicated globally with the reference numeral 1 , which includes essentially an arch-support 2 united to a sole or outersole 3 and an upper 4.

In particular, the arch-support 2 is formed of a core 5 in elastically yielding material, for example polyurethane foam, covered on the upper side by a lining 6 of relatively thin flexible laminar material, for example skin or imitation leather, and is superposed on an innersole 7 in fibrous material, for example pressed cardboard, with the "ideal" classic assembly method. The polyurethane foam of which is formed the core 5 can be obtained by mixing, by means of a special foaming head, a polyol, for example polyether, with isocyanate in various percentages so as to reach a final hardness preferably included between 1 5 and 60 Shore degrees.

Subsequently, the arch-support 2 is united both to the sole 3 and to the upper 4 by means of stitching and/or gluing.

According to the invention, the core 5 is shaped in such a manner to present a typical anatomic configuration of a foot sole, corresponding to the shape of the podalic bow of the user. Thus, the user can have also a very comfortable open footwear, like the classic footwear or shoes in commerce.

In a known manner, the "ideal" assembly method can be realised by putting the edge 9 of the lining in contact with the edge of the innersole 7 and stitching them together with stitches 8, as illustrated in the Fig. 5.

Alternatively, the edge 9' of the lining can be folded under the edge of the sole, and stitched to the same with through stitches 8, as shown in Fig. 6, carrying out a variation of the ideal "turned" method.

In an other embodiment, illustrated in the Fig. 7, the edge 9 of the lining 6 can be placed on the edge of the innersole 7, and both can be covered by a flexible strip 10 U-folded and united by a through seam 8, thus making a variation of the ideal "hemmed" assembly method.

In another form, the folded strip 10 can be glued instead of stitched as shown in Fig. 8, realising a variation of the ideal "profiled" assembly method.

It is observed that the seam 8 used for assembling the arch-support 2 can be used also to join the arch-support 2 to the sole 3 and to the upper 4.

The method for the manufacturing of the open footwear and the open footwear according to the invention is susceptible to numerous changes and variations all falling within the inventive idea defined in the attached claims.

Although the invention has been described with specific reference to the illustrated embodiments in the enclosed drawings, it is evident that the reference numbers used in the attached claims are purely exemplifying and do not limit in any manner the scope of protection expressed in the claims.

The instant application is based upon Italian patent application VI98A000214, filed on 5 November 1998, the disclosure of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference thereto, and the priority of which is hereby claimed.

Claims

1 . Method for the manufacturing of open footwear, of the sandal or slipper or similar type, comprising the following steps: - preparation of an arch-support (2) aimed to come into contact with the foot of the user;

- preparation of an outersole (3) of a substantially rigid or semirigid material;

- preparation of an upper (4) of comparatively flexible material;

- coupling of the above-mentioned three elements (2, 3, 4) by stitching and/or gluing, characterised in that said arch-support (2) includes a preformed core (5), shaped as a plantar so as to present an anatomic configuration corresponding to the foot sole of the user.

2. Method according to claim 1 , characterised in that said preformed core (5) is covered on its upper part and peripherally by a lining (6) in flexible laminar material and is placed on an innersole (7) of fibrous material.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterised in that said lining (6) in its horizontal projection has an extension slightly greater than said core (5) so as to present a peripheral edge (9) protruding toward the outside of the latter.

4. Method according to claim 3, characterised in that said peripheral edge (9) is connected to the innersole (7) of fibrous material by gluing and/or stitching (8).

5. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that said edge (9) is simply laid on the edge of the innersole (7), or folded back under (9') the latter.

6. Method according to claim 4, characterised in that said edge (9) is simply laid on the edge of the innersole, there being provided a peripheral strip (10) U-folded covering both the edge (9) of the lining (6) and that of the innersole (7) and joined to both by stitching and/or gluing.

7. Open footwear, of the sandal or slipper or similar type, comprising a arch-support (2) that contacts the foot of the user, an outersole (3) in material substantially rigid or semirigid, an upper (4) in relatively flexible material, in which said elements (2, 3, 4) are reciprocally joined by stitching (8) and /or gluing, characterised in that said arch-support (2) includes a preformed core (5), shaped so as to have an anatomic configuration corresponding to the form of the foot of the user.

8. Footwear according to claim 7, characterised in that said preformed core (5) is covered on its upper part and peripherally by a lining (6) of flexible laminar material and is laid on an innersole (7) in fibrous material.

9. Footwear according to claim 8, characterised in that said lining (6) in its horizontal projection has an extension greater than said core (5) so as to present a peripheral edge (9) jutting toward the outside of the latter.

10. Footwear according to claim 9, characterised by the fact that said peripheral edge (9) is connected to the innersole (7) in fibrous material by stitching and/or gluing (8).