Shoe having a rigid back part and flexible forepart

• US 4,704,808 A
• Filed: 09/25/1986
• Issued: 11/10/1987
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: The Rockport Company LLC (Authentic Brands Group, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Highland Import Corporation
• Inventors: Duclos, Gary P., Bianchini, William L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kee Chi, James
• Application Number:
  US06/911,370
• Time in Patent Office: 411 Days
• Field of Search: 36/102, 36/68, 36/69, 36/43, 36/44, 36/76 C, 36/12, 36/14
• US Class Current: 36/102
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/08 Heel stiffeners; Toe stiffeners
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/06 Running shoes; Track shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/00 Footwear characterised by the assembling of the individual parts

Abstract

A walking shoe having a uniquely shaped platform along the rear peripheral edge of the insole, which is constructed of a rigid backpart material and flexible forepart material. By combining it with a construction of a specially molded outflange counter and using a sturdy stitched lasting construction fastening securely the outward flange of the counter with the specially lasted molded leather upper together with the outward extension of the specially shaped insole platform, a stable support system is formed to control the lateral and longitudinal orientation of the foot when walking.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising

a sole having a forepart and a back part, said back part being relatively stiff and having a wide outwardly extending lasting margin extending about its periphery;

and an upper having a forepart and rear part,

a molded counter with a stiff outwardly extending flange and covered on the outside by the rear part, said rear part having a lower margin which extends outwardly over the flange of the counter and is turned under the lasting margin of the back part of the sole;

stitching joining the lasting margin of the back part of the sole to the flange of the counter and the lower margin of the rear part overlying the flange,

said forepart of the upper having a margin which is turned under from the feather edge and is secured to the forepart of the sole.

2. A shoe as defined in claim 1 wherein the sole includes an insole having a forepart made of a relatively flexible material and a rear part of a relatively stiff material.

3. A shoe as defined in claim 2 wherein the forepart and rear part of the insole are joined just rearwardly of the portion of the insole which underlies the ball of the foot.

4. A shoe comprising

a sole and an upper;

said sole including an insole having a forepart, shank area and back part and having a wide outwardly extending lasting margin extending about the back part and terminating at its forward portion at the shank area;

said upper having a vamp, foxing and a stiff counter;

an outwardly extending stiff lasting flange forming part of the counter positioned in face to face relationship with the wide lasting margin of the insole, and said foxing having an outwardly extending lasting margin overlying the flange of the counter;

stitching joining the foxing lasting margin and lasting flange to the upper surface of the wide lasting margin of the insole for imparting lateral stability to the rear part of the shoe;

said vamp having a lasting margin essentially free of contact with the upper surface of the forepart of the insole and extending under the periphery of the forepart of the insole and lying in face to face relationship with the bottom surface of said insole;

and the lasting margin of the vamp being cement lasted to the bottom surface of the insole to provide substantial fore and aft flexibility to the shoe.

5. A shoe as defined in claim 4 wherein the upper includes a lining stitched at its top to the top of the foxing, said foxing and lining sandwiching the counter.

6. A shoe as defined in claim 4 wherein the foxing beyond the lasting flange of the counter and its own lasting margin has a peripheral portion which extends about the edge of the wide lasting margin of the insole into face to face relationship with the lower surface of the wide lasting margin and is cemented to said lower surface of the wide lasting margin of the insole.

7. A shoe comprising

a sole and an upper;

said sole including an insole having a back part, said back part having a wide outwardly extending lasting margin extending about its periphery;

said upper including a forepart and a rear part with a feather edge and a stiff counter;

an outwardly extending stiff lasting flange forming part of the counter positioned in face to face relationship with the wide lasting margin of the insole, and said rear part of said upper having an outwardly extending lasting margin beyond the feather edge overlying the flange of the counter;

stitching joining the lasting margin of the rear part of the upper and the lasting flange of the counter to the upper surface of the wide lasting margin of the insole for imparting lateral stability to the rear part of the shoe;

said upper forepart having an inwardly turned bottom portion secured to the sole to provide substantial fore and aft flexibility to the shoe.

8. A shoe as defined in claim 7 wherein

the inwardly turned bottom portion of the upper forepart is immediately adjacent the feather edge.

9. A shoe as defined in claim 7 wherein

the upper includes a lining secured at its top to the top of the rear part of the upper, said upper with the lining defining a pocket for the counter.

10. A shoe comprising

a sole and an upper;

said sole including an insole having a forepart, shank area and back part, said back part having a wide outwardly extending lasting margin extending about the back part and terminating at its forward portion in the region of the shank area;

said upper having a forepart, rear quarter and a stiff counter;

an outwardly extending stiff lasting flange forming part of the counter positioned in face to face relationship with the wide lasting margin of the insole, and said rear quarter having an outwardly extending lasting margin overlying the lasting flange of the counter;

stitching joining the lasting margin of the rear quarter and lasting flange of the counter to the upper surface of the wide lasting margin of the insole for imparting lateral stability to the rear part of the shoe;

said upper forepart having a lasting margin essentially free of contact with the upper surface of the insole and extending under the periphery of the forepart of the insole;

and the lasting margin of the upper forepart being secured to the sole to provide substantial fore and aft flexibility to the shoe.

11. A shoe comprising

a sole and an upper;

said sole including an insole having a back part with a wide outwardly extending lasting margin extending about the back part;

said upper having a vamp, quarters, feather edge and a stiff counter;

an outwardly extending stiff lasting flange forming part of the counter positioned in face to face relationship with the wide lasting margin of the insole, and said quarters having an outwardly extending lasting margin overlying the flange of the counter;

stitching joining the quarters lasting margin and counter lasting flange to the upper surface of the wide lasting margin of the insole for imparting lateral stability to the rear part of the shoe;

and an outsole secured to the bottom of the shoe beneath the insole,

said vamp having a lasting margin immediately adjacent the feather edge and turned under at the forepart of the shoe and overlying the outsole to provide substantial fore and aft flexibility to the shoe.

12. A shoe as defined in claim 11 wherein

the outwardly extending lasting margin of the quarters has an outermost portion which is turned under the margin of the insole, and is cemented to the sole.

13. A shoe as defined in claim 11 wherein

the insole has a forepart, and the lasting margin of the vamp is secured beneath the bottom surface of the insole.

14. A shoe as defined in claim 13 wherein

the insole is flexible at the forepart and relatively stiff at the backpart.

15. A shoe as defined in claim 11 wherein

the quarters include foxing which extends about the back of the shoe.

16. A shoe as defined in claim 15 wherein

a lining is secured to the upper edge of the quarters, and the lining and foxing define a pocket for the counter.