Sole with extensible structure footwear equipped with same and method for mounting same

• US 7,155,845 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2002
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Exten.S
• Original Assignee: Exten.S
• Inventors: Durand, Jean-Jacques
• Primary Examiner(s): Stashick; Anthony
• Application Number:
  US10/475,933
• Publication Number:
  US 20040128861A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,716 Days
• Field of Search: 36/97, 36/25.R, 36/28, 36/30.R, 36/31, 361/30
• US Class Current: 36/97
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/12 Soles with several layers of different materials
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/26 adjustable as to length or size
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 7/12 Special watertight footwear overshoes A43B3/16
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/12 Stuck or cemented footwear

Abstract

Sole with stretchable structure, a footwear article provided with such a sole and its assembly method.

The invention relates to a footwear sole where the forepart is associated with a stretchable material making it possible to fit differing foot widths easily; it also relates to the footwear equipped with such a sole and the method for mounting this footwear.

It is constituted of a sole base (1) comprising openings (4) in which the lugs (3) of the stretchable part (2) are positioned in a sealed manner.

The insole (5) comprises a deformable structure (6) in its forepart. When the wearer'"'"'s foot is put into a footwear article provided with such a complex, it exerts pressure on the edges of the upper (10) thus causing deformation of the sole. This ability of deforming the sole avoids feelings of compression of the foot.

The device according to the invention is intended in particular for the manufacture of footwear with the ability of adapting to differing foot anatomies.

Claims

1. Stretchable sole for a shoe of the type where a sole base is adapted to be attached to edges of an upper, said stretchable sole comprising the sole base and an insert mounted to said base between the attachment zones of said base and of said upper, and wherein said insert is relatively stretchable transversally as compared to the sole base, wherein said insert is a moldable stretchable material with shape memorization and glued or soldered by injection on the sole base, said insert being provided with lugs on its lower surface and a forepart of said sole base being provided with openings into which the lugs are countersunk.

2. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the rigid sole base has properties suitable for gripping.

3. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the insert is glued or molded to the base.

4. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 1 and an upper.

5. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein said footwear comprises an upper, an insole, a sock lining, the sole base and the stretchable sole insert, the insole being constituted of a deformable forepart and of a rigid back part.

6. Footwear according to claim 5, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises parallel slits which have been made longitudinally in said part.

7. Method of assembly of footwear according to claim 5, comprising the following operations:

preparation of a sole sub-assembly, by assembling the sole base and the relatively stretchable insert, mounted to said base,

preparation and assembly of the insole with its deformable foot forepart and its rigid back part,

mounting of the upper on the insole,

assembly of the sole subassembly with the mounted upper,

setting of the sock lining on the upper face of the insole.

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the insert is glued or molded to the base.

9. Stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein the sole base has properties suitable for gripping.

10. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 9, wherein said footwear comprises an upper, an insole, a sock lining, the sole base and the stretchable sole insert, the insole being constituted of a deformable forepart and of a rigid back part.

11. Footwear according to claim 10, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises parallel slits which have been made longitudinally in said part.

12. Method of assembly of footwear according to claim 10, comprising the following operations:

preparation of a sole sub-assembly, by assembling the sole base and the relatively stretchable insert, mounted to said base,

preparation and assembly of the insole with its deformable foot forepart and its rigid back part,

mounting of the upper on the insole,

assembly of the sole subassembly with the mounted upper,

setting of the sock lining on the upper face of the insole.

13. Footwear comprising a stretchable sole according to claim 1, wherein said footwear comprises an upper, an insole, a sock lining, the sole base and the stretchable sole insert, the insole being constituted of a deformable forepart and of a rigid back part.

14. Footwear according to claim 13, wherein the deformable forepart of the insole comprises parallel slits which have been made longitudinally in said part.

15. Method of assembly of footwear according to claim 13, comprising the following operations:

preparation of a sole sub-assembly, by assembling the sole base and the relatively stretchable insert, mounted to said base,

preparation and assembly of the insole with its deformable foot forepart and its rigid back part,

mounting of the upper on the insole,

assembly of the sole subassembly with the mounted upper,

setting of the sock lining on the upper face of the insole.