SPLIT-SOLE FOOTWEAR

• US 20150089843A1
• Filed: 04/30/2014
• Published: 04/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/10/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gavrieli Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Gavrieli Brands LLC
• Inventors: Gavrieli, Kfir, Gavrieli, Dikla
• Granted Patent: US 9,398,786 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 36/103
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/122 characterised by the outsole or external layer
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/14 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/141 with a part of the sole being flexible, e.g. permitting articulation or torsion
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/16 Pieced soles with several layers of different material A43B13/12
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 13/186 Differential cushioning region, e.g. cushioning located under the ball of the foot resilient heel not included in the sole A43B21/26; resilient supports for the heel of the foot A43B21/32
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 23/0245 characterised by the constructive form
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/10 Low shoes , e.g. comprising only a front strap; Slippers
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/108 characterised by the sole
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/12 Sandals; Strap guides thereon
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/24 Collapsible or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 3/248 Collapsible, e.g. foldable for travelling
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/12 Dancing shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 9/02 Footwear stitched or nailed through

Abstract

A shoe comprising an upper forming an interior portion for a foot, the interior portion including toe and heel cavities, is provided. The shoe further comprises a midsole having toe and heel ends and inner and outer sides. The midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion. Heel and toe outsole patches are respectively stitched onto the midsole. An insole is affixed to the bottom of the interior portion. A spacing between the heel and toe outsole patches extends from the inner to the outer side and occupies a position intermediate the toe and heel ends thereby permitting the shoe to fold about an axis running through the spacing. The shoe folds between an extended state, in which the shoe is worn, and a folded state in which a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity.

Claims

1. A shoe comprising:

an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;

a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;

a heel outsole patch stitched onto a heel portion of a first face of the midsole;

a toe outsole patch stitched onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; and

an insole that is affixed by glue to the bottom of the interior portion,

wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein the insole is not stitched to the upper.

2. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the midsole is made out of leather.

3. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the bottom of the interior portion further comprises a foam inlay and wherein the insole is affixed by glue to the foam inlay.

4. The shoe of claim 1, wherein the interior portion further comprises a cushion insert that is glued to the heel portion of a second face of the midsole.

5. The shoe of claim 3, wherein the midsole comprises a second face having a heel portion and a toe portion and wherein

the interior portion further comprises a cushion insert that is glued to the heel portion of a second face of the midsole, and

the foam inlay is glued to (i) cushion insert and (ii) the toe portion of the second face of the midsole.

6. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the cushion insert is characterized by a first end and a second end, wherein

the first end of the cushion insert is glued to a first part of the heel portion and the second end of the cushion insert is glued to a second part of the heel portion, wherein the first part of the heel portion is closer to the toe portion of the second face of the midsole than the second part of the heel portion, and

the first end of the cushion insert has a thickness that is less than the second end of the cushion insert.

7. The shoe of claim 4, wherein the cushion insert has a thickness that increases along the insert as a function of a distance away from the toe portion of the second face of the midsole so that a portion of the cushion insert that is closest to the toe portion of the midsole is thinner than a portion of the cushion insert that is farthest away from the toe portion of the midsole.

8. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert comprises a ethylene vinyl acetate or polyurethane.

9. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert has a Shore A hardness of between 45 and 70.

10. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert has a Shore A hardness of between 60 and 70.

11. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert has a density of between 0.30 g/cm³ and 0.7 g/cm³.

12. The shoe of claim 4 wherein the cushion insert has a density of between 0.40 g/cm³ and 0.7 g/cm³.

13. The shoe of claim 1 wherein

a first groove having a depth of at least 3/64 of an inch is formed proximate to a perimeter of the heel outsole patch and wherein the heel outsole patch is stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole with a first thread that occupies the first groove;

and

a second groove having a depth of at least 3/64 of an inch is formed proximate to a perimeter of the toe outsole patch and wherein the toe outsole patch is stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole with a second thread that occupies the second groove.

14. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the upper is formed as a single piece having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end and the second end are united by a second seam at the heel cavity.

15. The shoe of claim 1 wherein

the upper is formed as a single piece having (i) a first end, (ii) a second end, (iii) a first edge, and (iv) a second edge,

the first end and the second end are united by a second seam at the heel cavity,

the first edge is stitched to the perimeter of the midsole thereby forming the bottom to the interior portion,

a first portion of the second edge is characterized by an elastic restriction, wherein the portion of the second edge does not extend to the heel cavity.

16. The shoe of claim 15 wherein a second portion of the second edge is characterized by an Achilles cushion that provides an upper boundary to the heel cavity.

17. The shoe of claim 1 wherein

the upper is formed as a single piece having a first end and a second end,

the first end and the second end are united by a second seam at the heel cavity, and

a half moon piece covers a lower portion of the second seam.

21. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼

of an inch of a portion of the first seam.

22. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within 3/16 of an inch of a portion of the first seam.

23. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a front corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼

of an inch of a portion of the first seam.

24. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within 3/16 of an inch of a portion of the first seam.

25. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a back corner of the heel outsole patch is within ¼

of an inch of a portion of the first seam.

26. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the toe outsole patch or the heel outsole patch has a durability coefficient of between 0.8 and 1.5.

27. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the toe outsole patch or the heel outsole patch has a durability coefficient of between 1.0 and 1.3.

28. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each at least 3/32 of an inch thick.

29. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are each about 5/32 of an inch thick.

30. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the spacing is between 4/8 of an inch and 6/8 of an inch.

31. The shoe of claim 1 wherein the spacing is about ⅝

of an inch.

34. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.40 kilogram-force/inch and 0.70 kilogram-force/inch.

35. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.

36. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a region of the shoe defined by the toe outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.40 kilogram-force/inch and 0.70 kilogram-force/inch.

37. The shoe of claim 1 wherein a region of the shoe defined by the toe outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.

18-20. -20. (canceled)

32-33. -33. (canceled)

38. A shoe comprising:

an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;

a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;

a heel outsole patch stitched onto a heel portion of a first face of the midsole;

a toe outsole patch stitched onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; and

an insole that is affixed by glue to the bottom of the interior portion,

wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.40 kilogram-force/inch and 0.70 kilogram-force/inch.

39. A shoe comprising:

an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;

a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;

a heel outsole patch stitched onto a heel portion of a first face of the midsole;

a toe outsole patch stitched onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; and

an insole that is affixed by glue to the bottom of the interior portion,

wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein a back corner of the toe outsole patch is within ¼

of an inch of a portion of the first seam.

40. A shoe comprising:

an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;

a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;

a heel outsole patch stitched onto a heel portion of a first face of the midsole;

a toe outsole patch stitched onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; and

an insole that is affixed by glue to the bottom of the interior portion,

wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein a groove having a depth of at least 3/64 of an inch is formed proximate to a perimeter of the heel outsole patch and wherein the heel outsole patch is stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole with a thread that occupies the first groove.

41. A shoe comprising:

an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity;

a midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein a perimeter of the midsole is stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam;

a heel outsole patch stitched onto a heel portion of a first face of the midsole;

a toe outsole patch stitched onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole; and

an insole that is affixed by glue to the bottom of the interior portion

wherein there is a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.

42. A method of manufacturing a shoe, the method comprising:

(A) stitching a heel outsole patch onto a heel portion of a first face of a midsole;

(B) stitching a toe outsole patch onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole;

(C) affixing a cushion insert to the heel portion of a second face of the midsole,

(D) sewing an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity, to the midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein the sewing (D) results in a perimeter of the midsole being stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam; and

(E) affixing by glue an insole to the bottom of the interior portion

wherein, the stitching (A) and stitching (B) form a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side, and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein the insole is not stitched to the upper.

43. A method of manufacturing a shoe, the method comprising:

(A) stitching a heel outsole patch onto a heel portion of a first face of a midsole;

(B) stitching a toe outsole patch onto a toe portion of the first face of the midsole;

(C) sewing an upper, the upper forming an interior portion for receiving a foot of a woman, the interior portion including a toe cavity and a heel cavity, to the midsole, the midsole having (i) a toe end, (ii) a heel end, (iii) an inner side, and (iv) an outer side, wherein the sewing (C) results in a perimeter of the midsole being stitched to the upper thereby forming a bottom to the interior portion that is bounded by a first seam; and

(D) affixing by glue an insole to the bottom of the interior portion

wherein, the stitching (A) and stitching (B) form a spacing between (i) the heel outsole patch stitched onto the heel portion of the first face of the midsole and (ii) the toe outsole patch stitched onto the toe portion of the first face of the midsole, the spacing extending from the inner side to the outer side and occupying a position intermediate the toe end and the heel end thereby permitting the entire shoe to fold about an axis in the spacing running between the inner side and the outer side and

wherein the shoe is configured to fold between (i) an extended state wherein the heel outsole patch and the toe outsole patch are coplanar and (ii) a folded state in which the shoe is bent about the axis such that a portion of the upper comprising the toe cavity is tucked into the heel cavity, and wherein a region of the shoe defined by the heel outsole patch and comprising a corresponding portion of the midsole and the insole has a spring constant of between 0.45 kilogram-force/inch and 0.55 kilogram-force/inch.

44-46. -46. (canceled)