GB1594127A - Backless footwear - Google Patents

Description

(54) BACKLESS FOOTWEAR (71) We, DUNLOP LIMITED, a British Company of Dunlop House, Ryder Street, St. James's, London S.W.1, do hereby declare the invention, for which we pray that a patent may be granted to us, and the method by which it is to be performer to be particularly described in and by the following statement: - This invention relates to backless footwear and especially to heel fillers therefor.

The present invention will be described with particular reference to backless slippers and similar items of leisure footwear such as mule but is not limited thereto.

Mules generally comprise a unitary sole/ heel member lasted to a backless upper and a heel filler member to provide a raised heel on the mule. The heel filler member may, for example, be wedge-shaped and is generally covered with one or more layers of a natural or synthetic textile material which may additionally be provided with a decorative outer surface. The mules are "finished" by means of an insole member (which may also be provided with a decorative outer surface).

The heel filler member has a first surface which is placed adjacent the inner surface of the sole/heel member, a second surface substantially perpendicular to the first surface to receive one or more layers of a covering material, and a third surface to which the insole is attached in the "finished" mule. The said three surfaces will hereinafter be referred to as "base surface", "wall surface" and "inner surface" respectively.

Hitherto, the heel filler member has been covered by attaching a layer of material to the wall surface, the material finishing flush with the periphery of the wall surface where it abuts the inner surface of the filler member, and subsequently attaching an insole member to the inner surface, to form a butt-joint with the material covering the wall surface. Such a joint is difficult to achieve in an economical and reproducible manner and tends to fail after a relatively short period when the shoes are worn.

It has been proposed to overcome failure of the joint by providing an "overlap" margin of the covering material on the wall surface and folding this margin over the edge of the wall surface and attaching it to the inner surface of the heel filler before applying the insole member. However, it is necessary to shape the overlap margin carefully in order to avoid a wrinkled appearance in the finished shoe and in addition a layer of padding material has to be placed between the "uncovered" portion of the inner surface of the heel filler and the insole in order to provide adequate comfort for the wearer.

We have now found that the problems described in the two immediately-preceding paragraphs may be overcome by arranging to receive an overlap margin of a covering material which extends over the wall surface in a peripheral channel, the channel, being provided on the inner surface of the heel filler.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an article of backless footwear, comprising a unitary sole/heel member lasted to an upper an insole member, a heel filler member comprising a base surface, a wall surface and an inner surface (all as hereinbefore defined) and one or more covering layers for the heel filler member, in which said heel filler member is provided with a peripheral channel on its inner surface, whereby the covering layer extends over the wall surface so as to overlap the edge of the inner surface and is retained in the channel, and the insole member is attached to the heel filler member at least in the region of the channel.

The heel filler member may comprise, in one embodiment, a solid, shaped body which may be moulded from a rigid plastics material (e.g.

ethylene-vinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride or a polyamide) or may be cut from a block of wood or chipboard. Where the heel filler is made by moulding, it is preferred to provide the mould with means to produce a channel in situ, although it is possible to machine the channel into the heel filler after moulding.

In a second embodiment, the heel filler member may comprise a hollow shaped body consisting of a base surface and a wall surface (as hereinbefore defined) the inner surface (as hereinbefore defined) being constituted by a removable lid. The dimensions of the lid are such that the periphery of the lid and that of the wall surface define between them a channel to receive an overlap margin of a layer of material covering the wall surface, and the lid serves to retain the material in position as well as to provide a surface to receive the insole.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, by means of the following description and with reference to the accompanying informal drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a solid heel filler member for use in an article of footwear according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hollow heel filler member for use in an article of footwear according to the present invention, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an article of backless footwear according to the present invention, incorporating a hollow heel filler member as shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figure 1, the heel filler member comprises a solid, shaped body of a rigid plastics material having a base surface 10, a wall surface 11 and an inner surface 12.

Around the periphery of the inner surface corresponding to the rear portion of the article of footwear to contain the filler member there is provided a channel 13 to receive an overlap margin of a covering layer (not shown) attached to the wall surface 11.

In Figure 2, the heel filler member comprises a hollow, moulded body of a rigid plastics material having a base surface 20 and a wall surface 21. The inner surface of the filler member is constituted by a lid 22, the dimensions of which are such that between the lid and the wall surface there is defined a channel 23 correspondling to the rear portion of an article of backless footwear. The channel 23 receives an overlap margin of a covering layer (not shown) to be attached to the wall surface 21.

Referring now to Figure 3, an article of backless footwear comprises a unitary sole/ heel member 30, an upper 31, a hollow heel filler member 32 having a wall surface 33 and a lid 34 which is of such dimensions relative to the filler member that, when in position on the heel filler, it defines a channel 35 be tween its own periphery and that of the mem ber 32 at the rear of the article of footwear.

The wall surface 33 is covered by means of a layer of cloth 40. The cloth is provided with an overlap margin 41 which is turned over the upper edge 33A of the wall surface and secured thereto in channel 35. The lid 34 is fixed in position and an insole 42 is attached thereover to finish the footwear article.

The overlap margin may be secured to the wall surface by means of an adhesive but, given a suitably-shaped groove (as in Figure 1) or a suitably-arranged lid (as in Figures 2 and 3), the margin can be held in position without recourse to an adhesive.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An article of backless footwear comprising a unitary sole/heel member lasted to an upper, an insole member, a heel filler member comprising a base surface, a wall surface and an inner surface (all as hereinbefore defined) and one or more covering layers for the heel filler member, in which said heel filler member is provided with a peripheral channel on its inner surface, whereby the covering layer extends over the wall surface so as to overlap the edge of the inner surface and is retained in the channel, and the insole member is attached to the heel filler member at least in the region of the channel.

2. An article according to Claim 1, in which the heel filler member comprises a solid, shaped body.

3. An article according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the heel filler member is made from a rigid plastics material.

4. An article according to Claim 3, in which the heel filler member is made from ethylenevinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride or a polyamide.

5. An article according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the heel filler member is made from wood or chipboard.

6. An article according to Claim 1, in which the heel filler member comprises a hollow shaped body consisting of a base surface, a wall surface and an inner surface (all as hereinbefore defined), the inner surface being constituted by a removable lid.

7. An article according to Claim 6, in which the removable lid is of such dimensions relative to the heel filler member that a channel is defined between the periphery of the lid and that of the wall surface, the channel serving to receive an overlap margin of the covering layer and the lid serving to retain the covering layer in position as well as to provide a surface to receive the insole.

8. An article of backless footwear, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (8)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. consisting of a base surface and a wall surface (as hereinbefore defined) the inner surface (as hereinbefore defined) being constituted by a removable lid. The dimensions of the lid are such that the periphery of the lid and that of the wall surface define between them a channel to receive an overlap margin of a layer of material covering the wall surface, and the lid serves to retain the material in position as well as to provide a surface to receive the insole. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be illustrated, merely by way of example, by means of the following description and with reference to the accompanying informal drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a solid heel filler member for use in an article of footwear according to the present invention; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a hollow heel filler member for use in an article of footwear according to the present invention, and Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of an article of backless footwear according to the present invention, incorporating a hollow heel filler member as shown in Figure 2. Referring now to Figure 1, the heel filler member comprises a solid, shaped body of a rigid plastics material having a base surface 10, a wall surface 11 and an inner surface 12. Around the periphery of the inner surface corresponding to the rear portion of the article of footwear to contain the filler member there is provided a channel 13 to receive an overlap margin of a covering layer (not shown) attached to the wall surface 11. In Figure 2, the heel filler member comprises a hollow, moulded body of a rigid plastics material having a base surface 20 and a wall surface 21. The inner surface of the filler member is constituted by a lid 22, the dimensions of which are such that between the lid and the wall surface there is defined a channel 23 correspondling to the rear portion of an article of backless footwear. The channel 23 receives an overlap margin of a covering layer (not shown) to be attached to the wall surface 21. Referring now to Figure 3, an article of backless footwear comprises a unitary sole/ heel member 30, an upper 31, a hollow heel filler member 32 having a wall surface 33 and a lid 34 which is of such dimensions relative to the filler member that, when in position on the heel filler, it defines a channel 35 be tween its own periphery and that of the mem ber 32 at the rear of the article of footwear. The wall surface 33 is covered by means of a layer of cloth 40. The cloth is provided with an overlap margin 41 which is turned over the upper edge 33A of the wall surface and secured thereto in channel 35. The lid 34 is fixed in position and an insole 42 is attached thereover to finish the footwear article. The overlap margin may be secured to the wall surface by means of an adhesive but, given a suitably-shaped groove (as in Figure

1) or a suitably-arranged lid (as in Figures 2 and 3), the margin can be held in position without recourse to an adhesive.

WHAT WE CLAIM IS: 1. An article of backless footwear comprising a unitary sole/heel member lasted to an upper, an insole member, a heel filler member comprising a base surface, a wall surface and an inner surface (all as hereinbefore defined) and one or more covering layers for the heel filler member, in which said heel filler member is provided with a peripheral channel on its inner surface, whereby the covering layer extends over the wall surface so as to overlap the edge of the inner surface and is retained in the channel, and the insole member is attached to the heel filler member at least in the region of the channel.

2. An article according to Claim 1, in which the heel filler member comprises a solid, shaped body.

3. An article according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the heel filler member is made from a rigid plastics material.

4. An article according to Claim 3, in which the heel filler member is made from ethylenevinyl acetate, polyvinyl chloride or a polyamide.

5. An article according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the heel filler member is made from wood or chipboard.

6. An article according to Claim 1, in which the heel filler member comprises a hollow shaped body consisting of a base surface, a wall surface and an inner surface (all as hereinbefore defined), the inner surface being constituted by a removable lid.

7. An article according to Claim 6, in which the removable lid is of such dimensions relative to the heel filler member that a channel is defined between the periphery of the lid and that of the wall surface, the channel serving to receive an overlap margin of the covering layer and the lid serving to retain the covering layer in position as well as to provide a surface to receive the insole.

8. An article of backless footwear, substantially as hereinbefore described, with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.