US20050193534A1 - Coupling device and method for making a molded shoe sole - Google Patents
Coupling device and method for making a molded shoe sole Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20050193534A1 US20050193534A1 US10/793,260 US79326004A US2005193534A1 US 20050193534 A1 US20050193534 A1 US 20050193534A1 US 79326004 A US79326004 A US 79326004A US 2005193534 A1 US2005193534 A1 US 2005193534A1
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- United States
- Prior art keywords
- socket
- button
- sole
- tongue
- coupling device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Images
Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A43—FOOTWEAR
- A43B—CHARACTERISTIC FEATURES OF FOOTWEAR; PARTS OF FOOTWEAR
- A43B3/00—Footwear characterised by the shape or the use
- A43B3/24—Collapsible or convertible
- A43B3/244—Collapsible or convertible characterised by the attachment between upper and sole
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
- Y10T24/45—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
- Y10T24/45225—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith
- Y10T24/45602—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity
- Y10T24/45623—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity and operator therefor
- Y10T24/4566—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity and operator therefor including slidably connected and guided element on receiving member
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T24/00—Buckles, buttons, clasps, etc.
- Y10T24/45—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock]
- Y10T24/45225—Separable-fastener or required component thereof [e.g., projection and cavity to complete interlock] including member having distinct formations and mating member selectively interlocking therewith
- Y10T24/45602—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity
- Y10T24/45775—Receiving member includes either movable connection between interlocking components or variable configuration cavity having resiliently biased interlocking component or segment
Definitions
- slipper-type footwear of the type comprising a molded sole and an upper part, particularly although not exclusively lady shoes, it is desirable to have a variety of shoe uppers which can be exchanged onto a sole at will, for instance to match colors and patterns of the attire for a particular occasion.
- FIG. 14 is a plan view of the socket shown in FIG. 12 through line 13 - 13 , embedded in a shoe sole, showing a partial cut-away of the sole.
- the socket is enclosed around its sidewalls by a cap prior to placing the socket inside the molded sole.
- the cap maintains an air gap in the space around the button.
- the cap serves to keep the injected molding resin out from around the button, and provides a projecting surface outward from and engageable with the button to facilitate access to the button by a user.
- the membrane is preferably also used since it helps to withstand inward depression of the button under the injection pressures of the molding resin.
- the remote base portion 53 is folded back under the proximal base portion 51 about the base hinge portion 55 , thereby closing off the base 29 of the socket shaft passage 27 .
- the socket 11 can thereafter be placed in a die for molding the sole 1 , with the socket opening 13 against the bottom of the upside-down sole die. Both ends of the shaft passage 27 are thus effectively sealed to avoid resinous sole material from seeping into the shaft passage, which if it remained would obstruct the insertion of the plug during use.
Landscapes
- Footwear And Its Accessory, Manufacturing Method And Apparatuses (AREA)
Abstract
An improved coupling device for a slipper or sandal-type footwear having two or more coupling devices for detaching the upper shoe part from the plastic sole. The coupling devices are distributed around the edges of the shoe upper and have teeth-like prongs which mesh with resilient tongues positioned within sockets that are embedded in the sole. Buttons are provided on the sidewalls of the sole for releasing the prongs from the sockets when it is desired to exchange the shoe uppers on the sole. The coupling device has an enclosing cap that, in a method for molding, prevents flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space around the button during the resin molding process, which could render the device inoperable.
Description
- The present invention relates to footwear having a device associated with a sole and a detachable upper shoe part that allows a user to exchange shoe uppers and shoe soles at will.
- In slipper-type footwear of the type comprising a molded sole and an upper part, particularly although not exclusively lady shoes, it is desirable to have a variety of shoe uppers which can be exchanged onto a sole at will, for instance to match colors and patterns of the attire for a particular occasion.
- U.S. Pat. No. 5,896,684, issued on 27 Apr. 1999 to Lin, discloses a simple shoe such as a sandal or slipper having detachable toe and ankle straps. Each strap has at least a pair of mounting strips, each having a serrated plug strip, that fasten to a corresponding pair of locating members in the sole of the shoe. The locating members have a serrated constraint tongue that engages the serrated plug strips to secure the uppers to the sole. A pin-like tool is manipulated by the user for disengaging the serrated plug strip from the constraint tongue to detach the show upper from the sole. A housing means is provided in the show upper for keeping the tool at hand.
- The need for a tool to detach the shoe upper from the sole represents several disadvantages in practice. Maneuverings and wedging a tool in between the plug strip and the tongue is unappealing to most ladies. Furthermore, although housing means are provided for the tool, it could get lost. Again, many ladies do not enjoy tinkering about with a tool box to look for a suitable replacement, such as a screw-driver, especially after they are dressed up and have decided that they prefer a different shoe color or pattern to match a particular dress, purse, hat, etc.
- The present invention provides a coupling device comprising elements affixed to the sole and shoe upper of a shoe to enable a user to fasten the shoe upper to the sole, and to easily detach the shoe upper from the sole without requiring a separate tool. The shoe upper can be detached with hardly any force, such as by a lady or a young child, yet the coupling device resists unwillful detachment under extreme walking, jogging, jumping and climbing conditions, whatever the terrain. The shoes of the invention can have any design or shoe type, such as a slipper or sandal, ranging from leisure to evening dress. The invention provides a coupling device for use in detachably coupling a shoe upper to a shoe sole to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will, the sole having a body having a foot-bearing topside bounded by at least one lateral side, the coupling device comprising: a socket, embeddable in the sole, the socket comprising: (i) an inner wall, an outer wall and two connecting side walls, forming a shaft passage having a slotted opening penetrable through a foot-bearing topside of the sole; (ii) a tongue comprising a plurality of ratchet teeth, the tongue being resiliently movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position; and (iii) a button, depressable by a finger of the user, the button having a first rest position and a second depressed position, the button being in direct communication with the tongue whereby when the button is in its rest position, the tongue is in its unbiased engaged position, and when the button is in the depressed position, the tongue is in its biased disengaged position; and (b) a plug having a generally flat body and comprising: (i) an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and (ii) at least one prong insertable into the shaft passage through the slotted opening, the prong comprising a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the shaft passage , thereby coupling the plug to the socket; whereby when the button is depressed to its depressed position, the tongue moves to the biased disengaged position, whereupon the ratcheted teeth of the tongue disengage from the ratcheted teeth of prong, and thereby the plug is uncoupled from the socket.
- The invention also provides a coupling device configured for to be molded into a shoe sole for detachably coupling a shoe upper to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will, the coupling device comprising a socket, the socket having a shaft passage therethrough and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through a opening in the socket, and a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket, and a socket enclosure configured to surround the socket and button and to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button during molding of the sole.
- The invention also provides a new footwear manufacturing technique, utilizing the coupling device of the invention, to incorporate more and new designs, functional lines and shoetrees with versatility and economy. The invention includes a method for manufacturing a socket, for embedding in the sole of a shoe and receiving for insertion therein a removable plug for coupling a detachable shoe upper to the sole to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will. The method comprises: (a) molding integrally the socket walls, base, tongue and button into a single piece, wherein the base is molded as a flat sheet having a first base portion forming an open bottom end of the socket shaft passage, a thin hinge portion along one side of the first portion, and a second base portion joined by the hinge portion to the first portion; and a frangible membrane affixed to the button and the outer wall to temporarily seal off the orifice in the outer socket wall; (b) folding the second base portion back under the first base portion to form the base of the socket shaft passage, thereby forming an assembled socket; (c) molding the assembled socket into a resin-based shoe sole using a flowable resin; and (d) depressing the button, thereby breaking the frangible membrane. The method further preferably comprises the step of placing a cap over the assembled socket, the cap having an outer resilient wall enclosing an air space surrounding the button, thereby preventing flowable resin from entering the air space during molding of the sole.
- The invention also provides a method for manufacturing footwear, comprising the step of: (a) providing a socket having a shaft passage therethrough and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft passage and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through a opening in the socket, and a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket; (b) providing a socket enclosure configured to surround a lower portion of the socket and the button, (c) affixing the socket enclosure to the socket, thereby covering the opening to the shaft passage and the enclosing the air space surrounding the button, (d) molding the socket into a resin-based shoe sole using a flowable resin, wherein the flowable resin is prevented from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button.
- The invention also comprises a method where a plurality of plugs are attached to a shoe upper, the plug having a generally flat body and comprising: (i) an upper portion affixed to the shoe upper; and (ii) at least one prong insertable into the shaft passage through the slotted opening, the prong comprising a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the shaft passage , thereby coupling the plug to the socket, and thereby attaching the shoe upper to the sole.
- The invention also provides a shoe that is adaptable to an array of exchangeable shoe uppers.
- The invention also provides a two-part coupling device that is hardly visible to observers of a lady wearing the shoe, yet is simple for her to access.
- The invention further provides a method for molding a shoe sole comprising a shoe upper attachment/detachment socket.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sole and a detached shoe upper that can be assembled into a shoe by means of two or more coupling devices of the present invention consisting ofsockets 11 andplugs 15. -
FIG. 2 is a plan view of a socket embedded in the shoe sole showing a partial cut-away of the sole. -
FIG. 3 is an elevation view of a two-pronged plug. -
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view through lines 4-4 ofFIG. 3 . -
FIG. 5 is a perspective view partially cut away of a coupling device in an uncoupled position. -
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling device ofFIG. 5 through line 6-6, shown in a coupled position. -
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the coupling device ofFIG. 5 taken through line 6-6, shown in the uncoupled position, with the button depressed and with the plug withdrawn. -
FIG. 8A is a plan view of a one-piece socket for a coupling device of the invention. -
FIG. 8B is a cross-sectional view of the one-piece socket ofFIG. 8A throughline 8B-8B. -
FIG. 9 is a partial view of the cross-sectional view of the socket ofFIG. 8B , with the button depressed and showing a breached socket sidewall. -
FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cap used with another coupling device of the invention. -
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the socket ofFIG. 8A with the cap ofFIG. 10 , when viewed through sectional line 11-11 ofFIG. 9 . -
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of another embodiment of a socket and an enclosure cap. -
FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of the socket ofFIG. 12 with the affixed enclosure cap. -
FIG. 14 is a plan view of the socket shown inFIG. 12 through line 13-13, embedded in a shoe sole, showing a partial cut-away of the sole. -
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a set of molds for making a shoe sole incorporating the coupling devices. - Terminology:
- As used herein, “upper” (when used as a noun) or “shoe upper” refers to an upper part of a shoe or other footwear, and can include a toecap part, a toecap patch, or an open-toe strap that covers the forward part of the foot of a user, can include ankle and heel straps, and can include unitary and integral combinations thereof.
- As used herein, “horizontal” refers to a normal shoe position, i.e. with the sole resting on a horizontal surface.
- As used herein, “outer” and “inner” refer to elements of the coupling device positioned nearer and further away, respectively, from the nearest lateral side of the sole.
- The coupling device comprises two parts: a socket and a plug. The socket is typically embedded into a shoe sole, while the plug is typically affixed to the shoe upper. However, the socket can be affixed to one of the sole and shoe upper, while the plug can be affixed to the other of the sole and shoe upper.
- The socket comprises a plurality of sidewalls that form a shaft passage that is adapted to receive the plug, a toothed tongue for engaging and latching to the plug, and an integral release means for releasing the tongue from the plug, whereby the shoe upper can be detached from the sole. The tongue is resiliently connected at a first end to at least one of the inner wall or the outer wall, and is preferably resiliently connected at an upper end by a resilient bridge to the inner wall proximate the slotted opening. The tongue comprises an upper portion and a lower portion having a surface facing the outer wall, the surface preferably having two toothed surfaces, each comprising the plurality of ratcheted teeth, astride a middle portion.
- Each plug and socket part can be separately advantageously manufactured in one-piece. Alternatively, the devices can be made in two or more parts. For example, the socket can comprise a separate button that can be secured to the socket, for movement within the outer wall of the socket.
- In a preferred embodiment, the plug has two spaced-apart toothed prongs, and the tongue has an end resiliently affixed to a sidewall of the socket. The integral release means, preferably a button, extends through an orifice in the socket toward a nearest sidewall of the sole. The button communicates with the tongue by a stem joined to the button, the stem traversing the outer wall and connecting to a lower portion of the tongue. Within the socket, the button preferably passes between the pair of toothed prongs, and is integrally attached to the tongue, preferably to the middle, lower portion of the tongue, to communicate the finger pressure applied to the button. The applied pressure on the button displaces the tongue away from the plug sufficiently to separate the respective engaged teeth of the tongue and the prongs, thereby disengaging and releasing the plug.
- Preferably the button is positioned within the sole in close proximity to the lateral
outer wall 9, as shown inFIG. 2 . The sole can have a raised mark 19 in lateral sidewall indicating the position of the button positioned proximately thereto. Alternatively, the button may barely project from the flush surface of the sidewall of the sole. The invention provides for the button to go generally unnoticed by a casual observer, yet is easily manipulated simply by pressing with a finger, without use of tools. - The invention further comprises a method of manufacture wherein the shaft passage of the socket is sealed to keep it free from mold resin during molding of the sole body into which it is incorporated. The method comprises providing a socket body having a fold-over base that can cover the socket opening. Preferably, the socket has a frangible membrane that closes off the socket space inside from the button housing. Preferably, the button has a base end joined to the stem, the outer wall has an inner-facing surface, and the membrane joins the button base end and the inner surface of the outer wall. The thin membrane temporarily seals off the orifice in the outer wall to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket during molding of the sole. The frangible membrane can be breached or broken after the socket has been molded into the sole, by simply pressing the button, thereby making the coupling device operational.
- In a preferred embodiment, the socket is enclosed around its sidewalls by a cap prior to placing the socket inside the molded sole. The cap maintains an air gap in the space around the button. The cap serves to keep the injected molding resin out from around the button, and provides a projecting surface outward from and engageable with the button to facilitate access to the button by a user. Although the cap obviates the need for the membrane as a barrier to molding resin, the membrane is preferably also used since it helps to withstand inward depression of the button under the injection pressures of the molding resin.
- Construction and Operation:
-
FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the invention of a shoe, such as a lady's high-heeled slipper, comprising a sole 1 molded from a resin and a shoe upper 3. The shoe sole 1 has a top or foot-bearingsurface 5, and a lateralouter wall 9. Sixsockets 11, forming part of a like number of coupling devices, are embedded in the body of the sole 1. A like number ofplugs 15 are attached to the bottom edge 7 of the shoe upper 3. Eachsocket 11 comprises atongue 33 to engage with its correspondingplug 15. Thetongue 33 is associated with abutton 45 positioned proximate to the lateralouter wall 9 of the sole. -
FIG. 2 shows a plan view of thesocket 11 positioned in thetop surface 5 of the sole 1. Thesocket 11 has ashaft passage 27 and a slot-shapedopening 13 level with thetop surface 5 that can receive acorresponding plug 15. Thesocket shaft passage 27 is generally oriented parallel to the nearestlateral side 9 of the sole 1. Thetongue 33 communicates with thebutton 45 viashort stem 47 that traverses an orifice 41 (seeFIG. 8B ) in theouter wall 43 of the socket. Therounded button 45 is positioned proximate the lateralouter wall 9, as shown by the cut-away portion of the sole ofFIG. 2 . Thebutton 45 is preferably positioned adjacent to theouter wall 9 of the sole whereby a hump mark 19, formed from the sole resin material covering thebutton 45, identifies the position of thebutton 45 to allow a user to locate and depress the button with a finger, while being generally unnoticable. -
FIG. 3 shows aplug 15. Theplug 15 is molded as a substantially flat piece from a suitable, generally stiff material selected from materials including but not limited to plastics, metal, and rubber. Preferably, theplug 15 has atop portion 17 that is affixed to the edge 7 of the shoe upper 3 by any suitable means, such as stitching or adhesive. Thetop portion 17 is preferably trapezoidal, measuring about 20.5 mm across the top, 11 mm down, and about 1.1 mm thick. - A pair of
prongs 21 depends from thetop portion 17, leaving a rectangular cut-outportion 23 between the prongs. Preferably, eachprong 21 is about 13 mm long and 8 mm across, and has an inner face ratcheted with a plurality ofratchet teeth 25 that have a 1 mm pitch.FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a prong that shows the shape of theteeth 25. The thickness of each prong is preferably about 2.10 mm at its widest portion and 1.34 mm at its thinner portion. Theteeth 25 are shaped in a typical saw-tooth configuration such that a first edge of eachtooth 25 is generally perpendicular to the direction of movement of theprong 21 during insertion into thesocket opening 13 for properly latching into the socket with the teeth of the tongue. The adjacent second edge of eachtooth 25 is at an angle of about 30 degrees to said direction of movement, to facilitate insertion. - As illustrated in
FIGS. 5 and 6 , thesocket 11 comprises a prism body having anouter wall 43, aninner wall 35, and connecting walls which enclose ashaft passage 27, and an integrallaminar base 29. The sidewalls and the base are fixed within the sole 1. Thebase 29 closes off the bottom of theshaft passage 27 of thesocket 11. Thebase 29 is preferably provided withholes 31A and cut-outs 31B for better anchoring of thesocket 11 into the resin of the sole. - A
tongue 33 has a top edge attached to theinner wall 35 by a relatively thinresilient hinge portion 37 that enables thetongue member 33 to sway or pivot in an arch toward and away from theinner wall 35. As shown inFIG. 6 , the outward-facing surface of thetongue 33 has a plurality of vertically spacedratchet teeth 39 that are saw-toothed shaped and are dimensioned to mesh with theplug teeth 25 when theplug 15 is inserted in thesocket 11. Shortflat valleys 26, as shown inFIG. 4 , positioned between eachtooth 25 of theprong 21 andtooth 39 of thetongue 33, ensure proper engagement even when theprong 21 is not inserted perfectly straight into thesocket 11, and preserve the sharp edges of the teeth from breaking off. For a 1.0 mm spacing between the teeth, theflat valley 26 can be about 0.3 mm, or 30% of the spacing. - A
short stem 47 connects thebutton 45 to thetongue 33, at about the middle of thetongue member 33 between the pairs ofextended teeth 39. Theshaft passage 27 is sized to accommodate theplug 15. The shaft passage is preferably about 10.0 mm long, 28.5 mm wide and 2.3 mm across (i.e. the shaft passage portion receiving the plug prongs 21 and excluding the shaft passage portion housing thetongue 33 or 5.9 mm across including the portion housing the tongue 33). Thesocket walls plug 15 is not exactly vertical when plugged into thesocket 11. Thetongue 33 is preferably about 24.5 mm wide and can be pushed back 14 degrees from its normal position (i.e. when the plane of itsteeth 39 is parallel to the inner andouter socket walls 35, 43) against theinner wall 35, and theresilient hinge 37 is preferably about 0.4 mm thick. Preferably, theorifice 41 is about 11.8 mm wide and 6.0 mm down, thebutton 45 is about 5.3 mm long, 3.0 mm down and 8.7 mm at the base, narrowing at 8 degrees towards the outer end, and thestem 47 is about 6.0 mm across. - A user can attach a shoe upper 3 to a sole 1 by inserting and pushing each
plug 15 down into its correspondingsocket 11, until eachprong 21 engages thetongue 33. To exchange the shoe upper for one of a different pattern, color or design, the user depresses with a finger eachbutton 45, causing therespective stem 47 to urge thetongue member 33 towards theinner wall 35 of thesocket 11 sufficiently for theteeth 39 of thetongue 33 thereof to disengage and unlatch from theplug teeth 25, and pulls theunlatched plug 15 upwards. No accessory tool is kept at hand, fetched or searched for, and scant human force is required to unlatch the plugs. Thebuttons 39 are sufficiently conspicuously arranged so that a user can locate and press the buttons, even if her fingernails are long or have just been painted, and yet are sufficiently concealed so as not to interfere with the aesthetics of the shoe sole. - Manufacture:
- The
sockets 11, theplugs 15 and the sole 1 can be molded. Integrated one-piece constructions are preferred. Methods for molding theplug 15 are well known in the art. - The socket elements, including the socket walls, base, tongue, stem and button, are preferably formed integrally in a single piece. However, creating a die for manufacturing the
socket 11 is complicated when thetongue 33 andbutton 45 are to be integrated into a single piece with thesocket walls base 29. - According to another aspect of the invention, the
socket 11 is initially molded with ashaft passage 27 open from thetop opening 13 to its bottom.FIGS. 8A and 8B illustrate the initial socket design. The die is shaped to include an extended base sheet comprised of aproximal portion 51 about the bottom shaft opening and aremote portion 53 connected to the proximal portion by athin hinge portion 55. Thehinge portion 55 is preferably about 0.2 mm thick. Thebase portions - Once the mold is set and the
socket 11 is removed from the die, theremote base portion 53 is folded back under theproximal base portion 51 about thebase hinge portion 55, thereby closing off thebase 29 of thesocket shaft passage 27. Thesocket 11 can thereafter be placed in a die for molding the sole 1, with thesocket opening 13 against the bottom of the upside-down sole die. Both ends of theshaft passage 27 are thus effectively sealed to avoid resinous sole material from seeping into the shaft passage, which if it remained would obstruct the insertion of the plug during use. - A further problem of keeping the flowable sole material out of the socket shaft passage during molding is associated with the
orifice 41 in theouter wall 43. Theorifice 41 allows thebutton 45 and/or stem 47 to movably traverse theoutside wall 43FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment that provides a solution to this problem. Thesocket 11 is molded with a thin,frangible membrane 59, preferably about 0.1 mm thick, flush with theouter wall 43 that seals theorifice 41. Themembrane 59 prevents resin from seeping into thesocket 11 through theorifice 41 during the molding of the sole. - Furthermore, the
button 45 can be shaped so as to provide a large base area bearing against themembrane 59. The sole 1 is cast in a die wherein the entiresocket shaft passage 27 is maintained free of resinous material. Once the sole has set and is removed from the die, with the sockets 11 (preferably about six sockets per shoe) embedded therein, the release operation can include a step of pressing eachbutton 45 to breach thefrangible membrane 59, since the latter has already served its resin prevention purpose. - A more preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in
FIGS. 10 and 11 .FIG. 10 shows acap 61.FIG. 11 is a sectional view of the socket ofFIG. 8A , taken through a horizontal plane as shown inFIG. 9 , showing thecap 61 positioned to surround theouter wall 43, sidewalls, and part of theinner wall 35 of thesocket 11, thereby covering thebutton 45 and enclosing an air space environment orgap 63 surrounding thebutton 45. Thecap 61 is generally a four-sided piece of plastic partially opened at aninner side 65, and has a rounded convexouter side 67, which, in position, forms a cover for thebutton 45. During manufacture of the sole 1, theouter wall 67 of thecap 61 prevents the flowable resin (for example, polyurethane) that is injected into the mold from entering in theair gap 63, which upon curing would prevent the button from being depressed with a finger. - The
outer cap wall 61 further provides a button area which is both enlarged and resilient. Thecover wall 67 is more preferably convexly curved to provide resilient inward flexure for optimum operation. One ormore recesses 69 provided at the bottom of the sidewalls accommodateanchorage flanges 71 provided in the socket base, as shown inFIG. 5 . - Another embodiment of a socket is shown in
FIG. 12 and 13. Thesocket 11 comprises an anchoringflange 71 extending from theinner wall 35 from a position intermediate theslot opening 13 and the base of theshaft passage 27. A socket enclosure, shown as a boat-shapedcap 61, surrounds the lower portion of thesocket 11, and seals off theshaft passage 27 at the base. Thecap 61 has abase 75, aback wall 72, and a pair ofside walls 73 having a lowerrear portion 74, and afront wall 67. Theback wall 72, theside walls 73, and thefront wall 67 surround the lower perimeter of thesocket 11, and affix thecap 61 to thesocket 11. Thebase 75 of thecap 61 seals the bottom of the socket. The height of theback wall 72 and therear portion 74 of the side walls accommodate the anchoringflange 71. In the illustrated embodiment, thecap 61 snaps onto the bottom of thesocket 11 and remains affixed throughout the molding process. The taller,forward portions 76 of the sidewalls and thefront wall 67 each extend up to the top end of the socket, and surround and seal off the air space surrounding thebutton 45 extending from theouter wall 43 of thesocket 11. Depressing theouter wall 67 engages thebutton 45 to operate the coupling device. The large surface area of thecap wall 67 provides an outer resilient wall that has a much larger area for the finger to apply the disengaging force, which increases the force that can be exerted on thetongue 33. - The
cap 61 seals the socket and the air space around thebutton 45 to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button. When using a resilient resin such as polyurethane, invasion of the resin into the socket or in the air space around the button can lock the tongue and button in position, and prevent proper operation of the coupling device. -
FIG. 14 shows a plan view of asocket assembly 18 consisting of thesocket 11 with thecap 61 affixed, positioned in thetop surface 5 of the sole 1. Therounded button 45 is positioned within the air space defined by thesidewall portions 76 andfront wall 67 of thecap 61. Thesocket 11 andcap 61 are disposed proximate the lateralouter wall 9 of the sole. Thefront wall 67 of the cap is typically configured to be sufficiently flexible to allow facile depression of thefront wall 67 and of thebutton 45, making facile the operation of the socket. The hump mark 19, formed from the sole resin material covering theouter wall 67, identifies the position of thecap front wall 67 and thebutton 45 to allow a user to locate and depress the button with a finger, while being generally unnoticable. -
FIG. 15 shows a set of molds that can be used to make the show sole that incorporates a plurality of the coupling devices. Illustrated are a top mold 111, amiddle mold 112, and a base mold 113. The molds are arranged so that thelower surface 114 of the top mold element 111 mates with the upper surface (not shown) of themiddle mold 112, and thelower surface 115 of themiddle mold 112 mates with theupper surface 116 of the base mold 113. Thelower surface 114 of the top mold 111 provides the imprint of the top surface of the completed shoe sole, while theupper surface 116 of the base mold 113 provides the imprint for the bottom surface of the shoe sole. The molds are configures so thathinge members 119 on the base mold 111 engage withhinge members 120 on themiddle mold 112 for easy positioning and alignment. The opposing ends of the molds are typically secured with a clamp means (not shown). The top mold 111 is likewise held in the proper position to the other two molds with a clamp means. The molds are positioned in the proper molding position with one another using mated alignment pins and 118 andorifices 117. In the illustrated embodiment, foursocket assemblies 18 which are semi-permanently affixed along theedge 121 defined by the inner opening 122 of themiddle mold 112. A flowable resin is then injected into the mold to form the sole 1 having the imbedded sockets, according to well-known molding techniques. - During the molding process, the socket can also be provided with a top cover that covers the
slot opening 13. The cover typically has at least one pin depending downward from the cover into theslot passage 27 and between thetongue 33 and theinner wall 35. The pin prevents the tongue from being biased toward the inner wall (toward its disengaged position) in response to pressure exerted upon thebutton 45 during the molding process. The cover also covers the top opening of the socket during the process of spray painting the molded sole, preventing paint from entering inside the socket, which could sabotage its operation. - Although the
cover wall 67 provides the resin-exclusion function of themembrane 59 in the first embodiment, it is preferred to include themembrane 59 since it resists depression of thecover wall 67 and thebutton 45 under the pressure of the injected molding resin, which otherwise might prematurely depress the cover wall and button and, if cured under this condition, could cause the coupling device to malfunction. - While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes can be made and equivalents can be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or step to the teachings of the invention includes all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.
Claims (12)
1. A coupling device for use in detachably coupling a shoe upper to a shoe sole to enable a user to assemble and disassemble the shoe at will, where the coupling device is molded into the shoe sole, the coupling device comprising:
(a) a socket having a shaft passage therethrough and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft passage and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through an opening in the socket,
(b) a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket, and
(c) a socket enclosure configured to surround the socket and button, to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button during molding of the sole.
2. The coupling device according to claim 2 wherein the socket further comprises an inner wall, and outer wall, and two connecting side walls, forming the shaft passage that has a slotted opening penetrable through a foot-bearing topside of the sole, the tongue is resiliently movable from a unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position and the button has a first rest position and a second depressed position, whereby when the button is in its rest position, the tongue is in its unbiased engaged position, and when the button is in the depressed position, the tongue is in its biased disengaged position.
3. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket enclosure seals the shaft passage at the base.
4. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket walls, tongue, stem and button are integral in a single piece.
5. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket is formed with a thin membrane sealing off the orifice from the shaft to prevent flowable resin from entering the socket during molding of the sole, the membrane being breakable by pressing the button after the sole has been molded.
6. The coupling device according to claim 1 , wherein the socket enclosure comprising an outer resilient wall enclosing an air space environment surrounding the button.
7. The coupling device according to claim 6 , wherein the outer wall is convexly curved to provide resilient inward flexure.
8. The coupling device according to claim 7 , wherein the outer wall has a larger area for the finger than that of the button to apply the disengaging force.
9. A shoe sole comprising an embedded socket of the coupling device according to claim 1 .
10. A method for manufacturing footwear, comprising the steps of:
(a) providing a socket having a shaft passage therethrough and comprising a tongue disposed in the shaft passage and having a plurality of ratchet teeth movable from an unbiased engaged position and a biased disengaged position in response to depression of a button affixed to the tongue, where the button extends through a opening in the socket, and a plug having an upper portion affixable to the shoe upper; and at least one prong insertable into the socket and having a plurality of complementary ratcheted teeth that detachably engage with the ratcheted teeth of the tongue in its unbiased engaged position upon insertion of the plug into the socket;
(b) providing a socket enclosure configured to surround a lower portion of the socket and the button,
(c) affixing the socket enclosure to the socket, thereby covering the opening to the shaft passage and enclosing the air space surrounding the button, and
(d) molding the socket into a resin-based shoe sole using a flowable resin, wherein the flowable resin is prevented from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button.
11. The method according to claim 10 , the socket enclosure is a cap that snaps onto the bottom of the socket.
12. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the tongue of the socket is secured from movement during the molding process by pressure upon the button of the device.
Priority Applications (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/793,260 US20050193534A1 (en) | 2004-03-04 | 2004-03-04 | Coupling device and method for making a molded shoe sole |
CN200410032549.5A CN1663494A (en) | 2004-03-04 | 2004-04-08 | Coupling device and method for making a molded shoe sole |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US10/793,260 US20050193534A1 (en) | 2004-03-04 | 2004-03-04 | Coupling device and method for making a molded shoe sole |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
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US20050193534A1 true US20050193534A1 (en) | 2005-09-08 |
Family
ID=34912006
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/793,260 Abandoned US20050193534A1 (en) | 2004-03-04 | 2004-03-04 | Coupling device and method for making a molded shoe sole |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20050193534A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN1663494A (en) |
Cited By (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060096124A1 (en) * | 2004-10-27 | 2006-05-11 | Moseley Marshall G | Sand walking sandal |
US20120217354A1 (en) * | 2011-02-25 | 2012-08-30 | Raywal Holding Sas | Clamp for a pipe or cable |
WO2014198257A1 (en) * | 2013-06-10 | 2014-12-18 | Bussat Marko | Shoe and shoe set |
US20190261726A1 (en) * | 2018-02-26 | 2019-08-29 | Julien L'Hermet | Sandal with Magnetically Connected Upper Straps |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN109808127B (en) * | 2018-12-07 | 2023-06-09 | 东莞达音创研实业有限公司 | Manufacturing method and application of hot-melt connection structure of multilayer product |
US10918163B1 (en) * | 2020-04-25 | 2021-02-16 | Daniel R. Blondeau | One piece footwear |
Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3855669A (en) * | 1973-10-05 | 1974-12-24 | Usm Corp | Adjustable strap with quick release |
US5896684A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-04-27 | Gnan-Jang Plastics Co., Ltd. | Detachable toe strap and ankle strap mounting arrangement for a simple shoe |
US6418643B1 (en) * | 2001-07-20 | 2002-07-16 | Chen-Yi Yang | Shoe structure provided with means to fasten interchangeably various insoles, pads, or instep straps |
US6430846B1 (en) * | 2001-07-13 | 2002-08-13 | Gnan-Jang Plastics Co., Ltd. | Shoe with detachable vamp |
-
2004
- 2004-03-04 US US10/793,260 patent/US20050193534A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2004-04-08 CN CN200410032549.5A patent/CN1663494A/en active Pending
Patent Citations (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3855669A (en) * | 1973-10-05 | 1974-12-24 | Usm Corp | Adjustable strap with quick release |
US5896684A (en) * | 1998-04-24 | 1999-04-27 | Gnan-Jang Plastics Co., Ltd. | Detachable toe strap and ankle strap mounting arrangement for a simple shoe |
US6430846B1 (en) * | 2001-07-13 | 2002-08-13 | Gnan-Jang Plastics Co., Ltd. | Shoe with detachable vamp |
US6418643B1 (en) * | 2001-07-20 | 2002-07-16 | Chen-Yi Yang | Shoe structure provided with means to fasten interchangeably various insoles, pads, or instep straps |
Cited By (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20060096124A1 (en) * | 2004-10-27 | 2006-05-11 | Moseley Marshall G | Sand walking sandal |
US7284341B2 (en) | 2004-10-27 | 2007-10-23 | Moseley Marshall G | Sand walking sandal |
US20120217354A1 (en) * | 2011-02-25 | 2012-08-30 | Raywal Holding Sas | Clamp for a pipe or cable |
WO2014198257A1 (en) * | 2013-06-10 | 2014-12-18 | Bussat Marko | Shoe and shoe set |
US20190261726A1 (en) * | 2018-02-26 | 2019-08-29 | Julien L'Hermet | Sandal with Magnetically Connected Upper Straps |
US10798990B2 (en) * | 2018-02-26 | 2020-10-13 | Julien L'Hermet | Sandal with magnetically connected upper straps |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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CN1663494A (en) | 2005-09-07 |
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