GB2095974A - Improved method for the production of footwear - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for the production of footwear comprising sewing an endless cord loop 1 around the periphery of the underside of a slipper or shoe upper 2, placing the upper on a divided and expansible last 4,5 to tension the cord loop, drawing the loop inwards at the waist of the slipper or shoe over pins 6,7 on the last and applying the upper on the last to a mould for formation of a sole. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improved method for the production of footwear This invention relates to an improved method for the production of footwear.

It has been proposed in the production of a corded upper shoe or slipper to attach a sole to the upper of a shoe or slipper by sewing a cord or the like around the free edge of the upper with the ends of cord free and to place the upper onto a divided last and to close the last with the edge of the upper and cord or the like on the outer face of the last. The ends of the cord or the like are then drawn tight and tied and the cord at the waist of the upper is drawn in and secured or tied over pins or projectors on the last.

Such a precedure is known as string lasting and is very laborious and time consuming and an operator is required for tying and tensioning the cord or the like.

The object of the invention is a method for rendering the said operation automatic and enables an operator engaged in attaching such a cord or the like to tend a plurality of machines for so doing.

According to the invention, the method comprises sewing an endless cord or the like loop of predetermined length around the periphery of the underside of the upper of a slipper or shoe, placing the upper on a divided last to tension the cord or loop, drawing the cord or loop inwards between two or more of the securing stitches at the waist of the slipper or shoe, and over pins on the bottom of the last and applying the upper on the last to a mould for applying the sole by either vulcanising or injection moulding.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure lisa perspective view of the inverted shoe showing the stitching of the endless cord or loop to the free edge of the upper.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inverted shoe on a last for tensioning the endless cord or loop.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of a divided last in the open position.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the divided last in the closed position.

An endless cord or loop 1 is sewn around the perihery of a shoe upper 2 by an edge following guide overstitch or other sewing machine as shown in Figure 1. The endless cord or loop is made of a predetermined length for each size of shoe, the length of the endless cord or loop is slightly less than the peripheral length of the upper, the surplus material being gathered to the cord or loop. The cord or loop is free running within the overlock stitching securing it to the outer periphery of the upper.

The corded upper 2 is applied over a split last 3, i.e., a last in two halves 4, 5 slidably connected together transversely so that when the last is closed the upper 2 and cord 1 are tensioned to draw the upper over the bottom edge of the last. The last 3 is provided with two or more pins 6,7 or projections on each side at the waist of the last and the cord 1 is drawn from between two or more of the overlocking stitches at each side of the waist of the upper and hooked over the pins 6,7 to draw the upper in at the waist, which also applies further tension on the cord.

The looped endless cords of differing lengths are provided for each size of shoe and may be nylon or other plastics materials. The upper 3 on the last is then turned right side up and inserted in known manner into a mould for applying the sole either by vulcanising or injection moulding.

The advantage of the invention is that the endless cord or loop can be automatically sewn around the lower periphery of the upper, thereby reducing the time for the operation and allowing an operatorto tend more than one machine in stitching the cord or loop to an upper and more importantly a constant even tension is applied to the cord or loop.

The spiit last 3 is formedin two parts, a fore part 5 and a rear part 4 slidably connected together with the last in the position shown in Figure 3. The upper 1 is applied over the last 3 and the last is closed into the position shown in Figure 4 with the upper applied thereover as shown in Figure 2.

1. A method for the production of the corded upper shoe or slipper comprising sewing an endless cord or the like loop of predetermined length around the periphery of the underside of the upper of a slipper or shoe, placing the upper on a divided last to tension the cord or loop drawing the cord or loop inwards between two or more of the securing stitches at the waist of the slipper or shoe and over pins on the bottom of the last and applying the upper on the last to a mould for applying the sole by either vulcanising or injection moulding.

2. Apparatus for carrying out the method of Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A method for the production of a corded shoe or slipper substantially as hereinbefore described.

4. A shoe or slipper when produced by the method of claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.

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

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improved method for the production of footwear This invention relates to an improved method for the production of footwear. It has been proposed in the production of a corded upper shoe or slipper to attach a sole to the upper of a shoe or slipper by sewing a cord or the like around the free edge of the upper with the ends of cord free and to place the upper onto a divided last and to close the last with the edge of the upper and cord or the like on the outer face of the last. The ends of the cord or the like are then drawn tight and tied and the cord at the waist of the upper is drawn in and secured or tied over pins or projectors on the last. Such a precedure is known as string lasting and is very laborious and time consuming and an operator is required for tying and tensioning the cord or the like. The object of the invention is a method for rendering the said operation automatic and enables an operator engaged in attaching such a cord or the like to tend a plurality of machines for so doing. According to the invention, the method comprises sewing an endless cord or the like loop of predetermined length around the periphery of the underside of the upper of a slipper or shoe, placing the upper on a divided last to tension the cord or loop, drawing the cord or loop inwards between two or more of the securing stitches at the waist of the slipper or shoe, and over pins on the bottom of the last and applying the upper on the last to a mould for applying the sole by either vulcanising or injection moulding. The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure lisa perspective view of the inverted shoe showing the stitching of the endless cord or loop to the free edge of the upper. Figure 2 is a perspective view of the inverted shoe on a last for tensioning the endless cord or loop. Figure 3 is a perspective view of a divided last in the open position. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the divided last in the closed position. An endless cord or loop 1 is sewn around the perihery of a shoe upper 2 by an edge following guide overstitch or other sewing machine as shown in Figure 1. The endless cord or loop is made of a predetermined length for each size of shoe, the length of the endless cord or loop is slightly less than the peripheral length of the upper, the surplus material being gathered to the cord or loop. The cord or loop is free running within the overlock stitching securing it to the outer periphery of the upper. The corded upper 2 is applied over a split last 3, i.e., a last in two halves 4, 5 slidably connected together transversely so that when the last is closed the upper 2 and cord 1 are tensioned to draw the upper over the bottom edge of the last. The last 3 is provided with two or more pins 6,7 or projections on each side at the waist of the last and the cord 1 is drawn from between two or more of the overlocking stitches at each side of the waist of the upper and hooked over the pins 6,7 to draw the upper in at the waist, which also applies further tension on the cord. The looped endless cords of differing lengths are provided for each size of shoe and may be nylon or other plastics materials. The upper 3 on the last is then turned right side up and inserted in known manner into a mould for applying the sole either by vulcanising or injection moulding. The advantage of the invention is that the endless cord or loop can be automatically sewn around the lower periphery of the upper, thereby reducing the time for the operation and allowing an operatorto tend more than one machine in stitching the cord or loop to an upper and more importantly a constant even tension is applied to the cord or loop. The spiit last 3 is formedin two parts, a fore part 5 and a rear part 4 slidably connected together with the last in the position shown in Figure 3. The upper 1 is applied over the last 3 and the last is closed into the position shown in Figure 4 with the upper applied thereover as shown in Figure 2. CLAIMS

1. A method for the production of the corded upper shoe or slipper comprising sewing an endless cord or the like loop of predetermined length around the periphery of the underside of the upper of a slipper or shoe, placing the upper on a divided last to tension the cord or loop drawing the cord or loop inwards between two or more of the securing stitches at the waist of the slipper or shoe and over pins on the bottom of the last and applying the upper on the last to a mould for applying the sole by either vulcanising or injection moulding.

2. Apparatus for carrying out the method of Claim 1, substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3. A method for the production of a corded shoe or slipper substantially as hereinbefore described.

4. A shoe or slipper when produced by the method of claim 1 substantially as hereinbefore described.