GB2071481A - Attaching uppers to soles - Google Patents

Abstract

An article of footwear comprises a moulded plastics sole having an integrally formed slot 1 extending from one side of the sole to the other, and an attachment band 2 is passed through the slot such that end portions of the band extend from opposite sides of the sole, one of the end portions carrying a buckle 3 and the other being formed as a tongue for cooperation with the buckle. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to footwear This invention concerns improvements in and relating to footwear.

According to the invention an article of footwear eomprises a sole of moulded synthetic plastics mat erial formed integrally with at least one aperture which extends, generally in the plane of the sole, from one side of the sole to the other transversely of the general heel-to-toe direction of the sole, such at least one aperture permitting an attachment means, for use for fastening the article to the foot of a wearer, to be passed through the sole such that opposed ends thereof extend on opposite sides of the sole for fastening together around the foot of a wearer.

It is to be appreciated that reference herein to "heel-to-toe" direction is not to be taken as implying that the article of footwear according to the invention necessarily has a heel portion which, as is conventional, is of increased thickness as compared with the remainder of the sole. Whilst the article of footwear according to the invention preferably will have such an increased thickness heel portion and will have various different thicknesses in different regions of the sole, nonetheless the sole could be of the same thickness throughout.

The attachment means may be in the form of a shaped piece of leather, plastics or strong woven material provided at one end, for example, with a buckle and formed at its other end into a tongue for cooperation with the buckle. Alternatively it might be simply intended to be fastened by tying.

In order that the invention might be clearly understood an exemplary embodiment thereof will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the sole of an article of footwear, a beach sandal, according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sole of Figure 1 provided with an exemplary attachment means.

The sole of Figure 1 is of unitary construction, being formed by injection moulding of synthetic plastics material, such as polyurethane for example.

Formed integrally with the sole during the injection moulding process is a slot 1 which, as shown, extends through the sole generally transversely to its heel-to-toe direction, that is the direction from right to left as viewed in the drawing.

As shown in Figure 2, the slot 1 permits an attachment means 2 to be passed through the sole from one side to the other so as to leave opposed ends of the attachment means exposed on opposite sides of the sole. By this means the attachment means 2 can serve for fastening the sole 1 to the foot of a user. The illustrated attachment means com prises a piece of strong woven material shaped to define at one end a position for a buckle 3 and at the other end a tongue for cooperation with the buckle 3, the tongue being provided with eyelets 4.

It is clearthat different forms of attachment means could be used with the sole of Figure 1. Various other modifications could also be made to the described footwear article without departing from the scope of this invention; for example, whereas the sole of Figure 1 has a single, relatively wide slot thereth rough, an alternative sole might have two or more narrower slots therethrough, extending parallel to each other or otherwise, each for accommodating its own attachment means, and yet a further alternative might have one or more through apertures formed other than as relatively narrow slots for example for cooperation with attachment means in the form of one or more tie cords As shown clearly in Figure 1, the slot 1 is shaped so as to follow the curve of the sole.

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole of moulded synthetic plastics material formed integrally with at least one aperture which extends, generally in the plane of the sole, from one side of the sole to the other transversely of the general heel-to-toe direction of the sole, such at least one aperture permitting an attachment means, for use for fastening the article to the foot of a wearer, to be passed through the sole such that opposed ends thereof extend on opposite sides of the sole for fastening together around the foot of a wearer.

2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture comprises an elongate slot for receiving an attachment means in the form of a generally flat band of material.

3. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sole is formed of polyurethane material.

4. An article of footwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims inclusive of said attachment means.

5. An article of footwear substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying draw ing.

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

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Improvements relating to footwear This invention concerns improvements in and relating to footwear. According to the invention an article of footwear eomprises a sole of moulded synthetic plastics mat erial formed integrally with at least one aperture which extends, generally in the plane of the sole, from one side of the sole to the other transversely of the general heel-to-toe direction of the sole, such at least one aperture permitting an attachment means, for use for fastening the article to the foot of a wearer, to be passed through the sole such that opposed ends thereof extend on opposite sides of the sole for fastening together around the foot of a wearer. It is to be appreciated that reference herein to "heel-to-toe" direction is not to be taken as implying that the article of footwear according to the invention necessarily has a heel portion which, as is conventional, is of increased thickness as compared with the remainder of the sole. Whilst the article of footwear according to the invention preferably will have such an increased thickness heel portion and will have various different thicknesses in different regions of the sole, nonetheless the sole could be of the same thickness throughout. The attachment means may be in the form of a shaped piece of leather, plastics or strong woven material provided at one end, for example, with a buckle and formed at its other end into a tongue for cooperation with the buckle. Alternatively it might be simply intended to be fastened by tying. In order that the invention might be clearly understood an exemplary embodiment thereof will hereinafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawing wherein: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the sole of an article of footwear, a beach sandal, according to the invention; and Figure 2 is a top plan view of the sole of Figure 1 provided with an exemplary attachment means. The sole of Figure 1 is of unitary construction, being formed by injection moulding of synthetic plastics material, such as polyurethane for example. Formed integrally with the sole during the injection moulding process is a slot 1 which, as shown, extends through the sole generally transversely to its heel-to-toe direction, that is the direction from right to left as viewed in the drawing. As shown in Figure 2, the slot 1 permits an attachment means 2 to be passed through the sole from one side to the other so as to leave opposed ends of the attachment means exposed on opposite sides of the sole. By this means the attachment means 2 can serve for fastening the sole 1 to the foot of a user. The illustrated attachment means com prises a piece of strong woven material shaped to define at one end a position for a buckle 3 and at the other end a tongue for cooperation with the buckle 3, the tongue being provided with eyelets 4. It is clearthat different forms of attachment means could be used with the sole of Figure 1. Various other modifications could also be made to the described footwear article without departing from the scope of this invention; for example, whereas the sole of Figure 1 has a single, relatively wide slot thereth rough, an alternative sole might have two or more narrower slots therethrough, extending parallel to each other or otherwise, each for accommodating its own attachment means, and yet a further alternative might have one or more through apertures formed other than as relatively narrow slots for example for cooperation with attachment means in the form of one or more tie cords As shown clearly in Figure 1, the slot 1 is shaped so as to follow the curve of the sole. CLAIMS

1. An article of footwear comprising a sole of moulded synthetic plastics material formed integrally with at least one aperture which extends, generally in the plane of the sole, from one side of the sole to the other transversely of the general heel-to-toe direction of the sole, such at least one aperture permitting an attachment means, for use for fastening the article to the foot of a wearer, to be passed through the sole such that opposed ends thereof extend on opposite sides of the sole for fastening together around the foot of a wearer.

2. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1 wherein said at least one aperture comprises an elongate slot for receiving an attachment means in the form of a generally flat band of material.

3. An article of footwear as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the sole is formed of polyurethane material.

4. An article of footwear as claimed in any of the preceding claims inclusive of said attachment means.

5. An article of footwear substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying draw ing.