FOOTWEAR HAVING A SPLITVAMP
Field of the Invention:
Footwear, more specifically footwear of a moccasin or full-bag type, having a horizontally-split, full-wrap vamp. Background of the Invention:
Every part of the shoe has undergone repeated change over the centuries, following fashion and function. Constant change and improvement in comfort and wearability have taken place almost continuously in the last few centuries. These changes include improvements in cushioning between the wearer's foot and the ground, especially cushioning in the weight-bearing portions of the shoe.
In fact, numerous inventions have been directed toward improved cushioning between the foot and the ground including, for example, U.S. Patent No. 5,233,767, which discloses an insert in an outsole, the insert having a multiplicity of vertically- oriented, cylindrical, elastomeric members.
U.S. Patent No. 1,976,389 discloses a shoe having an insole with a heel pad in it. Sponge rubber or other porous fillings are used to cushion the foot .
U.S. Patent No. 1,977,693 discloses footwear embodying a cushioning material and having an auxiliary inner sole with recesses within which the cushioning material, typically rubber, is inserted.
U.S. Patent No. 2,021,192 discloses a sole having a sheet of latex fittable into the opening defined by the rand of the sole.
U.S. Patent No. 2,523,702 discloses a shoe having a filler portion, typically sponge rubber of about 1/4" thickness, beneath the insole where the ball of the feet lie.
U.S. Patent No. 2,055,072 discloses another cushion pad located beneath the heel, the arch, and the ball of the foot.
U.S. Patent No. 2,502,774 discloses yet another cushion, typically sponge rubber, located in the cut-away portion of the insole beneath the ball of the feet and the heel.
None of the prior art provide the advantages of applicant's moccasin-style construction and the advantages of horizontally splitting the full-wrap vamp and then providing a cut-out area in one of the split sections of the vamp. Applicant cements the split sections of the vamp together and inserts and cements a cushion pad in the cut-out area, providing the advantages of better cushioning and stability of the cushioning pad, as well as easier break-in of the shoe. It also is more economical than other means and has proved to be durable.
The advantages of applicant's present invention include visibility. That is, applicant provides for a pad that is visible to the wearer, either by removing a foot bed, if one is provided, or directly visible by peering into the shoe. Further, use of applicant's unique split vamp and method allows the shoemaker, in building the shoe, to rough the bottom of the shoe without damaging the pad. Indeed, production line advantages include the ability to properly last the shoe with the pad. That is, when lasting the shoe, the leather has to be strong and cannot be cut completely through. When applicant's vamp is split, with the pad inserted and cemented, it allows the shoemaker to properly last the shoe. Further, applicant's invention overcomes the production problems inherent with injection molding a sole with a recess for a pad.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Applicant's invention relates to a shoe comprising an outsole and a full-wrap vamp, said full-wrap vamp split horizontally into at least two horizontal sections wherein at least one of the at least two horizontal sections has a cut-out area thereof wherein the split sections are recemented together before the construction of the shoe is completed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a perspective view from the top of the full-wrap vamp of applicant's present invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional, cut-away, elevational view of the forward portion of the horizontally-split, full-wrap vamp of applicant's present invention. Fig. 3 is a rear, cut-away, perspective view of the forward portion of applicant's horizontally-split, full-wrap vamp as set forth in Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 is a side elevational view, exterior, of a shoe having a full-wrap vamp. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional, elevational view through the forward section of a shoe having a full-wrap, horizontally-split vamp with a foam pad insert.
Fig. 6 is a cut-away, cross-sectional, elevational view of the horizontally-split vamp illustrating the cushioned insert therein.
Fig. 7 is a cross-sectional, elevational view through the horizontally-split vamp of an alternate preferred embodiment of applieant's invention.
Fig. 8 is a side cross-sectional, elevational view of an alternate preferred embodiment of applicant's horizontally-split vamp.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Figs. 1-8 represent various views and embodiments of a full- wrap vamp (10) such as is used in a moccasin-style construction of shoes. The term "full-wrap vamp" means a vamp that is beneath the ball of the foot, such as is found in a full-bag or moccasin-type shoe, made typically of leather or other suitable material. That is, a full-wrap vamp is a vamp having leather or other suitable material underfoo . In Fig. 1, the full-wrap vamp is seen to have a forward portion (12) , a waist portion (14) , and a heel portion (16) . The forward portion is that portion typically laying beneath the balls and toes of the feet, and forward of the waist portion which underlies the arch of the foot. The heel portion underlies that section of the foot rearward of the arch, including the heel.
Like most vamps, full-wrap vamp (10) typically includes facing portion (18) with eyelets (20) inserted therein for lacing up the shoe.
Turning now to forward portion (12) of vamp (10) , it is seen that, when viewing from the top, there includes walls (22) defining a cut-out area (22a) in which an insert pad (24) , typically elastomeric, is located.
With reference to Figs. 2, 3, 5 and 6, it is appreciated that forward portion (12) of vamp (10) is split horizontally into at least two sections, here illustrated in Fig. 2 as top section (12a) and bottom section (12b) . Walls (22) defining cut-out area (22a) are typically dimensioned to lie beneath the balls of the feet, the balls of the feet being the weight-bearing area of the foot during walking or running. It is noted with reference to the figures that cut-out area (22a) may take any suitable shape, including rectangular, round, triangular, square, or irregular.
Pad insert 24 is typically elastomeric and made of a suitable durable, soft material that returns, upon compression, to its original shape, such as Poron® or a foam, which is designed to cushion the foot as force, during walking or running, is transmitted from the foot to the ground. The pad is typically about 3/32" in thickness but may be 1/16" to 3/16" in thickness, and preferably will (but not necessarily) stand above the cut-out walls (22) (see Figs. 6 and 7) .
Full-wrap vamp (10) is typically made from heavyweight leather about 5 to 7 oz. thick. The splitting is done by splitting machines known in the art, and typically the vamp is split such that top section (12a) is approximately equal in thickness to bottom section (12b) . The split usually continues right up to about the waist portion, but the vamp could be split completely into two separate pieces and recemented. Indeed, sides, tops and heels could be partially or completely split and recemented with or without a pad insert.
The two sections (12a) and (12b) are cemented together after a die cut is used to provide cut-out area (22a) for placement of the pad insert. Typically, cement is applied to the underside of top section (12a) . After recementing the two horizontal sections together, pad insert (24) is cemented to the top surface of bottom section (12b) to secure it in place, although the pad may be cemented and put into place before the vamp sections are cemented (see Fig. 7) .
The shoe is then completed with the addition of upper portion (26) and outsole (28) , the completion being by standard, known industry practice.
While the preferred embodiment illustrates the use of pad insert (24) provided in cut-out area (22) of top section (12a) , applicant's invention, as seen in Fig. 7, may include cut-outs with walls (30) of both pad (24) and/or top section (12a) being nonperpendicular so as to help stabilize the pad and prevent movement during use.
Fig. 8 illustrates the use of pad insert (24) in a three- section horizontal split, the split including a middle section (12c) having a cut-out in which the pad may be inserted.
Finally, while the preferred embodiment sets forth a horizontally split vamp, the same process of splitting and recementing with a hole in one section for accepting a pad can be applied to insoles or foot beds of a shoe (See Figs. 9 and 10) .
Terms such as "left," "right," "up," "down," "bottom," "top," "front," "back," "in," "out," and like are applicable to the embodiments shown and described in conjunction with the drawings. These terms are merely for purposes of description and do not necessarily apply to the position or manner in which the invention may be constructed for use.
Although the invention has been described in connection with the preferred embodiment, it is not intended to limit the invention's particular form set forth, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, .and equivalences that may be included in the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.