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US 12,409,625 B2Granted
Outsole and method of making the same
AssigneeColumbia Insurance Company
InventorJonathan K. Lebo
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an improved outsole and method for making the same. In many embodiments, the improved outsole includes an integrally connected rigid material within a toe cap. In many embodiments a mold is provided which aids in the production of the improved outsole by pressing a first and second raw material around the rigid material to form the outsole. The improved outsole provides increased flexibility, comfort, and durability to a shoe which uses the outsole, and greatly improves the protection to the wearer of said shoe.
Claims20
A method for making an outsole comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold comprising a bottom lid, a middle lid, a toe cap lid, and a top lid;
- wherein said bottom, middle, and top lids are all connected via a hinge;
- wherein said toe cap lid fits in said middle lid gap;
- wherein said middle lid comprises a middle lid gap;
- placing a first raw material on said bottom lid;
- pressing said first raw material between said middle lid and said bottom lid;
- placing said toe cap lid within said middle lid gap;
- placing a second raw material on said toe cap lid;
- pressing said second raw material between said toe cap lid and said top lid;
- wherein said pressing of said second raw material between said toe cap lid and said top lid define the toe cap and toe region;
- placing a rigid material onto a top portion of said toe region;
- shaping said toe cap by pressing said top portion of said toe region around said rigid material;
- wherein said rigid material is integrally connected with said outsole;
- providing at least one portion with an edge;
- providing an upper surface;
- extending said at least one portion upwards and attached to said upper surface;
- wherein said toe cap further comprises a first sidewall and a second sidewall, which are spaced apart from each other;
- providing a front region of the outsole with a peripheral edge;
- securing said first sidewall and said second sidewall to said peripheral edge.
16 more elements
A method for making an outsole comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold comprising a bottom lid, a middle lid, a toe cap lid, and a top lid;
- wherein said bottom, middle, and top lids are all connected via a hinge;
- wherein said middle lid comprises a middle lid gap;
- wherein said toe cap lid fits in said middle lid gap;
- warming said mold;
- placing a raw material on said bottom lid;
- pressing said raw material between said middle lid and said bottom lid;
- placing a rigid material on said toe cap lid;
- placing said toe cap lid and said rigid material into said middle lid gap;
- placing said top lid on said middle lid;
- heating said mold;
- opening said mold and removing said outsole;
- shaping the toe cap;
- wherein said toe cap comprises a top layer and a bottom layer;
- providing an outsole and a toe region;
- wherein said outsole has an upper portion;
- wherein said toe region comprises a top portion and a bottom portion;
- wherein the step of shaping said toe cap further comprises the step of extending a side of said outsole upwards and generally perpendicular to said upper portion of said outsole for forming an edge and the step of extending said edge toward a heel region to form a cavity.
15 more elements
A method for making an outsole comprising the steps of:
- providing a mold comprising a bottom lid, a middle lid, a toe cap lid, and a top lid, and wherein said bottom, middle, and top lids are all connected via a hinge;
- wherein said middle lid further comprises a middle lid gap and a middle lid projection;
- wherein said toe cap lid fits in said middle lid gap;
- warming said mold;
- placing a first raw material on said bottom lid;
- pressing said first raw material between said bottom and middle lids by rotating said middle lid about said hinge;
- placing a rigid material on said toe cap lid;
- placing said toe cap lid and said rigid material into said middle lid gap;
- placing a second raw material on said rigid material;
- pressing said second raw material between said toe cap lid and said top lid by rotating said top lid about said hinge;
- pressing said first and second raw materials by securing said mold in a closed position;
- adding a curing agent to said first raw material and said second raw material;
- heating said mold;
- opening said mold and removing said outsole;
- wherein said outsole comprises a toe cap.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.