Device and related methods for coupling a shoe upper and shoe sole
OwnerJames Fremming, Eduardo Bianchiinventors
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A coupling device molded into a shoe sole for allowing a user to detachably couple a shoe upper to the shoe sole. The coupling device includes a socket with a set of ratchet teeth that are movable between an unbiased position and biased position by touching a button. The coupling device also includes a prong that can be inserted into the socket and has a plurality of complementary ratchet that can engage with the ratchet teeth of the socket.
Claims12
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 ratchet 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 for preventing flowable resin from entering the socket and the air space surrounding the button during molding of the sole.
A method for manufacturing footwear, the method comprising:
- (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, the button extending through an 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 ratchet 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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.