Flexible shoe sole and methods of construction for a shoe utilizing the sole

A method for manufacturing a shoe having a forward portion of enhanced flexibility and a supported middle or instep portion, comprising:

• providing an integrally molded outer sole or shoe bottom having a foresole indented on a lower surface with flexibility-enhancing arcuate grooves each extending from an outer edge of said foresole in a curve which is convex towards a toe portion of said outer sole or shoe bottom and concave towards a heel area, said outer sole or shoe bottom further having an instep portion having a recessed or arched lower surface provided with a bridge element contiguous therewith and extending longitudinally substantially from a heel of said outer sole or shoe bottom substantially to said grooves on said foresole, said bridge element projecting downwardly from said lower surface of said instep portion, said bridge element having a V-shaped recess open towards said foresole and said toe portion and receiving a plurality of said grooves;
• further providing a fabric inner sole and an upper blank;
• forming a toe portion in said upper blank to form a shoe upper;
• connecting the fabric inner sole about a periphery thereof to an edge of said shoe upper to form a shoe preform;
• and
• bonding a lower surface of said fabric inner sole of said shoe preform to an upper surface of said outer sole or shoe bottom throughout a substantially complete extent of said fabric inner sole, to form a partially assembled shoe having an absence of an insole board and insole binding.