US3568338A - Moccasin footwear and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION INCLUDES FOOTWEAR OF THE MOCCASIN TYPE. A SOLE MEMBER INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF JUXTAPOSED PERIPHERAL PROJECTIONS, EACH OF WHICH IS FORMED WITH AN OPENING THERETHROUGH. A DRAW CORD EXTENDS IN TENSION THROUGH EACH OF THE OPENINGS SUCH THAT THE PROJECTIONS ARE POSITIONED IN OVERLAPPING RELATIONSHIP OVER AND IN CONTACT WITH THE TOES OF A USER OF THE FOOTWEAR.

Description

1 March 1971 r M. s. NADL-ER MQCCASIN FOOTWEAR AND METXIOD OF MANUFACTURE Filed on. 7, less INVER MARTIN s. NADLER BY J ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,568,338 MOCCASIN FOOTWEAR AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE Martin S. Nadler, 208 Alpine Drive, Paramus, NJ. 07652 Filed Oct. 7, 1969, Ser. No. 864,470 Int. Cl. A43b 3/14; A43d 9/00 U.S. CI. 36-11 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present invention includes footwear of the moccasin type. A sole member includes a plurality of juxtaposed peripheral projections, each of which is formed with an opening therethrough. A draw cord extends in tension through each of the openings such that the projections are positioned in overlapping relationship over and in contact with the toes of a user of the footwear.

This invention relates generally to footwear and more particularly to moccasins and a method of constructing same.

It is an object of this invention to provide footwear of the moccasin type which is relatively inexpensive to manufacture and which provides the structural support of a shoe.

Another object of this invention is to provide footwear which stays snugly on the foot of the wearer without the necessity of an over-the-instep strap or binding, thereby providing a completely open sandal type moccasin.

Another object is to provide footwear wherein the steps of manufacture thereof require a minimum of sewing and which is adapted to be equipped with conventional heel pieces.

A yet further object of the invention is to provide footwear of simple construction which is both comfortable to the user and pleasing to the eye.

The present invention fulfills the aforementioned objects and overcomes the limitations and disadvantages of the prior art by providing, in one embodiment, a moccasin-type footwear including a sole member having a plurality of peripheral projections initially extending in juxtaposition from a central portion thereof. Each of the projections are formed with a hole which extends through the middle thereof. A draw cord or string extends in tension through each of these openings in the assembled form such that the projections are finally positioned in overlapping relationship over and in contact with the toes of a user.

The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention together with the accompanying drawing wherein similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, in which FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a moccasintype footwear according to this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the footwear of FIG. 1 in an assembled condition upon the foot of a user, the foot being fragmentarily shown in phantom outline;

FIG. 3 is an elevational rearward view of the footwear of FIG. 1.

Referring now in more detail to the drawing, FIG. 1 shows in an exploded view the components of a preferred embodiment of a moccasin 10 according to the invention. A sole member 12, shown in developed form, comprises a piece of leather or other suitable material which is cut to form an unperforated central portion 14 bounded around the front and sides of its periphery by a series of initially juxtaposed projections 16. Projections 16 are ice formed by a plurality of substantially equally spaced cuts or slices 18 through the outer edges of sole member 12. The extremities of projections 16 are shown to be convergent so as to terminate in pointed edges 20', however, other suitable edge configurations which are visually or functionally desirable are contemplated as coming within the scope of the invention.

Projections 16 are an integral part of sole member 12 and are each further formed with a hole 22 extending through an area substantially midway between the slices 18 bounding each projection. The distance between the edge of any of holes 22 and an adjacent slice 18 may be varied so long as sufficient material to resist tearing exists between them.

A rearward end of sole member 12 includes a central tab 24 located midway between the sides of the sole member. Adjacent either side of tab 24 is a relatively straight transversely extending edge 26. The cooperation between tab 24 and edges 26 is described below.

An inner solepiece 28 shown in FIG. 1 is formed with a shape approximating the bearing area of a human foot, and includes a generally oval heel portion 30, a sole portion 32, and a contoured midsole portion 34. In the assembled or fully constructed condition, inner solepiece 28 is secured, such as by stitching, to the upper side of central portion 14 to form the bearing surface within moccasin 10 against which the foot rests. Inner solepiece 28 may be made from leather or a material adapted to provide a cushioned effect, such as foam rubber.

An outer solepiece 36, similar in shape to inner solepiece 28, is formed with a sole portion 38, a heel portion 40 and a midsole portion 42. Solepiece 36 is substantially planar, yet flexible, and provides the wearing undersurface of moccasin 10. Solepiece 36 is preferably made from leather or an equivalent.

FIG. 1 illustrates sole member 12 in an unfolded, developed condition. The method of forming sole member 12 includes cutting the general shape, the slices 18, the holes 22, the tab 24 and edges 26, and the surfaces defining pointed edges 20 in one step. It is further within the scope of the invention to form inner and outer solepieces 28 and 36, respectively, at the same time and from the same stock as sole member 12, thereby greatly minimizing manufacturing costs and providing a relatively simple structure to assemble.

After the components shown in FIG. 1 are formed as illustrated, solepieces 28 and 36 are sewn to the upper and lower surfaces of central portion 14 by the same stitching process, again for the purpose of minimizing manufacturing time and labor. These savings in manufacturing costs reflect themselves in a more inexpensive product to the consumer, while still maintaining a high quality construction.

Thereafter, the rearward part of moccasin 10 is formed by stitching edges 26 in butting or side-by-side relationship, after which tab 24 is stitched as shown to form a rear end closure of the moccasin. In alternative embodirnents of the invention, tab 24 may be riveted and the edges 26 may be stitched, although any combinations of stitching, riveting or other modes of securing come within the scope of the invention.

Moccasin 10 takes its final or assembled form upon passing a leather or suitable equivalent cord or draw string 44 through each of holes 22, starting from the rear of the moccasin and terminating there. Cord 44 is passed through holes 22 from what appears as the outside of each of projections 16 on the inside of the right moccasin, as shown in FIG. 2, to the inside. Cord 44 may be threaded through holes 22 starting from the back of moccasin 10 along the inside of the moccasin and continuing around the toe portion to and along the outside until the back is reached. FIG. 2, in this case, shows the cord 44 extending from the outside of each projection to the inside through each hole, travelling from toe to heel on the outside of moccasin 10. Alternatively, cord 44 may be laced such that both sides of the moccasin will yield the same cord lacing configuration travelling from back to front. One or more toe-located projections may have more than one hole for this purpose. In this way, upon pulling cord 44 taut and tying same as shown, or alternatively around the ankle of the user, the tension in cord 44 causes adjacent projections 16 to overlap one another and to contact and cover the toes of the user as well as to hug the sides and back of the foot. Cord 44, in at alternative embodiment of the invention, may constitute a length of elastic material which will hold projections 16 in overlapping relationship. A foot is fragmentarily shown in phantom outline in FIG. 2.

It is to be noted that in one embodiment of the invention, in the areas covering the toes, cord 44 does not contact the foot itself, but, as a result of the overlapping of projections 16, it is the material of these projections which holds the toes and thus the foot in place within moccasin 10.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described as including an inner solepiece and an outer solepiece, either or both of these members may be optionally eliminated, in which case the sole member 14 itself separates the foot of the user from the ground.

The embodiments of the invention particularly disclosed are presented merely as examples of the invention. Other embodiments, forms and modifications of the invention coming within the proper scope of the appended claims will of course readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

What is claimed is:

1. Footwear, comprising an originally flat sole member including a plurality of projections extending peripherally about the central portion of said sole member,

said projections being in abutting relationship when said member is in a flat position, each of said projections being formed with an opening therethrough, and a draw cord extending sequentially through the openings in adjacent projections and position said projections in overlapping relationship with respect to one another.

2. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising an inner solepiece disposed between an upper side of said central portion and the bottom of said foot.

3.v Footwear according .to claim 1, further comprising a bottom solepiece integral with an underside of said central portion.

4. Footwear according to claim 1, further comprising means for securing rear ward edges of said sole member together.

5. Footwear, comprising a sole member including a plurality of peripheral projections initially extending in juxtaposition from a central portion of said sole member, each of said projections being formed with an opening therethrough, and a draw cord extending through said openings such that said projections are finally positioned in overlapping relationship with respect to one another, said projections comprising peripheral portions of said central portions formed with a plurality of outwardly extending slits, adjacent slits bounding the sides of a projection.

6. Footwear according to claim 5, wherein the extremities of said projections include converging surfaces which meet angularly at a relatively pointed edge.

7. A method of constructing footwear, comprising the steps of forming a sole member with a central portion and a plurality of juxtaposed projections formed with openings therethrough and extending outwardly from the central portion, securing rearward portions of the sole member to one another, and causing a cord to be passed in tension sequentially through adjacent openings, thereby causing adjacent projections to assume an overlapping relationship with one another.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS D. 131,318 2/1942 Levin 361 1X 1,398,108 11/1921 McQuinn 36--11 1,877,080 9/1932 Teshima 3611X 2,110,839 3/1938 Ferriot 3611.5 2,682,713 7/1954 Eiger 36-11 2,738,597 3/1956 Sandler 3611 3,040,451 6/1962 Hilkemeyer 36l1X PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner Us. 01. X.R.

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