US6571491B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Shoe having a fabric outsole and manufacturing process thereof
Assignee: ES Originals Inc
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Filing: 2002-02-21
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Granted: 2003-06-03
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Expires: 2022-02-21
Abstract
Abstract A method of construction a shoe is provided wherein the shoe includes an upper, a lower attached to the upper, and an outsole attached to the lower. In one embodiment, the outsole has a ground contacting surface which includes a first section and a second section, with the first section being formed of a first material and the second section having an outer later formed of a fabric material. The first section is formed free of the fabric material and is instead formed of other suitable materials, such as rubber, leather, etc. Preferably, the first and second sections are formed using a molding process.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Safdeye
- 👤 Chun-Ruey Wu
- 👤 Michael Stein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 20:16
CPC Classifications
B; B29; B29D; B29D35/00; B29D35/06; B29D35/08; A; A43; A43B; A43B13/00; A43B13/02; A43B13/12; A43B13/14; A43B13/143; A43B13/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of manufacturing a shoe, the method comprising: providing a shoe upper; attaching a shoe lower to the shoe upper; and attaching an outsole having a ground contacting surface to the shoe lower, the outsole being forming by: inserting a section of fabric material into a first mold; injecting a first material into the first mold and operating the first mold to form a reinforced fabric material; inserting the reinforced fabric material into a second mold; injecting a second material into the second mold and operating the second mold to form the outsole, wherein the outsole includes a first section formed of the second material and a second section formed of the reinforced fabric material, the second section being exposed to the ground contracting surface of the outsole, and wherein the first section is free of any fabric material.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of manufacturing a shoe, the method comprising: providing a shoe upper; attaching a shoe lower to the shoe upper; and attaching an outsole having a ground contacting surface to the shoe lower, the outsole being forming by: inserting a section of fabric material into a first mold; injecting a first material into the first mold and operating the first mold to form a reinforced fabric material; inserting the reinforced fabric material into a second mold; injecting a second material into the second mold and operating the second mold to form the outsole, wherein the outsole includes a first section formed of the second material and a second section formed of the reinforced fabric material, the second section being exposed to the ground contracting surface of the outsole, and wherein the first section is free of any fabric material.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the fabric material is a nonwoven fabric.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the reinforced fabric material includes an outer layer of the fabric material and a backing layer formed of the first material, the backing layer and the fabric material being connected to one another.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein inserting the section of reinforced fabric material into the second mold and operating the mold comprises: providing a contoured section in the second mold for receiving the section of reinforced fabric material; inserting the reinforced fabric material into the contoured section; and injecting the second material into the second mold so that the second material does not contact the fabric material; and operating the mold at predetermined conditions to form a shape-retaining shoe outsole.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second material is only injected over the first material and over portions of the second mold which are free of the first material and the fabric material.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the second section permits classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule at a tariff rate lower than a shoe having a ground contacting surface that is free of the second section.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
64 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein the injection of the first material into the first mold and the operation thereof forms a molded member in which the first material is integrally connected to only a portion of the fabric material, and wherein the reinforced fabric material is formed by: removing any fabric material which is free of integral connection with the first material.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 1 , further including: forming a gap between the fabric material and the first material forming the first section so that the fabric material is free of contact with the first material.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of manufacturing a shoe outsole, the method comprising: inserting a fabric material into a first mold; injecting a first material into the first mold and operating the first mold to form a reinforced fabric material; inserting the reinforced fabric material into a second mold; injecting a second material into the second mold and operating the second mold to form the outsole, wherein the outsole includes an exposed, ground contacting surface comprising a first section formed of the second material and a second section formed of the reinforced fabric material, and wherein the first section is free of fabric material.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
101 words
A method of manufacturing a shoe outsole, the method comprising: inserting a fabric material into a first mold; injecting a first material into the first mold and operating the first mold to form a reinforced fabric material; inserting the reinforced fabric material into a second mold; injecting a second material into the second mold and operating the second mold to form the outsole, wherein the outsole includes an exposed, ground contacting surface comprising a first section formed of the second material and a second section formed of the reinforced fabric material, and wherein the first section is free of fabric material.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
36 words
The method of claim 9 , further including: forming a gap between the fabric material and the first material forming the first section so that the fabric material is free of contact with the first material.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the fabric material is a nonwoven fabric.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the reinforced fabric material includes an outer layer of the fabric material and a backing layer formed of the first material, the backing layer and the fabric material being connected to one another.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
81 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein inserting the section of reinforced fabric material into the second mold and operating the mold comprises: providing a contoured section in the second mold for receiving the section of reinforced fabric material; inserting the reinforced fabric material into the contoured section; and injecting the second material into the second mold so that the second material does not contact the fabric material; and operating the mold at predetermined conditions to form a shape-retaining shoe outsole.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein the second section permits classification under the Harmonized Tariff Schedule at a tariff rate lower than a shoe having a ground contacting surface that is free of the second section.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-06-02 | 2006-12-02 | 2007-06-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-06-02 | 2010-12-02 | 2011-06-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-06-02 | 2014-12-02 | 2015-06-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |