METHOD FOR COMPLETION OF FOOTWEAR AND SHOE FILLER

Abstract: A removable shoe filler, that can be inserted into any related shoe (2), is made of polystyrene foam and fit for being kept inserted in the shoe, at least during the phases of stretching the upper and finishing the related shoe (2). This shoe filler has in its lower part which is in contact with the insole of the shoe (2), transversal grooves (4) fit to allow the evaporation of the solvents used during the stitching and/or gluing of the sole to the upper. Furthermore, there are transversal, passing through holes (3) positioned close to the rear upper side of the shoe filler (1). The external surface of the shoe filler (1) is strewed with protrusions (7) fit for engaging the inner surface of the shoe (2) so as to avoid that the shoe filler may slip off from the inside of the shoe.

Description: METHOD FOR COMPLETION OF FOOTWEAR AND SHOE FILLER The following invention refers to the production of footwear. In particular, it refers to shoe fillers and the method for completion of footwear in which these shoe fillers are used to keep the leather stretched and as instruments to maintain the original shape of the shoes. It is known that during both handcrafted and industrial production of footwear, foot- shaped models, commonly called "lasts", and usually made in wood or plastic, are used. These lasts are used particularly during the stitching and/or gluing together of the various pieces that make up the shoe, such as upper, insole and sole, with the purpose of shaping the leather or other upper material. After these operations, the last is removed and reused for production of further shoes. The subsequent production operation consists in pressing and ironing of the upper leather, with the purpose of enhancing its aesthetic uniformity and maintaining the shoe shape. During the further so-called finishing step of footwear production, which usually consists in polishing and brushing the leather, rolled up tissue paper, or more consistent paper, is manually inserted inside the shoe to keep stretched the upper leather. After the finishing phase, this paper can be removed or kept inside the shoe to maintain its shape. For the same purpose, also after removal of the paper used during the shoe finishing process, sometimes a further laminar shape in plastic or cardboard is used to which sometimes a flexible stick is connected, so to keep this shape in position in the shoe. This laminar shape may be kept by the end user to maintain the shape of the shoe after purchase. The main disadvantage in the completion of footwear is linked to the removal of the C0PIE DE CONFIRMATION last after the operation of stitching and/or cementing and pressing of the sole. After this removal paper must be inserted prior to the finishing of the shoe and finally, after eventual removal of the paper used for the finishing, a laminar shape of plastic or stiff cardboard must be inserted in the shoe and kept in tension by a stick positioned between the last and the heel area of the shoe inside. All these operations cause a substantial loss of time by the persons conducting the operations, and compromise the final result. The main purpose of this invention is to propose a shoe filler made in such a way that it may be kept inside the shoe during all production phases, following the pressing of the sole, continuing with the pressing and ironing of the upper, the polishing and brushing, as well as during packing, stocking, display and in any case during the commercialisation of the footwear. Another purpose is to propose a shoe filler and a production method that will contribute to optimise, speed up and automatize the current production process of footwear. Another purpose is to propose a shoe filler such that it can be reused by the end user to keep the shoe in shape also after the purchase. Another purpose is to propose a shoe filler such that it can be personalised and therefore used as advertising medium by the producer and/or distributor of the footwear. Another purpose is to propose a shoe filler that has a different shape for the right and left shoe, allowing it to fit perfectly. An additional purpose of this invention is to propose a shoe filler of simple manufacturing, low cost and high efficacy. The above objects and purposes are obtained in accordance with the content of the claims. The characteristics of the invention are specified as follows with special reference to the attached drawings, in which: - Figure 1 shows a sectional view of the shoe filler, object of the present invention. Figure 2 shows a front view of the shoe filler of figure 1. - Figure 3 shows a lateral sectional view of the filler of figure 1 inserted in the related shoe. Figure 4 shows a front view of the shoe filler inserted in the related shoe, in which some parts are removed in order to highlight the other parts. Figures 5A, 6A and 7A show respectively a front view, lateral view, bottom view of the filler for a left shoe of a second embodiment. Figures 5B, 6B, 7B and 8 show respectively a front view, lateral view, bottom view and enlarged view of the filler for a right shoe of the second embodiment. - Figure 9 shows a lateral view of a variant of the filler of figure 8 for low-heeled footwear. - Figures 10 and 11 show respectively variants of the fillers of figures 8 and 9 for boot type footwear. - Figures 12 and 13 show respectively variants of the fillers of figures 8 and 9 for decollete type footwear. - Figures 14 and 15 show respectively variants of the filler of figure 8 for men's and children's footwear. Figure 16 shows a tridimensional lateral view from the bottom of the shoe filler according to its second embodiment. With reference to figures 1 to 4, numeral 1 indicates a filler made in plastic material, preferably polystyrene foam, and fit to be inserted in a shoe 2. The shoe filler 1 is provided with transversal grooves 4 on its lower surface, meaning the part adjacent to the insole of the shoe 2, allowing the evaporation of the solvents in the adhesive used to glue the insole to the shoe upper during production. The shoe filler 1 is provided with passing holes 3, for instance in figure 3 in the number of five, which are passing through the body of the shoe filler itself, to allow the evacuation of the solvent vapours during the shoe production, as well as bad odours and/or humidity consequent to the shoe usage. Furthermore, these passing holes 3 facilitate the insertion into the shoe 2 and/or its removal, since they allow the flow communication between the inside and the outside of the shoe. In the shoe filler 1 there are also recesses 10 positioned in correspondence of the upper rear part of the shoe filler 1, allowing the users to grip the shoe filler 1 with their fingers for extraction and/or insertion of the shoe filler 1 from and/or into the shoe 2. Furthermore, the shoe filler 1 is provided with a protrusion 5, for instance in the shape of a circular crown and/or of a pin, used to support and engage an eventual stick 6, inserted inside the shoe 2 between the shoe filler 1 and the inside back part of the shoe, so to keep the stick in tension and the shoe in shape. The shoe filler 1 is inserted inside the shoe 2 after the extraction of the reusable shoe last and is kept inside the same shoe during all further production phases, in particular during the pressing and ironing, the polishing and brushing of the shoe upper. In other words, the method for manufacturing the shoes 2 consists in: using a related reusable shoe last on which the related shoe upper is positioned, to which is connected an insole, for instance in cardboard or leather, attached to a sole; - fixing the upper to the sole; - removing the reusable shoe last; - inserting in the shoe of an insock glued onto the bottom upper; - inserting into the shoe 2 of the shoe filler 1 in polystyrene; - pressing and ironing the upper; finishing and relative polishing of the shoe; keeping the polystyrene shoe filler 1 in the shoe 2 during the phases of packing and or stocking, and/or transporting, and/or displaying, and/or the commercialisation of footwear. It is important to highlight that the insertion of the shoe filler 1 in the shoe also helps to increase the pressing of the insock inside the shoe as well as improving its gluing inside the shoe. The shoe is finally commercialised with its shoe filler inserted therein and with the eventual help of a tensioning stick 6 in such a way to allow the end user to use the shoe filler again to keep the original shape of the shoe. The polystyrene foam of the shoe filler 1 has a variable density between 0.2-1.2 and preferably of 0.7. It advantageous to highlight that the high versatility of the utilised material allows to make the shoe filler in various colours and/or with raised ornamental patterns especially on the rear part, therefore with possibility to put the trademark of the manufacturer and/or distributor thereon. Furthermore, it is advantageous to point out that inside the transversal passing holes it is possible to insert perfumed substances and/or substances able to absorb odours or humidity from the shoe inside which the shoe filler is inserted. It is also important to highlight that the shoe filler is made in recyclable material. In figures 5A to 9 is illustrated a second embodiment of the shoe filler 1, which differs from the preferred embodiment mainly in that it has a conformation that adapts itself better to the shoe 2 for the left foot and the right foot, respectively figures 5A, 6A and 7A and figures 5B, 6B, 7B and 8. This shoe filler 1 is strewed on its external surface with protrusions 7 which, although very low and of tiny dimension, are able to prevent the filler 1 from slipping off from the inside of the shoe 2, as they interact with the inside of the upper. Furthermore the shoe fillers 1 show various niches 8 opened on the bottom surface fit for housing for instance capsules containing perfume and/or humidity absorbents and/or with antibacterial and antimycotic substances. These niches 8 also serve the purpose of reducing the consumption of material used for making the shoe fillers themselves. Figure 8 shows the shoe filler 1 fit to be inserted into women's shoes, for instance of the loafer type, of a heel height between 30 and 70 mm. Figure 9 shows a variant of the second embodiment in which the shoe filler 1 has its heel area lower in respect to the forward bottom part than on the shoe filler in figure 8, so as to be inserted into a women's shoe of a heel height between 10 and 30 mm. In figures 10 and 11 different variants are shown, respectively for high and low heel, of the second embodiment, related to shoe fillers for women's boots and booties. In these variants, the shoe filler 1 has a lengthened neck 9 so that it can support the forepart of the upper of the shoe. Figures 12 and 13 show other variants of the second embodiment of the shoe filler 1 for women's footwear of the decollete type, respectively for a high heel between 30 and 70 mm and a low heel between 10 and 30 mm. In these variants the shoe filler has an almost flat lengthened area 11 between the recesses 10 and the upper forepart of the point of shoe filler 1, so that it does not protrude from the decollete shoe. Figures 14 and 15 show respective variants of the second embodiment of the shoe filler 1 respectively for men's and children's shoes with a heel height between 10 and 30 mm, which differ from the previous variants, the first one for men's shoes only because of its size in relation to the fillers for women's shoes, and the second one for children for its shorter "neck" in relation to the fillers for women's boots and booties. The shoe filler 1 of the second embodiment for high heeled footwear of maximum 70 mm, presents an angle of about 40° between the back part and the bottom forepart, while this angle is about 5° for shoe fillers inserted in low heel footwear of 10 mm. This shoe fillers 1 have a sort of "nose" on the sides of which are the recesses 10 in such a way to easily and consistently handle the introduction and or removal of shoe filler 1 into or from its related shoe. The shoe fillers according to all variants of the second embodiment may have all of the characteristic of the shoe fillers according to the preferred embodiment, as for instance transversal passing holes 3 and transversal grooves 4. It is advantageous to point out that shoe fillers 1 allow to maintain the original conformation of the shoe, guaranteeing the so called "toe pitch", that is the coplanarity of the sole area of the shoe with the heel, both resting on the floor, also thanks to the making of the shoe fillers in left and right to be inserted into the related shoes 2 so to ensure optimal maintaining of the shape. Figure 16 shows the shoe filler 1 according to the second embodiment, that has a depression area 12 in the bottom part, mainly towards the forepart, such to allow the evaporation of the solvents in the adhesive used for the manufacturing of the shoe. Furthermore, such depression, which can extend itself up to the back part of the shoe filler itself, facilitates the insertion and extraction of the shoe filler itself from the inside of the shoe, as well as allowing the saving of material and the lower weight. The main advantage of this invention is to supply a shoe filler in such a way it may be kept inside the shoe during all production phases that follow the extraction of the reusable last, and therefore the phases of pressing and ironing the upper, polishing and brushing, and overall during the commercialisation of footwear. Another advantage consists in maintaining the shape of the shoe, thanks to the shoe filler inserted in it both during the final production phases and during packing, stocking, transport, display and in any case during commercialisation. A further advantage of this invention is to supply a shoe filler that will contribute to optimise, speed up, automatize the current production process for footwear. A further advantage of this invention is to supply a shoe filler such that it can be reused by the end user to keep the shoe in shape also after purchase. A further advantage of this invention is to supply a shoe filler such that it can be personalised, so to be used as an advertising vehicle by the footwear producer and/or distributor. Another advantage is to supply a shoe filler that has a different shape for right and left shoes, so to ensure an optimal fit. A further advantage of this invention is to supply a shoe filler that is of easy making, low cost and high efficacy.

Claims: CLAIMS 1) Removable shoe filler insertable in each related shoe (2), said shoe filler (1) characterised in that it is made of polystyrene foam and is fit to be kept inserted inside the shoe, at least during the operations of pressing and ironing the upper material and the finishing of the related shoe (2). 2) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that it has in its lower part, fit to contact with the shoe insole, transversal grooves (4) or depressions (12) fit to facilitate the evaporation of the solvents used during stitching and/or gluing the sole with the upper. 3) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that it has transversal passing holes (3) positioned near the upper rear part of the shoe filler (1) and fit for facilitating the insertion of shoe filler (1) inside the shoe (2) and facilitating its subsequent removal. 4) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that it has a protrusion (5) fit to support and keep in tension the shoe stick (6) inserted inside the shoe between the back part of the shoe and the shoe filler (1). 5) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that said polystyrene foam has a variable density between 0,2 and 1,2 and is preferably 0,7. 6) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that it is made in fully recyclable material. 7) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that said shoe filler (1) is made in various colours and/or with raised ornamental patterns. 8) Shoe filler according to claim 3 characterised in that inside said transversal aeration passing holes (3) are inserted perfumed substances and/or substances fit for absorbing odours or humidity inside said shoe (2). 9) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that the surface of shoe filler (1) is strewed with protrusions (7) engaging with the inside of the shoe (2). 10) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that the shoe filler (1) is provided 5 with niches (8) in the bottom area. 11) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that the shoe filler 1 is provided with a neck (9) attached to the forepart of shoe filler (1), fit to sustain the forepart of the upper of shoe (2), of the type of boot or bootie. 10 12) Shoe filler according to claim 1 characterised in that the shoe filler (1) has an almost flat lengthened area (11) on the top of the upper forepart of shoe filler (1), r allowing the latter not to stick out of the shoe of the decollete type. 15 13) Shoe filler according to anyone of the previous claims characterised in that the shoe filler (1) has an angle ranging from 5° to 40° between the back part and the bottom forepart so as to be inserted in shoes (2) having a heel height between 10 and 70 millimetres. 20 14) Shoe filler according to anyone of the previous claims characterised in that it is shaped with the toe turned towards left or right and is inserted into the respective left or right shoe (2). 15) Method for making shoes (2) and shoe filler (1) characterised in that it consists in: 25 - using a related reusable shoe last on which the related upper is positioned and to which an insole fixed to a sole is connected; - fixing said upper to said sole; - removing said reusable shoe last; inserting of a shoe filler (1) in polystyrene foam into said shoe (2); 30 - pressing and ironing of the upper; finishing said shoe. 16) Method according to claim 15 characterised in that it further includes the insertion into the shoe (2) of an insock fixed to the inside of said shoe before inserting shoe filler (1) into the same shoe. 17) Method according to claim 15 characterised in that furthermore includes the keeping of shoe filler (1) in polystyrene in said shoe (2) during packing, and/or stocking, and/or transport, and/or display and/or commercialisation of shoe (2).

Inventors: PERAZZOLO ANGELO, REALE CARLO ALBERTO, PERAZZOLO, ANGELO, REALE, CARLO, ALBERTO
Applicants: PERAZZOLO ANGELO, REALE CARLO ALBERTO, PERAZZOLO, ANGELO, REALE, CARLO, ALBERTO
Application year: 2000
Main classification: A43D3
IPC codes: A43D3