Patent ID: 7159337

Claim:
A method of fabricating a footwear item comprising the steps of (a) forming an upper having a perimeter of defined shape; (b) forming a lap element for attachment of said upper to a sole, the lap element having upper and lower flanges defining a channel to accommodate a section of at least the perimeter of said upper and being formed of a plastics material molded to conform to the shape of said section of said upper; (c) molding a series of holes into each of said upper and lower flanges of the lap element to accommodate stitching for securing said section of said upper between said upper and lower flanges of the lap element and to the sole; (d) forming in the periphery of said section of said upper a series of holes corresponding with those in the upper and lower flanges of said lap element; and (e) providing said lap element with sufficient resilience to accommodate alignment of the corresponding holes in said lap element and said section of the upper of the footwear item, thereby facilitating said stitching.