Patent ID: 7281286

Claim:
A method for sewing an elastomeric sole to an upper by a sewing machine comprising the steps of: (1) providing an elastomeric sole comprising: (a) a sidewall having a top surface, a bottom surface, and a height extending therebetween, said height being less than about 0.625 inch; (b) a cavity formed by said sidewall, said cavity having a cavity lower surface; (c) a horizontally disposed rim extending outwardly from said sidewall; and (d) at least two upstanding regions extending upwardly from said cavity lower surface, each region formed from elastomer and having a different effective modulus of elasticity; (2) providing an upper having a continuous connector ledge extending about its lower surface; (3) providing a sewing machine comprising: (a) a flat bed defining a first work surface; (b) an arm extending outwardly over said flat bed to a compound sewing mechanism including a compound reciprocating needle and top feed mechanism, and a height adjustable presser foot; (c) a bobbin and sewing hook mounted for actuation below said first work surface for operational association of bobbin fed thread with needle carrying thread to define a sewing station with said compound sewing mechanism; (d) a cover plate assembly having a lower plate portion at said first work surface with a feed dog workpiece advancing component receiving slot, an edge guide having a guide surface generally extending upwardly normally to said lower plate portion a distance corresponding with said elastomeric sole sidewall thickness portion to an elevated second work surface operable with said top feed mechanism, generally parallel with said first work surface and including a needle receiving slot; (f) a feed dog assembly including said workpiece advancing component extensible through said receiving slot and a thread sequestering channel component adjacent to said workpiece advancing component and extending upwardly to a needle receiving opening located for reciprocatory movement adjacent said needle receiving slot at said second working surface; and (g) a sewing drive mechanism for carrying out the actuation of said needle, top feed mechanism, bobbin, sewing hook, and feed dog assembly; (4) sewing said continuous connector ledge to said elastomeric sole rim with said sewing machine.