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(11) | EP 0 187 463 A1 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | A shoe making kit |
| (57) A shoe making kit for making shoes by hand, which shoe making kit comprises a pair
of soles (4), a pair of uppers (14), temporary fixing means (16) for temporarily fixing
the uppers to the soles for test purposes, and permanent fixing means (20) for permanently
fixing the uppers to the soles after tests with the temporary fixing means have established
for the wearer of the created shoes the most suitable position and fitting for the
uppers on the soles. |
[0001] This invention relates to a shoe making kit and it relates more especially to a shoe makinq kit for making shoes by hand. This invention also relates to a display comprising a plurality of the shoe making kits, and to a method of making a pair of shoes by hand.
[0002] Shoes are normally made in factories and there must inevitably be a limitation upon the various sizes, designs and colours of shoe that can be produced in the factory. There is a need for a greater selection of different types of shoes, especially fashion shoes for girls and ladies.
[0003] It is an aim of the present invention to satisfy the need for a greater selection of different shoes by providing a shoe making kit for making shoes by hand, thereby dispensing with the use of machines in factories, affording the customer a very wide choice of components for the shoe making kit, affording the customer the ability to test the shoes for comfort and good'fitting during their production, and not the least affording the customer enjoyment and self-satisfaction in the making of the shoes.
[0004] Accordingly, this invention provides a shoe making kit for making shoes by hand, which shoe making kit comprises a pair of soles, a pair of uppers, temporary fixing means for temporarily fixing the uppers to the soles for test purposes, and permanent fixing means for permanently fixing the uppers to the soles after tests with the temporary fixing means have established for the wearer of the created shoes the most suitable position and fitting for the uppers on the soles.
[0005] As indicated above, the use of the temporary fixing means can enable the wearer of the shoes to test them during their manufacture for the most suitable position of the uppers on the soles. In addition, the customer can choose various combinations of soles and uppers to give a far greater variety of designs and colour combinations than could ever economically be produced by a factory. The shoes are so simple to make that hardly any skill or effort is required so that the customer is able to obtain much job satisfaction for the expenditure of very little time and effort. Still further, with high fashion shoes, for example for ladies and girls, the uopers on a pair of soles may be changed at will to suit various dress requirements.
[0006] The components of the shoe making kit, that is the pair of soles, the pair of uppers, the temporary fixing means and the permanent fixing means, may be packaged separately or together. The packaging may be effective to give the customer the greatest possible choice of shoe component designs, materials and colours.
[0007] The soles may be made of wood, cork or a plastics material. Other materials may of course be employed. The soles may be made from a single material or a composite material formed for example of two or more layers of different materials.
[0008] The uppers may be such as to cover at least a front part of the wearer's foot. These uppers may or may not cover the wearer's toes.
[0009] Where the uppers do not cover the wearer's toes, then the uppers may be in strap form. One or more straps may be employed.
[0012] The permanent fixin0 means may be nails or staples. The hails may be brass and/or nickel nails.
[0013] The nails may be provided in two designs and colours to afford a customer a choice of permanent fixing means.
[0014] The soles may be such that they have heels already fixed thereto. However, if desired, the shoe making kit may be one which includes a separate heel for fixing to each sole. It will thus be apparent that with separate heels, a customer can choose different heel sizes, different heel designs and different heel colours to go with chosen soles.
[0015] The back part of the shoe may be strapless or it may have one or more straps. The straps may be one or more ankle straps.
[0016] The shoe making kit may include masking means for covering the permanent fixing means, for example the nails.
[0018] The present invention also provides a display comprising a plurality of the shoe making kits, the comoonents of each shoe making kit being separate so that a purchaser is able to choose various components to his or her own taste.
[0019] The present invention further provides a method of making a pair of shoes by hand, which method comprises inspecting a display havinq a plurality of different pairs of soles, a plurality of different nairs of uppers, a plurality of temporary fixing means and a plurality of permanent fixing means, selecting a desired pair of soles, selectinq a desired pair of uppers, selecting some of the temporary fixing means, selecting some of the permanent fixing means, temporarily securinq the selected uppers to the selected soles using the selected temporary fixinq means, testing to establish the most suitable position of the selected uppers on the selected soles, and permanently securing the selected uppers to the selected soles in the most suitable position using the selected permanent fixing means.
[0020] The method of the invention may be such that the temporary fixing means are left in position or are removed from the produced shoes.
[0021] The temporary fixing means may be all the same or may be different. Similarly, the permanent fixing means may be all the same or different. Usually, the temporary fixing means will be all the same, whilst the permanent fixing means will be different, for example to suit different types of materials for the soles and also to suit different types of aesthetic taste.
[0022] The method of the invention may be one in which the permanent fixing means and the temporary fixing means when present in the produced shoes are covered with masking means, for example the above mentioned metal strips.
[0023] Embodiments of the invention will now be described solely by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Figures 1 to 15 show different stages in the making of some shoes;
Figure 16 to 22 show seven different designs of shoes; and
Figures 23,24 show two different types of masking means.
[0024] Referring to the drawings, it is to be appreciated that when assembling a pair of shoes, it is always best to make the two shoes at the same time. The only tools needed may be a hammer and a sharp knife.
[0025] Figure 1 illustrates a foot 2 on a sole 4. The sole 4 has a heel 6 and the heel 6 may be already fixed to the sole 4 or it may be separate from the sole 4 as will be described herein below. In order to obtain the correct fitting, the foot 2 is placed on the sole 4, with the heel of the foot 2 fitting exactly on the edge of the sole 4. There should be a gap of about 10mm between the big toe and the edge of the sole.
[0026] Referring to Figure 2 temporary fixing means in the form of double sided adhesive tape 8 is then secured where illustrated to the sole 4. A two inch (50mm) strip of the tape is placed on the edge of each sole 4 and the protective strips 10 are removed.
[0027] Figure 3 illustrates the foot 2 such that the person is sitting down and has rested the sole 4 on a resting block 12.
[0028] An upper in the form of a single strap 14 is then taken as illustrated in Figure 4 and the ends of the strap 14 are held between the finger and the thumb as illustrated. The strap 14 is then placed on the foot 2 in the required position for giving maximum comfort and/or aesthetic effect.
[0029] Figure 5 illustrates how the strap 14 requires to be firmly pressed with the thumbs, using the fingers to bring the remainder of the strap on both sides right underneath the sole 4. As this happens, it is necessary to press the strap 14 firmly on to the tape 8.
[0030] As illustrated in Figure 6, further temporary fixing means in the form of tacks 16, are hammered through the strap 14 and into the sole 4, using a hammer 18. Two or three tacks may be employed and they only need to be forced approximately half way into the sole 4 on both sides of the sole 4. The thus so far assembled shoes can then be worn and the person can walk around in the shoes to establish that they are totally comfortable and that they look right, or that they required alteration in some way. If alteration is required, then the temporary fixing means can easily be removed and the process described above redone.
[0031] Fiqure 7 illustrates how a person standing with both 'feet 2 together can make sure that the straps 14 are in the same position on both soles 4. The person can also make sure that the straps 14 are not too tight and not too loose. The person should make sure that the little toe and the big toe joint have enough support. As indicated above, if the fit is not correct, it is only necessary to remove the temporary tacks if they have been used and then to reposition the straps 14 on the strip 8. When the position of the straps 14 on the soles 4 is totally satisfactory, then the tacks can be removed if they have been used.
[0032] Figure 8 illustrates how permanent fixing means in the form of brass or nickel nails 20 can be hammered through the strap 14, and into the sole 4 using the hammer 18. In order to do this, the sole 4 should be held against a firm surface.
[0033] The top part of Figure 9 illustrates that the nails 20 should be placed approximately half way between the edqes of the sole 4.As illustrated in the lower part of Figure 9, the nails 20 should never point towards the feet 2 and they should always point towards the middle of the sole 4. If desired, the temporary tacks 16 can be left in position.
[0034] Figure 10 illustrates how the nails 20 should be approximately 4mm apart. The nails can be placed in a straight or curved row as illustrated in Figure 11. Non-serrated nails should be used with wooden soles 4 and serrated nails should be used with plastics soles 4.
[0035] When nailing is completed,a sharp knife 22 should be taken as illustrated in Figure 12 and used to trim off the surplus double sided tape 8 and the strap 14, approximately 4mm below the row of nails 20. If desired, a guide line of where to cut can be marked on the strap 14 before actually cutting the strap, the guideline being marked with a pencil.
[0036] The finished shoes will then be such that they fit exactly and that they are of the right colour with the required sole and heel shape and height. Everything will have been made to the wearer's specification and the wearer will be the individual creator of his or her own fashion.
[0037] The heels illustrated in Figures 1 to 12 have been shown as differently shaped to illustrate the different desiqns of heel that may be employed. These heels may be already fixed to the sole 4 or, as illustrated in Figure 13, the customer may be given the choice of fixing individual heels 6 to the sole 4. Thus, referring to Figure 13, it will be seen that the heel 6 has two upstanding posts 24. These posts 24 are fitted into two complementary holes 26 formed in the underside of the sole 4. The heel 6 can be qiven a light tap with the hammer 18 to ensure that the posts24 are fully home in the holes 26. A screw 28 is then inserted into a hole 30 in the sole 4 and the screw passes through the sole 4 and is screwed tightly into the heel 6 to tightly fix the heel 6 to the sole 4. A top piece 32 is then employed having pegs 34. The pegs 34 are inserted in to holes 36 in the heel 6. The pegs 34 are a tight fit in the holes 36 and they only need hitting in with the hammer 18 to ensure that the top piece 32 stays in position on the heel 6. It will also be appreciated that because the top piece 32 is a friction fit in the heel 6, the top piece 32 can easily be replaced in the event that it should become worn.
[0038] Figure 14 illustrates two feet 2 showing the straps 14 extending at different angles relative to the feet 2. Wherever the strap 14 is put, it should always be such that it protects the little toe and the big toe joint.
[0039] If desired, the shoes can be made by a sales person in a shop or by a shoemaker. The customer would then select the required combination of shoe components and the person in the shoe shop or the shoemaker would then assemble the components to the customers requirements in the shop. The customer could walk around the shop to ensure that the fit was desired with the temporary fixing means in position as mentioned above. Obviously, the customer would expect to pay extra for having the shoes assembled in the shop.
[0040] Referring now to Figures 16,17 and 18, there are shown three further different designs of shoe, these shoes beinq ladies shoes. It will be seen that three different types of straps 14 are employed and the straps 14 can generally be employed in a large variety of colours, widths, patterns and textures.
[0041] Referring now to Figures 19,20,21 and 22, it will be seen that four further different designs of shoe are illustrated. All of these shoes have high heels 6, and they also have different straps 14. It will be seen that the shoes in Figures 19,20 and 21 have straps 38 which fix to the sole 4 by permanent fixing means
such for example as the same type of nails employed for fixing the straps 14 permanently in position. The straps 38 extend into ankle straps 40. The ankle straps 40 have buckles 42 as illustrated. The straps 14 in Figures 19,20,21 and 22 are preferably leather straps. The desiqns are especially cut for providing good comfort and support. The ankle straps 38 have been standardised and may come in two sections so that one may choose to have the outside strap in one colour and the inside strap in another colour. This provides a unique mix and match facility.
[0042] Figures 23 and 24 illustrate two different types of masking means in the form of two different metal strips 44; 46. It will be seen that the metal strip 44 is straight whilst the metal strip 46 is longer and is curved. Most strips are provided with holes 48 by means of which they can be nailed to the sides of the sole 4 to cover the nails 20.
1. A shoe making kit for making shoes by hand, which shoe making kit comprises a pair
of soles, a pair of uppers, temporary fixing means for temporarily fixing the uppers
to the soles for test purposes, and permanent fixing means for permanently fixing
the uppers to the soles after tests with the temporary fixing means have established
for the wearer of the created shoes the most suitable position and fitting for the
uppers on the soles.
2. A shoe making kit according to claim 1 in which the uppers are in strap form.
3. A shoe making kit according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the temporary fixing
means are double sided adhesive tape and/or tacks, and in which the permanent fixing
means are nails or staples..
4. A shoe making kit according to any one of the preceding claims in which the soles
have heels already fixed thereto.
5. A shoe making kit according to any one of claims 1 to 3 and which includes a separate
heel for fixing to each sole.
6. A shoe making kit according to any one of the preceding claims and including one
or more ankle straps.
7. A shoe making kit according to any one of the preceding claims and including masking
means for masking the permanent fixing means.
8. A display comprising a plurality of the shoe making kits as claimed in any one
of the preceding claims, the components of each shoe making kit being separate so
that a purchaser is able to choose various components to his or her own taste.
9. A method of making a pair of shoes by hand, which method comprises inspecting a
display having a plurality of different pairs of soles, a plurality of different pairs
of uppers, a plurality of temporary fixing means and a plurality of permanent fixing
means, selecting a desired pair of soles, selecting a desired pair of uppers, selecting
some of the temporary fixing means, selecting some of the permanent fixing means,
temporarily securing the selected uppers to the selected soles using the selected
temporary fixing means, testing to establish the most suitable position of the selected
uppers on the selected soles, and permanently securing the selected uppers to the
selected soles in the most suitable position using the selected permanent fixing means.
10. A method according to claim 9 in which the permanent fixing means are covered
with masking means.