Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8056173 | Soluble thread in the manufacture of footwear Aspects of the invention relate to the use of soluble thread in the preparation of footwear, in particular athletic footwear. After preparing aspects of the footwear, the soluble thread is dissolved. ... | 11/15/2011 |
| 7287294 | Method of making an expandable shoe A method of making an expandable shoe is disclosed. An intermediate footwear structure is provided having an expandable upper portion. A stabilizing material is provided to the intermediate structure to resist expansion of the upper portion, and a last is inserted i... | 10/30/2007 |
| 7249472 | Device for treating textile or similar in a continuous stream The invention relates to a device for treating web-type textiles, nonwovens or paper in a continuous stream, uses a gaseous treatment agent that circulates in the device. The product lies on the exterior face of a permeable drum (5), which is subjected to an ... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7210250 | Multipiece footwear insole The invention relates to an insole for use in footwear, and is comprised of a plurality of sections that are removably or securably attachable to a bottom layer. The sections can be made of different materials to provide different types of support, e.g. rigid or sho... | 05/01/2007 |
| 6994532 | Method and apparatus for pressure molding multi-layer footwear The present invention proposes an apparatus for pressure molding multi-layer footwear for use in the field of sport footwear. The apparatus for pressure molding multi-layer footwear has two pressure forming receptacles, each having an inflatable vessel therein. The ... | 02/07/2006 |
| 6935053 | Waterproof footwear and methods for making the same Waterproof footwear and methods for making the same. The footwear includes a laminate liner material including at least a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer. The method includes two lasting steps to produce waterproof footwear that is durable and aes... | 08/30/2005 |
| 6670029 | Composite footwear upper and method of manufacturing a composite footwear upper A method of manufacturing a multi-layer, composite footwear upper having a three-dimensional geometry includes the steps of forming a substantially planar composite sheet from two or more layers, heating the composite sheet, and compression molding the co... | 12/30/2003 |
| 6446360 | Waterproof footwear liner and method of making the same A footwear liner includes two sides connected at a front seam and a back seam by stitching, an inner bottom piece connected to the two sides along a bottom seam by stitching, and an outer bottom piece adhered to the inner bottom piece. Each side includes ... | 09/10/2002 |
| 5909719 | Shoe last and method of constructing a shoe A shoe last and method for forming a shoe which is particularly constructed to be worn with and matingly interface with a wearer's custom-shaped sock. The shoe last includes a body having a backpart and a forepart connected to the backpart and extending f... | 06/08/1999 |
| 5896608 | Footwear lasting component The invention relates in part to a method of constructing a lasting board with contiguous attachment points. A flexible shoe lasting board is formed with extensions beyond the feather edge of the last. The extensions are coextensively formed with the last... | 04/27/1999 |
| 5729918 | Method of lasting an article of footwear and footwear made thereby A method of lasting an article of footwear includes forming a pattern for a shoe upper from a first material, forming a pattern for a lasting sock from a second material, and stitching a perimeter of the lasting sock to a bottom edge of the shoe upper. Th... | 03/24/1998 |
| 5659914 | Method for construction of footwear A method for construction of waterproof footwear includes providing an upper defining an internal volume for receiving and protecting a wearer's foot against external elements, lasting and securing an inner liner having a waterproofing layer within the in... | 08/26/1997 |
| 5351352 | Method of forming a seamless shoe A shoe having a seamless exterior upper in contact with a seamless interior liner each fashioned from a single piece of material affixed to a sole and having a heel attached to the sole, the shoe being fashioned that, if an oxford type shoe is desired, th... | 10/04/1994 |
| 5152025 | Method for manufacturing open-heeled shoes A method and injection mold assembly for making open-heeled shoes as disclosed. A lasting string is wrap-stitched around the lower peripheral border of an upper having an open heel, and the wrap-stitching is reinforced. The upper is aligned upon a last an... | 10/06/1992 |
| 4924546 | Method of and apparatus for pulling over and lasting footwear The pulling over assembly (2, 39) and lasting assembly (13, 40) of a pulling over and lasting machine are capable of being moved apart to enable a pulling over operation to be effected on one shoe at a first station (I) while a lasting operation is being ... | 05/15/1990 |
| 4728378 | Method of gluing, to the insole of a footwear blank, the sides of a respective upper, and a side-lasting machine for implementing the method In a footwear side-lasting machine, the setting movement of pressure members is automated which are operative to upturn and press onto a margin of a footwear blank insole coated with an adhesive a flap of its respective upper, while monitoring the curvatu... | 03/01/1988 |
| 4593423 | Lasting heel seat and side portions of a shoe In a combined heel seat and side lasting machine, in which the heel seat lasting operation takes place during the dwell time necessary for the cement side lasting operation, the backpart of the shoe remains free of any clamping pressure at least in and ad... | 06/10/1986 |
| 4573229 | Side and heel lasting machine A machine for lasting sides and heels of a shoe assembly having a last with an upper mounted thereon and an insole at its bottom, the assembly being one whose toe portion has already been wiped and whose side and heel portions are to be wiped. Nozzles ser... | 03/04/1986 |
| 4523346 | Method and device for the manufacture of footwear The disclosure relates to the manufacture of footwear with direct molded elastomeric soles wherein the last is built up in the center region to provide a sole which appears thick externally, yet is thin and relatively lightweight in its center region. The... | 06/18/1985 |
| 4491996 | Insole support plate mechanism An insole support plate disposed on the last post, the insole support plate having a toggle mechanism which permits the support plate to be moved heelwardly an adjustable amount of distance, said support plate and toggle mechanism being arranged on a fram... | 01/08/1985 |
| 4470165 | Toe lasting machine with adjustable heel clamp pad A toe lasting machine (10) for operating on a shoe assembly (66) formed of a last (68) having an upper (70) draped thereon and an insole (72) secured to its bottom by wiping the margin (74) of the toe portion of the upper against the insole while the heel... | 09/11/1984 |
| 4442563 | Shoe lasting machine In a machine for cement lasting side portions and the heel seat of shoes, the side portions are lasted by lasting rolls and the heel seat by wiper plates. For applying adhesive, each lasting roll has an associated nozzle which applies adhesive progressive... | 04/17/1984 |
| 4437198 | Method of articulating a work supporting surface A method of articulating a work support surface in a machine by attaching the work support surface to a support arm; journalling the support arm through a first axis which is arranged in a pair of parallel slots in a pair of frame members secured to the m... | 03/20/1984 |
| 4436771 | Method of lasting shoes For applying adhesive, for lasting shoes from the toe end at least over ball region of the shoe, an imprinter plate and nozzles are used, the region in which adhesive is applied by the imprinter plate extending from the toe end of the shoe and lying withi... | 03/13/1984 |
| 4338695 | Shoe upper conforming machine A shoe side or combined heel seat and side lasting machine has two cement applying nozzles movable from an initial position, adjacent one another, outwardly to a first position, determined by abutments associated one with each nozzle, which abutments guid... | 07/13/1982 |
| 4319373 | Shoe lasting machine In a machine for cement lasting side portions and the heel seat of shoes, the side portions are lasted by lasting rolls and the heel seat by wiper plates. For applying adhesive, each lasting roll has an associated nozzle which applies adhesive progressive... | 03/16/1982 |
| 4280242 | Segmented lasting wiper A machine for pulling and lasting a shoe upper has a lasting wiper comprised of adjustable segments, to permit one set of wipers to last a complete range of shoe sizes and shapes. The wiper segments are all adjustable about a common pivot point, and are h... | 07/28/1981 |
| 4233758 | Footwear Ventilated footwear formed of an upper of impermeable material having its lower margin spaced from the upper surface of the sole, whether inner or tread sole, and socklining, to provide a space for ventilation, and the upper is secured to the sole by mean... | 11/18/1980 |
| 4184219 | Method of stretching an upper about the vamp of a last A method for stretching an upper mounted on a last about the vamp of the last while the last is supported bottom-down. The last has a throat between the tops of its toe and cone portions that is bridged by the upper with the upper being spaced from the th... | 01/22/1980 |
| 4156947 | Method of manufacturing shoes A shoe having the appearance, but not the construction, of a compo cement shoe has an upper, an inner sole stitched to the lower peripheral portion of the upper, and an outer sole attached to the underside of the upper and inner sole. In the method for ma... | 06/05/1979 |
| 4095302 | Manufacture of shoes A method and apparatus for lasting the waist region of a shoe in which two resilient bands supported only by their opposite edges are each advanced bodily towards a respective side of a last on which an upper is supported. The moving bands operate progres... | 06/20/1978 |
| 4074383 | Lasting machine with latex adhesive delivery The method of lasting footwear with liquid latex comprising depositing the latex in a wet, liquid, low-viscosity, nonadhesive form on the surface of the feed roll, of a pair of cooperating feed rolls of a progressive-type lasting machine, which normally h... | 02/21/1978 |
| 4073023 | Method of manufacture of footwear Improvements in the safety and comfort of footwear having the appearance of having very thick soles and improvements in the method of their manufacture.... | 02/14/1978 |
| 4059861 | Wet latex lasting system The method of wet lasting the lasting margin of a shoe upper to the marginal edge of the bottom structure which comprises, progressively lasting the lasting margin of an upper to the margin of a bottom structure which has along its margin at least, a dry ... | 11/29/1977 |
| 4031586 | Insole for footwear This invention pertains to insoles and lasts for footwear. The insole has one or several protrusions which fit correspondingly disposed cavities in the outer sole thus assuring correct alignment of the outer sole and the insole at assembly. Lasting hooks ... | 06/28/1977 |
| 4027406 | Method of lasting shoe uppers to a last and lasted shoe uppers and articles of footwear produced thereby A lasting piece of shrinkable, preferably oriented thermoplastic polymeric material is attached, preferably by stitching, to a shoe upper lasting margin and is shrunk by being heated, if it is thermoplastic, to between its glass transition temperature and... | 06/07/1977 |
| 4003145 | Footwear Improvements in the safety and comfort of footwear having the appearance of having very thick soles.... | 01/18/1977 |
| 3983204 | Recessed last and method of lasting and molding a shoe sole to upper including positioning insole in recessed last A recessed last, and a method of using same in lasting an upper and insole and molding a sole thereto, including inserting an insole in the recess of the last and retaining the insole in position during molding by the edges of the lasted upper. The forego... | 09/28/1976 |
| 3972086 | Machine for assembling shoe uppers directly on assembly forms A machine for assembling uppers directly on assembly forms which comprises means for removably blocking at least a form against rotation and translation, means for holding an upper predisposed for string lasting assemblage and an insole which is externall... | 08/03/1976 |
| 3972087 | Process for connecting a shoe sole to its shaft Process and apparatus for connecting the sole of a shoe with its shaft, the sole and the shaft consisting at least partially of thermoplastic synthetic resin, wherein the shaft is placed over a mold corresponding in shape to the shape of the sole, an edge... | 08/03/1976 |
