Shoe having a reinforcement member for a sole

Abstract

A shoe includes a sole unit having a top face, a bottom face and a peripheral wall interconnecting the top and bottom faces. A reinforcement member is attached to at least one of the top face and the peripheral wall. An upper has a bottom open end stitched to the reinforcement member along the length of the reinforcement member. Due to the presence of the reinforcement member, the sole unit can be produced from a wide range of materials without being limited to any particular high tearing strength material.

1 . A shoe comprising: 
 a sole unit having a top face, a bottom face and a peripheral wall interconnecting said top and bottom faces;    a reinforcement member attached to at least one of said top face and said peripheral wall; and    an upper having a top open end and a bottom open end, said bottom open end being stitched to said reinforcement member along said reinforcement member.    
   
   
       2 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom open end of said upper is turned outward.  
   
   
       3 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said bottom open end of said upper is turned outward and then inward.  
   
   
       4 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement member is made of a sheeting material and extends along said peripheral wall, said reinforcement member including a longitudinal inner margin and a longitudinal outer margin, said inner margin being secured to said top face adjacent to said peripheral wall, said outer margin being secured to said peripheral wall, said bottom open end of said upper being stitched to said inner margin at a side opposite to said top face.  
   
   
       5 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein said bottom open end of said upper is sewn to said reinforcement member and said sole unit.  
   
   
       6 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said sole unit further includes a flange projecting upward from said top face and extending along said peripheral wall, said reinforcement member enclosing said flange between said inner and outer margins.  
   
   
       7 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said sole unit is configured as an outsole.  
   
   
       8 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said sole unit includes an outsole and a midsole, said reinforcement member being attached to said midsole.  
   
   
       9 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said outer margin of said reinforcement member extends to a bottom side of said midsole and between said midsole and said outsole.  
   
   
       10 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said outsole is made of a material selected from a group consisting of EVA and blown rubber.  
   
   
       11 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said midsole is made of EVA.  
   
   
       12 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of leather, fabric and a PU material.  
   
   
       13 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement member includes an inner layer and an outer layer.  
   
   
       14 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said inner layer is made of a material selected from a group consisting of leather and fabric, said outer layer being made of a PU material.  
   
   
       15 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said reinforcement member is formed as a strip which is secured to said top face along said peripheral wall, said bottom open end of said upper being stitched to said strip at a side opposite to said top face.  
   
   
       16 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bottom open end of said upper is sewn to said strip, said strip having an L-shaped cross-section.  
   
   
       17 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said bottom open end of said upper is sewn to said strip, said strip having a T-shaped cross-section.  
   
   
       18 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said reinforcement member is made of a material selected from a group consisting of PU, blown rubber, TPU and PVC.  
   
   
       19 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said sole unit includes a midsole and an outsole, said strip being attached to said midsole, said midsole being made of EVA.  
   
   
       20 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 15 , wherein said sole unit is configured as an outsole and is made of a material selected from a group consisting of EVA, rubber, blown rubber, PU, TPR, and TPU.