Method for making a shoe

Abstract

A method for making a shoe includes the steps of providing an upper having a bottom end, an outsole made of a thermoplastic material, and a traction member; softening the outsole by heating; arranging the outsole between the upper and the traction member; and pressing the upper and the traction member against the outsole while the outsole is in a softened state so as to bind the upper and the traction member to the outsole, thereby forming the shoe.

1 . A method for making a shoe, comprising the steps of: 
 a) providing an upper having a bottom end, an outsole made of a thermoplastic material, and a traction member;    b) softening said outsole by heating;    c) arranging said outsole between said upper and said traction member; and    d) pressing said upper and said traction member against said outsole while said outsole is in a softened state so as to bind said upper and said traction member to said outsole, thereby forming said shoe.    
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein step c) includes: 
 e) mounting said upper on a last; and    f) positioning said outsole and said traction member on a lower mold; and    wherein step d) includes:    g) moving said last and said lower mold toward each other to press said upper and said traction member against said outsole.    
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of applying an adhesive layer to said bottom end of said upper prior to step d).  
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a step of cooling and removing said shoe after step d).  
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said traction member is different from said outsole in material and in color.  
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said traction member includes a base plate, a plurality of screw holes formed in said base plate, and a plurality of traction elements to engage threadedly and respectively said screw holes.  
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein step c) includes: 
 h) mounting said upper on a last;    i) positioning said outsole and said base plate in a lower mold; and    j) plugging said screw holes so as to prevent the material of said outsole from entering into said screw holes.    
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising, after step d) the step of: unplugging said screw holes; 
 and attaching said traction elements to said screw holes.    
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said outsole includes a heel region and a shock absorbing member embedded in said heel region.  
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said outsole has a heel region and a front region, said base plate being attached to said front region, said base plate and said outsole being different from each other in material and in color.  
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said outsole has a rear region and a front region, said traction member including a rear portion and a front portion attached to said rear region and said front region of said outsole, respectively, said rear and front portions of said traction member being different from each other in material and in color.