Article of footwear and associated of manufacture

Abstract

A method for manufacturing an article of footwear utilizes an insole body. A mask is attached to a lower surface of the insole body so as to cover a substantial portion of the lower surface. A coating is applied to the insole body with the mask attached thereto to cover exposed surfaces of the insole body. Thereafter the mask is removed from the insole body to expose the substantial portion of the lower surface. The insole body is adhesively attached along the lower surface to an upper surface of an outsole. Preferably at least part of the exposed lower surface of the insole body is adhesively attached to the upper surface of the outsole.

1 . A method for manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising: 
 providing an insole body;    attaching a mask to a lower surface of said insole body so as to cover a substantial portion of said lower surface with said mask;    applying a coating to said insole body with said mask attached thereto to cover exposed surfaces of said insole body;    thereafter removing said mask from said insole body, thereby exposing said substantial portion of said lower surface; and    thereafter adhesively attaching said insole body along said lower surface to an upper surface of an outsole.    
   
   
       2 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the applying of said coating includes dipping at least a portion of said insole body with said mask attached thereto in a reservoir of liquid coating material.  
   
   
       3 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein said liquid coating material is a polymeric material.  
   
   
       4 . The method defined in  claim 3  wherein said polymeric material is polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       5 . The method defined in  claim 2 , further comprising cutting at least one hole in said insole body after the dipping of said insole body in said liquid coating material, said hole extending from an upper surface of said insole body to said lower surface, and inserting an end portion of a shoe upper through said hole prior to the adhesive attaching of the exposed substantial portion of said lower surface to said upper surface of said outsole.  
   
   
       6 . The method defined in  claim 2  wherein the dipping of said insole body with said mask attached thereto in said liquid coating material includes inserting at least a portion of said insole body multiple times in said liquid coating material.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said insole body is made of of compressible material.  
   
   
       8 . The method defined in  claim 7  wherein said compressible material is a rubber or polymeric foam material.  
   
   
       9 . The method defined in  claim 7  wherein said insole body is cut from a sheet of the compressible material.  
   
   
       10 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein said mask is attached to said lower surface via a releasable adhesive layer.  
   
   
       11 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the attaching of said mask to said lower surface of said insole body includes spacing said mask on all sides from an edge of said lower surface.  
   
   
       12 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the removing of said mask from said insole body includes cutting through said coating along an edge of said mask and thereafter removing said mask from said lower surface of said insole body.  
   
   
       13 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the applying of said coating includes applying a layer of coating to at least a portion of said mask, the removing of said mask from said insole body includes cutting through said coating along an edge of said mask and thereafter removing said mask and said layer from said lower surface of said insole body.  
   
   
       14 . The method defined in  claim 1  wherein the attaching of said insole body to said upper surface of said outsole includes adhesively attaching an exposed part of said lower surface to said upper surface of said outsole.  
   
   
       15 . An article of footwear comprising: 
 an insole body of compressible material, said insole body having an upper surface, a lower surface and a perimetrically extending side surface connecting said upper surface and said lower surface, said upper surface and said side surface being provided with a coating of water impervious polymer, said lower surface being mostly free of said polymer;    an outsole, said lower surface of said insole body being adhered to a top surface of said outsole; and    an upper member attached at least to said outsole.    
   
   
       16 . The article of footwear defined in  claim 15 , wherein said insole body is provided with at least one hole extending from said upper surface of said insole body to said lower surface, an end portion said upper member extending through said hole.  
   
   
       17 . The article of footwear defined in  claim 15  wherein said compressible material is a rubber or polymeric foam material.  
   
   
       18 . The article of footwear defined in  claim 15  wherein said lower surface is provided along an edge region with a layer of said polymer.  
   
   
       19 . The article of footwear defined in  claim 15  wherein said insole body is cut from a sheet of the compressible material.  
   
   
       20 . The article of footwear defined in  claim 15  wherein said polymer is polyvinyl chloride.