Footwear

Abstract

A turntable module for incorporation into a footwear sole as a pre-assembled unit, the module comprising a base ( 2 ), and a turntable ( 4 ) mounted to the base and sealed relative to the base to prevent ingress of dirt or mud into the interior of the module, the module being mountable to preformed sole structure such that the turntable is exposed through an aperture in an outer sole ( 20 ) of the structure. The use of the pre-assembled turntable module facilitates its incorporation into footwear using conventional mass production techniques for footwear.

1 . A turntable module for incorporation into a footwear sole as a pre-assembled unit, the module comprising a base, a turntable mounted to the base for limited rotation relative to the base in each direction of rotation from a rest position, with resilient structure mounted between the turntable and base so as to cause the turntable to return to the rest position following rotation, and a sealing ring applied to the base to lie outwardly of the periphery of the turntable so that the turntable is sandwiched between the sealing ring and the base, the outer surface of the turntable being in wiping contact with the adjacent surface of the sealing ring whereby the sealing ring prevents ingress of dirt or mud into the interior of the module, the module being mountable to preformed sole structure such that the turntable is exposed through an aperture in an outer sole of the structure. 
     
     
         2 . A module according to  claim 1 , wherein the turntable of the pre-assembled unit includes a tread disc to project through the aperture in the outer sole for contact with the ground. 
     
     
         3 . A module according to  claim 1 , wherein the adjacent surfaces of the turntable and sealing ring in wiping the contact include at least one annular rib extending from one of the surfaces into an annular groove of corresponding section in the other of said surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . A module according to  claim 1 , wherein the base is of generally circular shape and includes lugs projecting radially outwardly to assist in the attachment of the module to the sole structure. 
     
     
         5 . A module according to  claim 1 , wherein the base extends outwardly relative to the sealing ring to assist in the attachment of the module to the sole structure and/or to provide reinforcement for the sole structure. 
     
     
         6 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear, comprising providing an internal sole component, mounting a module according to any one of the preceding claims to a lower facing surface of the internal sole component, providing an outer sole component having an aperture sized and positioned so as to align with the turntable of the module, and applying the outer sole component to the underside of the internal sole component such that a ground-engaging part of the turntable projects through the aperture. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the internal sole component to which the module is attached is an inner sole. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the internal sole component to which the module is attached is a mid sole. 
     
     
         9 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the internal sole component to which the module is attached is of moulded construction and includes in its undersurface a recess of complimentary shape to that of the base such that the base sits within the recess. 
     
     
         10 . A method according to  claim 6 , wherein the module is attached to the internal sole component by adhering the base to the internal sole component and/or by positively fastening the base to the internal sole component by fasteners extending through parts of the base externally of the sealing ring. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . An article of footwear having an outer sole with a circular aperture extending therethrough, a module comprising a base, a turntable mounted to the base and sealed relative to the base to prevent ingress of dirt or mud between the turntable and the base, the module being mounted as a pre-assembled unit to structure of the sole above the outer sole such that a ground-engaging part of the turntable projects through the aperture in the outer sole. 
     
     
         13 . A turntable module for incorporation into a footwear sole as a pre-assembled unit, the module comprising a base, a turntable rotatably mounted to the base, and a sealing ring applied to the base to lie outwardly of the periphery of the turntable so that the turntable is sandwiched between the sealing ring and base with opposed surfaces of the turntable and sealing ring being in wiping contact to prevent ingress of dirt or mud into the interior of the module, the base extending outwardly beyond an outer periphery of the sealing ring to provide the base with an upper surface which can be attached to the undersurface of sole structure overlying an outer sole by adhesive connection thereto and/or by positive connection by means of fasteners extending through parts of the base externally of the sealing ring. 
     
     
         14 . A module according to  claim 13 , wherein the base is extended outwardly of the sealing ring by a plurality of radially extending lugs. 
     
     
         15 . A module according to  claim 13 , wherein the turntable includes a ground-engaging tread disc. 
     
     
         16 . A module according to  claim 15 , wherein the turntable comprises a turntable disc rotatably mounted to the base by a rivet extending through the turntable and base, and the tread disc is applied to the turntable disc to project therefrom and to enclose the rivet. 
     
     
         17 . A module according to  claim 13 , wherein the turntable is in the form of a disc including integrally formed ground-engaging structure extending axially downwardly from the disc, and the turntable disc is rotatably mounted to the base by a rivet extending through the turntable disc and the base. 
     
     
         18 . A turntable module for incorporation into a footwear sole as a pre-assembled unit, the module comprising a base, and a turntable mounted to the base and sealed relative to the base to prevent ingress of dirt or mud into the interior of the module, the module being mountable to preformed sole structure such that the turntable is exposed through an aperture in an outer sole of the structure. 
     
     
         19 . An article of footwear having an outer sole component, a turntable module according to  claim 1 , wherein the turntable module is mounted as a pre-assembled unit to the underside of an internal sole component above the outer sole, with a ground-engaging part of the turntable projecting through an aperture formed in the outer sole. 
     
     
         20 . An article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the internal sole component to which the module is attached is an inner sole. 
     
     
         21 . An article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the internal sole component to which the module is attached is a mid sole. 
     
     
         22 . An article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the internal sole component to which the module is attached is of moulded construction and includes in its underside a recess of complimentary shape to that of the base such that the base sits within the recess. 
     
     
         23 . An article of footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the complementary shaping of the recess and base is such as to positively lock the base in the recess against rotation. 
     
     
         24 . An article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the module is attached to the internal sole component by adhering the base to the internal sole component and/or by positively fastening the base to the internal sole component by fasteners extending through parts of the base externally of the sealing ring. 
     
     
         25 . An article of footwear according to  claim 19 , wherein the base extends externally of the sealing ring to provide reinforcement for an adjacent part of the sole structure. 
     
     
         26 . An article of footwear having an outer sole component, a turntable module according to  claim 13 , wherein the turntable module is mounted as a pre-assembled unit to the underside of an internal sole component above the outer sole, with a ground-engaging part of the turntable projecting through an aperture formed in the outer sole.