Adjustable last for manufacturing footwear and a method of manufacturing footwear using the adjustable last

Abstract

A last for manufacturing footwear and a method for manufacturing footwear with the last, where the last includes a last body, at least one insert, and at least one fastener. The last body has an outer surface corresponding to an inner surface of an article of footwear to be manufactured. The last body includes at least one aperture. The at least one insert is configured to be inserted into the at least one aperture. The at least one faster is configured to removably fasten the at least one insert into the at least one aperture.

1 . A last for manufacturing footwear comprising:
 a last body having an outer surface corresponding to an inner surface of an article of footwear to be manufactured, the last body including at least one aperture;   at least one insert configured to be inserted into the at least one aperture; and   at least one faster configured to removably fasten the at least one insert into the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         2 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein a surface of the least one aperture matches a corresponding surface of the least one insert that is received by the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         3 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one fastener is a screw. 
     
     
         4 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein the last body is made of metal. 
     
     
         5 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear using the last according to  claim 1 , comprising:
 fastening the at least one insert into the at least one aperture using the at least one fastener;   forming the article of footwear around the last body; and   vulcanizing the article of footwear.   
     
     
         6 . The method of manufacturing according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 removing the article of footwear from the last body;   removing the at least one insert from the at least one aperture; and   forming an article of footwear of a second design around the last, the article of footwear of the second design having a component located in the at least one aperture.   
     
     
         7 . A method of manufacturing an article of footwear of a first design and an article of footwear of a second design, comprising:
 fastening at least one insert into at least one aperture of a last body using at least one fastener;   manufacturing the article of footwear of the first design around the last body;   removing the article of footwear from the last body;   removing the at least one insert from the at least one aperture of the last body;   forming the article of footwear of the second design around the last, the article of footwear of the second design having a component located in the at least one aperture; and   manufacturing the article of footwear of the second design around the last body.   
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein a surface of the least one aperture matches a corresponding surface of the least one insert that is received by the at least one aperture. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the at least one fastener is a screw. 
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the last body is made of metal. 
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 7 , wherein the component is made of memory foam. 
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 7 , further comprising:
 vulcanizing the article of footwear of the first design before removing the article of footwear from the last body; and   vulcanizing the article of footwear of the second design after manufacturing the article of footwear of the second design around the last body.