Shoe with Fibers Embedded into the Surface of Its Outsole

Abstract

Provided are, among other things, systems, methods and techniques for making a shoe outsole and to shoe outsoles made using such techniques. In one such technique, a sheet of composite material is produced by extruding a base material together with a sheet of fabric material. The sheet of composite material is then cut into an outsole component, and a shoe outsole is fabricated using the outsole component.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A shoe, comprising:
 an outsole comprised of an outsole component formed from a base material, including:   a lower layer made of the base material alone, and   an upper layer having individual particles embedded within the base material,   wherein said individual particles comprise at least one of cloth, leather, hemp or corn husk.   
     
     
         18 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper layer is thinner than the lower layer. 
     
     
         19 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the individual particles are natural particles. 
     
     
         20 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the individual particles are natural, organic plant particles. 
     
     
         21 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the individual particles are natural, organic particles. 
     
     
         22 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the individual particles have been pressed into the surface of the base material before the base material has fully hardened. 
     
     
         23 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper layer has a three-dimensional tread pattern. 
     
     
         24 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein said individual particles comprise cloth. 
     
     
         25 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein said individual particles comprise leather. 
     
     
         26 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein said individual particles comprise hemp. 
     
     
         27 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein said individual particles comprise corn husk fibers. 
     
     
         28 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein other than said individual particles, the outsole component is made entirely of the base material. 
     
     
         29 . A shoe according to  claim 17 , wherein the upper layer is much thinner than the lower layer.