FOOTWEAR LAST

Abstract

A last for footwear production includes a last body having a side wall having an external surface having at least partly a shape of a human foot and an internal surface defining an inner volume of the last body, and an attachment structure configured to attach the last body to a footwear manufacturing device.

Claims

1. A last for footwear production, the last comprising: a last body having a side wall having an external surface having at least partly a shape of a human foot and an internal surface defining an inner volume of the last body, and an attachment structure configured to attach the last body to a footwear manufacturing device.

2. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the last body comprises a toe end, a heel end, a lateral side, a medial side, a lower surface, and/or an upper surface.

3. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side wall has a thickness between 2 and 10 mm.

4. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the last body comprises a polymer.

5. The last in accordance with claim 4, wherein the last body comprises a polymeric material having a Shore D value of between 50 and 100.

6. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the last body comprises at least one support structure extending from an internal surface of the last body to an opposing internal surface of the last body.

7. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the side walls of the last body and/or an entirety of the last body is formed by additive manufacturing.

8. The last in accordance with claim 7, wherein additive manufacturing materials utilized by said additive manufacturing comprise at least one material selected from a list of: polymers, resin photopolymers, ABS, PLA, ASA, nylon/nylon powder, PETG, metal/metal powder, plaster powder, HIPS, PET, PEEK, PVA, ULTEM, polyjet resin, or ceramics.

9. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is one or more openings shaped for attachment to a mating attachment member.

10. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is positionable between a medial internal surface of the last body and/or a lateral internal surface of the last body, and/or between a front internal surface of the last body, and/or a rear internal surface of the last body.

11. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is positionable on a mounting element that extends between a medial internal surface of the last body and/or a lateral internal surface of the last body.

12. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is positionable on a top part of the last body.

13. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment structure comprises an opening extending in a vertical direction.

14. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the attachment structure is a first attachment element positioned in a first longitudinal position and a second attachment element positioned in a second longitudinal position.

15. The last in accordance with claim 1, wherein the last body is provided with a movable last body part.

16. The last in accordance with claim 15, wherein the movable last body part comprises a heel body having at least partly a shape of a human heel.

17. The last in accordance with claim 16, wherein the heel body is configured to be moved relative to the last body, where a movement is at least partly in a vertical direction.

18. The last in accordance with claim 15, wherein the last body and the movable last body part are divided along a dividing line.

19. The last in accordance with claim 15, wherein the last body and the movable last body part comprise a guiding structure.

20. The last in accordance with claim 19, wherein said guiding structure is arranged in dividing wall parts.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] The following is an explanation of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawings, in which

[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary last body having a last holder,

[0042] FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of an exemplary last for footwear production,

[0043] FIG. 3 is a top view of an exemplary last for footwear production,

[0044] FIG. 4 is a side sectional view of an exemplary last for footwear production,

[0045] FIG. 5 is a front sectional view of an exemplary last for footwear production,

[0046] FIGS. 6-11 show in a schematic manner side sectional views of exemplary lasts for footwear production, which comprise a body part that may be movable, and

[0047] FIGS. 12 and 13 are sectional views showing in a schematic manner exemplary guiding structures for a movable last body part.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0048] FIGS. 1 and 2 shows an exemplary last 1 for footwear production in accordance with the present disclosure, where the last 1 has the shape of a human foot, where the last 1 has a toe end 2, a heel end 3, a medial end 4 and a lateral end 5, as well as an upper surface 6 and a lower surface 7. The last 1 has a side wall 8, where the side wall has an outer surface 9 and an inner surface (not shown), where the inner surface defines an inner volume (not shown) of the last 1. The last has a longitudinal axis A, a vertical axis B and a transverse axis C.

[0049] The last 1 comprises a connecting part 12, where the connecting part 12 is a connecting surface 13, which is positioned in an ankle area of the last, where the connecting surface 13 is arranged in a region of the last 1, which is defined to be around a foot insertion opening of an article of footwear. In this exemplary embodiment, the connecting surface 13 may be seen as closing off the inner volume of the last, where the side wall 8 and the connecting surface 13 define the inner volume of the last. The connecting part 12 or the connecting surface 13 of the last may comprise a groove 14, extending in a longitudinal direction A of the last, where the groove has a predefined width in the transverse direction C and a predefined depth in the vertical direction B. The groove may e.g. be configured to receive a mating protrusion 16 of a last holder 15 (shown in FIG. 2), which may be utilized to increase the stability of the last relative to the last holder 15 and to reduce the risk that the last will move relative to the last holder 15, when the last holder 15 is attached and/or fixed to the last 1.

[0050] The last 1 comprises an attachment structure 17, where the attachment structure 17 in this example is in the form of a first opening 18 and a second opening 19, which extend in a vertical direction downwards into the inner volume 11 of the last 1. The first opening 18 and the second opening 19 may e.g. be positioned in the bottom of the groove 14, where a fastening member may extend from a bottom surface 21 and/or the mating protrusion 16 of the last holder 15. The attachment structure may extend a predefined distance into the inner volume 11, allowing a fastening member to come into contact with an inner surface 20 of the attachment structure, where the fastening member 22 secures the last holder 15 to the connecting part 12 of the last 1.

[0051] The last 1 may be manufactured by additive manufacturing, where the side wall 8 as well as the connecting part 12, as well as the attachment structure 17 are produced continuously in a continuous process, where the side wall 8, connecting surface 13 and the attachment structures 17 are integrated with each other, and may provide a continuous structure.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows a top view of an exemplary last 1, where the connecting part 12 may be an open region, where the inner volume 11 of the last is open in the form of an upper opening 32, which is in the region of the connecting part 12. The last 1 has a front inner surface 25, a back inner surface 26, a medial inner surface 23 and a lateral inner surface 24, where the inner surfaces 23-26 of the last define the inner volume 11 of the last. The attachment structure 17, may be in the form of openings 18, 19, where the openings 18,19 extend downwards in a vertical direction into the inner volume 11 of the last 1, where the attachment structure 17 has an attachment side wall 31 having an inner surface 20 allowing a fastening member to mechanically attach to the inner surface 20.

[0053] The attachment structure 17, may be positioned substantially centrally in the upper opening 32 in a transverse direction, where the attachment structure may be supported by a first mounting structure 27 which extends from the attachment structure 17 to the medial inner wall 23, a second mounting structure 28 which extends from the attachment structure 17 to the lateral inner wall 24, a third mounting structure 29 which extends from the attachment structure 17′ to the medial inner wall 23, and a fourth mounting structure 30 which extends from the attachment structure 17′ to the lateral inner wall 24. The mounting structures 27,28,29,30 may be integral with the side walls 8 of the last 1, where the material of the side wall extends as the side wall, mounting structures 27-30, and towards the attachment structure 17, where all the parts extend unbroken from a medial inner surface 23 towards the lateral inner surface 24. Alternatively or additionally, the last 1 may be provided with mounting structures which extend from the front inner surface 25 and/or the back inner surface 26 towards the attachment structure 17. The mounting structures may be used to fix the attachment structure relative to the side wall 8 of the last 1, allowing a last holder 15 (as seen in FIG. 2) to be attached to the last 1.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a vertical cross section taken along a longitudinal and vertical axis of an exemplary last 1. The last comprises a side wall 8, which has a front inner surface 25 and a back inner surface 26, as well as a lower inner surface 36, where the inner surfaces 25, 26, 36 define the inner volume 11 of the last. The side wall may have a thickness that is sufficient to provide a resistance to e.g. a sole injection mould. In case the side wall may need to be strengthened in view of one wall relative to another wall, the last 1, may comprise one or more support structures 34, 35, where the support structures may e.g. be seen as providing a support from one inner surface area to another inner surface area. In this example, the last 1 comprises a first support structure 34, which extends from the lower inner surface 36 of the last to the back inner surface 26 of the last 1, where a force that may e.g. be applied to the heel end 3 of the last may be transferred via the support structure 34 towards the lower surface 7 (lower side wall) of the last. Similarly, the last may be provided with a second support structure 35, which extends from the front inner surface 25 to the lower inner surface 36 of the last, to transfer forces from one side wall to the other. The support structures 34, 35 may be integral with the side wall 8, and may be manufactured as additive manufacturing along with the side walls 8 of the last 1.

[0055] FIG. 4 also shows an alternative attachment structure 17, where the last has a first opening 18 and a second opening 19 positioned at the connecting part 12 of the last 1, allowing a last holder to be attached to the last 1. The attachment structure may comprise a first bore 37 and a second bore 38, having a side wall 31 which extends in vertical direction downwards from the openings 18, 19. The bores 37, 38 have an inner surface, which allows a fastening member to be fixed to the attachment structure, and thereby holding a connecting device, such as a last holder, to the last 1. The bores 37, 38 may be attached to the interior surface of the side walls using mounting structures 27-30, where the first 27 and the third mounting structures 29 may be connected to the front inner surface 25 of the last 1, while the second 28 and the fourth mounting structures 30, may be attached to the back inner surface of the last 1. Furthermore, the first bore 37 may be connected to the second bore 38 using a fifth mounting structure 33. The mounting structures may be used to fix the attachment structure relative to the side wall 8 of the last 1, allowing a last holder (as seen in FIG. 2) to be attached to the last 1. The mounting structures 27,28,29,30 may be integral with the side walls 8 of the last 1, creating an unbroken material from one side wall to the other via the attachment structure 17.

[0056] FIG. 5 shows a vertical cross section taken along a transverse C and vertical axis B of an exemplary last 1. The last comprises a side wall 8, which has a medial inner surface 23 and a lateral inner surface 24, as well as a lower inner surface 36, where the inner surfaces 25, 26, 36 define the inner volume 11 of the last. The side wall 8 may have a thickness that is sufficient to provide a resistance to e.g. a sole injection mould. In this embodiment the connecting part 12, may comprise a connecting surface 13, having an attachment structure in the form of at least a first opening 18, and a first bore 37. The first bore may be connected to the medial inner wall 23 via a first mounting structure 27 and to the lateral inner wall 24 via a second mounting structure 28, where the structures are integral with the side walls 8, and created in an additive manufacturing process. The last 1, of this example, may have an upper side wall 39, which covers the connecting part 12, and creates the connecting surface 13, and where the at least one opening 18 and the bore 37 may extend from in a downwards direction.

[0057] FIG. 6 shows in a schematic manner a side sectional view of an exemplary last 1 for footwear production, which comprises a movable last body part 40, which in this example is a heel body 41. As shown, the last body and the movable heel body 41 may be divided along a dividing line D. The dividing line D may be rectilinear, curved or take other forms, but for illustrative purposes it has been shown as being linear in FIG. 6. The dividing line D may represent a dividing plane, surface or the like that extends in the transverse direction of the last body.

[0058] As further shown in FIG. 7, the movable last body part, e.g. in this example the heel body 41 may be moved in relation to the last body. The heel body 41 may be attached to a rear part of the last body, where the heel body may be moveable via e.g. hinge means connecting the parts or the like or the heel body may be moved relative to the last body, guided by any other suitable means as it will be discussed further below. As illustrated in FIG. 7, the heel body 41 may be moved in the vertical direction and may be turned as well.

[0059] In this way, when a footwear upper is to be attached to the last 1, the heel body 41 may be moved in a direction along a plane which intersect the longitudinal and/or vertical axis of the last body, allowing the heel body to reduce the length of the last body, and to make it easier to mount as well as to remove footwear uppers from the last 1.

[0060] It is noted that the movable last body part, e.g. in this example the heel body 41 may be locked in the position, where it together with the last body defines a last having the shape of a human foot. Locking means may be arranged to lock the e.g. heel body and the last body together in this position, means may be arranged at the top part of the last to secure the position, top lock means may be arranged, etc.

[0061] FIG. 8 corresponds to FIG. 6, but in FIG. 8 it is illustrated schematically that the movable last body part 40, e.g. in this example the heel body 41 may take various forms as illustrated with the various dividing lines D, e.g. rectilinear, curved, vertical, etc. Thus, as it will be seen, the heel body 41 may comprise the rear part of the last 1 with the dividing line D passing at the last top between the first opening 18 and the second opening 19, which entails the possibility of controlling the relative movement and/or locking of the parts via the last holder arrangement or the like.

[0062] FIG. 9 corresponds to FIGS. 6 and 8, but in FIG. 9 it is illustrated schematically that the movable last body part 40 may be another part of the last body than the heel, e.g. in this example a part of the upper front of the last 1, e.g. an upper part stretching from or near the toe part and to the top part of the last 1 as illustrated by the dividing line D. By such a movable last body part 40 attaching and/or removing a footwear upper or a completed piece of footwear may be facilitated as well. Other options for providing a movable last body part may be available.

[0063] With reference to FIGS. 10 and 11 an embodiment of a movable heel body 41 and the corresponding last body will be described, wherein the heel body 41 is configured to move by sliding along the corresponding part of the last body. The dividing line D is illustrated as having a curved form. Furthermore, it is illustrated that a guiding structure 42 may be arranged in dividing wall parts 43, e.g. arranged along the dividing line D, such that these dividing wall parts may slide along each other. These dividing wall parts 43 may be made, e.g. by additive manufacturing, simultaneously with the manufacturing of the last body and the movable last body part. Optionally, the dividing wall parts 43 may be made to close off the inner volume/volumes of the last body and/or the movable last body part partly or totally.

[0064] The guiding structure 42, which will be further exemplified with reference to FIGS. 12 and 13, may thus be integrated with these dividing wall parts 43, e.g. by additive manufacturing.

[0065] Possible configurations of the guiding structure 42 are illustrated in a schematic manner in FIGS. 12 and 13, which are transverse sectional views as indicated by E in FIG. 10. Thus, it is shown in FIG. 12 that an exemplary guiding structure 42, which is provided by the dividing wall parts 43 of the heel body and the last body may be e.g. cooperating structures such as tongue and groove structures, which allow a sliding action to be performed while simultaneously controlling the e.g. transverse relative position of the last body and the movable heel body.

[0066] FIG. 13 shows a corresponding transverse sectional view as indicated by E in FIG. 10, where it is shown that an exemplary guiding structure 42 provided by the dividing wall parts 43 of the heel body and the last body may be cooperating dovetail structures or the like, which allow a sliding action to be performed while simultaneously controlling the e.g. transverse relative position of the last body and the movable heel body. Other options for such guiding structures are possible, which will be apparent to a skilled person.

[0067] The use of the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. does not imply any particular order, but are included to identify individual elements. Moreover, the use of the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. does not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. are used to distinguish one element from another. Note that the words “first”, “second”, “third” and “fourth”, “primary”, “secondary”, “tertiary” etc. are used here and elsewhere for labelling purposes only and are not intended to denote any specific spatial or temporal ordering.

[0068] Furthermore, the labelling of a first element does not imply the presence of a second element and vice versa.

[0069] It is to be noted that the word “comprising” does not necessarily exclude the presence of other elements or steps than those listed.

[0070] It is to be noted that the words “a” or “an” preceding an element do not exclude the presence of a plurality of such elements.

[0071] It should further be noted that any reference signs do not limit the scope of the claims, that the exemplary embodiments may be implemented at least in part by means of both hardware and software, and that several “means”, “units” or “devices” may be represented by the same item of hardware.

[0072] Although features have been shown and described, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the claimed invention, and it will be made obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. The specification and drawings are, accordingly to be regarded in an illustrative rather than restrictive sense. The claimed invention is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0073] 1. Last [0074] 2. Toe end [0075] 3. Heel end [0076] 4. Medial side [0077] 5. Lateral side [0078] 6. Upper surface [0079] 7. Lower surface [0080] 8. Side wall [0081] 9. Outer surface [0082] 10. Inner surface [0083] 11. Inner volume [0084] 12. Connecting part [0085] 13. Connecting surface [0086] 14. Groove [0087] 15. Last holder [0088] 16. Mating protrusion [0089] 17. Attachment structure [0090] 18. First opening [0091] 19. Second opening [0092] 20. Inner surface of attachment structure [0093] 21. Bottom surface of last holder [0094] 22. Fastening member [0095] 23. Medial inner surface [0096] 24. Lateral inner surface [0097] 25. Front inner surface [0098] 26. Back inner surface [0099] 27. First mounting structure [0100] 28. Second mounting structure [0101] 29. Third Mounting structure [0102] 30. Fourth mounting structure [0103] 31. wall of attachment structure [0104] 32. Upper opening [0105] 33. Fifth mounting structure [0106] 34. First support structure [0107] 35. Second support structure [0108] 36. Lower inner surface [0109] 37. First bore [0110] 38. Second bore [0111] 39. Upper side wall [0112] 40. Movable last body part [0113] 41. Heel body [0114] 42. Guiding structure [0115] 43. Dividing wall parts [0116] A. Longitudinal axis [0117] B. Vertical axis [0118] C. Transverse axis [0119] D. Dividing line [0120] E. Transverse sectional view