Soluble thread in the manufacture of footwear
Aspects of the invention relate to the use of soluble thread in the preparation of footwear, in particular athletic footwear. After preparing aspects of the footwear, the soluble thread is dissolved.
1. A method of preparing athletic footwear comprising closing an upper by stitching with soluble thread, attaching a sole to the closed upper, and applying a solvent to the soluble thread of the closed upper to dissolve the soluble thread.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the thread is water-soluble thread and the solvent is water.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the sole is attached to the upper with cement.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein the cement is solvent-based cement.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein the cement is water-based cement.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein a primer is applied prior to the cement.
7. The method of claim 1 comprising applying the water to the water-soluble thread by brushing.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the stitching is slip lasting stitching.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the slip lasting stitching is Strobel or California Slip.
10. Stitch-free athletic footwear prepared by the method of claim 1 .
11. A method of preparing athletic footwear comprising stitching a sock to an upper with soluble thread, applying a sole to the upper, and applying a solvent to the water-soluble thread to dissolve the soluble thread.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein the thread is water-soluble thread and the solvent is water.
13. The method of claim 11 comprising applying the water to the water-soluble thread by brushing.
14. The method of claim 11 wherein the stitching is slip lasting stitching.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the slip lasting stitching is Strobel or California Slip.
16. Stitch-free athletic footwear prepared by the method of claim 11 .
17. A method of preparing athletic footwear comprising stitching together a medial upper and a lateral upper with soluble thread, attaching an overlay to an outer side of the stitched upper, and applying a solvent to the soluble thread of an inner side of the stitched upper to dissolve the soluble thread.
18. The method of claim 17 wherein the medial upper and the lateral upper are sewn together in the forefoot region of the footwear.
19. The method of claim 18 wherein the overlay is a toecap.
20. The method of claim 17 wherein the medial upper and the lateral upper are sewn together in the heel region of the footwear.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein the overlay covers the heel region.
22. Stitch-free athletic footwear prepared by the method of claim 17 .
23. A method of preparing athletic footwear comprising stitching two parts of the footwear together with water soluble thread, attaching an overlay to an outer side of the stitched footwear, and applying a water to the soluble thread of an inner side to dissolve the soluble thread.