Composite band for use in a footwear forming machine

Abstract

A composite band for use in a lasting machine to wipe a portion of the margin of a footwear assembly onto the insole of the assembly that typically includes a last, a shoe upper on the last and an insole at the last bottom. The band includes an elastic (e.g., Teflon) footwear assembly engaging strip member to engage the upper of the footwear assembly during lasting to press the upper onto the last during lasting, the elastic footwear assembly engaging member having a T-slot extending longitudinally the length of the elastic footwear assembly engaging member and including a transverse slot member and a radial slot member. A metal strip disposed within the T-slot is dimensioned to fit snugly within the transverse slot member of the T-slot such that the metal strip can slide longitudinally within the transverse slot member of the T-slot of the elastic footwear assembly engaging member but is substantially unable to move either transversely or radially relative to the elastic shoe engaging member. At least three mechanical connectors are rigidly secured to the metal strip and further effect mechanical engagement of the metal strip to the elastic footwear assembly engaging strip member such that the metal strip at some regions thereof is restrained from movement in any direction relative to the strip member but at other regions it is able to move in the order of a few millimeters longitudinally relative to the strip member. Each mechanical connector includes a cylindrical aperture that serves to interconnect the respective connector in rotatable relationship with a cylindrical member of the lasting machine.