摘要 |
Article of footwear having a sole, an upper, and at least one recessed area in the sole, with a three-dimensional inset figure placed in the recessed area, having a matching overlay illustration on its exposed surface. The inset figure may be constituted by a representation and/or a text, and it may be at least partly embossed, the exposed surface being substantially flush with the walking surface of the sole. At least portions of the inset figure may be colored. The inset figure may be slightly smaller in its outlines than those of the recessed area of the sole, thereby presenting a set-off border to the inset figure. The inventive method for making the article of footwear comprises the steps of applying to a thin rubber sheet at least two of the representations and/or the text, by the application of heat; cutting out the individual representations from the sheet; placing at least one sole portion preform into a pressing mold, the preform having therein a substantially planar recess; applying the cut-out representations into the respective recesses so as not to protrude therefrom; molding the sole preform with the inserted representations so as to be permanently united, separately making the footwear, including an upper portion adapted to be combined with one of the sole portion preforms; and securing the sole preform to the upper of the footwear, the outer planar surfaces of the representations in the preform recess remaining substantially flush with the walking surface of the completed footwear.
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