Shoe having a welt unit

Abstract

A shoe includes a vamp unit, an outsole unit, and a welt unit. The vamp unit has a top open end section, a bottom end section, and a toe cap section disposed between the top and bottom end sections. The outsole unit is coupled to the bottom end section, and has a top surface and a groove that is formed in the top surface for retaining at least a portion of the bottom end section corresponding in position to the toe cap section. The welt unit is disposed on the top surface and extends along the contour of at least the toe cap section.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A shoe comprising:
 a vamp unit having a top open end section, a bottom end section, and a toe cap section that is disposed between said top open end section and said bottom end section;   an outsole unit coupled to said bottom end section of said vamp unit, and having a top surface and a groove that is formed in said top surface for retaining at least a portion of said bottom end section of said vamp unit corresponding in position to said toe cap section of said vamp unit; and   a welt unit disposed on said top surface of said outsole unit and extending along the contour of at least said toe cap section of said vamp unit.   
     
     
         2 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a protective toe cap disposed in said toe cap section of said vamp unit and having a lower portion that is retained in said groove of said outsole unit. 
     
     
         3 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said bottom end section of said vamp unit is entirely retained in said groove;   said top surface of said outsole unit has a marginal surface end part surrounding said groove and mounted with said welt unit; and   said groove is defined cooperatively by a bottom groove surface and a surrounding groove surface that extends upwardly from a periphery of said bottom groove surface to said marginal surface end part of said top surface.   
     
     
         4 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said welt unit surrounds said vamp unit. 
     
     
         5 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said groove is formed in a front side of said top surface of said outsole unit and retains said toe cap section of said vamp unit therein;   said top surface of said outsole unit has a rear surface end part behind said groove, and a marginal surface end part cooperating with said rear surface end part to surround said groove, said welt unit being mounted on said rear surface end part and said marginal surface end part; and   said groove is defined cooperatively by a bottom groove surface, and a surrounding groove surface extending upwardly from a front portion of a periphery of said bottom groove surface to said marginal surface end part of said top surface.   
     
     
         6 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said welt unit surrounds said vamp unit. 
     
     
         7 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein:
 said outsole unit further includes a side wall that is disposed on and that extends along a rear portion of a periphery of said rear surface end part of said top surface opposite to said groove, and that has a pair of tapered ends formed respectively with two first inclined end surfaces;   said welt unit extends from one of said tapered ends of said side wall along said marginal surface end part to the other one of said tapered ends of said side wall, and has a pair of end segments formed respectively with two second inclined end surfaces that abut respectively against said first inclined end surfaces of said tapered ends of said side wall.   
     
     
         8 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said outsole unit includes a first outsole having said top surface, and a second outsole coupled fixedly to a bottom side of said first outsole. 
     
     
         9 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said outsole unit includes a first outsole having said top surface, and a strengthening outsole disposed in said groove. 
     
     
         10 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said strengthening outsole has a top sole surface coupled to said bottom end section of said vamp unit. 
     
     
         11 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein said strengthening outsole has a bottom sole surface coupled to said bottom end section of said vamp unit. 
     
     
         12 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said protective toe cap includes a surrounding wall, and an inner flange wall that serves as said lower portion of said protective toe cap and that extends inwardly from a bottom end of said surrounding wall. 
     
     
         13 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said welt unit includes a welt member surrounding at least said toe cap section of said vamp unit and a thread sewn on said welt member. 
     
     
         14 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein:
 said vamp unit further has a heel section disposed between said top open end section and said bottom open end section and behind said toe cap section; and   said welt unit includes a first welt member extending along the contour of said toe cap section of said vamp unit, and a second welt member extending along the contour of said heel section of said vamp unit.   
     
     
         15 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said welt unit further includes a thread sewn on said first welt member. 
     
     
         16 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a lining disposed in said vamp unit, said protective toe cap being disposed between said vamp unit and said lining. 
     
     
         17 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said outsole unit includes a first outsole having a bottom sole part and an insert sole part that is coupled to a top side of said bottom sole part and that is formed with said top surface. 
     
     
         18 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said bottom sole part of said first outsole is made from a material different from that of said insert sole part of said first outsole. 
     
     
         19 . The shoe as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein a periphery of said bottom sole part of said first outsole has a color different from that of said insert sole part of said first outsole.