A last for footwear manufacturing

Abstract

A last for footwear production. The last includes: a last body and a heel body part. The heel body part is configured to be movable in relation to the last body part. The last further includes a forefoot body part configured to be movable in relation to the last body. The heel body part and/or the forefoot body part is/are configured to be movable in relation to the last body by at least one coupling arrangement. The at least one coupling arrangement is configured such that the heel body part and the forefoot body part are at least partly movable towards each other.

1 . A last for footwear production, wherein the last comprises:
 a last body, and   a heel body part,   wherein said heel body part is configured to be movable in relation to the last body, and wherein the last further comprises a forefoot body part, said forefoot body part being configured to be movable in relation to the last body,   wherein said heel body part and/or said forefoot body part is/are configured to be movable in relation to the last body by at least one coupling arrangement,   wherein said at least one coupling arrangement is configured such that said heel body part and said forefoot body part are at least partly movable towards each other.   
     
     
         2 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein the last comprises an open position and an operational position. 
     
     
         3 . The last according to  claim 2 , wherein said heel body part in said open position of the last has been moved at least partly towards a toe end of the last and
 wherein said forefoot body part has been moved at least partly towards a heel end of the last.   
     
     
         4 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein the last further comprises a lower surface,
 wherein the lower surface has a toe end and a heel end,   wherein the lower surface has a length (TL) between the toe end and the heel end, and   wherein a length (TL 2 ) of the lower surface in open position is shorter than the length (TL) of the lower surface in operational position.   
     
     
         5 . The last according to  claim 4 , wherein the length (TL 2 ) of the lower surface in open position is between 2-10% shorter than the length (TL) of the lower surface in operational position. 
     
     
         6 . The last according to  claim 4 , wherein the length (TL 2 ) of the lower surface in open position is at least 4% shorter than the length (TL) of the lower surface in operational position. 
     
     
         7 . The last according to  claim 4 , wherein said forefoot body part in an open position of the last is inclined by an angle (a) in relation to said lower surface, wherein said angle is at least 5°. 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . The last according to  claim 4 , wherein said forefoot body part has a length (TLF) from the toe end and in a direction along the lower surface, which is at least 10% of the length of the lower surface in operational position. 
     
     
         10 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein said last has a girth measurement at a high instep position (D) that in an open position is less than or equal to the girth measurement at the high instep position (D) in closed position of the last. 
     
     
         11 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein said last has a girth measurement from back of heel to instep (H) that in an open position is less than the girth measurement from back of heel to instep (H) in closed position of the last. 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein the coupling arrangement comprises a linked bar mechanism including:
 a heel bar and a forefoot bar, which are each pivotably attached to the last body at an intermediate position and mutually linked at one end of the heel bar and the forefoot bar, respectively, and where the other end of the heel bar and the forefoot bar, respectively, is linked to the heel body part and the forefoot body part, respectively.   
     
     
         14 .- 15 . (canceled) 
     
     
         16 . The last according to  claim 11 , wherein said forefoot bar is arranged in an open position of the last to be inclined in an angle (b) in relation to said lower surface, wherein said angle is at least 10°. 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein said last is configured for independent movement of said forefoot body part or said heel body part. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . The last according to  claim 1 , wherein said last comprises a decoupling arrangement for decoupling movements of said heel body part and said forefoot body part. 
     
     
         21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method for manufacturing a footwear, the method comprising steps of:
 providing a last for footwear production, said last comprising a last body and a heel body part,
 wherein said heel body part is configured to be movable in relation to the last body, and wherein the last further comprises a forefoot body part, said forefoot body part being configured to be movable in relation to the last body, 
 wherein said heel body part and/or said forefoot body part is/are configured to be movable in relation to the last body by at least one coupling arrangement, 
 wherein said at least one coupling arrangement is configured such that said heel body part and said forefoot body part are at least partly movable towards each other; 
   moving at least one of said heel body part and said forefoot body part in relation to said last body from an operational position of the last,   applying a footwear upper to the last,   returning said at least one of said heel body part and said forefoot body part to bring the last to an operational position.   
     
     
         23 . The method for manufacturing the footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein said method further comprises a step of activating at least one coupling arrangement for moving said heel body part and said forefoot body part in relation to said last body from an operational position of the last. 
     
     
         24 . The method for manufacturing the footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein said method further comprises a step of deactivating the at least one coupling arrangement for returning said heel body part and said forefoot body part to bring the last to an operational position. 
     
     
         25 . The method for manufacturing the footwear step of activating of the at least one coupling arrangement is mediated via operation of an operator rod. 
     
     
         26 .- 27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . The method for manufacturing the footwear according to  claim 22 , wherein the method further comprises a step of applying a sole to the upper by direct injection process including direct injection process material. 
     
     
         29 . (canceled) 
     
     
         30 . The method for manufacturing the footwear according to  claim 28 , wherein the direct injection process material is TPR, PVC, EVA, TPU, or PU. 
     
     
         31 .- 34 . (canceled)