Customization kit for articles of footwear

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10104941-B2
Application number	US-201615053671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 25, 2016
Priority date	Feb 25, 2016
Publication date	Oct 23, 2018
Grant date	Oct 23, 2018

Abstract

A steaming apparatus for an article of footwear includes a steaming chamber adjoined to a plurality of wing portions. The steaming apparatus is configured to accommodate a steam source. The apparatus also includes provisions for securing the article of footwear within the steaming chamber such that a majority of the upper is subjected to steam. Articles of footwear may be placed in the steaming system to help customize the articles of apparel for a user's fit and comfort.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A kit of parts, comprising:
an assembled article of footwear including a customizable portion, the customizable portion being customizable when heated above a predetermined temperature;
a steaming bag configured to receive and hold the assembled article of footwear in a steam environment;
wherein the steaming bag includes a steaming chamber and a plurality of wing portions;
the steaming chamber including a receiving end, a base portion, and a footwear receiving portion, the footwear receiving portion extending between the base portion and the receiving end;
wherein the base portion includes at least one aperture;
wherein the plurality of wing portions extend substantially radially outward from the steaming chamber when the steaming bag is erected;
wherein the plurality of wing portions include a first wing portion that extends outward from a first edge of the steaming chamber; and
wherein the first wing portion includes a first channel configured to receive a first elongated element.

2. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the receiving end of the steaming chamber comprises an opening that is sized and dimensioned to receive the assembled article of footwear.

3. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the steaming bag includes four wing portions.

4. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the footwear receiving portion of the steaming chamber comprises four sidewall portions, and wherein the four sidewall portions are arranged to form a substantially continuous and hollow tube.

5. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the footwear receiving portion includes four edge portions, wherein each edge portion of the four edge portions is joined to a wing portion of the plurality of wing portions.

6. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein a first outer edge portion and a second outer edge portion of the base portion are welded together in order to provide a support structure for the assembled article of footwear.

7. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the first elongated element has a first length, wherein the first channel has a second length, and wherein the first length is greater than the second length.

8. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the steaming bag is configured to at least partially cover the assembled article of footwear.

9. A steaming bag configured to receive and hold an assembled article of footwear in a steam environment, the steaming bag comprising:
a flattened configuration and an erected configuration;
a steaming chamber including four sidewall portions joined along four edge portions;
four wing portions, wherein each wing portion of the four wing portions is joined to one edge portion of the steaming chamber;
wherein each of the four wing portions includes an elongated channel;
the steaming chamber including a receiving end, a base portion, and a footwear receiving portion, the footwear receiving portion extending upward from the base portion to the receiving end; and
wherein each of the four wing portions extends radially outward from the steaming chamber when the steaming bag is in the erected configuration.

10. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , wherein the steaming bag is substantially symmetrical about a longitudinal axis in the flattened configuration.

11. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , wherein the base portion includes at least one aperture configured to allow steam from an external steam source to pass into the steaming chamber.

12. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , wherein each elongated channel of the four wing portions is a blind-hole channel.

13. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , wherein the receiving end of the steaming chamber has a horizontal cross-sectional shape that is substantially rectangular when the steaming bag is in the erected configuration.

14. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , further including a plurality of elongated elements, wherein each elongated element of the plurality of elongated elements is configured to be received by an elongated channel formed in a wing portion of the steaming bag.

15. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , wherein the four wing portions comprise a first wing portion and a second wing portion and wherein the first wing portion and the second wing portion have substantially similar dimensions.

16. The steaming bag according to claim 15 , wherein the first wing portion includes a first elongated channel and the second wing portion includes a second elongated channel;
wherein the first elongated channel is configured to receive a first elongated element and the second elongated channel is configured to receive a second elongated element; and
wherein the first elongated channel and the second elongated channel have substantially similar dimensions, and the first elongated element and the second elongated element have substantially similar dimensions.

17. The steaming bag according to claim 16 , wherein the second elongated channel is also configured to receive the first elongated element, and wherein the first elongated channel is also configured to receive the second elongated element.

18. The steaming bag according to claim 16 , wherein the first elongated element has a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is received by the first elongated channel, and wherein the second portion extends outward from the first elongated channel.

19. The steaming bag according to claim 18 , wherein the second portion has a free end that is configured to rest upon a surface in the erected configuration.

20. The steaming bag according to claim 9 , wherein the four sidewall portions include a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion, wherein the first sidewall portion is disposed opposite to the second sidewall portion in the erected configuration, and wherein the first sidewall portion has a first folding crease and the second sidewall portion has a second folding crease.

21. The steaming bag according to claim 20 , wherein the first folding crease and the second folding crease are configured to allow the steaming bag to transition between the flattened configuration and the erected configuration.

22. A method of using a steaming bag, comprising:
grasping a first wing portion and a second wing portion of a steaming apparatus;
pulling the first wing portion in a first direction and pulling the second wing portion in a second direction, wherein the first direction is substantially opposite to the second direction; and
erecting the steaming bag on a surface including expanding a steaming chamber in the steaming apparatus from a substantially flattened configuration to an open configuration, wherein the steaming chamber comprises four sidewall portions, and wherein the second wing portion is disposed diagonally across from the first wing portion when the steaming chamber is in the open configuration.

23. The method of claim 22 , further comprising:
inserting an assembled article of footwear having a customizable portion into the steaming chamber in the steaming apparatus; and
introducing steam into the steaming chamber while the assembled article of footwear is located in the steaming chamber.

24. A method of using a steaming bag, comprising;
grasping a first wing portion and a second wing portion of a steaming apparatus;
pulling the first wing portion in a first direction and pulling the second wing portion

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dieter William M

Classifications

• A43B7/28

  Adapting the inner sole {or the side of the upper} of the shoe to the sole of the foot · CPC title

• B65D33/01

  Ventilation or drainage of bags · CPC title

• A43D95/12 Primary

  Devices for conditioning, tempering, or moistening (preparatory to pulling-over or lasting A43D11/14) · CPC title

• A43D3/1408

  Devices for heating or drying shoes · CPC title

• B65D33/14

  Suspension means (handles B65D33/06) · CPC title