Footwear customization kit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11751640-B2
Application number	US-202217736037-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 3, 2022
Priority date	Sep 18, 2009
Publication date	Sep 12, 2023
Grant date	Sep 12, 2023

Abstract

A footwear customization kit comprises a container including an article of footwear, a stand, a steaming bag and a set of instructions. The article of footwear includes one or more customizable portions that can be deformed when heated, including an upper and a customizable insert. The stand and the steaming bag can be used to heat the article of footwear and the customizable portions in a steam environment. The customizable portions can be modified by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and can permanently retain the shape upon cooling.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A kit of parts, comprising:
an assembled article of footwear comprising:
a customizable portion that is an upper portion, wherein the customizable portion includes a size that is configured to be adjusted when heated above a predetermined temperature in a steam environment at atmospheric pressure and a shape that is configured to be adjusted when heated above the predetermined temperature in the steam environment at atmospheric pressure; and
a customizable insert that is a heel insert, wherein the customizable insert includes a size that is configured to be adjusted when heated above the predetermined temperature in the steam environment at atmospheric pressure and a shape that is configured to be adjusted when heated above the predetermined temperature in the steam environment at atmospheric pressure; and

a steaming bag configured to cover the assembled article of footwear in the steam environment.

2. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable portion comprises a majority of an upper of the article of footwear.

3. The kit of parts according to claim 2 , wherein the customizable portion comprises a synthetic leather.

4. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein customizable portion includes a first thermoplastic material and the customizable insert includes a second thermoplastic material.

5. The kit of parts according to claim 4 , wherein the first thermoplastic material is different from the second thermoplastic material.

6. The kit of parts according to claim 4 , wherein the first thermoplastic material has a first rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and then cooled, and the second thermoplastic material has a second rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and then cooled, and the first rigidity is less than the second rigidity.

7. The kit of parts according to claim 4 , wherein the predetermined temperature is a temperature at a softening point for both the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material and the customizable portion and the customizable insert are at least partially deformable to permit modification of the assembled article of footwear.

8. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable portion is constructed of two polymer layers that sandwich and are bonded to a canvas sheet and the customizable insert is a thermoset foam, the customizable portion further including a glue that bonds the polymer layers to the canvas sheet, wherein, when the customizable portion is steamed, the glue is configured to stretch and when the customizable portion is removed from the steam, the glue is configured to shrink to accommodate the adjustable shape.

9. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the heel insert extends along a heel portion of the assembled article of footwear and includes a base portion and a sidewall portion, the sidewall portion being disposed at an angle to the base portion.

10. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable portion is configured to be adjusted and customized by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and to permanently retain the shape upon cooling below the predetermined temperature.

11. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable insert is configured to be adjusted and customized by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and to permanently retain the shape upon cooling below the predetermined temperature.

12. The kit of parts according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable portion is a portion of an upper of the article of footwear.

13. A kit of parts, comprising:
an assembled article of footwear comprising:
a customizable portion that is an upper portion and includes a first thermoplastic material, wherein the customizable portion includes a size that is configured to be adjusted when heated above a predetermined temperature in a steam environment at atmospheric pressure and a shape that is configured to be adjusted when heated above the predetermined temperature in the steam environment at atmospheric pressure; and
a customizable insert that is a heel insert and includes a second thermoplastic material different than the first thermoplastic material, wherein the customizable insert includes a size that is configured to be adjusted when heated above the predetermined temperature in the steam environment at atmospheric pressure and a shape that is configured to be adjusted when heated above the predetermined temperature in the steam environment at atmospheric pressure; and

a steaming bag configured to cover the assembled article of footwear in the steam environment.

14. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the customizable portion comprises a majority of an upper of the article of footwear.

15. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the predetermined temperature is a temperature at a softening point for both the first thermoplastic material and the second thermoplastic material and the customizable portion and the customizable insert are at least partially deformable to permit modification of the assembled article of footwear.

16. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the customizable portion is constructed of two polymer layers that sandwich and are bonded to a canvas sheet and the customizable insert is a thermoset foam, the customizable portion further including a glue that bonds the polymer layers to the canvas sheet, wherein, when the customizable portion is steamed, the glue is configured to stretch and when the customizable portion is removed from the steam, the glue is configured to shrink to accommodate the adjustable shape.

17. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the first thermoplastic material has a first rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and then cooled, and the second thermoplastic material has a second rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and then cooled, and the first rigidity is less than the second rigidity.

18. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the heel insert extends along a heel portion of the assembled article of footwear and includes a base portion and a sidewall portion, the sidewall portion being disposed at an angle to the base portion.

19. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the customizable portion is configured to be adjusted and customized by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and to permanently retain the shape upon cooling below the predetermined temperature.

20. The kit of parts according to claim 13 , wherein the customizable insert is configured to be adjusted and customized by a shape of a foot inserted into the article of footwear and to permanently retain the shape upon cooling below the predetermined temperature.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dieter William M
• Baudouin Alexandre
• Baker Brian D

Classifications

• A43D95/12 Primary

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

• A43B7/28

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

• A43B23/0215

  Plastics or artificial leather · CPC title

• A43D999/00

  Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass · CPC title

• B65D85/187

  for footwear · CPC title