Footwear Customization Kit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016366986-A1
Application number	US-201615252532-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 31, 2016
Priority date	Sep 18, 2009
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A footwear customization kit is described. The 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 . An article of footwear, comprising:
an upper comprising a customizable portion that is made of a first material; the article of footwear comprising a customizable insert that is made of a second material that is different from the first material; the first material and the second material being deformable when heated above a predetermined temperature to permit modification of at least a shape of the first material and a shape of the second material; wherein the first material has a first rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and cooled below the predetermined temperature; and wherein the second material has a second rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and cooled below the predetermined temperature, the second rigidity being substantially different from the first rigidity.

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

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

4 . The article of footwear according to claim 3 , wherein the synthetic leather comprises a canvas sheet sandwiched between two polymer layers.

5 . The article of footwear according to claim 4 , wherein the two polymer layers are bonded to the canvas sheet by a glue having a low melting point.

6 . The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the article of footwear and the customizable insert are associated with a footwear customization kit.

7 . The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the first rigidity is less rigid than the second rigidity.

8 . The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable insert is a heel insert associated with a heel portion of the article of footwear.

9 . The article of footwear according to claim 8 , wherein the customizable insert comprises a base portion and a sidewall portion, the sidewall portion being disposed at an angle to the base portion.

10 . The article of footwear according to claim 1 , wherein the customizable insert is made of thermoset foam.

11 . A method of customizing an article of footwear, the method comprising:
exposing the article of footwear to a steam environment, the article of footwear including: (a) an upper comprising a customizable portion that is made of a first material, and (b) a customizable insert that is made of a second material that is different from the first material; heating the first material and the second material to a predetermined temperature at which the first material and the second material become deformable; inserting a foot into the article of footwear to modify at least a shape of the first material and a shape of the second material to conform to the foot; and cooling the first material and the second material to permanently maintain the modified shape of the first material and the second material.

12 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , wherein the customizable portion of the upper and the customizable insert are cured during a single process.

13 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , wherein the first material has a first rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and cooled below the predetermined temperature; and
wherein the second material has a second rigidity after being heated above the predetermined temperature and cooled below the predetermined temperature, the second rigidity being substantially different from the first rigidity.

14 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , wherein the customizable portion comprises a majority of the upper; and
wherein the customizable insert is a heel insert associated with a heel portion of the article of footwear.

15 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , wherein prior to the step of heating the second material, the customizable insert has a substantially smooth shape; and
after the step of cooling the second material, the customizable insert retains a shape corresponding to a heel portion of the foot.

16 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , wherein the first material becomes deformable at a first predetermined temperature, and the second material becomes deformable at a second predetermined temperature.

17 . The method corresponding to claim 16 , wherein the first predetermined temperature and the second predetermined temperature are different.

18 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , further comprising the steps of:
placing the article of footwear on a stand; placing a steaming bag over the article of footwear and the stand; and exposing the article of footwear, the stand, and the steaming bag to the steam environment.

19 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , further comprising waiting a predetermined amount of time while the foot is inserted within the article of footwear.

20 . The method corresponding to claim 11 , wherein the customizable insert is removably inserted into the article of footwear prior to the step of exposing the article of footwear to the steam environment.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Dieter William M
• Baudouin Alexandre
• Baker Brian D

Classifications

• A43B23/026

  Laminated layers · CPC title

• B65D85/187

  for footwear · CPC title

• A43B17/14

  made of sponge, rubber, or plastic materials · CPC title

• A43B23/0215

  Plastics or artificial leather · CPC title

• A43D5/02

  Stands for making footwear (stands for cleaning shoes A47L23/16) · CPC title