Shoe customization system having interchangeable platens

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9301577-B2
Application number	US-201414200265-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 7, 2014
Priority date	Jan 7, 2011
Publication date	Apr 5, 2016
Grant date	Apr 5, 2016

Abstract

Heat press platens for a shoe customization/decoration system and a method of using the same are disclosed. The platens may be quickly interchanged to allow the same equipment to be used to dye shoes of different sizes. The platens individually accommodate a pair of assembled shoes and are shaped to: reduce print sizes, maintain symmetry and flatness of the shoe, and accommodate a range of shoe sizes. The size and shape of the platens enable one shoe to be fitted on one side of a platen and another shoe to be fitted on the opposite side. The platens position the shoes so that they are mirror images of each other. This positioning allows a single print, including mirror images of the same design, to be applied to two shoes at the same time.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of customizing a shoe, comprising:
loading a first shoe onto a first shoe receiving portion of a first heat press device;
loading a second shoe onto a second shoe receiving portion of the first heat press device;
connecting the first heat press device to a heat press machine;
placing a first design on top of the first shoe and a second design on top of the second shoe; and
pressing a heat plate of the heat press machine against the first shoe and the second shoe.

2. The method according to claim 1 , further comprising replacing the first heat press device with a second heat press device.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein connecting the first heat press device to the heat press machine includes placing the first heat press device over the heat press machine and sliding the first heat press device until the first heat press device connects with the heat press machine.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the step of loading a first shoe onto the first shoe receiving portion includes loading the first shoe onto a first piston spring tensioner.

5. The method according to claim 4 , wherein the first piston spring tensioner includes a first piston head and a first rod extending from the first piston head, the first rod being biased by a first spring.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the step of loading the second shoe onto the second shoe receiving portion includes loading the second shoe onto a second piston spring tensioner having a second piston head and a second rod extending from the second piston head, the second rod being biased by a second spring.

7. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the second shoe receiving portion is opposite the first shoe receiving portion.

8. A method of customizing a shoe, comprising:
loading a first shoe onto a first shoe receiving portion of a first heat press device, wherein the step of loading the first shoe onto the first shoe receiving portion includes inserting a first piston spring tensioner of the first heat press device inside a toe portion of the first shoe and wherein the first piston spring tensioner has having a first piston head and a first rod extending from the first piston head;
connecting the first heat press device to a heat press machine;
placing a design on top of the first shoe; and
pressing a heat plate of the heat press machine against the first shoe.

9. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first heat press device includes a flat press surface having a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge connecting the first edge to the second edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, wherein the distance between the third edge and the fourth edge tapers continuously from the first edge to the second edge and wherein part of the first edge, part of the second edge, and the third edge together define the first shoe receiving portion.

10. The method according to claim 9 , wherein the first rod and the first piston head extend from the second edge.

11. The method according to claim 8 , wherein the first piston spring tensioner includes a first spring biasing the first piston head against the toe portion of the first shoe when the first shoe is loaded onto the first shoe receiving portion.

12. The method according to claim 8 , wherein connecting the first heat press device to the heat press machine includes inserting a retractable button disposed quick connect plate of the heat press machine into a first hole disposed on the first heat press device.

13. The method according to claim 12 , further comprising replacing the first heat press device with a second heat press device by retracting the retractable button, sliding the first heat press device to remove the first heat press device, and connecting a second heat press device to the heat press machine.

14. The method according to claim 8 , further comprising heating a heat plate.

15. A method of customizing a shoe, comprising:
loading a first shoe onto a first shoe receiving portion of a first heat press device, wherein the first heat press device includes a first quick connect mechanism;
connecting the first heat press device to a heat press machine by a second quick connect mechanism that corresponds with the first quick connect mechanism;
placing a design on top of the first shoe; and
pressing a heat plate of the heat press machine against the first shoe.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the second quick connect mechanism is disposed on a quick connect plate of the heat press machine and connecting the first heat press device to the heat press machine includes inserting the second quick connect mechanism into the first quick connect mechanism disposed on the first heat press device.

17. The method according to claim 16 , wherein the second quick connect mechanism is a protrusion and the first quick connect mechanism is a T-slot having a hole with a shape that corresponds with a shape of the protrusion.

18. The method according to claim 15 , wherein connecting the first heat press device to the heat press machine includes inserting the second quick connect mechanism disposed on a quick connect plate of the heat press machine into the first quick connect mechanism disposed on the first heat press device and inserting a third quick connect mechanism disposed on the quick connect plate of the heat press machine into a fourth quick connect mechanism disposed on the first heat press device, wherein the first quick connect mechanism and the fourth quick connect mechanism are aligned.

19. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the heat press device includes a flat press surface having a first edge, a second edge opposite the first edge, a third edge connecting the first edge to the second edge, and a fourth edge opposite the third edge, wherein the distance between the third edge and the fourth edge tapers continuously from the first edge to the second edge and wherein part of the first edge, part of the second edge, and the third edge together define the first shoe receiving portion.

20. The method according to claim 15 , further comprising loading a second shoe onto a second shoe receiving portion of the first heat press device that is opposite the first shoe receiving surface.

Assignees

• Nike Inc

Inventors

• Leedy Gregory R

Classifications

• B32B38/14

  Printing or colouring · CPC title

• Y10T156/1089

  of discrete laminae to single face of additional lamina · CPC title

• A43B3/0084 Primary

  Arrangement of flocked decoration on shoes · CPC title

• B41F17/006

  for printing on curved surfaces not otherwise provided for · CPC title

• Y10T156/103

  Encasing or enveloping the configured lamina · CPC title