Abstract: A method of customizing a boot, for example a skate boot, includes generating a tridimensional digital representation of a wearer's foot using numerical data obtained by scanning the wearer's foot. A boot with a foot size corresponding generally to a foot length of the wearer's foot is selected. A core is also selected. The core, a medial side insert and a lateral side insert are inserted into an internal space of the boot such that the medial side insert and the lateral side insert straddle the core. The medial side insert and the lateral side insert are manufactured based on the tridimensional shape of the foot. At least a portion of the boot is then heated such that the boot is thermoformed to follow surfaces of the medial and lateral side inserts. The core, the medial side insert and the lateral side insert are then removed from the boot.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes positioning an upper on a last that defines openings connected by one or more channels in the last, injecting a material through the one or more channels in the last, and forming a structure on the upper with the material.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for retaining the shape of a shoe. The shoe insert provided herein for retaining the shape of a shoe includes a toe fabric bag and a vamp fabric bag. Each fabric bag may be made of a malleable form-fitting fabric. Each fabric bag may be of different sizes and shapes to fit shoes of different sizes and shapes. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a shoe insert and methods of using a device for retaining the shape of a shoe.

Abstract: A shoe stuffing device is provided. The shoe stuffing device includes a shoe stuffing device body having a distal end and a proximal end and an aperture formed close to the proximal end. The aperture provides a handle for the user to grasp or insert the finger into and pull the shoe stuffing device out of the shoe, while helping resist vertical expansion and support lateral compressibility of the body. The shoe stuffing device can also include a decorative element at the proximal end and attached to the top loop. The decorative element not only provides a pleasant aesthetic effect, but also indicates to the user that the end having the decorative element is to remain outward while the opposite end or tip is to be inserted into the shoe.

Abstract: A plastic bag drying device uses a body member that has a base with upwardly and inwardly tapering side faces and end faces and a wedge shaped body wedge extending upwardly from a top of the base. The base and the body wedge may be monolithic in construction and are made from an appropriate moisture absorbent material, such as sponge or foam. Baggies are placed atop the body wedge and held open by the device and allowed to air dry any moisture within the baggie not already absorbed by the body itself. An optional slot allows two smaller baggies to be fitted over the body wedge. An expander wedge can be placed onto the body wedge in order to accommodate relatively large baggies.

Abstract: A resilient shoe insert includes a generally V-shaped insert body having a pair of diverging insert segments; a plurality of indentations in each of the insert segments; and a plurality of frangible portions defined by the plurality of indentations, respectively.

Abstract: A method for producing a shoe that can be adapted to the foot of a wearer, is made of hard, thermoplastic synthetic material and is worn for sports, includes heating a prefabricated shoe at least in sections and adapting the shoe by applying pressure from the outside and by shaping the heated area. The shoe is then cooled, a correction strip, which is made of a hard material and is taken from the foot, is introduced in to the prefabricated shoe and the heated shoe is pressed onto the correction strip by applying pressure. A strip correction and a shoe are also provided.

Abstract: A construction for a permeable liner within a modular shoe preserver system having interchangeable components. The preserver adapted to snugly fit within a shoe including a permeable covering, a permeable liner and an absorbing material. The permeable liner is disposed within the permeable covering. The permeable liner is constructed from an expandable material having a closed heel end and an open toe end adapted to receive an absorbent material. In construction, the open toe end of the permeable liner is folded various times before it is closed to define a forefoot end having a material mass substantially thicker and wider than the remainder of the permeable liner that resembles that of a forefoot. The absorbing material is disposed within the permeable liner to withdraw moisture from an interior surface area of the shoe.

Abstract: A modular preserver system for a protective covering. The modular preserver system includes a permeable flexible covering received within the protective covering. An absorbing material is provided within another permeable covering, which is disposed within the permeable flexible covering for retaining moisture withdrawn from the interior surface area of the protective covering. A compact cover may be wrapped over the protective covering adapted to contain any contaminants within the compact cover thereby preventing the contaminants polluting adjacent objects. The modular preserver system may include a flexible strap adapted to modularly carry a pair of protective coverings.

Abstract: A shoe tree with a split toe includes a shoe-front support, a split toe portion, and a handle. The shoe-front support is shaped to fit inside a front portion of a shoe so as to facilitate maintaining the shape of the shoe. The split toe portion has a groove with a groove bottom portion provided at about the tip portion of the shoe-front support, the split toe portion being configured to accept a strap of the shoe such that the strap is positioned within the groove. The handle extends from the rear portion of the shoe-front support. The split toe portion is of a shape of wedge, and the groove bottom portion divides the tip portion of the shoe-front support vertically into first and second sides and connected the the first and second sides horizontally around an innermost portion of the groove.

Abstract: An article of manufacture may be adjustable and may include a cage having a plurality of apertures and an insert having a frame with a plurality of projections that extend from the frame. The insert may be inserted into the cage and may cause the cage to expand to the shape of the insert. The projections on the frame may extend through the apertures of the cage when the insert is inserted into the cage. The cage may be capable of expanding to a plurality of sizes and shapes of various inserts. The article of manufacture may be an article of footwear, a container, an article of apparel, a textile, and any other object of manufacture.

Abstract: A shoe insert for maintaining the shape and structure of a shoe. When placed in a shoe, the shoe insert applies pressure to the walls of the shoe, preventing the shape of the shoe from deteriorating over time. The shoe insert is made from a compressible form-fitting material that allows the shoe insert to form itself to the contours of a variety of shapes and sizes of shoes.

Abstract: A shoe tree for one shoe includes a main body having a front end formed with a vamp support portion and a rear end formed with an upwardly extending rising portion and having a first side formed with a first side support portion and a second side formed with a second side support portion. Thus, the first side support portion has a shape matching that of the outer side of the shoe, and the second side support portion has a shape matching that of the inner side of the shoe so that the inner space of the shoe is supported by the main body of the shoe tree rigidly and stably, thereby preventing the shoe from being deformed due to its gravity.

Abstract: A device for restoring the appearance of a kiltie and/or tassel on a finished shoe. The device has a two-part shoe tree with a handle to which one end of a clamp is attached. The other end of the clamp is attached to a curved, cushioned shaping element, which fits over the kiltie and/or tassel. A spring-loaded tension rod mounted between the two parts of the shoe tree translates pressure to the shaping element, which applies appropriate pressure directly to the kiltie. An alternate embodiment incorporates a heating layer into the shaping element, with one or more batteries providing power to the heating layer.

Abstract: A system for custom fitting athletic shoes to an individual wearer includes a foot measurement device, an adjustable footform and an infrared activation chamber. Shoes of a single width for each length size have at least a portion of the upper made of heat malleable material to be custom fitted for width. Foot measurement data is used to calculate length size, width size and a number of custom adjustment factors. After the length size is calculated, the appropriately sized shoe and last are assembled together and subject to infrared radiation until the heat malleable material becomes plastic. Adjustments are then made to the last in accordance with the adjustment factors to provide custom width sizing. After further heat treatment to set the shoe upper and cooling, the shoe is complete. In this manner, if used in a retail setting, shoes are custom fitted to the wearer in a matter of minutes.

Abstract: A device for retaining the shape of a shoe includes a tapering base member having an arch cross section and a shoe expansion member defining a cavity removably receiving the base member therein. The base member has opposite side walls and an arcuated top wall defining a groove in which a stair-like configuration is formed, having a first number of steps. The side walls of the base member each form first serration. The shoe expansion member has a bottom in which the cavity is defined and a top side configured to closely fit into a shoe for retaining the shape of the shoe. The cavity is defined by opposite side walls and a top wall. The top wall of the cavity has a stair-like structure having a second number of steps. The side walls of the cavity form second serration. The stair-like structure of the cavity is at least partially engageable with and supported by the stair-like configuration of the top wall of the base member.

Abstract: A boot retainer can store boots without losing the shape. The retainer includes inner pads capable of moving to conform to the interior surface at two or more points of the boot of different sizes, and also includes a hook for suspending the retainer together with the boot.

Abstract: A shoe tree includes a toe member, a heel member, a spacer bar having a front portion quickly or micro-adjustably secured to the toe member and having a rear portion biased to engage with the heel member, such that the heel member and the toe member may be adjustably and accurately engaged into the shoes of different sizes or lengths. The toe member has two flanges each having a number of depressions. A latch is secured to the spacer bar and has two arms, and a pawl may force the arms to engage with the depressions of the flanges of the toe member.

Abstract: A shoe corrector for correcting the shape of a shoe such that it completely fits a wearer's foot and making the interior space dry and clean is provided. The shoe corrector allows each individual's foot to be accustomed to shoes which are mass produced with standardized dimensions thus providing more comfort to the wearer. Furthermore, the shoe corrector prevents the shoe from deforming with long use.

Abstract: A sheet of flexible and resilient polymer material is rolled into a tubular configuration and inserted into the shaft of a boot deeply enough to reach the vamp and quarters from which the shaft uses. The rolled sheet, when released, expands under the bias of its own resiliency and bears against the inside of the shaft, thus stabilizing the shaft in an upright position above the quarters and vamp. The upper end of the rolled sheet projects above the upper margin on the shaft, and here the sheet may bear a trademark or other indicia.

Abstract: A sheet of flexible and resilient polymer material is rolled into a tubular configuration and inserted into the shaft of a boot deeply enough to reach the vamp and quarters from which the shaft uses. The rolled sheet, when released, expands under the bias of its own resiliency and bears against the inside of the shaft, thus stabilizing the shaft in an upright position above the quarters and vamp. The upper end of the rolled sheet projects above the upper margin on the shaft, and here the sheet may bear a trademark or other indicia.

Abstract: A boot retainer can store boots without losing the shape. The retainer includes inner pads capable of moving to conform to the interior surface at two or more points of the boot of different sizes, and also includes a hook for suspending the retainer together with the boot.

Abstract: A combined shoe tree and organizer comprising a two-shoe tree capable of holding and preserving a pair of shoes and an organizer therefor. The two-shoe tree comprises a mounting portion and two heel members, each heel member being connected to said mounting portion by an expandable stretcher bar and is designed to hold and preserve two (i.e. a pair of) shoes as a single unit. The two-shoe tree is provided with an aperture such that is can be integrated or combined with an organizer having a plurality of post members. In this manner, the shoe tree can be detachably secured to the organizer by mounting said aperture over one of the post members. The organizer may be in the form of a single rod which can retain a plurality of two-shoe trees or may be in the form of multiple rods in a grid frame arrangement to form a rack. The organizer can have either a horizontal orientation, for placement on a flat surface, or a vertical orientation for hanging from a door or mounting to a wall.

Abstract: An apparatus having a shoe and a shoe insert. The shoe insert is removably positioned within a toe portion of the shoe. The shoe insert is of a hollow construction and opens across a bottom of said shoe insert. The shoe insert has a shape which matches the shape of an interior of the toe portion. A handle portion having an inwardly extending ridge is formed at an end of the shoe insert. The handle has a size and shape suitable for grasping by human fingers.

Abstract: A shoe insert having a body formed of a recycled waste paper material. The body has a hollow interior which opens at a bottom of said body. The body has a seat formed at a rear end thereof. The seat has a through hole formed in a top planar surface of said seat. The through hole has a diameter suitable for allowing a human finger to pass thereinto.

Abstract: The construction shape of a womans's shoe insert is similar to the inner portion of a shoe. An angled surface is formed at a rear end of the shoe insert which extends to a seat of a bottom end thereof. The angled surface has a locating trough which is broad on the top end. The locating trough and narrow on the bottom end engageable with a front end of a support rod, which uses the rear end of the support rod to support the rear end of the shoe.