Abstract: A device for maintaining the shape of footwear, both at the tip of a shoe as in the stiffener through a tension force against the tip and stiffener of the shoe, the same caused by the device snap-fitting and its natural tensioning element curved, is provided. The device comprises two separate pieces and detachably bonded there between by means of a recess, interlocking means and recesses and cavities that are snapping correspondingly.

Abstract: A graphic transfer assembly is disclosed. The graphic transfer assembly includes an inflatable member that is capable of expanding to fill the interior of an article of footwear. The graphic transfer assembly can include a fluid pump for filling the inflatable member.

Abstract: An expandable shoetree for athletic shoes is provided of one-piece construction. It may be inflatable, hinged to provide for expansion by unfolding, or mechanically expanded. When fully expanded, the shoetree maintains the shoe in its intended and original shape. The layer that comes in contact with the inner layer of the may be comprised of fabric which may comprise sixty-three percent (63%) Nylon, twenty-three percent (23%) Polyester, and fourteen percent (14%) Elastane. The outer layer, or a booty which goes over it, is preferably imbued with an odor destroying agent or fragrance and anti-microbial agents, to provide an attractive fragrance for the shoe and suppresses the development of unpleasant odors.

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 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 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 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 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.