CUSTOM SHOE AND FABRICATION METHOD THEREOF

Abstract

A custom shoe fabrication method comprises the steps of forming a shoe having an upper and an outsole with the upper is detachably attached to the outsole, detaching the upper from the outsole, printing an image on a thermal transfer sheet, ironing the printed image on the upper, and attaching to the outsole the upper having the image printed thereon.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a custom shoe and fabrication method enabling a user to change one shoe upper to another while maintaining the shoe sole by applying a zipper and design the shoe upper with whatever image the user picks.

A conventional shoe is known to have a single purpose. Running shoes are for running, and fashion shoes for showing off and self-satisfaction. Fast moving shoe fashion trend is hard for a shoe manufacturer to follow. When it comes to sneakers and other casual shoes with non-leather uppers, shoe design is a major factor for a user to pick one. Consumers show changing preferences on shoe design and a shoe manufacturer is almost impossible to satisfy user groups with specific design preferences. Though the market demands manufacturing deference design shoes in a small quantity each it would be tough to meet the demand at a competitive price.

A demand on the market is a fashion shoe reflecting ever-changing personal preferences. Another demand is a shoe that can be designed by a user in a simplified manner to enable the user to practically own a plurality of difference shoe sets with a single shoe sole.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is contrived to solve problems in conventional shoes. Therefore, an objective of the invention is to provide a custom shoe and fabrication method to enable a user to change one shoe to another while maintaining the shoe sole by applying a zipper between the shoe upper and the shoe sole.

Another objective of the invention is to provide a custom design shoe using whatever image a user picks by applying the user picked image on the shoe upper.

Still another objection of the invention is to provide a custom design shoe serving as a plurality of shoe sets with different designs.

In order to achieve these and other objectives, the custom shoe fabrication method according to the present invention comprises: forming a shoe having an upper and an outsole, wherein the upper is detachably attached to the outsole; detaching the upper from the outsole; printing an image on a thermal transfer sheet; ironing the printed image on the upper; and attaching to the outsole the upper having the image printed thereon.

The upper is replaceable with a substitute upper. The method may further comprise trimming the printed thermal transfer sheet prior to the ironing. Here, it is recommended that the printing is a thermal transfer printing. The image is a downloadable file or one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work. The fabrication method may further comprise adding a celebrity signature on the image-ironed upper prior to the attaching.

In an embodiment, the custom shoe fabrication method comprises forming a shoe having an upper and an outsole, wherein the upper is detachably attached to the outsole by a zipper; detachedly unzipping the upper from the outsole; selecting an image on a computer screen; printing the selected image on a thermal transfer sheet; ironing the printed image on the upper; and attachedly zipping to the outsole the upper having the image printed thereon.

For a better performance, a custom shoe according to the present invention comprises: an outsole; an upper; a zipper detachably attaching the upper to the outsole; and an image ironed on the upper using a thermal transfer printing. The shoe may further comprise a celebrity signature on the upper.

The advantages of the custom shoe and fabrication method include: (1) an individual user can design a custom fashion shoe by detaching the shoe upper from the sole and printing whatever image on the shoe upper using a thermal transfer sheet; (2) a plurality of shoe uppers with different designs can be selectively zipped and attached to a single shoe sole, thus virtually creating a plurality of design shoe sets; and (3) the custom shoe expands applicability of the detachable shoe uppers from a self-designed upper to a souvenir with a celebrity signature. Although the present invention is briefly summarized, the full understanding of the invention can be obtained by the following drawings, detailed description, and appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a view showing formation of a shoe according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing image printing process on an upper of the shoe according to the present invention; and

FIGS. 3 and 4 are flowcharts illustrating the shoe fabrication method according the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

As demonstrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the custom shoe and fabrication method according to the present invention provides convenience in custom shoe design. As shown therein, the custom shoe 10 comprises an outsole 20, an upper 30, and a zipper 40 detachably attaching the upper 30 to the outsole 20. An image 50 may be ironed on the upper 30 using a thermal transfer printing.

For a better performance, the upper 30 may be replaceable with substitute uppers 32, 34. The image 50 is preferably a downloadable file or one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work. The shoe 10 may further comprise a celebrity signature on the upper 30 or on the substitute uppers 32, 34.

As shown in FIG. 1, an upper teeth 42 of the zipper 40 is attached along a lower end of the upper 30 selected depending on a user's preference, and a lower teeth 44 is attached along an upper end of the outsole 20. By zipping the upper 30 to the outsole 20 using a zipper slider 46, a fashion custom shoe 10 becomes ready for use. Here, zipper stops 48 may be formed in a predetermined size to facilitate open and close of the zipper 40. Preferably, the zipper 40 is color matched with the upper 30 or the outsole 20. In a preferred version, a front top 70 may be provided to cover a user's toes and a tongue 72 may be attached to the front top 70. A string 74 may be provided as applied to a commercial sneaker and a standard shoe.

The custom shoe fabrication method according to the present invention comprises a forming step S10 to form a shoe 10 having an upper 30 and an outsole 20 where the upper 30 is detachably attached to the outsole 20, a detaching step S20 to detach the upper 30 from the outsole 20, a printing step S30 to print an image 50 on a thermal transfer sheet 60, an ironing step S40 to iron the printed image on the upper 30, and an attaching step S50 to attach to the outsole 20 the upper 30 having the image 50 printed thereon.

In the shoe fabrication method, the upper 30 is replaceable with a substitute upper 32 or another substitute upper 34. The method may further comprise a trimming step S35 to trim the printed thermal transfer sheet 60 prior to the ironing step S40. The printing may be performed by a thermal transfer printing. In the method, the image 50 is preferably a downloadable file or one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work. In a preferred version, the show fabrication method comprises an adding step S45 to add a celebrity signature on the image-ironed upper 30 prior to the attaching step S50.

In another embodiment, the custom shoe fabrication method comprises a forming step S10 to form a shoe 10 having an upper 30 and an outsole 20, the upper 30 is detachably attached to the outsole 20 by a zipper 40, an unzipping step S20 to detachably unzip the upper 30 from the outsole 20, a selecting step S30 to select an image 50 on a computer screen (not shown), a printing step S40 to print the selected image 50 on a thermal transfer sheet 60, an ironing step S50 to iron the printed image on the upper 30 using a household iron 62, and a zipping step S60 to attachedly zip to the outsole 20 the upper having the image 60 printed thereon.

The shoe fabrication method according to this embodiment, the upper 30 is replaceable with a substitute upper 32 or another substitute upper 34. The method may further comprise a trimming step S45 to trim the printed thermal transfer sheet 60 prior to the ironing step S50. The printing may be performed by a thermal transfer printing. In the method, the image 50 is preferably a downloadable file or one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work. In a preferred version, the show fabrication method comprises an adding step S55 to add a celebrity signature on the image-ironed upper 30 prior to the zipping step S60. The image 60 may be obtained from a local computer, internet, local area network, or wide area network.

As discussed above, the custom shoe has numerous advantages. For example, an individual user can design a custom fashion shoe by detaching the shoe upper from the sole and printing whatever image on the shoe upper using a thermal transfer sheet. A plurality of shoe uppers with different designs can be selectively zipped and attached to a single shoe sole, thus virtually creating a plurality of design shoe sets. Further, the custom shoe expands applicability of the detachable shoe uppers from a self-designed upper to a souvenir with a celebrity signature.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference to different embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated by those skills in the art that variations in form, detail, compositions and operation may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the accompanying claims.

Claims

1. A custom shoe fabrication method, comprising:

forming a shoe having an upper and an outsole, wherein the upper is detachably attached to the outsole;

detaching the upper from the outsole;

printing an image on a thermal transfer sheet;

ironing the printed image on the upper; and

attaching to the outsole the upper having the image printed thereon.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the upper is replaceable with a substitute upper.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising trimming the printed thermal transfer sheet prior to the ironing.

4. The method of claim 1. wherein the printing is a thermal transfer printing.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is a downloadable file.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the image is one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising adding a celebrity signature on the image-ironed upper prior to the attaching.

8. A custom shoe fabrication method, comprising:

forming a shoe having an upper and an outsole, wherein the upper is detachably attached to the outsole by a zipper,

detachedly unzipping the upper from the outsole;

selecting an image on a computer screen;

printing the selected image on a thermal transfer sheet;

ironing the printed image on the upper; and

attachedly zipping to the outsole the upper having the image printed thereon.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the upper is replaceable with a substitute upper.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising trimming the printed thermal transfer sheet prior to the ironing.

11. The method of claim 8. wherein the printing is a thermal transfer printing.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the image is a downloadable file.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the image is one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work.

14. The method of claim 8, further comprising adding a celebrity signature on the image-ironed upper prior to the zipping.

15. A custom shoe, comprising:

an outsole;

an upper;

a zipper detachably attaching the upper to the outsole; and

an image ironed on the upper using a thermal transfer printing.

16. The shoe of claim 15, wherein the upper is replaceable with a substitute upper.

17. The shoe of claim 15. wherein the printing is a thermal transfer printing.

18. The shoe of claim 15, wherein the image is a downloadable file.

19. The shoe of claim 15, wherein the image is one selected from a text mark, a design mark, a pop star, a movie star, and an art work.

20. The shoe of claim 15, further comprising a celebrity signature on the upper.