With Cooperating Exterior Former Patents (Class 12/115.4)
  • Publication number: 20120096654
    Abstract: A narrow preserver having interchangeable components. The narrow preserver includes a permeable covering, and an absorbing material disposed within a permeable liner. The permeable liner is interchangeably inserted within an opening in the permeable covering. The opening is adapted to allow insertion of the permeable liner within the permeable covering. The absorbing material disposed within the permeable liner withdraws moisture from an interior surface of the shoe through a porous material fiber of the permeable liner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 2, 2012
    Publication date: April 26, 2012
    Inventor: Michael James Huebner
  • Patent number: 7870627
    Abstract: An improved shoe stretching apparatus is configured to facilitate ready operation of the apparatus inside a shoe while minimizing the hand strength required to use the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Inventors: Raymond C. Engel, Barton J. Alcamo
  • Patent number: 7861345
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to apparatus and a method for reshaping a footwear shell, the apparatus includes a support structure, a drive mechanism and external mold arrangement that drives the external mold toward or away from the shell being reshaped; and an internal mold assembly that includes an angled support arm having a first leg adapted to couple to one of a selection of couplings provided in the support structure and a second leg offset from the first leg at an angle ?. The internal mold assembly also includes an adapter that is rotatably fixed to the second leg of the angled support arm, and a static mold removably fixed to the adapter and coaxially aligned with a common axis extending through the external mold and static mold, the support arm angle ? provides an improved support shape that improves placement of the static mold within the footwear shell during reshaping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Outside The Box Designs, Ltd
    Inventors: Paul J. Prutzman, Cullen L. Speakman
  • Patent number: 7346953
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Inventor: Michael L. Graves