Method and arrangement for the customization of a footwear, more particularly a sports footwear

• US 10,286,619 B2
• Filed: 03/24/2016
• Issued: 05/14/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tecnica Group S.P.A.
• Original Assignee: Tecnica Group S.P.A.
• Inventors: Grandin, Giorgio, Maccari, Dino
• Primary Examiner(s): Tucker, Philip C
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Jr., Jimmy R
• Application Number:
  US15/079,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20160279889A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 264571
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/04 Ski or like boots
• CPC Class Codes: A43B 5/0435 Adjustment of the boot to the foot
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 3/08 Devices for stretching special parts of shoes
• CPC Class Codes: A43D 95/10 Drying or heating devices for shoes
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/00 Producing footwear
• CPC Class Codes: B29D 35/0054 by compression moulding, vulcanising or the like; Apparatus therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2101/12 Thermoplastic materials
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2105/253 Preform

Abstract

A method and corresponding arrangement for customization of footwear, more particularly sports footwear, comprising an element made of a thermoplastic material, are provided. The method includes heating the element made of thermoplastic material until its temperature rises above a predetermined threshold and locally applying, from the outside of the footwear, a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear, so as to locally deform the thermoplastic material to adapt it to the morphology of the particular user. Correspondingly, the system comprises heating means, intended to heat the element made of thermoplastic material, and shaping means, arranged outside the footwear and intended to locally engage the outer surface of the element made of thermoplastic material and to apply a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear.

Claims

1. A method for the customization of a footwear comprising an element made of thermoplastic material, the method comprising the steps of:

heating the element made of thermoplastic material until its temperature rises above a predetermined threshold; and

while the temperature of the element made of thermoplastic material is above the threshold, locally applying, from the outside of the footwear, a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material, the traction force being oriented towards the outside of the footwear;

wherein at least the step of applying the traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material takes place while a user'"'"'s foot is placed in the footwear.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising a final cooling step, during which the temperature of the element made of thermoplastic material is lowered below the threshold.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the traction force is applied by generating a vacuum at a zone of an outer surface of the element made of thermoplastic material, thus generating a drawing force acting as a traction force on the element made of thermoplastic material.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of applying a traction force to the element made of thermoplastic material comprises in turn the steps of mechanically engaging an outer surface of the element made of thermoplastic material and successively applying a mechanical traction force.