A method and kit are provided for the customization of footwear comprising an upper which is partially or totally made of thermoformable material. The method provides for selectively heating the portions made of thermoformable material of the footwear, while leaving the remaining portions of the footwear at a substantially unchanged temperature, and for applying to the thermoformable material portions a pressure sufficient to adapt their shape to the specific morphology of the user's foot. This allows to customize even footwear comprising delicate portions, which would be damaged if subjected to high temperatures. The method may provide for customizing a footbed, partially or totally made of thermoformable material, to the specific morphology of the user's foot sole. The kit is compact, preferably transportable and capable of autonomously carrying out all the steps of the method.

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.

An inflatable shoe stretcher includes a bag body that is formed by coupling outer peripheries of two bag sheets and that defines an air-filling space therein, an one-way air inflow unit that is mounted between the bag sheets for filling air into the air-filling space, and a heat-sealed unit that is formed by coupling portions of the bag sheets. The heat-sealed unit includes two main heat-sealed subunits for segregating the air-filling space into three air-filling space portions. The bag body is able to be bent alongside the main heat-sealed subunits when the air-filling space portions are filled with air.

An inflatable shoe stretcher includes a bag body that is formed by coupling outer peripheries of two bag sheets and that defines an air-filling space therein, an one-way air inflow unit that is mounted between the bag sheets for filling air into the air-filling space, and a heat-sealed unit that is formed by coupling portions of the bag sheets. The heat-sealed unit includes two main heat-sealed subunits for segregating the air-filling space into three air-filling space portions. The bag body is able to be bent alongside the main heat-sealed subunits when the air-filling space portions are filled with air.

An apparatus for adjusting a shoe and methods for making and using the same. A relative movement can be generated between a platform and a model foot wearing the shoe such that the platform contacts the shoe and the model foot adjusts the shoe via the relative movement. Advantageously, the model foot can be a surrogate to a human foot in adjusting the shape of the shoe. The model foot can stretch the shoe in the same manner as human walk. A person can experience great comfort when wearing the stretched shoe. The model foot can simulate the mechanical characteristics of the natural foot. The model foot can simulate gait of a natural foot and the stretching of the shoe can be further customized.

Disclosed is a method for manufacturing a device for adapting a footwear to the specific deformations of the foot of a user, including creating 3D scans of the foot in weight bearing and non-weight bearing positions, as well as of the footwear; determining rubbing areas between the foot and the footwear by means of superimposing the scanned 3D image of the footwear and the scanned 3D images of the weight bearing and the non-weight bearing foot; obtaining a final out-of-phase 3D image of the non-weight bearing foot, wherein the rubbing areas in this image are moved out of phase until they reach an intermediate position selected between a minimum and a maximum limit; printing the part of the heel and the part of the forefoot from the final out-of-phase 3D image. Finally, fitting a flexible element for joining together the part of the heel and the part of the forefoot.

Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

Apparatus for the customization of footwear, in particular sports footwear, having an element made of thermoplastic material is provided. A method for the customization of footwear using the apparatus is also provided. The apparatus has a heating assembly, for heating the thermoplastic element above a predetermined threshold temperature, and a shaping assembly, for shaping the thermoplastic element while its temperature is above the threshold value, which assemblies are both carried by a common frame. Due to the fact that the heating assembly and the shaping assembly are carried by a single, common frame, it is possible to ensure proper heating and subsequent shaping of the element made of thermoplastic material.

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.

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.