Provided is an inflatable shoe insert for inserting in a shoe. The insert comprises first and second web plies that are sealed together at a plurality of seals that define an air chamber. The air chamber includes a front region having a toe expansion region uninterrupted by seals over an area so that when fully inflated, the front region expands to a height and medial-lateral width to support the shoe upper against collapsing. The air chamber further includes a retention portion having a region in which the seals are spaced closer together than in the toe expansion region so that when fully inflated, the retention portion expands to a medial-lateral width that is smaller than that in the toe expansion region, the retention portion having an anterior-posterior length that reaches the heel of the shoe to retain the front region in the toe box by pressure against the heel.

The present invention relates to a shoe insert that is inflatable or otherwise conformable to the interior of a shoe and provides protection against the shoe collapsing or otherwise becoming deformed during transport, shipment or handling. The shoe insert is capable of being inflated in a left or right orientation and can be provided with branding and other merchandising information.

An inflatable shoe insert assembly may have an elongated lower element formed of opposing, flexible, polymeric plies that are sealed together to define a tubular inflation chamber that is narrow and elongated and is configured to seal inflation fluid therein; a shoe-upper element formed of opposing, flexible, polymeric plies that are sealed together to define a shoe-upper inflation chamber configured to seal inflation fluid therein; wherein lower and upper inflation chambers are configured and dimensioned to fit together into a shoe and support each other in an installed position to cooperatively support and maintain the shape of the shoe upper.

An apparatus for stretching footwear, wherein an inflatable bladder is inserted into the footwear at a desired location as determined by the user. The various embodiments of the apparatus allow for various areas of the footwear, including the instep, the vamp, the calf area or shaft, and other areas of the footwear to be uniformly expanded without causing damage to the footwear. In one embodiment, a bladder having a rounded peak is inserted into the toe-box of the footwear and inflated to a desired pressure. Alternatively, other embodiments may be inserted into the calf section of a footwear such as a boot to expand the material around the leg and calf of a user. An air valve allows for users to inflate the apparatus while said apparatus is inside of the footwear.

A last includes a base part including a bottom and a plurality of additional parts, each of which is formed in a plate shape and is capable of being assembled to the base part. The base part includes a mounting unit and a first forming surface. The plurality of additional parts include a second forming surface. Each additional part has an end face. The second forming surface includes the end face of each of the plurality of additional parts. The base part includes a first base member including a mounting unit and a second base member attachable to and detachable from the first base member.

A method of method of manufacturing customized inserts for a boot, such as a skate boot, that is at least partially thermoformable includes receiving numerical data corresponding to a tridimensional shape of a wearer's foot, and manufacturing a medial side insert and a lateral side insert based on the tridimensional shape of the wearer's foot. The medial side insert and the lateral side insert are shaped to be insertable into the boot with a core that is dimensioned to generally correspond to a foot size of the boot, with a medial internal surface of the medial side insert and a lateral internal surface of the lateral side insert abutting respective outer surfaces of the core.

A shoe stuffing device is provided. The shoe stuffing device includes a shoe stuffing device body having a distal end and a proximal end and an aperture formed close to the proximal end. The aperture provides a handle for the user to grasp or insert the finger into and pull the shoe stuffing device out of the shoe, while helping resist vertical expansion and support lateral compressibility of the body. The shoe stuffing device can also include a decorative element at the proximal end and attached to the top loop. The decorative element not only provides a pleasant aesthetic effect, but also indicates to the user that the end having the decorative element is to remain outward while the opposite end or tip is to be inserted into the shoe.

A computer system generates information describing authenticity and a grade of a collectible scanned by a scanning device. A feature vector is extracted from the information. The feature vector includes a first set of features and a second set of features. The first set of features is matched to authenticity profiles of collectible items. Each authenticity profile characterizes at least one collectible item across multiple features. A confidence score is generated with respect to the authenticity of the collectible based on the authenticity profiles. The second set of features is matched to grade profiles of the collectible items. A grade score describing the grade of the collectible is generated based on the grade profiles. The grade of the collectible is determined based on the grade score. A graphical representation of the grade and the confidence score is transmitted to a display device.

A shoe tree includes a front section and a rear section which is pivotably connected to the rear end of the front section. The front section has a vamp portion on the top thereof. A first recessed area is defined in the underside of the front section. The rear end of the front section has a first support face and a first opening which communicates with the first recessed area. The rear section is pivotably connected to the first support face. Two notches are defined in two lateral sides of the shoe tree and located between the front and rear sections. The two notches are narrowed and widened when the rear section is pivoted downward and upward relative to the front section. The front section is inserted into a shoe by push and pivoting the rear section, and then the rear section is inserted into the shoe.

The present disclosure relates to a device for retaining the shape of a shoe. The shoe insert provided herein for retaining the shape of a shoe includes a toe fabric bag and a vamp fabric bag. Each fabric bag may be made of a malleable form-fitting fabric. Each fabric bag may be of different sizes and shapes to fit shoes of different sizes and shapes. Also disclosed are methods of manufacturing a shoe insert and methods of using a device for retaining the shape of a shoe.