# US 8,784,939 B2 · System and method for printing customized graphics on footwear and other articles of clothing

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- Number: US 8,784,939 B2
- Document ID: US8784939B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 13/549,235
- Filed: 2012-07-13
- Published: 2013-01-17
- Granted: 2014-07-22
- Earliest claimed: 2011-07-13
- Assignees: Pics on Kicks, LLC
- Applicants: Nick Romero; Fernando Padilla
- Inventors: Nick Romero; Fernando Padilla
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8784939B2

## CPC

- A43D 5/02: Stands for making footwear (stands for cleaning shoes A47L23/16)
- A43D 8/22: by embossing or printing (printing per se, stamping per se B41)
- Y10S 269/90: Supporting structure having work holder receiving apertures or projections
- Y10S 269/909: Work holder for specific work
- A43D: MACHINES, TOOLS, EQUIPMENT OR METHODS FOR MANUFACTURING OR REPAIRING FOOTWEAR
- Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS

## Abstract

A shoe platen to securely hold a shoe so that graphics, including custom graphics, can be printed on the shoe automatically. The platen comprises a shoe plate 102 configured to receive shoes such as high-top shoes or low top shoes. Adjusters 104, 106 can also be used to accommodate shoes of various styles and sizes.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of printing a graphic on a high-top shoe, comprising:
a. providing a high-top shoe platen, comprising:
i. a shoe plate having a back edge, a front edge opposite the back edge, a lateral edge adjacent to the back edge and front edge, a medial edge opposite the lateral edge and adjacent to the back edge and front edge, and a “Z”-shaped slot with a protruding fixing peg, the “Z”-shaped slot adjacent to the back edge and the lateral edge,
ii. an adjuster slidably attached to the lateral edge, and
iii. a slider bracket slidably attached to the back edge; and
b. inserting the lateral edge of the top shoe plate with the shoe adjuster and slider bracket into a mouth of the shoe;
c. positioning the shoe adjuster against an insole of the shoe;
d. positioning the slider bracket against a back of an upper of the shoe;
e. inserting the fixing peg into an eyelet of the shoe;
f. adjusting the fixing peg inside the “Z”-shaped slot of the shoe plate, the shoe adjuster, and the slider bracket until the shoe is taught; and
g. placing the shoe platen with the shoe into a printing device to print a graphic on the shoe.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the shoe platen is mounted onto a main plate for printing by the printing device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the printing device receives instruction from a computer regarding the graphic to print on to the shoe.