US 11,912,046 B2
Platen for direct digital printing onto a shoe
Said Canales, Irvine, CA (US); and Victor Pena, Irvine, CA (US)
Filed by Creators Equity LLC, Cheyenne, WY (US)
Filed on Feb. 16, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/170,466.
Application 18/170,466 is a division of application No. 17/159,031, filed on Jan. 26, 2021, granted, now 11,607,892.
Prior Publication US 2023/0202201 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. B41J 3/407 (2006.01); A43D 8/00 (2006.01); A43D 8/22 (2006.01); B41J 11/14 (2006.01)
CPC B41J 3/40731 (2020.08) [A43D 8/003 (2013.01); A43D 8/22 (2013.01); B41J 11/14 (2013.01)] 7 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for stretching a surface of a shoe for digitally printing onto the surface by an external device, the system comprising an apparatus and a controller being in electrical communication with the apparatus, the apparatus comprising:
a main plate configured to receive and provide support for the shoe;
a side arm associated with the main plate, the side arm being adapted to traverse longitudinally along an edge of a medial portion of the main plate and being configured to engage with at least a portion of the tongue of the shoe; and
a driver configured to cause the longitudinal traversal of the side arm, the driver having:
an end bearing and an adjacent end connector disposed beneath the main plate;
a rotary band attached to and extending between the end bearing and the end connector;
an end bracket disposed opposite the end bearing and beneath the main plate;
a driving screw extending between the end bracket and the end bearing, the driving screw being associated with the side arm; and
a motor associated with the end connector, the motor being adapted to receive an electrical signal from the controller, the electrical signal selectively causing a rotation of a rotary shaft of the motor.