Jig for Article of Footwear

Abstract

A jig for an article of footwear includes a base plate and a footwear support assembly supported by the base plate. The support assembly includes an anchoring member extending from the base plate in a first direction, a toe last assembly extending from the base plate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and including a toe last, and a first engaging member pivotally connected at first end thereof to the base plate.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A jig for an article of footwear comprising:
 a base plate; and   a footwear support assembly supported by the base plate and comprising:
 an anchoring member extending from the base plate in a first direction; 
 a toe last assembly extending from the base plate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and including a toe last; and 
 a first engaging member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the base plate. 
   
     
     
         2 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the toe last assembly includes a base member connected to the base plate 
     
     
         3 . The jig of  claim 2 , wherein the toe last is biased outwardly from the base member. 
     
     
         4 . The jig of  claim 3 , wherein the toe last is biased outwardly by way of a telescoping member. 
     
     
         5 . The jig of  claim 4 , wherein the telescoping member includes a pair of telescoping rods with springs contained therein. 
     
     
         6 . The jig of  claim 1 , further comprising a curved arm extending outwardly from the toe last assembly. 
     
     
         7 . The jig of  claim 6 , wherein the curved arm is formed from an elongate plate member. 
     
     
         8 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the anchoring member has a movable end portion that is biased outwardly from the base plate. 
     
     
         9 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member extends from the base plate in a third direction, that is perpendicular to the second direction. 
     
     
         10 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member is pivotally connected to the base plate at a base of the toe last. 
     
     
         11 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member has a pair of pins extending outwardly opposite one another proximate a second end thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the first engaging member includes a disk at its second end, an outer surface of the disk being concave. 
     
     
         13 . The jig of  claim 1 , further comprising a second engaging member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the base plate. 
     
     
         14 . The jig of  claim 13 , wherein the second engaging member is biased inwardly toward the base plate. 
     
     
         15 . The jig of  claim 13 , wherein the second engaging member is connected to the base plate at a position that is spaced apart from where the first engaging member is connected to the base plate. 
     
     
         16 . The jig of  claim 13 , wherein the first engaging member and the second engaging member are each pivotable along a plane defined by the base plate. 
     
     
         17 . The jig of  claim 1 , wherein the base plate defines a first plane, the first engaging member being pivotable along the first plane, and the toe last defines a second plane, the second plane extending at an acute angle with respect to the first plane. 
     
     
         18 . The jig of  claim 1 , further comprising an additional footwear support assembly supported by the base plate. 
     
     
         19 . The jig of  claim 1 , further comprising a blade extending outwardly from a lower edge of the base plate at an acute angle with respect to a plane defined by the base plate. 
     
     
         20 . The jig of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary plate secured to the base plate and having an an end that is beveled. 
     
     
         21 . A jig for an article of footwear comprising:
 a base plate defining a first plane; and   a footwear support assembly supported by the base plate and comprising:
 an anchoring member extending from the base plate in a first direction; 
 a toe last assembly extending from the base plate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and including a toe last biased outwardly from the base plate, the toe last defining a second plane extending at an angle with respect to the first plane; 
 a first engaging member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the base plate and having a pair of pins at a second end thereof, the first engaging member pivoting along the first plane; and 
 a second engaging member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the base plate and having a pin at a second end thereof, the second engaging member pivoting along the first plane. 
   
     
     
         22 . A jig for an article of footwear comprising:
 a base plate defining a first plane; and   a pair of footwear support assemblies supported by the base plate, each support assembly comprising:
 an anchoring member extending from the base plate in a first direction and biased outwardly from the base plate; 
 a toe last assembly extending from the base plate in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction and including a toe last biased outwardly from the base plate, the toe last defining a second plane extending at an angle with respect to the first plane; 
 a curved arm extending outwardly from the toe last assembly; 
 a first engaging member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the base plate and having a pair of pins and a disk at a second end thereof, the first engaging member pivoting along the first plane and the disk having a concave surface; 
 a second engaging member pivotally connected at a first end thereof to the base plate and having a pin at a second end thereof, the second engaging member pivoting along the first plane; 
 a blade extending outwardly from a lower edge of the base plate at an acute angle with respect to the first plane; and 
 a secondary plate secured to the base plate and having an end that is beveled.