Footwear storage system

Abstract

A storage system for footwear includes two container portions having open mouths formed by container walls. The container portions each include a footwear retainer configured to hold respective articles of footwear. One of the two container portions includes one or more magnets coupled to a peripheral edge of the respective open mouth and the other of the two includes a corresponding ferromagnetic portion configured to mate with the one or more magnets. The one or more magnets selectively hold the open mouths of the container portions together in a biased closure.

1 . A storage system for footwear, the system comprising:
 a first container portion having an open mouth formed by a first container wall, the first container portion further including a first footwear retainer having a first receiver configured to receive and hold a first article of footwear in the first container portion; and   a second container portion having an open mouth formed by a second container wall, the second container portion further including a second footwear retainer having a second receiver configured to receive and hold a second article of footwear in the second container portion;   wherein one of the first or second container portions includes one or more magnets coupled to a peripheral edge of the respective open mouth and the other of the first or second container portions includes a corresponding ferromagnetic portion configured to mate with the one or more magnets, such that the one or more magnets selectively hold the open mouths of the first and second container portions together in a biased closure.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second container walls comprise a non-ferromagnetic material. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more magnets are disposed within the first container wall. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first container portion is coupled to the second container portion by a hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the corresponding ferromagnetic portion comprises one or more second magnets. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second receivers each comprise a contoured opening configured to receive a portion of the respective article of footwear. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , wherein the contoured openings of the first and second receivers each include a three-dimensional contour. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein the contoured openings of the first and second receivers are each configured to receive a heel portion of the respective article of footwear. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second container portions are transitionable between a closed configuration wherein the first and second container portions are held together by the one or more magnets, and an open configuration wherein the first and second container portions are completely disconnected from each other. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second container portions are transitionable between a closed configuration wherein the first and second container portions are held together by the one or more magnets, and an open configuration wherein the first and second container portions are pivoted away from each other on a common hinge, with the first container portion immediately adjacent the second container portion in a side-by-side arrangement. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second footwear retainers are at opposing ends of the container portions when closed. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the container portions collectively form a cuboidal container when closed together, such that the container walls form a continuous surface. 
     
     
         13 . A method for storing and distributing footwear, the method comprising:
 securing a plurality of articles of footwear in a plurality of corresponding storage containers having open mouths, such that each article of footwear is removably held within a respective one of the storage containers;   preventing each of the articles of footwear from falling out by holding the article of footwear in place using a retention mechanism of the respective storage container;   selectively attaching corresponding edge portions of a selected two of the plurality of storage containers to each other using one or more integrated magnets;   fully enclosing the secured articles of footwear within the selected two storage containers by coupling peripheries of the respective open mouths to each other.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein preventing each of the articles of footwear from falling out of the container using the retention mechanism comprises mating a portion of the article of footwear with a corresponding cutout formed in the storage container. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the cutout has a two-dimensionally curved profile. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein fully enclosing the secured articles of footwear within the two storage containers comprises pivoting the open mouths toward each other on a common hinge shared by the two storage containers. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the selected two storage containers include differently sized articles of footwear. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of storage containers comprises an open-topped cuboidal box. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 13 , further comprising storing the plurality of storage containers in a warehouse shelving system, wherein storing comprises coupling the open mouth of each of the storage containers to respective surfaces of the shelving system using the one or more magnets. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising coupling a temporary protective cover to the open mouth.