Abstract:
A method whereby a customer may purchase footwear through a remote communication channel, and be assured that the purchased footwear will properly fit upon delivery. The customer purchases footwear by designating the last that is used to construct the footwear. A customer may identify a particular last based upon careful measurement of the customer&#39;s feet. A customer may also identify a last based upon previous experience with footwear constructed using the last.

Description:
This application is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,714,098 to Daniel R. Potter, issued Feb. 3, 1998, which patent is incorporated entirely herein by reference. This application is also related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,879,725 to Daniel R. Potter, issued Mar. 9, 1999, which patent is incorporated entirely herein by reference as well. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to the sale of custom-fitted footwear. More particularly, the invention relates to a method and data structure for selling footwear to individual customers. With the invention, a customer selects footwear based upon the last used to manufacture the footwear, so that the customer obtains footwear custom-fitted for the customer&#39;s feet. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Consistently obtaining footwear that fits properly has long been a problem for footwear customers. Similarly, footwear manufacturers have long sought to ensure that customers receive properly fitting footwear, in order to maintain their customers&#39; satisfaction. Even with modern technology, however, this goal has proven elusive. One problem with sizing footwear is that different models of footwear are typically manufactured using different lasts. Even if two different models of footwear are made by the same manufacturer and are labeled as the same size, they may still have different shapes. Thus, a customer who may be comfortable with the fit of a first model of footwear in, for example, a size 9 length and a size D width may not enjoy the fit of a second, different model of footwear having the same length and width sizes. For that second model of footwear, the customer may instead find that a size 8½ length and size E width provides the most comfortable fit. 
     Because of this inconsistency in the sizing of footwear, many potential footwear customers are reluctant to buy footwear without trying it on first to ensure a proper fit. These customers will not purchase footwear through the mail, by telephone, over the Internet, or through any other form of remote communication. Unfortunately, shoe manufacturers cannot make their footwear physically available in all possible models and sizes to all potential customers. For footwear manufactures that offer even a small range of footwear models, the cost of providing a sample of each model in each size to every footwear retailer would be prohibitively expensive. Further, most footwear retailers would not have the space to store and display a sample of each footwear model in each available size for more than a handful of footwear manufacturers. As a result, most shoe manufactures lose an unknown number of potential footwear sales each year, simply because customers cannot physically try on a desired model of footwear before purchase. Moreover, many of those customers who do purchase footwear remotely receive footwear that does not properly fit, and are dissatisfied with their purchases. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Advantageously, the present invention provides a method whereby a customer may purchase footwear through a remote communication channel, and be assured that the purchased footwear will properly fit upon delivery. According to the invention, a customer purchases footwear by specifying the last that is used to construct the footwear. A customer may identify a particular last based upon careful measurement of the customer&#39;s feet. A customer may also identify a last based upon previous experience with footwear that was constructed using the last. 
     A customer may directly specify a last according to, for example, a last model number alone or a last model number in combination with a particular last size. Alternately, or additionally, the shoe provider may employ a data structure to correlate a customer&#39;s identity with one or more particular lasts that provide properly fitting shoes for the customer. The customer can then inherently select a particular last used to construct the footwear by providing his or her identity when ordering the model of desired footwear. By explicitly or inherently designating the last from which the footwear is constructed, the customer can ensure that the footwear is constructed to properly fit. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a shoe distribution center for providing shoes to a plurality of customers according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  shows a method for providing custom-fitted shoes according to one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIGS. 3A-3C  illustrate information contained in orders for custom-fitted shoes according to various embodiments of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a shoe distribution center for providing shoes to a plurality of customers according to another embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 5  shows a customer/last database according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a shoe distribution center  101  for providing shoes to a plurality of customers  103 . As seen in this figure, the customers  103  can communicate with the distribution center  101  using one or more of a variety of remote communication channels, so that the customers  103  do not have to be physically present at the distribution center  101 . Customer  103 A, for example, may order shoes from the distribution center  101  by a parcel service  105 , such as the U.S. Postal Service, United Parcel Service (UPS), Federal Express, or any other suitable parcel service. Customer  103 B may submit an order for footwear to the distribution center  101  using a telephone service  107 . As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the telephone service may be an ordinary PSTN telephone service, a wireless telephone service, or any combination thereof. Further, the customer  103 B may submit the order using voice instructions (either to a person or to a recording device), or transmit written ordering instructions using a facsimile machine. 
     Some customers, such as customer  103 C, may order footwear from the distribution center  101  via an electronic communication network  109 . Perhaps the most well known example of such an electronic communication network  109  that may be used to order footwear from the distribution center  101  is the Internet, but those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that other network arrangements, such as intranets, local area networks, or other types of wide area networks may also be employed by customer  103 C to order footwear from the footwear distribution center  101 . 
     With this arrangement, the footwear distribution center  101  may provide the customer with one or more pages written in a markup language, such as the Hypertext Markup Language (HTML) or the Extensible Markup Language (XML) (i.e., a Website). The pages may, for example, display various footwear models currently available from the distribution center  101 , along with ordering information instructing the customer  103 C on the procedure to order footwear from the distribution center  101 . The pages may also include one or more interactive questionnaires requesting ordering information from the customer  103 C. Such information will typically include the customer&#39;s shipping address, billing information, and the footwear model desired by the customer. The questionnaires will also request the customer  103 C to directly or indirectly specify the last used to manufacture the footwear, as will be explained in detail below. Using a computer with a software program for viewing the pages (i.e., a browser), the customer  103 C can then select and order a particular model of footwear from the distribution center  101  by responding to the questionnaires over the communication network  109 . 
     Other customers, such as customer  103 D, may instead order footwear from the distribution center  101  through an electronic mail service  111 . Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the electronic mail service  111  can be implemented using an electronic communication network  109  as described above. The electronic mail service  111  may also be implemented using, for example, a direct communication connection with the distribution center  101  through a telephone call to the distribution center using a modem. 
     Still other customers may use another communication channel that permits a customer to remotely order footwear from the footwear distribution center  101 . In fact, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that various embodiments of the invention may be implemented using any combination of desired remote communication channels. 
     It will also be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the information used to order footwear may be obtained from any suitable source. As noted above, for example, a customer  103 C may view ordering information provided on HTML pages through the communications network  109 . Alternately, a customer may obtain ordering information through print advertisements, catalogs, television, or any other suitable source. The ordering information may include, for example, the footwear models available at the distribution center  101 , the color schemes available for each model, price, or other characteristics of the footwear. Further, the ordering information may include customizing information, such as names or images that are available to be custom-applied to the footwear being ordered. 
     Turning now to the footwear distribution center  101 , the center  101  includes a footwear order-receiving unit  113 , which receives the footwear orders from customers  103  provided through the remote communication channels, and a footwear supply unit  115 , which supplies footwear according to the customers&#39; orders. More particularly, the footwear supply unit  115  includes a footwear inventory  117  containing one or more models of footwear in a variety of sizes, and a footwear manufacturing unit  121 . The footwear manufacturing unit  121  has a last inventory  121  containing a plurality of lasts in different sizes, and a heating unit  123  for heating the lasts to modify footwear from the footwear inventory  117 , as will be explained in detail below. 
     As previously noted, the footwear order-receiving unit  113  receives the footwear orders from customers  103 . The order-receiving unit  113  may include a number of different components, depending upon the remote communication channels supported by the distribution center  101 . For example, if the distribution center  101  communicates with customers  103  through an electronic communication network  109  (such as the Internet), then the receiving unit  113  may be include fully automated components for processing a customer&#39;s order. These components of the receiving unit  113  may be embodied, for example, by a server computer that receives footwear orders from the customer  103 C and relays those orders on to the footwear supply unit  115 . Similarly, if the footwear distribution center  101  supports remote communication with customers  103  through a telephone service  107 , the order receiving unit  113  may include a fully automated voice menu system that allows customer  103 B to order footwear using a telephone handset keypad or voice instructions in response to a series of audible prompts. If the operation of the footwear supply unit  115  is fully automated, then the customer  113  may order footwear without human intervention. 
     If the distribution center  101  supports communication channels that require a human interpretation of messages, then the order-receiving unit  113  will include human personnel. For example, with some embodiments of the footwear distribution center  101 , the order-receiving unit  113  includes an operator to receive and understand voice instructions from a customer  103 B over the telephone system  107 . If the distribution center  101  receives written communications from customers  103  via a parcel system  105  or electronic mail system  111 , then the order receiving unit  113  will include human readers to read and interpret footwear orders conveyed in the mail messages from the customers  103 . 
     Referring back to the footwear supply unit  115 , the footwear inventory  117  contains at least one model of footwear in a variety of sizes. As is known in the art, each pair of footwear is formed using a last, which defines the shape of the footwear. Additionally, the interior of each pair of footwear incorporates a moldable fit-component that allows each shoe to be remolded to lengths and widths differing from its original length and width. The last inventory  121  then includes a number of heatable lasts or mold cores that can be used to remold the length and width of the footwear in footwear inventory  117  to the length and width of the heatable last. In this manner, the shape of each piece of footwear in the footwear supply unit  115  can be resized using a last from the last inventory  121 . 
     Preferably, the footwear inventory  117  includes the model of footwear in intermediate size increments. The last inventory  121  then includes lasts for molding footwear to length and width sizes that are not represented in the inventory  117 . With one embodiment of the invention, for example, the footwear inventory  117  includes at least one style of stock shoes in relatively small size increments (e.g., standard half sizes) over a wide range of lengths. Thus, the stock shoes may range from length size 6 to size 14, and in full size increments for length sizes between 14 and 20. The stock shoes all have the same width (e.g., size “C”), or have one or more different widths for each length. The last inventory  121  then includes lasts for each desired length and width size increment (e.g., each ¼ length size increment for lengths ranging from size 6 to 13½ and each ½ length size increment for lengths ranging from size 13½ to 20, and each width increment for width sizes D, E and EE). The features and operation of such a footwear supply unit  115  are described in more detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,714,098 and 5,879,725 to Daniel R. Potter, which were incorporated entirely herein by reference above. 
     With this arrangement, the footwear supply unit  115  can thus produce footwear in a variety of desired sizes by using a specific last size. For example, with the above embodiment, if a customer ordered a particular model of shoes with a length of size 8½ and a width of size “C,” the footwear inventory  117  already includes footwear manufactured with a last of that shape. Thus, the footwear supply unit  115  could supply the ordered shoes directly out of the footwear inventory  117 . On the other hand, if a customer ordered a particular model of shoes with a length of size 8¼ and a width of size “E,” the footwear supply unit  115  could supply the shoes by reforming stock shoes (from the footwear inventory  117 ) with a last of size 8¼ and a width of size “E” (from the last inventory  121 ). 
     With some embodiments of the invention, the lasts in the last inventory  121  have the same overall shape as the lasts used to make the stock shoes in the footwear inventory  117 . By using the same last (that is, the same last shape) to both initially construct shoes in the footwear inventory  117  and subsequently modify these shoes, a customer may easily determine a properly fitting shoe size for a particular model of shoe. For example, a customer may know that, with a last of shape A, a properly fitting shoe will have a length of size 8¼ and a width of size “E,” whereas, with a last of shape B, a properly fitting shoe will a length of size 8½ and a width of size “C.” If the lasts in the last inventory  121  and the lasts used to make the stock shoes in the footwear inventory  117  both include lasts of the same shape (for example, lasts of shape B), by specifying a particular last (that is, by specifying a last of a particular shape and size), a customer can confidently order custom-fitted footwear that will fit properly. Thus, with the above example, the customer will know that, when ordering a shoe constructed with the last of shape B, to order footwear with a length of size 8½ and a width of size “C,” rather than a length of size 8¼ and a width of size “E.” 
     Of course, other embodiments of the invention may employ differently shaped lasts to construct the footwear in footwear inventory  117  than are stored in last inventory  121 . 
     With these embodiments, the footwear inventor  117 , may, for example, keep a greater number of lasts with smaller size increments in the last inventory  121  than the previously described embodiments. Thus, the last inventory  121  may include lasts for each ¼ size increment from size 6 to 13½ and each ½ length size increment for lengths ranging from size 13½ to 20, and each width increment for width sizes D, E and EE. With these embodiments, if a customer orders a shoe manufactured with a particular last, the footwear supply unit  115  will be able to modify a stock shoe from the footwear inventory  117  with the desired last from the last inventor  121 , even if the stock shoe had originally been manufactured with a differently shaped last. 
     With some embodiments of the invention, the footwear supply unit  115  may include footwear constructed with differently shaped lasts, while the last inventory  121  may include a variety of differently shaped lasts. For these embodiments, a last identifier can be used to uniquely identify each last employed to manufacture each item of footwear in the footwear inventory  117 . The last identifier can also be used to uniquely identify each last in the last inventory  121 . With this arrangement, a last identifier will identify a particular last by its overall shape, length, width, and any other relevant size information. Identifying each last with a unique last identifier allows a customer  103  to order footwear constructed with a specific last that will ensure that the footwear will fit properly. For example, the customer may specify that a particular last from the last inventory  121  to be used to reform the size of a shoe in the footwear inventory  117 . Alternately, the customer may order existing footwear from the footwear inventory  117  based upon the last that was used to manufacture the footwear. 
     A variety of different formats may be employed for the last identifier. For example, the last identifier may be a single alphanumeric value that uniquely identifies a last. Thus, the number “128.255” may identify a last of a particular shape indicated by the number “12,” having a length of size 8¼, and a width of size “E” (the fifth letter in the alphabet). Alternately, the last identifier may be made up of a number of discrete portions, each corresponding to a particular characteristic of a last. Thus, the same last discussed in the previous example may be identified by the last identifier “Last 12, length 8¼, width E.” 
     Still further, if the same last shape is used to manufacture every size of a particular model of footwear, then that model of footwear can be used to inherently identify the last shape as part of the last identifier. For example, if every size of a footwear model “Air Potter” is originally constructed or reformed with the last of the particular shape indicated in the previous examples by the number “12,” then the last identifier may be “Air Potter, length 8½ width E.” Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that still other formats can be used to uniquely identify a last. 
     The operation of the distribution center  101  will now be described with reference to the method illustrated in  FIG. 2 . First, in step  201 , the order-receiving unit  113  receives an order  301  for footwear from a customer  103 . As noted above, the order  301  may be received using any remote communication channel supported by the distribution center  101 , including channels using a parcel system  105 , a telephone system  107 , an electronic communication network  109  (for example, the Internet), an electronic mail system  111 , or any other suitable remote communication channel. 
     With some embodiments of the invention, the order  301  includes the ordering information shown in  FIG. 3A . More particularly, the footwear order  301  includes a footwear model selection  303 , designating the particular model of footwear from the footwear inventory  117  desired by the customer  103 . The footwear model selection  303  may include, for example, the model type and a desired color scheme. The order  301  also includes a last identifier  305  to uniquely identify the last by which the customer  103  wishes to have the ordered shoes manufactured. The last identifier  305  identifies both the last shape and the last size, as noted above. Still further, the order may contain additional relevant information, such as, for example, a name, initials or an image to be custom-applied to the ordered footwear. 
     As also previously noted, with other embodiments of the invention the footwear model may inherently identify a single last shape. With these embodiments, the order  301  will include footwear model and size information, as shown in  FIG. 3B . That is, the order  301  will include the footwear model selection  303 , length size information  307 , and width size information  309 . This information together defines the particular last size and shape used to construct the ordered footwear. 
     In step  203 , the distribution center  101  determines if the footwear inventory  117  includes the footwear specified in the order  301 . More particularly, the distribution center  101  determines if the footwear inventory  117  contains footwear that has already been manufactured with the last specified in the order  301 . It should be noted that this determination may be made by the order-receiving unit  117  upon receiving an order  301  from a customer  103 , or by the footwear supply unit  115  after receiving a customer&#39;s order  301  relayed by the order-receiving unit  117 . 
     If the footwear is in the footwear inventory  117 , then the distribution center  101  provides the footwear to the customer  103  directly from the footwear inventory  117  in step  207 . If the footwear specified in the order  301  is not a size carried in the footwear inventory  117 , then, in step  205 , the footwear is manufactured in the footwear supply unit  115  using the last identified in the order  301 . That is, the last specified in the order  301  is selected from the last inventory  121 , and used to modify the size of footwear already included in the footwear inventory  117 . As noted above, this operation is discussed in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,714,098 and 5,879,725 to Daniel R. Potter, which were incorporated entirely herein by reference above. Once the footwear has been remolded to comply with the customer&#39;s order, then the distribution center  101  provides the footwear to the customer  103  in step  207 . 
     It should be noted that the distribution center  101  can provide the ordered footwear to the customer  103  in step  207  using any suitable shipping method. For example, the distribution center  101  can mail the custom-fitted footwear directly to an address provided by the customer through a parcel service, such as the U.S. Postal Service, Federal Express, or United Parcel Service. Alternately, the distribution center  101  can ship the ordered footwear to a retail store, such as a store associated with the shoes&#39; manufacturer. The customer  103  can then pick up the ordered footwear in person from retail store. The customer  103  may select the appropriate retail store from a list of available retail stores, or may simply allow the distribution center  101  to determine the closest retail store to the customer. Of course, still other techniques for shipping the ordered footwear to the customer will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
     By using the distribution center  101  described above, a customer  103  need only identify a particular last that the customer knows will provide properly fitting footwear to confidently obtain custom-fitted footwear. As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, a customer can determine which particular last or lasts that will provide properly fitting footwear in a variety of ways. A customer  103  may, for example, initially try on a variety of footwear to identify a particular last that, when used to manufacture a shoe, offers the best fit for the customer. After trying on a variety of footwear once to determine a suitable last, the customer need not try on footwear again, but may instead simply order footwear made with the particular last. Alternately, the customer  103  may employ a measurement process, such as a digital scan of the customer&#39;s feet, to determine an appropriate last that will provide the customer with properly fitting shoes. Regardless of the method of identifying the lasts that will provide custom-fitting footwear, once the customer  103  has identified the lasts, the customer  103  can employ the distribution center  101  to order footwear by referring to that last. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention is illustrated in  FIG. 4 . In this figure, the distribution center  101  includes a customer/last database  125 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , this customer/last database  125  includes a table associating each customer  103  with at least one last that will provide the customer with custom fitting shoes. For example, in the table, the customer  103 A is associated with the last specified by the last identifier 128.255. Thus, the database  125  contains one or more records, with each record having a customer field identifying a customer and at least one last field identifying a last that will provide the customer with custom fitting footwear. With the customer/last database  125 , the customer can omit providing a last identifier when ordering footwear. Instead, the customer need only identify himself or herself. The distribution center  101  can then use the customer/last database  125  to identify a particular last that will provide custom-fitted footwear for that customer, and manufacture the ordered footwear using the last corresponding to the customer. Thus, with this embodiment, the customer&#39;s order  301  may include only the footwear model selection  303  and the customer identification  311  as shown in  FIG. 3C . As will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art, the customer/last database  125  may be implemented using a software database, a written or printed table, or any other suitable medium for storing customer identity and last information. 
     In addition to storing customer identity and last information, the customer/last database  125  may also store any other type of information that may be useful to the customer or a shoe manufacturer associated with the distribution center  101 . For example, for customers who are growing children, the customer/last database  125  may further store the age of the customer. This will allow the shoe manufacturer associated with the distribution center  101  to compile information for foot morphology studies regarding growth patterns, sizing information for specific age groups, and other footwear related projects. 
     Of course, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that more than one last can provide a customer with custom-fitting footwear. Thus, with some embodiments of the invention, a customer may identify two or more lasts that will provide him or her with properly fitting footwear. The customer/last database  125  can then associate each last with that customer, and the distribution center  101  can determine which last to use when manufacturing shoes for the customer. For example, the customer may identify a first last that provides the customer properly fitting footwear when used to construct (or remold) hiking boots, and another, second last that provides the customer with properly fitting footwear when used to construct (or remold) basketball shoes. If the customer orders basketball shoes, the distribution center  101  will determine that the shoes should be remolded using the second last rather than the first last. Alternately, the customer can specify which of the suitable lasts should be used to construct or remold ordered footwear. 
     In addition, those of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that a customer  103  can specify different lasts for the left and right shoes in a pair of footwear. For example, a customer may find that a shoe manufactured with a particular shape or size of last best fits his or her left foot, while a shoe manufactured with another shape or size of last best fits his or her right foot. Accordingly, various embodiments of the invention may allow a customer  103  to order footwear manufactured with different lasts used to manufacture the left and right shoes. Still further, with various embodiments of the invention, the customer/last database  125  can associate different lasts with a customer&#39;s left and right feet. 
     While the invention has been described with respect to specific examples including presently preferred modes of carrying out the invention, those skilled in the art will appreciate that there are numerous variations and permutations of the above described systems and techniques that fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.