1. A method comprising:
using a portable hand-held device to detect tire prep material on a tire without destroying the tire.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held device is a portable gas detector.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the tire is on a vehicle, and wherein the vehicle is on a race track.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held device weighs less than fifty pounds.
5. The method of claim 4, wherein the portable hand-held device can perform at least one test for tire prep material each two minutes.
6. The method of claim 1, wherein the tire prep material includes a material taken from the group consisting of: a hydrocarbon, mineral spirits, transmission fluid, acetone, xylene, toluene, hexane, paint thinner.
7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:
repeatedly using the portable hand-held device to test tires on numerous vehicles for the presence of tire prep material, wherein the portable hand-held device is adapted to make the repeated tests at a rate that exceeds one test per every two minutes.
8. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held device has an electronic display.
9. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held device includes a catalytic combustion sensor.
10. The method of claim 1, wherein the portable hand-held device includes a sensor taken from the group consisting of: a catalytic combustion sensor, a metal oxide semiconductor sensor, a catalytic semiconductor sensor, a photo ionization sensor, a flame ionization sensor, and an ion mobility sensor.
11. A method comprising:
using a portable tire prep detector to detect tire prep material on a tire, wherein the detection does not involve the destruction of the tire.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable tire prep detector is a portable gas detector that draws in a gas and displays a number, wherein the number is indicative of a concentration of a combustible material in the gas, and wherein the portable prep detector draws in the amount of the sample gas through an intake port that is placed against or near the tire.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the tire is attached to a vehicle, and wherein the vehicle is at a race track.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable tire prep detector includes a catalytic combustion sensor.
15. The method of claim 11, wherein the portable tire prep detector can determine whether an amount of gas has a measurable prep constituent that has a concentration of less than a predetermined threshold concentration, and wherein the portable tire prep detector can make such determinations at a rate of at least one determination every two minutes.
16. The method of claim 15, wherein the predetermined threshold concentration is a value less than approximately 15 parts per million (PPM).
17. The method of claim 16, wherein the portable tire prep detector displays a concentration reading that is inaccurate.
18. An apparatus comprising:
means for detecting tire prep material emanating from a tire, wherein the means is portable and weighs less than fifty pounds and is battery-powered, wherein the detecting does not involve the destruction of the tire, and wherein the means is for making repeatable tests for tire prep material at a rate of at least one test per every two minutes; and
an electronic display that displays a result of the detection.
19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the apparatus is a hand-held portable gas detector, and wherein the tire prep material includes a hydrocarbon.
20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the result is a number, and wherein the number is indicative of a concentration of a flammable gas in a sample of gas taken from a surface of the tire.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. An inflatable member configured to be inserted into an article, comprising:
an outer layer and an interior chamber disposed within the outer layer;
an adjustable portion disposed inside the interior chamber;
an adjustment assembly configured to move the adjustable portion;
a fluid port providing fluid communication between the interior chamber and an external source of fluid; and
wherein the size of the inflatable member may be adjusted by inflating the interior chamber and changing the position of the adjustable portion.
2. The inflatable member according to claim 1, wherein the inflatable member is an inflatable last configured to be used with an article of footwear.
3. The inflatable member according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment assembly includes a linkage assembly.
4. The inflatable member according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable portion is configured to reinforce a portion of the outer layer.
5. The inflatable member according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable portion is associated with a forefoot portion of the inflatable last.
6. The inflatable member according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable portion is associated with a toe portion of the inflatable last.
7. The inflatable member according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable portion is associated with a heel portion of the inflatable last.
8. The inflatable member according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable portion is associated with a midfoot portion of the inflatable last.
9. An inflatable member configured to be inserted into an article, comprising:
an outer layer and an interior chamber disposed within the outer layer;
a fluid port providing fluid communication between the interior chamber and an external source of fluid, wherein the fluid port may be used to inflate the interior chamber;
an adjustable portion disposed inside the interior chamber, wherein the position of the adjustable portion can be changed;
the adjustable portion being configured to reinforce a portion of the outer layer; and
wherein the adjustable portion is substantially more rigid than the outer layer.
10. The inflatable member according to claim 9, wherein the adjustable portion provides a predetermined geometry for a portion of the inflatable member.
11. The inflatable member according to claim 9, wherein the adjustable portion is associated with a forefoot portion of an article of footwear.
12. The inflatable member according to claim 9, wherein the position of the adjustable portion is changed using a linkage assembly.
13. The inflatable member according to claim 12, wherein the linkage assembly is actuated using an electric motor.
14. The inflatable member according to claim 12, wherein the adjustable portion is a first adjustable portion and wherein the inflatable member includes a second adjustable portion and wherein the linkage assembly is used to change the positions of the first adjustable portion and the second adjustable portion substantially simultaneously.
15. A method of applying a graphic to an article, comprising:
filling an inflatable member with fluid;
changing the position of an adjustable portion disposed inside the inflatable member, the position being selected according to the size of the article;
associating the article with the inflatable member;
associating the graphic with a surface of the article;
pressing a deformable membrane against a portion of the article so that the deformable membrane conforms to the surface;
heating the deformable membrane; and
thereby transferring the graphic to the surface.
16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the graphic is applied to a portion of the inflatable member corresponding to the adjustable portion.
17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the adjustable portion is substantially rigid.
18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the position of the adjustable portion is controlled using an electrically actuated adjustment assembly.
19. The method according to claim 15, wherein the position of the adjustable portion is manually adjusted.
20. The method according to claim 15, wherein the geometry of the adjustable portion is associated with the shape of a portion of a last.
21. A method of adjusting the width of an article of footwear, comprising:
inserting an inflatable member into an article of footwear, the article of footwear having an initial width;
the inflatable member including an outer layer that can expand and an adjustable portion disposed inside the outer layer;
controlling the adjustable portion to increase the width of the article of footwear to a predetermined width that is greater than the initial width.
22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the inflatable member further includes:
an interior chamber disposed within the outer layer; and
a fluid port providing fluid communication between the interior chamber and an external source of fluid, wherein the fluid port may be used to inflate the interior chamber.
23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the adjustable portion is more rigid than the outer layer.
24. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of controlling the adjustable portion includes a step of receiving information from at least one sensor.
25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the sensor is a force sensor.
26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the sensor is a position sensor.
27. The method according to claim 21, wherein the step of controlling the adjustable portion includes a step of increasing the width of the inflatable member to a width that is greater than the predetermined width.
28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method includes a step of applying heat to the article of footwear while the inflatable member is inserted inside the article of footwear.
29. The method according to claim 27, wherein the method includes a step of applying pressure to the article of footwear while the inflatable member is inserted inside the article of footwear.
30. A method of adjusting the width of an article of footwear, comprising:
using an inflatable member to determine a customized fit for a user, the customized fit including a first width;
inserting the inflatable member into an article of footwear, the article of footwear having a second width that is substantially different than the first width;
the inflatable member including an outer layer that can expand and an adjustable portion disposed inside the outer layer; and
controlling the adjustable portion to increase the second width of the article of footwear to the first width.
31. The method according to claim 30, wherein the customized fit is determined from another article of footwear already worn by the user.
32. The method according to claim 30, wherein the second width is less than the first width.
33. The method according to claim 30, wherein the step of controlling the adjustable portion is followed by a step of inflating the inflatable portion.