Adaptive Toe Loop Foot Pad for Blister Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Women's fashion shoes often cause blisters due to friction and rubbing, and existing solutions fail to provide adequate protection while maintaining a fashionable appearance.

Innovation Solution

A foot pad with a planar substrate and adjustable toe loops designed to fit various toe sizes, combined with an adhesive for secure placement, to reduce friction and discomfort without being visible under open-toed heels or sandals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a foot pad is provided to protect against friction and rubbing, then protection against blisters is improved, but the fashion appearance is degraded due to visibility

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefriction protectionVSAvoidaesthetic appearance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The foot pad is made transparent or translucent, allowing it to be visually imperceptible when worn under open-toed shoes or sandals. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining the protective function while eliminating the aesthetic degradation, as the pad becomes invisible rather than merely matching shoe color.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If a foot pad is made to fit various toe sizes, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases due to multiple sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetoe size accommodationVSAvoidmultiple loop sizes

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The toe loops are made elastic and flexible, allowing a single foot pad design to dynamically adapt to different toe sizes and shapes. The elastic material stretches and conforms to accommodate various toe dimensions without requiring multiple discrete sizes, thus maintaining adaptability while reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Stability of the object's composition

If adhesive is used to secure the foot pad, then stability is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to difficulty in application

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot pad stabilityVSAvoidapplication ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The adhesive is applied only to specific portions of the foot pad substrate rather than the entire surface, particularly concentrating adhesive in areas that require stability while leaving other areas adhesive-free for easier handling and positioning during application. This partial application approach maintains stability where needed while improving overall ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS10506844B1Foot pad

Publication Date: 2019.12.17 ZHURBA YULIYA

AI summary

In described embodiments, the invention provides a foot pad having a generally planar substrate having a medial side and a lateral side and an upper surface extending between the medial side and the lateral side. A first toe loop extends upwardly from the medial side. The first toe loop has a first size. A second toe loop extends upwardly from the lateral side. The second toe loop has a second size, smaller than the first size. A third toe loop extends upwardly between the first toe loop and the second toe loop. The third toe loop is smaller than the first toe loop.