Adjustable Last With Movable Instep Portion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Manufacturing a user-dedicated last for made-to-order footwear requires large-scale equipment and time, making it costly and inefficient.
Innovation Solution
A last with a common invariable portion, a movable portion that can be positionally adjusted using a position adjustment mechanism, and an incorporable last portion forming the instep, allowing for precise customization without the need for large equipment, using a method that involves preparing the last and covering it with a heat-shrinkable fiber sheet to form the footwear upper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated last is manufactured for each user using conventional methods, then the footwear can fit the user's feet precisely, but the production requires large-scale equipment and takes significant time, making it costly and inefficient
Solution Approach 1:
The last is divided into a common base portion and a variable instep portion that can be separately adjusted. The instep portion includes multiple plate-shaped members that can be independently positioned to match different foot shapes, allowing precise customization without manufacturing entirely new lasts for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The last incorporates movable portions and position adjustment mechanisms that allow the instep portion to be dynamically repositioned. This enables a single last to adapt to different foot dimensions and shapes through mechanical adjustment rather than requiring multiple dedicated lasts.
2Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated last is manufactured for each user using conventional methods, then the footwear can fit the user's feet precisely, but the process requires expensive large-scale equipment and significant time investment
Solution Approach 1:
The last is divided into a common base portion and a variable instep portion that can be separately adjusted. The instep portion includes multiple plate-shaped members that can be independently positioned to match different foot shapes, allowing precise customization without manufacturing entirely new lasts for each user.
Solution Approach 2:
The position adjustment mechanism allows changing the spatial parameters (position and orientation) of the instep portion relative to the common portion. This enables precise adaptation to different foot dimensions through mechanical parameter adjustment rather than requiring complex manufacturing equipment.
3Manufacturing precision
If a dedicated last is manufactured for each user using conventional methods, then the footwear can fit the user's feet precisely, but the process is time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The common portion and movable portion are pre-configured with adjustment mechanisms that allow rapid positioning. The plate-shaped members in the instep portion can be quickly adjusted to match the user's foot shape without requiring time-consuming manufacturing processes for each individual last.
Solution Approach 2:
The last incorporates movable portions and position adjustment mechanisms that allow the instep portion to be dynamically repositioned. This enables a single last to adapt to different foot dimensions and shapes through mechanical adjustment rather than requiring multiple dedicated lasts.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables the rapid and cost-effective production of footwear that fits individual users' feet by simplifying the last configuration and using a heat-shrinkable material to form the upper, reducing production time and equipment requirements.
Implementation Method 1
an unformed upper made of a fiber sheet including a heat-shrinkable yarn... applying heat to form the unformed upper along the shape of the last to be a formed upper
Data Source
Figure 1~2
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Figure 5~6
AI summary
A last matching a user's foot can be provided through a simple configuration. A last (1) for forming a footwear upper configuring an article of footwear comprises: a common portion (70) invariable in shape and position, a movable portion (80) invariable in shape and positionally variable with respect to the common portion (70), and a position adjustment mechanism (82) that changes a position of the movable portion (80) with respect to the common portion (70) and fixes the movable portion (80) in a predetermined position.