Adjustable Overshoe With Elastomeric Flange For Slip Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional protective overshoe designs face challenges such as size variability, high manufacturing costs, and hygiene issues due to the need for cleaning or disposal after use, particularly in environments like factory visits or construction sites.
Innovation Solution
A reusable and adjustable overshoe design featuring a hollow front part and a separate rear flange made of elastomeric or thermoplastic materials, with articulation allowing rotation and a connection system using cylindrical pins and studs for easy assembly and interchangeability, ensuring safety against chemical attacks and slips without requiring shoe removal or post-use cleaning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional protective overshoe designs are used, then protection against chemical attacks and slips is provided, but manufacturing complexity and costs increase due to multiple components requiring stitching and assembly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple separate components (front part, rear part, sole, toe cap, heel counter) into a single integrated molded oversoe. This unification eliminates stitching and assembly operations while maintaining all protective functions through the monolithic structure, directly resolving the contradiction between protection reliability and manufacturing complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials, specifically thermoplastic elastomers or thermoplastics with appropriate hardness (5-60 Shore D), that provide both chemical resistance and slip protection in a single material system. This allows the merged structure to maintain protective reliability while simplifying manufacturing through one-step molding
2Reliability
If traditional protective overshoe designs are used, then protection is provided, but the need for cleaning or disposal after use increases due to contact with the foot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the foot contact interface by designing the oversoe to fit over the shoe rather than directly over the foot. The shoe acts as an intermediary barrier, preventing contaminants from contacting the oversoe material that would otherwise require cleaning. This extraction maintains protection while eliminating cleaning requirements
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates an oversoe design that can be easily disposed of after use without requiring cleaning or disinfection. The simple molded structure without complex components makes it economically viable to replace rather than clean, particularly for single-use or limited-use scenarios in harsh environments
3Reliability
If a permanent stock of safety shoes is maintained for visitors, then protection is ensured, but storage space and inventory management requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent designs the oversoe to be universally compatible with various shoe sizes and types. The adjustable strap system and flexible molded structure allow a single oversoe design to fit multiple shoe sizes, eliminating the need for maintaining separate safety shoe inventories for different visitor shoe sizes. This universality reduces inventory complexity while ensuring protection availability
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
The solution provides enhanced safety and ease of use by allowing visitors to wear the overshoe without removing their shoes, reducing manufacturing complexity and costs, and eliminating the need for post-use cleaning, while ensuring protection against chemical and physical hazards.
Implementation Method 1
the front part and the flange are (preferably exclusively) made of elastomeric or thermoplastic plastic... This will also ensure good safety in use... protection against chemical attacks of products present on the ground
Implementation Method 2
an anti-slip pad
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3~6
AI summary
The product in question is an overshoe (1) comprising a hollow front section (3) open at the rear to accommodate the shoe, and a strap (7) to be passed behind the heel of the shoe. The strap is structurally separate from the front section (3) and connected to it by means (8).