Adjustable Sandal Strap System With Angled Slots
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional sport sandals have non-replaceable or difficult-to-replace strap systems, which limits their durability and comfort, especially in sporting activities where straps may wear out before the sole.
Innovation Solution
A sandal with a continuous adjustable strap system that threads through angled slots on ankle posts, providing intentional adjustment while resisting unintentional movement, and allowing for easy replacement by looping and stitching the strap to the sole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If straps are permanently attached to the sole using stitching, riveting, or stapling, then the sandal structure is strong and stable, but the straps cannot be replaced when worn
Solution Approach 1:
The strap system is divided into separable components: the strap itself and the sole assembly with ankle posts. The strap can be independently removed and replaced without damaging the sole, allowing users to extend the sandal's lifespan by swapping worn straps for new ones.
Solution Approach 2:
An intermediary attachment mechanism is introduced between the strap and sole - a system involving ankle posts with slots and keeper elements that provide a reversible connection. This intermediary allows the strap to be securely held during use but easily removed when needed, resolving the contradiction between strong attachment and replaceability.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the strap system uses multiple separate straps for ankle and forefoot, then the fit can be customized, but the adjustment mechanism becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple strap functions are merged into a single continuous strap that wraps around the foot and connects to both ankle posts. This single strap provides both forefoot and ankle support, simplifying the adjustment mechanism while maintaining the ability to customize fit through the continuous adjustment feature.
Solution Approach 2:
The single continuous strap serves multiple functions simultaneously - it provides forefoot support, ankle support, and adjustable tension control. The strap system is designed to perform multiple functions with a single component, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining adaptability.
3Reliability
If the strap is made taut through angled slots to resist unintentional movement, then the sandal fit is secure, but the strap adjustment becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The strap adjustment mechanism incorporates dynamic elements that allow easy adjustment during the adjustment phase but provide stability during the secured phase. The angled slots and keeper elements create a system that is temporarily adjustable but becomes securely locked once positioned.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustment mechanism operates in periodic cycles: easy adjustment movement when the strap is being repositioned, followed by a secured state where the angled slots resist unintentional movement. This periodic transition between adjustable and secure states resolves the contradiction between ease of operation and secure fit.
Data Source
AI summary
A sandal construction including a sole assembly, an adjustable strap system, and an ankle post extending up from and affixed to the sole in the ankle region. The ankle post includes three slots arranged in a generally triangular configuration. The strap system includes a strap, a portion of which is threaded through the slots in the ankle post and extending behind the heel of a wearer's foot and from the ankle region into the forefoot region. The strap is folded as it passes between two slots to control the orientation of the strap portions and to allow deliberate adjustment of the strap, but resist unintentional movement of the strap. The strap is selectively moveable through the slots to loosen and tighten the strap through both the ankle and forefoot regions to adjust the fit of the sandal to the wearer's foot.