Size-Adjustable Sport Shoe Gear Rack Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional size-adjustable shoes face issues such as ergonomic inefficiencies, damage-prone heel mechanisms, inconvenient fastener-based adjustments, and difficulties in use by children or those with smaller hands, along with aesthetic and safety concerns due to exposed insole extensions.
Innovation Solution
A size-adjustable shoe design featuring a telescopic adjusting device with gear racks, a resilient mechanism, and a handle that allows for quick size adjustments without tools, incorporating a shoe cover to prevent tripping and enhance appearance, and adaptable for various foot sizes through embedded retention panels and dovetail guides.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a heel adjustment mechanism is provided to allow heel movement for size adjustment, then the shoe size can be changed, but the mechanism is easily damaged by external force and wearer's weight
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe is divided into a shoe head and a shoe insole that can be independently adjusted. The shoe head contains the adjustment mechanism while the shoe insole provides the sliding surface, separating the functional components to reduce interference and improve durability.
Solution Approach 2:
A resilient device (spring) is introduced as an intermediary element between the shoe head and shoe insole. This spring provides the necessary force to maintain the adjustable size while protecting the mechanism from direct contact with external forces and the wearer's weight.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fasteners such as screws and nuts are used to affix the head portion to the shoe insole, then the shoe size can be adjusted, but the wearer must use a tool to unscrew and screw the fastener which is inconvenient during outdoor activities
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient device automatically provides the force needed to maintain the adjusted size without requiring the wearer to manually tighten or loosen fasteners. The system serves itself by using the spring force to hold the shoe head in place after adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The traditional mechanical fastening system (screws and nuts requiring tools) is replaced with a resilient force-based system. The spring provides continuous holding force that maintains the adjusted size without requiring manual intervention or tools during use.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a sliding mechanism with gear racks and gears is used to enable the shoe head to slide along the shoe insole, then the shoe size can be adjusted, but great effort is required to overcome the holding spring force to unlock the mechanism
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses dynamic interaction between the resilient device and the gear mechanism. The spring provides variable force that assists the gear racks in moving the shoe head, reducing the effort required by the wearer to adjust the size compared to a static locking mechanism.
4Adaptability or versatility
If the upper layer of the shoe insole is extended to allow size adjustment, then the shoe can accommodate different foot sizes, but the extension may cause the wearer to trip and affects the aesthetic appearance
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustment function is extracted from the shoe insole and transferred to the shoe head. The shoe head contains the gear racks and resilient device that enable size adjustment without requiring the shoe insole to have extended structures that could cause tripping or aesthetic issues.
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 quick, safe, and aesthetically pleasing size adjustments suitable for diverse foot sizes without requiring tools, ensuring ease of use and preventing tripping, while maintaining the shoe's appearance and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient mechanism, and a handle that allows for quick size adjustments
Data Source
AI summary
A size-adjustable sport shoe includes a shoe head, a shoe insole, and an adjusting telescopic device including a gear, a shaft gear, first and second gear racks, and handle. The first and second gear racks are located at two lateral sides of an elongated adjustment groove at the shoe head, wherein the upper surface of the second gear rack is lower than the upper surface of the first gear rack. The gear shaft is coupled between the gear and the handle. When the handle is folded perpendicularly to an axis direction of the gear shaft, the gear meshes with the first gear rack to lock up the shoe head at the shoe insole. When the handle is folded to coincide with the axis direction of the gear shaft, the gear meshes with the second gear rack to allow the shoe head to be slid from the shoe insole.