Adjustable Shoe Flap Structure for Growing Feet Fit

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing footwear fails to accommodate a range of shoe sizes and adjust to the growth of the wearer over time, leading to discomfort and improper fit.

Innovation Solution

An adjustable shoe design featuring integral flaps and straps with longitudinally spaced and aligned holes, allowing for adjustable connections and overlays, along with a heel strap, to accommodate varying foot sizes and growth.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a fixed shoe size is used, then the manufacturing and design process is simple, but the shoe cannot accommodate growing feet or different foot sizes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoe size accommodationVSAvoidshoe structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe upper is divided into multiple flaps (medial flap, lateral flap, toe cap) that can be independently positioned and adjusted. Each flap contains multiple holes at different longitudinal positions, allowing the shoe to be segmented into adjustable sections that can accommodate different foot sizes by selecting appropriate hole combinations for fastening.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shoe is designed with universal adjustability features that allow a single shoe structure to serve multiple shoe sizes. The combination of flaps with multiple holes, adjustable connecting straps, and selectable fastening positions enables the same shoe to adapt to various foot sizes, making one shoe structure universally applicable across a range of sizes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Duration of action of stationary object

If adjustable components are added to accommodate growth, then the shoe can fit growing feet, but the manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoe usable lifeVSAvoidshoe manufacturing

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple holes are pre-positioned at specific longitudinal locations on the flaps and toe cap during manufacturing. This preliminary arrangement of adjustment points allows for easy post-manufacturing size adjustments without requiring complex assembly procedures. The holes are strategically placed in advance to cover the expected range of foot growth.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The adjustable components (connecting straps, fasteners) are integrated within the flap structure itself. The straps are disposed on the flaps and connect to corresponding holes, creating a nested arrangement where adjustment mechanisms are embedded within the existing shoe structure rather than being separate add-on components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Data Source

PatentUS12550967B2Adjustable shoe

Publication Date: 2026.02.17 BECAUSE INT CORP

AI summary

An adjustable shoe for accommodating a range of shoe sizes includes a sole, a medial flap extending upwardly and at least partially over the sole, a lateral flap extending upwardly and at least partially over the sole, and a toe cap extending upwardly and partially over the sole. A connecting strap disposed on the medial flap or the lateral flap is adjustably connected to the other of the lateral flap or the medial flap, respectively. An adjustable heel strap is connected to the medial flap and the lateral flap and extends around the heel end of the sole. One of the medial flap or the lateral flap are adapted to overlap the other of the lateral flap or the medial flap, respectively, and the toe cap is adjustably connected at a distal end thereof to one or both of the medial flap and/or the lateral flap.