Adjustable Shoe Tree with Modular Heel and Moisture Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoe trees lack customization and effective moisture management, leading to creasing and leather degradation in shoes.
Innovation Solution
A user-configurable shoe tree device with a foot-shaped body portion and a removable pivoting heel member, featuring a ball-shaped projection and spring-biased retention system for adjustable engagement, and customizable body portions with moisture-absorbing surfaces to prevent creasing and odor issues.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If conventional shoe trees are used to maintain shoe shape, then shoe shape preservation is achieved, but customization options are limited and moisture management is ineffective
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe tree is divided into separate modular components: a body portion and a heel portion that can be independently selected and configured. This segmentation allows users to customize different parts for different shoe types and provides dedicated moisture management features in specific zones where they are most needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe tree incorporates an adjustable heel portion that can be positioned at different distances from the body portion using a threaded adjustment mechanism. This dynamic adjustability allows the shoe tree to adapt to various shoe sizes and shapes, improving both customization and effectiveness of shape preservation and moisture management.
2Reliability
If conventional shoe trees are used to prevent creasing, then shoe shape is maintained, but adaptability to different shoe sizes and shapes is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The adjustable heel portion with threaded adjustment mechanism enables the shoe tree to be dynamically configured for different shoe sizes and shapes. Users can extend or retract the heel portion to match the specific dimensions of their shoes, ensuring effective shape maintenance across various footwear types.
Solution Approach 2:
The modular design with interchangeable body and heel portions creates a universal shoe tree system that can accommodate multiple shoe types and sizes. The same basic components can be configured differently to serve various shoe styles, from dress shoes to boots.
3Ease of manufacture
If shoe trees with fixed components are used, then manufacturing is simple, but customization and effective moisture management are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
By manufacturing separate modular components (body portion and heel portion) that can be independently produced and then assembled through simple threading, the system maintains manufacturing simplicity while enabling extensive customization. Each component can be manufactured using standard processes.
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 device effectively maintains shoe shape, prevents creasing, and enhances moisture management, allowing for customization to fit different shoe sizes and styles while preventing over-pressure damage.
Implementation Method 1
a retainment ball which is biased toward the opening by a spring or other biasing member configured to do so
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe tree having a body with an exterior surface for contacting an interior surface defining a shoe interior cavity during storage. An adjustment member removably engages with a mount on a rear wall of the body of the shoe tree and is engaged to a heel member. The heel member, when rotated on the adjustment member, will increase or decrease the overall length of the shoe tree. The body portion may include an insert which has indicia thereon concerning one or both of a location of purchase or the owner of the shoe tree.