Ankle Stabilizer Lace Centering Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Ankle stabilizing devices with lace-eyelet type fasteners face challenges in efficient fitting, use, removal, and refitting due to laces becoming uncentered during removal, requiring time-consuming re-centering and re-lacing.

Innovation Solution

An ankle stabilizing device with a centering lace attachment point that secures the lace to the body member or tongue, preventing it from passing through toe-end eyelets, ensuring the lace remains centered during removal and simplifying the re-fitting process.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a lace-eyelet type fastener is used to secure the foot and ankle, then the device can be tightened and stabilized, but the lace becomes uncentered during removal requiring time-consuming re-centering and re-lacing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of fitting and removalVSAvoidtime spent on re-centering and re-lacing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-attaching the lace to the tongue at its center point before the device is put on. This preliminary attachment ensures that when the device is removed, the lace automatically returns to its centered position on the tongue, eliminating the need for time-consuming manual re-centering and re-lacing operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Speed

If the lace is threaded through toe-end eyelets during removal, then the device can be quickly removed, but the lace becomes uncentered and misaligned

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of removalVSAvoidlace alignment and centering

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The lace is preliminarily attached to the center of the tongue before use. This preliminary attachment maintains lace alignment and centering even when the lace is threaded through toe-end eyelets during quick removal, preventing misalignment and ensuring the lace returns to its proper centered position.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The tongue acts as an intermediary element between the lace and the eyelets. By attaching the lace to the tongue rather than directly to the eyelets, the system allows for quick removal through toe-end eyelets while maintaining lace centering through the tongue's central attachment point.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If traditional lace-eyelet fasteners are used, then the device provides adequate stabilization, but the lace slips or loosens in the eyelets during use

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelace security and stabilityVSAvoidlace maintenance and adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The lace is preliminarily attached to the tongue at its center point, which secures the lace in place and prevents it from slipping or loosening in the eyelets during use. This preliminary attachment maintains consistent lace tension and positioning throughout the device's use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10383404B2Lace-tongue attachment for ankle stabilizing device

Publication Date: 2019.08.20 MEDICAL SPECIALTIES INC

AI summary

An ankle stabilizing device having a lace-tongue attachment includes a body member, a plurality of eyelets extending along the front edges of the body member, and a centering lace. The centering lace is secured to the ankle stabilizing device between the pair of eyelets at the toe-end of the device such that the central portion of the centering lace is precluded from passing through either of the toe-end pair of eyelets.