Autolacing Footwear PCB Support Structure for Impact Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional articles of footwear with motorized lacing systems face challenges in distributing external forces applied to the sole, which can damage sensitive electronic components like the printed circuit board (PCB) due to their placement near the sole, making them susceptible to damage from impacts.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating supports within the housing that extend through the PCB to redirect forces to more robust components, such as the motor or battery, thereby reducing the impact on the PCB and minimizing the risk of damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the PCB is placed near the sole for ease of operation and access, then the electronic components are easily accessible, but the PCB becomes susceptible to damage from external impacts and forces applied to the sole
Solution Approach 1:
A support structure acts as an intermediary element between the sole and the PCB. This support redirects external forces applied to the sole away from the PCB, preventing direct transmission of impact forces to the sensitive electronic components while allowing the PCB to remain accessible near the sole
2Device complexity
If the PCB is positioned close to the sole to reduce housing complexity, then the housing structure is simpler, but the PCB is exposed to higher forces during external impacts
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure serves as a mediating element that maintains the simplified housing configuration while protecting the PCB. It intercepts and redirects harmful impact forces before they can reach the PCB, allowing the PCB to be positioned close to the sole without increasing housing complexity
3Reliability
If robust components like motor or battery are used to absorb impact forces, then the PCB is protected from damage, but the overall device weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure acts as a lightweight intermediary that redirects impact forces to robust components like the motor or battery. This approach protects the PCB without requiring these components to be significantly larger or heavier, as they are already present for other functional purposes
Solution Approach 2:
Existing robust components (motor, battery) are made to serve dual functions: their primary function and impact absorption. The support structure enables these components to protect the PCB from impact forces without requiring additional dedicated protection components, thereby avoiding extra weight
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear, lacing engine, and method includes a motor, a transmission operatively coupled to the motor, and a lace spool. The lace spool is operatively coupled to the transmission and includes a top lace groove in a top surface of the lace spool and a circumferential channel, wherein the lace is configured to be inserted in the top lace groove and be taken up around the circumferential channel based on a turning of the lace spool from action by the motor and transmission. A fastener is configured to couple the lace spool to the transmission and is inserted into the lace spool via the top surface, the fastener having a head having a head width sufficient to partially cover the top lace groove, leaving a top gap having a gap width less than a thickness of the lace.