Bi-Modal Lace Adjustment Toggle for Rapid Shoe Fit Changes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional lacing systems in athletic shoes do not allow for quick and easy adjustments to accommodate changes in foot volume during physical activity or different stages of a sport, requiring users to re-lace their shoes for varying tightness needs.
Innovation Solution
A bi-modal lace adjustment device with a toggle body that rotates between two positions, providing quick and simple tightness adjustments through a bistable mechanism, allowing for easy switching between loose and tight fits without re-lacing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional lacing systems are used, then the shoe can be securely fastened, but the user must re-lace the entire shoe to adjust tightness, which is time-consuming and inconvenient
Solution Approach 1:
The lacing system is segmented into multiple independent adjustment zones along the shoe, each with its own toggle body. This allows the user to adjust tightness at specific locations without affecting other areas, enabling quick局部 adjustments without re-lacing the entire shoe.
Solution Approach 2:
The toggle body incorporates a bistable mechanism with two stable positions (tight and loose) that can be quickly switched. The curved face with complex contour creates mechanical stability at each position, allowing the user to rapidly transition between tightness states without complex manipulation or time-consuming re-lacing.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the lacing system allows incremental tightness adjustment, then the fit can be optimized, but the mechanism becomes complex and difficult to operate quickly
Solution Approach 1:
The toggle body's curved face is designed with a complex contour that changes the mechanical leverage parameter as the toggle rotates. This allows the same simple toggle mechanism to provide multiple tightness levels by exploiting the varying mechanical advantage at different angular positions, achieving adaptability without increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The curved face of the toggle body has an asymmetric complex contour rather than a symmetric shape. This asymmetric geometry creates different mechanical characteristics at different positions, enabling the single toggle to provide multiple tightness adjustment levels while maintaining a simple overall structure.
3Ease of manufacture
If the aperture is centered on the toggle body, then the structure is simple and symmetric, but the mechanical advantage and adjustment effectiveness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is deliberately positioned eccentrically (off-center) on the toggle body rather than at the geometric center. This asymmetric positioning optimizes the mechanical leverage and moment arm when the toggle rotates, improving the mechanical advantage and adjustment effectiveness while maintaining ease of manufacture through simple asymmetric geometry.
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 rapid adjustments to shoe tightness during activities, enhancing comfort and performance by accommodating foot swelling or changing fit requirements, such as in running or sports with frequent position changes.
Implementation Method 1
The toggle body rotates about the central axis of the aperture to move between the first and second position
Implementation Method 2
A curved face extends between the first surface and second surface in a height direction. The curved faces has a complex contour defined by a first curvature adjacent the first surface, and a second curvature adjacent the second surface
Implementation Method 3
A lace aperture extends through the toggle body for receiving at least one lace
Implementation Method 4
The lace adjustment device has a toggle body movable between two positions to provide bi-modal lace adjustment
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear is provided with a lace adjustment device that provides bi-modal lace adjustment. A toggle body has a lace aperture positioned eccentrically. The toggle body rotates about the central axis to move between a first position and second position. In the second position, the at least one lace has a greater amount of tightness than when the toggle body is in the first position. The toggle body has a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, and the lace aperture is positioned adjacent the first surface. The toggle body rests on the first surface when in a first loose position, and when the toggle body is in a second tighter position, it rests on the second surface.