Sports Boot Collar Locking Mechanism with Spring-Actuated Rocker
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports boot locking mechanisms are complex, expensive, and require manual assistance for unlocking, with insufficient cable relaxation and complex component arrangements, making them unsuitable for easy use and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A compact and inexpensive mechanism combining a rocker and a lever actuated by an elastic element, such as a linear spring, allows for effective locking and unlocking of the collar on the shell, with automatic assistance and intuitive user operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a cable and rocker mechanism is used for locking the collar, then the collar can be locked on the shell, but the unlocking mechanism becomes complex and expensive and requires manual assistance
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the elastic element (spring) as a separate component that provides the unlocking force independently of the cable system. The spring is mounted on the rocker and directly pushes the cam follower, eliminating the need for cable relaxation to initiate unlocking. This simplifies the mechanism by removing the intermediate cable step while maintaining reliable locking through the retained cable-rocker-cam follower connection.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastic element (spring) provides self-service by automatically generating the force needed to unlock the collar without requiring cable relaxation or additional manual effort. When the release lever is actuated, the spring immediately pushes the cam follower to disengage from the cam surface, providing automatic unlocking assistance that reduces user effort and eliminates the complexity of relying on cable slack.
2Ease of operation
If a cam follower and lever mechanism is used for unlocking the collar, then the collar can be unlocked, but the mechanism requires numerous components arranged in a complicated manner and considerable manual force
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the elastic element directly onto the rocker, combining two previously separate components (spring and rocker) into an integrated assembly. This reduces the total number of components and simplifies the arrangement by eliminating the need for separate mounting structures. The spring is positioned on the rocker to directly interact with the cam follower, creating a more compact and simpler mechanism that requires fewer parts while maintaining the unlocking function.
3Reliability
If the collar is locked in a rigid position for sports practice, then sport performance is optimized, but the boot becomes difficult to put on and walk in
Solution Approach 1:
The invention implements a dynamic locking system where the collar can be locked in a rigid position during sports practice and unlocked for walking or putting on the boot. The release lever provides a simple user interface to switch between locked and unlocked states. When unlocked, the collar gains freedom of movement, allowing the boot to be easily put on and worn comfortably during walking, while maintaining the ability to lock for optimal sport performance.
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 mechanism provides stable and efficient locking and unlocking with reduced user effort, maintaining simplicity, compactness, and cost-effectiveness by leveraging the elastic force for automatic positioning and consistent actuation direction.
Implementation Method 1
A compact and inexpensive mechanism combining a rocker and a lever actuated by an elastic element, such as a linear spring
Data Source
AI summary
A locking and unlocking device (10) for forming an interface between the shell (1) and the collar (2) of a sports boot, which comprises a rocker (11) that is movable in rotation about a pin (13), a lever (15) that is movable in rotation and an elastic element connected to the lever (15), such that the lever (15) is able to occupy a first stable position, in which it holds the rocker (11) in a locking position, and a second stable position, in which it holds the rocker (11) in an unlocking position.