Coconut Fiber Non-Slip Outsole Composition

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shoe sole manufacturing methods using coffee grounds face challenges such as chemical irritation, high costs, and reduced non-slip performance due to oil inclusion, and require lengthy hydrolysis processes.

Innovation Solution

A non-slip outsole composition incorporating coconut fibers, blended with polybutadiene rubber, elastomer, and additives, and a manufacturing method involving coconut fiber preparation and molding to achieve excellent non-slip properties without skin irritation and environmental harm.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If coffee grounds are used in shoe sole manufacturing, then environmental friendliness is improved, but non-slip performance deteriorates due to oil inclusion

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenvironmental friendlinessVSAvoidnon-slip performance

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes oil from coffee grounds through a washing process before incorporating the coffee grounds into the shoe sole composition. This extraction of the harmful oil component allows the beneficial environmental and structural properties of coffee grounds to be retained while eliminating the negative impact on non-slip performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent changes the physical and chemical parameters of coffee grounds through washing and drying processes, transforming them from an oil-containing state to an oil-free state. This parameter change enables the coffee grounds to maintain their environmental friendliness while achieving the required non-slip performance characteristics

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If hydrolysis process is used to treat coffee grounds, then compatibility with binder is improved, but manufacturing time and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompatibility with binderVSAvoidmanufacturing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the complex, time-consuming hydrolysis process with simpler, more economical washing and drying operations. This substitution uses readily available processes that achieve the necessary compatibility between coffee grounds and binder without requiring extensive chemical treatment or prolonged processing times

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent substitutes chemical hydrolysis processes with mechanical washing and drying operations. This replacement eliminates the need for strong acids and bases while achieving effective treatment of coffee grounds through physical processes that are faster and more cost-effective

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Strength

If strong acids and bases are used in hydrolysis process, then coffee grounds are transformed into flexible form, but skin irritation and harm to human body occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of coffee groundsVSAvoidskin irritation

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the potentially harmful strong acids and bases used in hydrolysis into harmless water through washing processes. By replacing chemical treatment with water-based washing, the patent achieves the necessary flexibility and structural transformation of coffee grounds without exposing users to harmful chemicals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces water as an intermediary substance to replace strong acids and bases in the treatment of coffee grounds. This intermediary approach achieves the desired flexibility and binder compatibility while eliminating direct contact with harmful chemicals, thereby preventing skin irritation and health hazards

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS20240117160A1Non-slip outsole composition including coconut fiber and manufacturing method thereof

Publication Date: 2024.04.11 JEONG SO JIN

AI summary

Proposed is a non-slip outsole composition containing coconut fiber. The composition contains 30 to 40 parts by weight of polybutadiene rubber, 20 to 30 parts by weight of elastomer, 15 to 20 parts by weight of filler, 20 to 30 parts by weight of coconut fiber, 0.1 to 1 part by weight of surfactant, 0.2 to 1 part by weight of a vulcanization accelerator, and 0.5 to 2 parts by weight of a cross-linking agent. Further proposed is a manufacturing method of a non-slip outsole containing coconut fiber. The method includes preparing the coconut fiber by separating a coconut into a cocopeat part and a coconut fiber part, blending a non-slip outsole composition by mixing the prepared coconut fiber with a rubber binder mixture, and producing the non-slip outsole through molding by injecting the non-slip outsole composition into a mold having a predetermined outsole shape, and finishing the non-slip outsole by cooling and aging the molded outsole.