Collar Elevator Structure for Hands-Free Footwear Entry

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing footwear articles face challenges in easy donning and doffing, particularly when hands-free entry is required, as the ankle collar often needs manual manipulation to transition between lowered and raised states.

Innovation Solution

A biased collar elevator mechanism, comprising lever arms and a center connecting band, is integrated into the footwear upper, allowing the ankle collar to move between states without manual assistance, using elastic deformation to store and release potential energy for secure fitting.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the ankle collar is designed to be manually manipulated for donning and doffing, then the footwear article provides secure fitting, but it requires manual assistance and reduces ease of operation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of donning and doffingVSAvoidcollar manipulation mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar elevator mechanism is designed to automatically elevate the ankle collar using the wearer's foot movement and body weight, eliminating the need for manual manipulation. The deformable member with lever arms and connecting bands converts the downward force of the foot entering the shoe into upward motion of the collar, allowing the system to serve itself without external assistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The collar elevator employs movable and deformable components including lever arms that can rotate and a deformable member that can elastically deform. This dynamic structure allows the collar to transition between elevated and lowered states automatically, providing adaptability during donning and doffing operations without requiring fixed or static mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Ease of operation

If the ankle collar is lowered towards the sole for easy foot insertion, then the foot-insertion opening expands, but the footwear article may not secure the foot properly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot insertion easeVSAvoidfoot securing capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The ankle collar is pre-positioned in an elevated state that provides secure foot retention. During donning, the collar automatically lowers as the foot enters, then automatically returns to the elevated secure position once the foot is inserted, ensuring both easy insertion and reliable securing without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The collar elevator mechanism provides automatic feedback response: when the foot enters and pushes the collar down, the deformable member stores energy and automatically triggers the collar to return to its elevated position, creating a self-regulating system that responds to the wearer's actions to maintain proper fitting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Extent of automation

If a collar elevator mechanism is integrated into the footwear upper, then hands-free donning is enabled, but the structural complexity and potential wear increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvehands-free donning capabilityVSAvoidcollar elevator structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The collar elevator mechanism is integrated directly into the footwear upper structure, combining the collar support, elevator mechanism, and upper material into a unified construction. The deformable member is embedded within the upper, and the lever arms are positioned to work with the existing upper structure, reducing the need for separate discrete components and simplifying the overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Use of energy by moving object

If the deformable member undergoes elastic deformation to power the collar elevator, then potential energy is stored and released for collar movement, but energy loss may occur during repeated cycles

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy storage and releaseVSAvoidenergy loss during deformation cycles

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The deformable member is designed with specific material properties and geometric parameters optimized for elastic deformation. By selecting materials with high elastic recovery and appropriate thickness, width, and curvature, the system maximizes energy storage during compression and minimizes energy loss during repeated deformation cycles, maintaining efficient hands-free operation over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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

Facilitates hands-free donning and doffing by expanding the foot-insertion opening and securing the footwear article to the foot, reducing structural wear and enhancing user convenience.

Implementation Method 1

using elastic deformation to store and release potential energy for secure fitting

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP4316297B1Footwear article with collar elevator

Publication Date: 2025.11.12 NIKE INNOVATE CV

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Figure 4A~4C

AI summary

A footwear article capable of hands-free donning, comprising: a sole; an upper having a heel region, the heel region having a rearward-most portion; a collar elevator coupled with the upper in the heel region; and a base affixed to the sole, wherein the collar elevator is attached to the base and the base is a strobel.