Convertible Heel Cup With Elastic Strap for Multi-Use Footwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing performance footwear lacks adaptability for multiple uses, compromising comfort and performance features, and is often costly to manufacture.
Innovation Solution
A convertible heel cup in footwear that can be moved between upright and folded positions, combined with an elastic heel strap, allowing for easy conversion between athletic and casual wear configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If footwear is designed with fixed heel support for athletic performance, then stability and support are improved, but adaptability for multiple uses deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel cup is designed to be movable between an upright position (providing athletic support) and a folded position (providing casual wear comfort). This dynamic reconfiguration allows the same footwear to adapt to different usage scenarios, resolving the contradiction between fixed performance optimization and multi-use adaptability.
2Reliability
If footwear includes multiple components for enhanced support, then performance features are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heel support is segmented from the main upper structure, allowing it to be independently positioned and folded. This segmentation enables the support component to provide enhanced athletic support when needed while being simple and easy to manufacture, avoiding the complexity that would result from integrated multi-component designs.
3Reliability
If footwear is designed for optimal athletic performance, then cushioning and stability are improved, but ease of manufacture deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel cup is constructed from flexible materials that can be easily molded and assembled. This flexible construction provides effective cushioning and support for athletic performance while maintaining simplicity in the manufacturing process, avoiding the complexity associated with rigid multi-component assemblies.
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
Enhances adaptability and comfort by providing support and cushioning in both athletic and casual settings while maintaining ease of use and reasonable production costs.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic heel strap that extends around an exterior surface of the posterior heel wall
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear includes a sole and an upper connected to the sole. The upper and the sole form a foot cavity with an insole positioned within the foot cavity. The upper further includes a heel cup defining a posterior heel wall and an elastic heel strap that extends around an exterior surface of the posterior heel wall. The heel cup is configured to be moved between an upright position and a folded position, wherein the posterior heel wall is adjacent to the elastic heel strap when the heel cup is in the upright position, and the posterior heel wall is removed from the elastic heel strap and is laid against the insole when the heel cup is in the folded position.