Crampon Connection Arrangement Push-Through Space for Debris Removal

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Solution Overview

Problem

Crampon systems face difficulties in handling and safety due to ice, snow, and mud accumulation in connection areas, making it hard to attach the crampon to a shoe, especially when wearing gloves.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a push-through space in the connecting arrangement that allows foreign material to be easily cleared, with a female connecting element featuring an eyelet or insert and a male connecting element with a tab or hook, enabling secure and reliable attachment without pre-cleaning, and allowing for dual functionality with ski bindings.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a blind hole is used to receive the male connecting element, then the crampon can be attached to the shoe, but foreign material accumulates in the blind hole making attachment difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidhandling ease
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The harmful foreign material (ice, snow, mud) is extracted from the connection area by designing a push-through space that allows it to be pushed out during the attachment process. The male connecting element pushes foreign material through the push-through space, removing the obstruction that would otherwise prevent proper connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The connection arrangement is segmented into distinct functional zones: the push-through space for foreign material removal, the receiving space for the male connecting element, and the connection interface. This segmentation allows simultaneous accommodation of both foreign material ejection and secure connection formation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If the female connecting element has an eyelet or insert, then connection security is improved, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The eyelet or insert is merged with the female connecting element as an integrated component rather than a separate attachment. This combining provides enhanced connection security through the additional structural feature while avoiding the complexity of separate assembly steps or multiple independent parts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Ease of operation

If the push-through space is a recess in the shoe sole, then foreign material can be easily removed, but the shoe length increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveforeign material removalVSAvoidshoe length
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLength of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The push-through space is configured as a recess that extends in the transverse direction (across the shoe width) rather than primarily in the longitudinal direction (along the shoe length). This dimensional reorientation allows effective foreign material removal capability while maintaining acceptable shoe length characteristics.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3175733B1Crampon system
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 OBER ALP
  • EP3175733B1 patent drawingFigure 1~3
  • EP3175733B1 patent drawingFigure 4~11b
  • EP3175733B1 patent drawingFigure 5~7

AI summary

The present invention provides a crampon system (2; 102; 202) comprising a crampon (4; 104), a boot (6; 106; 206) and a connection arrangement (10; 110) which includes a male connection element on one side consisting of the boot and the crampon and a female connection element on the other side consisting of the boot and the crampon, wherein the connection arrangement has a passage space which is designed so that foreign material located on the connection arrangement is pushed through the passage space during an engagement movement of the male connection element into the female connection element and can detach from the crampon system.