Crossing-Arm Shoe Opening for Easy Entry and Secure Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Donning and doffing of shoes, including tying or securing them, can be inconvenient or difficult for some individuals.
Innovation Solution
A rapid-entry shoe design featuring a sole portion and an upper with a topline, coupled to a plurality of crossing arms that expand and contract to facilitate easy foot reception and retention, utilizing resilient textiles or elastic gores for biasing towards an uncollapsed configuration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional shoe fastening systems (laces, straps, or other securing mechanisms) are used, then the shoe can be securely fastened to the foot, but the process of donning and doffing becomes time-consuming and difficult for some individuals
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe employs dynamic arms that can transition between extended and retracted positions. When the arms are extended, they expand the opening to facilitate easy foot insertion. Once the foot is inserted, the arms retract to secure the foot within the shoe, providing both ease of donning and secure retention without requiring complex fastening operations
Solution Approach 2:
The opening expansion mechanism is divided into multiple independent arms that can move separately. This segmentation allows each arm to independently respond to foot insertion, providing smooth and progressive opening expansion that makes donning easier while maintaining control over the securing process
2Ease of operation
If the opening is expanded to facilitate foot reception, then ease of entry is improved, but the structural integrity and retention capability may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The arms dynamically adjust their position based on the state of foot insertion. During foot reception, the arms are extended to maximize opening size and facilitate easy entry. After foot insertion, the arms automatically retract to their original positions, restoring the structural integrity needed for secure foot retention. This dynamic transition resolves the contradiction between ease of entry and retention security
Solution Approach 2:
The arms undergo periodic motion cycles: extending to expand the opening for foot insertion, then retracting to secure the foot. This periodic action between expanded and retracted states allows the shoe to alternately prioritize ease of entry and foot retention, achieving both objectives at different phases of the donning process
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
Enables easy and secure entry and exit of the shoe without the need for laces or straps, providing convenience and ease of use for various shoe types.
Implementation Method 1
coupled to a resilient textile or elastic gore to bias the crossing arms toward an uncollapsed configuration
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2A~2D
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
A shoe upper having a plurality of arms that expand the shoe opening when the topline of the upper is compressed toward the sole portion of the shoe.