Customizable Insole with Removable Gel Plugs for Pressure Relief
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for customizing insoles to relieve specific pressure points on the feet are inefficient and costly, particularly for addressing repetitive injuries and conditions not covered by insurance, and existing solutions do not offer a simple, cost-effective way for both professionals and consumers to modify footwear insoles.
Innovation Solution
A customizable insole with a substrate and removably fixed, resiliently deformable plugs made of silicone gel or foam, featuring geometric cuts and a low-tack adhesive that allows for selective removal and replacement of plugs to accommodate individual foot needs, maintaining the integrity of the insole.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If conventional methods are used to customize insoles by cutting or adding pads, then pressure relief can be achieved, but the process becomes time-consuming and costly
Solution Approach 1:
The insole is divided into a base layer and multiple removable plug elements that can be independently selected and attached. Each plug corresponds to a specific anatomical region, allowing rapid customization by simply attaching or removing plugs rather than cutting or shaping the entire insole.
Solution Approach 2:
The plugs are pre-formed with adhesive backing and specific geometric shapes designed for particular foot regions. This preliminary preparation allows the user to simply attach the appropriate plug to the base layer without requiring cutting, shaping, or complex assembly during the customization process.
2Adaptability or versatility
If insurance covers orthotics only for sudden injuries or diabetes-related risks, then coverage is limited, but customization for repetitive injuries remains inaccessible
Solution Approach 1:
The plug elements are designed as inexpensive, removable components that can be easily replaced or adjusted. This cost-effective approach makes customization accessible to consumers without requiring expensive custom-molded orthotics, thereby expanding access beyond insurance-covered cases.
3Reliability
If the adhesive is made strong to secure plugs, then plugs remain fixed, but selective removal becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The adhesive system transitions from a permanently strong bond to a dynamically adjustable bond. The adhesive is formulated to provide sufficient initial retention for normal use but allows for controlled removal when needed, enabling both secure fixation and selective repositioning throughout the insole's lifecycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The adhesive properties are specifically engineered to change over time or under specific conditions. The adhesive provides strong initial bonding to secure plugs during normal wear, but maintains characteristics that allow for clean removal and reattachment if adjustment is needed, balancing retention with modifiability.
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
The solution provides a cost-effective and efficient means for both professionals and consumers to customize insoles by allowing selective removal and replacement of plugs, effectively reducing pressure on specific areas, thereby offering personalized comfort and pain relief.
Implementation Method 1
The plugs are fixed to the substrate with a low tack adhesive that allows selected geometric plugs to be removed leaving the substrate intact.
Implementation Method 2
The plugs are formed of a resiliently deformable material such as a silicone gel, or open or closed cell foam
Data Source
AI summary
A customizable insole has a base layer, a foot engaging top layer and a resiliently deformable layer therebetween. The top layer and the resiliently deformable layer are matrix cut into a plurality of adjacent plugs, wherein the plugs are removably fixedly bound to a base layer or a substrate. To customize an insole one or more plugs are removed in a spot to relieve pressure or reduce pain.