Customizable Footwear Inserts with Removable Sections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoe insoles provide limited relief for painful foot conditions as they are not customizable, expensive, or inconvenient to replace, lacking adjustability and wide-ranging effectiveness.

Innovation Solution

Customizable footwear inserts with removable sections bonded to layers, allowing users to customize the insert by removing sections to create 'off-loading zones' that redistribute pressure away from painful areas, using materials like microfiber and memory-resistant polyurethane foam with permanent or non-permanent bonds.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional insoles are used, then they are inexpensive and widely available, but they provide limited relief for painful foot conditions due to lack of customization

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The insole is divided into multiple removable sections that can be independently removed or retained based on individual foot conditions. Each section is separated by score lines that allow clean separation while maintaining the integrity of the base insole structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The insole transitions from a static, fixed design to a dynamic, adaptable structure where sections can be removed or retained based on changing foot conditions or user needs, allowing the insole to be reconfigured for different therapeutic requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Reliability

If custom-designed orthotics are used, then pain relief is effective, but they are expensive and inconvenient to replace

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidcost and replacement convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The insole uses inexpensive materials and a simple modular design that allows individual sections to be removed and replaced easily. The base insole remains while only specific sections need replacement, reducing overall cost and improving convenience compared to complete custom orthotics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

Specific worn or ineffective sections can be removed and discarded while retaining the base insole and other functional sections. This selective replacement approach reduces waste and cost compared to replacing entire custom orthotics.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

3Reliability

If custom-designed orthotics are used, then pain relief is effective, but they are relatively non-adjustable

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepain relief effectivenessVSAvoidadjustability

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Adaptability or versatility

If removable sections are added to enable customization, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecustomizabilityVSAvoidstructural complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The base insole serves multiple functions: providing general cushioning, support, and serving as a permanent foundation to which removable sections are attached. This multi-functional design reduces overall complexity by consolidating common structural elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS10441031B2Customizable footwear inserts and methods for using same

Publication Date: 2019.10.15 SALUBER SRL

AI summary

Systems and methods for customizable footwear inserts having a plurality of removable sections. Removable sections may be permanently bonded to adjacent layers of the inserts to eliminate or minimize the tendency of removable sections surrounding the removed sections to fall out or migrate into the cavity created by the removed sections. In some aspects, multiple layers are provided to increase the comfort, support, and/or fit provided to the wearer of the insert. Further, some embodiments include a removable backing that, when removed, exposes an adhesive that may be utilized to, inter alia, adhere an original insole of footwear to the top of the footwear insert such that the user's foot is still in contact with the original insole when wearing the footwear.