Diagonal Support Arms in Orthopedic Insole Core
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing orthopedic shoe inserts often lack sufficient mechanical support and guidance functions, are bulky, and cannot be easily adapted to individual patient needs or weight, limiting their effectiveness and compatibility with standard footwear.
Innovation Solution
A shoe insole core with a support clasp featuring diagonally crossing support arms, made of a mechanically stronger material, which provides adjustable mechanical support and guidance by varying the thickness, width, and material properties of the support arms, allowing for customizable production within an automated process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If known orthopedic shoe inserts use thick material layers and bulky stiffening elements to achieve mechanical stability and support function, then mechanical strength and support stability are improved, but the insert becomes bulky and incompatible with normal footwear
Solution Approach 1:
The insole is segmented into multiple functional layers including a flexible base layer, a support layer with strategically positioned support elements, and a comfort layer. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function efficiently, providing mechanical support without requiring excessive thickness throughout the entire insole structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The insole combines multiple materials with different properties: a flexible base layer material, a support layer material with higher structural integrity, and a comfort layer material. This composite structure enables the insole to achieve mechanical strength where needed while maintaining flexibility and thinness in other areas, resolving the contradiction between support strength and overall thickness.
2Reliability
If known orthopedic shoe inserts use uniform thick construction throughout to ensure mechanical stability, then support reliability is improved, but adaptability to individual patient needs and footwear types is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support layer contains support elements with varying properties distributed across different regions of the insole. Certain areas have enhanced support characteristics while other areas provide different levels of cushioning or flexibility. This local variation in quality allows the insole to adapt to specific patient needs and foot conditions without compromising overall mechanical reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support elements are designed to dynamically respond to applied loads, adjusting their stiffness and support characteristics based on the force applied. This dynamic behavior allows the insole to provide appropriate support for different patient weights, activity levels, and footwear types, enhancing adaptability while maintaining reliability.
3Stability of the object's composition
If known orthopedic shoe inserts use multiple thick material layers to achieve support function, then mechanical stability is improved, but the insert cannot be easily adapted to individual patient weight and therapy requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The support elements in the support layer can be manufactured with varying parameters such as thickness, density, and stiffness to accommodate different patient weights and therapy requirements. This parameter variability allows customization of the insole's mechanical properties while maintaining overall structural stability through the integrated multi-layer design.
4Strength
If known orthopedic shoe inserts use bulky construction to achieve mechanical support, then support function is improved, but production complexity and manufacturing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The insole is manufactured as segmented layers that can be produced separately and then assembled. This segmentation enables parallel production of different layers, reduces manufacturing time for each component, and simplifies quality control, thereby improving overall productivity while maintaining mechanical support strength through the integrated multi-layer structure.
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
The invention relates to orthopaedic footwear inserts for supporting and guiding the foot and provides a core for footwear inserts, wherein the insert core has a supporting brace with diagonally running supporting arms which are interlinked in relation to one another.