Elastic Heel Cup Structure for Hands-Free Footwear Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear designs require manual assistance or shoe horns for easy foot insertion due to the heel counter collapsing under the heel, and existing solutions do not incorporate a heel cup with a vertical S wave cross-sectional shape.
Innovation Solution
A heel cup with a uniformly molded upper portion, midportion, and lower portion, featuring a concave structure that distorts under foot load for easier entry and returns to its original shape post-use, combined with a compressible ankle collar and heel counter support for enhanced securement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the heel counter is made rigid to provide structural support, then the shoe maintains its shape and support, but the shoe opening becomes difficult to widen for foot insertion
Solution Approach 1:
The heel counter is designed with a dynamic structure that can distort under load. The upper portion of the heel cup is configured to distort under the load of a user's foot during donning, allowing the shoe opening to widen temporarily for easier foot insertion, then return to its original configuration to provide structural support when worn.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the heel counter is changed from static to dynamic. The upper portion can change its configuration parameter from a rigid state to a distorted state under foot load, enabling the shoe opening to widen when needed while maintaining structural integrity when not in use.
2Ease of operation
If the heel cup is made flexible to allow distortion under foot load, then foot insertion becomes easier, but the structural support and shape retention deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel counter transitions from a static structure to a dynamic one that can temporarily distort under load during foot insertion, then automatically return to its original configuration. This dynamic behavior allows the structure to be flexible when needed while maintaining stability during normal wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel counter temporarily discards its rigid shape during foot insertion by distorting under load, then recovers its original configuration afterward. This temporary deformation enables easier foot insertion while ensuring the structural support is restored once the foot is inserted.
3Reliability
If manual assistance or shoe horns are used for foot insertion, then proper heel securing is achieved, but the device complexity and operation time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heel counter performs the function of both structural support and insertion assistance through its own structure. The upper portion's ability to distort under foot load automatically widens the shoe opening, eliminating the need for external shoe horns or manual assistance while maintaining proper heel securing.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel counter serves multiple functions: it provides structural support to maintain shoe shape, enables easier foot insertion through controlled distortion, and ensures proper heel securing. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate insertion tools while maintaining reliability.
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
Facilitates hands-free foot insertion and securement by allowing the heel cup to widen the shoe opening under foot pressure, ensuring easy entry and secure fit without additional tools.
Implementation Method 1
The upper portion of the heel cup is capable of distorting from a first configuration to a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the shoe and is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed
Implementation Method 2
The compressible component has a first configuration in its native state, and the compressible component is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear and is capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot is fully inserted into the footwear
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4A~4D
AI summary
An article of footwear includes an upper (16) and sole structure (14), and the upper (16) includes a foot receiving shoe opening. The article of footwear further includes a heel cup (52) attached to the upper (16) and extending from the sole structure (14) to at least a portion of the rear heel collar (74) of upper (16). Additionally, the heel cup (52) is uniformly molded with an upper portion (64), midportion (58), and lower portion (54) and the upper portion (64) has a smaller mediolateral length than the midportion (58), and the midportion (58) and lower portion (54) form a concave structure configured to receive the heel. The upper portion (64) has a first configuration and is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear. In the second configuration, at least part of the upper portion (64) is lowered relative to the first configuration and the upper portion (64) is capable of returning to the first configuration after the load of the user's foot is removed. The midportion (58) includes a peripheral portion (70) having a first thickness and a central portion (50) having a second thickness, and the second thickness is less than the first thickness.