Flat-Profile Shoe Lace Accessory Prevents Knot Exposure and Catching
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe lace accessories are prone to breaking or coming apart, exposing the knot and allowing it to untie, and their domed shape is vulnerable to damage and injury during use, especially for children.
Innovation Solution
A flat-profiled accessory with a two-part closure that securely holds the lace in place, using a strong plastic material and a decorative cap that can be exchanged, minimizing accidental removal and damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a domed shape is used for the accessory body, then the accessory can cover and protect the knotted shoe lace, but the domed part is vulnerable to damage and catching on items during use
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional domed shape by采用 a flat profile instead. The accessory body has a substantially flat top surface that is substantially co-planar with the knotted shoe lace, eliminating the projecting dome that catches on items. This flat profile prevents the accessory from being kicked off or caught on objects while still providing coverage and protection for the knot.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameter of the accessory body from a domed three-dimensional shape to a flat two-dimensional profile. The flat profile has a substantially co-planar top surface with the knotted shoe lace, reducing the height from approximately 10-20mm in prior art to essentially zero projection. This parameter change eliminates the harmful catching effect while maintaining protective function.
2Ease of manufacture
If a brittle plastic material is used for the accessory body, then the accessory can be manufactured with a domed shape, but the plastic is prone to breaking under impact
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from brittle plastic to flexible rubber. The accessory body is made of rubber material that can be molded into a flat profile and provides impact absorption. The rubber material naturally resists breaking under impact while the flat profile prevents catching, solving both the strength problem and the catching problem simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses rubber material which combines flexibility, impact absorption, and durability in a single material. The rubber provides both structural integrity to prevent breaking and the necessary flexibility to accommodate the flat profile design, eliminating the need for brittle plastic while maintaining manufacturability.
3Reliability
If a strong fastening arrangement is used to hold the lace tightly, then the lace is securely held in place, but the lace may be damaged by excessive pressure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible rubber body that acts as a soft clamp on the lace. The rubber material provides gentle, distributed pressure through its elastic properties, holding the lace securely without concentrating force at single points. The flexible nature of rubber allows it to conform to the lace and knot shape, providing strong holding without damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameter from rigid plastic to flexible rubber, which fundamentally alters how the accessory holds the lace. The flexible rubber provides elastic clamping force that is both strong and distributed, preventing lace damage while maintaining secure holding. The material parameter change transforms the fastening mechanism from rigid pressure to flexible clamping.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an accessory for shoe laces including an accessory body, lid that can be closed together between a substantially open and substantially closed state with the body having a substantially flattened shape or low profile in the closed state. A holding portion, associated with the accessory body and or lid, acts on the shoe lace to substantially cover and hold in place. A replaceable cap may be secured to the lid is some forms of the invention. The invention also relates to a method of use and a method of replacement of the caps accordingly.