Flexible Ozone-Generating Sheet for Compact Shoe Sterilization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoe sterilization and deodorization techniques using ozone expose users to high concentrations and require large, power-consuming devices, which are not compact or user-friendly.
Innovation Solution
A compact shoe cleaner with a sheet-like ozone generating body and case body that can be inserted into a shoe, utilizing a flexible electrode sheet with a polymeric resin dielectric to produce ozone directly on the shoe sole, reducing ozone generation to a narrow space and minimizing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an ozone generator is installed inside a shoe locker to sterilize and deodorize shoes, then sterilization and deodorization can be achieved, but users are exposed to high concentrations of ozone during use
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the ozone generation function from a large shoe locker environment and relocates it to a compact, portable device that fits inside individual shoes. This extraction allows ozone to be generated locally at low concentrations directly where needed, eliminating the need to fill a large space with high concentrations of ozone, thus resolving the contradiction between sterilization effectiveness and user safety
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies local quality by concentrating the ozone generation function at the specific location where it is needed (inside the shoe) rather than in a large shoe locker. The electrode sheet generates ozone locally on the shoe sole surface, creating high effectiveness at the target location while maintaining low overall ozone concentration in the environment, thus protecting users
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an ozone generator and fan are incorporated inside an outer case to reduce user exposure, then user safety is improved, but the device size and power consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the fan component from the system, relying instead on natural convection and the user's walking motion to circulate air and distribute ozone throughout the shoe. This extraction of the mechanical fan simplifies the device structure, reduces size, and lowers power consumption while still achieving effective ozone distribution, thus resolving the contradiction between user safety and device complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The invention employs self-service by utilizing the user's own walking motion and body heat to circulate air and distribute ozone within the shoe, eliminating the need for an external fan. The natural convection currents generated by temperature differences and movement automatically distribute the ozone, achieving effective sterilization without adding device complexity or power consumption
3Productivity
If a fan and nozzle are added to forcibly blow ozone for efficient sterilization, then sterilization efficiency is improved, but device size and power consumption further increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention employs self-service by utilizing the user's own walking motion and body heat to circulate air and distribute ozone within the shoe, eliminating the need for an external fan. The natural convection currents generated by temperature differences and movement automatically distribute the ozone, achieving effective sterilization without adding device complexity or power consumption
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the curved surface of the shoe sole and the conformable electrode sheet to maximize contact area and ozone generation efficiency. The electrode sheet bends to match the shoe's contours, ensuring uniform ozone distribution across the entire sole surface, thereby achieving high sterilization efficiency without requiring mechanical forcing devices
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 shoe cleaner effectively sterilizes and deodorizes the shoe interior with low ozone concentration, reducing power usage and allowing for easy handling and storage, while maintaining a compact design.
Implementation Method 1
an electrode sheet (5) having a front surface stuck to a back surface of the substrate (4), and including a pair of electrodes, at least one of the pair of electrodes being covered by a dielectric... capable of supplying a voltage necessary to generate ozone to the pair of electrodes of the electrode sheet
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6
AI summary
Provided is a shoe cleaner which can be used by a user without exposing the user to high concentrations of ozone, and moreover is compact, is easy to use, and has low power consumption. The shoe cleaner 1 is equipped with a case body 3 and a sheet-like ozone generating body 2. The ozone generating body 2 is formed from a flexible substrate 4 and a flexible polymer resin electrode sheet 5. The electrode sheet 5 is formed from a dielectric 50 and electrodes 51, 52 covered by the dielectric 50. The case body 3 houses a boost circuit 6 for boosting the voltage of a battery 60 and supplying the voltage to the electrode sheet 5.