Flexible Shoe Using Ballistic Nylon and Stretch-Fit Rubber

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional footwear lacks flexibility and durability, especially in wet or moist environments, and fails to provide a secure fit on uneven surfaces.

Innovation Solution

A flexible shoe design featuring an under sole made of ballistic nylon, a foot bed of neoprene, and over-foot portions made of stretch-fit rubber, which form a cavity to enclose the foot, providing flexibility, abrasion resistance, and a secure fit on various surfaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If conventional footwear is made with rigid structures for durability, then strength and protection are improved, but flexibility and adaptability to uneven surfaces deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe employs flexible materials throughout its construction - ballistic nylon for the under sole, neoprene for the foot bed, and stretch-fit rubber for the over-foot portions. These flexible shells and films maintain durability while enabling the shoe to conform to irregular surfaces and provide adaptive fit, directly resolving the contradiction between strength and flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The shoe combines multiple materials with complementary properties: ballistic nylon provides abrasion resistance and durability, neoprene offers flexibility and water resistance, and stretch-fit rubber provides elastic containment. This composite material approach achieves both durability and flexibility simultaneously by leveraging the strengths of each material

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Stability of the object's composition

If conventional footwear uses rigid structures for support, then stability is improved, but ability to conform to irregular surfaces deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecure fitVSAvoidconformability to surfaces

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe employs dynamic, flexible materials that can change shape and adapt to the foot and surrounding environment. The stretch-fit rubber over-foot portions dynamically adjust to provide secure containment while conforming to irregular surfaces, and the resilient stitching material dynamically adjusts to maintain secure fit during movement and flexing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The flexible shoe construction with ballistic nylon under sole, neoprene foot bed, and stretch-fit rubber over-foot portions creates flexible shells that can conform to irregular surfaces while maintaining secure fit through the elastic properties of the materials and the resilient stitching

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Strength

If conventional footwear is made thick for protection, then durability and protection are improved, but ease of storage and portability deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveprotectionVSAvoidthickness

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe utilizes thin flexible materials - ballistic nylon under sole, neoprene foot bed, and stretch-fit rubber over-foot portions - that provide adequate protection and durability without requiring excessive thickness. The flexible nature of these thin films allows the shoe to be collapsed or folded into a compact form for easy storage and portability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

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 flexible shoe design enhances durability, grip, and comfort by conforming to irregular surfaces, maintaining a secure fit in wet conditions and allowing easy storage due to its minimal thickness and lightweight construction.

Implementation Method 1

the stitching material being resiliently expandable and contractible

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

the first over-foot portion and the second over-foot portion are formed of stretch-fit rubber

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS11589636B2Flexible shoe

Publication Date: 2023.02.28 SNYDER TODD

AI summary

A flexible shoe includes an under sole, a foot bed, a first over-foot portion, and a second over-foot portion. The under sole is formed of ballistic nylon. The foot bed is arranged on an upper surface of the under sole. The first over-foot portion is attached to the under sole and is configured to flexibly overly an instep of a foot of a user forward of an ankle of the user. The second over-foot portion is configured to flexibly wrap around a heel of the user rearward of the ankle of the user. The under sole, the first over-foot portion, and the second over-foot portion define a cavity configured to enclose the foot of the user. The foot bed is positioned entirely within the cavity.