Integral Flip-Flop Shoe Mold for Instep Protection and Water Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional flip-flop shoes lack protection for the instep and toes, and the design allows water to seep through the sole, compromising hygiene and safety.
Innovation Solution
A flip-flop shoe design featuring a sole, vamp, and rib integrally formed from the same material, with a toe slot and rib extending between the toes, produced using an upper, middle, and lower mold for automatic mass production, ensuring protection and comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a Y-shaped strap with an insertion hole in the sole is used, then the sandal allows easy wearing and taking off, but the insertion hole allows water to seep through the sole, compromising hygiene
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the strap attachment function with the sole structure by integrally forming the vamp and sole as a single piece. This eliminates the separate insertion hole design while maintaining the Y-shaped strap configuration, thereby preventing water ingress through the sole while preserving ease of wearing and taking off.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the vamp from the sole by providing an integral connection rather than a separate attachment mechanism. The vamp is formed as an integral extension of the sole, creating a continuous structure that prevents water penetration while maintaining the functional benefits of the Y-shaped strap design.
2Ease of operation
If an open design with a Y-shaped strap is used, then the sandal provides easy wearing and taking off, but it cannot protect the instep and the toes of the foot
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the protective function with the ease of wearing by integrally forming the vamp that extends around the instep and toes. The integral vamp structure provides continuous coverage and protection while maintaining the Y-shaped strap configuration for easy donning and doffing.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by extending the vamp material specifically around the instep and toe areas to provide targeted protection. The vamp is formed with sufficient coverage in these critical areas while maintaining the overall open design characteristics for ease of wearing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional separate component assembly is used, then manufacturing flexibility is maintained, but mass production efficiency and labor savings are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple components (sole and vamp) into a single integral structure that can be produced in one molding operation. This integrally formed design enables automatic mass production while maintaining manufacturing flexibility, as the single-mold process can be easily adjusted for different shoe designs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal mold design that can produce various flip-flop configurations through integral forming. The single-mold process serves multiple functions (forming sole, vamp, and connecting structure simultaneously), greatly enhancing mass production efficiency while maintaining adaptability for different product variations.
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 design provides enhanced protection for the instep and toes, improves hygiene by preventing water ingress, and facilitates efficient mass production, enhancing wearing comfort and safety.
Implementation Method 1
filling molten plastic material into the sole cavity, the vamp cavity, and the rib cavity of the mold device to form an integral flip-flop shoe
Implementation Method 2
actuating the mold device to close the upper and lower molds... filling molten plastic material into the sole cavity
Data Source
AI summary
A method is provided for integrally forming a flip-flop shoe including a sole, a vamp having a toe slot, and a rib interconnected between the sole and the vamp. A sole cavity is defined between middle and lower molds. A vamp cavity is defined between upper and middle molds. An insertion block on the upper mold is received in a slot of the middle mold and corresponds to the toe slot. A rib cavity is defined between an end of the slot and the insertion block and intercommunicates with the sole cavity and the vamp cavity. Molten plastic material is filled into the sole cavity, the vamp cavity, and the rib cavity to form an integral flip-flop shoe including the sole, the vamp, the rib, and the toe slot. The upper and lower molds are then opened, and the integral flip-flop shoe is removed from the middle mold.