Foldable Footwear Hinge and Fastener Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear devices that can be compacted for storage often lack comfort and style, and may become unfolded or entangled with other items during storage.
Innovation Solution
A foldable footwear device with a hinge that allows the fore and aft soles to pivot between a planar and folded position, secured by distal fasteners and featuring a foot securement article for comfort and style, along with a male protrusion and female depression for stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If footwear is made extremely flexible to be rolled up into a compacted state, then storage compactness is improved, but cushioning comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear is divided into two main segments: the fore sole and the aft sole, which are connected by a hinge mechanism. This segmentation allows the footwear to be folded into a compact state for storage while maintaining the structural integrity and cushioning properties of each sole when worn. The fore sole and aft sole can be independently optimized for comfort while enabling compact folding when not in use.
2Volume of moving object
If footwear is configured to be folded into a compact state, then storage compactness is improved, but stability deteriorates causing the footwear to become unfolded on its own and entangled with other items
Solution Approach 1:
Fasteners are provided that can be engaged beforehand to secure the footwear in its folded compact state. This preliminary action of fastening prevents the footwear from accidentally unfolding or becoming entangled with other stored items, maintaining both compactness and stability during storage.
Solution Approach 2:
A hinge mechanism acts as an intermediary between the fore sole and aft sole, enabling controlled folding while maintaining stability. The hinge provides a defined pivot point that allows the footwear to be folded compactly without becoming unstable or entangled, bridging the need for both compactness and structural stability.
3Volume of moving object
If footwear is made compact for storage, then portability is improved, but ease of access deteriorates requiring trips back to vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear incorporates a dynamic hinge mechanism that allows easy transition between the worn state and the folded compact state. This dynamic design enables the footwear to be quickly folded and stored in compact spaces near the user's location, improving ease of access without sacrificing portability or compactness.
Data Source
AI summary
A foldable footwear device may include a fore sole, having a fore upper surface and a fore lower surface, and an aft sole, having an aft upper surface and an aft lower surface. A hinge may pivotally couple the fore sole to the aft sole. The hinge may be configured to enable the fore sole and the aft sole to be moved between a planar position in which the fore upper surface and the aft upper surface may be substantially parallel and continuous with each other and a folded position in which the fore lower surface and aft lower surface may be contacting each other. A fore distal fastener may be coupled to the fore sole, and an aft distal fastener may be coupled to the aft sole. The fore distal fastener may removably engage with the aft distal fastener to secure the device in the folded position.