Folded Loop Lacing Element for Footwear Fastening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fastening systems for footwear, particularly those using laces threaded through eyelets, can be challenging for wearers to tighten due to the required force needed to pull the laces through the upper material.
Innovation Solution
A fastening system for footwear featuring lacing elements made from a continuous strip of material folded into multiple loops, where the trailing edge of one loop and the leading edge of an adjacent loop form an eyestay to receive the lace, allowing for easier tightening by distributing the force and providing a mechanism for quick tightening.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional laces are threaded through eyelets in the upper, then the fastening system is simple in structure, but it requires excessive force to tighten the laces sufficiently on the foot
Solution Approach 1:
The lacing element is segmented into multiple loops formed from a continuous strip of material. Each loop acts as an independent eyelet, allowing the lace to be threaded through multiple segments rather than forcing it through dense upper material. This segmentation distributes the tightening force across multiple points, reducing the force required at each point while maintaining overall fastening effectiveness.
Solution Approach 2:
The loops formed by the folded continuous strip serve as intermediary structures between the lace and the upper. Instead of threading the lace directly through the upper material (which requires high force), the lace is threaded through the loops that are already formed and attached to the upper. These loops act as mediators that reduce the friction and resistance, making tightening easier for the wearer.
2Reliability
If laces are threaded through eyelets in the upper, then the fastening mechanism is straightforward, but it is difficult for wearers to achieve sufficient tightness
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the lacing element into multiple loops along its length, the system creates multiple attachment points distributed across the upper. This segmentation allows the lace to engage with the upper at numerous locations simultaneously, distributing the tightening force and achieving reliable tightness without requiring excessive force at any single point.
Solution Approach 2:
The lacing element is configured to extend in multiple dimensions - vertically above the upper and horizontally across the fastening portion. This multi-dimensional configuration allows the lace to be threaded through loops at different heights and positions, creating a more effective distribution of tension and achieving reliable tightness while reducing the operational force needed.
3Ease of operation
If a continuous strip is folded into multiple loops to form the lacing element, then the tightening force is distributed and ease of operation improves, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple loops are formed from a single continuous strip of material, merging what could have been separate components into one integrated structure. This combining approach maintains ease of operation through force distribution while reducing device complexity by eliminating the need for multiple separate eyelets or fastening components. The continuous strip is simply folded and attached, creating a complex-looking structure from a simple material.
Solution Approach 2:
The continuous strip serving as the lacing element performs multiple functions: it provides the structural framework, creates the eyelets for lace insertion, distributes tightening forces, and attaches to the upper. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby improving ease of operation without proportionally increasing device complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A lacing element for a fastening system of an article of footwear is formed using a continuous strip of material that is folded across itself in a series of different directions to produce a plurality of folded loops. A first group of exposed folded loops form eyestays for a lace, with each eyestay being formed by a trailing edge of one exposed loop and a leading edge of an adjacent exposed loop. The trailing edge and the leading edge are formed by folded regions in the continuous strip of material that are points of contact for the lace. A second group of secured folded loops are disposed below the exposed loops and are used to attach the lacing element to an upper of the article of footwear.