Footwear Stitching Embeds Thread in Sole Lip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Infants' and young children's footwear with soft soles lacks ventilation and durability to withstand rough surfaces, which can be detrimental to their developing feet.

Innovation Solution

Breathable footwear with embedded stitches that avoid direct contact with rough surfaces, featuring a stitching method where the thread forms angled and horizontal stitches, with ripples between them, embedding the thread in the lip portion to enhance durability and ventilation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If machine-sewn soft-sole shoes are used, then the footwear allows foot development, but the shoes lack ventilation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot development compatibilityVSAvoidventilation deficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the natural porosity of soft sole materials to provide ventilation. The soft sole construction inherently allows air permeability while maintaining the flexibility needed for foot development, eliminating the need for additional ventilation features.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

2Ease of manufacture

If traditional stitching is used, then the shoes can be manufactured, but the stitches contact rough surfaces causing durability issues

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestitching feasibilityVSAvoidabrasion resistance

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent embeds the stitches within the lip portion of the sole, transitioning the stitch position from the surface dimension to an embedded dimension. This dimensional change protects the stitches from direct contact with rough surfaces while maintaining the structural integrity of the footwear.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Solution Approach 2:

The lip portion acts as an intermediary layer between the stitches and the rough external surfaces. By embedding stitches within this intermediate layer, the patent protects the vulnerable stitch elements from abrasion while allowing the footwear to maintain its protective function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Strength

If stiff and hard soles are used, then foot support is provided, but the shoes are detrimental to developing feet

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefoot supportVSAvoiddamage to developing feet

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the physical parameters of the sole from stiff and hard to soft and flexible. This parameter change allows the sole to maintain structural integrity for protection while adapting to the contours of developing feet, providing both support and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8806688B2Footwear and method of making thereof

Publication Date: 2014.08.19 PEDIPED INFANT FOOTWEAR LLC

AI summary

Footwear includes an upper, a sole, and a thread. The upper has upper holes around the upper peripheral. The sole has a lip portion on the sole peripheral lip portion has sole holes around the sole peripheral. The thread attaches the upper and the sole through the upper holes and the sole holes, and forms a set of stitches. A ripple is formed between two sets of stitches and the thread is embedded in the lip portion between the ripples. Each stitch goes through a first upper hole and enters the sole hole of the lip portion, such that the thread forms an angled stitch on the lip portion. The thread then goes through a second upper hole and exits from a third upper hole, such that the thread forms a horizontal stitch on the inside of the footwear.