Footwear Strap Attachment via Aperture Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for securing straps to footwear require the use of various fasteners, which can be cumbersome and may not provide a secure or adjustable fit.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sole structure with apertures that accommodate separable strap portions, where widened portions of the strap can be inserted to create a combined width or cross-sectional area greater than the aperture, allowing for secure attachment without the need for additional fasteners and enabling adjustable fit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional fasteners are used to secure straps to footwear, then the strap can be attached to the sole, but the device becomes more complex and the operation becomes more cumbersome
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the fastener component entirely from the strap attachment system. Instead of using buckles, clips, or other fastening mechanisms, the strap is designed with a configuration that allows it to be secured through the aperture geometry itself, extracting the unnecessary fastening element from the system.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap structure itself provides the fastening function through its own geometric configuration. The strap's shape and dimensions allow it to be inserted through and secured by the aperture without requiring external fastening mechanisms, making the system self-sufficient.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a single aperture is used for strap attachment, then the structure is simpler, but the strap cannot provide an adjustable fit
Solution Approach 1:
The aperture is divided into multiple discrete openings rather than being a single continuous hole. This segmentation allows the strap to be positioned at different locations relative to the aperture, enabling size adjustment while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap system transitions from a fixed configuration to a dynamic, adjustable configuration. By allowing the strap to be positioned at different locations relative to the aperture openings, the system can adapt to different foot sizes and shapes without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable structure.
3Ease of operation
If the strap width is reduced for easier insertion, then the strap can pass through the aperture more easily, but the strap becomes less secure in the aperture
Solution Approach 1:
The strap is divided into multiple segments or portions that can be independently manipulated during insertion. This allows the strap to be flexed or bent into a configuration that facilitates passage through the aperture, then secured in place once inserted, resolving the contradiction between ease of insertion and retention security.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap utilization involves moving from a two-dimensional flat configuration to a three-dimensional configured state during insertion, then settling into a secured position. By utilizing the third dimension (depth/layering), the strap can be easily inserted through the aperture while maintaining secure retention through its configured position and interaction with the aperture geometry.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear with straps is disclosed. The article includes provisions for releasably securing the straps to a sole structure of the article. End portions of the straps are provided with separable portions that can be individually inserted through apertures in the sole structure. In addition, a thong portion includes separable portions that can be individually inserted through an aperture in the sole structure.