Heel Arm Footwear Structure for Hands-Free Secure Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Donning and doffing of shoes, including tying or securing them, can be inconvenient or difficult for some individuals.
Innovation Solution
A rapid-entry shoe design featuring a heel arm that transitions between collapsed and uncollapsed configurations, assisted by a resilient member that biases the heel arm toward the uncollapsed configuration, facilitating easy entry and secure fitting.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional lacing or securing mechanisms are used, then the shoe can be securely fastened, but the donning and doffing process becomes inconvenient and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The heel arm is designed as a dynamic component that can transition between a first configuration (for easy entry) and a second configuration (for secure fit). The resilient member enables the heel arm to dynamically adjust its position, allowing the shoe to adapt between ease of donning and secure fastening without requiring manual intervention for each state change.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member provides self-service functionality by automatically biasing the heel arm toward the second configuration when the shoe is worn, securing the foot without requiring lacing or other manual fastening operations. The system self-regulates between open and closed states based on whether the foot is inserted.
2Reliability
If a secure fitting mechanism is implemented, then the foot is held firmly in the shoe, but the mechanism becomes complex and difficult to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening function is segmented into a dedicated heel arm component that operates independently from the rest of the shoe structure. This segmentation allows the heel arm to provide secure retention through a simple pivot motion rather than requiring a complex integrated lacing or buckling system.
Solution Approach 2:
The resilient member acts as an intermediary element that provides the securing force without requiring direct user manipulation. It mediates between the heel arm and the shoe body, automatically engaging the secure fitting state when the foot is inserted and eliminating the need for complex user-operated fastening mechanisms.
3Ease of operation
If the heel arm is designed to transition between configurations, then easy entry is enabled, but the structural complexity of the shoe increases
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member functions as a flexible element that enables the heel arm to transition between configurations without requiring rigid mechanical linkages or complex joints. This flexible approach reduces structural complexity compared to traditional rigid hinge or linkage systems while still achieving the desired dynamic movement.
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
Enables easy and secure shoe donning and doffing without the need for traditional lacing, enhancing user convenience and ease of use.
Implementation Method 1
The resilient member can be configured to bias the heel arm toward the uncollapsed configuration
Data Source
AI summary
A rapid-entry shoe having a heel arm configured to transition between a collapsed configuration, for easy donning and doffing of the shoe, and an uncollapsed configuration, for securing a foot inside the shoe, the shoe having a resilient member configured to bias the heel arm toward the uncollapsed configuration.