Compressible Heel Counter Structure for Easy Shoe Entry
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear requires manual assistance or the use of a shoe horn to insert the foot due to the quarter collapsing under the heel, making it difficult to don the shoe easily.
Innovation Solution
A heel counter with a compressible heel cup that distorts under foot load to widen the shoe opening, featuring a thinner central region for flexibility and a foam ankle collar that exerts pressure for securement, along with compressible components and elastic materials to facilitate easy foot entry and removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the quarter is made rigid to support the heel, then the structural stability is improved, but the ease of foot insertion deteriorates because the quarter collapses under the heel
Solution Approach 1:
The heel counter is designed with a compressible upper portion that can dynamically change its configuration. In the first configuration, the upper portion has a downward incline that facilitates foot insertion. When compressed by the heel, it transitions to a second configuration where the upper portion is lowered, allowing the heel to pass through easily. After the load is removed, it returns to the first configuration to provide structural support.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state and geometric parameters of the heel counter's upper portion. The upper portion is designed with variable thickness (thinner central portion compared to peripheral portion) and can change its inclination angle and vertical position based on the applied load, enabling it to switch between a supportive state and an insertion-facilitating state.
2Ease of operation
If the heel counter is made compressible to ease foot insertion, then the ease of operation is improved, but the structural support capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel counter exhibits different properties in different regions. The upper portion is designed with compressible characteristics (thinner, more flexible) to facilitate insertion, while the lower portion and midportion maintain greater thickness and rigidity to provide structural support. This local differentiation of mechanical properties allows the heel counter to simultaneously enable easy insertion and maintain heel support.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel counter is segmented into distinct functional regions: an upper portion for insertion assistance, a midportion for transition, and a lower portion for structural support. The upper portion can be uniformly molded or have a thinner central portion, while the lower portion maintains greater thickness. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally.
3Ease of operation
If manual assistance or shoe horn is used to insert the foot, then the ease of foot insertion is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The heel counter is designed to facilitate foot insertion automatically through its own structural characteristics. The compressible upper portion with its downward incline and ability to transition configurations under load enables the heel counter to assist foot insertion without requiring external tools or manual manipulation. The structure serves itself by utilizing the natural compression from the heel to widen the shoe opening.
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 hands-free and easy foot insertion and removal by allowing the heel counter to widen transiently under foot pressure, providing securement and comfort once inserted.
Implementation Method 1
The compressible component has a first configuration in its native state, and the compressible component is capable of distorting into a second configuration under a load of a user's foot when the user is donning the footwear and is capable of automatically returning to the first configuration after the user's foot is fully inserted into the footwear
Implementation Method 2
The foamed ankle collar may extend at least partially around and over the foot receiving shoe opening and may be compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion. The ankle collar may exert pressure on the user's ankle once the foot is inserted into the footwear
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear includes an upper and a U-shaped foamed ankle collar. The ankle collar may form the topmost region of the foot receiving shoe opening and the foamed ankle collar may extend at least partially around and over a foot receiving shoe opening. The ankle collar is capable of being compressed by the user's heel during foot insertion and the ankle collar may exert pressure on the user's ankle once the foot is inserted. The ankle collar may have a flattened region along its length forming a downward angle from the topmost region toward the front of the article of footwear. The ankle collar may be located along at least a portion of an inner surface of a heel cup and the heel cup may have a shoe-horn like configuration. The ankle collar may reduce the dimensions of the shoe opening when not compressed.