Heel Entry Control Bar for Hands-Free Footwear Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Placing footwear on a foot, especially for individuals with limited dexterity or young children, is challenging due to the need for manual manipulation of the ankle opening and heel counter, particularly in soft uppers without a secured heel counter.
Innovation Solution
A device comprising a control bar with medial and lateral side arms, secured to the sole structure, that allows hands-free or assisted foot entry by depressing the control bar to store potential energy, facilitating the sliding of the foot into the foot-receiving cavity, and optionally using grab handles for easier entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional lace-up or strap closure systems are used, then ease of operation is maintained, but secure fit and comfort are compromised for wide or uneven ankles
Solution Approach 1:
The closure system is divided into multiple independent hooks and corresponding eyes distributed along the ankle collar, allowing localized adjustment at different positions to accommodate varying ankle widths and shapes, providing both secure fit and adaptability
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the ankle collar are equipped with hooks and eyes at specific locations to provide targeted adjustment zones, enabling the closure system to adapt to local anatomical variations in the wearer's ankle
2Ease of operation
If Velcro® straps are used, then ease of operation is improved, but durability and secure fit deteriorate due to material wear and loss of bonding strength
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient ankle collar is formed with a curved or contoured shape that naturally conforms to the ankle's geometry, providing secure fit through geometric constraint rather than relying on adhesive bonding strength that degrades over time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces durable metal hooks and eyes with alternative closure mechanisms that may be simpler and less prone to wear, accepting that these components may have shorter service lives but maintain ease of operation throughout their functional period
3Stability of the object's composition
If rigid or semi-rigid ankle collars are used, then structure and shape are maintained, but comfort and conformability to ankle shape worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The ankle collar transitions from a static rigid structure to a dynamic resilient structure that can deform and adapt to the wearer's ankle shape while maintaining structural integrity, providing both stability and conformability
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the ankle collar are changed from rigid to resilient, altering the mechanical parameters such as flexibility and elasticity to enable the collar to conform to varying ankle shapes while maintaining sufficient structural support
4Strength
If metal hooks and eyes are used, then strength and durability are improved, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive metal hooks and eyes with alternative closure components that are cheaper to manufacture, accepting that these components may be less durable but significantly reducing manufacturing complexity and cost
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear comprises a sole structure and a footwear upper secured to the sole structure and defining an ankle opening. A device comprises a control bar having a center segment secured to a rear portion of the footwear upper rearward of the ankle opening, a medial side arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment at a medial side of the footwear upper and fixed to the sole structure, and a lateral side arm extending downwardly and forwardly from the center segment at a lateral side of the footwear upper and fixed to the sole structure. The control bar depresses downward under an applied force to a loaded position as the side arms resiliently bend, storing potential energy that returns the control bar to an unloaded position upon removal of the applied force, the rear portion of the footwear upper moving with the control bar.