Heel Guide Structure for Easy Shoe Insertion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear with a rigid heel protrusion makes it difficult to insert the heel into the shoe due to its small size and diagonal extension, requiring the use of a shoehorn.
Innovation Solution
A footwear design featuring a protruding portion with inclined guide portions on either side of the heel, comprising a reinforcing core covered by a sponge member, which guides the heel into the shoe without crushing, using first and second guide portions that widen outwardly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid protrusion is provided at the upper end of the heel portion to obtain hardness, then the heel portion gains structural strength, but the heel becomes difficult to insert into the shoe due to its small size and diagonal extension
Solution Approach 1:
The protruding portion is divided into multiple functional zones: a hard reinforcing core for structural strength, a soft sponge member for comfort and insertion ease, and guide portions with specific inclinations to direct the heel during insertion. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the others.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the heel portion are given different material properties and geometries. The reinforcing core provides hardness where needed for structure, while the sponge member provides softness where needed for insertion. The guide portions have specific inclinations (first guide portion: 30-60 degrees, second guide portion: 10-30 degrees) to optimize the insertion path.
2Volume of moving object
If the heel portion is made small to reduce footwear size, then the footwear becomes more compact, but the heel becomes difficult to insert without a shoehorn
Solution Approach 1:
The guide portions act as intermediaries between the heel and the interior of the footwear. These guide portions with specific inclinations create a gradual transition path that facilitates heel insertion, mediating between the compact heel design and the need for easy insertion.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide portions are designed with curved, inclined surfaces rather than sharp edges or flat surfaces. The first guide portion has an inclination of 30-60 degrees and the second guide portion has an inclination of 10-30 degrees, creating a smooth, gradual transition that guides the heel into the footwear without requiring a shoehorn.
Data Source
AI summary
A footwear has a heel, a protruding portion with a core protruding above a topline of the heel, and the protruding portion has first and second mountain portions on both sides and a valley portion between the first mountain portion and the second mountain portion, respectively. The footwear has a first guiding portion formed on the inside of the footwear of the first mountain to guide a heel of the foot into the footwear, and a second guiding portion formed on the inside of the footwear of the second mountain to guide the heel of the foot into the footwear.