Lace Adjuster Retainer Mechanism for Shoe Security
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Solution Overview
Problem
Athletes face suboptimal performance and injury risks due to issues with shoelaces being untied, too tight, or too loose, which can become tripping hazards during athletic activities.
Innovation Solution
A lace adjuster system that includes an adjuster body and a lace end retainer, which securely retains both ends of the shoelace, preventing movement and potential tripping hazards, while also optionally incorporating a motion restrictor and GPS sensor for enhanced functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional shoelace systems are used, then the shoe can be tied and secured, but the shoelaces can become untied, too tight, or too loose, creating tripping hazards and performance issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the lace ends from the traditional shoelace system and secures them within a dedicated adjuster mechanism. The lace ends are retained between the lace end retainer and the adjuster body surface, removing them from the exterior where they could cause tripping hazards while maintaining secure attachment.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjuster body serves multiple functions: it retains lace ends, provides adjustment capability through the lace end retainer mechanism, and prevents tripping hazards by securing lace ends internally. The single component addresses multiple problems that traditional separate elements (knots, aglets, etc.) could not solve comprehensively.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the lace end retainer applies contact pressure to retain lace ends, then the lace ends are secured and prevented from moving, but this requires sufficient contact pressure force to maintain retention
Solution Approach 1:
The lace end retainer features a curved or contoured surface that contacts the lace ends, distributing the retention force across a broader area. This curvature allows the retainer to apply contact pressure effectively while maintaining stability, reducing the peak force required compared to a flat or point-contact design.
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
The lace adjuster effectively secures shoelaces, preventing tripping hazards and allowing for easy adjustment, while providing additional features like motion restriction and locational information, thereby enhancing athletic performance and safety.
Implementation Method 1
The first lace end of the shoelace is inhibited from being moved relative to the lace end retainer and the adjuster body when retained by the lace end retainer by a force generated by a contact pressure of the lace end retainer against the surface of the adjuster body.
Data Source
AI summary
A lace adjuster for selectively adjusting and securing a shoelace of a shoe, the shoelace including a first lace end and a second lace end, includes an adjuster body, and a lace end retainer. The lace end retainer is coupled to the adjuster body. The lace end retainer is configured to receive and retain the first lace end and/or the second lace end between the lace end retainer and a surface of the adjuster body. The first lace end and/or the second lace end of the shoelace is thus inhibited from being moved relative to the lace end retainer and the adjuster body when retained by the lace end retainer by a force generated by a contact pressure of the lace end retainer against the surface of the adjuster body. The lace end retainer can be formed from a resilient material.