Lace Coupling Mounting Bracket With Dual-Material Welding Flange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional lace coupling structures for wearable articles, such as shoes, face issues with loose knots and inadequate combination strength between the lace and the article, leading to potential damage and separation during wear or removal.

Innovation Solution

A lace coupling structure featuring a mounting bracket with a supporting portion made from a first thermoplastic material, integrated into the article using a second thermoplastic material mounting flange with a lower melting point for welding, enhancing the structural integrity and attachment strength.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If welding method is used to couple the lace coupling structure to the wearable article, then the combination strength is improved, but the wearable article may be damaged and the lace coupling structure may separate if the combination strength is not enough

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecombination strengthVSAvoidintegrity of wearable article

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket is divided into two distinct parts: a supporting portion made of first thermoplastic material and a mounting flange made of second thermoplastic material with lower melting point. This segmentation allows the supporting portion to maintain structural integrity and high strength while the mounting flange provides a controlled welding interface that melts at a lower temperature to bond with the wearable article without damaging it.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different parts of the mounting bracket have different material properties: the supporting portion uses first thermoplastic material with higher melting point for structural strength, while the mounting flange uses second thermoplastic material with lower melting point for welding. This local differentiation of material properties enables the structure to simultaneously achieve high combination strength and protection of the wearable article from damage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Ease of manufacture

If conventional lace coupling structures are mounted via sewing, then the appearance is maintained, but the manufacture time is long and stitching lines affect the appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemanufacture timeVSAvoidappearance quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSShape

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical sewing process with a thermal welding process. The mounting flange made of second thermoplastic material is welded to the wearable article using heat, eliminating the need for needles, threads, and stitching operations. This substitution dramatically reduces manufacture time and eliminates visible stitching lines, improving both production efficiency and appearance quality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the lace is tensioned, then the lace coupling structure is pulled, but if the combination strength is not enough, the wearable article is damaged and the lace coupling structure separates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvelace tensioningVSAvoidcombination strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting bracket employs a composite structure combining two different thermoplastic materials with distinct melting points. The first thermoplastic material in the supporting portion provides high mechanical strength to resist lace tension, while the second thermoplastic material in the mounting flange provides controlled thermal bonding. This composite material approach ensures the structure can withstand tension forces without separation while maintaining adequate combination strength with the wearable article.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution significantly increases the combination strength between the lace coupling structure and the wearable article, preventing separation and ensuring secure fastening and easy removal.

Implementation Method 1

the mounting flange is made by a second thermoplastic material. A melting point of the second thermoplastic material is lower than a melting point of the first thermoplastic material, and the mounting flange is configured to be welded with the article

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

In the mounting bracket welding step, a thermal energy is provided, and the upper layer and the lower layer are welding to combine the mounting bracket of the at least one lace coupling structure to the article

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHeating: Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20250098822A1Lace coupling structure, lace coupling structure assembling method and lace coupling structure assembling fixture

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 CHEN CHIN CHU

AI summary

A lace coupling structure which is applied for being assembled to an article includes a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket includes a main body and a supporting portion. The supporting portion extends outward and integrally from an outer surface of the main body. The supporting portion and the main body are made by a first thermoplastic material. The supporting portion is covered by the article.