Low-Profile Winding Mechanism With Flexible Drive for Reliable Tightening
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing winding devices for sports footwear, such as ski boots, are cumbersome in height, limiting design options, interfering with aesthetics and functionality, and requiring complex construction components.
Innovation Solution
A winding device with a spool rotation axis that can be independently oriented relative to the actuation member, using a flexible motion transmission element to reduce height and allow versatile design adaptation, incorporating a simple construction with fewer components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the spool and knob are arranged in overlapping relation with the same rotation axis, then the winding device can maintain tensioning condition, but the height-wise overall dimensions become relatively large
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the spool's rotation axis to be substantially orthogonal to the rotation axis of the actuation knob, rather than parallel. This dimensional change in axis orientation allows the components to be arranged side-by-side rather than overlapping, significantly reducing the height-wise overall dimensions while maintaining the tensioning function through the modified gear mechanism.
2Length of moving object
If the winding device has large height-wise overall dimensions, then the spool can wind/unwind long cables or straps, but the design options and aesthetic characteristics of the sports footwear are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the orientation of the spool's rotation axis to be orthogonal to the knob's axis, the patent reduces the height-wise footprint of the winding device. This allows the device to maintain its cable/strap winding capacity while occupying less vertical space, thereby expanding design options and improving aesthetic characteristics of the sports footwear.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a gear mechanism that can dynamically adapt to different winding requirements. The gear system allows the spool to rotate in response to knob actuation while maintaining the orthogonal axis configuration, enabling flexible winding of various cable lengths without increasing the device's height-wise dimensions.
3Device complexity
If the spool rotation axis is parallel to the actuation knob axis, then the winding mechanism is simple, but the winding device is cumbersome and interferes with accessibility of the knob
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the spool's rotation axis orthogonally to the knob's rotation axis, which redistributes the spatial arrangement of components. This dimensional change improves knob accessibility by eliminating the overlapping configuration, while the gear mechanism maintains the functional connection between knob actuation and spool rotation despite the orthogonal axis arrangement.
4Length of stationary object
If complex kinematic mechanisms are used to reduce height-wise dimensions, then the overall dimensions are reduced, but the construction becomes complex with reduced strength components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves height reduction through a fundamental reconfiguration of the axis orientations rather than through complex kinematic mechanisms. By making the spool's rotation axis orthogonal to the knob's axis and using a straightforward gear connection, the patent reduces height-wise dimensions while maintaining simple, strong construction without requiring fragile or complex intermediate mechanisms.
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to a winding device (10) for tensioning a traction element (200) for tightening an article provided with a pair of flaps to be moved mutually towards/away. The winding device (10) comprises a spool element (14) around which there is operatively wound and unwound said traction element (200) when respectively rotated in a first direction and in a second direction, an actuation member (16) connected to the spool element (14) through a winding mechanism (18) configured to cause a movement of the spool element (14) in the first direction, and at least one holding mechanism (20) configured so as to allow a rotation of the spool element (14) in the first direction and so as to prevent a rotation of the spool element (14) in the second direction. Specifically, the actuation member (16) and the winding mechanism (18) are connected to each other through a motion transmission element (32) of the flexible type which is configured to transmit an actuation movement of the actuation member (16) to the winding mechanism (18) so as to cause the movement of the spool element (14) in the first direction.