Modular Footwear Protuberance Assembly with Rotative Locking
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing treatments for orthopedic conditions, such as AposTherapy, require complex recalibration and specialist intervention when replacing worn or damaged components, which is inefficient and may not be accessible to all patients.
Innovation Solution
The development of a footwear device with a protuberance assembly comprising a base and a cap that can be easily aligned and locked, allowing for the replacement of the cap without recalibrating the entire device, simplifying the adjustment process and potentially enabling self-adjustment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of repair
If the footwear device uses a integrated design where the protuberance is permanently fixed to the sole assembly, then the device structure is simple and reliable, but replacing worn or damaged components requires complex recalibration and specialist intervention
Solution Approach 1:
The protuberance assembly is divided into separate modular components: a base portion that attaches to the sole assembly and a cap portion that forms the visible protuberance. This segmentation allows the cap to be replaced independently without affecting the base or requiring recalibration of the entire device, thus improving ease of repair while maintaining manageable device complexity through standardized connection interfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
The cap portion is designed to fit over and nest onto the base portion, creating a layered structure where the cap can be easily attached and detached. This nesting arrangement allows for simple component replacement while maintaining a compact overall structure, resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and device complexity.
2Ease of operation
If the footwear device allows easy replacement of protuberance components, then maintenance is simplified and accessible to patients, but the alignment and calibration mechanisms become more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The connection mechanism between the base and cap is designed to be self-aligning, where the components naturally orient themselves correctly during attachment without requiring external calibration tools or specialist knowledge. This self-service feature enables patients to perform maintenance themselves while avoiding complex alignment mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The base and cap components feature asymmetric connection interfaces with unique geometries that ensure correct orientation during assembly. This asymmetry provides built-in alignment guidance, allowing easy user-friendly adjustment while maintaining simple alignment mechanisms through geometric constraints rather than complex mechanical systems.
3Productivity
If the protuberance assembly uses a modular design with separate base and cap portions, then component replacement is simplified, but the connection and locking mechanisms add structural complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The locking function is extracted as a separate, simple feature within the connection mechanism rather than being integrated into the main structural design. This allows the base and cap to connect through a straightforward interface with a dedicated locking element that can be easily engaged and disengaged, improving replacement efficiency while adding minimal structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection mechanism concentrates complexity only in the localized interface area between base and cap, while the rest of the components maintain simple, clean geometries. This local quality approach allows for efficient replacement through a specialized connection zone without requiring complex structures throughout the entire assembly, balancing replacement efficiency with overall structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A footwear device comprising: a sole assembly comprising at least one connective element; at least one protuberance assembly comprising a base and a cap, said base and cap configured to rotatively align; a locking fixture configured to lock and unlock said alignment of said base and cap; and a fastening fixture configured to fasten said base to said track in a selected position in said track.