Rapid-Entry Shoe With Pressurized Pocket For Foot Retention
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Solution Overview
Problem
Donning and doffing of shoes, including tying or otherwise securing the same, may be undesirable and/or present difficulties to some individuals.
Innovation Solution
A rapid-entry shoe design featuring a pocket encapsulating a pressurized medium, which transitions between collapsed and uncollapsed configurations to facilitate easy foot entry and retention, utilizing a pressurized medium to bias the shoe towards an uncollapsed configuration for retention.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the shoe opening is expanded to facilitate foot entry, then ease of donning is improved, but shoe retention capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe incorporates a dynamic opening mechanism that transitions between expanded and collapsed states. The opening can be expanded when the user approaches the shoe for easy foot entry, then automatically or manually collapses to secure the foot. This dynamic transformation allows the same structure to provide both easy access and secure retention without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe preparation system performs preliminary actions by expanding the opening in advance before the user needs to insert their foot. This preliminary expansion eliminates the need for manual manipulation during donning, making the process easier and faster while the subsequent collapse ensures proper retention.
2Reliability
If traditional shoe tying or securing mechanisms are used, then shoe retention is improved, but ease of donning and doffing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical tying systems (laces, buckles, straps) with a pneumatic or hydraulic actuation system. This substitution eliminates complex manual operations while maintaining secure retention through controlled pressure application to the opening mechanism, significantly improving ease of donning and doffing.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe incorporates a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator that controls the opening expansion and collapse. By using fluid pressure, the system achieves reliable retention through controlled mechanical advantage, eliminating the need for manual tying while providing smooth, effortless operation for the user.
3Ease of operation
If the pocket arm is compressed downward toward the sole portion, then the shoe opening expands for foot reception, but the medium pressure increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically changes the pressure parameter of the enclosed medium during operation. When the pocket arm compresses to expand the opening for foot reception, the medium pressure temporarily increases. The system is designed to accommodate and manage this pressure variation, returning to a balanced state after donning, thus enabling easy foot reception without permanent pressure issues.
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
Enables convenient and secure donning and doffing of shoes by expanding or collapsing the shoe opening as needed, enhancing user experience and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
the rapid-entry shoe has an uncollapsed configuration in which the opening is unexpanded to retain a foot within the rapid-entry shoe, and an arm of the pocket is expanded away from the sole portion of the rapid-entry shoe. In this regard, the rapid-entry shoe is biased by the pressurized medium toward the uncollapsed configuration.
Data Source
Figure 1A~1B
Figure 2A~2H
Figure 2I~2L
AI summary
A rapid-entry shoe having an upper, a sole portion, and at least one pocket coupled to a rear portion of the upper and encapsulating a compressed medium that biases a topline of the shoe toward an uncollapsed configuration.