Reel Closure Footwear With Slidable Eyelets for Low-Friction Fit Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear laces often experience high friction and limited adjustability, making it difficult to tighten or loosen the upper relative to the sole structure efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The use of a reel closure system with slidable eyelets that include arc-shaped apertures for first and second strings, allowing independent adjustment of the strings to minimize friction and enhance the dynamic tightening or loosening of the footwear upper.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional laces are used to adjust the upper, then the structure remains simple, but the friction is high and adjustability is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the eyelet slidable along the lace string rather than fixed. The eyelet body can move dynamically along the lace, allowing the lace to slide freely through the eyelet aperture. This dynamic configuration reduces friction between the lace and eyelet, enabling smooth tightening and loosening operations while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Productivity
If fixed eyelets are used, then the structure is simple, but the lace friction is high and adjustment efficiency is low
Solution Approach 1:
The eyelet is designed to slide dynamically along the lace string during adjustment operations. This dynamic capability allows the lace to move smoothly through the eyelet aperture with minimal friction, significantly improving adjustment efficiency. The eyelet structure includes a body with an aperture that accommodates the lace, and the entire assembly can move along the lace length.
Solution Approach 2:
The eyelet system is segmented into distinct functional components: the eyelet body with aperture, the lace string, and the sliding interface. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function independently - the eyelet provides the aperture, the lace provides the adjustment medium, and the sliding interface enables friction-free movement between them.
3Ease of operation
If the eyelet is fixed to the upper, then the structure is stable, but the lace cannot slide freely reducing adjustability
Solution Approach 1:
The eyelet is designed with dynamic sliding capability along the lace string while maintaining its structural integrity and position relative to the upper. The eyelet body slides along the lace rather than being fixed to it, allowing free movement during adjustment while保持稳定 attachment to the upper structure through appropriate mounting features.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear includes an upper, a sole structure coupled to the upper, a plurality of string pairs, a plurality of eyelets, and a reel-based closure system. Each string pair includes a first string and a second string. Each eyelet slidably couples the first string to the second string of one of the plurality of string pairs, and each eyelet defines a first aperture and a second aperture. The reel-based closure system is operatively coupled to at least one of the first string or the second string of at least one of the plurality of string pairs.