Removable Steel Toe Housing for Clean Room Shoe Maintenance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional clean room garments and shoes used in semiconductor fabrication facilities have limited life expectancy and require frequent washing, limiting their effectiveness in maintaining a particle-free environment due to their design limitations.

Innovation Solution

A clean room shoe or boot with an upper particle-free polymer material and a removable steel toe housing member, allowing for easy cleaning by removing the steel toe housing member for washing while maintaining the particle-free environment, and then reinserting it after cleaning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the steel toe housing member is permanently integrated into the shoe article, then the protective function is maintained, but the shoe article cannot be washed frequently and has limited life expectancy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective functionVSAvoidlife expectancy

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe article is divided into separable components: the upper shoe body and the steel toe housing member. The steel toe housing member can be removed from the enclosure, allowing the upper shoe body to be washed frequently while the steel toe housing member remains separate. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by enabling frequent washing of the washable portions while maintaining the protective steel toe component.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steel toe housing member is extracted as a removable component from the shoe article structure. It can be taken out of the enclosure through the opening, allowing the upper shoe body to be cleaned without the steel toe housing member attached. This extraction enables frequent washing while preserving the protective function when the steel toe housing member is reinserted.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If the shoe article is washed frequently to maintain particle-free environment, then cleanliness is improved, but the shoe article structure is damaged and life expectancy is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveparticle contaminationVSAvoidlife expectancy

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe article is segmented into washable upper shoe body and non-washable steel toe housing member. The upper shoe body can be frequently washed to maintain particle-free environment, while the steel toe housing member is removed during washing to prevent structural damage from water exposure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The steel toe housing member is extracted during the washing process and stored separately. This allows the upper shoe body to be washed frequently without the steel toe housing member being exposed to water, thereby maintaining cleanliness while preserving the structural integrity and extending the life of the shoe article.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If the steel toe housing member is removable, then ease of cleaning is improved, but the sealing and maintenance of the enclosure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of cleaningVSAvoidenclosure sealing mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The enclosure is designed with a separate opening that allows the steel toe housing member to be removed and reinserted. This segmentation provides a simple mechanical interface for removal and reinsertion, enabling easy cleaning of the upper shoe body while maintaining an effective seal when the steel toe housing member is in place.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

4Duration of action of stationary object

If the shoe article structure is made robust to withstand frequent washing, then durability is improved, but the particle-free environment maintenance capability is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidparticle contamination

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe article is segmented into materials with different washing tolerances. The upper shoe body uses materials that can withstand frequent washing, while the steel toe housing member is kept separate during washing. This segmentation allows the use of durable, washable materials for the upper shoe body while maintaining the particle-free environment through frequent cleaning.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7451553B2Clean room safety shoe article with removal steel toe housing and method for treating the shoe

Publication Date: 2008.11.18 SEMICON MFG INT (SHANGHAI) CORP

AI summary

A clean room shoe article, e.g., shoe, boot, safety shoe, safety boot. The article has a sole region. The article has an upper particle free polymer material having a toe region and an ankle region. The upper particle free polymer material is coupled to the sole region. The upper particle free polymer material is capable of enclosing a foot of a human user. The toe region houses an entirety of toes of the human user. The article has a steel toe housing member enclosing and protecting the entirety of the toes of the human user. The article has an enclosure provided in the toe region of the upper particle free polymer material. The enclosure is adapted to house the steel toe housing member. A sealing region is provided within a vicinity of the enclosure. The sealing region is adapted to maintain the steel toe housing member within the enclosure and is also adapted to open and remove the steel toe housing member from the enclosure provided in the toe region of the upper particle free polymer member.