Shoe Tightening System with Replaceable Laces and Hook-and-Loop Pull-Tab

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoelace tightening systems are either time-consuming to adjust or lack the flexibility of hook-and-loop fasteners, and existing combination designs do not allow for easy replacement of worn or torn components.

Innovation Solution

A quick shoe tightening system that combines shoelaces with hook-and-loop fasteners, featuring removable shoelace segments and a pull-tab with aglet channels and retention clips, enabling quick adjustment and replacement of shoelaces.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of time

If hook-and-loop fastener straps are used, then the shoe can be tightened quickly to various levels of tightness, but the straps cannot be replaced when worn or torn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime to tighten shoeVSAvoidability to replace straps

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The tightening system is divided into separate replaceable components: the pull-tab with hook fastener can be detached and replaced independently from the shoe body, while the lace segments can also be replaced. This segmentation enables both quick tightening and replacement capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The design allows worn or torn pull-tabs and laces to be discarded and replaced with new components. The recovery mechanism involves the eyelet holes and aglet channels that retain the components when needed but allow easy removal and replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

2Ease of operation

If traditional shoelaces are used, then the laces can be adjusted to correct tightness, but it takes time to tie the laces

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveflexibility of tightness adjustmentVSAvoidtime to adjust and tie laces

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the advantages of both traditional laces and hook-and-loop fasteners into a single hybrid system. The lace segments provide flexibility and adjustability, while the pull-tab with hook fastener enables quick tightening without tying knots.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The hook-and-loop fastener on the pull-tab performs preliminary tightening action before the lace segments are fully adjusted. This preliminary action quickly secures the shoe at the desired tightness level, eliminating the need for time-consuming knot tying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Speed

If combination shoelace and hook-and-loop fastener designs are used, then quick tightening is achieved, but the laces are rigid cords that cannot be replaced when worn

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetightening speedVSAvoidability to replace laces

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The lacing system is segmented into replaceable lace segments with aglets that can be independently removed and replaced. Each lace segment is a separate component that can be substituted when worn, maintaining both quick tightening performance and replaceability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system transitions from static, non-replaceable rigid cords to dynamic, replaceable lace segments. The laces are designed to be flexible yet maintain structural integrity, allowing them to be adjusted and replaced easily while providing quick tightening when combined with the hook fastener.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

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

Provides rapid tightening and loosening of shoes while allowing for the flexibility of shoelaces and the ease of replacing worn components, offering a compromise between traditional shoelaces and hook-and-loop fasteners.

Implementation Method 1

a first side of a hook-and-loop fastener on a bottom surface of the elongated substrate of the pull-tab, and a second side of the hook-and-loop fastener on an outer surface of the second side of the shoe

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectHook and loop fastener: Velcro

Data Source

PatentUS10390588B2Combination shoelace and hook and loop fasteners shoe tightening system with replaceable shoelaces

Publication Date: 2019.08.27 BELL SPORTS LLC

AI summary

A quick tightening system for a shoe comprises at least two shoelace segments, a pull-tab having a first side of a hook-and-loop fastener on a bottom surface of the pull-tab, and a second side of the hook-and-loop fastener. The at least two shoelace segments each includes an aglet at a distal end of the shoelace segment, each of the at least two shoelace segments coupled to the first side of the shoe at a proximal end of the shoelace segment and extending through the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The pull-tab includes aglet channels. The aglet channels each is sized to removably receive at least a portion of one of the aglets into one of the aglet channel while each of the at least two shoelace segments extends from the aglet channels into the eyelets on the first side of the shoe. The second side of the hook-and-loop fastener is disposed on an outer surface of the second side of the shoe.