Retractable Spike Footwear with Single-Button Actuation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional metal spikes for footwear cause damage to golf course greens and other surfaces, while soft spikes provide less traction and can still harm the grass, leading to increased maintenance needs. Existing footwear with selectively extendable spikes often have cumbersome controls or exposed actuating mechanisms that are prone to activation during use, causing tripping or water intrusion.
Innovation Solution
A footwear system with spike actuating assemblies that include a first and second slider frame, a cyclically alternating positioner, and spike actuating assemblies, allowing for the selective extension and retraction of spikes from the sole using a single button, with mechanisms to maintain the spikes' position and prevent water intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If traditional metal spikes are used, then traction is improved, but damage to surfaces increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs retractable spikes that can dynamically change their state between extended and retracted positions. The spikes are extended when traction is needed (e.g., during golf swings) and retracted when not needed, allowing the footwear to adapt its traction characteristics based on the situation rather than having fixed metal spikes that cause continuous damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the physical state and position parameters of the spikes. By controlling the extension and retraction of spikes through actuating mechanisms, the system can switch between providing high traction (extended) and minimizing surface damage (retracted), effectively changing the interaction parameters with the ground surface.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If soft spikes are used, then damage to surfaces is reduced, but traction is decreased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses retractable spikes that can transition between extended and retracted states, allowing the footwear to provide high traction when needed while minimizing surface damage when not in use. This dynamic capability resolves the contradiction by enabling the spikes to function like traditional metal spikes only during specific activities requiring maximum grip.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention changes the position parameter of the spikes through actuation mechanisms, allowing them to extend for traction and retract to minimize damage. This parameter control enables the system to achieve both high traction performance and reduced surface damage by adjusting the spike extension state based on usage conditions.
3Adaptability or versatility
If selectively extendable spikes are added, then traction control is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the spike actuation system into separate modular assemblies, with each spike or group of spikes having its own actuating mechanism. This segmentation allows for independent control of different spike groups, providing versatile traction control while keeping each individual actuation mechanism relatively simple and manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The actuating mechanisms are designed to perform multiple functions: extending spikes for traction, retracting them for damage reduction, and potentially maintaining them in intermediate positions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate mechanisms for each action, thereby controlling overall device complexity while achieving versatile traction control.
4Ease of operation
If actuating mechanisms are exposed, then ease of operation is improved, but reliability decreases due to water intrusion and accidental activation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent nests the actuating mechanisms within the sole structure of the footwear. The controls are positioned in recesses or cavities within the sole, allowing them to be accessible for operation while being protected from water, dirt, and accidental activation. This nested arrangement maintains ease of operation while significantly improving reliability by shielding the mechanisms from environmental factors.
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for selectively extending and retracting spikes includes spike actuating assemblies mounted to, and cooperating between, a first plate and a first slider frame, and a second plate and a second slider frame, pivotally mounted to the first plate and first slider frame respectively. Each spike actuating assembly contains a spike. The first slider frame is translatable to actuate the spike actuating assemblies to thereby extend and retract the spikes from the spike actuating assemblies. A cyclically alternating positioner is mounted on the first plate for moving the first and second slider frames relative to the first and second plates. The positioner has only a single actuating button adjacent the heel. Depressing the actuating button a first time causes the positioner to move the slider frames to extend the spikes. Depressing the actuating button a second time causes the positioner to move the slider frames to retract the spikes.