Rotary Supporting Base for Sports Shoe Lever Arms

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing supporting bases for levers in sports shoes are prone to bending and breaking due to shearing and flexural stresses, and the rivets used to attach the lever arm to the base can be torn out under intense stress, leading to a loose connection.

Innovation Solution

A rotary supporting base with a plate having first and second wings that form connecting bridges, allowing for axial alignment of holes for secure pivoting and support of the lever arm, reducing stress concentrations and enhancing stability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a simple plate base with wings is used for lever attachment, then the device complexity is low and manufacturing is easy, but the strength and reliability are insufficient under intense shearing and flexural stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestrengthVSAvoidcomplexity
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The base is divided into multiple functional wings (first wings for lever arm attachment, second wings for additional support) with distinct roles. Each wing pair forms separate seats for tabs, distributing the load and reducing stress concentration on any single structural element, thereby enhancing overall strength without significantly increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The invention transitions from a simple planar plate to a three-dimensional structure by bending the wings at different angles (90° and 45°) relative to the plate. This dimensional transformation creates spatial separation between attachment points and forms bridging structures that provide additional load paths and structural rigidity under stress.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If rivets are used to pivot the lever arm to the wings, then the ease of manufacture is high, but the reliability is poor as rivets can be torn out under intense flexural stresses

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovereliabilityVSAvoidease of manufacture
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple rivets are combined to work together in a distributed attachment system. The first and second wings each provide rivet attachment points, creating redundant load paths. If one rivet fails, the others continue to hold the lever arm, significantly improving reliability while using standard riveting processes.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The dual-wing structure with multiple rivet attachment points acts as a preventive measure against rivet failure. The distributed rivet configuration and bridging structure between wings cushion and distribute the flexural stresses before they can concentrate on a single rivet, preventing tear-out failures in advance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

3Stability of the object's composition

If the wings are arranged to form seats for tabs, then the stability of the connection is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to axial alignment of holes

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovestabilityVSAvoidprecision
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The holes for rivet insertion are pre-formed in the wings before the final bending operations. This preliminary action ensures that the holes are already positioned and aligned in the flat pattern, and the subsequent bending operations maintain this alignment, reducing the precision requirements during assembly while achieving stable connection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The wings are bent at different angles (90° for first wings, 45° for second wings) to create an asymmetric three-dimensional configuration. This asymmetric arrangement provides stable tab seating while the holes remain axially aligned along the same axis, allowing rivets to pass through multiple components with consistent positioning despite the angular variations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #4Asymmetry

Data Source

PatentEP1922944B1Supporting base for a lever, particularly for sports shoes
Publication Date: 2010.12.29 PREMEC
  • EP1922944B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP1922944B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP1922944B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

A rotary supporting base (1) for a lever arm (2), particularly for sports shoes, comprising a plate (4) which has an approximately rectangular plan shape and can be associated with a flap of a shoe, two first wings (6a, 6b) protruding from the perimetric longitudinal edges of the plate, approximately at right angles thereto, the wings having a connecting and supporting bridge (7a, 7b) for two second wings (8a, 8b), which are bent and arranged approximately parallel and spaced with respect to the first wings (6a, 6b) so as to form between them two first seats (9a, 9b) for two tabs (10a, 10b) which protrude from one end of a lever arm (2); the first and second wings have first (11a, 11b) and second (12a, 12b) holes which are provided along the same axis so as to constitute second seats for means for the pivoting and support of the lever arm (2).