Sailing Shoe Support Member and Slip-Resistant Sole
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear designs for sailing lack adequate support and traction, particularly on wet surfaces, and fail to effectively prevent water ingress and pressure points, leading to instability and slipping during sailing maneuvers.
Innovation Solution
A sailing shoe with a water-durable upper, a slip-resistant sole featuring a herringbone pattern, and a substantially rigid support member extending from the toe to the front ankle, combined with an upper cover that prevents the support member from contacting the foot, providing additional protection and traction through a wrap-around sole and strategically placed gripping members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing footwear designs for sailing are used, then the footwear provides basic water durability, but they lack adequate support and traction on wet surfaces, leading to instability and slipping
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear is divided into distinct functional segments: a water-durable upper material for water resistance, a slip-resistant sole with herringbone pattern for traction, and a substantially rigid support member for structural stability. Each segment addresses specific performance requirements independently, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by modularizing the design.
Solution Approach 2:
The footwear combines multiple materials with complementary properties: water-durable upper material for water resistance, rigid support member for structural integrity, and slip-resistant sole material for traction. This composite approach achieves superior stability and traction on wet surfaces without requiring overly complex structural designs.
2Reliability
If existing footwear designs are used, then the footwear allows flexibility and comfort, but they fail to effectively prevent water ingress and pressure points
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear applies different material properties to different regions: the upper uses water-durable material specifically for water ingress prevention, while the support member provides rigid support in areas requiring pressure distribution. This localized application of material qualities maintains comfort and flexibility in non-critical areas while providing enhanced protection where needed.
3Strength
If existing footwear designs are used, then the footwear provides basic protection, but they lack adequate support members, leading to pressure points and reduced stability
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and emphasizes the support member as a distinct, essential component separate from the upper and sole. This substantially rigid support member is specifically designed to provide structural support and distribute pressure, resolving the contradiction by isolating the support function into a dedicated element rather than relying on complex integration of multiple components.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear for water sports disclosed. The article may be worn by a helmsman on a sailboat. The article may include provisions to facilitate increased traction and support for a foot of the helmsman.