Segmented Hiking Shoe Collar for Sealing and Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hiking shoes face challenges in sealing the gap between the shoe and the foot, leading to coldness, entry of objects like small stones, and discomfort due to the bulkiness and inefficiency of current collar designs.
Innovation Solution
A shoe with a collar that encompasses the foot on three sides, featuring two collar portions with varying flexibility, providing a two-step sealing mechanism. The first collar portion is less flexible and thicker for stability and heat insulation, while the second, more flexible portion adapts to the foot's movements, ensuring a tight and comfortable seal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a bulky collar is used to seal the gap between shoe and foot, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but shoe weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is divided into two distinct portions: a first collar portion with lower flexibility and a second collar portion with higher flexibility. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specific function optimally while reducing the need for excessive material throughout the entire collar structure.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the collar are assigned different flexibility characteristics tailored to their specific functional requirements. The first collar portion has lower flexibility for stable sealing at the heel, while the second collar portion has higher flexibility to adapt to foot movements, eliminating the need for uniformly bulky construction.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an elastic collar is used to seal the gap, then adaptability to foot movements is improved, but sealing effectiveness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar is segmented into two portions with different flexibility characteristics. The first collar portion maintains lower flexibility to ensure stable sealing, while the second collar portion provides higher flexibility for adaptability, resolving the contradiction between sealing effectiveness and movement adaptation.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar structure incorporates local quality variations where the first collar portion has lower flexibility for stable sealing and the second collar portion has higher flexibility for adaptability. This localized differentiation allows the collar to simultaneously achieve both sealing effectiveness and adaptability to foot movements.
3Reliability
If the collar is made tighter to improve sealing, then sealing effectiveness is improved, but wearer comfort deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The collar applies different flexibility characteristics at different locations: the first collar portion with lower flexibility provides stable sealing without excessive tightness, while the second collar portion with higher flexibility adapts to foot movements, maintaining sealing effectiveness while improving wearer comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The collar structure incorporates dynamic characteristics through the second collar portion's higher flexibility, allowing it to adapt to foot movements during walking. This dynamic adaptation maintains sealing effectiveness while reducing discomfort compared to a uniformly tight collar.
Data Source
Figure 1~2A
Figure 2B~2C
Figure 3A~3B
AI summary
The present invention relates to a shoe (100; 200; 300; 801), particularly hiking shoe, comprising a rigid heel portion (120; 220; 320; 820) and a collar (130; 230; 330; 830) arranged above the rigid heel portion (120; 220; 320; 820). The collar (130; 230; 330; 830) comprises a first collar portion (131; 231; 331; 831) and a second collar portion (132; 232; 332; 832). The first collar portion (131; 231; 331; 831) and the second collar portion (132; 232; 332; 832) encompass a foot of a wearer of the shoe on the lateral side, the medial side and the rear side of the foot. The first collar portion (131; 231; 331; 831) is more flexible than the rigid heel portion (120; 220; 320; 820). The second collar portion (132; 232; 332; 832) is more flexible than the first collar portion (131; 231; 331; 831).