Shoe Electrical Ventilation System for Continuous Foot Comfort
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe ventilation systems only provide active air circulation during walking movements, failing to maintain foot comfort when the user is standing or sitting.
Innovation Solution
Integration of a mechanically operable air pump device and an electrically operable ventilation system, powered by stored or generated electrical energy, allowing for independent air circulation and ventilation regardless of the user's movement, using a motor-driven fan or pump and energy storage like rechargeable batteries, with optional kinetic or solar energy harvesting and humidity/temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a mechanically operable air pump device is used for shoe ventilation, then air circulation is improved during walking movement, but ventilation stops when the user is standing or sitting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the purely mechanically operable air pump device with an electrically operable ventilation device. The electric motor-driven fan or pump system eliminates the dependency on mechanical compression from walking movements, enabling continuous operation regardless of whether the user is walking, standing, or sitting. This substitution of mechanical actuation with electrical actuation resolves the contradiction between circulation efficiency during movement and ventilation availability during stationary states.
Solution Approach 2:
The ventilation device is designed to perform multiple functions: it operates during walking movements to provide active air circulation, and it continues to operate when the user is standing or sitting to maintain foot comfort. The system universally addresses ventilation needs across all user states, making the ventilation function adaptable and versatile rather than limited to specific movement conditions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If an electrically operable ventilation device is added to provide continuous ventilation, then ventilation availability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the electrically operable ventilation device with the existing shoe structure, integrating the motor-driven fan or pump, energy store, and control electronics into a unified system within the shoe. This combination approach consolidates multiple components into a cohesive assembly, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining continuous ventilation capability across all user states.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If energy storage and kinetic energy harvesting are integrated for continuous operation, then ventilation duration is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates an energy store (rechargeable battery) that is pre-charged and integrated into the shoe structure. This preliminary energy storage enables the ventilation device to operate continuously without relying on real-time kinetic energy input from walking movements. The pre-integrated energy supply simplifies manufacturing by eliminating the need for complex kinetic energy harvesting mechanisms, while still achieving extended ventilation duration.
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
Ensures continuous air ventilation and enhanced foot comfort by providing air circulation during walking, standing, or sitting, with adjustable modes and energy-efficient operation, improving overall shoe ventilation beyond traditional systems.
Implementation Method 1
The air pump device is compressed when a user's foot rests on it, as a result of which air is pressed out of the plastic pump reservoir
Implementation Method 2
When the plastic pump reservoir is released from the foot again during the walking movement, it expands and draws in air from the outside
Implementation Method 3
an electrically operable ventilation device which is designed to ventilate the interior of the shoe, in particular when the user of the shoe is not walking
Implementation Method 4
a device for converting kinetic energy into electrical energy
Implementation Method 5
or solar cells, with which solar energy can be converted into electrical energy
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a shoe with a sole, an air pump device which is at least partially provided in a region of the sole and is designed to draw in air from outside the shoe when the sole is relieved of pressure during the walking movement of a user of the shoe and to expel air when the region of the sole is loaded during the walking movement of the user of the shoe for the purpose of ventilating an interior of the shoe, and an electrically operated ventilation device which is designed to ventilate the interior of the shoe.