Shoe With Expandable Top Member For Brace Accommodation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoes pose difficulties for individuals with muscular weakness, paralysis, or medical conditions requiring foot or ankle braces, as they need to be larger to accommodate the brace, leading to unnatural foot positioning and potential circulation issues during entry.
Innovation Solution
A shoe design with a top member that can open fully, allowing heel-first entry and self-expanding areas to accommodate braces, maintaining toe alignment and providing adjustable fit for comfortable and healthy foot placement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional shoe is made larger to accommodate a foot brace, then the brace can be fitted, but the shoe becomes too large in all areas and causes unnatural foot positioning
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe incorporates localized expandable areas specifically positioned to accommodate foot braces, while maintaining the normal contour and fit in non-expandable areas. This allows the shoe to adapt to the brace only where necessary, preventing unnatural foot positioning in other regions.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe features dynamic expandable sections that can adjust their size to accommodate the foot brace when needed, and return to their normal configuration when the brace is removed or not needed, providing both adaptability and proper fit control.
2Ease of operation
If a conventional shoe requires toe-first insertion, then the foot must be flexed and moved to enter, but this is difficult for individuals with muscular weakness or paralysis
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe enables heel-first insertion by inverting the traditional insertion sequence, allowing the heel to enter the shoe first while the toe area remains open or is opened subsequently. This reversal eliminates the need for foot flexion and muscular movement during insertion, making it accessible to individuals with muscular weakness or paralysis.
3Productivity
If the foot is forced into a conventional shoe, then the foot enters the shoe, but the toes become bent or twisted without the wearer's knowledge
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe is designed with pre-configured opening mechanisms and spatial arrangements that prepare the entry path before insertion begins, ensuring toes remain in their natural position throughout the insertion process. The opening is positioned and sized to guide proper toe alignment from the start, preventing deformation before it can occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe incorporates an intermediary opening mechanism that acts as a mediator between the foot and the shoe interior, maintaining proper toe alignment during insertion. This intermediary structure guides the foot into the correct position without allowing direct forced entry that would cause toe bending or twisting.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe comprises a sole having an upper surface and a lower surface, and a top member having an outer surface and an inner surface and mounted on the sole. The top member and sole to together define a space for receiving a foot, and the top member further comprises an opening. A fastener is provided in the top member and extends from the opening and continues over the top member such that a portion of the top member is movable between a first position in which the space is substantially closed and a second position in which a portion of the top member is folded back from the sole to provide access to the space, and further comprising areas with controllable expansion to accommodate an ankle or foot brace.