Shoe Insert with Movable Guards for Wear Prevention

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Solution Overview

Problem

Athletic shoes, despite being designed for comfort and support, often suffer from durability issues due to the use of lightweight materials, leading to common damage such as holes and tears from normal wear and tear, with limited means of prevention.

Innovation Solution

A shoe insert system comprising a sole pad with movably attached toe and sidewall guards made from durable materials like ballistic fabrics, which can be adhered to the shoe to provide additional protection and prevent wear in high-risk areas.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Weight of moving object

If lightweight materials are used to reduce shoe weight, then comfort and portability are improved, but durability and resistance to wear damage deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoe weightVSAvoidshoe durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The protective insole is divided into multiple independent guard sections (toe guard, first sidewall guard, second sidewall guard) that can be separately positioned and attached to specific high-wear areas of the shoe interior, providing targeted protection without requiring full coverage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The protective insole acts as an intermediary layer between the wearer's foot and the shoe's internal surfaces. The guard sections are positioned between the foot and shoe material at high-wear locations, distributing pressure and preventing direct contact that causes wear and tearing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Volume of moving object

If thin materials are used to minimize shoe thickness, then weight is reduced, but durability and resistance to damage deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoe thicknessVSAvoidmaterial durability

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

Rather than making the entire shoe thicker or using uniformly heavy materials, the protective insole concentrates additional durable material only at specific high-wear locations (toe area and sidewalls) where protection is most needed, maintaining thin construction in non-critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If flexible materials are used to maintain comfort, then wearability is improved, but resistance to wear and hole formation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshoe comfortVSAvoidwear damage and hole formation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The protective insole combines flexible base material with durable guard sections made from wear-resistant materials. This composite construction allows the insole to maintain flexibility and comfort while the reinforced guard sections provide resistance to wear, tearing, and hole formation at critical areas

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentUS9949531B2Shoe hole prevention device

Publication Date: 2018.04.24 SHOE ARMOR LLC

AI summary

Shoe hole prevention inserts and methods for making same are described. A shoe insert may include a sole pad, a toe guard attached to a first position on the sole pad, and a sidewall guard attached to a second location on the sole pad. The toe guard may be connected to the sole pad such that the toe guard can be moved into a first insertion position. Similarly, the sidewall guard may be movably connected to the sole pad such that the sidewall guard can be moved into a second insertion position. Each of the sole pad, toe guard, and sidewall guard may include an adhesion area for adhering at least a portion of the shoe insert to at least a portion of the inside of a shoe. Thus, when inserted, the insert may prevent holes from forming due to rubbing against the inside of the shoe.