Shoe Last Assembly via Interlocking Plate Shapes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe last manufacturing methods face challenges in easily and reliably fixing plate-shaped parts together to form a precise shape conforming to a wearer's foot, which is essential for creating well-fitted shoes.
Innovation Solution
A shoe last is designed using detachable plate-shaped parts with specific cutout and protruding shapes for assembly, allowing for easy and secure engagement of these parts to form a forming surface for the shoe upper, facilitating efficient assembly and mechanical strength.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If plate-shaped parts are assembled to form a last, then the last can be easily fabricated and adapted to different foot shapes, but the reliability of fixing the parts together becomes problematic
Solution Approach 1:
The plate-shaped parts are designed with receiving portions that nest over adjacent plates, creating an interlocking assembly structure. This nesting configuration allows the parts to be securely fixed together while maintaining adaptability to different foot shapes, as the modular design can be adjusted by reconfiguring the nested plates.
2Ease of manufacture
If plate-shaped parts are used to form a last, then manufacturing flexibility is improved, but the assembly reliability and mechanical strength deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
Receiving portions and engaging portions are pre-formed during the plate manufacturing process, so that when plates are assembled, the engagement features are already in place. This preliminary action ensures strong mechanical connections without requiring additional assembly steps, thereby maintaining both manufacturing flexibility and assembly strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The last is divided into multiple plate-shaped parts that can be manufactured separately using standard fabrication processes, then assembled using the receiving and engaging portions. This segmentation allows each plate to be manufactured with optimal strength characteristics while the overall assembly maintains flexibility.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple last forming parts are assembled together, then adaptability to foot shapes is improved, but the assembly process becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The last is segmented into multiple plate-shaped parts, each corresponding to a specific region of the foot. This segmentation allows the assembly to conform to the complex geometry of the foot while keeping each individual plate simple in design and easy to manufacture.
Solution Approach 2:
The plates are designed with receiving portions that nest over adjacent plates in a systematic sequence. This nesting approach provides a clear assembly procedure where each plate is placed in a specific position relative to its neighbors, reducing assembly complexity despite the number of parts.
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A last (1A) includes a first part (110) having a first plate-shaped portion (111) and a second part (120) having a second part-side receiving portion (122) having a cutout shape. When the first plate-shaped portion (111) is received in the second part-side receiving portion (122), the first part (110) and the second part (120) are assembled. The second part (120) includes a second part-side engaging portion (123) having a protruding shape on an inner side surface in a portion defining the second part-side receiving portion (122), and the first plate-shaped portion (111) has a main surface with a first part-side to-be-engaged portion (114) having a through hole shape or a recessed shape. When the first plate-shaped portion (111) is inserted into the second part-side receiving portion (122), the first plate-shaped portion (111) is fitted into the second part-side receiving portion (122), and the first part-side to-be-engaged portion (114) is engaged by the second part-side engaging portion (123).