Shoe Upper Embroidered Solidified Portions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The existing shoe manufacturing methods require a large number of parts, leading to increased material waste, environmental impact, and low recyclability, while also compromising the fit and functionality of performance shoes due to the use of multiple materials for different areas.
Innovation Solution
A shoe design featuring an upper body made of a main material with embroidered or sewn portions using a chemically-similar thread with a lower melting point, which are then solidified to create high-hardness areas, reducing the number of parts and enabling functional variations without increasing the part count.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of parts are used for the upper, then functional variations for individual areas can be achieved, but the production efficiency decreases and material waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate parts into a single integrated upper body made of chemically-similar materials. This merging approach maintains the ability to achieve functional variations through material property differences rather than through part segmentation, thereby improving production efficiency while preserving adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by using chemically-similar materials with different properties (such as different melting points) in different areas of the upper body. This allows functional variations to be achieved through localized material property differences rather than through multiple separate parts, resolving the contradiction between part reduction and functional diversity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a large number of parts made of different materials are used, then functional variations can be achieved, but recyclability decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses chemically-similar materials throughout the upper body, creating a homogeneous material composition from a recycling perspective. This homogeneity enables the entire upper body to be recycled together as a single material type, significantly improving recyclability while still achieving functional variations through differences in material properties like melting point rather than through material diversity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If different parts of different materials are fabricated for individual areas, then functional variations can be achieved, but the number of parts increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent achieves functional variations by changing physical parameters (such as melting point) of chemically-similar materials rather than by using different chemical materials. This parameter-based differentiation allows the upper body to be constructed as a single integrated part with varying local properties, thereby reducing part count while maintaining functional diversity.
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
This approach reduces environmental impact, facilitates recycling, maintains fit and performance, and allows for functional variations in individual areas while minimizing the number of parts, improving grip and design flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
a second thread body made of a chemically-similar material having a melting point lower than a melting point of the chemically-similar material, and at least a part of the embroidered portion is a solidified portion having a high hardness
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe includes an upper body covering at least an instep of a foot. The upper body includes a main material formed of a first thread body made of a chemically-similar material. At least a part of the main material is an embroidered portion formed by embroidering and/or sewing with a second thread body made of a chemically-similar material having a melting point lower than a melting point of the chemically-similar material. At least a part of the embroidered portion is a solidified portion having a high hardness.