Shoe Upper with Exposed Linear Members for Uniform Tension

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shoe uppers require successive pulling of the shoelace from the toe side to apply tension to the inlaid strands, making it inefficient to apply tension uniformly across the upper in one action.

Innovation Solution

The shoe upper incorporates a cloth-like base member with independently disposed linear members, where each linear member has a fixed first portion and an unfixed second portion. The second portion is exposed outside the base member, allowing for tension to be applied directly by pulling the exposed portion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If inlaid strands are disposed around eyelet holes in the throat portion, then tension can be applied to a wide range of the upper, but successive pulling from the toe side is required to apply tension uniformly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverange of upper where tension is appliedVSAvoidtime required for successive pulling operations

Core Design Contradiction:

Area of stationary objectVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The upper is divided into multiple independent tension application zones, each with its own linear member that can be tensioned independently. This segmentation allows different portions of the upper to be tightened separately, enabling uniform tension distribution without requiring successive pulling operations across the entire upper.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Linear members are pre-positioned and exposed at the outer edge of the upper, allowing tension to be applied directly at the toe region before the upper is fully assembled. This preliminary positioning eliminates the need for successive pulling from the toe side after assembly, as tension can be applied in one action at the exposed portions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Force

If inlaid strands extend from the outer edge toward the throat portion, then tension can be applied to the upper, but the structure becomes complex requiring multiple strands and eyelet holes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetension application capabilityVSAvoidnumber of inlaid strands and eyelet holes

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The linear members are extracted from the traditional inlaid strand configuration and repositioned to extend along the outer edge of the upper rather than being embedded within the throat portion. This extraction simplifies the structure by eliminating the need for multiple eyelet holes and complex strand routing, while maintaining the tension application capability through the exposed portions at the outer edge.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Manufacturing precision

If multiple inlaid strands are disposed around eyelet holes, then tension distribution can be improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetension distribution uniformityVSAvoidease of assembling multiple strands and eyelet holes

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple tension application functions are merged into a single linear member configuration that extends along the outer edge of the upper. Instead of assembling multiple separate inlaid strands around eyelet holes, the linear members are combined into a unified structure that provides uniform tension distribution across the upper while simplifying the manufacturing and assembly process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS20250072562A1Upper, shoe, and method for manufacturing upper

Publication Date: 2025.03.06 ASICS CORP

AI summary

An upper includes a cloth-like base member including at least one layer, and a plurality of linear members disposed independently of each other. Each of the linear members includes a first portion disposed in at least one end portion of the linear member along a length direction and fixed to the layer, and a second portion disposed in a portion of the linear member other than the first portion and not fixed to the layer. A part or all of the second portion of at least one of the linear members is exposed to an outside of the base member.