Shoe Tightening Mechanism with Winding Gear and Drive Gear

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mechanized tightening systems for shoes are complex, expensive, require frequent maintenance, and fail to snugly fit the foot due to their design, lacking efficient loosening mechanisms and requiring numerous parts.

Innovation Solution

A shoe with a simplified tightening mechanism featuring a winding gear, drive gear, and ratcheting teeth system that allows for easy tightening and loosening, using a coil spring for biasing and a pull tab for user operation, with the mechanism housed in the sole or upper, reducing the number of parts and space requirements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional lacing with bow knot is used, then the shoe can be tightened, but it is time consuming and difficult for small children and persons with fine motor difficulties

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of tighteningVSAvoidtime to tie bow

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the manual bow-tying mechanical system with an automated reel mechanism that winds the lace ends into a chamber, converting a complex manual knot-tying operation into a simple pull-and-release action that automatically tightens the shoe

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The reel mechanism automatically winds the laces when the lace ends are pulled, eliminating the need for manual knot-tying operations and providing self-service tightening functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If prior art mechanized tightening systems are used, then the need to tie a bow is eliminated, but they involve numerous parts, expensive components, and require frequent maintenance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated tighteningVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the essential winding function into a simple reel mechanism, eliminating unnecessary complex components found in prior art systems while maintaining automated tightening capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent employs simple, inexpensive mechanical components that can be easily manufactured and replaced if needed, avoiding expensive motors and electronic parts while achieving reliable automated tightening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

3Extent of automation

If prior art tightening mechanisms are used, then automated tightening is achieved, but they require significant space within the shoe's sole

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated tighteningVSAvoidspace in shoe sole

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent nests the reel mechanism within the shoe's sole structure, utilizing the existing void space efficiently and positioning the reel such that it does not protrude significantly, thereby minimizing the volume occupied while maintaining automated functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

4Ease of operation

If prior art tightening mechanisms are used, then automated tightening is provided, but they lack quick loosening capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvequick looseningVSAvoidloosening mechanism

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent inverts the tightening action by providing a release mechanism that reverses the winding process, allowing the reel to unwind and pay out the laces quickly when the release member is actuated, thereby enabling rapid loosening

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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

The solution provides a quick, easy, and cost-effective way to tighten and loosen shoes without knots, ensuring a snug fit while minimizing parts and space usage, maintaining a conventional appearance.

Implementation Method 1

a coil spring for biasing

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSpring: Spring

Implementation Method 2

ratcheting teeth positioned so that rotation of the driving gear in the tightening direction causes the drive gear teeth to engage the corresponding winding gear teeth

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectRatchet: Ratchet

Data Source

PatentUS7721468B1Tightening shoe

Publication Date: 2010.05.25 ZEROTIE LLC

AI summary

A tightening shoe is provided with a sole, an upper and crisscrossing laces. The lace ends project into the shoe structure where they are received by a tightening mechanism. The tightening mechanism includes a winding gear for winding the lace ends about its perimeter to withdraw the laces into the tightening mechanism's interior chamber. In addition, the tightening mechanism includes a drive gear which is rotated by a pre-wound tightening cable which is positioned immediately adjacent to the winding gear. Preferably, the winding gear and drive gear are positioned within the shoe's sole so as to rotate about a vertical axis relative to the shoe's structure.