Shoelace With Flexible Core Thread For One-Handed Tying
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users, especially small children and disabled individuals, face difficulty in tying shoelaces due to the complex hand movements required and the need to grasp both ends of the lace simultaneously, leading to increased probability of failure and reduced ease of use.
Innovation Solution
A shoelace with a flexible core thread made of wire-like metal, preferably silver, and a holding device at one end that allows for one-handed operation, featuring a lengthened flexible core thread and protective sleeves to maintain position and prevent shifting, enabling easier knot formation and disengagement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional shoelaces are used, then the lacing structure is simple, but users have difficulty tying the laces due to complex hand movements and the need to grasp both ends simultaneously
Solution Approach 1:
The shoelace is divided into distinct functional segments: a flexible core thread (0.4-3mm diameter) that provides structural integrity, a textile covering for comfort, and a holding device at one end. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the core provides rigidity for manipulation while the textile provides flexibility, and the holding device simplifies the tying operation by eliminating the need to grasp both ends simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding device acts as an intermediary element that facilitates the tying operation. It provides a fixed reference point that users can grasp with one hand, eliminating the need to coordinate both hands to hold both ends of the lace. This intermediary device mediates between the user's limited dexterity and the requirement to form knots.
2Loss of information
If markings are placed on the free end portions to indicate how to tie, then visual guidance is provided, but users still need to grasp both end portions with both hands throughout the tying sequence
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the grasping function from the lace ends themselves and concentrates it in a dedicated holding device at one end. Instead of requiring users to grasp two separate end portions, the holding device provides a single grasping point that incorporates the visual guidance markings, eliminating the need for bimanual coordination while preserving visual instruction.
Solution Approach 2:
The holding device merges multiple functions into a single component: it provides visual guidance markings, serves as a grasping point, and anchors the flexible core thread. This consolidation eliminates the need for users to separately manage multiple lace ends with markings, simplifying the operation to one-handed use while maintaining visual instruction.
3Shape
If the core thread is made more rigid to maintain shape, then positioning is improved, but flexibility for bending during lacing is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The shoelace implements local quality by using a flexible core thread with specific dimensional properties (0.4-3mm diameter) that provide sufficient rigidity for shape maintenance at the end portions while retaining enough flexibility for bending during the lacing process. This local optimization of physical properties allows the lace to exhibit different mechanical characteristics in different regions and under different operational conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention specifies precise parameter ranges for the core thread diameter (0.4-3mm) to achieve the optimal balance between rigidity and flexibility. By controlling this critical parameter, the lace maintains its shape when positioned but can still be bent and manipulated during the lacing operation, resolving the contradiction between shape maintenance and operational flexibility.
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
Enables users to tie and untie shoelaces with one hand, reducing the complexity and probability of failure, while providing tactile guidance for knot formation and maintaining the shoelace's integrity.
Implementation Method 1
The flexible core thread preferably has a diameter of 0.4 to 2 mm, in particular 0.8 to 1.4 mm, particularly preferably about 1 mm, in order to ensure sufficient rigidity and flexibility of the first end area for temporarily holding the second end area
Data Source
Figure 1~4
AI summary
Shoelace 25 for facilitating the lacing of shoes by a user, comprising an elongated core element 8, a lacing sheath 9, a first end region 1 and a second end region 2, wherein the core element 8 has one or more core threads 8a, 8b and the core element 8 is at least partially enclosed by the tubular lacing sheath 9, wherein the core element 8 has a flexible core thread 8b in the region of the first end region 1 for the temporary retention of the second end region 2, wherein the core thread in particular has an elasticity greater than or equal to 80000 N/mm2.