Shoelace Tying Aid Device Segmentation Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Children and young adults often struggle to tie their shoe laces efficiently, requiring assistance from adults, which can be time-consuming and impractical in educational settings.
Innovation Solution
A rope holding device comprising two elements with specific hole configurations and slots, allowing laces to be easily passed through, blocked, and formed into loops, facilitating the tying process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a child learns to tie laces independently without assistance, then autonomy and learning efficiency improve, but the complexity of the tying process and difficulty of coordinating multiple steps worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The device divides the tying process into distinct segments: the first element handles lace tensioning and blocking, while the second element handles loop formation. This segmentation allows the child to master one step at a time rather than coordinating all steps simultaneously, reducing perceived complexity while maintaining independence.
Solution Approach 2:
The device acts as an intermediary tool between the child's hands and the laces, providing mechanical assistance for the difficult coordination tasks. The structured holes and slots guide the laces through the necessary movements, mediating the complex motor skills required for independent tying.
2Reliability
If adult assistance is provided to help children tie laces, then tying success rate improves, but time consumption and resource requirements worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables self-service by providing the mechanical structure needed for children to tie their own laces without adult intervention. The guided holes and blocking mechanisms allow children to independently complete the tying process, eliminating the need for time-consuming adult assistance while maintaining high success rates.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the shoe is kept tight during the entire tying process, then shoe security improves, but the ability to form loops worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The device segments the tying process into two phases: first, the lace is tightened against the shoe using the first element; second, the lace is released and looped using the second element. This temporal segmentation allows the shoe to be tight when needed while providing slack when loop formation is required, resolving the contradiction between stability and operability.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for assisting with tying laces, comprising a first element having at least two pairs of holes, the holes of each pair being connected by a slot, and characterized in that each pair of holes of the first element comprises a first hole with a size adapted to let a lace be displaced therein, and a second hole with a size adapted to block any displacement of said lace.