Shoelace Tying Frame with Protrusions and Apertures
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Solution Overview
Problem
Tying shoelaces can be difficult for individuals who lack finger dexterity, including young people, those with disabilities, or those with arthritis, as they struggle to hold loops in place while forming knots, leading to inefficiency and inconvenience, especially with existing aids that require constant carrying.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising frames with protrusions and apertures that secure shoelaces in loops, allowing users to perform other steps of the tying process without manually holding the loops, such as the 'bunny ears' or 'loop, swoop, and pull' methods, and can be left attached to the shoe for convenience.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional shoelace tying methods are used, then the shoelace can be tied securely, but it requires high finger dexterity and manual control to hold loops in place, which is difficult for individuals with disabilities, arthritis, or young children
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces frames as intermediary devices that attach to the shoe and mechanically hold the shoelace loops in place during the tying process. These frames serve as mediators between the shoe and the user's hands, providing structural support that compensates for limited finger dexterity. The frames include features like protrusions and apertures that specifically engage with the shoelace to maintain loop positions without requiring manual holding.
2Ease of operation
If existing shoelace tying aids like the EZLeaps product are used, then the tying process is simplified, but the aid must be carried at all times to retie shoelaces, which is inconvenient for children and students
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the tying aid functionality directly with the shoe structure by attaching frames to the shoe itself. This integration eliminates the need for a separate, portable device that must be carried. The frames become a permanent or semi-permanent part of the shoe system, allowing users to retie shoelaces at any time without needing to locate or carry an external aid device.
3Ease of operation
If hook-and-loop straps or slip-on shoelaces are used as alternatives, then tying is eliminated entirely, but this limits shoe selection and does not help individuals improve their tying ability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the shoelace tying system into distinct functional components: the shoe, the shoelace, and the frame structure. This segmentation allows the frame to be added as a modular element that works with traditional laced shoes, preserving the aesthetic and functional characteristics of conventional footwear while providing mechanical assistance. Users can continue to wear traditional laced shoes rather than being limited to hook-and-loop or slip-on styles.
4Manufacturing precision
If manual loop holding is required during knot formation, then the knot can be tied accurately, but the process takes longer and requires sustained manual effort
Solution Approach 1:
The frames perform preliminary action by pre-positioning and securing the shoelace loops in the correct positions before the actual knot-tying process begins. The frames include structural features like protrusions and apertures that automatically form and hold loops in place, eliminating the need for manual positioning. This preliminary setup allows the user to focus solely on completing the knot without the time-consuming task of holding and adjusting loops throughout the process.
Data Source
AI summary
A frame for tying a shoelace comprises one or more protrusions and one or more apertures. At least one of the one or more apertures of the frame comprises a diameter operable to receive a first end of the shoelace. The one or more protrusions of the frame are positioned about the at least one of the one or more apertures of the frame and the one or more protrusions of the frame are operable to engage the shoelace and resist movement of the shoelace within the at least one aperture of the frame.