Skate Heel Insert for Customizable Force Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing skate designs fail to accommodate varying skating techniques and personal preferences, as they offer uniform and predefined force transmission properties, aesthetics, and adaptability, which are not customizable to individual skaters' needs.
Innovation Solution
A skate design featuring a heel with a removable insert that can be made from various materials and shapes, providing adjustable mechanical properties and aesthetic options, allowing for easy modification to suit different skating styles and preferences.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a uniform heel structure is used in skate manufacturing, then production simplicity and structural integrity are improved, but adaptability to different skating techniques and personal preferences deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel is divided into two independent parts: a base heel structure and a removable insert. This segmentation allows the base heel to maintain structural integrity while the insert provides customizable mechanical properties and aesthetics, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel assembly is designed with universal compatibility through standardized housing dimensions that can accommodate multiple insert variants. The housing structure serves multiple functions: structural support, insert retention, and aesthetic presentation, while the insert provides adjustable mechanical properties for different skating techniques.
2Stability of the object's composition
If predefined force transmission properties are used in standard skate design, then manufacturing consistency is improved, but customization to individual skater needs deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The heel assembly transitions from a static, fixed-property design to a dynamic, adjustable system. The removable insert allows skaters to change mechanical properties based on their needs, while the standardized housing ensures manufacturing consistency. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between consistency and customization.
3Productivity
If a single-material heel construction is used, then structural uniformity and manufacturing efficiency are improved, but aesthetic personalization and mechanical property variation deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The heel is segmented into a base structure (manufactured efficiently in standard materials) and a removable insert (available in various materials and aesthetics). This segmentation maintains manufacturing efficiency for the base while enabling aesthetic personalization through insert selection.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel assembly combines different materials: the base heel structure and the insert material (which can be leather, plastic, metal, or other materials). This composite construction allows the base to be manufactured efficiently while the insert provides aesthetic variety and different mechanical properties.
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 customizable performance and aesthetics, allowing skaters to adapt their skate's behavior and appearance to specific skating needs without compromising traditional performance.
Implementation Method 1
the insert can be made of an elastic material to provide a damping property to the boot of the skate. For this, the insert can be made of elastomer, rubber, or flexible plastic for example.
Data Source
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AI summary
The skate has a shoe provided with a heel (12) comprising an insert (15) which does not extend over the entire surface of the heel, where the insert is made of elastic material e.g. elastomer, rubber or soft plastic, or rigid material e.g. rigid plastic, metal or fiber reinforced plastic. The insert is fixed in the heel by clipping in a removable manner. The insert is extended in width of the heel such that the insert is visible over a lateral surface of the heel. The insert is extended in length of the heel such that the insert is visible over a rear face of the heel. An independent claim is also included for a method for manufacturing a skate.