Ski Boot Shell Heating Element with Adhesion Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski boot shell heating methods lack precision and efficiency, often leading to unnecessary deformation of the boot's geometry and reduced heat transfer due to loose support and excessive heating of non-neuralgic areas, which can compromise the fit and performance of the boot.
Innovation Solution
A device with a heating element featuring an external adhesion-promoting layer for precise attachment to the ski boot shell, utilizing a resealable pressure-sensitive adhesive or alternative adhesion-promoting layers like silicone or van der Waals forces, to achieve efficient and localized heating of neuralgic areas, ensuring minimal deformation and optimal heat transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a heating mat wrapped around the ski boot is used for heating, then the heating element can be easily applied to the shell part, but the heat transfer efficiency is relatively low due to loose support
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is divided into multiple independent heating zones corresponding to different neuralgic areas of the foot (toe area, instep area, ankle area). Each zone can be independently activated to provide localized heating only where needed, improving heat transfer efficiency while maintaining ease of application.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating mat incorporates pressure-sensitive adhesive strips at specific locations to provide localized firm contact at neuralgic areas while maintaining overall flexibility and ease of wrapping. This ensures high heat transfer efficiency at critical areas without compromising the ease of application.
2Reliability
If a larger area of the shell part is heated to ensure adequate heating, then heating coverage is improved, but the ski boot or shell part may unintentionally change its basic geometry
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is segmented into multiple independent heating zones (toe area, instep area, ankle area) that can be selectively activated. This allows heating to be concentrated only on neuralgic areas requiring adjustment, ensuring adequate heating coverage for customization while preventing unnecessary heating of non-neuralgic areas that could deform the boot's basic geometry.
Solution Approach 2:
Different heating zones are positioned to correspond exactly with neuralgic areas of the foot. The heating intensity and duration can be independently controlled for each zone, providing reliable heating where needed while maintaining the structural integrity and basic geometry of the shell part in non-heated areas.
3Loss of energy
If the heating element is permanently connected to the object to be heated, then heat transfer efficiency is improved, but the heating element cannot be easily repositioned for different adjustment areas
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element incorporates pressure-sensitive adhesive strips that provide temporary firm attachment during heating, ensuring good thermal contact and efficiency. After heating is complete, the adhesive can be easily removed without damage, allowing the heating element to be repositioned to different neuralgic areas for subsequent adjustments. This dynamic attachment mechanism balances heat transfer efficiency with repositionability.
4Manufacturing precision
If exact positioning of the base plate is required during adjustment, then deformation of the sole area can be prevented, but the adjustment process becomes more complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The heating element is segmented into multiple independent heating zones with corresponding adhesive strips positioned at standard locations. The controller can selectively activate only the zones requiring adjustment, eliminating the need for precise manual positioning of the entire base plate. This reduces adjustment complexity while maintaining precision in the heated areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The heating element provides localized heating at specific neuralgic areas without requiring the entire base plate to be precisely positioned. The adhesive strips ensure stable attachment at critical areas, preventing unwanted deformation of the sole area during heating while simplifying the overall adjustment process.
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 enables precise and efficient partial heating of specific areas, avoiding unwanted deformation and enhancing heat transfer, thereby improving the fit and performance of the ski boot without sacrificing power transmission.
Implementation Method 1
the heating element has an external adhesion-promoting layer for bonding the heating element to a shell part of the ski boot... an improved heat transfer from the heating element into the plastic material of the shell part is also achieved
Implementation Method 2
the heating element has an external adhesion-promoting layer for bonding the heating element to a shell part of the ski boot... Due to the physical contact between the heating element and the shell part produced via the adhesive connection
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a device and to a method for producing a shell (2) of a ski boot (1) that in some areas is adapted to a foot, or a leg, of a user, comprising a lower and/or upper shell part (3, 3') made of a plastic material, and a heating element (10) for sectionally heating the lower and/or upper shell part (3, 3') above the softening temperature of the plastic material. The heating element (10) has an outer adhesion-promoting layer (11) for connecting the heating element (10) to one of the shell parts (3, 3') of the ski boot (1).