Ski Boot Bootie With Rigid Outer Layer for Easy Entry and Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing ski boots are difficult to put on due to rigid shells, limit ankle mobility, and are heavy, making them uncomfortable for walking and skiing.
Innovation Solution
A ski boot design featuring a lower shell with an integrated slit for easy foot insertion, a flexible liner with adjustable rigidity, and a retention mechanism to allow controlled ankle movement, eliminating the need for a cuff and reducing weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid shell is used to ensure power transmission and control, then skiing performance is improved, but ease of insertion deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The shell is divided into a lower shell and a separate cuff that can be independently positioned and secured, allowing the lower shell to maintain rigidity for power transmission while the cuff provides flexibility for insertion and ankle movement
Solution Approach 2:
A cuff element acts as an intermediary between the lower shell and the foot, providing a flexible interface that facilitates insertion while the rigid lower shell maintains structural integrity for skiing performance
2Reliability
If the cuff is locked onto the lower shell to ensure proper skiing technique, then control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cuff is designed to be dynamically adjustable, allowing it to be positioned in different locations along the lower shell and secured with adjustable fastening elements, enabling users to optimize the balance between control and ease of insertion
Solution Approach 2:
The position and tightness of the cuff can be adjusted as parameters, allowing users to modify the balance between ankle mobility and control based on their specific needs and skiing conditions
3Reliability
If the articulation between lower shell and cuff is locked to limit lateral movement, then skiing control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ankle joint is segmented into a movable cuff portion and a rigid lower shell portion, allowing independent movement of the cuff relative to the shell in the forward direction while maintaining stability in the lateral direction through the locking mechanism
4Reliability
If a traditional cuff structure is used to provide ankle support, then control is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional cuff structure is extracted and replaced with a simplified cuff element that can be independently positioned and secured, reducing material usage and weight while maintaining the essential function of ankle support and control
Data Source
Figure 1
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Figure 4~7
AI summary
Bootie (20) equipped with a lower part (22) suitable for wrapping a foot and an upper part (23) suitable for wrapping at least partially a tibia, said lower part (22) being intended to be inserted into a lower shell (10) of a ski boot (1), characterized in that the bootie comprises at least one rigid outer layer (30) fixed to said upper part (23), this outer layer (30) comprising a lower part (38b) suitable for covering at least partially the outer surface of a lower shell (10) when the bootie is inserted into a lower shell.