Rapid-Entry Footwear With Sliding, Pivoting Footbed
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Solution Overview
Problem
Donning and doffing of shoes, including tying or otherwise securing them, can be inconvenient or difficult for some individuals.
Innovation Solution
A rapid-entry shoe design featuring a sole portion, footbed, and separable upper that transforms between open and closed configurations, allowing for easy donning and securement through mechanisms like sliding, pivoting, or translating footbeds, and securement elements such as bumpers and hooks.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional shoes with fixed uppers are used, then securement of the foot is achieved, but ease of donning and doffing deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The upper is designed to dynamically transform between a compressed state for easy donning/doffing and an expanded state for secure foot retention. The upper includes expandable material and transformation mechanisms that allow it to change volume and configuration, enabling rapid entry and exit while maintaining secure fit when worn.
2Ease of operation
If rapid-entry mechanisms are implemented, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe is divided into separable components including an upper, footbed, and sole assembly that can move independently relative to each other. The upper can be separated from the footbed, and the footbed can pivot or slide relative to the sole, creating multiple degrees of freedom that enable rapid entry without requiring complex locking mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The footbed is designed to nest within the upper assembly during the closed configuration, with the footbed pivoting or sliding into a retracted position where it is contained within the upper structure. This nesting allows the footbed to be stored compactly when not in use, reducing the overall volume and simplifying the mechanism.
3Ease of operation
If the footbed is secured to the sole portion, then structural stability is maintained, but ease of transformation worsens
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the footbed and sole portion is designed to be dynamic rather than static, allowing the footbed to pivot or slide relative to the sole during transformation. This dynamic connection maintains structural integrity when needed while enabling rapid transformation between open and closed configurations.
Data Source
AI summary
A rapid-entry shoe with a sole portion and a footbed that slide, pivot or translate relative to each other to provide both an open configuration (for ease of donning or doffing by a foot) and a closed configuration (for securement of a foot).