Sock Air-Conditioning Duct for Foot Moisture Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
During sporting activities, the combination of footwear and sweat evaporation is inefficient, leading to increased foot heat and moisture absorption by socks, which softens the skin and increases blistering due to inadequate air exchange and moisture dissipation within the shoe.
Innovation Solution
A sock with an air-conditioning duct on the back of the foot, positioned between padding areas, creates alternating positive and negative pressure effects to enhance air exchange and moisture evaporation, utilizing flat mesh fabric and elastane bandages to ensure optimal air circulation and dehumidification.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If membrane fabric is used to support evaporation in footwear, then evaporation of sweat is improved, but the stability of the footwear is endangered
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear system is segmented into multiple functional layers: an outer stable shoe structure, an intermediate air-conditioning duct layer, and an inner sock layer. This segmentation allows the stable shoe structure to maintain its integrity while the air-conditioning duct provides targeted ventilation channels for heat dissipation without compromising overall footwear stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning duct acts as an intermediary element between the stable shoe structure and the sock. It provides dedicated pathways for air flow that mediate between the need for structural stability and the need for effective evaporation, allowing moisture transport without requiring the entire footwear structure to be made of unstable membrane material.
2Temperature
If socks absorb increased perspiration to cool the foot, then evaporative cooling is improved, but the skin softens and blistering increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the moisture transport function from the sock material itself and relocates it to dedicated air-conditioning ducts. By taking out the evaporation function from the bulk sock material and concentrating it in structured channels, moisture is efficiently removed from the foot area before it can soak through and soften the skin, while still providing cooling where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning ducts utilize pneumatic principles to create pressure-driven air flow through the footwear. This hydraulic/pneumatic system actively transports moisture-laden air away from the foot and replaces it with drier air, enabling effective moisture removal through gas flow dynamics rather than relying solely on passive absorption by sock materials.
3Productivity
If air-conditioning duct is added to the sock, then air exchange and moisture dissipation are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-conditioning ducts are merged with the sock structure itself rather than being separate components. The ducts are integrated into the fabric layers of the sock, combining the protective sock function with the ventilation function in a single unified structure, thereby reducing overall system complexity despite adding functional capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The air-conditioning ducts are constructed using flexible fabric materials that can be easily integrated into the sock structure. These thin, flexible duct layers conform to the foot shape and can be incorporated during standard sock manufacturing processes, minimizing the increase in device complexity while maximizing air exchange efficiency.
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 maintains dry skin on the foot during sports by effectively promoting air conditioning within the shoe, reducing blistering and maintaining foot resilience through improved moisture management and air circulation.
Implementation Method 1
an alternating positive and negative pressure effect is created between the back of the foot and the tongue, which promotes air exchange via the air-conditioning channel
Implementation Method 2
the body secretes sweat to regulate heat in order to achieve cooling due to evaporative cooling
Implementation Method 3
promotes air exchange via the air-conditioning channel
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sock, in particular for use during sports, said sock comprising cushioned sections. A ventilation channel (16), which is preferably positioned between at least two parallel cushioned sections (21), is situated on the dorsum of the foot (17).