Sport Shoe One-Piece Shell and Flexible Panel

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional sports shoes for winter sports, such as cross-country skiing, are heavy, complex to manufacture, and prone to water retention issues due to multiple components and fixed insoles, which hinder flexibility and comfort.

Innovation Solution

A sports shoe with a one-piece rigid shell and a flexible panel attached to the shell, eliminating the need for an insole, reducing weight and improving tightness by covering the shell's peripheral band and outer surfaces, while allowing for better flexibility at the metatarsal area and simplified production.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple components (insole, shell, flexible walls) are used to ensure sealed continuity, then sealing is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesealingVSAvoidnumber of components

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the insole and shell into a single integrated shell structure. The shell is formed as one piece comprising a plate and peripheral wall that are continuous and sealed, eliminating the need for separate insole and shell components while maintaining sealing integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shell serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support, ensures sealed continuity, and eliminates the need for separate insole components. The peripheral wall and plate together perform both protective and sealing functions that were previously distributed across multiple components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If multiple components are assembled to form the shoe structure, then sealing is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesealingVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The insole and shell are merged into a single one-piece shell structure that can be manufactured as one component, eliminating multiple assembly steps and reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining sealing integrity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Stability of the object's composition

If flexible walls are fixed inside the peripheral wall of the shell, then structural stability is improved, but water retention increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidwater retention

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the insole component that was causing water retention issues. The flexible upper is attached directly to the peripheral wall of the shell without being trapped inside, eliminating the rim structure that caused water and snow accumulation while maintaining structural stability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

4Reliability

If an insole is used to hold flaps in position, then sealed continuity is improved, but weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesealed continuityVSAvoidshoe weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The insole and shell are merged into a single integrated structure. The shell's peripheral wall and plate together provide the sealed continuity function that was previously performed by the insole holding flaps, eliminating the need for a separate insole component and reducing weight.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

5Strength

If a shell with peripheral wall and insole is used, then structural support is improved, but the shoe becomes heavy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidshoe weight

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The shell is designed as a one-piece structure integrating the plate and peripheral wall, eliminating the need for separate insole and shell components. This reduces the total number of parts and overall weight while maintaining structural support through the continuous shell design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3415026B1Sport shoe intended to be connected to a sport device

Publication Date: 2020.07.22 SALOMON SA

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AI summary

Sports shoe (1) intended to be mechanically connected to a sports device comprising: - a one-piece shell (20) made of rigid material, composed of: - a plate (21) delimited by an upper surface (211) and a lower surface (212), the upper surface being intended to cover the sole of the user's foot, the plate comprising a front portion (21a) extending, from the front end of the plate, over one-quarter of its total length (L21) and a rear portion (21b) extending, from the rear end of the plate, over one-half of its total length; - a lateral wall (22) and a medial wall (23), each wall extending from the side of the upper surface of the plate, in the rear portion of the plate, from, respectively, a lateral edge (215) and a medial edge (216) of the plate, each wall (22, 23) being delimited by an internal surface (221, 231) and an external surface (222, 232),• no wall extending from the side of the upper surface of the plate from an edge of the plate in its front part, - a stem (2) comprising a flexible panel (30) intended to cover at least a portion of the top of the user's foot, the flexible panel being attached to the shell. The flexible panel covers a peripheral strip (2121) of the lower surface of the front part of the plate, a portion (25) of the outer surface of the side wall and a portion (25) of the outer surface of the medial wall.