Toe Protector with Inspection Openings and Shoe Attachment

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing protective devices for the toes and forefoot do not allow for easy visual inspection of the wound area without removal, and they can snag clothing or bed linens, posing a risk of further injury or infection.

Innovation Solution

A protective member with a cup-shaped design that encapsulates the forefoot and toe region, featuring openings for access and extensions to cover the top and lateral portions, allowing for visual inspection and protection while being attachable to a shoe with an adhesive or alternative mounting systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the entire toe area is covered or encased by a protective member, then protection of the wound area is improved, but visual inspection access to the wound area deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of wound areaVSAvoidvisual inspection access

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The protective member is divided into multiple portions: an anterior portion, a dorsal extension portion, and lateral extension portions. These segmented portions can be independently positioned to provide comprehensive protection while maintaining access openings for visual inspection of the wound area.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Access openings are incorporated as intermediary features within the protective member structure. These openings serve as mediators that allow visual inspection of the wound area while the surrounding protective portions remain in place to continue providing protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the protective member is designed to fully encapsulate the forefoot and toe region, then protection from impact and pressure is improved, but snagging of clothing and bed linens deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection from impact and pressureVSAvoidsnagging of clothing and bed linens

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the protective member have different configurations: the anterior portion extends upward to protect against impact, the dorsal extension portion covers the top surface, and lateral extension portions cover the sides. This localized quality variation provides protection where needed while reducing overall surface area that could snag on clothing and bed linens.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS8955237B2Detachable post-operative protective device for the toes and forefoot

Publication Date: 2015.02.17 RINI DAVID A

AI summary

A protective member having a substantially flat base portion, and a substantially cup-shaped member extending from a forward end of the base portion. The base portion is attachable to a shoe, such that the cup-shaped member substantially encapsulates and protects a forefoot and toe region. Further, at least one opening is provided in a forward portion of the cup-shaped member to allow access to the forefoot and toe region. The cup-shaped member is further defined by an anterior portion extending upward from the base portion, a dorsal extension portion extending from an upper end of the anterior portion, where the dorsal extension portion provided to substantially cover a top portion of the forefoot and toe region, and at least one lateral extension portion extending from a side end of the anterior portion, where the at least one lateral extension portion provided to substantially cover a lateral portion of said forefoot and toe region.