Toe Tethers for Sandal Retention and Security

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Thong sandals often lack adequate security during activities like running or bicycling and can become dislodged in water, leading to potential injury or loss.

Innovation Solution

The integration of a toe tether system with a toe retention region, extension region, and self-anchoring region into sandals, which can be secured to the platform or retention strap, providing enhanced foot retention through wrapping and anchoring mechanisms.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a thong sandal uses a simple post design to fit between two toes, then the sandal is simple and easy to use, but the security and retention of the sandal is inadequate during activities like running or bicycling

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of useVSAvoidsecurity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The toe tether is divided into three functional segments: a toe retention region with a rounded distal end to engage the toe, an extension region to bridge the gap, and a self-anchoring region with barbs to secure to the strap. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function while maintaining overall simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The toe tether is designed to wrap around and nest within the retention strap structure, with the self-anchoring region embedding into the strap to create a nested configuration that secures the sandal to the foot.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

2Device complexity

If a thong sandal uses a simple post design, then the design is simple, but the sandal can become dislodged and lost in water

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimple designVSAvoidretention

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The self-anchoring region with barbs automatically engages with the retention strap when the toe tether is inserted, creating a self-securing mechanism that does not require additional fastening steps or complex adjustment mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If a toe tether is added with wrapping and anchoring mechanisms, then the security and retention of the sandal is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveretentionVSAvoidstructure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The toe tether is constructed as a flexible elongated member that can bend and wrap around the retention strap, allowing it to conform to the sandal structure and foot anatomy without requiring rigid components or complex joints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Data Source

PatentUS10070684B2Toe tethers for use with sandals and sandals with integrated toe tethers

Publication Date: 2018.09.11 ORCUTT ALEXANDER

AI summary

Toe tethers for use with sandals and sandals with one or more integrated toe tethers are disclosed. A toe tether can include a toe retention region constructed to engage a toe of the human foot, an extension region integrated with the toe retention region, and a self anchoring region integrated with the extension region. In one embodiment, a toe tether may be secured to or integrated with a retention strap of a sandal. In another embodiment, a toe tether may be secured to a platform of a sandal.