Water Shoe With Foldable Floating Membrane for Buoyancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wind surfing and water skiing are limited by high equipment costs, time-consuming skill acquisition, and spatial and meteorological constraints, making them inaccessible to a wider audience.
Innovation Solution
A water shoe with a foot fixing portion, supporting bar, foldable floating membrane, folding hinge portion, float, check valve, and non-slip portion that provides buoyancy and stability, allowing walking on water surfaces without extensive training or equipment, and can be used in narrow areas and varying weather conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If a large floating membrane is used to provide sufficient buoyancy for walking on water, then the buoyancy is improved, but the area of contact with water surface increases causing difficulty in lifting the foot during walking
Solution Approach 1:
The floating membrane is designed to be foldable with the supporting bar as pivot shaft, allowing it to dynamically change its configuration. When the foot is lifted, the membrane folds along with the supporting bar, reducing water contact area and facilitating easier lifting. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between maintaining buoyancy and enabling easy foot elevation.
Solution Approach 2:
The floating membrane is divided into multiple foldable sections that can independently adjust during walking. The membrane is attached to the supporting bar through folding hinges, allowing segmented movement that reduces resistance during foot elevation while maintaining overall buoyant support.
2Adaptability or versatility
If traditional water sports equipment like wind surfing or water skiing is used, then water sports capability is achieved, but equipment cost and skill acquisition time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The water shoe uses simple, inexpensive materials such as plastic sheets for the floating membrane and basic fastening mechanisms. The design avoids complex mechanical systems, making the equipment affordable and accessible while still providing functional water walking capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The water shoe combines multiple functions into a single device: the floating membrane provides buoyancy, the foot fixing portion secures the foot, the supporting bar acts as both structural element and pivot shaft for folding, and the non-slip portion prevents slipping. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate equipment for different water sports activities.
3Reliability
If the floating membrane remains unfolded during walking, then continuous buoyancy is maintained, but the area of contact with water surface increases causing drag and making walking difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The floating membrane alternates between unfolded and folded states during the walking cycle. It unfolds when the foot is planted to provide buoyancy support, and folds when the foot is lifted to reduce drag. This periodic action maintains continuous buoyancy while enabling efficient walking motion.
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
Enables convenient and stable walking on water surfaces at an affordable cost, reducing equipment needs and spatial requirements, while preventing slipping, and allowing use in diverse weather conditions.
Implementation Method 1
a floating membrane foldable toward and unfoldable from the supporting bar with the supporting bar functioning as a pivot shaft to provide buoyancy to the water shoe when the floating membrane comes into contact with a water surface
Implementation Method 2
a folding hinge portion coupled with the floating membrane to fold and unfold the floating membrane
Implementation Method 3
a water shoe which may prevent a foot from slipping in walking or veering on a water surface
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a water shoe facilitating walking on a water surface. The water shoe of the present invention includes: a foot fixing portion to fix a foot; a supporting bar coupled with the foot fixing portion; a floating membrane foldable toward and unfoldable from the supporting bar with the supporting bar functioning as a pivot shaft to provide buoyancy to the water shoe when the floating membrane comes into contact with a water surface; and a folding hinge portion coupled with the floating membrane to fold and unfold the floating membrane. The water shoe of the present invention has a simple structure, and may be put to use in water leisure sports at an inexpensive cost. Further, the water shoe may be used even in a narrow area, without a motor boat, and almost unencumbered by weather conditions.