Waterproof Sock Footwear Assembly with Foldable Neck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional shoes with watertight and breathable materials are expensive and prone to water ingress through small holes, leading to discomfort due to water entering the shoe and flowing down the legs on rainy days.
Innovation Solution
A shoe design featuring a water-proof sock with a foldable neck portion and hook-and-loop connections that securely inserts into the shoe, preventing water entry while allowing for easy replacement, using breathable and water-proof materials.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If shoes are made of watertight and breathable material, then water resistance is improved, but cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear system is divided into separate functional components: the shoe upper and the removable water-proof sock. This segmentation allows the water-proof function to be isolated in a replaceable component rather than requiring the entire shoe to be made from expensive waterproof breathable material, thereby reducing overall cost while maintaining water resistance.
Solution Approach 2:
The water-proof sock is designed as a replaceable, cost-effective component that can be easily replaced when worn or damaged. Instead of requiring the entire shoe to be expensive waterproof material, only the sock needs to provide waterproof protection, and it can be replaced inexpensively when needed, making the overall solution more economical.
2Reliability
If shoes are made of watertight and breathable material, then water resistance is improved, but vulnerability to small holes increases
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the waterproof function into a dedicated removable sock component, any holes or damage are confined to the sock rather than compromising the entire shoe's waterproof integrity. The sock can be removed and replaced without affecting the shoe upper, isolating the vulnerability to a replaceable element.
Solution Approach 2:
The design anticipates potential damage by providing a replaceable waterproof sock that serves as a sacrificial protective layer. If the sock develops holes, it can be replaced before water ingress becomes a problem, effectively cushioning against the harmful effect of holes through proactive replacement rather than repair.
3Reliability
If a water-proof sock is added to the shoe, then water resistance is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The neck portion of the water-proof sock is designed to be foldable rather than rigid, allowing it to adapt dynamically to the opening of the shoe. This flexibility simplifies the insertion and removal process, and the connection members enable easy attachment and detachment, reducing the perceived complexity despite adding functional components.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection members are integrated directly into the neck portion and shoe opening, merging the fastening function with the structural elements. This integration reduces the number of separate components needed, as the connection mechanism is built into the existing structures rather than being added as separate complex hardware.
4Ease of operation
If the neck portion is foldable, then ease of operation is improved, but connection reliability may worsen
Solution Approach 1:
The foldable neck portion with connection members enables the water-proof sock to be easily inserted and removed by the user without assistance. The self-contained connection mechanism allows the user to perform the attachment and detachment operations independently, improving ease of operation while maintaining sufficient connection reliability through the hook-and-loop fastening system.
Data Source
AI summary
A footwear assembly includes a shoe having a vamp and an outsole. The shoe includes a first room defined between the vamp and the outsole, and a first opening is formed in the top of the shoe and communicates with the first room. A first connection member is located on outside of the first opening. A water-proof sock is inserted in the first room via the first opening, and has a neck portion formed along the second opening of the water-proof sock. The neck portion is able to be foldable relative to the water-proof sock and has a second connection member which is connected to the first connection member when the neck portion is foldable relative to the water-proof sock.