Compact Electric Shoe Fastener Using Worm Gear Strap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric motor-operated central fasteners for shoes, particularly sports shoes, require significant space, which is often not available.
Innovation Solution
A compact central fastener design utilizing a strap with a gearing or profile, where a worm engages to pull the strap in a translational direction, driven by an electric motor, and a thin metal sheet tensioning element with laminar parts forming a triangular structure, allowing for efficient lacing and de-lacing without occupying excessive space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If a conventional electric motor-operated central fastener is used, then the shoe can be laced and de-laced automatically, but the fastener requires significant space which is not always available in sports shoes
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a traditional cable-based tensioning element to a laminar (flat panel) tensioning element that operates in a two-dimensional plane on the shoe surface. This dimensional change allows the fastener system to achieve automatic lacing functionality while occupying significantly less three-dimensional space, making it suitable for sports shoe applications where space is constrained.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the conventional mechanical cable-winding system with an electric motor-driven system that uses a laminar tensioning element with integrated gearing. This substitution enables more compact design by eliminating the need for large-diameter winding spools and cables, while maintaining the automatic lacing function through direct motor-to-strap actuation.
2Area of stationary object
If the tensioning element is made of thin panel sheet, then the compactness is improved, but the strength may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent specifies that the laminar tensioning element is made from thin panel sheet of metal, particularly light metal such as aluminum or magnesium. These materials provide a favorable strength-to-weight ratio and strength-to-thickness ratio, enabling the creation of a compact fastener system that maintains sufficient tensile strength for lacing applications despite the reduced thickness of the tensioning element.
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
The solution enables a very compact shoe design with efficient lacing and de-lacing functionality, utilizing a thin metal sheet tensioning element and a worm gear mechanism, allowing for easy control via a switch or mobile app, ensuring a snug fit without bulkiness.
Implementation Method 1
the gear element comprises a worm which engages into the gearing or profile to pull the strap in a translational direction at the rotation of the worm
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a shoe (1), especially to a sports shoe, with a shoe upper (2) and a sole (3) connected with the shoe upper (2), wherein the shoe (1) comprises a central fastener (4) for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of a wearer, wherein the central fastener (4) comprises at least one tensioning element (5) which is arranged on or in a region of the shoe upper (2) by which a lacing force can be exerted onto the region of the shoe upper (2) and at least one gear element (6) driven by an electric motor (7), wherein a section (8) of the tensioning element (5) can be pulled against a fixed location (9) of the shoe (1) by means of the gear element (6) to create a tensioning force for lacing the shoe (1) at the foot of the wearer. To provide a compact central closure system the invention proposes that the section (8) of the tensioning element (5) is a strap which comprises a gearing (10) or a profile, wherein the gear element (6) comprises a worm (11) which engages into the gearing (10) or profile to pull the strap (8) in a translational direction (T) at the rotation of the worm (11).