[0001] The invention refers to an intelligent system for grip enhancement of the footwear
sole, depending on the temperature of the movement surface and in relation to the
environmental conditions, based on the temperature difference, in that it is equipped
with a thermo-mechanical conversion mechanism with a specific constructive form.
[0002] In the purpose of grip enhancement of the footwear sole, several solutions are known
(
JPH04109901A,
US5732482A,
KR20170142828A) which consists, mainly, of equipment and/or detachable systems and/or incorporated
in the sole of the footwear in order to enhance the grip exerted on a surface against
which the action of movement is made difficult by destabilizing environmental factors,
suitable for the sole and/or unprepared footwear to face different situations and/or
challenges.
[0003] Some of the disadvantages of the described solutions are related to that they are
compatible with specific models of soles and/or footwear, they require additional
energy for implementation and/or activation, they introduce additional effort in movement,
they cause premature wear, they deteriorate over time and they do not constitute a
universal solution, which is adequate in simultaneously facing the dynamic challenges
of a variable weather condition (e.g., aridity, heatwave, humidity, slime, snow and/or
ice).
[0004] The invention solves, mainly, the technical problem in that it uses a shape memory
material to modify the configuration of the sole and enhancement of the grip, which
adapts the sole of the footwear in which it is incorporated, so that it reduces the
necessary and usage of footwear with a different destination and/or sole depending
on the activity carried out, because it adapts their sole to meet various needs and
without using an exhaustible energy source, because it involves a simple, robust construction
form and does not have a negative impact on the dimension, mass, shape or wear resistance
of the sole and/or the footwear in which it is incorporated in the purpose of grip
enhancement.
[0005] Intelligent system for grip enhancement, according to the invention, it surprises
the presented disadvantages and problems in that it assumes, mainly, a solution actuated
thermo-mechanically in an automatic manner and under different conditions of temperature,
as a response to variable natural phenomena, which adapts the sole of the footwear
in which it is embedded according to the external temperature, of environmental factors
and/or of season, so that it facilitates the movement in conditions of high temperature
(e.g., dry, firm and grippy environment) and it enhances the grip at low temperature
(e.g., moist, soft and slippery environment), in an adequate manner.
[0006] The invention has the following advantages:
- The system introduces new possibilities for grip enhancement;
- The system presents constructive simplicity and flexibility, but at the same time
advantageous dimension, mass and shape, without negatively affecting the movement
or the sole of the footwear that incorporates it in the purpose of grip enhancement;
- The system reduces the impact that other solutions introduce on the efficiency of
moving with footwears whose sole incorporates them in the purpose of grip enhancement;
- The system facilitates grip enhancement, both depending on the environmental factors
and season;
- The system does not depend on additional energy sources;
- The system is robust and easy to maintain so that it does not require special maintenance.
[0007] Below is further given an embodiment of the invention in connection with the following
figures:
- Fig. 1 - Intelligent system for grip enhancement, incorporated in the sole of a footwear,
view from below;
- Fig. 2.1 - Structure of an intelligent system for grip enhancement (variant) in inactive state, incorporated in the sole of footwear at high temperature, side view;
- Fig. 2.2 - Structure of an intelligent system for grip enhancement (variant) in active state, incorporated in the sole of a footwear at low temperature, side view;
- Fig. 3.1 - Structure of an intelligent system for grip enhancement (variant) in inactive state, incorporated in the sole of a footwear at high temperature, side view;
- Fig. 3.2 - Structure of an intelligent system for grip enhancement (variant) in active state, incorporated in the sole of a footwear at low temperature, side view;
[0008] Intelligent system for grip enhancement, is characterized mainly, in that it is intended
for the incorporation in the support sole 1 of any footwear 2, which involves, as
the case may be, one or more longitudinal canals 3, 3', 3", disposed parallel and
incorporated in the flexible material of the support sole 1, which each house one
actuation wire 4 made of an intelligent material of metallic nature with the shape
memory property (e.g., nitinol [NiTi]), which reacts from the point of view of the
shape to thermal variations, as the case may be, depending on the manner in which
its shape is memorized, so that it is placed freely, but with the ends fixed between
the limits of the longitudinal canal 3, which presents, as the case may be, one or
more many orifices 5 that houses one sliding crampon 6 fixed to the actuation wire
4 that crosses it through its upper end, supports it and for which it constitutes
the mechanism for actuation and determination of the sliding movement, so that in
the
inactive state, at normal ground temperature, the shape of the actuation wire 4 is determined
by a high temperature for which, as the case may be, either its length is elongated,
its shape is wavy, and the sliding crampon 6 is raised to the upper limit of the orifice
5 (figure 2.1) and respectively, either its length is short, its shape is elongated
and the sliding crampon 6 is raised to the upper limit of the orifice 5 (figure 3.1),
and in
active state, at ground temperature below 0 degrees (e.g. snow and/or ice), the shape of
the actuation wire 4 is determined by a low temperature for which, as the case may
be, either its length is short, its shape is elongated and the sliding crampon 6 is
lowered to the lower limit of the orifice 5 (figure 2.2) and respectively, either
its length is elongated, its shape is wavy and the sliding crampon 6 is lowered to
the lower limit of the orifice 5 (figure 3.2), in order to enhance the grip that the
sole of the footwear ensures relative to the travel surface with which it is in contact
and on which, as the case may be, one or more sliding crampons 6 exert additional
pressure and grip following the automatic activation of the intelligent system for
grip enhancement.
[0009] Intelligent system for grip enhancement, according to the invention, can be reproduced
with the same performances and characteristics whenever is necessary, a fact that
constitutes an argument in favor of meeting the criterion of industrial applicability.
1. Intelligent system for grip enhancement, characterized in that it is intended for the incorporation in the sole (1) of any footwear (2), which involves,
as the case may be, one or more longitudinal canals (3), (3'), (3"), disposed parallel
and incorporated in the flexible material of the support sole (1), which each house
one actuation wire (4) made of an intelligent material of metallic nature with the
shape memory property, which reacts from an elastic point of view to thermal variations,
as the case may be, depending on the manner in which its shape is memorized, so that
it is placed freely, but with the ends fixed between the limits of the longitudinal
canal (3), which presents, as the case may be, one or more many orifices (5) that
houses one sliding crampon (6) fixed to the actuation wire (4) that crosses it through
its upper end, supports it and for which it constitutes the mechanism for actuation
and determination of the sliding movement, in order to enhance the grip that the sole
of the footwear ensures relative to the travel surface with which it is in contact
and on which, as the case may be, one or more sliding crampons (6) exert additional
pressure and grip following the automatic activation of the system.
2. Intelligent system for grip enhancement, according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the actuation wire (4) in the inactive state is determined by a high temperature, so that its length is elongated, its shape
is wavy and for which the sliding crampon (6) is raised to the upper limit of the
orifice (5), and in active state is determined by a low temperature, so its length is short, its shape is elongated
and the sliding crampon (6) is lowered to the lower limit of the orifice (5) (figure
2.1, figure 2.2).
3. Intelligent system for grip enhancement, according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape of the drive wire (4) in the inactive state is determined by a high temperature, so that its length is short, its shape
is elongated and for which the sliding crampon (6) is raised to the upper limit of
the orifice (5), and in active state is determined by a lowered temperature, so that its length is elongated, its
shape is wavy and the sliding crampon (6) is lowered to the lower limit of the orifice
(5) (figure 3.1, figure 3.2).
