Patent AU-2015258328-A1 (AU)
Title: The reversible automation of self-lacing footwear from a mechanism pertaining in any way from the metal alloy Nitinol &/or in conjunction in any concentration with other chemical compound derivatives thereof.
Inventor: ANDERSON ADAM
IPC: A43B1/00
Filed: 2015-11-15
Abstract: The patent relates to the structural changes associated with the metal alloy Nitinol &/or in conjunction in any concentration with other chemical compound derivatives thereof, which will be incorporated within a variety of shoes, boots, sandals, &/or thongs. This function will precede the manual action people undergo when they perform the arduous task of tying shoelaces, clips, buckles &/or Velcro straps. The automation in regards to its action when tightening/self-lacing will be used in conjunction with current textiles to innovate this product that will be unique in its decorative design, and function. The shoes structural design will be split up into two forms; the first will be the frame consisting of the metal alloy Nitinol that will be arranged in a series of circular rings aligned next to each other in a sequence leading up from the base of the vamp/upper to the top located on the tongue, the series of circular rings will be interconnected with one another by a strip of conductive metal woven into the sole, & heel that will be associated with the activation/deactivation mechanism. The circular rings will be embedded into the lining, heel & soles of footwear, the radius of the set of circular ring structures will come in two pre-set sizes; the first size will be in the structure of an untied form, when the shoe is in a deactivated state, each segmented circular piece will have a larger size, and thinner width with all segmented ring radiuses increased in size to enable the wearer to place their foot inside the garment. The second size will come in the structure of a tied form, when the shoe has been activated by means of; magnetism, electrical, &/or temperature initiation, each segmented circular piece will have a smaller size, and thicker width, upon which its circular ring radiuses decrease in size to securely fit the garment to the wearer. This function will be reversible for the wearer, with the activation mechanism located on the shoe. The activation/deactivation of the circular rings will be taking the shape of pre-set conformational structures that will be imprinted into the Nitinol metal using a process that will use heat treatment to imprint the metals memory to both the large size/thinner width circular ring configuration associated when the shoe is in a untied deactivated state, and the small size/thicker width circular ring configuration associated when the shoe is in a tied activated state. The use of these designs will give an advantage towards leading the way through innovation, and improvement in relation to a business's product to have a better position in the marketplace that will give them an edge over the competition. Due to the conformational changes the metal undergoes during activation/deactivation, the metal itself will change its structure from a larger size, thinner width, to a smaller size, thicker width. This is due to the intrinsic properties associated with the metal alloy Nitinol, as the metal increases in size it will stretch itself to take the form of the pre-set conformational shape, increasing its length & becoming thinner, as the metal decreases in size it will shrink in on itself to take the form of the pre-set conformational shape, decreasing its length & becoming wider. These unique properties are directly imperative to the function this patent pertains to in designing footwear that will create a leap forward into the future of the industry.