Page 84 - libroBrevetti

Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport Patent Title Device for reproducing shoe mold and related apparatus (Foot Glove). Ref. CNR 10222 Assignee(s): CNR CNR InƐƟƚute: ITIA Main Inventor: Luca Greci Countries: IT Priority date: 12/06/2012 Abstract The core issues of mass cusƚŽŵŝnjĂƟŽn (MC) are to provide more and more conveniences to meet customer’s customized requirements and to ensure near mass produĐƟon eĸciency and quality in manufacturing processes. Since in the footwear sector MC provides the possibility to choose shoes with diīerent materials, colors, sizes and performances, the shops need big stocks in order to give the possibility to the customer to try the diīerent sŽůƵƟŽŶƐ available. The FootGlove (FG) is a ŚĂƉƟĐ device sŝŵƵůĂƟŶŐ the internal volume of the shoe through a set of mechatronics mechanism. It allows the customers to try, as dimensions as walking, shoes that are not yet manufactured supporƟŶŐ them in the choice of their best ĮƫŶŐ shoes. Background Product diversiĮĐĂƟŽŶ is geƫng more important in industry as well as in footwear sector also for compeƟŶg with the BRIC companies able to ŽīĞƌ quality products at Ăīordable prices. To maintain ĐŽŵƉĞƟƟveness is necessary to provide added value products as MC does giving personalized products at compeƟƟve prices. Major brands have already gone down this road. However, try-on and size up of a shoe, which has not yet produced, are sƟůů missing. Technology FG is able to reproduce diīerent shoe sizes and a real sole shape by a conƟnuous curve and to support the foot in the zones where the user’s weight is more. The mechanism consists of rigid metal parts linked with deformable rubber elements. The rubber elements enable the user to walk wearing the devices. The mechanism to pass drom one size to another one consists of Ɵe-rod strand of steel, running longitudinally through the sole and it is acƟvated by a screw. Advantages and ApplicaƟons Using the FG, customers can check if the selected size Įts on the feet and if the insole performance answers the expecƚĂƟŽn. Moreover she/he can tune the dimension of the internal volume of the FG respect to her/his feet to Įnd a beƩer ĮƫŶŐ or change the insole. The manufacturer can easily Įnd the best exisƟng last (size available) or provide ŝŶĨŽƌŵĂƟŽŶ regarding the shoes that will be manufactured (namely about the last that has to be realized). Development stage FG prototype has been done with the purpose of validate the design requirements. Some tests about the matching between the feelings (dimensions and walking) provided by the real shoes and the FG has been performed with good results. Second geneƌĂƟŽn of the FG is in progress. It will improve aspects not fully saƟsfying the requirements. 75