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impaginato corretto fullone_Layout 1 13/10/15 12.10 Pagina 83 Department of Engineering, ICT and Technologies for Energy and Transport Patent Title Title Device for reproducing shoe mold and related Device for reproducing shoe mold and related apparatus (Foot Glove). apparatus (Foot Glove). Ref. CNR 10222 Ref. CNR 10222 Assignee(s): CNR CNR Institute: ITIA Main Inventor: Luca Greci Countries: IT Priority date: 12/06/2012 Abstract Abstract The core issues of mass customization (MC) are to provide more and more conveniences to meet Thecore issuesof mass customization (MC) areto provide more andmoreconveniences to meet customer’s customized requirements and to ensure near mass production efficiency and quality in customer’s customized requirements and to ensure near mass production efficiency and quality in manufacturing processes. Since in the footwear sector MC provides the possibility to choose shoes with manufacturing processes. Since in the footwear sector MC provides the possibility to choose shoes with different materials, colors, sizes and performances, the shops need big stocks in order to give the different materials, colors, sizes and performances, the shops need big stocks in order to give the possibility to the customer to try the different solutions available. The FootGlove (FG) is a haptic device possibility to the customer to try the different solutions available. The FootGlove (FG) is a haptic device simulating the internal volume of the shoe through a set of mechatronics mechanism. It allows the simulating 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 supporting them in the customers to try, as dimensions as walking, shoes that are not yet manufactured supporting them in the choice of their best fitting shoes. choice of their best fitting shoes. Background Background Product diversification is getting more important in industry as well as in footwear sector also for competing product diversification is getting more important in industry as well as in footwear sector also for competing with the BRIC companies able to offer quality products at affordable prices. To maintain competitiveness is with the BRIC companies able to offer quality products at affordable prices. To maintain competitiveness is necessary to provide added value products as MC does giving personalized products at competitive prices. necessary to provide added value products as MC does giving personalized products at competitive prices. Major brands have already gone down this road. However, try-on and size up of a shoe, which has not yet Major brands have already gone down this road. However, try on andsizeupofashoe, whichhas notyet produced, are still missing. produced, are still missing. Technology Technology FG is able to reproduce different shoe sizes and a real sole shape by a continuous curve and to support the FG is able to reproduce different shoe sizes and a real sole shape by a continuous 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 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 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 tie-rod strand of steel, running longitudinally mechanism to pass drom one size to another one consists of tie rod strand of steel, running longitudinally through the sole and it is activated by a screw. through the sole and it is activated by a screw. Advantages and Applicatons Advantages and Applications Using the FG, customers can check if the selected size fits on the feet and if the insole performance answers Using the FG, customers can check if the selected size fits on the feet and if the insole performance answers the expectation. Moreover she/he can tune the dimension of the internal volume of the FG respect to the expectation. Moreover she/he can tune the dimension of the internal volume of the FG respect to her/his feet to find a better fitting or change the insole. The manufacturer can easily find the best existing her/his feet to find a better fitting or change the insole. The manufacturer can easily find the best existing last (size available) or provide information regarding the shoes that will be manufactured (namely about the last (size available) or provide information regarding the shoes that will be manufactured (namely about the last that has to be realized). last that has to be realized). Development stage Development stage FG prototype has been done with the purpose of validate the design requirements. Some tests about the 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 matching between the feelings (dimensions and walking) provided by the real shoes and the FG has been performed with good results. Second generation of the FG is in progress. It will improve aspects not fully performed with good results. Second generation of the FG is in progress. It will improve aspects not fully 83 satisfying the requirements. satisfying the requirements.