The Swap Soul Shoes-The Shoes with Interchangeable Soles

Background of the Problem

IET 120 SPRING 2014

The cost of new shoes really starts to add up over the years. Its estimated that the average household will buy approximately five new shoes and spend over $350 per year for shoes. The ma or reason why people buy new shoes is because the soles of their older shoes prematurely become worn out and un!bearable to wear. Problem and Goal Statement The first thing to become worn out on a shoe is the bottom sole. " traditional shoes sole lasts a short six months before degrading to a point that the shoe is uncomfortable to wear# and re!soling in expensive. In order to save money# natural resources and efficiency# wed li$e to suggest a new type of shoe with a much durable# low!degrading sole that is economical# comfortable# and interchangeable with many customi%ation options. Problem Solving Approach &'ngineering (esign )rocess* +* (Define the Problem) ,ound that old shoes are usually perfectly fine except for the bottom soles. This wastes money and natural resources. -* (Brainstorm) .ur idea is to create an economical shoe with interchangeable bottoms that will last longer# saving people money and allow for creative# innovative customi%ation for the public ensuring a potential future mar$et. 3* (Identify riteria) The interchanging bottoms must be more durable and efficient than current shoes. The shoes must secure tightly and comfortable and maintain a fit for everyday activities. The shoes must also be affordable since the sole purpose of this idea is to save people money. ,inally# the shoes must allow for innovative customi%ation options including different colors and types of bottoms for shoes for different activities &a running bottom# s$ating bottom# light up bottom# etc.*. /* (Develop!Propose Design! hoose Alt" Solution) .ur design for the bottom sole must be easily interchangeable and maintain a secure fit. 0e thought about designing three different methods for attaching the parts together1 %ipper method# snap method# or !hoo$ method. ,ound that the snap attachments idea could potentially cause more problems in comfort and difficulty in using. The %ipper idea showed interesting results but further analysis indicates that the %ipper could become insecure easily and degradation of the %ipper teeth would result in an issue. The 2!hoo$ idea is
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The Swap Soul Shoes-The Shoes with Interchangeable Soles

IET 120 SPRING 2014

the proposed solution to our design for it meets all re3uirements for comfort# easy to use# efficiency of a secure fit and durability. 5* (Implement the Proposed Solution) The shoes need to be able to be made in a variety of styles and materials in order to appeal to a large number of people. 4onsulting shoe and fashion designers would be a good start in order to get a taste of what people want and what is comfortable. The fact that it is good for your body to not wear the same shoes every day can be very hard to do especially if you must wear business dress a lot. 5ou dont want to have to buy five pairs of blac$ dress shoes. 0ith interchangeable soles you can have the same shoe and simply change out the different soles each day. 6* (#ake #odel or Prototype) 0e chose to draw an example# as we dont really have materials available to create a prototype. 7* ($valuate) 8tudies show promising results and potential customers are interested in the design and concept. ,urther feedbac$ will be needed from our class and other members. " model design would be necessary for further development. 9* (%efine Design) To help insure a secure fit and to ma$e sure the !hoo$s remain attached# we proposed a loc$ing mechanism to be attached to the heel when shoes are ready to be worn. To ta$e off the shoe# you would simply twist the $nob on the heel portion to the unloc$ed position then slide the !hoo$ed bottom sole from the rest of the shoe. :* ( reate &inal Design) The final design of our proposed solution along with our refined idea of a loc$ on the heel has been drawn as a model. +0* ( ommunication Processes) see below1

Information

ollected

,or the final solution to the issue of pre!maturely worn soles we decided a durable shoe that interchangeable soles could easily attach to was the best solution. In mar$eting the versatility of interchangeable soles will appeal to the fashion aspect and the ability to have a different feel and shape of shoe without having an abundance of shoes will appeal to the health people. ;y using the 2!hoo$s changes are 3uic$ and easy.

Tyler Bass and Troy Stafford

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The Swap Soul Shoes-The Shoes with Interchangeable Soles

IET 120 SPRING 2014

Tyler Bass and Troy Stafford

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The Swap Soul Shoes-The Shoes with Interchangeable Soles

IET 120 SPRING 2014

8ources U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics# 4onsumer 'xpenditure 8urvey!;ranch of Informational "nalysis. 8eptember +0th# -0+3. <etrieved ,ebruary -0th# -0+/# from http1==www.bls.gov=cex= Competitor# >ow .ften 8hould I <eplace ?y 8hoes. )ublished .ctober -- nd# -0+-. <etrieved ,ebruary -0th# -0+/ from http1==running.competitor.com=-0+-=+0=shoes!and! gear=how!often!should!i!replace!my!running!shoes@-7690 A(esperate!3uic$!fix your shoe soleB. Instructables.com. ,ai%%ohri. 0eb. -0 ,eb. -0+/. A'xtend the life of a 0ell!0orn 0ardrobeB. Oprah.com. Cynn .$ura. : 8ept. -00: 0eb. -0 ,eb. -0+/. A8ave 5our 8oleB. Themuse.com. Caura Daten. +5 "pril -0+-. 0eb. -0 ,eb. -0+/. A8olutions to the +0 ;iggest 8hoe )roblemsB. Msn.com. 0eb. -0 ,eb. -0+/.

Development of Alternative Solutions In our own brainstorming we came up with several ideas including using a %ipper and snaps. In further research we found that there is a patent on removable soles. >owever# the patent is very vague on the process of attaching the soles to the shoe. "nother popular solution to this problem is to have the soles replace by a cobbler. This is actually relatively inexpensive but can be 3uite a hassle. ,irst# you have to find a cobbler around you &which could be some distance*. Eext# you have to ta$e the shoes
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The Swap Soul Shoes-The Shoes with Interchangeable Soles

IET 120 SPRING 2014

to them and often drop them off and come bac$ the next day which leaves you without yours shoes for a while. (oesnt it sound much easier to unhoo$ the used sole and hoo$ a new one on yourselfF "nother solution in practice today is sole protectors which are thin rubber covers that go over your sole. " cheap fix for crac$ed soles is using a bicycle tire repair $it to cover the crac$. This is a 3uic$ fix that is highly unfashionable and doesnt last long. This protects them from wear. This is a fairly good idea but again has to be implemented by a cobbler. To be able to switch your soles yourself is priceless and also it saves closet room. Selection of Best Solution 0e decided that the twist loc$ing mechanism in combination with the !hoo$s attaching mechanism created the most satisfactory results. Gsing recyclable materials and polymers# these shoes could be made cheaply and affordable for consumer usage. .ur prototype design demonstrates various ideas that could wor$.

Tyler Bass and Troy Stafford

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