Social media campaign to drive innovation in shoe design

Munich, August 23, 2011. A German shoe designer has come up with a technical innovation which promises a superior quick lacing system with improved wearing comfort. Consumer feedback is tested via a Facebook campaign.

The system known as C’lever-Comfort uses a lever mechanism to firmly hold the laces in place just like on sailing boats. The lever is mounted on a thermoplastic anatomically shaped tongue which not only provides a very good fit but also allows the feet to breathe through a series of ventilation openings in the middle of the tongue.

Since the invention of shoe laces in 1790 there have been numerous attempts to improve on the lacing of shoes: velcro closures, spring-based closure systems, turnable discs for professionals and ultimately prototypes of magical shoe closure systems from science fiction movies. But 220 years later, tying laces is still the predominant requirement to close up a shoe.

C’lever-Comfort is designed to pave the way towards a more comfortable overall integrated shoe closure system. Filed as a patent in 2009, the technology is currently being surveyed by consumers through a Facebook social media campaign. The objective is to collect hundreds of comments before the launch of production scheduled for 2012.

The „lever“ in C’lever-Comfort provides a one-pull easy closure system which withstands much stronger forces than a spring-based quick lacing system. The smoothly gliding laces ensure that the tongue can be opened wide and quickly closed in seconds. Unlike traditional shoe laces, the lever doesn’t open or loosen, a feature which especially sports people will highly appreciate.

The lever can be adapted to fit all kinds of fashion variants making it a universally usable closure mechanism for all kinds of sport and outdoor shoes. It also offers unique advantages for the kids and senior shoe markets. It is this broad application range and the simplicity of the system that differentiates it from other methods to close shoes.

The anatomically shaped shoe tongue which is part of the integrated lacing system ensures that there is best possible pressure distribution through a stiffer but delicatedly ribbed shoe tongue. The result is a tight but very comfortable enclosure around the foot. A specifically designed chimney system allows moisture build-up to escape through the tongue where previously sweat would run down to the insole.

The integrated closure system „C’lever-Comfort“ creates a new experience in lacing and fit and will soon find its way into footwear for sports, outdoor activities, kids, seniors and work safety. Planned availability is 2012.

The social media campaign can be found at www.clever-comfort.com or www.facebook.com/CleverComfort.

About Munich Innovation Group:

Munich Innovation Group GmbH facilitates the transfer of patented ideas into the market in the spirit of open innovation. Munich Innovation runs a proof of demand using a tailor-made social media campaign to gauge consumer interest in a particular invention. Only when a sufficient public interest and consumer pull has been reached, discussions with potential licencees are initiated. Whereas the intellectual property business is dominated by patent lawyers, Munich Innovation takes a market driven approach: the five partners of Munich Innovation have backgrounds in consumer goods, venture capital, consulting and intellectual property monetisation. Munich Innovation Group GmbH is based in Munich, Germany.

About C’lever-Comfort:

C’lever-Comfort is the name for a family of inventions for which patents have been filed designed to introduce a new integrated lacing system for shoes. The innovation was filed for patent in 2009 by a German shoe designer with 35 years of experience in shoe making. C’lever-Comfort is a major improvement over other existing shoe lacing systems in terms of ease of use, durability and wearing comfort and offers a broad range of applications. The patent is exclusively being marketed by Munich Innovation Group.

Munich Innovation Group GmbH
Parzivalstrasse 27, 80804 Munich, Germany
Internet: www.munich-innovation.com

Philipp Sandner
Phone: +49 (0) 151 2533 9641
Mail: ps@munich-innovation.com

This release was published on openPR.