Build our Prototype
1) Firstly, we will use the insole of a shoe to be the base of INsoul.
2) The 4 springs will be stuck onto the part of the insole where the foot’s heel is going to be, with super glue, in a square formation. This square should be approximately 3cm by 3cm. The coils will be stuck onto the springs with super glue.
3) The magnet will be stuck in the middle of the square formation of the springs.
4) The wires will be connected to the coils, and to the batteries contained in the battery holder.
5) Aluminium sheet will be cut and bent to simulate the shape of INsoul, forming 50mm in height along its vertical sides. This sheet of aluminium should have almost the same dimensions as the insole at its bottom, so that it can surround the outer part of the bottom insole perfectly.
6) Coat the entire exterior of the aluminium sheet with a layer of steel. Steel acts as a good magnetic insulator.
7) Silicone would be squeezed out of the silicone gun to coat the entire outer layer of steel. Before it dries up, smoothen the entire outer layer of silicone and prevent the presence of any air bubbles as much as possible. This layer of silicone should be approximately half a centimetre throughout its perimeter.
8) Carefully, place the insole with components on top of it already, into the aluminium sheet “mould”. The insole should fit perfectly into the aluminium sheet.
9) The gaps in the interior of INsoul will be filled up with ready-made polyurethane foam, except the part directly above the batteries. This is to make the whole structure more durable and comfortable to users. The sides of the INsoul should be different in height along the length of the shoe. The sides near the heel of the insole should be about 40mm in height. The sides of the insole near the battery should be about 30mm in height. Thus, make sure that the polyurethane filled within INsoul creates a gradual curvature along the length of the INsoul obeying these dimensions. The gradual curvature allows more space at the heel for movement of the coils within INsoul and provides greater comfort to users.
10) Create a layer of silicone approximately half a centimetre in thickness. Make sure this layer is big enough to cut out the dimensions of the insole with excess 3cm of radius throughout it perimeter. Cut this silicone area out, and coat one side of it with a layer of steel. Place this silicone layer on top of the INsoul structure, above the polyurethane. The side with steel should face the polyurethane foam. This piece of silicone is in excess of the original insole size because its extended radius ensure that the interior part of INsoul is water-proofed.
11) Lastly, users place their shoe’s original insole on top of this silicone layer, after INsoul is carefully fitted into their shoes.
General Information
INsoul is protected from external liquids by silicone. Also, INsoul will enclose a 2 rechargeable batteries and a structure with the copper coils and the 4 springs encircling a magnet. This structure will be at the heel part of the insole. The 4 springs and magnet will be on the fitted on the base of the heel. The coils will be stuck to the springs. The rechargeable batteries at the front of the soles will be connected to the copper coils via copper wires. Electricity induced from the change in magnetic flux is stored in the protected Lithium-ion rechargeable batteries.
INsoul is meant for people who are avid runners and do not mind bulkier shoes when running.
Also, not all shoes are compatible with INsoul. The original shoe of the user must have a very thick insole, for INsoul to not have a significant height difference with the original insole, and not cause too much discomfort to users, or the shoe's design should naturally have an unusually large height between its sole and the top of the shoe. This is because INsoul has a maximum height of approximately 5cm, and there must still be enough space for the user’s feet to fit into the shoe fitted with INsoul.
Putting into Operation
1. The user fits INsoul into his/her shoes, using the easy-to-fit guide found together with the purchased insoles. The guidebook also contains all other relevant product information, and tells users more about green technology, sustainable energy, and global warming.
2. The user walks around in his/her shoes.
3. The force exerted on the heels of the shoes will push the coils downwards. The magnet hence enters the coils. The magnet will be encircled by springs, equidistant from each of the 4 springs on the base of the shoes.
4. When the heel is momentarily in the air as no force is exerted on the heel, the springs will revert back to its original length after compression.
5. There will be a constant change in magnetic flux as the magnet enters and leaves the coils.
6. This constant change in magnetic flux generates electricity and the energy will be stored in the rechargeable batteries located at the front of the soles. The energy will be transferred to the battery via the copper wires.
7. The battery status indicator on the protected Lithium ion batteries (two protected AA rechargeable batteries) will inform the user the extent the batteries have been charged. The user can check the status on the indicator located at the front of INsoul by lifting the top silicone layer of INsoul.
8. The user can transfer charged batteries to the portable charger.
9. The charger has a Universal USB port which will enable the phone’s USB cable to be connected to it to charge the phone.