Adhesive Footwear Cleats with Flexible Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for improving footwear traction require permanent structural changes to the outsole or alter the appearance of the footwear, limiting their application to pre-formed cleated outsoles and not accommodating custom or varied footwear styles effectively.
Innovation Solution
Adhesive cleats with a flexible body and protrusions that can be attached to ordinary footwear outsoles without altering the existing structure, featuring a base and protrusions made from materials with a Shore A hardness of 40 to 100, and an adhesive layer for secure attachment, allowing for adjustable traction without changing the footwear's appearance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If cleats are pre-formed into the outsole structure or require structural changes to the outsole, then traction capability is improved, but the footwear structure is permanently altered and appearance is changed
Solution Approach 1:
The cleat system is segmented into separate components: the outsole remains intact while detachable cleats with adhesive backs are applied to its surface. This allows traction improvement without permanently altering the outsole structure, as the cleats can be removed and reapplied as needed.
Solution Approach 2:
An adhesive layer serves as an intermediary between the cleat body and the outsole surface, enabling temporary attachment without structural modification. The adhesive allows the cleat to conform to the outsole while maintaining the ability to remove and reuse both the cleat and adhesive.
2Reliability
If cleats are attached using permanent structural changes or attachment methods, then traction is improved, but footwear appearance is altered
Solution Approach 1:
The cleat body is constructed from flexible material with Shore A hardness of 40-100 that can conform to the contours of the outsole surface. This flexibility allows the cleat to adapt to various footwear shapes while maintaining a low-profile appearance that does not significantly alter the footwear's aesthetic.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Provides improved traction on various surfaces without modifying the outsole structure or appearance, enabling the use of diverse footwear styles and custom orthotics, while being cost-effective and reusable.
Implementation Method 1
An adhesive layer in communication with the flat surface of the body base adheres the body to a footwear outsole
Implementation Method 2
a plurality of protrusions extended from the base configured to engage with environmental surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
A cleat configured to adhere to a footwear outsole. The cleat contains a body formed from a flexible material with a hardness between 40 to 100 Shore A. The body consists of a base with a flat surface for receiving an adhesive and a plurality of protrusions extending from the base configured to engage an environmental surface to provide traction for the footwear. The protrusions have a thickness greater than the thickness of the base. The thickness of the base may be between 0.030 and 0.10 inches. The thickness of the protrusions may be between 0.050 and 0.15 inches.