Adjustable Footwear Sole With Inflatable Bladder
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Solution Overview
Problem
Athletic shoes often face challenges in balancing support and cushioning, leading to soreness, fatigue, and injuries due to inadequate cushioning and energy return, with existing solutions like pressurized fluid systems being expensive and prone to leakage, and the need for separate training and racing shoes.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring an inflatable bladder system between the upper and lower sole members, with an adjustable air pressure regulator, allowing the shoe to change thickness and cushioning based on inflation state, simulating both training and racing shoe functionalities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If pressurized fluid systems are used for cushioning, then cushioning performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases and leakage risk occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces expensive pressurized fluid systems with a simpler air-filled bladder system that can be easily manufactured and replaced. The bladder is designed as a disposable or easily replaceable component that maintains cushioning function without requiring complex pressurization mechanisms, thereby reducing manufacturing costs while maintaining reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses a pneumatic air-filled bladder system instead of pressurized fluid systems. The bladder is inflated with air at ambient pressure, eliminating the need for complex pressurization mechanisms and reducing manufacturing complexity while providing adequate cushioning performance for athletic footwear.
2Reliability
If pressurized fluid systems are used for cushioning, then cushioning performance is improved, but leakage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The air-filled bladder is designed as a simple, replaceable component that eliminates leakage risks associated with pressurized fluid systems. If the bladder becomes compromised, it can be easily replaced rather than repaired, ensuring continuous reliable cushioning performance without the harm of fluid leakage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses air at ambient pressure as the cushioning medium, which is inert and non-leaking. Unlike pressurized fluids that can escape and cause harm, the air-filled bladder operates at ambient pressure with no pressure gradient, eliminating the harmful effect of leakage while maintaining cushioning performance.
3Reliability
If sole thickness is increased for cushioning, then cushioning performance is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses an air-filled bladder system that provides high cushioning performance with minimal weight. The air-filled structure creates a lightweight yet effective cushioning layer that can be adjusted by inflation level, allowing optimal cushioning-to-weight ratio that solid materials cannot achieve.
Solution Approach 2:
The cushioning performance is adjusted by changing the inflation pressure of the air-filled bladder rather than changing the physical thickness or material density. This allows dynamic adjustment of cushioning properties without adding weight, as the same bladder structure provides varying levels of cushioning based on air pressure alone.
4Adaptability or versatility
If adjustable cushioning system is implemented, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic cushioning system using an air-filled bladder that can be inflated or deflated to adjust cushioning properties. The adjustable nature of air pressure provides continuous variation in cushioning performance, allowing the sole to adapt to different activities and preferences while maintaining relatively simple structural complexity compared to mechanical adjustment systems.
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 customizable cushioning and support, reducing the need for multiple shoes by adjusting ride height and cushioning, enhancing comfort and reducing injury risk through adjustable air pressure.
Implementation Method 1
the formation of shoe soles that include springs, gels or foams such as ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) or polyurethane (PU)... These devices attempt to enhance cushioning and energy return by transferring a pressurized fluid between the heel and forefoot areas of a shoe
Implementation Method 2
a cushioning device which contains air at ambient pressure provides several benefits over similar devices containing pressurized fluid... generally a cushioning device which contains air at ambient pressure will not leak and lose air, because there is no pressure gradient in the resting state
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear has an upper and a sole. The sole has an upper sole member, a lower sole member, and at least one inflatable bladder disposed between the upper sole member and the lower sole member. The at least one inflatable bladder has an inflated state and a deflated state. A distance between the upper sole member and the lower sole member is greater in the inflated state than the deflated state. Varying the inflation of the inflatable bladder varies the amount of cushioning in the sole and the thickness of the sole so that the shoe can serve as a multipurpose shoe for activities requiring different amounts of cushioning.