Adjustable Heel System with Differential Rigidity for Footwear Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear heel systems lack an adjustable mechanism to provide varying levels of support to the heel region, which can be inadequate for different physical activities and foot types.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable heel system comprising a medial heel member and a lateral heel member with different rigidities, connected to the sole structure via a tab and slot system, allowing for customizable support by varying material composition and geometry, enabling the heel members to cradle the heel region effectively.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional heel system is used, then the structure is simple, but the support level is insufficient for different physical activities and foot types
Solution Approach 1:
The heel system is divided into separate medial and lateral heel members that can be independently configured. Each heel member can be selectively positioned at different locations on the sole structure, allowing customization of support levels for different foot types and activities while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel members are designed to be movable relative to the sole structure, allowing them to be repositioned along designated paths or ranges of motion. This dynamic repositioning capability enables the same heel system to adapt to different physical activities and foot conditions without requiring multiple different systems.
2Strength
If the lateral heel member has higher rigidity, then lateral support is improved, but flexibility and comfort may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different heel members are assigned different rigidity characteristics tailored to their specific functions. The lateral heel member uses higher rigidity materials or constructions to provide strong lateral support, while the medial heel member uses lower rigidity materials to provide flexibility and comfort, allowing each region to have optimized properties.
Solution Approach 2:
The heel members may be constructed from composite materials or multi-layer structures that combine different material properties. This allows the lateral heel member to incorporate stiffer materials for support while the medial heel member incorporates more flexible materials, achieving both strength and flexibility within the same system.
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear having a heel system is disclosed. The heel system may include a medial heel member and a lateral heel member. The medial heel member and the lateral heel member may be disposed on a sole structure. The medial heel member may have a first rigidity and the lateral heel member may have a second rigidity that is different from the first rigidity. The difference in rigidity may provide different levels of support to a wearer's heel region. The medial heel member may extend from a medial edge of the sole structure to a rearward edge of the sole structure. The lateral heel member may extend from a lateral edge of the sole structure to the rearward edge of the sole structure.