Arch Support Sole Structure for Lightweight Footwear Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoes, particularly those used for outdoor activities, often lack sufficient comfort and durability due to inadequate support and wear resistance, especially in the arch area, which affects the overall performance and longevity.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring a support sheet with a higher hardness than the sole body, divided into a main body and an extension portion, integrated with a through hole and recess, enhancing support and stability while reducing weight and abrasion, using materials like carbon plates or thermoplastic polyurethane.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a support sheet with higher hardness is integrated into the sole body, then support and stability are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet is segmented into a main body portion and an extension portion, with the main body received in a through hole of the sole body and the extension portion received in a recess. This segmentation allows the support function to be concentrated where needed while simplifying the overall integration process and reducing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support sheet is nested within the sole body structure, with the main body of the support sheet received in a through hole and the extension portion received in a recess. This nesting approach integrates the support function into the existing sole structure without adding external complexity.
2Strength
If the main body thickness is greater than extension portion thickness, then support strength is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet has different thicknesses in different regions: the main body has a greater thickness than the extension portion. This local quality variation provides stronger support where needed (in the arch portion) while maintaining easier manufacturing overall, as the thinner extension portion is simpler to produce.
3Reliability
If the support sheet is integrated into the sole body, then durability is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet uses a thin film structure with a main body and extension portion that provides durable support while minimizing weight addition. The thin film nature of the support sheet allows it to integrate seamlessly into the sole body without significantly increasing overall weight.
4Shape
If the side of the main body is flush with the side of the extension portion, then aesthetic appearance is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support sheet has a flush side configuration where the side of the main body is aligned with the side of the extension portion. This creates a clean, aesthetically pleasing appearance in the arch portion while the rest of the support sheet maintains its functional form, balancing aesthetics with manufacturability.
Data Source
AI summary
A sole includes a support sheet and a sole body divided into a rearfoot portion, a forefoot portion and an arch portion. A hardness of the support sheet is higher than that of the sole body. The support sheet comprises a main body and an extension portion, a thickness of the main body is greater than that of the extension portion, a side of the main body is flush with a side of the extension portion. The sole body comprises an upper surface, a lower surface, and a through hole penetrating the upper and the lower surfaces. The through hole in the arch portion receives the main body, the side of the main body faces away from the lower surface. A recess is recessed from the upper surface at least corresponding to the arch portion towards the lower surface, the recess communicating with the through hole receives the extension portion.