Bent Strip Spring Shoe Sole for Gait Energy Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing shoe soles fail to effectively address the complex interactivity of bone-muscle-tendon-ligament dynamics during gait, leading to inadequate shock absorption, energy transfer, and increased stress on the musculoskeletal system, particularly in the lower extremities, due to their inability to manage nonlinear and viscoelastic behaviors of biological structures.

Innovation Solution

A shoe sole design featuring an anterior support structure, a posterior support structure, and a first support structure, comprising a continuous interrelated bent strip spring system with flexible pivots and movable tongues, which absorbs and distributes loads during the gait cycle, providing structural support and controlled energy return.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If traditional coiled and leaf spring applications are used in shoe soles, then shock absorption is provided, but the complexity of bone-muscle-tendon-ligament interactivity during gait cannot be fully addressed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshock absorptionVSAvoidability to address biological structure interactivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe sole is divided into multiple independent support structures (anterior support structure with first bent strip spring, posterior support structure with second bent strip spring, and first support structure with third bent strip spring) that can independently deform and absorb shock at different locations, thereby addressing the complex interactivity of bone-muscle-tendon-ligament structures during gait

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The bent strip springs are designed to be flexible and deformable, allowing the support structures to dynamically adapt to the nonlinear and viscoelastic behavior of biological structures during the gait cycle, providing both shock absorption and energy storage capabilities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Use of energy by moving object

If springs are used to absorb shocks and store energy, then energy transfer is provided, but the ability to affect acting moments and forces about the foot and lower extremities is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy transferVSAvoidability to affect moments and forces

Core Design Contradiction:

Use of energy by moving objectVSForce

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous interrelated bent strip spring system is designed to counterbalance the moments and forces acting on the foot and lower extremities during gait, with the flexible pivots and interconnected springs providing opposing forces that reduce the net load on joints and musculoskeletal structures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #8Anti-weight (Counterweight)

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple bent strip springs are merged into a continuous interrelated system that spans the entire sole, allowing the structure to simultaneously manage energy transfer and force distribution across multiple points of contact, thereby affecting the acting moments and forces about the foot and lower extremities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Strength

If separate midfoot arch support is provided, then structural support is given, but integrated load transfer capability during gait is lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestructural supportVSAvoidintegrated load transfer capability

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The anterior support structure, posterior support structure, and first support structure are merged into a continuous interrelated bent strip spring system that provides both midfoot arch support and integrated load transfer capability, eliminating the need for separate components while enhancing functional integration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design enhances stability and reduces energy levels on joints, minimizing gait-related issues by effectively managing forces and moments across the foot and lower extremities, thereby providing improved comfort and reducing the risk of medical problems.

Implementation Method 1

The bent strip spring system includes an elongate bent strip spring that defines a biased structure... receives a load from an external source and displaces from an initial position to a contact position

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

biological structures of the lower extremities, which exhibit both nonlinear and viscoelastic behavior... true tensile properties are rate dependent

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectViscoelasticity: Viscoelasticity

Data Source

PatentUS9907356B2Shoe sole with energy restoring device

Publication Date: 2018.03.06 BAUM HOWARD

AI summary

The present disclosure describes a performance enhancing shoe sole that includes an anterior support structure and a posterior support structure that are connected by a first support structure. The anterior support structure and posterior support structure are flexible bent spring structures. The first support structure provides a plantar interface that includes a midfoot arch. The shoe sole is positionable in a shoe to provide shock absorption and controlled energy return from the posterior support structure to the first support structure. The shoe sole is an interconnected bent spring system that can be a single ribbon of flexible material defining multiple pivot angles or a multi-layered cantilevered flexible bent spring. The shoe sole can also include inserts that dampen shock.