Blast Mitigating Boot With V-Shaped Sole And Non-Magnetic Materials
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current combat boots provide limited protection against blast events, resulting in injuries to the foot, ankle, fibula, and tibia from anti-personnel mines, and have magnetic signatures that can trigger magnetically activated mines, restricting their deployment.
Innovation Solution
A blast mitigating boot with a V-shaped sole incorporating energy-absorbing materials like para-aramid or UHMWPE fabric, closed-cell foam, and an anti-fungal non-slip coating, designed to deflect blast forces and fragments, and an upper made of high-velocity fragment-reducing fabric to limit injury transmission.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If steel toes and shanks are used in boots, then protection against crushing and puncture is improved, but magnetic signature triggers magnetically activated mines
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes magnetic materials (steel) from the boot construction and replaces them with non-magnetic materials such as aluminum, composite materials, or treated polymers. This extraction of the magnetic component eliminates the harmful effect of triggering magnetically activated mines while maintaining the protective function through alternative non-magnetic strengthening materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the magnetic properties parameter of the boot sole by substituting magnetic materials with non-magnetic materials. This parameter change maintains the structural strength and protective capabilities while fundamentally altering the magnetic signature from present to absent, thereby eliminating the hazard of magnetic mine activation.
2Strength
If full metal boot sole is used, then protection against blast events is improved, but ability to run and bend is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the boot sole into multiple segments with different material properties: a non-magnetic metal or composite layer for blast protection, and flexible polymer or foam layers for cushioning and flexibility. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, providing blast mitigation while maintaining the ability to run and bend.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite material construction combining non-magnetic metals, composites, or treated polymers with flexible polymers or foams. This composite structure provides the necessary blast protection through the rigid non-magnetic layer while the flexible layers maintain cushioning, flexibility, and the ability to perform dynamic movements like running and bending.
3Ease of manufacture
If traditional boot sole is used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but protection against blast events and high velocity fragments is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the boot sole into multiple functional layers: a traditional outsole for traction and manufacturing simplicity, and an added intermediate layer of non-magnetic metal, composite, or treated polymer for blast and fragment protection. This segmentation allows the traditional sole to be manufactured as before while adding protective functionality through a separate, purpose-designed layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite sole structure combining traditional boot sole materials with non-magnetic metals, composites, or treated polymers. This composite construction maintains the ease of manufacture of traditional soles while adding blast and fragment protection through the integrated non-magnetic material layer, achieving both manufacturing simplicity and enhanced protection.
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
The boot significantly reduces impact forces by up to a factor of four, preventing or minimizing injuries to the lower legs and maintaining effectiveness against various environmental hazards while avoiding magnetic triggers.
Implementation Method 1
a core of closed cell single or multiple density high energy absorbing foam that absorbs impact forces
Implementation Method 2
The sole includes a V shape with a centered keel and a plurality of cleats containing energy absorbing material
Implementation Method 3
a layer of high velocity fragment reducing fabric para-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, or 'UHMWPE,' fabric
Implementation Method 4
The sole also may be cut, molded, extruded, and the like, in various sizes. The sole of the present invention may have a unitary form or be assembled from multiple sections
Implementation Method 5
The sole has an exterior coating or layer of anti fungal, non slip, polyurethane
Data Source
AI summary
A blast deflecting boot has a V like shaped sole, a layer to reduce and to stop high velocity fragments, a padded core that limits the blast forces transmitted to the lower leg of a soldier, and an upper of high velocity blast fragment reducing fabric. The invention provides the sole within a layer of non-slip urethane that contains energy absorbing foam, a layer of high velocity fragment reducing para-aramid or ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene UHMWPE fabric, and a core of closed cell single or multiple density high energy absorbing foam or silicone that absorbs impact forces. The insole has a high velocity fragment reducing layer system of multiple layers of UHMWPE, or para-aramid. The sole of the present invention may have a unitary form or be assembled from multiple sections.