Crosslinked Foam Sole Material for Thin Impact Absorption

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoe sole members face challenges in achieving impact resistance while maintaining comfort and reducing thickness, leading to increased weight or uncomfortable wear due to excessive hardness.

Innovation Solution

A crosslinked foam with a specific ratio of S phase content determined by pulsed NMR measurements at different temperatures, combined with styrene and amide thermoplastic elastomers, is used to create a shock-absorbing material that provides excellent impact resistance with reduced thickness and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the expansion ratio is reduced to satisfy impact resistance while reducing thickness, then the shock absorbing properties are improved, but the weight of shoe sole members is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidweight of shoe sole members
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies parameter changes by controlling the S phase content ratio through pulsed NMR measurement at different temperatures (20°C and 40°C). The specific parameter change is the temperature-dependent phase transition of the polymer, where the difference in S phase content between these temperatures indicates the presence of a specific crystalline structure that provides excellent shock absorption with lower density, thus reducing weight while maintaining impact resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Reliability

If the hardness of shoe sole members is enhanced to satisfy impact resistance while reducing thickness, then the impact resistance is improved, but the wearing comfort is deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveimpact resistanceVSAvoidwearing comfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by creating a specific phase structure (S phase) within the polymer that provides localized shock absorption properties. The S phase, characterized by its specific spin-spin relaxation time and temperature-dependent content ratio, creates regions of different mechanical properties within the material - providing hardness for impact resistance in critical areas while maintaining overall softness for comfort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Length of stationary object

If the thickness of shoe sole members is reduced to meet design requirements, then the weight and size are reduced, but the shock absorbing properties are deteriorated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethickness of shoe sole membersVSAvoidshock absorbing properties
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of stationary objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies composite materials by creating a crosslinked foam structure with specific phase composition. The material combines different phases (S phase with specific spin-spin relaxation time, and other phases) within a crosslinked polymer matrix, creating a composite structure that provides excellent shock absorption in reduced thickness. The crosslinked structure itself acts as a composite framework that enhances mechanical properties while maintaining thin profile.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

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 solution enables shoe sole members and protective equipment to exhibit excellent shock-absorbing properties with reduced thickness, ensuring comfort and effective impact resistance without excessive weight or hardness issues.

Implementation Method 1

a value obtained by subtracting the content ratio of S phase determined by pulsed NMR measurement at 40°C from the content ratio of S phase determined by pulsed NMR measurement at 20°C is large

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR):

Implementation Method 2

relating to the content ratio of a phase (S phase) in which a short spin-spin relaxation time is observed in the measurement by pulsed NMR

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectSpin-spin relaxation:

Data Source

PatentEP3399210B1Impact-mitigating material, shoe sole member, shoe, and protective sports gear
Publication Date: 2021.04.14 ASICS CORP
  • EP3399210B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3399210B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP3399210B1 patent drawing

AI summary

Provided is a shock absorbing material partially or fully formed from a crosslinked foam, wherein the crosslinked foam shows specific measurement results by pulsed NMR.