Decoupled Foot Stabilizer for Lateral Constraint
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic footwear lacks a secure lateral constraint system that effectively stabilizes the foot during dynamic lateral movements, leading to potential injuries and inadequate support during sports activities like tennis and basketball.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a decoupled foot stabilizer system featuring a base portion, bootie, and strap members that extend through slits in the upper, allowing for customizable fit and stability by decoupling at the midfoot region, providing lateral support through adjustable strap members.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If conventional athletic footwear is designed to be lightweight and comfortable, then weight and comfort are improved, but lateral constraint and stability during dynamic movements deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The footwear is divided into distinct functional components: an upper structure, a decoupled stabilizer system with separate strap members, and a sole structure. The stabilizer system can move independently relative to the upper through slits, allowing each segment to perform its specialized function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The stabilizer system transitions from a static, fixed structure to a dynamic, movable system. The strap members can extend and retract through the slits in the upper, enabling the stabilizer to adapt its position and provide lateral constraint only when needed during dynamic movements, while remaining unobtrusive during normal wear.
2Reliability
If a secure lateral constraint system is added to provide stability during lateral movements, then foot stability is improved, but device complexity and weight increase
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer system serves multiple functions: it provides lateral constraint during lateral movements, maintains foot positioning during forward motion, and can be adjusted to accommodate different foot shapes and sizes. The same strap members that provide lateral stability also help secure the foot in the footwear.
Solution Approach 2:
The strap members are constructed as flexible, thin elements that can easily extend and retract through the slits in the upper. This flexibility allows the stabilizer system to provide constraint when needed while adding minimal bulk and complexity to the overall footwear structure.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the foot stabilizer system is decoupled at the midfoot region, then adaptability and customized fit are improved, but structural strength and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The stabilizer system is pre-positioned and attached to the sole structure before the footwear is worn. The strap members are configured in advance to extend through the slits in the upper, so that when the wearer inserts their foot, the stabilizer system is already in the correct position to provide immediate support and adaptability.
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear includes a decoupled foot stabilizer system. The foot stabilizer system is decoupled from a midfoot region of the article of footwear. The foot stabilizer system includes a plurality of strap members. The foot stabilizer system may optionally include a bootie. The plurality of strap members extend underneath a portion of a foot of a wearer. The plurality of strap members are configured to receive a lace at one end. A lace running through the ends of the strap members pulls on the strap members when the lace is tightened and causes the foot stabilizer system to conform to the wearer's foot.