Dual Durometer Golf Outsole with Directional Lugs
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Solution Overview
Problem
Golf shoes with inadequate sole structures allow foot rotation during a golf swing, leading to poor performance, discomfort, and potential injuries like blisters, twisted ankles, and pulled muscles.
Innovation Solution
An article of footwear with a dual durometer outsole featuring compressible and incompressible lug patterns, where the incompressible lugs prevent foot rotation and the compressible lugs enhance traction by maintaining contact with the ground through compression and bending.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single durometer outsole is used, then the shoe structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously provide rotation prevention and sustained ground contact during golf swing
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is segmented into two distinct durometer regions: a first outsole portion with compressible lugs and a second outsole portion with incompressible lugs. This segmentation allows each portion to perform its specialized function - the incompressible portion prevents rotation while the compressible portion maintains ground contact, resolving the contradiction between reliability and structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the outsole are assigned different material properties (durometer values). The second outsole portion uses a harder, incompressible material for rotation prevention, while the first outsole portion uses a softer, compressible material for sustained ground contact. This local differentiation of material quality enables simultaneous achievement of rotation prevention and ground contact maintenance.
2Reliability
If incompressible lugs are used throughout the outsole, then foot rotation is prevented, but traction is reduced during weight-shifting phases
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is divided into functional segments where incompressible lugs are concentrated in the forefoot region for rotation prevention, while compressible lugs are placed in the hindfoot and midfoot regions to maintain ground contact during weight transfer, thus resolving the contradiction between rotation prevention and traction during gait.
Solution Approach 2:
The outsole material properties are locally optimized: harder incompressible material is applied where rotation prevention is critical (forefoot), while softer compressible material is applied where ground contact maintenance is critical (hindfoot and midfoot), enabling both functions to coexist effectively.
3Ease of operation
If compressible lugs are used throughout the outsole, then traction is improved through ground contact maintenance, but foot rotation cannot be prevented
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is segmented to place incompressible lugs in the forefoot region to prevent rotation, while compressible lugs are positioned in the hindfoot and midfoot regions to maintain ground contact during weight-shifting phases, resolving the contradiction between traction and rotation prevention.
Solution Approach 2:
Different material properties are assigned to different outsole regions: the forefoot receives harder incompressible material for rotation stability, while the hindfoot and midfoot receive softer compressible material for sustained ground contact, enabling both functions to work together.
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 dual durometer outsole effectively prevents foot rotation during a golf swing while providing improved traction across various phases of a golf game, enhancing performance and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
The compressible lugs are configured to compress when a force is imparted on the ends
Implementation Method 2
the compressible lugs enable better traction of the article of footwear by keeping the first outsole portion in contact with the ground/support surface for a longer amount of time through compression or bending
Implementation Method 3
The incompressible lugs are disposed on the lateral edge of the forefoot region and the medial edge of the hindfoot region... configured prevent rotation of the feet
Implementation Method 4
The incompressible lugs may be shaped like wedges, and are configured prevent rotation of the feet
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention is directed toward an article of footwear that effectively reduces rotation the article of footwear during a golf swing. The article of footwear includes an upper and a sole structure, where the sole structure is comprised of a midsole, a first outsole, and a second outsole. The article of footwear includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a hindfoot region. The first outsole is coupled to both the midsole and the second outsole, while the second outsole is disposed between the midsole and the first outsole. The second outsole includes a first series of lugs disposed along a lateral edge of the second outsole and extending through the first outsole in the forefoot region, and a second series of lugs disposed along a medial edge of the second outsole and extending through the first outsole in the hindfoot region.