Fluid-Filled Chamber Stabilization via Interior Bond and Fold
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current footwear technologies lack effective solutions for enhancing the stability and deformation resistance of fluid-filled chambers in athletic footwear, which are prone to deformation under shearing forces, affecting performance and comfort.
Innovation Solution
A fluid-filled chamber design featuring a polymer barrier with a tensile member and stabilization structures, including an interior bond and fold, that restricts deformation by securing the barrier portions and maintaining the chamber's intended shape under pressure.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid-filled chamber is used in footwear to provide cushioning and comfort, then the footwear comfort is improved, but the chamber is prone to deformation under shearing forces which affects performance
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple portions (first barrier portion, second barrier portion, third barrier portion) that are separately formed and then bonded together. This segmentation allows each portion to be optimized for specific functions while collectively providing deformation resistance through the bonded assembly.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple barrier portions are bonded together to form a unified chamber structure. The bonding of first, second, and third barrier portions creates a composite structure that combines the advantages of each portion while providing enhanced overall stability and deformation resistance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the chamber is made more rigid to resist deformation, then the stability is improved, but the comfort and cushioning properties may be reduced
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the barrier are designed with different properties. The first barrier portion provides structural support and deformation resistance, while the second and third barrier portions are optimized for fluid containment and comfort. This local differentiation allows the chamber to resist deformation in critical areas while maintaining comfort properties in other areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber uses a composite structure formed by bonding multiple barrier portions together. This composite construction combines materials or structures with different properties, creating a unified chamber that balances rigidity for deformation resistance with flexibility for comfort and cushioning performance.
3Strength
If multiple barrier portions are bonded together to form the chamber, then the deformation resistance is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is segmented into multiple portions that can be formed using standard molding processes. Each portion is independently formed and then bonded to others, allowing for modular manufacturing that balances complexity management with enhanced deformation resistance through the multiportion construction.
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 design provides enhanced stability and reduced deformation under shearing forces, improving the overall performance and comfort of footwear by maintaining the chamber's shape and functionality.
Implementation Method 1
The first barrier portion, the second barrier portion, and the tensile member are compressed and heated after the step of molding to bond the tensile member to the first barrier portion and the second barrier portion
Data Source
AI summary
A chamber may include a first barrier portion, a second barrier portion, a peripheral bond, an interior bond, and a fold. The first barrier portion defines a first surface of the chamber. The second barrier portion defines a second surface of the chamber, the first surface being opposite the second surface. The peripheral bond joins the first barrier portion and the second barrier portion to form an interior void within the chamber and seal a fluid within the interior void. The interior bond is spaced inward from the peripheral bond and joins the first barrier portion and the second barrier portion. Additionally, the fold is in the second barrier portion and extends away from the interior bond and through a majority of a thickness of the chamber.