Fluid-Filled Chamber Tensile Member Footwear Midsole
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional midsoles in footwear lack effective cushioning and stability, particularly in athletic footwear, as they are primarily made from foamed polymer materials that do not adequately address the need for enhanced comfort and performance.
Innovation Solution
The integration of a fluid-filled chamber within the midsole, comprising a barrier layer and a tensile member, which is manufactured using a laminating and bonding process to create a pressurized compartment that provides customized cushioning and support by using a spacer-knit textile and polymer sheets, allowing for adjustable pressure and improved foot alignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional foamed polymer midsole is used, then the footwear structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the cushioning and stability performance is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent embeds a fluid-filled chamber within the midsole structure, creating a nested configuration where the chamber is contained inside the foam material. This allows the complex fluid-filled chamber to be integrated within the simpler foam midsole, providing enhanced cushioning and stability while maintaining an overall simple midsole architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines foamed polymer material with a fluid-filled chamber to create a composite midsole structure. The foam provides structural support and basic cushioning, while the fluid-filled chamber adds adjustable pressure support and stability, creating a multi-material system that achieves superior performance compared to conventional single-material midsoles.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a fluid-filled chamber is integrated into the midsole, then customized cushioning and support are achieved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates a tensile member within the fluid-filled chamber during the manufacturing process, before the chamber is sealed and filled with fluid. This preliminary placement of the tensile member allows it to be integrated into the chamber structure, and subsequent fluid filling automatically tensions the member to provide customized support without requiring additional post-manufacturing adjustment steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid-filled chamber is designed to automatically adjust and tension the embedded tensile member through the pressure of the fluid itself. Once filled, the fluid pressure self-tensions the tensile member to provide customized cushioning and support, eliminating the need for external adjustment mechanisms or complex manufacturing steps to pre-set the support characteristics.
3Reliability
If a tensile member is embedded in the fluid-filled chamber, then foot alignment and support are improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent strategically positions the tensile member at specific locations within the fluid-filled chamber where it can most effectively influence foot alignment and support. Rather than requiring uniform high-precision placement throughout the entire chamber, the tensile member is localized to critical areas that provide maximum support benefit, reducing overall manufacturing precision requirements while maintaining effective foot alignment.
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 fluid-filled chamber enhances cushioning, stability, and comfort by distributing pressure evenly, providing tailored support to the foot and improving athletic performance through adjustable pressure and anatomically contoured design.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid-filled chamber enhances cushioning, stability, and comfort by distributing pressure evenly
Implementation Method 2
comprising a barrier layer and a tensile member, which is manufactured using a laminating and bonding process to create a pressurized compartment
Data Source
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AI summary
A fluid-filled chamber (33) may include an outer barrier (40), a tensile member (50), and a fluid. The tensile member may be located within barrier and formed from a textile element that includes a pair of spaced layers (51, 52) joined by a plurality of connecting members (53). A method of manufacturing the chamber may include locating a textile tensile member between two polymer elements (41, 42). Pressure and heat are applied to the tensile member and the polymer elements in a first area and in a second area. The pressure is greater in the first area than in the second area. In addition, the polymer elements are bonded together around a periphery of the tensile member. Other means to impart a tapered configuration to the chamber are also disclosed.