Fluid-Filled Chamber with I-Shaped Tether Elements for Footwear Midsole
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional midsoles in footwear lack advanced structural elements to effectively manage ground reaction forces and provide customized support and stability across varying foot dimensions and activities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a fluid-filled chamber with a polymer outer barrier and a tensile member featuring I-shaped tether elements within the midsole, which is secured to the upper and outsole, to provide enhanced cushioning and stability by restraining the outward force of pressurized fluid and maintaining the chamber's shape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional foamed polymer midsole is used, then the footwear provides basic cushioning, but it lacks the ability to provide customized support and stability across varying foot dimensions and activities
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is segmented into multiple independent fluid-filled chambers arranged in rows, where each chamber can be independently adjusted for pressure. This segmentation allows different regions of the foot to receive customized support tailored to specific needs and activities, while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The midsole incorporates adjustable fluid pressure chambers that can be dynamically modified to change the firmness and support characteristics. This dynamic adjustability enables the same footwear to adapt to varying foot dimensions and activity requirements, transforming a static structure into a versatile system.
2Adaptability or versatility
If fluid-filled chambers are incorporated into the midsole, then customized support and stability are improved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chambers are constructed using flexible barrier materials that can be sealed to form fluid-containing compartments. This approach simplifies manufacturing compared to rigid structures, as flexible materials can be more easily formed, sealed, and integrated into the footwear midsole while maintaining the required structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The tensile member with tether elements serves multiple functions simultaneously: it restrains the outward force of pressurized fluid, maintains the chamber's shape, and provides structural support. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby simplifying the overall construction and manufacturing process.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a tensile member with tether elements is added to restrain fluid pressure, then the chamber's shape stability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tensile member with integrated tether elements performs multiple functions: restraining outward fluid pressure, maintaining chamber shape, and providing structural support. By combining these functions into a single component rather than using separate elements for each function, the overall device complexity is reduced while achieving the required shape stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The chamber construction combines different materials with complementary properties: a flexible barrier material for containment and a tensile member material for structural restraint. This composite approach allows each material to be optimized for its specific function while working together to achieve shape stability without excessive complexity.
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 the footwear's ability to attenuate ground reaction forces, provide customized support, and improve stability during ambulatory activities by maintaining the intended shape and structure, thus offering improved comfort and performance.
Implementation Method 1
The outer barrier is formed from a polymer material that is sealed to define an interior cavity for enclosing a pressurized fluid
Implementation Method 2
The tensile member is located within the interior cavity and includes a plurality of I-shaped tether elements that extend across the cavity
Implementation Method 3
The fluid-filled chamber enhances the footwear's ability to attenuate ground reaction forces
Data Source
AI summary
A chamber may have an outer barrier and a tensile member. The barrier is formed from a polymer material that defines an interior cavity. The tensile member is located within the interior cavity and includes (a) a first layer element secured to the barrier, (b) a second layer element secured to an opposite portion of the barrier, and (c) a plurality of I-shaped tether elements that extend through the first layer element and the second layer element. In some configurations, the tether elements may include (a) a first end member located between the barrier and the first layer element, (b) a second end member located between the barrier and the second layer element, and (c) a central member extending through the first layer element and the second layer element and secured to the first end member and the second end member.