Fluid-Filled Midsole Chamber With Flexible Plate for Pressure Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current footwear midsoles, particularly in athletic footwear, often lack effective distribution of pressure and cushioning, especially in regions like the heel and forefoot, leading to inadequate comfort and performance during various ambulatory activities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of a fluid-filled chamber within the midsole, featuring a thermoformed polymer barrier with upper and lower plates that restrict outward expansion, providing a pressurized fluid-filled structure to enhance cushioning and pressure distribution, while maintaining a durable and flexible configuration suitable for different foot regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid-filled chamber is incorporated into the midsole to enhance cushioning and pressure distribution, then comfort and performance are improved, but the structural complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is nested within the midsole structure, with the barrier forming the chamber walls and plates positioned at opposite ends of the chamber. This nested configuration allows the cushioning system to be integrated into the existing midsole without requiring separate external components, thereby improving reliability while controlling complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The midsole is segmented into distinct functional zones by dividing it into an upper portion, a lower portion, and a chamber portion. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function (structural support, structural support, and fluid cushioning respectively), improving overall cushioning effectiveness while maintaining manageable structural complexity through clear functional division.
2Stability of the object's composition
If plates are added to restrict outward expansion of the chamber, then structural integrity is maintained, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The plates are pre-positioned at opposite ends of the chamber before the chamber is fully assembled into the midsole. This preliminary positioning ensures that the plates are correctly aligned to restrict outward expansion in the intended directions, maintaining shape retention stability while simplifying the overall assembly process by establishing key structural elements early in manufacturing.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the chamber is designed to be both durable and flexible for different foot regions, then adaptability is improved, but the barrier material requirements become more stringent
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is designed with different characteristics for different regions: the barrier provides flexibility and conformability to accommodate different foot regions and movements, while the plates at opposite ends provide localized structural reinforcement. This local differentiation allows the chamber to be adaptable to various foot regions without requiring the entire structure to meet stringent uniform material specifications.
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 effectively attenuates ground reaction forces, providing superior cushioning and comfort by distributing pressure evenly across the foot, while maintaining the midsole's structural integrity and flexibility, thus enhancing the overall performance of the footwear.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid-filled chamber effectively attenuates ground reaction forces, providing superior cushioning and comfort by distributing pressure evenly across the foot
Implementation Method 2
a flexible plate is secured to an interior surface of the upper polymer sheet and to an interior surface of the lower polymer sheet. The flexible plate restricts outward expansion of the polymer sheets
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to an article of footwear having an upper and a sole structure secured to the upper, the sole structure comprising chamber with an exterior surface and an interior surface located opposite the exterior surface, at least a portion of the interior surface defining a cavity within the chamber that receives a fluid; and a plate located within the cavity and including a first surface secured to the interior surface of the chamber and second surface located opposite the first surface and defining a first indentation extending into and across the plate between a lateral side of the plate and a medial side of the plate and a second indentation extending into and across the plate between the lateral side and the medial side.