Footbed Elevations for Heel Shoe Pressure Distribution
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heeled shoes cause uneven pressure distribution on the foot, leading to discomfort and potential long-term medical issues due to the concentration of load on the forefoot, which existing footbeds fail to adequately address, especially in high-heeled designs.
Innovation Solution
A footbed with strategically positioned elevations on the inner and outer foot sides in the metatarsal area, designed to distribute pressure evenly across the foot, including a crescent-shaped elevation under the medial heel bone and a rectangular elevation under the fifth metatarsal bone, facilitating improved roll-off behavior and reducing pressure on the forefoot.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Shape
If heeled shoes are designed with a raised heel position, then the aesthetic appeal and height increase, but the pressure distribution becomes uneven and concentrates on the forefoot area
Solution Approach 1:
The footbed incorporates elevations with varying heights at specific locations (rearfoot area, metatarsal area, and individual metatarsal areas) to create localized pressure relief zones. This allows the forefoot area to be elevated relative to the heel, reversing the conventional pressure distribution pattern and reducing forefoot stress while maintaining the heeled shoe structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The footbed is divided into multiple segmented elevations rather than a single continuous structure. Each elevation targets specific pressure points (heel, metatarsal heads, individual metatarsals) independently, allowing precise control over pressure distribution across different foot zones while maintaining the overall heeled shoe geometry.
2Ease of operation
If elevations are arranged individually and independently on the footbed, then local support of the foot is improved, but pressure points and discomfort remain due to stepped or terraced elevations in the metatarsal area
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple elevations are merged into a continuous or closely integrated structure that spans from the rearfoot area through the metatarsal area. This eliminates the stepped or terraced transitions between separate elevations, creating a smooth gradient that prevents pressure points while maintaining localized support for each foot region.
Solution Approach 2:
The elevations are designed with varying heights in the vertical dimension to create a gradual slope rather than abrupt steps. By transitioning from higher elevations in the rearfoot area to progressively lower elevations toward the forefoot, the design eliminates sharp pressure points while maintaining the necessary local support through dimensional variation.
3Stress or pressure
If elevations are provided to support individual metatarsal areas, then local pressure distribution is improved, but the foot rolling movement is prevented or restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The elevations are designed with dynamic height variations that allow progressive foot rolling movement. The continuous gradient from rearfoot to forefoot elevations creates a natural rolling path, enabling the foot to transition smoothly from heel strike to toe-off while maintaining appropriate pressure distribution across different metatarsal areas throughout the gait cycle.
Data Source
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Figure 2b
AI summary
The invention relates to a footbed (1) for footwear, more particularly for a heeled shoe, comprising a sole-shaped main body (2) having a forefoot area (21), a midfoot area (22) and a hindfoot area (23), and having at least one elevated area (3, 4, 5, 6, 7) formed on a planar upper side (24) to support the foot (100). The main body (2) has, in the midfoot area (22), a first elevated area (3) in the region of an inner foot side (27) and a second elevated area (4) in the region of an outer foot side (26).