Footwear Bladder Notch Structure for Flexible Targeted Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fluid-filled bladders in footwear provide general cushioning but lack targeted support and responsiveness for specific movements and activities.
Innovation Solution
A bladder design with a notch and asymmetric shape, incorporating a peripheral seam and barrier elements, enhances flexibility and tailored support by aligning with the foot's anatomy, allowing for improved articulation and cushioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional fluid-filled bladder is used in footwear, then general cushioning is provided, but targeted support and responsiveness for specific movements and activities are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is divided into multiple chambers separated by partition walls, with each chamber capable of independent deformation. This segmentation allows different regions to provide targeted support for specific foot movements and activities while maintaining overall cushioning functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the bladder are designed with varying thicknesses, material properties, and chamber configurations to provide location-specific support. The bladder structure adapts to local anatomical requirements and movement patterns at different zones of the footwear.
2Reliability
If the bladder is positioned within the sole structure at a specific location, then cushioned support is provided during use, but flexibility and articulation are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is designed as a dynamic structure that can deform and articulate along with foot movements. The flexible membrane material and chamber configuration allow the bladder to adapt its shape and provide continuous cushioned support during various gait cycles and activities.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder is constructed from flexible membrane materials that allow articulation and deformation while maintaining structural integrity. These thin film structures provide cushioning support without restricting the natural flexibility and movement of the footwear.
3Shape
If the bladder forms a majority of the thickness of the sole structure, then visibility and aesthetic design are improved, but comfort and support during use are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is nested within the sole structure in a configuration that allows it to be visible for aesthetic purposes while being properly positioned to provide comfort and support. The bladder is integrated into the midsole or outsole layers, maintaining both visibility and functional performance.
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 notch and asymmetric design increase flexibility by up to 50% and provide targeted support, enhancing comfort and responsiveness during various movements.
Implementation Method 1
The fluid and/or elastomeric material provide the bladder with the ability to absorb and cushion forces applied thereto
Data Source
AI summary
A bladder including a first barrier element having a first surface formed on a first side of the first barrier element and a second surface formed on an opposite side of the first barrier element than the first surface, a second barrier element having a third surface formed on a first side of the second barrier element and a fourth surface formed on an opposite side of the second barrier element than the third surface, and a peripheral seam joining the first barrier element and the second barrier element to define an interior void between the first surface and the third surface, the peripheral seam including a first segment extending along the bladder proximate to the second surface, a second segment extending along the bladder proximate to the fourth surface, and a third segment extending between and connecting the first segment and the second segment.