Footwear Multi-Bladder Valve for Independent Sole Pressure Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current footwear bladder systems lack the ability to independently control pressure in different regions of the sole, such as the heel and forefoot, which can lead to inadequate support and comfort during various activities.
Innovation Solution
A bladder system with a valve member that divides the bladder into distinct inflation chambers, allowing for separate control of pressure in the heel and forefoot regions, utilizing tensile members for structural reinforcement and a plug-like valve for fluid transfer, enabling independent inflation of each chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single bladder system is used in footwear, then the structure is simple, but the ability to independently control pressure in different regions (heel and forefoot) is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The single bladder is divided into multiple independent inflation chambers (heel chamber and forefoot chamber) separated by a valve member. This segmentation allows each region to be inflated independently while maintaining a unified bladder structure, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
A valve member acts as an intermediary component within the bladder to create separate inflation chambers. This intermediary structure enables independent pressure control in different regions without requiring completely separate bladders, thus balancing versatility and structural simplicity.
2Ease of operation
If multiple separate bladders are used for different regions, then independent pressure control is achieved, but the device complexity and number of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of using multiple separate bladders, the invention segments a single bladder into multiple inflation chambers using internal valve members. This approach maintains ease of operation for independent region control while significantly reducing the number of separate components compared to using multiple independent bladders.
Solution Approach 2:
Multiple inflation chambers are merged into a single bladder structure, sharing common walls and integration points. This merging reduces the overall number of components and simplifies installation while preserving the ability to independently inflate each region through separate valve members.
Data Source
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AI summary
An adjustable multiple bladder system for an article of footwear is disclosed. The bladder system includes an outer bladder that may be inflated using an external pump. A valve member is disposed within the outer bladder and divides the outer bladder into two distinct inflation chambers. The inflation chambers may be inflated separately.