Footwear Support Assemblies with Fluid-Bladder Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic footwear midsoles, which include fluid-filled bladders and moderators, face challenges in providing optimal support and cushioning, particularly in managing ground reaction forces and adapting to various activities.
Innovation Solution
The integration of fluid-filled bladders encased within retaining members, which are positioned between top and bottom plates of the sole assembly, providing enhanced support and cushioning by utilizing pressurized fluid-filled bladders and a resilient tensile member, along with a retaining member that offers abrasion resistance and energy return.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional polymer foam material is used in the midsole, then the midsole provides ground reaction force attenuation, but the support and cushioning performance is limited and cannot be optimized for various activities
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is segmented into multiple independent support assemblies, each containing a fluid-filled bladder and retaining member. This segmentation allows each assembly to independently respond to ground reaction forces while providing localized support and cushioning that can be optimized for different activity requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assemblies utilize fluid-filled bladders where the fluid pressure can be varied to change the stiffness and cushioning characteristics. By adjusting the amount of fluid or pressure in each bladder, the midsole performance can be optimized for different activities such as running, walking, or court sports.
2Reliability
If fluid-filled bladders are added to the midsole, then support and cushioning are enhanced, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The retaining member is positioned within the midsole structure, and the fluid-filled bladder is nested within the retaining member. This nested configuration integrates multiple functions into a compact arrangement, enhancing support and cushioning while minimizing the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The support assembly combines different materials including the fluid-filled bladder, the retaining member structure, and the surrounding midsole material. This composite construction provides enhanced support and cushioning performance while distributing the complexity across multiple specialized components rather than one complex system.
3Strength
If the midsole is made stiffer to provide better support, then ground reaction force attenuation is improved, but comfort and energy absorption are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid-filled bladders provide a dynamic response to applied forces. When ground reaction forces are applied, the fluid compresses and redistributes, providing both support and energy absorption. The system adapts its stiffness in real-time based on the magnitude and duration of the applied force, maintaining support capability while absorbing impact energy.
Solution Approach 2:
The fluid pressure in the bladders can be adjusted to change the stiffness parameter of the midsole. By optimizing the fluid pressure, the midsole can provide adequate support for weight-bearing activities while still absorbing impact energy through controlled compression of the fluid, thus balancing support capability with energy absorption.
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
This configuration enhances support and cushioning, allowing for improved energy return and protection against shear forces, optimizing footwear performance for different activities by varying bladder properties and pressures.
Implementation Method 1
fluid-filled bladders and retaining members encasing the fluid-filled bladders
Implementation Method 2
a resilient tensile member, along with a retaining member that offers abrasion resistance and energy return
Implementation Method 3
a retaining member that offers abrasion resistance and energy return
Data Source
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Figure 9~10
AI summary
An article of footwear (10) includes an upper (12) and a sole assembly (14) secured to the upper. The sole assembly includes a top plate (30), a bottom plate (32) positioned below the top plate, and a plurality of support assemblies (33) extending between the upper plate and the midsole. Each support assembly includes a fluid-filled bladder (34) and a retaining member (52) surrounding the fluid-filled bladder.