Footwear Support Assembly with Indented Elastomeric Columns
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic footwear lacks optimal support and stability during lateral movements and edge loading, particularly in high-impact activities like basketball, due to limitations in midsole materials and design.
Innovation Solution
The footwear incorporates a support assembly with elastomeric columns and indentations, providing flex points and enhanced lateral stability through a combination of top and bottom plates, elastomeric support columns, and strategically positioned indentations, which optimize foot strike transition and adaptability under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional polymer foam materials are used in the midsole, then cushioning is provided through resilient compression, but lateral stability and support during cutting movements are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines polymer foam material with a plate structure and elastomeric support columns to create a composite midsole assembly. The plate provides rigid lateral support while the foam provides cushioning, and the elastomeric columns provide additional vertical support. This composite structure resolves the contradiction by integrating multiple materials with complementary properties to achieve both lateral stability and cushioning without excessive complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces indentations in the plate at specific locations to create localized flex points that allow controlled deformation during foot strike. This local modification enables the plate to provide lateral stability in most areas while allowing necessary flexibility at specific points, resolving the contradiction between rigidity for lateral support and flexibility for natural foot movement.
2Strength
If a rigid plate structure is added to provide lateral stability, then support during cutting movements improves, but the cushioning comfort is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The plate structure includes strategically positioned indentations that create localized flex points. These indentations allow the plate to remain rigid in most areas for lateral stability while providing controlled flexibility at specific locations to maintain cushioning comfort during foot strike. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall rigidity and localized flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The midsole is segmented into multiple functional components: the plate structure for lateral support, the polymer foam for cushioning, and elastomeric support columns for vertical support. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specialized function without compromising the others, resolving the contradiction between lateral support and cushioning comfort.
3Strength
If elastomeric support columns are added to enhance vertical support, then foot strike cushioning improves, but lateral stability during cutting movements deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite support system where elastomeric support columns work in conjunction with a rigid plate structure. The elastomeric columns provide vertical cushioning during foot strike while the plate maintains lateral stability during cutting movements. The combination of these materials with complementary properties resolves the contradiction between vertical support and lateral stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is segmented into vertical support (elastomeric columns) and lateral support (plate structure). This functional segmentation allows each component to optimize its performance for its specific direction without compromising the other, resolving the contradiction between vertical and lateral support characteristics.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the midsole is made softer to improve cushioning feel, then comfort increases, but the ability to control foot motions and provide traction decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite midsole assembly combining soft polymer foam for cushioning comfort with a rigid plate structure for motion control and traction. The soft foam absorbs impact energy while the rigid plate maintains structural integrity for controlling foot motions. This material combination resolves the contradiction between softness for comfort and rigidity for control.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate structure with indentations provides localized flexibility where needed for comfort while maintaining overall rigidity for motion control. The indentations create flex points that allow controlled deformation during foot strike, providing comfort without sacrificing the overall structural integrity needed for foot motion control and traction.
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 foot support and performance by improving lateral stability and reducing movement of elastomeric columns under shear forces, allowing for a softer cushioned feel while maintaining rigidity where needed, thus optimizing the footwear for various athletic activities.
Implementation Method 1
The midsole is the primary sole structure element that imparts cushioning and controls foot motions. Suitable polymer foam materials for the midsole include ethylvinylacetate or polyurethane, which compress resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground reaction forces created by the impacts of running and jumping.
Implementation Method 2
The compression of the foam is affected by hysteresis loss, and deflection of such systems is affected by the volume of the compressed mass of the midsole.
Implementation Method 3
Substantial advantage is achieved by providing an article of footwear having a support assembly with a plate and indentations formed therein. In particular, certain embodiments provide flex points in the article of footwear that help with foot strike transition from heel to toe.
Implementation Method 4
The upper and sole structure provide lateral stability for cutting and side to side movements encountered in sporting activities such as basketball. Further, certain embodiments enhance lateral stability for cutting and side to side movements encountered in sporting activities such as basketball.
Data Source
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 (32) and a bottom plate (34) spaced from the top plate. A central member (36) is positioned between the top plate and bottom plate and includes a plurality of elastomeric support columns (38). A plurality of indentations (42) is formed in a lower surface and along a periphery of the central member, with each indentation extending upwardly into an elastomeric support column. A plurality of raised portions (48) is positioned along a periphery of the bottom plate, with each raised portion being nested in an indentation in the central member.