Footwear Arch Support via Midsole Extraction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear reinforcement methods limit design flexibility and increase costs due to the need for non-stretchable materials in the arch and instep regions, which can cause discomfort and restrict lateral movement.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a midsole with a medial or lateral support element that covers the cuboid or navicular bones, combined with a reinforcement member to enhance rigidity, allowing for flexible and stretchable uppers while maintaining stability, by using different material hardnesses and mechanical connections to manage bending forces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If reinforcement is added to the upper to provide support to the foot, then support and stability are improved, but design flexibility is limited and material costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the reinforcement function from the upper material and relocates it to the midsole support element. By moving the support function to a different component (midsole instead of upper), the upper can be made from flexible, stretchable materials without requiring rigid reinforcement, thus resolving the contradiction between support and design flexibility
Solution Approach 2:
The support element acts as an intermediary between the foot and the upper. Instead of making the upper itself rigid to provide support, the support element mediates by providing structural support at the arch region while allowing the upper to remain flexible and comfortable
2Stability of the object's composition
If reinforcement is added to the upper to prevent stretching and deformation, then stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates due to restricted lateral movement
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by placing support elements specifically at the arch region (medial and lateral sides) rather than reinforcing the entire upper. This localized support provides stability where needed while leaving other areas of the upper flexible and comfortable for natural foot movement
Solution Approach 2:
The support function is extracted from the upper material and transferred to dedicated support elements in the midsole. This separation allows the upper to be made from soft, comfortable materials while the support elements provide the necessary structural stability
3Stability of the object's composition
If support elements are added to the midsole to provide lateral and medial support, then stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the support elements with the midsole structure, making them integral parts of the same component rather than separate additions. This integration reduces overall device complexity while still providing the necessary lateral and medial support for foot stability
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear, comprising: an upper having an outer surface, a foot insertion volume and a sole facing surface, a sole assembly comprising: a midsole having a foot facing surface, a ground facing surface, a heel region, forefoot region and an arch region between the heel region and the forefoot region in a longitudinal direction, where the midsole in the arch region comprises a medial support element covering at least a part of the cuboid bone of the foot and/or a lateral support element covering at least a part of the navicular bone, a medial reinforcement member positioned medial to the medial support element and/or a lateral reinforcement member positioned lateral to the lateral support element, where the medial and/or the lateral reinforcement member is configured to increase the rigidity of the medial support element and/or the lateral support element.