Footwear Sole Structure with Nested Midsole Bodies for Transition
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current footwear sole structures do not effectively enhance the heel-to-forefoot transition during a stride, lacking sufficient cushioning and stability to support efficient ambulatory activities.
Innovation Solution
A sole structure with a first midsole body and a second midsole body of varying hardness, where the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface, providing a tapered design and textured protrusions for tactile feedback, combined with a blown rubber layer for enhanced traction and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single midsole body is used, then the structure is simple, but the heel-to-forefoot transition and cushioning are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is divided into two separate midsole bodies: a first midsole body and a second midsole body. Each body can be made from different materials with different properties, allowing optimized performance for specific functions (cushioning, stability, transition) while maintaining overall structural simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sole structure use materials with different hardness levels. The first midsole body uses a harder material for stability, while the second midsole body uses a softer material for cushioning. This local differentiation of material properties enhances the heel-to-forefoot transition without requiring a completely complex multi-component structure
2Reliability
If the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface, then cushioning and tactile feedback are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The second midsole body is positioned such that it extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body, creating a nested configuration where softer cushioning elements protrude from the harder structural base. This provides enhanced cushioning and tactile feedback while maintaining a relatively simple integrated structure
3Reliability
If a blown rubber layer is added, then traction and durability are improved, but the weight and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sole structure combines multiple materials including the first midsole body material, the second midsole body material, and a blown rubber layer. This composite material approach optimizes traction and durability by selecting materials with complementary properties, while the thin-layer application minimizes additional weight
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 design improves the heel-to-forefoot transition by attenuating ground reaction forces, providing stability and traction, and enhancing the overall stride experience through cushioning and tactile feedback.
Implementation Method 1
The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness. The first hardness is greater than the second hardness... attenuating ground reaction forces
Implementation Method 2
providing a tapered design and textured protrusions for tactile feedback
Implementation Method 3
combined with a blown rubber layer for enhanced traction and durability
Data Source
AI summary
A sole structure for an article of footwear includes a first midsole body and a second midsole body. The first midsole body defines a ground-facing surface and a foot-facing surface opposite the ground-facing surface and includes a first midsole material, which has a first hardness. The second midsole body extends through the first midsole body. As such, the second midsole body extends beyond the ground-facing surface of the first midsole body. The second midsole body includes a second midsole material, which has a second hardness, and the first hardness is greater than the second hardness.