Footwear Sole Structure With Segmented Fluid Chambers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional midsoles with fluid-filled chambers fail to adequately dampen foot oscillations while providing acceptable cushioning and attenuating ground-reaction forces, making it difficult to achieve both effective damping and cushioning simultaneously.
Innovation Solution
A sole structure with a fluid-filled chamber comprising multiple fluid-filled segments and a web area, where the segments are connected by a barrier layer system, allowing for fluid communication and compression to absorb ground-reaction forces, providing both cushioning and stability by retaining shape under load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a fluid-filled chamber is used in the midsole to provide cushioning and attenuate ground-reaction forces, then cushioning performance is improved, but the ability to dampen foot oscillations is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid-filled chamber is divided into multiple fluid-filled segments (first fluid-filled segment, second fluid-filled segment, third fluid-filled segment) separated by web areas. This segmentation allows each segment to independently respond to applied loads, providing both cushioning through fluid compression and damping of foot oscillations through the interaction between segments and web areas.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the midsole are assigned different functions: the fluid-filled segments provide cushioning and attenuate ground-reaction forces, while the web areas connecting these segments provide structural support and dampen foot oscillations. This local differentiation of properties resolves the contradiction between cushioning and oscillation damping.
2Force
If the fluid-filled chamber compresses resiliently under applied loads to provide cushioning, then ground-reaction force attenuation is improved, but foot oscillation damping remains inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The chamber is segmented into multiple fluid-filled segments that can compress independently under applied loads. This segmentation allows the system to attenuate ground-reaction forces through fluid compression while the web areas maintaining connections between segments provide resistance to foot oscillations.
Solution Approach 2:
The web areas act as intermediary elements between the fluid-filled segments. These web areas transmit forces between segments while providing structural support that dampens foot oscillations, mediating between the cushioning function of the fluid segments and the stabilizing requirement.
3Reliability
If a conventional fluid-filled chamber design is used, then durability is improved, but the balance between support and cushioning responsiveness is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The fluid-filled chamber is divided into multiple segments that can independently respond to different types of loads. This segmentation provides both durability through the robust barrier layer construction and adaptability through the ability of each segment to respond differently to various forces applied during athletic movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmented fluid-filled chamber design allows dynamic response to different loading conditions. Each segment can compress and expand independently, providing responsive cushioning when needed while maintaining structural support, thereby achieving adaptability between support and cushioning characteristics.
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 solution effectively dampens foot oscillations and provides responsive cushioning by compressing fluid-filled segments, while maintaining stability through the retention of shape under applied loads, enhancing the overall performance of the footwear.
Implementation Method 1
compressing resiliently under an applied load to cushion the foot by attenuating ground-reaction forces
Implementation Method 2
compress resiliently under applied loads
Implementation Method 3
dampen oscillations by the foot as the fluid-filled chamber compresses to attenuate ground-reaction forces
Data Source
AI summary
A sole structure for an article of footwear having an upper includes a heel region, a forefoot region, and a mid-foot region disposed between the heel region and the forefoot region. The sole structure also includes a fluid-filled chamber including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a fluid-filled segment extending along a medial side of the sole structure within the heel region, a second fluid-filled segment extending along a lateral side of the sole structure within the heel region, and a web area disposed between and connecting the first fluid-filled segment and the second fluid-filled segment. The first barrier layer is attached to the second barrier layer within the web area.