Footwear Sole with Segmented Shock-Absorbing and Support Parts
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear technologies struggle to effectively cushion the impact applied to the heel upon landing while preventing the collapse of the foot arch during activities like running.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring a shock-absorbing part in the rearfoot region and a support part in the midfoot region, where the support part is higher in rigidity and includes a support surface extending from one end to the other end of the footwear, and the shock-absorbing part includes a recessed surface and columnar bodies extending to the height of the support surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the entire midsole is made with convex elements for shock absorption, then cushioning performance is improved, but arch support and structural stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is divided into multiple functional regions: a rearfoot shock-absorbing part with convex elements for impact cushioning, and a midfoot support part with a rigid support surface for arch support. This segmentation allows each region to perform its specific function optimally without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the midsole are given different structural properties: the rearfoot region has a shock-absorbing structure with convex elements extending from the recessed surface, while the midfoot region has a rigid support surface. This local differentiation enables simultaneous shock absorption and arch support.
2Strength
If the support part is made with high rigidity for arch support, then arch support performance is improved, but shock absorption capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support function and shock absorption function are separated into different spatial zones. The midfoot support part provides rigidity where needed, while the rearfoot shock-absorbing part with convex elements handles impact cushioning, eliminating the need to compromise between rigidity and shock absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The shock-absorbing convex elements extend vertically from the recessed surface to the support surface, creating a three-dimensional structure that allows the rigid support surface to maintain arch support while the protruding elements provide shock absorption in the vertical dimension.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If convex elements extend throughout the entire midsole, then shock absorption is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The shock-absorbing convex elements are extracted and localized only to the rearfoot shock-absorbing part, rather than being distributed throughout the entire midsole. This reduces structural complexity while maintaining effective shock absorption where it is most needed upon landing.
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 design achieves both effective cushioning of the heel impact and prevention of foot arch collapse, enhancing comfort and support during high-impact activities.
Implementation Method 1
a shock-absorbing part provided at least in a rearfoot region located at a rear of the footwear in a longitudinal direction, the shock-absorbing part cushioning an impact applied to a heel of a foot upon landing
Implementation Method 2
a support part provided at least in a midfoot region located at a center of the footwear in the longitudinal direction, the support part being higher in rigidity than the shock-absorbing part and supporting a midfoot portion of the foot
Data Source
AI summary
A sole constituting a part of footwear includes a shock-absorbing part provided at least in a rearfoot region, the shock-absorbing part cushioning an impact applied to a heel of a foot upon landing, and a support part provided at least in a midfoot region, the support part being higher in rigidity than the shock-absorbing part and supporting a midfoot portion of the foot, the support part includes a support surface, the support surface being provided forward of the shock-absorbing part and having a shape extending from one end to the other end in a width direction, and the shock-absorbing part includes a recessed surface located at a height position lower than the support surface, and a plurality of columnar bodies each having a shape extending from the recessed surface to a height position identical in height to the support surface.