Footwear Sole with Segmented Support Members for Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear fails to provide adequate support and stability, especially on uneven terrain, leading to reduced energy transfer and increased risk of injury during running and jogging due to insufficient heel support and balance.
Innovation Solution
The footwear features a sole with independent lateral, medial, and front support members forming a triangular contact region, providing enhanced balance and stability through multiple spaced contact points with the ground, including a midsole and outsole configuration with angled support members and a support plate for improved cushioning and grip.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If conventional footwear with a single contact surface is used, then the structure is simple, but stability and balance on uneven terrain deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is divided into multiple independent support members (lateral support member, medial support member, and front support member) that are spaced apart from each other. Each support member independently contacts the ground, providing multiple contact points that enhance stability and balance on uneven terrain while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
2Reliability
If the heel area contacts uneven terrain on slopes, then the footwear is simple in design, but the heel becomes imbalanced and twists causing injury risk
Solution Approach 1:
The heel area is segmented into separate lateral and medial support members that are spaced apart. This segmentation allows each support member to independently adapt to uneven terrain and slope conditions, preventing the heel from becoming imbalanced and twisting, thereby reducing injury risk while maintaining design simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The lateral and medial support members in the heel area are positioned to provide localized support and cushioning specifically where needed on uneven terrain. This local quality approach ensures that the heel maintains proper alignment and balance on slopes without requiring complex overall structural changes.
3Use of energy by moving object
If feet lack sufficient support and stable push-off point, then the footwear structure is simple, but energy transfer from feet to ground is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The support members are segmented into lateral, medial, and front components with the front support member positioned to provide a stable push-off point. This segmentation creates multiple contact areas that enhance energy transfer efficiency from the feet to the ground during running and jogging motions.
Solution Approach 2:
The support members are pre-positioned to provide optimal contact points with the ground before the running or jogging motion begins. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the user pushes off, there is already a stable contact point ready to transfer energy efficiently, maximizing propulsion without requiring complex dynamic adjustments.
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear is provided and includes a sole including a longitudinal axis and a lateral support member, a medial support member and a front support member that are independent from each other and combine to form a triangular contact region on a bottom surface of the sole, where the lateral support member has a front end and a rear end the medial support member has a front end and a rear end, and the lateral support member and the medial support member are entirely spaced apart from each other across the longitudinal axis of the sole.