Footwear Sole Bladder Segmentation for Balanced Cushioning Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear sole structures with fluid-filled bladders lack optimal design for balanced cushioning and support, particularly in varying load conditions, leading to inconsistent performance during different types of movements.
Innovation Solution
A sole structure with a bladder comprising multiple segments and chambers, each filled with pressurized fluid, connected by conduits to form a unitary pressure system, providing gradient cushioning and stability by adjusting to applied loads.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a fluid-filled bladder is used in the midsole, then cushioning is provided by compressing resiliently under applied load, but the design lacks optimal balance between cushioning and support in varying load conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder is divided into multiple segments (first segment, second segment, third segment) that can independently compress and expand. Each segment contains fluid that can redistribute between segments, allowing localized adaptation to different load conditions while maintaining overall structural integrity and balanced cushioning support.
Solution Approach 2:
The bladder design incorporates dynamic fluid redistribution between segments in response to varying applied loads. The fluid can flow between segments through connections, enabling the system to adapt its cushioning characteristics in real-time based on the magnitude and distribution of applied forces, thus providing consistent performance across different movement types.
2Stability of the object's composition
If tensile members are incorporated to retain bladder shape when compressed, then structural stability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The bladder utilizes flexible barrier layers (first barrier layer, second barrier layer) that inherently maintain structural integrity when compressed. These flexible films work in conjunction with the fluid-filled segments to retain shape without requiring additional rigid tensile members, thus achieving stability while minimizing structural complexity.
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 offers enhanced cushioning and support by adapting to varying loads, ensuring consistent performance across different movement types, including forward running and lateral movements.
Implementation Method 1
compressing resiliently under an applied load to cushion the foot by attenuating ground-reaction forces
Implementation Method 2
connected by conduits to form a unitary pressure system, providing gradient cushioning and stability by adjusting to applied loads
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 bladder including a first barrier layer cooperating with a second barrier layer to define a first chamber bounding a periphery of the heel region, and a second chamber extending from the mid-foot region through the forefoot region and including a plurality of segments extending from a medial side of the sole structure to a lateral side of the sole structure. Each of the segments of the second chamber includes a medial reservoir adjacent to the medial side and a lateral reservoir adjacent to the lateral side, the medial reservoir fluidly coupled to the lateral reservoir via a first conduit.