Footwear Sole Cross-Sectional Profiles for Lateral Agility and Stability
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear designs fail to simultaneously enhance both lateral agility and lateral stability, as they either prioritize one over the other or do not provide adequate provisions for both.
Innovation Solution
The design features a sole with a forefoot portion having a substantially convex cross-sectional profile for increased agility, a flat arch portion for stability, and a heel portion with a feathered edge separating convex and concave sections, providing a combination of lateral agility and stability through specific cross-sectional profiles and heel rise configurations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the outer peripheral edge of the sole has a convex cross sectional profile shape, then lateral agility is improved, but lateral stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer peripheral edge is segmented into multiple portions (forefoot, arch, heel) with different cross-sectional profile shapes. The forefoot and heel portions have convex shapes for lateral agility, while the arch portion has a flat shape for lateral stability. This segmentation allows each portion to independently fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
Different portions of the outer peripheral edge are given different local qualities in terms of cross-sectional profile shape. The forefoot portion has a convex profile for agility, the arch portion has a flat profile for stability, and the heel portion has a convex profile for agility. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction by optimizing each region for its specific requirement.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the outer peripheral edge has a flat cross sectional profile shape, then lateral stability is improved, but lateral agility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The outer peripheral edge is divided into segments with different profiles. Only the arch portion has a flat cross-sectional profile for stability, while the forefoot and heel portions maintain convex profiles for agility. This selective segmentation allows stability where needed without sacrificing agility elsewhere.
Solution Approach 2:
The flat cross-sectional profile is applied locally only to the arch portion where stability is the primary requirement, while other portions maintain convex profiles for agility. This localized application of different qualities resolves the contradiction by matching profile shape to functional requirement.
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear with multiple cross sectional profile shapes disposed on an outer peripheral edge of a sole is disclosed. The multiple cross sectional profile shapes on the outer peripheral edge of the sole can help increase the lateral performance and lateral stability of a wearer of the article of footwear.