Footwear Sole Structure Segmentation for Flexibility and Weight Reduction

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional athletic footwear sole structures are hindered by laminated layers that reduce flexibility and increase weight, compromising comfort and performance during athletic activities.

Innovation Solution

A sole structure design featuring a lasting board with an opening and a sole plate that together form a ground-engaging surface, reducing thickness and weight while maintaining stability and traction, and incorporating an insole with a protrusion to fit within the opening for enhanced flexibility and comfort.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If multiple laminated layers are used in the sole structure, then stability and cushioning are improved, but flexibility and weight are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The sole structure is divided into three distinct layers: a flexible upper layer (105) for ground contact, a midsole layer (106) for cushioning, and a rigid lasting board (104) for structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while collectively providing stability without sacrificing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sole structure have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The upper layer uses flexible material for ground contact, the midsole uses cushioning material for shock absorption, and the lasting board uses rigid material for structural support. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall stability and local flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If multiple laminated layers are used in the sole structure, then stability and cushioning are improved, but weight is increased

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidweight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The sole structure is divided into three distinct layers: a flexible upper layer (105) for ground contact, a midsole layer (106) for cushioning, and a rigid lasting board (104) for structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while collectively providing stability without sacrificing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the sole structure have different material properties tailored to their specific functions. The upper layer uses flexible material for ground contact, the midsole uses cushioning material for shock absorption, and the lasting board uses rigid material for structural support. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall stability and local flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Weight of moving object

If the sole structure is made thinner to reduce weight, then weight and flexibility are improved, but stability and traction are worsened

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveweightVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The sole structure is divided into three distinct layers: a flexible upper layer (105) for ground contact, a midsole layer (106) for cushioning, and a rigid lasting board (104) for structural support. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function optimally while collectively providing stability without sacrificing flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The sole structure combines three different material types with complementary properties: flexible material for the upper layer, cushioning material for the midsole, and rigid material for the lasting board. This composite construction achieves both weight reduction and stability by selecting materials optimized for their specific functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

Data Source

PatentEP3510885B1Article of footwear having a sole structure and method of forming an article of footwear

Publication Date: 2021.10.20 NIKE INNOVATE CV

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AI summary

A lasting board assembly for an article of footwear includes a forefoot region, a midfoot region, a medial side and a lateral side. The lasting board assembly includes a lasting board having a ground side surface, a foot side surface opposite the ground side surface, an outer peripheral edge, and an inner peripheral edge defining an opening. The outer peripheral edge of the lasting board includes an anterior edge in the forefoot region, a posterior edge in the midfoot region, a medial side edge and a lateral side edge. The inner peripheral edge is disposed inward of the outer peripheral edge at a distance from the anterior edge, a distance from the posterior edge, a distance from the medial side edge and a distance from the lateral side edge.