Footwear Upper Wound Thread Pattern for Stability and Propulsion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing footwear technologies struggle to balance durability, comfort, and performance characteristics, particularly in terms of stability and propulsion, while also being cost-effective and environmentally friendly.

Innovation Solution

The development of an upper for footwear featuring a continuous thread wound around anchor points, forming a thread pattern that extends tangentially around the perimeter edge of an opening, providing a durable and comfortable fit while enhancing stability and propulsion.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If traditional footwear manufacturing methods are used, then production processes are well-established, but durability and comfort cannot be simultaneously optimized

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

StrengthVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper is constructed from multiple discrete components (forefoot portion, midfoot portion, heel portion, collar) that are separately formed using the winding process and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for durability while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through modular assembly.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The footwear upper combines the wound component (thread pattern structure) with bonding agents and potentially different thread materials to create a composite structure. This composite approach enables simultaneous achievement of durability through the wound pattern and comfort through material selection and bonding techniques.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Weight of moving object

If lightweight materials are used to reduce footwear weight, then comfort and ease of movement improve, but structural strength and stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefootwear weightVSAvoidstructural strength

Core Design Contradiction:

Weight of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The continuous thread is wound in curved, tangential patterns around anchor points to form the upper structure. This curved, distributed load-bearing pattern provides structural strength comparable to traditional footwear while using lightweight thread materials, as the curved geometry efficiently distributes mechanical loads throughout the structure.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Solution Approach 2:

The wound component creates a flexible yet strong shell structure that conforms to the foot anatomy. The continuous thread pattern forms a thin-film-like upper that provides necessary structural support while minimizing weight, as the distributed thread pattern creates strength without requiring thick or heavy materials.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Ease of operation

If customized footwear is made to match individual foot anatomy, then comfort increases, but manufacturing complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidmanufacturing ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The winding process uses moveable or adjustable anchor points that can be repositioned to create different upper configurations. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the same manufacturing equipment to produce customized uppers tailored to individual foot anatomies while maintaining manufacturing efficiency, as the system adapts through repositioning rather than requiring completely different manufacturing processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

4Stability of the object's composition

If stable footwear design is used to prevent injury, then safety improves, but propulsion and athletic performance may be limited

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidpropulsion capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSSpeed

Solution Approach 1:

Different portions of the upper are constructed with different thread patterns, densities, and anchor point configurations to provide localized properties. The forefoot portion may have a pattern optimized for propulsion and flexibility, while the heel and midfoot portions have patterns optimized for stability and support. This local differentiation allows simultaneous achievement of stability for injury prevention and propulsion capability for athletic performance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS20250098817A1Articles of footwear comprising a wound component and methods of making the same

Publication Date: 2025.03.27 ADIDAS AG

AI summary

Articles of footwear and methods of making articles of footwear including one or more continuous threads wound around anchor points. In some embodiments, thread lines of continuous thread(s) may extend tangential to an opening on a thread pattern or an upper. In some embodiments, thread lines of continuous thread(s) may define a portion of an upper and extend through a sole for an article of footwear. In some embodiments, thread patterns defined by the continuous thread(s) may be bonded to each other around a sheet to form an upper material for an upper.