Golf Shoe Midsole Composite Plate Flex Stability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional golf shoes provide good stability and traction but often compromise on flexibility, leading to a rigid platform that does not adequately support the golfer's natural foot movements during swings and walks, potentially causing slipping and discomfort.

Innovation Solution

A golf shoe design featuring a midsole composed of two foam materials with different hardness levels, combined with a fiber-reinforced composite plate and criss-crossing traction members on the outsole, providing both stability and flexibility by distributing forces effectively across the foot.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If the midsole is made of a single rigid material to provide stability, then stability is improved, but flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidflexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The midsole is divided into multiple layers with different material properties - a firmer lower layer for stability and a softer upper layer for flexibility. This segmentation allows each layer to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between stability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the midsole are assigned different material characteristics. The lower portion uses firmer material for stability support, while the upper portion uses softer material for flexibility and comfort. This local differentiation allows the single midsole structure to simultaneously provide both stability and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If the outsole has a geometric structure with multiple traction members to provide high traction, then traction is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetractionVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple traction members are merged into an integrated geometric pattern on the outsole. The criss-crossing arrangement combines several individual traction elements into a unified structural design, achieving high traction without proportionally increasing complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The outsole incorporates curved and geometric patterns in the traction member arrangement. These curved geometric structures provide effective traction surfaces while maintaining a streamlined, organized appearance that doesn't excessively complicate the overall design.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

Data Source

PatentUS11425959B2Golf shoe having composite plate in midsole for providing flex and stabti jty

Publication Date: 2022.08.30 ACUSHNET CO

AI summary

Golf shoes having improved constructions are provided. The golf shoes include upper, midsole, and outsole sections. The upper may be made of a soft, breathable leather material. The midsole includes an upper region formed from a first material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA); and a lower region formed from a second material such as a foamed ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA), wherein the materials have different hardness levels. A fiber-reinforced composite plate such as, for example, a carbon fiber plate is disposed in the midsole. The outsole contains different traction members arranged in a precise geometric structure that helps provide improved stability and traction.