Interconnected Airbag Sole for Anti-Sprain Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air-cushion shoes do not adequately prevent ankle sprains during exercise, as the sole can roll over when encountering obstacles, leading to injuries and discomfort.
Innovation Solution
The anti-sprain shock-absorbing balance air-cushion shoe features two interconnected airbags within the sole, connected by a tube, which compresses and inflates to counteract the rolling motion of the sole, maintaining balance and preventing sprains.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional air-cushion shoes are used, then shock-absorbing effect is provided, but the sole rolls over when encountering obstacles causing ankle sprains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses pneumatic airbags as the core shock-absorbing element. The airbags are filled with gas and can be compressed and expanded to absorb impact forces from the ground, providing effective shock absorption while maintaining flexibility and adaptability to various terrain conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a counterbalancing mechanism where airbags are positioned on both sides of the sole and connected through communication channels. When one airbag is compressed, gas flows to the other airbag causing it to expand, creating a counterbalancing force that prevents the sole from rolling over and avoids ankle sprains.
2Ease of operation
If the sole is made soft for comfort, then comfort is improved, but stability decreases making ankle sprains more likely
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic balance system where the airbags can dynamically adjust their volume and pressure in response to external forces. The communication between airbags allows the system to automatically adapt to changing conditions, maintaining stability while preserving comfort through continuous dynamic adjustment rather than static rigidity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameters of the sole by incorporating compressible airbags that can vary their volume and pressure. This allows the sole to transition between soft and stable states dynamically, providing comfort when needed while maintaining stability through the counterbalancing mechanism that prevents excessive rolling.
3Reliability
If airbags are added to the sole, then shock-absorbing capability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple functions into a single integrated system. The airbags serve dual purposes: shock absorption through compression and balance maintenance through the counterbalancing mechanism. The communication channels between airbags combine the functions of gas transfer and structural integration, reducing the need for separate complex mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The airbag system performs multiple functions simultaneously: it absorbs shock from impact forces, maintains balance through counterbalancing, and adapts to various terrain conditions. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby limiting the increase in device complexity while achieving multiple performance goals.
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
This design enhances shock absorption and balance, effectively preventing ankle sprains by distributing pressure and torque opposite to the rolling tendency of the sole, thereby reducing the risk of injury during exercise.
Implementation Method 1
two airbags are communicated through a connecting tube, and the two airbags and the connecting tube which communicates the two airbags together constitute a row of shock-absorbing system
Implementation Method 2
gas in the compressed airbag will flow into the other airbag and drive the other airbag to inflate
Implementation Method 3
Since the airbags are communicated by a connecting tube, gas in the compressed airbag will flow into the other airbag and drive the other airbag to inflate
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5~6a
AI summary
An anti-sprain shock-absorbing balance air-cushion shoe includes a shoe insert (11) and a sole (12). The air cushion shoe also includes two airbags (21) which are communicated with each other. Two airbag rooms (121) are mounted in the upper surface of the sole (12) which respectively accommodate the two airbags (21) separately. The two airbag rooms (121) are arranged in the sole (12) along the left-and-right direction. The shoe insert (11) and the sole (12) are combined so as to separately fix the two airbags (21) inside the two airbag rooms (121). The two airbag rooms (121) are stretchable and compressible. So, the side rollover of the sole (12) is stopped and the relative balance of the sole (12) is kept.