Lateral Bending Shock Absorbing Sole Structure

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shock absorbing structures in sports shoes rely on compression deformation of gel or EVA materials, which increases weight and cost while compromising stability and appearance, as they need to be thick to provide adequate shock absorption.

Innovation Solution

A shock absorbing structure featuring a hard bone portion that bends laterally upon pressure reception, accompanied by an elastic soft skin portion that bulges and contracts to absorb impact, reducing the need for extensive gel or EVA material and enhancing visibility and appeal.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If shock absorbing members are configured with relatively large thickness dimensions to provide adequate shock absorption, then shock absorbing performance is improved, but weight increases and stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock absorbing performanceVSAvoidweight of shock absorbing members
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the deformation mode parameter from compression to bending. The hard bone portion is designed to bend laterally instead of compressing vertically, which allows for thinner configurations while maintaining shock absorption effectiveness. This parameter change resolves the contradiction by enabling adequate shock protection with reduced material thickness and weight.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a hard material (bone portion) that bends rather than a soft material that compresses. This inversion allows the structure to achieve shock absorption through lateral bending deformation instead of vertical compression, reducing the need for thick soft material layers and thereby reducing weight while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If shock absorbing members are configured with relatively large thickness dimensions to provide adequate shock absorption, then shock absorbing performance is improved, but the area occupied on shoe side face increases reducing aesthetic appeal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock absorbing performanceVSAvoidarea occupied on shoe side face
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the deformation mechanism from compression to bending, allowing the shock absorbing member to achieve adequate performance with reduced thickness. This enables the hard bone portion to extend laterally along the shoe side face with minimal vertical profile, improving aesthetic appearance while maintaining shock absorption through bending deformation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions the deformation from the vertical dimension (compression) to the lateral dimension (bending). By allowing the hard bone portion to bend laterally along the shoe side face, the shock absorption function is achieved with minimal vertical thickness, reducing the visual bulk and improving aesthetic appeal.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Reliability

If shock absorbing members are configured with relatively large thickness dimensions to provide adequate shock absorption, then shock absorbing performance is improved, but cost increases due to increased material usage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock absorbing performanceVSAvoiduse amount of shock absorbing member
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the deformation mode from compression to bending, which allows for more efficient use of material. The hard bone portion can achieve adequate shock absorption with less material volume by utilizing bending deformation along its length, thereby reducing the quantity of shock absorbing material needed while maintaining performance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a hard bending structure instead of soft compressing material. This inversion enables the use of less material overall, as the bending action of the hard bone portion is more efficient at absorbing shock energy per unit volume compared to compression of soft materials, thereby reducing cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

4Reliability

If shock absorbing members are configured with relatively large thickness dimensions to provide adequate shock absorption, then shock absorbing performance is improved, but stability is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshock absorbing performanceVSAvoidstability of shoe
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the deformation mechanism to lateral bending of a hard bone portion that extends along the shoe side face. This configuration provides structural stability while absorbing shock through bending, rather than using thick soft material that would compromise stability. The hard bone portion acts as a structural element that maintains shoe integrity while providing shock absorption.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent inverts the conventional approach by using a hard structural element that bends rather than a soft element that compresses. This inversion allows the shock absorbing member to function as both a structural support element and a shock absorber, thereby maintaining or even improving shoe stability while providing adequate shock protection.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

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 configuration achieves high stability and reduced weight and cost by utilizing bending deformation to absorb impacts, allowing for a more appealing and effective shock absorption performance without the need for extensive material usage.

Implementation Method 1

the hard bone portion and the elastic soft skin portion have a structure in which at the time of pressure reception, the hard bone portion undergoes bending deformation in a vertical section so as to extend to a lateral side of the sole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 2

by receiving the deformation, the elastic soft skin portion undergoes elastic deformation so as to bulge to the lateral side of the sole to absorb a received pressure load

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Implementation Method 3

with decompression, the elastic soft skin portion undergoes elastic deformation so as to contract to an inner side of the sole this time, and with this, the hard bone portion extended to the lateral side of the sole is restored to an initial state

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic recovery: Elastic Recovery

Data Source

PatentEP3061363B1Shock-absorbing structure for sole side surface and shoes implementing same
Publication Date: 2018.12.05 ASICS CORP
  • EP3061363B1 patent drawingFigure 1(a)~1(b')
  • EP3061363B1 patent drawingFigure 2(a)~2(c)
  • EP3061363B1 patent drawingFigure 3(a)~3(d)

AI summary

The present invention addresses a problem to develop a novel shock absorbing structure which realizes stability while absorbing strong impact at a time of landing and a kicking-out time by bending and a tensile force of a shock absorbing member itself of a gel or the like, and also provides an excellent effect in reduction in weight and an aspect of cost, and a shoe to which the shock absorbing structure is applied. [Solution] The present invention is a structure that includes a hard bone portion that extends to an outer side of a sole side face at a time of pressure reception, and an elastic soft skin portion provided at an outer side of the hard bone portion, and absorbs impact at a time of landing and the like, wherein at least a part of the hard bone portion is provided along a sole side face, and the hard bone portion and the elastic soft skin portion have a structure in which at a time of pressure reception, the hard bone portion undergoes bending deformation in a vertical section so as to extend to a lateral side of the sole, and by receiving the deformation, the elastic soft skin portion undergoes elastic deformation so as to bulge to the lateral side of the sole to absorb a received pressure load, and thereafter, with decompression, the elastic soft skin portion undergoes elastic deformation so as to contract to an inner side of the sole this time, and with this, the hard bone portion is also restored to an initial state.