Lateral Forefoot Sole Structure for Side-Step Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoes with soft midsoles for indoor sports like volleyball or handball cause excessive tilting of the foot during side stepping due to compressive loads, leading to instability during turning movements.
Innovation Solution
A sole design with a midsole featuring an expansion portion and an outsole with a roll-up portion that provides additional support and stability, where the expansion portion bulges laterally and the roll-up portion covers the midsole's peripheral edge to reduce deformation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a soft elastic material is used for the midsole to absorb impact, then cushioning properties are improved, but the foot becomes unstable during side stepping due to excessive tilting
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by creating an expansion portion at the lateral side of the forefoot in the midsole, making this specific region wider to prevent excessive tilting during side stepping, while maintaining the overall soft elastic material properties for cushioning
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite materials by combining the soft elastic midsole material with a harder outsole material having higher rigidity, creating a composite structure that provides both cushioning and stability
2Stability of the object's composition
If the midsole edge is positioned close to the foot to reduce tilting, then foot stability is improved, but the ground contact surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The expansion portion is strategically positioned at the lateral side of the forefoot where it is most needed for stability during side stepping, while maintaining appropriate ground contact surface area in other regions
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
The design effectively reduces excessive tilting and stabilizes the foot during side stepping by positioning the lateral edge of the ground contact surface farther laterally and providing additional support to the midsole, enhancing stability during turning movements.
Implementation Method 1
The midsole is made of a material that absorbs impact (i.e., relatively soft elastic material), such as foamed EVA, foamed urethane, GEL, and cork
Implementation Method 2
The outsole has a roll-up portion protruding upward from a peripheral edge portion of an upper surface of the outsole. The roll-up portion is located at a portion corresponding to the expansion portion of the midsole and covers a peripheral edge portion of the expansion portion from the outside
Data Source
AI summary
A boundary portion located between an upper and a midsole in a foot width direction includes a first boundary portion. The first boundary portion is positioned at a portion of the sole corresponding to a lateral side of the wearer's forefoot. An expansion portion is positioned at a portion of the midsole corresponding to the lateral side of the wearer's forefoot. The expansion portion bulges from the first boundary portion toward the lateral side of the sole with respect to the first boundary portion in the foot width direction. An outsole has a roll-up portion protruding upward from a peripheral edge portion of an upper surface of the outsole. The roll-up portion is located at a portion corresponding to the expansion portion of the midsole and covers a peripheral edge portion of the expansion portion from the outside.