Footwear Sole Void Channels for Auxetic Damping and Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear lacks effective dampening and programmable deformation features, particularly in athletic shoes, which are essential for enhanced cushioning during strenuous activities.
Innovation Solution
Incorporation of void structures within the sole structure, comprising a plurality of voids with varying shapes, orientations, and sizes, which provide auxetic properties, allowing for programmable deformation and enhanced cushioning.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional sole structures are used, then the shoe provides basic stability and cushioning, but the dampening features are insufficient and programmable deformation is not achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous materials by incorporating a void structure with interconnected voids within the sole structure. This porous configuration allows the material to deform and collapse in a controlled manner, providing programmable dampening and cushioning effects while maintaining structural integrity. The voids enable energy absorption through controlled collapse mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the void structure with surrounding matrix material to create a composite sole structure. This composite approach integrates the deformable void regions with supportive solid material, achieving both programmable deformation for cushioning and structural stability simultaneously.
2Reliability
If more cushioning material is added to the sole, then dampening improves, but the weight of the shoe increases
Solution Approach 1:
The void structure utilizes porous material principles where air-filled voids replace dense cushioning material. The interconnected voids provide dampening through controlled collapse and deformation, achieving effective cushioning with significantly reduced material density and overall weight compared to conventional solid foam or gel cushioning layers.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the extraction principle by removing material to create void spaces within the sole structure. Instead of adding more cushioning material, the design extracts material to form a lightweight void network that provides dampening through its structural configuration rather than material mass.
3Ease of manufacture
If uniform void distribution is used, then manufacturing is simplified, but region-specific cushioning and pronation support are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements local quality by varying the void structure characteristics in different regions of the sole. The void size, shape, density, and connectivity are tailored to specific zones to provide region-specific functions such as enhanced cushioning in high-impact areas and pronation support in the midfoot region, while maintaining manufacturability through systematic patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The void structure is segmented into multiple zones with different characteristics. The sole is divided into regions with varying void configurations, allowing each segment to perform its specific function (cushioning, stability, pronation control) while collectively providing comprehensive performance across the entire shoe.
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 void structures enable a spring-like effect and improved dampening, providing superior cushioning and pronation support, while reducing material usage and weight.
Implementation Method 1
a sole structure having voids with auxetic properties, which allows for programmable deforming or collapsing of various portions or regions of the sole structure to create a controlled spring-like or dampening effect
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear comprising an upper defining a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region of the article of footwear, and a sole structure coupled with the upper. The sole structure includes a midsole and an outsole coupled with a bottom surface of the midsole. A void structure is provided within the sole structure, which includes a plurality of voids defining channels that extend through an entire width of the sole structure. The void structure includes a plurality of first voids in the shape of a vertical lemniscate and a plurality of second voids in the shape of a horizontal lemniscate.