Footwear Shell with Mesh Bulge and Cover for Adaptive Fit
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear designs struggle to provide both stationary fit during low-strength exercises and dynamic fit during high-strength activities, as they often fail to maintain appropriate pressure on the foot's peripheral surface while accommodating foot movements.
Innovation Solution
A footwear design featuring a shell made of an elastic material with a peripheral wall portion comprising a bulging portion of a three-dimensional mesh structure and a harder cover portion, both integrated into a single member, to enhance flexibility and rigidity where needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the inner surface of the peripheral wall portion is shaped to match the foot's peripheral surface for stationary fit, then the stationary fit is improved, but the dynamic fit deteriorates because the shoe cannot deform properly during foot movement
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral wall portion is divided into different regions with different rigidity characteristics: a first region with higher rigidity for stationary support and a second region with lower rigidity for dynamic deformation. This local differentiation allows the shoe to provide both stationary fit and dynamic fit simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell uses a composite structure combining materials or regions with different rigidity properties. The elastic material with varying rigidity throughout the peripheral wall portion enables both firm contact during stationary periods and flexible deformation during movement, resolving the contradiction between stationary and dynamic fit requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the shell is made of elastic material for flexibility, then the dynamic fit is improved, but the stationary fit deteriorates because appropriate pressure cannot be maintained on the foot's peripheral surface
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the peripheral wall portion have different rigidity characteristics. The first region maintains higher rigidity to provide stable pressure during stationary periods, while the second region has lower rigidity to allow deformation during dynamic activities, thus maintaining both stationary and dynamic fit.
Solution Approach 2:
The shell structure transitions from a static, uniform rigidity design to a dynamic design where different regions respond differently to applied forces. The varying rigidity allows the structure to adapt its stiffness characteristics based on the operational state, providing stability when needed and flexibility when required.
3Ease of manufacture
If the peripheral wall portion is made of uniform material for simplicity, then the manufacturing is easier, but the fit performance deteriorates because it cannot provide both stationary and dynamic support
Solution Approach 1:
The peripheral wall portion incorporates regions with different rigidity characteristics within a single elastic material structure. This allows the manufacturer to work with one material type while achieving differentiated functional zones that provide both stationary and dynamic fit support.
Solution Approach 2:
The peripheral wall portion is segmented into functional regions (first region with higher rigidity, second region with lower rigidity) that can be differentiated through structural design rather than material selection, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining performance.
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 improves both stationary and dynamic fit by allowing the shoe to deform with foot movements while maintaining pressure, ensuring comfort and support during various activities.
Implementation Method 1
the bulging portion includes an easy-deformable portion configured of a three-dimensional mesh structure body
Implementation Method 2
the peripheral wall portion includes a cover portion as a hard-deformable portion having higher rigidity than the easy-deformable portion
Data Source
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AI summary
A footwear includes a shell (10) which is made of an elastic material, the shell (10) including a bottom wall portion (11) and a peripheral wall portion (12). The peripheral wall portion (12) has a first region (A) that includes a bulging portion (13) bulging toward an insertion space (SP3), and a second region (B) which is a portion adjacent to the first region (A). The bulging portion (13) includes an easy-deformable portion configured of a three-dimensional mesh structure body. The peripheral wall portion (12) includes a cover portion (14) as a hard-deformable portion having higher rigidity than the easy-deformable portion, the cover portion (14) being on a side opposite to a side where the insertion space (SP3) is located when viewed from the bulging portion (13) and covering at least a portion of the bulging portion (13) by being across the first region (A) and the second region (B).