Metatarsal Protective Arch With Segmented Shielding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Safety footwear often faces a challenge in reconciling protective features like metatarsal protection with design properties such as weight and flexibility, leading to discomfort and hindered foot movement.

Innovation Solution

A metatarsal protective arch is designed with a pad body and a shielding arch member, where the shielding arch member is harder than the pad body, forming an arch to straddle the metatarsal region, providing protection while maintaining flexibility and comfort by using materials like polyurethane or silicone rubber for the pad body and Nylon or TPU for the shielding arch member.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If protective components like metatarsal guards are added to footwear, then metatarsal protection is improved, but weight and flexibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetatarsal protectionVSAvoidfootwear weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective structure is segmented into discrete arch members rather than using a continuous rigid plate. Each arch member is positioned at specific metatarsal locations, providing targeted protection while reducing overall weight compared to full-coverage rigid guards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The footwear incorporates regions of different properties: rigid arch members at metatarsal locations for protection, and flexible materials elsewhere for comfort and movement. This localized approach ensures protection only where needed while maintaining overall flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If protective components like metatarsal guards are added to footwear, then metatarsal protection is improved, but flexibility and comfort deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemetatarsal protectionVSAvoidfoot movement flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The arch members are designed to be resilient rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically respond to foot movement. The arch members can flex and deform during walking and toe-flexion movements, then return to their original shape, providing protection while maintaining flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of rigid plates, the invention uses resilient arch members that function as flexible protective elements. These arch members can bend and conform to foot movement while still providing impact protection, effectively replacing traditional rigid metatarsal guards.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

3Reliability

If multiple protective components are added to footwear, then comprehensive protection is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotective coverageVSAvoidfootwear structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple protective functions are merged into a single integrated arch structure. The resilient arch members simultaneously provide impact protection, flexibility for movement, and structural support, eliminating the need for separate rigid guards, padding layers, and reinforcement components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The resilient arch members serve multiple functions: they protect against impacts, allow for natural foot movement, provide structural support to the footwear, and distribute pressure during walking. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized protective components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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 solution effectively protects the metatarsal region from impacts while allowing for comfortable and flexible movement, as the pad body absorbs impact and the shielding arch member deflects it, ensuring the footwear remains lightweight and adaptable during walking.

Implementation Method 1

the pad body absorbs impact

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact absorption: Deformation

Implementation Method 2

the shielding arch member deflects it

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectImpact deflection: Impact Force

Data Source

PatentUS20240341409A1Metatarsal protective arch for item of footwear

Publication Date: 2024.10.17 L P ROYER

AI summary

A metatarsal protective arch comprising a pad body. A shielding arch member is on a top surface of the pad body. The shielding arch member has a greater hardness than the pad body. The pad body and the shielding arch member concurrently form an arch configured to straddle at least part of a metatarsal region of a foot. The metatarsal protective arch is configured to be positioned in a foot-receiving cavity of an upper of an item of footwear.