Midfoot Support Structure with Asymmetric Flanges for Footwear
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing articles of footwear struggle to balance rigidity and stretchability, particularly in areas subjected to high forces like the midfoot, which can lead to inadequate support and comfort during various movements.
Innovation Solution
The incorporation of a midfoot support structure with a lateral side portion extending higher than the medial side portion, providing localized support and distributing forces across a larger area, while allowing other portions to remain flexible for comfort and mobility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a rigid support structure is added to the midfoot area, then support and strength are improved, but flexibility and comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing rigid support structures (such as plate elements or reinforced zones) specifically in the midfoot area where high forces occur, while leaving the toe and heel portions more flexible. This localized reinforcement allows the footwear to provide necessary support where needed without compromising overall flexibility and comfort.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the sole structure into distinct zones with different mechanical properties - a rigid midfoot support section and more flexible forefoot and heel sections. This segmentation allows each zone to perform its specific function independently, resolving the contradiction between overall rigidity and localized flexibility.
2Strength
If the lateral flange extends higher than the medial flange, then support in high-force areas is improved, but structural asymmetry increases complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent deliberately employs asymmetric design by extending the lateral flange higher than the medial flange. This asymmetry is not arbitrary but is specifically designed to match the asymmetric distribution of forces in the human foot during movement, providing enhanced support on the lateral side where greater forces are typically applied.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric flange design applies local quality by providing different levels of support on different sides of the foot. The higher lateral flange provides additional support in the high-force lateral midfoot area, while the lower medial flange allows for greater flexibility on the medial side, matching the physiological requirements of foot mechanics.
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear can include an upper and a sole structure. The upper defines at least a portion of a foot-receiving cavity. The sole structure is coupled to the upper and includes a midfoot support member. The midfoot support member includes a lateral flange, a medial flange, a superior deck plate, and an inferior deck plate. The superior deck plate and the inferior deck plate span from the lateral flange to the medial flange. The superior deck plate and the inferior deck plate are spaced apart in a superior/inferior direction and define an opening therebetween. The opening extends unobstructed from the lateral flange to the medial flange, and the lateral flange extends farther in a superior direction than the medial flange.