Athletic Shoe Midsole Plate with Contoured Heel and Planar Toe
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic shoes lack effective support and stability, particularly in the heel region, leading to increased compression of the midsole during heel strike and potential discomfort or injury.
Innovation Solution
The athletic shoe features a multi-layered sole structure with an upper midsole, a lower midsole, and a plate positioned between them. The plate includes a planar toe region and a contoured incurvature heel region, which enhances stability and support by distributing forces evenly and reducing midsole compression.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a conventional midsole structure is used, then the shoe is simple in construction, but the heel region lacks support and stability leading to increased midsole compression
Solution Approach 1:
The plate is divided into distinct functional regions: a planar toe region for propulsion and a contoured heel region for support. This segmentation allows each region to be optimized for its specific function, with the heel region providing structural support while the toe region enables energy return, thereby resolving the contradiction between providing heel support and maintaining structural simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate exhibits different geometries in different regions: a planar shape in the toe region for energy storage and release, and a contoured incurvature in the heel region for structural support and stability. This local differentiation of properties allows the single component to simultaneously provide both propulsion efficiency and heel support, resolving the technical contradiction.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the midsole is compressed during heel strike, then impact absorption occurs, but support and stability are reduced leading to potential injury
Solution Approach 1:
The contoured heel region of the plate is positioned beneath the heel region of the midsole to provide preemptive structural support before impact occurs. This prior support structure prevents excessive midsole compression during heel strike, thereby maintaining both impact absorption capabilities and foot protection reliability simultaneously.
Solution Approach 2:
The plate acts as an intermediary structural element between the ground and the midsole. During heel strike, it distributes and manages impact forces, preventing direct excessive compression of the midsole while still allowing controlled energy absorption, thus resolving the contradiction between impact absorption and foot protection.
3Power
If a planar toe region is used, then propulsion efficiency is improved through energy return, but the overall shoe structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention merges the propulsion function (planar toe region) and the support function (contoured heel region) into a single integrated plate component. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate propulsion and support elements, thereby achieving high propulsion efficiency without significantly increasing overall structural complexity.
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 innovative sole design provides improved support, responsiveness, and impact absorption, enhancing athletic performance and reducing the risk of injuries by optimizing heel strike stability and energy return.
Implementation Method 1
The middle layer of the sole is called the midsole, which is designed to absorb shock and provide cushioning for the foot. The midsole is often made of foam or other soft materials that compress under pressure and return energy back to the user.
Implementation Method 2
The midsole is often made of foam or other soft materials that compress under pressure and return energy back to the user.
Implementation Method 3
bonding a plate disposed between the upper midsole and the lower midsole
Data Source
AI summary
In general, one or more aspects of the disclosure relates to an athletic shoe comprising an upper and a sole. The sole further comprises an upper midsole, a lower midsole and a plate disposed between the upper midsole and the lower midsole. The plate comprises a toe region having a planar shape. The toe region is encapsulated between the upper midsole and the lower midsole. The plate additionally comprises a heel region having a contoured incurvature. The heel region protrudes externally from between the upper midsole and the lower midsole to form a sidewall that encompasses a heel region of the upper midsole. The unique combination of the two shapes of the plate provides comfort and stability as well as enhanced energy return in the heel with less force upon the heel of the wearer and with the sidewalls provides stability and then the planar forefoot shape placed between the two midsoles offers propulsion, at the metatarsal flex and toe area during the gait cycle.