Modular Shoe Sole Inserts for Tunable Pronation Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe soles lack the ability to provide high individual customizability without compromising mechanical integrity, and existing solutions for customizability often lead to reduced durability due to repeated compression and degradation during gait cycles.
Innovation Solution
A shoe sole system featuring a resilient midsole with vertically oriented cavities for interchangeable inserts of varying hardness, allowing precise tuning of pronation control through the use of first-order, second-order, and third-order pronation control effects by adjusting the hardness of inserts in specific regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If interchangeable insert elements are introduced from the medial or lateral side and held in place using a clip, then customisability of support is improved, but the mechanical integrity of the sole is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is divided into a base sole and interchangeable insert elements that can be independently selected and combined. The insert elements are segmented into different hardness levels and configurations, allowing customisation of support characteristics while maintaining the structural integrity of the base sole through integrated cavities designed to receive these segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The insert elements are nested within cavities formed in the base sole, creating a hierarchical structure where the insert elements are contained within the larger sole structure. This nesting approach allows the insert elements to be exchanged without removing the entire sole, maintaining mechanical integrity while enabling customisation.
2Ease of operation
If a wide horizontal cavity is provided for the insert, then ease of insertion is improved, but the mechanical integrity of the sole is reduced and water/dirt can enter deep within the sole
Solution Approach 1:
The cavity structure transitions from a wide horizontal configuration to a series of vertically oriented narrow channels. Each channel is locally optimised to provide just enough space for the corresponding insert element while maintaining the structural integrity of the surrounding midsole material. This local quality approach prevents water and dirt infiltration while ensuring ease of insertion.
3Reliability
If insert elements are positioned in regions requiring greater support, then support effectiveness is improved, but material degradation accelerates due to repeated compression
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides insert elements with varying hardness parameters (durometers) to optimise support effectiveness in different regions of the sole. By selecting appropriate hardness parameters for each insert element based on the specific gait requirements and load conditions, the system achieves effective support while distributing compression stresses more evenly, thereby reducing material degradation and extending wearable life.
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
This system enables fine-tuning of support to match individual gait needs, improving gait alignment, extending shoe lifespan by reducing material degradation and maintaining mechanical integrity, while allowing for adaptability to different uses and wearers.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient midsole with vertically oriented cavities
Implementation Method 2
Hard insert elements are provided for inserting into vertical cavities in the midsole. By varying the hardnesses of different inserts in different vertical cavities, a precisely-tunable pronation control effect on the wearer's gait can be effected.
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A support customising system is described for a sole 1 of a shoe. The sole 1 comprises a relatively soft, resilient midsole 3 and an a harder outsole 4. Hard insert elements 5 are provided for inserting into vertical cavities 2 in the midsole 3. By varying the hardnesses of different inserts 5 in different vertical cavities, a precisely-tunable pronation control effect on the wearer's gait can be effected. First-order, second-order and third-order pronation control effects are described.