Footwear Outsole with Recessed Flex Lines for Dynamic Traction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional footwear soles lack sufficient traction and stability during weight shifts and twisting motions, particularly in golf swings, as traditional traction elements lose contact with the ground, limiting support and control.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a contact surface-contacting member with recessed segments providing lines of flex, dividing the forefoot into movable regions, and traction member sets in the forefoot and heel portions, configured to inhibit specific directional movements, allowing independent rotation and maintaining contact with the ground during weight shifts and twisting actions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional traction elements are used in footwear soles, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the traction and stability are insufficient during weight shifts and twisting motions
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is divided into multiple independent movable regions separated by lines of flex, allowing each region to independently contact or disengage from the ground during weight shifts and twisting motions. This segmentation enables the sole to adapt to dynamic forces while maintaining traction and stability without requiring complex mechanical systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole structure incorporates lines of flex that enable dynamic movement between different regions of the outsole. These lines of flex allow the movable regions to rotate and adjust their position relative to each other in response to applied forces, providing adaptive traction and stability during athletic activities without complex control mechanisms.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the sole structure is made rigid to provide stable support, then stability is improved, but the ability to adapt to weight shifts and twisting motions is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is segmented into multiple movable regions that can independently adjust their contact with the ground. This segmentation allows the sole to maintain overall stability while enabling local adaptations to weight shifts and twisting motions through the independent movement of each region about the lines of flex.
Solution Approach 2:
The outsole incorporates flexible lines of flex that allow controlled movement between rigid or semi-rigid regions. These flexible elements enable the sole to adapt to dynamic forces while maintaining structural integrity and stability, combining the benefits of rigidity and flexibility in a single structure.
3Reliability
If traction members are placed in fixed positions, then manufacturing is simple, but the contact area with the ground is reduced during dynamic movements
Solution Approach 1:
The traction members are positioned on movable regions that can dynamically adjust their contact with the ground. The lines of flex enable these regions to rotate and reposition themselves in response to weight shifts and twisting motions, maximizing the contact area and traction availability without requiring complex active control systems or multiple sets of traction elements.
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 design enhances traction and stability by maintaining a larger contact area with the ground, preventing heel lift and allowing smooth transitions during weight shifts and twisting motions, thereby providing a solid base for various activities.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second recessed segments may provide lines of flex in the contact surface-contacting member and divide at least the forefoot portion of this member into medial, central, and lateral regions, wherein the medial, central, and lateral regions are movable about the lines of flex
Implementation Method 2
a first set of traction members in the forefoot portion, the first set of traction members configured to inhibit forefoot movement in a lateral direction
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Support structures for footwear and the like include a contacting member (e.g., an outsole) (102) that includes at least two recessed segments extending in a longitudinal direction in the forefoot portion. The recessed segments provide lines of flex such that various regions of the contacting member independently move about the lines of flex and separately engage/disengage from a contact surface when a wearer shifts his/her weight. Additionally or alternatively, the containing member may include a set of traction members (130) in the forefoot portion that inhibit forefoot movement in a lateral direction while optionally allowing forefoot movement in a medial direction and a set of traction members (140) in a heel portion that inhibit heel movement in the medial direction while optionally allowing heel movement in the lateral direction. Such support structures may be used, e.g., for golf shoes or shoes for other activities requiring a swinging or twisting action.