Footwear Outsole Ridge Layout for Flex and Propulsion Balance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic shoes face challenges in balancing stiffness and flexibility to enhance proprioception and traction, often increasing manufacturing complexity and user cost with additional components, and failing to optimize bending characteristics for different foot regions.
Innovation Solution
An outsole design featuring concentrically aligned circular ridges with varying heights and spacings to create flex zones and stiffening zones, accommodating natural foot movements and providing omnidirectional traction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If additional stiffening components are embedded within the sole assembly to increase bending stiffness, then the sole provides improved stability and propulsion, but the manufacturing complexity and end-user cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is segmented into multiple zones with different ridge heights (first, second, and third heights) arranged in specific patterns. This segmentation creates distinct functional regions: a first zone with taller ridges for stiffness, a second zone with intermediate ridges, and a third zone with shorter ridges for flexibility. This allows differential stiffness control without adding separate components, thereby reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining improved bending stiffness where needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The outsole implements local quality by varying ridge heights at different locations to provide zone-specific mechanical properties. The first zone has taller ridges providing higher stiffness for propulsion, the second zone has intermediate ridges for transitional support, and the third zone has shorter ridges for flexibility during toe flexion. This localized differentiation optimizes bending stiffness in specific areas without requiring additional stiffening components throughout the entire sole assembly.
2Strength
If the sole is designed to be stiff to provide propulsion support, then running efficiency improves, but natural foot flexion and proprioception are restricted
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole applies local quality by creating distinct zones with different ridge heights to balance propulsion support and foot flexion. The first zone with taller ridges provides stiff propulsion support during the push-off phase, while the third zone with shorter ridges allows natural foot flexion and toe movement. This localized differentiation enables the sole to be stiff where propulsion is needed while remaining flexible where foot movement is required, resolving the contradiction between propulsion support and ease of operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The outsole is divided into multiple zones with varying ridge characteristics: a first zone with taller ridges for propulsion, a second zone with intermediate ridges for transitional support, and a third zone with shorter ridges for flexibility. This segmentation allows different portions of the foot to experience appropriate levels of stiffness or flexibility during the gait cycle, maintaining propulsion efficiency while preserving natural foot flexion and proprioceptive feedback.
3Force
If conventional tread designs are used to provide directional traction, then traction in specific directions is improved, but omnidirectional traction and proprioception are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole employs asymmetry by arranging ridges of different heights in non-uniform patterns across the sole surface. The varying ridge heights create asymmetric contact points with the ground, providing enhanced traction in multiple directions rather than just one. This asymmetric configuration allows the foot to grip the ground effectively during various movements including forward propulsion, lateral cuts, and pivoting, thereby achieving omnidirectional traction while maintaining directional force transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe having an upper and a sole structure, the shoe having a medial side, a lateral side, a forefoot region, a midfoot region, and a heel region. The sole structure includes ridges aligned around and emanating outwardly from an epicenter. The epicenter is disposed within the forefoot region and is closer to the medial side than the lateral side. The ridges are disposed in at least the forefoot region and the midfoot region. Spaces extend between respective ridges, and the ridges have a plurality of short portions defining heights that are smaller than heights of adjacent tall portions of the ridges. A flex zone is defined by at least some of the short portions and is configured to flex more than one or more stiffening zones of the sole.