Footwear Outsole with Slit Midsole for Uniform Impact Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional outsoles fail to provide a uniform response to impact loads, as they are not optimized for varying user weights and sizes, leading to inadequate cushioning for different users.
Innovation Solution
The outsole design features a midsole with through-openings and a slit configuration, combined with an elastic tread, allowing for uniform energy absorption and return, irrespective of user size or weight, and a simplified manufacturing method using elastomer inserts in the molding process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the outsole thickness is increased to provide better cushioning for heavier users, then the impact response improves for heavier users, but the outsole becomes overly thick and complex for lighter users
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is divided into multiple functional layers with distinct properties: a top layer (20) made of harder material for structural support, a middle layer (30) made of softer material for cushioning, and a bottom layer (40) made of elastic material for energy return. This segmentation allows each layer to contribute differently to impact response, providing consistent performance across various user weights without requiring excessive overall thickness.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the outsole is designed to accommodate different user weights and sizes, then it can serve a broader range of users, but it cannot provide optimal cushioning for each specific user
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the outsole are assigned different material properties and thicknesses optimized for their specific functions. The top layer uses harder material for durability and structure, the middle layer uses softer material for maximum cushioning where impacts occur, and the bottom layer uses elastic material for energy return. This local optimization ensures consistent impact response across different user weights and sizes without requiring custom designs for each user.
3Ease of manufacture
If a single outsole design is used for all users, then manufacturing is simplified, but the cushioning performance is inadequate for lighter users and overly thick for heavier users
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole employs a composite structure with multiple materials having different mechanical properties: a harder top layer material for structural integrity, a softer middle layer material for cushioning, and an elastic bottom layer material for energy return. This composite approach enables a single standardized design to achieve uniform impact response across different user weights and sizes, maintaining manufacturing simplicity while ensuring consistent performance.
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 ensures a consistent impact response across different users and usage conditions, providing enhanced cushioning and reducing production complexity and costs.
Implementation Method 1
The outsole 1 is made essentially of elastomeric material and is able to cushion in a uniform manner any impacts acting on the outsole
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4
AI summary
The present invention relates to an outsole (1) for footwear (3) extending along a toe-to-heel direction (X) and comprising a tread (4) arranged on a bottom surface of a midsole (6). The midsole (6) has a heel portion (7) with at least one though-opening (8) which extends transversely with respect to said toe-to-heel direction (X). The heel portion (7) is provided with a slit (10) which extends along the toe-to-heel direction (X) intercepting said at least one through-opening (8) so as to divide it up into two parts (8a, 8b). The slit (10) is open at the front and is delimited by a side wall (12) which extends downwards from a base portion (14). In accordance with the invention, the tread (4) comprises a portion (16) which extends inside said slit (10) so as to cover solely the side wall (12), leaving the base portion (14) of the slit (10) exposed. The invention relates, moreover, to a method for manufacturing such an outsole (1).