Padded Shoe Sole with Variable Hardness Pads for Heel Angle Control
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoes fail to maintain the heel at a 90° angle to the ground, leading to uneven sole wear and body imbalance, as they lack customizable padding to suit individual foot conditions.
Innovation Solution
A padded shoe with attachment pads of varying materials, thicknesses, and hardnesses, specifically designed to correct foot pressure and balance by attaching to specific areas of the shoe sole, such as the medial longitudinal arch, heel, and metatarsal regions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the same hardness material is used throughout the shoe sole, then manufacturing is simple and cost-effective, but uneven pressure distribution causes accelerated wear in high-pressure regions and foot distortion
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe sole is divided into multiple regions with different hardness levels to match the pressure distribution of the foot. High-density foam is placed in high-pressure areas (heel, metatarsal heads) while low-density foam is used in low-pressure areas (midfoot arch), creating local quality variations that optimize both comfort and foot balance stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe sole combines multiple foam materials with different density characteristics (high-density and low-density foam) into a composite structure. This composite material approach allows each region of the sole to provide appropriate support and cushioning, preventing uneven wear and maintaining foot balance over time.
2Reliability
If customizable attachment pads are added to suit individual foot conditions, then body balance and foot comfort are improved, but device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The customization system is segmented into removable attachment pads that can be independently selected and attached to the shoe sole. Each pad targets specific foot conditions (flatfoot, higharch, heelpain, metatarsalpain) allowing users to configure the shoe based on their individual needs without redesigning the entire shoe structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment pads are designed to be dynamically adjustable - users can attach, remove, or reposition pads based on their foot condition and comfort preferences. This dynamic customization allows the shoe to adapt to individual needs while maintaining a relatively simple base structure.
3Ease of operation
If the heel is not maintained at 90° to the ground, then walking comfort may be improved through flexible sole design, but overall body balance deteriorates and foot distortion occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe sole parameters (hardness, density, thickness) are specifically engineered to maintain the heel at 90° to the ground during walking. The high-density foam regions provide structural support that prevents heel collapse, while the low-density foam areas allow necessary flexibility for comfortable walking motion.
Data Source
AI summary
Proposed is a padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type. The padded shoe for body balance adjustment by body type that induces a posture in which the heel is maintained at 90° to the ground, so that the foot is in balance or in a neutral position, thereby maintaining overall body balance by allowing an attachment pad with a material, thickness, and hardness set to suit the user's foot condition to be attached to a set area on the surface of a shoe sole.