Partial Insole Pad With Recessed Channel Pattern
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing partial insoles face challenges in providing sufficient cushioning while maintaining a large surface area for adherence to footwear, often resulting in deformation and damage during use, especially when trying to remove or replace them.
Innovation Solution
An insole pad with a thin, sheet-like body featuring a pattern of intersecting negative ribs or channels on its lower surface, providing varying cushioning values and a larger adherence area, made from elastomeric materials like polyurethane gel, which allows for easy removal without damaging footwear.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If protruding geometric structures are used to provide cushioning properties, then cushioning energy is improved, but adherence surface area is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional approach by using recessed channels instead of protruding structures. The lower surface includes a pattern of recessed channels that extend partially through the thickness of the insole pad, creating void spaces that provide cushioning through compression and expansion, while the raised portions between channels maintain large adherence surface area contact with the footwear inner sole.
Solution Approach 2:
The insole pad employs a porous-like structure with recessed channels creating void spaces within the material body. These channels allow the material to compress and expand during use, providing cushioning energy absorption and release while maintaining structural integrity and adherence through the surrounding material matrix.
2Area of stationary object
If larger adherence surfaces are used to improve adherence, then adherence is improved, but cushioning properties are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The insole pad segments the lower surface into multiple functional zones: raised portions that provide adherence contact with the footwear inner sole, and recessed channels that provide cushioning void spaces. This segmentation allows different regions to perform different functions simultaneously, with the raised portions maintaining adherence and the recessed portions providing cushioning energy absorption.
3Area of stationary object
If stronger adhesives are used to overcome adherence surface reduction, then adherence is improved, but footwear damage risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
By inverting the structure to use recessed channels instead of protruding elements, the patent naturally increases the adherence surface area to approximately 70-80% of the total lower surface area. This structural approach eliminates the need for strong adhesives, allowing the use of mild adhesives that do not damage footwear when the insole pad is removed or replaced.
4Ease of manufacture
If uniformly arranged geometric structures are used, then manufacturing is simplified, but cushioning uniformity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by varying the density and dimensions of recessed channels in different regions of the insole pad. Areas with higher cushioning requirements have denser channel patterns, while areas requiring more structural support have sparser patterns. This localized variation optimizes cushioning performance across different zones while maintaining manufacturability through standardized channel cross-sections.
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
The solution offers improved cushioning and adherence properties, reducing material weight and production costs, while ensuring the insole pad can be easily removed without damaging the footwear, maintaining stability and comfort.
Implementation Method 1
these uniformly arranged geometric structures are often allowed to buckle or collapse, as this was believed to improve the cushioning properties
Implementation Method 2
made from elastomeric materials like polyurethane gel
Implementation Method 3
the lower surface has sticky or adhesive properties
Data Source
AI summary
A insole pad (1; 51) for placement on top of an inner sole of footwear and adapted in use to cover only an area of that inner sole that is substantially smaller than the human footprint. The insole pad (1; 51) includes a relatively thin, sheet-like body that has an upper surface (33) and a lower surface (41) and an outer periphery (25). The lower surface (41) has sticky or adhesive properties, and is interrupted by recessed areas arranged in a pattern (5; 55). The pattern (5; 55) is configured to include a plurality of channels combined to be at least intersecting or joining, so as to define a plurality of differently sized non-recessed lower surface areas. At least a portion of the channels vary in width, while the pattern has a varying density to provide high and low cushioning values in predefined areas A, B, C; G).