Perforated Footwear Sole Structure for Cushioning and Breathability
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoes, particularly those used for outdoor activities, often fail to provide adequate comfort due to insufficient cushioning, support, and breathability, leading to discomfort during prolonged use.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring a rearfoot, forefoot, and arch portion with strategically distributed holes, including triangular and wavy patterns, which enhance cushioning, support, and breathability by dispersing pressure and improving rebound performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the sole uses traditional solid material without holes, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but the breathability and cushioning performance are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies porous material principles by incorporating multiple holes of different sizes into the sole structure. These holes create a porous configuration that allows air circulation for breathability while the surrounding material maintains structural integrity. The varying hole sizes optimize both ventilation and cushioning performance, resolving the contradiction between manufacturing simplicity and functional performance.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole is segmented into multiple regions with different hole configurations. The first region contains first holes while the second region contains second holes, creating segmented functional zones. This segmentation allows different areas of the sole to perform different functions (breathability, cushioning, support) while maintaining an overall simple manufacturing process through modular design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the sole includes multiple holes for breathability and cushioning, then comfort and breathability improve, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the sole are assigned different local qualities through varying hole configurations. The first region has first holes optimized for breathability, while the second region has second holes optimized for cushioning. This local differentiation achieves high functional performance without requiring complex overall structure, as each region is simplified for its specific function.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole structure is segmented into distinct regions with different hole patterns, allowing complex functionality to be achieved through modular organization rather than overall complexity. Each segment can be manufactured independently with optimized characteristics, reducing the complexity burden on the entire sole structure.
3Strength
If the sole uses dense material for support, then strength is improved, but weight reduction and comfort are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The porous hole configuration reduces sole weight by removing material while the surrounding dense material maintains structural strength. The holes are strategically positioned to reduce weight without compromising critical support areas, achieving the balance between weight reduction and strength preservation.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole employs a composite structure combining dense material for strength with void spaces from holes for weight reduction. This composite configuration allows the sole to maintain necessary strength in load-bearing areas while reducing overall weight through the strategic distribution of material and void spaces.
Data Source
AI summary
A sole includes a rearfoot portion, a forefoot portion, and an arch portion connecting the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion. The forefoot portion, the arch portion and the rearfoot portion are arranged in sequence along a front-back direction. The sole further includes a plurality of holes spaced apart in the front-back direction. Each of the plurality of holes extends from a side surface of the sole in a left-right direction of the sole, the front-back direction is perpendicular to the left-right direction, the plurality of holes are distributed in the rearfoot portion and the forefoot portion of the sole except for the arch portion. A footwear having the sole is also provided.