Pin Array Adaptive Wedge for Lateral Footwear Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional midsoles in footwear do not provide adequate adaptive support during lateral movements in sports, as they compress and fail to offer a suitable surface for banking or pushing off, leading to inadequate performance in activities like basketball or tennis.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a series of pins extending through the midsole and outsole, with a resilient member biasing the pins to provide dynamic banking surfaces that adjust during lateral movements, enhancing support and stability by remaining extended when not under compressive load.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional midsole materials are used to provide cushioning during walking or running, then responsiveness and support are balanced for typical forward movements, but the midsole fails to provide adequate support during lateral movements when the foot rolls outward or inward
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is segmented into multiple independent pin elements that can respond individually to different movement directions. Each pin acts as an independent support unit, allowing the midsole to provide targeted support during lateral movements while maintaining cushioning during forward movements.
Solution Approach 2:
The pin array creates a dynamic support structure where pins can move between engaged and disengaged states based on movement direction. During lateral movements, pins engage to provide banking support, while during forward movement they disengage to allow natural cushioning, adapting the support characteristics to the current movement type.
2Reliability
If the midsole compresses during lateral movements to provide cushioning, then the foot is not adequately supported by the time compression occurs, leaving the foot without a surface to bank or push off
Solution Approach 1:
The pins are positioned and pre-configured in the midsole structure to be ready to engage immediately when lateral movement occurs. Rather than waiting for compression to happen first, the pins are already in place to provide banking support surface, ensuring support is available before the foot completes its rolling motion.
3Reliability
If a rigid midsole structure is used to provide stable support during lateral movements, then cushioning performance during walking or running is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the midsole have different properties: the pin array provides localized rigid support where needed for lateral stability, while the surrounding foam material maintains its soft, compliant characteristics for cushioning during forward movement. This local differentiation allows simultaneous optimization for both functions.
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 configuration improves foot support and stability during lateral movements by maintaining a banking surface for optimal performance in sports, reducing the likelihood of over supination and over pronation, and enhancing overall footwear functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a resilient member biasing the pins to provide dynamic banking surfaces
Data Source
AI summary
An article of footwear is provided and includes an upper, an outsole, and a midsole. The outsole includes a ground-engaging surface and an inner surface. The midsole has a footbed, a bottom surface, and a series of channels extending therethrough. The bottom surface opposes the inner surface to define a cavity therebetween. The article of footwear also includes a series of pins each having a post extending through corresponding ones of the series of channels between a first end and a second end. The first end extends into the cavity outward from the bottom surface of the midsole and the second end extends into the interior void outward from the footbed of the midsole. The article of footwear also includes a resilient member that engages the first end of each of the series of pins and biases the series of pins toward the interior void.