Pivoting Footwear Sole Element for Dynamic Cutting Motions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic footwear sole structures are limited in their ability to accommodate dynamic movements, such as quick direction changes during athletic activities, due to rigid attachment to the upper, which restricts the sole's independent movement and contact with the ground.
Innovation Solution
The introduction of a pivot element with a coupling that allows the sole structure to pivot relative to the upper, enabling side-to-side movement and increased contact area with the ground, facilitating quicker cutting motions by decoupling the sole's position from the leg's orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the sole structure is rigidly attached to the upper, then structural stability is improved, but the ability to accommodate dynamic movements and maintain ground contact is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sole structure is segmented into a pivot element and a coupling element, allowing the sole to be divided into functional sections that can move independently. The pivot element can rotate relative to the upper while the coupling element maintains connection, enabling the rear portion of the sole to maintain ground contact during dynamic movements while the front portion follows the leg's orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic pivoting connection. The pivot element incorporates a rotation axis that allows angular movement between the sole and upper, enabling the sole to adapt its orientation independently during athletic activities while maintaining structural connection through the coupling element.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the sole structure is rigidly attached to the upper, then structural stability is improved, but the contact area with the ground during directional changes is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sole structure is segmented into a pivot element and a coupling element, allowing the sole to be divided into functional sections that can move independently. The pivot element can rotate relative to the upper while the coupling element maintains connection, enabling the rear portion of the sole to maintain ground contact during dynamic movements while the front portion follows the leg's orientation.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic pivoting connection. The pivot element incorporates a rotation axis that allows angular movement between the sole and upper, enabling the sole to adapt its orientation independently during athletic activities while maintaining structural connection through the coupling element.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the sole structure is rigidly attached to the upper, then structural stability is improved, but the time required for cutting motions is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment system transitions from a static rigid connection to a dynamic pivoting connection. The pivot element incorporates a rotation axis that allows angular movement between the sole and upper, enabling the sole to adapt its orientation independently during athletic activities while maintaining structural connection through the coupling element.
Solution Approach 2:
The pivot element is pre-positioned with its rotation axis to allow immediate rotational movement during cutting motions. The coupling element is designed to maintain connection while permitting the pivot element to rotate forward or backward independently, enabling quicker initiation of directional changes without waiting for the entire sole structure to reorient.
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear (10) is disclosed that has a sole structure (30) with a sole element (50) and a coupling (43). The sole element (50) is spaced from a remainder of the footwear (10) to define a space between a portion of the sole element (50) and the remainder of the footwear (10). The coupling (43) extends upward from the sole element (50) to join the sole element (50) with the remainder of the footwear (10). The coupling (43) is spaced from the periphery of the sole element (50), and the coupling (43) is the only attachment point between the sole element (50) and the remainder of the footwear (10). In operation, the coupling (43) permits the sole element (50) to pivot in relation to the remainder of the footwear (10).