Athletic Prosthetic Sole With Zoned Drainage for Wet Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic prosthetic legs lack anti-slip properties, particularly on wet or low-friction surfaces, hindering athletes' performance during competitions.
Innovation Solution
A sole design for athletic prosthetic legs that incorporates unique ground contact regions with differentiated drainage and wear resistance properties, utilizing patterns of recesses and protrusions to enhance anti-slip performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a conventional sole is attached to the athletic prosthetic leg, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but the anti-slip property is insufficient on wet or low-friction surfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The bottom surface of the sole is divided into multiple regions (first region, second region, third region) with different patterns of recesses and protrusions tailored to specific ground contact requirements. Each region has locally optimized geometry to handle different aspects of running contact, providing enhanced anti-slip properties without requiring complete redesign of the entire sole structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole bottom surface is segmented into distinct functional regions with different geometric patterns. The first region has a first pattern, the second region has a second pattern, and the third region has a third pattern, allowing each segment to perform its specific function optimally while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Reliability
If the sole has enhanced anti-slip properties with multiple patterns, then running stability is improved, but the manufacturing process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The invention varies geometric parameters (pattern type, recess size, protrusion height, region boundaries) across different areas of the sole bottom surface. By systematically changing these parameters to create different patterns in different regions, the design achieves enhanced running stability while the variations can be incorporated into standard manufacturing processes through controlled parameter adjustment.
3Reliability
If the sole contacts the ground with differentiated regions, then anti-slip performance is enhanced, but the wear resistance varies across different regions affecting overall lifespan
Solution Approach 1:
Different regions of the sole bottom surface are designed with specific patterns optimized for their local function. The first region's pattern, second region's pattern, and third region's pattern are locally tailored to their respective ground contact roles, with each pattern providing appropriate wear resistance for its specific operational demands while maintaining enhanced anti-slip performance.
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 sole provides enhanced anti-slip properties, ensuring stable running on various surfaces and extending the sole's lifespan by minimizing abrasion.
Implementation Method 1
a bottom surface of the sole has a shape in which an arc X1 and an arc X2 are continued from the toe T side to the curved portion 3 side
Implementation Method 2
the athletic prosthetic leg illustrates a unique ground contact form caused by the shape of a leaf-spring-like leg portion
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
In a sole which is attached to a ground contact region of an athletic prosthetic leg which has a leaf-spring-like leg portion extending to a side of a toe via at least one curved portion, the ground contact region extending from the toe to a side of the curved portion in an arc, the sole includes a bottom surface having a shape conforming to an extending shape of the ground contact region, and, in the bottom surface, a region at the side of the curved portion, which is defined by a border as a line extending in a width direction of the leg portion through a contact point with a road surface in a standing state of a wearer who wears the athletic prosthetic leg, has a higher drainage performance compared with a region other than the region at the side of the curved portion.