Reinforced Sole Structure for Propulsive Start-Off Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing soles and shoes do not efficiently support a forward start-off action requiring instantaneous speed, as they either impair the transmission of ground force due to increased flexural rigidity or fail to deform in sync with the foot's movement, reducing propulsive force.
Innovation Solution
A sole design with a forefoot, midfoot, and rearfoot portions, incorporating a reinforcing member with specific bars and rising portions that enhance flexural rigidity and deformability, allowing the sole to follow foot movement and increase propulsive force.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If the reinforcing member extends in an oblique direction to increase flexural rigidity for cutting maneuvers, then the sole can assist forward start-off actions, but the sole fails to deform in sync with the foot's movement during pull-back foot landing
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member is divided into multiple bars (first bar extending along lateral foot-side end portion, second bar extending obliquely rearward toward medial foot side, third bar extending obliquely forward toward medial foot side) that are distributed across different regions of the sole. This segmentation allows different portions of the sole to have different rigidity characteristics, enabling the sole to maintain overall strength while allowing localized deformation to follow the foot's movement during pull-back foot landing.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcing member is strategically positioned with bars extending along specific regions (lateral foot-side end portion, forefoot portion, midfoot portion) rather than uniformly across the entire sole. This creates local variations in rigidity where the sole is stiff where needed for force transmission but flexible where needed to accommodate foot deformation during the landing and push-off phases of start-off actions.
2Power
If the reinforcing member increases flexural rigidity to provide propulsive force, then the sole can support instantaneous speed requirements, but the transmission of ground force is impaired
Solution Approach 1:
The reinforcing member configuration enables the sole to dynamically adjust its rigidity characteristics during the gait cycle. During ground contact and push-off phases, the distributed bar structure provides sufficient rigidity to transmit propulsive force efficiently. During transition phases when the foot deforms to prepare for or complete movement, the segmented structure allows necessary deformation to maintain force transmission efficiency, thus supporting instantaneous speed requirements without impairing ground force transmission.
Data Source
AI summary
A sole includes: a midsole located to continuously extend from a forefoot portion to a rearfoot portion; and a reinforcing member formed of a material higher in rigidity than a material forming the midsole and disposed on a bottom surface of the midsole. The reinforcing member includes: a first bar located to extend at least in the forefoot portion and the midfoot portion and extending along a lateral foot-side end portion of the midsole; and a second bar located in the forefoot portion, having one end connected to the first bar, and extending in an oblique direction to extend rearward toward a medial foot side.