Segmented Composite Footwear Sole for Power Transmission
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current athletics shoes are either too heavy for short distance track events due to their weight or too stiff for optimal power transmission, making them unsuitable for track athletes who require flexibility and minimal weight for maximum performance.
Innovation Solution
A sole design with a toe part and instep-heel part made of stiff composite materials like carbon fibre in thermoplastic resin, and a ball part made of flexible composite materials like woven aramide fibres in thermoplastic resin, allowing for flexibility at the starting blocks and efficient power transfer during the race, while minimizing material usage and weight.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If the shoe is made with lightweight materials for short distance track events, then the weight is reduced, but the strength and stability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is constructed using composite materials combining carbon fibre reinforcement with thermoplastic resin matrices. This composite structure provides both the lightweight property necessary for track events and the strength required for power transmission and stability during competition.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole is divided into multiple layers with different functions: a stiff lower layer for power transmission and stability, and a more flexible upper layer for comfort and adaptability. This segmentation allows each layer to optimize its specific function while working together to achieve both lightness and strength.
2Strength
If the sole is made stiff for power transmission, then the strength is improved, but the flexibility deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is segmented into a stiff lower layer for power transmission and a more flexible upper layer for comfort. The lower layer maintains rigidity to efficiently transmit power from the athlete's foot to the track, while the upper layer provides flexibility for natural foot movement and adaptability to different surfaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the sole have different stiffness characteristics optimized for their specific functions. The forefoot area allows more flexibility for natural toe movement, while the heel and midfoot areas maintain greater stiffness for power transmission and stability during the propulsive phase.
3Weight of moving object
If the shoe uses minimal material to reduce weight, then the weight is reduced, but the stability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The composite construction with carbon fibre reinforcement provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, enabling the shoe to maintain stability and structural integrity while using minimal material. The thermoplastic resin matrix binds the carbon fibres to create a stable, rigid structure that supports the foot during dynamic movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole incorporates curved and contoured designs that follow the natural anatomy of the foot, providing stability through ergonomic shaping rather than through excessive material usage. The curved surfaces distribute forces efficiently and maintain structural stability with minimal material.
Data Source
AI summary
The application relates to a sole (20) for footwear (10) which has a toe part (70) being made of a substantially inflexible material, a ball part (80) being made of a flexible material, and an instep-heel part (90) being made of a substantially inflexible material. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the substantially inflexible material is carbon fiber in a thermoplastic epoxy resin and the flexible material of an aramide fiber in a thermoplastic epoxy resin. The application also teaches a shoe made with this sole and a method for the manufacture of the shoe.