Segmented Footwear Sole Structure for Impact and Weight Trade-off
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic footwear sole structures lack a balance of being lightweight, stable, and comfortable, which is essential for various ambulatory and athletic activities.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a U-shaped chassis member with a lateral and medial side arm, an impact-attenuating member with a groove, and a first outsole element that extends beneath the impact-attenuating member, providing a stable and comfortable sole structure through a combination of materials like polyurethane foam and additional support elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If conventional polymer foam materials are used in the midsole, then impact attenuation is provided, but the sole structure becomes heavier and less stable
Solution Approach 1:
The sole structure is divided into multiple functional segments: a lightweight chassis member provides structural stability, while separate impact-attenuating elements (such as foam inserts or gel pads) are positioned only where needed for cushioning. This segmentation allows the structure to be lightweight overall while providing impact attenuation where required, without requiring the entire sole to be heavy foam material.
Solution Approach 2:
Impact attenuation properties are concentrated in specific locations rather than distributed throughout the entire sole structure. The chassis member provides rigidity and stability in areas requiring support, while softer impact-attenuating materials are placed only in heel and forefoot regions where impact forces occur. This local differentiation optimizes both weight and performance.
2Stability of the object's composition
If more material is added to the sole structure to improve stability, then stability increases, but weight increases and comfort decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The sole structure separates structural functions from cushioning functions. A rigid or semi-rigid chassis member provides the necessary stability and support with minimal weight, while lightweight impact-attenuating elements are added only where cushioning is needed. This avoids adding unnecessary weight to areas where stability is already provided by the chassis.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole structure combines materials with different properties: a rigid or semi-rigid chassis member (possibly using composite materials like carbon fiber, fiberglass, or rigid polymers) for stability, combined with softer impact-attenuating materials (foam, gel, or air-filled elements) for comfort. This composite approach achieves both stability and comfort without excessive weight.
3Force
If a traditional layered midsole configuration is used, then impact attenuation is provided, but the structure lacks lightweight stability
Solution Approach 1:
The traditional layered midsole is replaced with a segmented architecture where a rigid or semi-rigid chassis member provides structural stability, and separate impact-attenuating elements are positioned strategically within or attached to the chassis. This segmentation allows the ground reaction forces to be managed by dedicated cushioning elements while the chassis maintains overall structural stability.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of using soft foam material throughout the midsole to attenuate forces, the invention inverts the approach by using a rigid or semi-rigid chassis for structural integrity and adding localized soft elements only where impact attenuation is needed. This inversion of the traditional soft-midsole concept achieves both stability and impact protection.
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 enhances stability and comfort by allowing smooth landing and providing stable heel support while maintaining a lightweight structure, suitable for a range of athletic and non-athletic footwear.
Implementation Method 1
The midsole is the primary sole structure element that attenuates ground reaction forces and controls foot motions. Suitable polymer foam materials for the midsole include ethylvinylacetate or polyurethane that compress resiliently under an applied load to attenuate ground reaction forces.
Implementation Method 2
Conventional polymer foam materials are resiliently compressible, in part, due to the inclusion of a plurality of open or closed cells that define an inner volume substantially displaced by gas.
Data Source
Figure 1A
Figure 1B
Figure 1C
AI summary
Footwear sole structures include: (a) a chassis member including a lateral side, a rear heel portion, and a medial side, wherein the chassis member includes an opening defined between the medial side and the lateral side; (b) an impact- attenuating member engaged with the chassis member, wherein the impact-attenuating member includes a lateral side arm and a medial side arm that. extend toward a forefoot portion of the sole structure, and wherein the impact-attenuating member further includes a rear heel portion joining the lateral and medial side arms; and (c) an outsole element extending beneath the impact-attenuating member, wherein the outsole element extends around the rear heel portion of the impact-attenuating member and engages the rear heel portion of the chassis member.