Segmented Midsole Structure for Multi-Angle Running Soles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe soles designed for forefoot and midfoot running styles require multiple expensive molds to achieve varying angles and properties, leading to high initial investment costs.
Innovation Solution
A sole series with a common upper midsole and multiple lower midsoles of different shapes, allowing for varying inclination angles without needing separate molds for each type, reducing the number of molds required.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple types of midsoles with different shapes are manufactured to provide varying inclination angles for different running styles, then the versatility and adaptability of the shoe product is improved, but the initial investment cost increases due to the need for multiple expensive molds
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is divided into an upper midsole and a lower midsole. The upper midsole uses a single mold design that is common across all sole types, while the lower midsole varies in shape to create different inclination angles. This segmentation allows the majority of the midsole structure to be manufactured using one mold, significantly reducing the number of expensive molds needed while still providing multiple sole type options for different running styles.
2Ease of manufacture
If the midsole is designed with a single shape for all sole types, then the manufacturing cost is reduced, but the ability to provide different inclination angles for various running styles is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is segmented into upper and lower portions. The upper midsole maintains a uniform shape across all sole types to minimize mold requirements and reduce manufacturing cost. The lower midsole is differentiated in shape to provide the necessary inclination angle variations. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by assigning different functional requirements to different segments.
Solution Approach 2:
Different parts of the midsole have different qualities: the upper midsole has a standardized shape for cost efficiency, while the lower midsole has varied shapes for functional diversity. This local differentiation allows the system to optimize both manufacturing cost and functional versatility simultaneously.
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 series effectively encourages efficient forefoot or midfoot running styles while minimizing initial investment costs by using a single mold for the upper midsole and multiple molds for lower midsoles.
Implementation Method 1
a sole configured such that a thickness of a region of the sole around a middle in a longitudinal direction of the sole is larger than those of a heel region and a toe region of the sole
Data Source
AI summary
Each of midsoles of a plurality of types of soles that constitute a sole series includes an upper midsole and a corresponding one of lower midsoles. Each of the plurality of types of soles is configured such that, in a non-wearing state, while the sole contacts ground at an intersection, a heel region does not contact the ground. While the upper midsoles of the plurality of types of soles are formed to have the same shape, the lower midsoles of the plurality of types of soles are formed to have different shapes such that an angle between a straight line and the ground is a forwardly descending angle that differs between the soles.