Asymmetric Shark Fin Heel Traction Elements
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports shoes with heel cleats fail to provide adequate traction while preventing the heel from digging in during backpedaling, as the existing designs often create unwanted friction and penetration issues when moving backwards.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a sole structure with a flat base heel portion and a curved heel wrap featuring shark fin-like shaped rear traction elements, which provide traction during planting and minimize friction during backpedaling by allowing the heel to skim over the surface.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional flat or rounded cleats are used on the heel, then traction is provided during forward movement, but the heel digs in and creates unwanted friction during backpedaling
Solution Approach 1:
The heel traction element employs asymmetric geometry with a shark fin-like shape featuring a forward-facing inclined surface and a rearward-facing rounded surface. This asymmetry allows the element to dig into the ground during forward planting while presenting a smooth rounded surface to the ground during backward movement, eliminating the digging-in problem of traditional symmetric cleats
Solution Approach 2:
The rearward portion of the heel traction element utilizes curved surfaces, specifically a rounded surface that curves away from the ground during backpedaling. This curvature allows the heel to skim over the surface smoothly without catching or digging in, while the forward portion maintains adequate traction engagement
2Force
If cleats are oriented with flat surfaces facing sideways, then traction is improved in forward direction, but friction increases during backward movement
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the heel traction element have different surface qualities optimized for different directions: the forward-facing portion has an inclined surface optimized for traction during planting, while the rearward-facing portion has a smooth rounded surface optimized for minimizing friction during backpedaling. This local differentiation of surface properties resolves the contradiction between forward traction and backward movement efficiency
Data Source
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AI summary
An article of footwear with heel traction elements is disclosed. The heel traction elements enhance traction and stability when backpedaling or moving laterally. The heel traction elements may be disposed on a heel wrap. The heel traction elements may be disposed so they are in line with each other.