Shoe Buffer with Load-Dependent Contact Area

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoes face a trade-off between comfort and stability, as a softer buffer member provides comfort but degrades stability under high loads, while a harder buffer member improves stability but compromises comfort.

Innovation Solution

A shoe design featuring a buffer member with a projection part, recess part, and circumferential edge projection part that changes contact area with the sole based on load, allowing for increased displacement at low loads for comfort and reduced displacement at high loads for stability, using a deformation restricting unit to manage excessive deformation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a softer buffer member is used to increase displacement for comfort, then comfort is improved, but stability under high load deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidstability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer member transitions from a static, uniform structure to a dynamic system with multiple contact states. The projection part can move between contacting and non-contacting states with the facing surface based on applied load, allowing the buffer to dynamically adjust its mechanical properties between soft and hard states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the buffer member are designed with different functional characteristics. The projection part is designed to be deformable and load-dependent in its contact state, while the circumferential edge projection part provides structural support. This creates local variations in hardness and displacement characteristics within the same component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Stability of the object's composition

If a harder buffer member is used to decrease displacement for stability, then stability is improved, but comfort deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovestabilityVSAvoidcomfort

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer member transitions from a static, uniform structure to a dynamic system with multiple contact states. The projection part can move between contacting and non-contacting states with the facing surface based on applied load, allowing the buffer to dynamically adjust its mechanical properties between soft and hard states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the buffer member are designed with different functional characteristics. The projection part is designed to be deformable and load-dependent in its contact state, while the circumferential edge projection part provides structural support. This creates local variations in hardness and displacement characteristics within the same component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of operation

If the buffer member displacement is increased for comfort, then comfort is improved, but foot position change increases under high load degrading stability

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovecomfortVSAvoidfoot position stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The buffer member transitions from a static, uniform structure to a dynamic system with multiple contact states. The projection part can move between contacting and non-contacting states with the facing surface based on applied load, allowing the buffer to dynamically adjust its mechanical properties between soft and hard states

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the buffer member are designed with different functional characteristics. The projection part is designed to be deformable and load-dependent in its contact state, while the circumferential edge projection part provides structural support. This creates local variations in hardness and displacement characteristics within the same component

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 shoe achieves balanced comfort and stability by adjusting the load-displacement gradient according to the load magnitude, ensuring smooth foot insertion and enhanced durability under various activities.

Implementation Method 1

the displacement of the buffer member caused by a load received from the foot

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20220354217A1shoe

Publication Date: 2022.11.10 ASICS CORP

AI summary

A shoe includes a sole, an upper portion disposed above the sole and surrounding a foot insertion part, and a buffer including a lower surface and accommodated within the foot insertion part. The lower surface of the buffer includes a projection part projecting toward a facing surface that faces the lower surface, a recess part adjacent to the projection part and recessed from the projection part toward the upper portion, and a circumferential edge projection part projecting, around the recess part, toward the facing surface side with respect to the projection part. When the buffer receives a predetermined first load, the circumferential edge projection part contacts the facing surface whereas the projection part has no contact with the facing surface, and when the buffer receives a predetermined second load, which is larger than the first load, the circumferential edge projection part and the projection part contact the facing surface.