Shoe Midsole Hinge and Suspension for Impact Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoes cause neuromuscular fatigue due to rapid impact forces during walking or running, leading to muscle tuning and increased fatigue in the feet, legs, and torso, as they do not effectively manage impact forces to minimize muscle tension.

Innovation Solution

The shoe design incorporates a forefoot hinge and suspension elements with a center of compression aligned with the centers of loading, featuring a midsole with a composite suspension element that decelerates the wearer linearly, reducing the rate of loading throughout the stride and providing a natural gait similar to barefoot walking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional shoe materials are used, then the shoe provides basic support, but rapid impact forces cause neuromuscular fatigue and muscle tuning

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact force managementVSAvoidneuromuscular fatigue

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the mechanical parameters of the shoe by introducing a hinge mechanism that alters the rate of change of loading. The hinge allows controlled movement between the forefoot and rearfoot, transforming the impact force profile from rapid to gradual, thereby reducing muscle tuning effects and neuromuscular fatigue while maintaining structural support

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The hinge acts as an intermediary element between the forefoot and rearfoot components. It mediates the transmission of impact forces by allowing controlled relative movement, thereby smoothing the force transfer and preventing direct transmission of sharp impact forces that cause fatigue

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the shoe structure is made more complex with additional elements, then impact forces are better managed, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveimpact force managementVSAvoidshoe structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe is segmented into distinct functional components: a forefoot portion, a rearfoot portion, and a hinge connecting them. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized independently for its specific function while working together to manage impact forces, achieving complex performance through modular simplicity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

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 design significantly reduces neuromuscular fatigue by minimizing muscle tuning effects, providing maximum muscular endurance and reducing stress on the foot, leading to improved comfort and reduced risk of injury.

Implementation Method 1

The suspension element has a center of compression, and the center of compression is generally aligned with at least one of the first and second centers of loading of the upper

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCompression: Compression