Shoe Ventilation via Horizontal Air-Permeable Spacer Layer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Shoes often face challenges in maintaining climate comfort under the sole due to either impermeable materials that trap moisture or permeable materials that allow water ingress, leading to inadequate ventilation and sweat management.
Innovation Solution
A shoe design featuring an air-permeable spacer structure below the sole, with a three-dimensional layer allowing horizontal air exchange and a waterproof, water vapor permeable functional layer to manage sweat and heat effectively, while maintaining watertightness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If waterproof materials (rubber, plastic) are used for the outsole, then water permeability is prevented, but water vapor permeability is blocked causing perspiration accumulation
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is equipped with horizontal ventilation channels that create a porous structure, allowing water vapor to pass through while the waterproof membrane prevents liquid water penetration. This resolves the contradiction by enabling vapor permeability through controlled porosity while maintaining waterproofness.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe combines waterproof materials (rubber outsole, waterproof membrane) with vapor-permeable components (horizontal channels, breathable insole, vapor-permeable last) to create a composite structure that simultaneously achieves waterproofness and perspiration removal capability.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If vertical openings are made in the outsole to improve ventilation, then water vapor can escape, but the structural integrity and protection are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of creating vertical openings that compromise structural integrity, the invention transitions to horizontal ventilation channels that run parallel to the running surface. This dimensional change allows vapor escape while preserving the outsole's vertical strength and protective function.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If horizontal ventilation channels are created in the outsole, then perspiration can escape, but water may also penetrate through the same channels
Solution Approach 1:
A waterproof, water vapor-permeable membrane is introduced as an intermediary layer within the horizontal ventilation channel system. This membrane acts as a selective barrier that allows water vapor to pass through while blocking liquid water penetration, resolving the contradiction between vapor removal and water protection.
4Reliability
If the outsole is made completely waterproof, then water protection is maximized, but air exchange and climate comfort are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The outsole is designed with localized horizontal ventilation channels in specific areas rather than being uniformly waterproof or permeable. This local differentiation allows water protection in most areas while providing targeted ventilation zones for perspiration removal, achieving both water protection and climate comfort.
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 efficiently removes sweat moisture and heat through convective air exchange, enhancing climate comfort and allowing for larger water vapor removal capacity compared to traditional solutions, suitable for both indoor and outdoor use.
Implementation Method 1
heat and water vapor can be removed from the area of the shaft arrangement located above the air-permeable layer, for example by means of convective air exchange through the air-permeable layer
Implementation Method 2
a waterproof, water vapor-permeable membrane on the inside of the outsole. This prevents water from penetrating the shoe's interior while allowing perspiration from the soles to escape
Data Source
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Figure 5
AI summary
Shoe (10) comprising an upper assembly (12) and a sole (14), wherein the upper assembly (12) comprises an upper material (16) and an air-permeable layer (40) arranged in an upper base, the air-permeable layer (40) is arranged in a lower sole-side region of the upper assembly (12) above the sole (14), the air-permeable layer (40) has a three-dimensional structure allowing air passage in at least a horizontal direction, and at least one air passage opening (20) is arranged in a lower circumferential region of the upper material (16) on the sole side, which is connected to the air-permeable layer (40) in such a way that air can be exchanged between the environment and the air-permeable layer (40) via the air-permeable layer (40).