Running Shoe Sole Channels for Horizontal Damping Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing running shoe soles fail to adequately cushion horizontal forces, leading to knee and hip joint pain, and suffer from material fatigue and irregular closure of groove-shaped elements due to material loss of elasticity over time.
Innovation Solution
A sole design with an elastic midsole divided into heel, midfoot, and forefoot areas, featuring channels with varying acute angles between the main longitudinal axis and base surface to optimize cushioning, ensuring efficient horizontal and vertical force absorption without material fatigue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If segmented groove-shaped elements are used to cushion horizontal forces, then horizontal cushioning is improved, but material fatigue occurs and elastic properties are lost over time
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the material parameter from elastic material to viscoelastic material, which has time-dependent mechanical properties. The viscoelastic material maintains cushioning effectiveness while resisting permanent deformation and fatigue, thus improving reliability over time while preserving horizontal force absorption capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses composite construction by integrating the channel system into a viscoelastic midsole material matrix. This composite approach combines the structural geometry of channels with the superior material properties of viscoelasticity, achieving both horizontal cushioning and resistance to material fatigue
2Force
If groove-shaped elements are made as individual protruding elements, then horizontal deformability is improved, but irregular closure occurs and floating effect is experienced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the groove-shaped elements into a continuous integrated channel system within the midsole material. This unification ensures that all channels deform and close in a coordinated, regular manner under load, eliminating the irregular closure and floating effect while preserving horizontal deformability
3Force
If cushioning structures are added in the forefoot area, then vertical cushioning is improved, but energy is lost during push-off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing cushioning structures (channels) primarily in the heel area where vertical cushioning is most needed, while minimizing or eliminating cushioning structures in the forefoot area. This localized approach ensures adequate heel cushioning without creating energy loss during the push-off phase in the forefoot
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 design provides enhanced cushioning in the heel area while minimizing energy loss in the forefoot area, maintaining durability and preventing a floating effect, thus reducing joint strain and maintaining optimal performance over time.
Implementation Method 1
The midsole (1) is made of a viscoelastic material
Implementation Method 2
a satisfactory cushioning of forces acting horizontally on the sole and the shoe cannot be attained... forces acting horizontally on the sole and the shoe can also be cushioned efficiently
Implementation Method 3
the channels (41, 42, 43) each have an elongated contour in the cross section... The acute angle between the main longitudinal axis and the base surface of at least one channel arranged in the heel area is greater than the acute angle between the base surface and the main longitudinal axis of at least one channel arranged in the midfoot area and/or in the forefoot area
Data Source
AI summary
A sole for a running shoe including an elastic midsole with a base surface, which delimits the midsole opposite the vertical direction of the midsole, and a surface, which delimits the midsole in the vertical direction. The midsole is divided into a heel region, a central foot region, and a front foot region, and includes multiple channels which run in the transversal direction of the midsole and are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the midsole. Each of the channels has an elongated contour in the cross-section along a cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction of the midsole and perpendicularly to the transverse direction of the midsole, and each channel has a main longitudinal axis in the cross-section along the cross-sectional plane in the longitudinal direction and perpendicularly to the transversal direction.