Sports Shoe Sole Geometry for Uneven Terrain Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sports shoes fail to provide optimal comfort and stability when traversing uneven terrain, particularly in mountainous conditions, due to inadequate sole geometry and material distribution, leading to inefficient foot rolling and inadequate shock absorption.
Innovation Solution
The shoe features a unique sole geometry with a central bowl design, a curved side wall, and a thickness distribution that ensures continuous contact and progressive unfolding, combined with a lateral edge for enhanced stability, utilizing EVA material with a specific shore hardness for improved cushioning and support.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the sole has uniform thickness, then manufacturing is simple, but foot rolling is unnatural and shock absorption is inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, where the front portion has greater thickness than the rear portion. This local variation in geometric properties enables natural foot rolling motion and progressive unfolding during walking, while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through molded construction.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole incorporates curved surfaces and rounded transitions instead of sharp edges or flat surfaces. The curved front portion and rounded heel design facilitate natural foot rolling motion by guiding the foot through a smooth arc during the gait cycle, improving comfort and reducing stress concentrations.
2Strength
If the sole is thin, then the shoe is lightweight, but shock absorption and protection are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The sole thickness is optimized to provide adequate shock absorption while controlling weight. The front portion has increased thickness for enhanced cushioning during toe-off, while the heel portion is thinner to reduce overall weight. This parameter optimization achieves the desired balance between protection and weight.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe construction combines the sole material with the upper material and intermediate layers to create a composite structure that provides enhanced shock absorption and protection. The layered construction allows each material to contribute its specific properties, achieving superior performance without excessive weight.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the upper is tightly embedded in the sole, then structural stability is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The upper and sole are combined into an integrated structure where the upper is embedded within recesses formed in the sole material. This merging of components creates a unified construction that provides structural stability and prevents relative movement between the upper and sole during use.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole is divided into distinct regions including recesses that accommodate the upper and a peripheral rim that secures it. This segmentation allows the upper to be precisely positioned and secured within dedicated spaces, maintaining structural stability while facilitating assembly.
4Reliability
If the sole width at ground contact is significantly greater than upper width, then lateral stability is enhanced, but material usage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The sole width is increased specifically at the ground contact regions (front and heel) to provide lateral stability during weight-bearing phases. The midsection width is optimized to accommodate the upper without excessive material usage. This localized width variation achieves stability where needed while controlling overall material consumption.
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 allows natural foot rolling on various terrains, provides excellent lateral stability, and effectively absorbs shocks, ensuring comfortable and secure progression on uneven ground.
Implementation Method 1
The sole is made of a material of the EVA (ethylene vinyl acetal copolymer) type, the shore hardness "D" of which is for example between 50 and 70
Data Source
Figure 1~3
Figure 4A~4C
AI summary
The invention relates to a shoe in which the specific characteristics of the midsole, namely the width, length, thickness and front/rear profile thereof, midsole materials used with a certain type of deformation (shore hardness and elasticity), and lateral reinforcements emerging from the midsole and surrounding the upper are suitable for increasing in an extremely noticeable manner both the performance (speed and reduced fatigue) and the user comfort (reduced impact on knees, back, leg muscles), for use when jogging or walking on uneven outdoor surfaces, as well as for jogging or walking on roads. Furthermore, the characteristics of the midsole (spike surface and deformation in contact with the ground) improve the safety of the user by providing enhanced grip on sloping terrain, as well as on snow-covered or wet terrain.