Shoe Sole Heel Cup Composite Material Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe soles fail to provide both flexibility during movement and adequate support, especially in heel and ankle areas, leading to discomfort and instability, particularly in trekking conditions.
Innovation Solution
A shoe sole design featuring a heel cup made of a harder, more rigid material surrounding the midsole, which is made of a softer elastic material, providing a composite sole with enhanced support and flexibility while maintaining a stable shape and preventing foot misalignment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the midsole is made entirely of soft elastic material, then comfort and cushioning are improved, but support and stability in the heel area deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe sole implements different material properties in different regions: the midsole uses soft elastic material for comfort, while the support bead uses harder, more rigid material specifically in the heel area for support. This local differentiation resolves the contradiction between overall comfort and localized support stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe sole combines two different materials: a soft elastic material for the midsole and a harder, more rigid material for the support bead. This composite construction allows the shoe to simultaneously provide cushioning comfort in the midsole and stable support in the heel area, resolving the contradiction between comfort and support.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support bead is made of hard rigid material, then support and shape retention are improved, but flexibility during movement deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The support bead is designed with localized rigidity only in the heel area where support is needed, while the rest of the midsole remains flexible. This allows the shoe to maintain stable shape retention in the heel without compromising overall flexibility during movement.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining soft elastic material in the midsole with harder rigid material in the support bead, the shoe achieves both flexibility in the midsole for movement and shape retention in the support bead for stability, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and shape retention.
3Strength
If the insole is made of high stability material, then torsional strength is improved, but flexibility and comfort deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The support function is extracted from the insole and transferred to the support bead made of harder material. This allows the insole to be made of softer, more flexible material for comfort, while the support bead provides the necessary torsional strength and stability, resolving the contradiction between insole flexibility and overall shoe strength.
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 ensures comfort and support by maintaining a stable heel shape and preventing foot rolling and misalignment, allowing for secure mounting and optimal foot positioning, thus enhancing walking stability and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the midsole is made of a first elastic material and the support bead is made of a second, also elastic material which has higher rigidity
Implementation Method 2
shoe soles with heel areas equipped with a shock absorber
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
The shoe sole has a walking sole and an insole (2) with a heel support. The heel support is a shell (6) at the insole at least around the outer side of the foot, with a lateral strap (13) joining the free ends of the heel shell. The insole is of an elastic material and the heel support is of a stiffer elastic material.