Shoe Sole With Plastic Shell And Integrated Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Outdoor shoes, such as mountaineering and trekking shoes, require a sole that balances cushioning for comfort and protection with robustness and non-slip properties, while existing soft materials are prone to mechanical damage from environmental influences.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring a plastic shell with an integrated cushioning sole part, where the cushioning part is cast into the shell, providing a strong and stable bond, and a non-slip profile element is attached to the underside, utilizing thermoplastic polymer or elastomer for the shell and elastic plastic for the sole part, with design features like openings and slots for flexibility and stability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If soft material is used for cushioning, then cushioning performance and wearing comfort are improved, but mechanical strength and resistance to damage are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is divided into two distinct parts: a soft cushioning sole part for comfort and a hard protective shell for mechanical strength. This segmentation allows each part to fulfill its specific function without compromising the other.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention uses a composite structure combining soft material (for cushioning) and hard material (for protection). This composite approach enables the sole to simultaneously achieve both cushioning performance and mechanical strength, resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
2Strength
If hard material is used for protection, then mechanical strength and durability are improved, but cushioning performance and comfort are worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is segmented into a hard protective shell and a soft cushioning sole part, allowing each material to be optimized for its specific function. The hard shell provides protection while the soft inner part provides cushioning.
Solution Approach 2:
By combining hard and soft materials in a composite structure, the invention achieves both mechanical strength from the hard shell and cushioning performance from the soft sole part, eliminating the need to choose between these conflicting properties.
3Ease of manufacture
If the sole is made as a single piece, then manufacturing simplicity is improved, but the ability to provide both cushioning and protection is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning sole part and the protective shell are combined into a single integrated sole assembly through casting or bonding. This merging maintains manufacturing simplicity while achieving functional versatility, as the two different materials work together in one unified structure.
4Strength
If the cushioning sole part is integrated into the shell, then bond strength and stability are improved, but manufacturing complexity is worsened
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning sole part is cast into the shell during the initial manufacturing process, creating a strong bond from the beginning. This preliminary action ensures strong adhesion without requiring additional complex assembly steps later.
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 solution offers a durable, comfortable, and non-slip sole that is easy to manufacture, providing excellent cushioning, protection, and flexibility, suitable for outdoor use while withstanding mechanical stress.
Implementation Method 1
The cushioning sole part absorbs shocks and thus increases the wearing comfort
Implementation Method 2
The shell is advantageously made of a thermoplastic polymer or elastomer, in particular TPU, d. H. thermal polyurethane. This material is particularly advantageous for the shell, and is abrasion resistant and yet can be elastic.
Implementation Method 3
At least one profile element made of non-slip material is attached to the side that faces the ground when the sole is in use
Implementation Method 4
There is a bond between the cushioning part of the sole and the shell, which means that the part of the sole cannot be removed from the shell without being destroyed, but is integrated into it
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sole for a shoe, in particular an outdoor shoe, with a shell made of hard plastic and an integrated cushioning sole part located in the hard shell, wherein at least one profile element made of non-slip material is attached to the underside of the shell.