Shoe Sole Segmentation for High Lateral Support and Forefoot Flexion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe soles with single-piece cushioning layers lack sufficient lateral support and stability, and conventional methods for producing cushioning layers with lateral and medial edges that rise vertically are limited by mold design, leading to inadequate lateral support and potential undercutting issues.
Innovation Solution
A shoe sole design featuring a lateral and medial half-portion cushioning layer with upward extending walls that provide increased lateral support, allowing for high lateral and medial walls to cover parts of the upper, while using simple molds with two impressions, ensuring good lateral stability and foot rolling without a specific chassis.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a single-piece cushioning layer is used, then the structure is simple and manufacturing is easy, but lateral support and stability are insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning layer is divided into two separate half-portions (lateral and medial) that are molded independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each half to be formed with high lateral walls using simple two-impression molds, while the assembled structure provides the necessary lateral support and stability that a single-piece design cannot achieve.
2Reliability
If high lateral and medial walls are added to the cushioning layer, then lateral support is improved, but the foot rolling and flexion at the forefoot are hindered
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning layer design implements local quality by providing high lateral and medial walls specifically in the rearfoot and midfoot areas where lateral support is needed, while maintaining lower height at the forefoot area to preserve natural foot flexion and rolling motion. This localized differentiation allows the structure to provide support where required without hindering natural foot mechanics.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional two-mold construction is used, then transverse openings can be created, but the lateral and medial edges cannot rise vertically without undercutting
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning layer is divided into two separate half-portions (lateral and medial) that are molded independently and then assembled together. This segmentation allows each half to be formed with high lateral walls using simple two-impression molds, while the assembled structure provides the necessary lateral support and stability that a single-piece design cannot achieve.
4Ease of operation
If the cushioning layer covering height is reduced at the metatarsal heads, then foot flexion is improved, but lateral support is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The cushioning layer design implements local quality by providing high lateral and medial walls specifically in the rearfoot and midfoot areas where lateral support is needed, while maintaining lower height at the forefoot area to preserve natural foot flexion and rolling motion. This localized differentiation allows the structure to provide support where required without hindering natural foot mechanics.
Data Source
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AI summary
The shoe comprises: - an upper comprising a casing and - a sole comprising two half-portions secured to each other to form a cushioning layer, at least one of said half-portion comprising a wall extending upwards to cover at least part of the casing of the upper. The at least one wall covers a first upper covering height at the level of the metatarsal head area and, locally, a maximum upper covering height, the maximum covering height being greater than at least four times the first covering height.