Shoe Sole Torsion Element Decoupling Forefoot and Rearfoot

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional shoe soles do not optimally support the natural S-shaped rolling behavior of the human foot, leading to unnecessary force expenditure and potential joint damage due to resistance against the foot's natural movement.

Innovation Solution

A shoe sole design featuring a torsion element that divides the sole into multiple areas, allowing decoupling of the forefoot and rearfoot areas with respect to their roll-off lines, and is characterized by a coherent, tapered width and an S-shaped configuration to mimic the foot's natural rolling behavior.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a torsion element divides the shoe sole into forefoot and rearfoot areas allowing rotation about a straight axis, then the shoe sole allows torsional movement, but it creates resistance to the natural S-shaped rolling movement of the human foot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsional movement capabilityVSAvoidresistance to natural foot rolling
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe sole is divided into multiple shoe sole areas by the torsion element, with each area having a significantly tapered width in the region of the torsion element. This segmentation allows independent movement of different sole areas while maintaining overall coherence, enabling the sole to adapt to the S-shaped rolling line of the foot without creating resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The torsion element and shoe sole areas are designed with curved geometries that follow the S-shaped rolling line of the foot. The continuous S-shaped configuration of the shoe sole areas from outer rear foot area to inner forefoot area mimics the natural biomechanical rolling path, allowing the shoe sole to support rather than resist the foot's natural movement

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

2Ease of operation

If the shoe sole allows rotation of the entire forefoot area relative to the rear foot area at one point, then the shoe sole provides torsion flexibility, but it does not support the multi-joint S-shaped rolling behavior of the human foot

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsion flexibilityVSAvoidsupport for S-shaped rolling behavior
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The shoe sole is divided into multiple shoe sole areas (at least three) by the torsion element, with each area having a significantly tapered width in the region of the torsion element. This segmentation allows independent movement of different sole areas while maintaining overall coherence, enabling the sole to adapt to the S-shaped rolling line of the foot

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The torsion element extends in a curved path through the shoe sole rather than along a straight line, adding a spatial dimension to the torsion mechanism. This curved extension allows the shoe sole to accommodate the three-dimensional S-shaped rolling motion of the foot, transforming the torsion capability from simple rotational movement to complex multi-axis adaptation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP1757199B1Shoesole
Publication Date: 2009.02.11 PROTOTEC
  • EP1757199B1 patent drawingFigure 1~4
  • EP1757199B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The shoe sole has a torsion unit (220), which decouples a front area of the show sole with regard to a rolling motion line from a rear shoe sole area. The front shoe sole area and the rear shoe sole area are adhesively formed in a single piece, and have a clearly tapering width in an area of the torsion unit. The front shoe sole area and the rear shoe sole area stands in connection with one another by a base. An independent claim is also included for a shoe e.g. running show, with a shoe sole.