Shoe Sole Transverse Protrusions Impact Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic shoes with thicker midsoles for cushioning often lead to increased stiffness, causing foot rotation and over-pronation, and higher impact stress due to reduced surface area contact during heel strike and forefoot impact.
Innovation Solution
The shoe design incorporates transverse blades in the sole, angled both forwardly and rearwardly, which absorb impact and provide stability by increasing the surface area, allowing for greater traction and comfort without relying on soft midsoles.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If thicker midsoles are used to provide more cushioning ability, then shock absorption is improved, but the midsole stiffness increases causing foot rotation and over-pronation
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is segmented into multiple independent protrusions distributed across the sole, replacing a single thick foam layer. Each protrusion acts as an independent shock-absorbing element, allowing the foot to maintain stability while receiving cushioning from multiple discrete points rather than a continuous stiff layer.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are strategically positioned in specific regions of the sole (heel, midfoot, forefoot) with varying sizes and densities. This local differentiation provides targeted cushioning where impact forces occur most intensely while maintaining stability in other areas, preventing the uniform stiffness problem of thick midsoles.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If thicker midsoles are used to provide more cushioning ability, then shock absorption is improved, but impact stress transmission increases due to reduced surface area contact
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions extend vertically from the sole surface into the third dimension, creating a multi-level contact structure. When the foot strikes the ground, the protrusions compress vertically to absorb shock while their distributed arrangement across the horizontal plane maintains large surface area contact, reducing stress transmission through the foot.
3Stress or pressure
If softer midsoles are used to reduce impact stress, then cushioning is improved, but stability and support during running and walking deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The midsole is divided into multiple discrete protrusions rather than a continuous soft layer. This segmentation allows each protrusion to be relatively soft for stress reduction while their collective arrangement provides stable support points, preventing the foot from sinking or rolling excessively as would occur with uniform soft material.
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are made from elastomeric material that combines shock-absorbing softness with structural integrity. This composite approach allows the midsole elements to be compliant enough to reduce impact stress yet rigid enough to provide stable support during dynamic activities like running and walking.
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 blades in the shoe sole effectively absorb shock and enhance stability and comfort during running and walking by distributing force and reducing friction, thereby minimizing the risk of over-pronation and improving overall performance.
Implementation Method 1
The downwardly protruding blades increase the surface area of the sole, thereby increasing traction. When used on hard surfaces, the blades collapse and moderate impact forces incurred by the wearer.
Implementation Method 2
the blades collapse and moderate impact forces incurred by the wearer
Implementation Method 3
The downwardly protruding blades increase the surface area of the sole, thereby increasing traction
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe sole structure includes a plurality of downwardly extending protrusions arranged transverse to the longitudinal axis of the shoe and extending at least partially between a lateral edge and a medial edge of the shoe sole. The protrusions arranged in the heel region of the sole are angled forwardly and the protrusions arranged in the forefoot region are angled rearwardly.