Shoe Sole Structure with Zigzag Sidewalls for Cushioning
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe sole structures that provide both cushioning and stability are complex and costly due to the need for multiple components like wavy plates and midsoles, which complicate the manufacturing process and increase costs.
Innovation Solution
A simplified sole structure featuring resin-made upper and lower wall portions with elastically deformable sidewall portions that compressively deform upon impact, providing cushioning and stability while integrating a three-dimensional elastic fiber structure formed through additive manufacturing, such as FDM, to reduce complexity and costs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a wavy plate and multiple midsoles are provided to achieve cushioning and stability, then cushioning properties and stability are improved, but structure complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the cushioning function and stability function into a single integrated sole structure. The sole includes an upper midsole, lower midsole, and wavy plate that work together as one unit, eliminating the need for separate cushioning elements and reducing overall structural complexity while maintaining both cushioning properties and stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The sole is divided into functional segments: the upper midsole for cushioning, the lower midsole for support, and the wavy plate for stability. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while being part of an integrated structure that reduces overall complexity compared to having completely separate elements.
2Reliability
If a wavy plate and multiple midsoles are provided to achieve cushioning and stability, then cushioning properties and stability are improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent integrates the wavy plate and midsoles into a unified structure that can be manufactured as a single piece or pre-assembled unit. This merging reduces the number of separate manufacturing processes, bonding operations, and quality control steps required, thereby reducing manufacturing cost while maintaining the stability provided by the wavy plate structure.
3Reliability
If multiple separate components are used to provide cushioning and stability, then functional performance is improved, but the number of components and processing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple functional components into an integrated sole structure that maintains cushioning properties through the coordinated design of the upper midsole, lower midsole, and wavy plate. This integration reduces the number of separate components and eliminates multiple bonding and assembly steps, thereby improving manufacturing efficiency and productivity.
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 proposed sole structure achieves improved cushioning and stability with a simplified design, allowing for customized fit and reduced manufacturing costs by integrating the sidewall portions and three-dimensional elastic fiber structure, enhancing both comfort and economic viability.
Implementation Method 1
the sidewall portions are elastically deformable in the vertical direction... at the time of impacting the ground, the interior space compressively deforms and the sidewall portions elastically deform in the vertical direction, thereby showing cushioning properties
Implementation Method 2
the upper wall portion, the lower wall portion and the sidewall portions are resin-made wall members with a predetermined thickness... at the time of elastic deformation of the sidewall portions, the upper and lower wall portions restrain compressive deformation of the entire sole structure, thereby improving stability
Data Source
AI summary
A sole of a sole structure includes an upper wall portion disposed on an upper side, a lower wall portion disposed on a lower side and spaced away from the upper wall portion, and a pair of sidewall portions that extend substantially in a vertical direction between the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, that have a vertical zigzag shape, that are coupled to the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion, and that extend in a longitudinal direction along the outer peripheries of the upper wall portion and the lower wall portion. The upper wall portion and the lower wall portion and a pair of sidewall portions are resin-made wall members with a predetermined thickness and form an interior space. Each of the sidewall portions has concave parts recessed inwardly and convex parts protruding outwardly and it is compressible in the vertical direction.