Shoe Upper Microstructure for Force-Dependent Ball Grip

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current shoe uppers struggle to balance durability with flexibility, providing excessive grip for ball touches like dribbling and soft passes, which leads to a sticky feeling and disrupts ball control, while lacking sufficient grip for shooting and passing.

Innovation Solution

A shoe upper with a microstructure surface featuring elastically bendable pillar-shaped protrusions, optimized by aspect ratio, width, height, and pitch, to provide enhanced grip for shooting and passing while maintaining smooth control for dribbling and short passes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the upper provides enhanced grip for ball contact (shooting, passing), then ball control precision is improved, but the upper becomes too sticky for soft touches (dribbling, first touch)

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveball control precisionVSAvoidsmooth ball control

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The upper surface incorporates protrusions that dynamically adapt their grip characteristics based on the force of ball contact. During high-force actions like shooting and passing, the protrusions engage to provide enhanced grip and precision. During low-force actions like dribbling and first touch, the protrusions yield or deform, reducing grip to prevent stickiness and maintain smooth ball control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The upper features a microstructure surface with protrusions whose effective grip parameter changes based on contact conditions. The protrusions are designed with specific geometric parameters (height, width, spacing) that allow them to provide high grip when compressed during shooting/passing, while maintaining low effective grip during gentle dribbling through elastic deformation or buckling behavior.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Force

If the upper provides enhanced grip for shooting and passing, then energy transfer to the ball is increased, but durability of the upper is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveenergy transfer to ballVSAvoidupper durability

Core Design Contradiction:

ForceVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The upper incorporates a flexible microstructure surface layer with protrusions that can elastically deform under high impact forces during shooting and passing. This flexible structure absorbs and distributes the mechanical stress, preventing damage to the underlying upper material while maintaining the enhanced grip function for forceful ball contact.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #30Flexible shells and thin films

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions are designed with optimized geometric parameters including height, width, and spacing that allow them to withstand high impact forces during shooting and passing. The parameters are tuned so that the protrusions can deform elastically to absorb energy while maintaining structural integrity, thus improving durability without sacrificing the force transfer capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Power

If the upper provides enhanced grip through protrusions, then shooting and passing performance is improved, but the upper complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveshooting and passing performanceVSAvoidupper structure complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The upper surface is segmented into multiple protrusions distributed across the ball contact area. Each protrusion is a simple geometric element, but their collective arrangement creates the enhanced grip effect. This segmentation allows the complex function of adaptive grip to be achieved through simple, manufacturable individual elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The complexity is managed by optimizing key parameters of the protrusions such as height, width, spacing, and material properties. By carefully selecting these parameters, the upper achieves enhanced shooting and passing performance without requiring overly complex structures. The design balances performance enhancement with manufacturing feasibility through parameter optimization rather than structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 microstructure surface ensures consistent ball control under varying conditions by providing force-dependent grip, enhancing precision and accuracy in ball manipulation through controlled deformation and consistent contact, improving performance in sports activities.

Implementation Method 1

the microstructure surface is configured to assist with shooting and/or passing a ball in that each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS20260053233A1Upper for a shoe with a microstructure surface

Publication Date: 2026.02.26 ADIDAS AG

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to an upper for a shoe, such as a sports shoe, comprising a ball contact area comprising a microstructure surface; a.) wherein the microstructure surface comprises a plurality of protrusions; b.) wherein the microstructure surface is configured to assist with shooting and/or passing a ball in that each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable; c.) wherein each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has the shape of a pillar.