Shoe Upper Ball Contact Protrusions for Spin and Grip
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe uppers do not effectively assist in providing advanced spin and smoother transitions for shooting balls, particularly in sports like soccer, due to rigid protrusions that fail to provide sufficient grip and contact time.
Innovation Solution
The shoe upper features a ball contact area with elastically bendable protrusions that deform perpendicular to the longitudinal axis upon contact, increasing grip and contact time, and utilizing the Magnus effect for spin control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If rigid protrusions are used on the ball contact area, then the structural stability is improved, but the grip and contact time with the ball deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The protrusions are designed to be elastically bendable rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adapt to ball contact. This enables the protrusions to deform during ball contact to maximize grip and contact time, then return to their original position, resolving the contradiction between structural stability and contact duration
Solution Approach 2:
The material properties of the protrusions are selected to provide specific elastic characteristics, changing the physical state from rigid to flexible. This parameter change allows the protrusions to bend elastically during ball contact, improving grip and contact time while maintaining overall structural integrity
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid protrusions are used on the ball contact area, then the structural stability is improved, but the spin control capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The elastically bendable protrusions create a brushing effect during ball contact, dynamically interacting with the ball surface to generate spin. This dynamic interaction provides superior spin control compared to rigid protrusions, while the elastic recovery maintains structural stability
Solution Approach 2:
The bending and rebounding of the protrusions creates vibrational motion during ball contact, which enhances the brushing effect and improves spin control capability while maintaining structural integrity through elastic deformation
3Duration of action of moving object
If elastically bendable protrusions are used, then the grip and contact time are improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The material properties of the protrusions are selected to provide inherent elastic characteristics, achieving the desired contact time improvement through material selection rather than complex mechanical structures. This keeps the device relatively simple while still achieving the functional improvement
Solution Approach 2:
The protrusions are designed as flexible elastic elements that can bend and rebound, using the properties of flexible materials to achieve extended contact time without requiring complex mechanical systems or additional components
4Measurement precision
If elastically bendable protrusions are used, then the shooting accuracy is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The elastic properties of the protrusions provide a degree of tolerance to manufacturing variations, as the elastic deformation can compensate for minor dimensional inconsistencies. This allows for improved shooting accuracy through material properties rather than requiring extremely tight manufacturing tolerances
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 elastically bendable protrusions enhance ball control and spin, improving shooting accuracy and unpredictability, making shots less predictable for goalkeepers and allowing for better ball trajectory manipulation.
Implementation Method 1
each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable such that each protrusion is configured to bend substantially in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis upon contact with the ball
Implementation Method 2
utilizing the Magnus effect for spin control
Data Source
AI summary
An upper for a shoe, in particular a sports shoe, comprising a ball contact area comprising a plurality of protrusions. Each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions has an elongated shape with a longitudinal axis, a sole facing side portion and an instep facing side portion. Each protrusion of the plurality of protrusions is elastically bendable such that each protrusion is configured to bend substantially in a perpendicular direction to the longitudinal axis upon contact with a ball, and such that each of the plurality of protrusions is configured to bend such that the instep facing side portion touches an outer surface of the upper or an adjacent protrusion of the plurality of protrusions.