Athletic Shoe Upper with Localized Stretchable Zones
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional athletic shoes fail to deform in sync with the foot during exercise, leading to stiffness and inadequate fitting, particularly due to the lack of stretchable members covering critical areas like the arch and the ball of the little toe, which results in poor strain distribution and interference with foot movement.
Innovation Solution
The shoe design incorporates medial and lateral side stretchable parts with a lower Young's modulus than the front and rear parts, extending from the arch and the ball of the little toe areas, allowing independent movement and improved deformation to match foot strain, while reinforcing members enhance stability and prevent shape distortion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the upper is made with rigid material to maintain shape stability, then the structural stability is improved, but the fitting property deteriorates because the upper cannot deform in accordance with foot variation during exercise
Solution Approach 1:
The upper is constructed with different materials having different Young's moduli in different regions. Specifically, the medial side and lateral side have stretchable parts with lower Young's modulus to allow deformation, while the front and rear parts have higher Young's modulus to maintain shape stability. This local differentiation enables the upper to adapt to foot deformation during exercise while maintaining overall structural integrity.
2Adaptability or versatility
If elastic members are added to improve fitting property, then the adaptability is improved, but the device complexity increases due to additional components and structural modifications
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of adding complex elastic members or mechanical components, the invention achieves improved fitting property by changing the material parameter (Young's modulus) of the upper itself. The upper is made from materials with appropriately selected Young's modulus values in different regions, allowing it to naturally deform with the foot during exercise without requiring additional elastic components or complex structural modifications.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the upper material has high Young's modulus for stability, then the shape retention is improved, but the strain distribution becomes inconsistent with foot strain during running
Solution Approach 1:
The upper is divided into regions with different material properties. The medial side and lateral side use materials with lower Young's modulus (more stretchable) to match the strain characteristics of these areas during running, while the front and rear parts use materials with higher Young's modulus to maintain shape retention. This local quality differentiation ensures that the strain distribution of the upper closely resembles that of the foot during exercise.
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
This design enhances the fitting property by allowing the shoe to conform to the foot's natural deformation, reducing stiffness and improving stability, ensuring a snug and supportive fit during exercise.
Implementation Method 1
the upper deforms in accordance with the variation of the shape of the foot
Implementation Method 2
an athletic shoe which comprises... a reinforcement member for reinforcing the upper
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to the upper U of an athletic shoe comprising a first opening 1 out of which the foot sticks upwards during wearing and a second opening 2 which is closed with a tongue. The two openings 1, 2 are continuous with each other, and the upper U comprises a medial side stretchable part 51 which covers a part of a medial side face of an arch of the foot, a lateral side stretchable part 50 which covers a part of a lateral side face of a ball of a little toe (a fifth toe), a front part 3 located forward of the two stretchable parts 50, 51 and a rear part 4 located backward of the two stretchable parts. Each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is provided so as to essentially cross one of side faces of the upper U from a top surface of a sole S to the second opening 2. Young's modulus along the lengthwise direction L of the foot of each of the stretchable parts 50, 51 is set smaller than that of the front part 3 and the rear part 4.