Soccer Sock Grip Structure for Ball Control and Ankle Support
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current articles of footwear, particularly soccer socks, lack enhanced functionality for improved ball control and ankle support, especially under varying conditions such as wet weather, and do not adequately address the need for enhanced grip in the ankle area.
Innovation Solution
An article of footwear, such as a sock or calf sleeve, featuring an outside shoe portion with a control element that enhances grip and reinforces the ankle, comprising a patterned or textured surface to improve ball control and ankle stability, using materials like polyurethane, polyamide, or rubber, and designed to maintain consistent grip in both wet and dry conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional soccer socks are designed with focus on comfort and support, then comfort and support are improved, but grip functionality for ball control is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by adding control elements with specific grip-enhancing properties only to the outside shoe portion of the sock, particularly in the ankle area, while maintaining different material properties in the inside shoe portion for comfort. This localized enhancement provides improved ball control where needed without compromising overall comfort and support.
2Device complexity
If socks are designed for basic comfort, then simplicity is maintained, but functionality for shooting and passing is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The control element on the outside shoe portion serves multiple functions: it enhances grip for ball control, provides reinforcement to the ankle area, and assists with shooting and passing actions. This multi-functional design increases versatility without significantly increasing overall design complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If conventional sock materials are used, then ease of manufacture is maintained, but grip consistency under varying weather conditions is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs composite materials by combining the inside shoe portion material with control element material on the outside shoe portion. The control element material is specifically selected to provide consistent grip properties across different weather conditions, including wet conditions, while the inside portion maintains comfort properties. This composite approach enables grip consistency without significantly complicating the manufacturing process.
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to an article of footwear, such as a sock or a calf sleeve, in particular a sock or a calf sleeve used for playing soccer, the article of footwear configured to be worn by a foot of a user and then to be received in a shoe, the article of footwear comprising: an inside shoe portion and an outside shoe portion; wherein the outside shoe portion comprises a control element; wherein the control element is configured to assist with shooting and/or passing and/or receiving a ball and further configured to reinforce an ankle portion of the article of footwear.