Footwear Sole with Pressure Guidance Protrusions
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing footwear soles fail to properly control the movement of the foot pressure center, leading to inefficient walking or running motions that can strain the skeletal structure and muscles of the lower half body.
Innovation Solution
A sole design featuring a foot pressure guidance portion that guides the foot pressure center along a predetermined route from the heel to the vicinity of the fourth toe, using a heel protrusion portion, a foot pressure protrusion strip, and a balance protrusion strip to facilitate optimal movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If out-soles are joined over substantially the whole area of the mid-sole and are flat in the width directions, then the center of gravity can be moved forward smoothly, but the foot pressure center passes on individually different routes that do not control the movement properly
Solution Approach 1:
The out-sole is designed with different local structures: a foot pressure guidance portion with protrusions in the width direction at the front, and a flat portion at the rear. This local differentiation allows the front to guide the foot pressure center along a predetermined route while the rear maintains smooth center of gravity movement, resolving the contradiction between speed and control.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the foot pressure center is allowed to move freely according to personal motion habits, then individual comfort may be maintained, but the skeletal structure and muscles of the lower half body are strained
Solution Approach 1:
The foot pressure guidance portion acts as an intermediary between the foot and the ground. Its protrusions guide the foot pressure center along an optimal predetermined route, mediating between the user's natural motion habits and the biomechanically optimal path, thereby reducing strain on the skeletal structure and muscles while maintaining adaptability.
3Ease of manufacture
If a simple sole structure is used, then manufacturing is easier and cost is reduced, but the foot pressure center cannot be properly controlled
Solution Approach 1:
The out-sole is segmented into distinct functional portions: a foot pressure guidance portion with protrusions and a flat portion at the rear. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function simply - the protrusions guide pressure without complex mechanisms - while achieving proper foot pressure center control through the combined effect of these simple segments.
Data Source
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AI summary
A sole and footwear provided with such soles are capable of properly controlling the movement of a foot pressure center, using a simple configuration. This sole includes: a sole body 41 which forms each bottom part of the footwear; and a foot pressure protrusion portion 43 which is provided in this sole body 41, and guides a foot pressure center corresponding to the center of a pressure applied to the bottom of each foot that moves when a person walks or runs, along a predetermined foot pressure center route from the heel toward the vicinity of the root of the fourth toe.