Split Sole Dance Shoe Arch Support via Elastic Gap Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional dance shoes with split soles lack adequate arch support, leading to discomfort, aesthetic issues, and resistance during movements like flexing, pointing, and spinning, due to gapping, bunching, and buckling of materials in the arch region.
Innovation Solution
A dance shoe design featuring a split sole with an elastic material covering the gap between the front and rear soles, supported by flexible and/or elastic support bands that minimize sagging and maintain contact with the arch, enhancing flexibility and aesthetic appeal by conforming to the foot's contour.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a split sole design is used to enhance flexibility, then the flexibility of the shoe is improved, but arch support is insufficient causing gapping and discomfort
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe is divided into three distinct sections: a front sole portion, a rear sole portion, and a mid-section with arch support material. This segmentation allows each part to perform its specific function - the front and rear soles provide flexibility while the mid-section provides arch support, resolving the contradiction between flexibility and support.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the shoe have different properties: the front and rear soles are designed for flexibility and movement, while the mid-section contains arch support material specifically positioned to provide structural support. This local differentiation allows the shoe to be flexible where needed while maintaining support where required.
2Ease of operation
If flexible materials are used in the shoe upper, then the shoe can flex with foot movement, but gapping occurs in the arch region
Solution Approach 1:
The shoe upper incorporates arch support material specifically in the mid-section region, while other areas use flexible materials. This localized approach allows the shoe to maintain contour fit and prevent gapping in the arch region while preserving flexibility in other areas for natural foot movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The shoe combines different materials with complementary properties: flexible materials for the shoe upper and front/rear soles, and arch support material (such as foam rubber, gel, or memory foam) in the mid-section. This composite construction allows the shoe to simultaneously achieve flexibility and maintain proper contour fit.
3Ease of operation
If no sole is placed beneath the arch region, then flexibility is improved, but the mid-section sags and loses support
Solution Approach 1:
The sole is segmented into front and rear portions with the mid-section containing arch support material instead of traditional sole material. This segmentation allows the front and rear soles to provide flexibility while the mid-section provides structural support to prevent sagging.
Solution Approach 2:
The arch support material in the mid-section acts as a flexible structural element that maintains the shape and support of the mid-section while allowing necessary foot movements. Materials like foam rubber, gel, or memory foam provide this flexible support structure.
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 design provides increased flexibility and support around the arch, reducing discomfort and resistance during movements while maintaining a contoured fit, thus improving both comfort and appearance.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic material covering a gap between the front and rear soles
Implementation Method 2
flexible and/or elastic support bands for supporting the elastic material
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe includes a shoe upper made of flexible material, the shoe upper including a toe region, a heel region, a foot opening at the heel region, and an arch region extending between the toe region and the heel region. A split sole is secured to a bottom of the shoe upper, the split sole including a front sole under the toe region of the shoe upper and a rear sole under the heel region of the shoe upper, the front and rear soles being spaced from one another for defining a gap between the front and rear soles that extends along the bottom of the shoe upper. The dance shoe also includes an elastic material attached to the bottom of the shoe upper and covering the gap between the front and rear soles, whereby the elastic material covers an underside of the dance shoe, and at least one support band attached to the shoe upper and being connected with the elastic material for supporting the elastic material and for minimizing wrinkling, puckering, pinching and sagging of the elastic material in the arch region of the shoe upper.