Footwear Strobel with Integrated Cushioning Cavity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional strobels in footwear do not function as effective cushioning components, often stiff and harder than the underlying midsole, which can reduce the desired cushioning effect and require additional insoles for comfort, increasing weight and expense.
Innovation Solution
A strobel configuration with a casing and integrated cushioning member that serves as both a cushioning component and a closure for the footwear upper, eliminating the need for an insole by incorporating a cushioning member within the casing, which can be made of polymeric or textile materials and secured to the upper using various bonding methods.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If a traditional inelastic strobel is used to tightly fit the upper to the last, then the upper closure is improved, but the cushioning effect of the midsole is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the strobel and insole into a single integrated component. The strobel includes a forefoot portion made of inelastic material for upper closure and a heel portion made of cushioning material for comfort, merging the functions of upper attachment and cushioning into one component that eliminates the need for a separate insole.
Solution Approach 2:
The strobel is designed with different material properties in different regions: the forefoot portion uses inelastic material to provide tight closure fit, while the heel portion uses cushioning material to provide comfort and maintain midsole cushioning effect. This local differentiation allows each region to fulfill its specific function optimally.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an insole is added over the strobel to provide cushioning, then the comfort is improved, but the weight and expense of the footwear increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the insole cushioning function into the strobel itself by making the heel portion of the strobel from cushioning material. This integration eliminates the need for a separate insole component, thereby reducing overall footwear weight and manufacturing complexity while maintaining cushioning comfort.
3Strength
If a stiff and hard strobel is used to close the upper, then the upper attachment is improved, but the cushioning dynamic is changed and cushioning effect is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The strobel employs spatially varying material properties: the forefoot portion uses stiff, inelastic material to provide strong upper attachment, while the heel portion uses soft, cushioning material to preserve cushioning dynamics. This local quality differentiation allows the single component to simultaneously achieve strong attachment where needed and maintain cushioning where required.
Data Source
AI summary
A strobel for an article of footwear may include a casing having a peripheral flange and defining a cavity. The strobel may also include at least one cushioning member disposed in the cavity. An exterior surface of the casing facing away from the cavity may be a foot contact surface of the strobel and the peripheral flange may be configured for connection to a lower perimeter of a footwear upper of an article of footwear. A method of manufacturing an article of footwear includes securing a peripheral flange of the casing to a lower perimeter of an upper, the upper and the strobel defining a foot-receiving void of the article of footwear, the strobel having at least one cushioning member.