Textile Outsole Connection Without Bonding Agents

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Multifunctional outdoor shoes, such as mountain and trail running shoes, face challenges in providing comfort and durability while maintaining stability and traction, especially during prolonged wear, due to the limitations of existing sole connections and manufacturing processes that often require additional binders and may use environmentally hazardous substances.

Innovation Solution

A shoe design featuring a textile two-dimensional region connected to the shoe upper and an outsole unit with vulcanized rubber, forming a mechanical and chemical connection without bonding agents, enhancing durability and stability while allowing for breathability and water resistance, and incorporating varying rubber materials for improved traction and abrasion resistance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If vulcanized rubber is used for outsoles to provide good elasticity, traction, and abrasion resistance, then the durability and traction are improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases due to the need for additional binders and bonding agents

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovedurabilityVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the outsole and upper into a single integrated component by molding the rubber material directly onto the textile region. This eliminates the need for separate bonding processes and additional binders, resolving the contradiction between durability and manufacturing complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The textile two-dimensional region is prepared in advance with specific structural features (loops, pores, or textured surfaces) that enable direct mechanical interlocking with the rubber material. This preliminary preparation allows the rubber to bond directly without additional chemical binders, simplifying manufacturing while maintaining durability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the shoe upper is comprised from rubber to provide durability and protection, then the protective function is improved, but the comfort deteriorates due to excessive sweating and poor breathability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotective functionVSAvoidcomfort
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses a composite structure combining rubber material for the outsole ( providing protection and durability) with a textile two-dimensional region for the upper (providing breathability and comfort). This material combination resolves the contradiction between protective function and comfort by assigning different materials to different functional requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Solution Approach 2:

Different regions of the shoe are assigned different material properties: the outsole uses rubber for protection and abrasion resistance, while the upper uses breathable textile for comfort. This local differentiation of material quality allows each region to optimize its specific function without compromising the other.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Ease of manufacture

If the connection of the shoe upper to the sole exists only in individual regions along the rim to simplify manufacturing, then the ease of manufacture is improved, but the stability deteriorates for climbing activities

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of manufactureVSAvoidstability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the connection from discrete rim-point attachments into a continuous integrated structure where the rubber material is molded directly onto the entire textile region. This creates uniform stability across the whole shoe while maintaining manufacturing simplicity through the single-step molding process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Strength

If additional binders are used to enhance the connection between outsole and upper, then the strength of connection is improved, but the environmental harm increases due to hazardous substances

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection strengthVSAvoidenvironmental harm
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The textile two-dimensional region provides its own bonding capability through its structural features (loops, pores, or textured surfaces) that enable direct mechanical interlocking with the rubber material. This self-service bonding eliminates the need for external binders and hazardous substances, resolving the contradiction between connection strength and environmental harm.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

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 solution provides a comfortable, durable, and stable shoe with enhanced traction and abrasion resistance, suitable for demanding activities like mountain running and climbing, while simplifying the manufacturing process and reducing environmental impact by eliminating the need for additional binders.

Implementation Method 1

The shoe comprises an outsole unit with a rubber material, wherein the two-dimensional region is connected to the rubber material of the outsole unit without a bonding agent

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVulcanization:

Data Source

PatentEP2976958B1Multifunctional outdoor shoe, in particular mountain shoe, mountain running shoe, trail running shoe or climbing shoe, as well as method for its manufacture
Publication Date: 2020.01.22 ADIDAS AG
  • EP2976958B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP2976958B1 patent drawingFigure 1c~1e
  • EP2976958B1 patent drawingFigure 1f~1h

AI summary

The invention relates to shoes, in particular mountain shoes, mountain running shoes, trail running shoes and climbing shoes, as well as methods for their manufacture. According to an aspect of the invention, a shoe is provided, in particular a mountain shoe, a mountain running shoe, a trail running shoe, or a climbing shoe. The shoe comprises a shoe upper, a textile two-dimensional region connected to the shoe upper which extends beneath a foot of a wearer of the shoe, and an outsole unit with a rubber material. The two-dimensional region is connected to the rubber material of the outsole unit without a bonding agent.