Three-Dimensional Buckling Shoe Sole for Push-Off Resilience
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shoe soles fail to maximize resilience performance during the push-off phase of running, which is crucial for achieving high propulsive force.
Innovation Solution
A shoe sole incorporating a resilient member with a three-dimensional structure formed by a wall defined by parallel flat surfaces, designed to buckle under compressive stress within specific ranges, enhancing resilience performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If conventional shock absorbers (solid or hollow resin/rubber bodies) are used, then shock absorbing performance is improved, but resilience performance during push-off is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by carefully controlling the buckling stress and strain parameters of the resilient member. The buckling stress is set within 0.05-0.55 MPa and buckling strain within 10-60%, optimizing the balance between shock absorption and resilience. This parameter optimization allows the same structure to perform both shock absorption during impact and energy return during push-off.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamics by designing the resilient member to exhibit different mechanical behaviors under different loading conditions. During impact (loading phase), the member buckles to absorb energy. During push-off (unloading phase), the member recovers elastically to provide propulsive force. This dynamic response optimization resolves the contradiction between shock absorption and resilience.
2Loss of energy
If shock absorbers are optimized for shock absorbing function, then shock absorption is improved, but resilience function during load reduction is not maximized
Solution Approach 1:
The resilient member is designed to exhibit dynamic mechanical behavior that adapts to different phases of the gait cycle. During the impact phase (load application), the member undergoes buckling deformation to absorb energy. During the push-off phase (load reduction), the member elastically recovers to generate propulsive force. This dynamic response optimization allows the same structure to excel at both shock absorption and resilience functions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes specific parameters including buckling stress (0.05-0.55 MPa), buckling strain (10-60%), and wall thickness (0.5-5 mm) to achieve the desired dual functionality. These parameter changes enable the resilient member to transition smoothly between shock absorption and energy return modes, maximizing both functions without compromise.
3Power
If a three-dimensional structure with wall defined by parallel surfaces is used, then resilience performance is enhanced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from conventional two-dimensional or simple three-dimensional shock absorber geometries to a sophisticated three-dimensional lattice structure defined by parallel surfaces. This dimensional complexity enables enhanced resilience performance through controlled buckling modes while maintaining manufacturability through systematic design approaches.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent maintains ease of manufacture by optimizing geometric parameters such as wall thickness (0.5-5 mm), surface spacing, and unit cell dimensions. These parameter changes allow the complex three-dimensional structure to be manufactured using conventional molding or additive manufacturing techniques while achieving superior resilience performance.
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 resilient member achieves higher propulsive force during running by maximizing energy return through controlled buckling, outperforming conventional shock absorbers in resilience performance.
Implementation Method 1
the resilient member may buckle when the resilient member receives a compressive stress applied in a normal direction to the bottom surface
Implementation Method 2
a three-dimensional object manufactured by a three-dimensional additive manufacturing method can be manufactured by adding a thickness to a geometrical surface structure... and discloses that the three-dimensional object is formed of an elastic material and thereby can be applicable as a shock absorber
Data Source
AI summary
A shoe sole includes a resilient member, and has a bottom surface as a ground contact surface and a top surface. The resilient member has a three-dimensional shape formed by a wall having an outer shape defined by a pair of parallel flat or curved surfaces, and may buckle when the resilient member receives a compressive stress applied in a normal direction to the bottom surface. In the shoe sole, when a load is applied to the shoe sole in a gradually increasing manner such that a compressive stress is applied to the resilient member in the normal direction, the resilient member starts to buckle when a stress applied to the resilient member is within a range of 0.05 MPa or more and 0.55 MPa or less and a strain of the resilient member in the normal direction is within a range of 10% or more and 60% or less.